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diff --git a/old/3436-0-2022-01-08.txt b/old/3436-0-2022-01-08.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd4e1a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/3436-0-2022-01-08.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12896 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 2, by Richard F. Burton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 2 + +Author: Richard F. Burton + +Release Date: April 4, 2001 [eBook #3436] +[Most recently updated: January 8, 2022] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: J.C. Byers, Laura Shaffer, Lan Wang and Doris Ringbloom + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS *** + + + + +THE BOOK OF THE + THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT + +A Plain and Literal Translation +of the Arabian Nights Entertainments + +Translated and Annotated by + Richard F. Burton + +VOLUME TWO + +Privately Printed By The Burton Club + + +To John Payne, Esq. + +My Dear Sir, + +Allow me thus publicly to express my admiration of your magnum opus, "The +Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night;" and to offer you my cordial +thanks for honouring me with the dedication of that scholar-like and +admirable version. + +Ever yours sincerely, + +Richard F. Burton. + +Queen's College, Oxford, + August 1, 1885. + +Contents of the Second Volume + + 7. Nur Al-Din Ali and the Damsel Anis Al-Jalis + 8. Tale of Ghanim Bin Ayyub, The Distraught, The Thrall O' Love + a. Tale of the First Eunuch, Bukhayt + b. Tale of the Second Eunuch, Kafur + 9. Tale of King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and His Sons Sharrkan and Zau Al-Makan + a. Tale of Taj Al-Muluk and the Princess Dunya + aa. Tale of Aziz and Azizah + + +The Book Of The +THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT + + + + +Nur Al-Din Ali and the Damsel Anis Al-Jalis + + +Quoth Shahrazad [FN#1]:—It hath reached me, O auspicious King of intelligence +penetrating, that there was, amongst the Kings of Bassorah[FN#2], a King who +loved the poor and needy and cherished his lieges, and gave of his wealth to +all who believed in Mohammed (whom Allah bless and assain!), and he was even as +one of the poets described him, + +"A King who when hosts of the foe invade, * Receives them with lance-lunge and +sabre-sway; +Writes his name on bosoms in thin red lines, * And scatters the horsemen in +wild dismay."[FN#3] + + +His name was King Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, and he had two Wazirs, one +called Al-Mu'ín, son of Sáwí and the other Al-Fazl son of Khákán. Now Al-Fazl +was the most generous of the people of his age, upright of life, so that all +hearts united in loving him and the wise flocked to him for counsel; whilst the +subjects used to pray for his long life, because he was a compendium of the +best qualities, encouraging the good and lief, and preventing evil and +mischief. But the Wazir Mu'ín bin Sáwí on the contrary hated folk [FN#4] and +loved not the good and was a mere compound of ill; even as was said of him, + +"Hold to nobles, sons of nobles! 'tis ever Nature's test * That nobles born of nobles shall excel in noble deed: +And shun the mean of soul, meanly bred, for 'tis the law, * Mean deeds come of men who are mean of blood and breed." + + +And as much as the people loved and fondly loved Al-Fazl bin Khákán, so they +hated and thoroughly hated the mean and miserly Mu'ín bin Sáwí. It befel one +day by the decree of the Decreer, that King Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, +being seated on his throne with his officers of state about him, summoned his +Wazir Al-Fazl and said to him, "I wish to have a slave-girl of passing beauty, +perfect in loveliness, exquisite in symmetry and endowed with all praiseworthy +gifts." Said the courtiers, "Such a girl is not to be bought for less than ten +thousand gold pieces:" whereupon the Sultan called out to his treasurer and +said, "Carry ten thousand dinars to the house of Al-Fazl bin Khákán." The +treasurer did the King's bidding; and the Minister went away, after receiving +the royal charge to repair to the slave-bazar every day, and entrust to brokers +the matter aforesaid. Moreover the King issued orders that girls worth above a +thousand gold pieces should not be bought or sold without being first displayed +to the Wazir. Accordingly no broker purchased a slave-girl ere she had been +paraded before the minister; but none pleased him, till one day a dealer came +to the house and found him taking horse and intending for the palace. So he +caught hold of his stirrup saying, + +"O thou, who givest to royal state sweet savour, * Thou'rt a Wazir shalt never fail of favour! +Dead Bounty thou hast raised to life for men; * Ne'er fail of Allah's grace such high endeavour!" + + +Then quoth he, "O my lord, that surpassing object for whom the gracious mandate +was issued is at last found; [FN#5]" and quoth the Wazir, "Here with her to +me!" So he went away and returned after a little, bringing a damsel in richest +raiment robed, a maid spear-straight of stature and five feet tall; budding of +bosom with eyes large and black as by Kohl traced, and dewy lips sweeter than +syrup or the sherbet one sips, a virginette smooth cheeked and shapely faced, +whose slender waist with massive hips was engraced; a form more pleasing than +branchlet waving upon the top-most trees, and a voice softer and gentler than +the morning breeze, even as saith one of those who have described her, + +"Strange is the charm which dights her brows like Luna's disk that shine; * O sweeter taste than sweetest Robb[FN#6] or raisins of the vine. +A throne th'Empyrean keeps for her in high and glorious state, * For wit and wisdom, wandlike form and graceful bending line: +She in the Heaven of her face[FN#7] the seven-fold stars displays, * That guard her cheeks as satellites against the spy's design: +If man should cast a furtive glance or steal far look at her, * His heart is burnt by devil-bolts shot by those piercing eyne." + + +When the Wazir saw her she made him marvel with excess of admiration, so he +turned, perfectly pleased, to the broker and asked, "What is the price of this +girl?"; whereto he answered, "Her market-value stands at ten thousand dinars, +but her owner swears that this sum will not cover the cost of the chickens she +hath eaten, the wine she hath drunken and the dresses of honour bestowed upon +her instructor: for she hath learned calligraphy and syntax and etymology; the +commentaries of the Koran; the principles of law and religion; the canons of +medicine, and the calendar and the art of playing on musical +instruments."[FN#8] Said the Wazir, "Bring me her master." So the broker +brought him at once and, behold, he was a Persian of whom there was left only +what the days had left; for he was as a vulture bald and scald and a wall +trembling to its fall. Time had buffetted him with sore smart, yet was he not +willing this world to depart; even as said the poet, + +"Time hath shattered all my frame, * Oh! how time hath shattered me. +Time with lordly might can tame * Manly strength and vigour free. +Time was in my youth, that none * Sped their way more fleet and fast: +Time is and my strength is gone, * Youth is sped, and speed is past.[FN#9]" + + +The Wazir asked him, "Art thou content to sell this slave-girl to the Sultan +for ten thousand dinars?"; and the Persian answered, "By Allah, if I offer her +to the King for naught, it were but my devoir."[FN#10] So the Minister bade +bring the monies and saw them weighed out to the Persian, who stood up before +him and said, "By the leave of our lord the Wazir, I have somewhat to say;" and +the Wazir replied, "Out with all thou hast!" "It is my opinion," continued the +slave-dealer, "that thou shouldst not carry the maid to the King this day; for +she is newly off a journey; the change of air[FN#11] hath affected her and the +toils of trouble have fretted her. But keep her quiet in thy palace some ten +days, that she may recover her looks and become again as she was. Then send +her to the Hammam and clothe her in the richest of clothes and go up with her +to the Sultan: this will be more to thy profit." The Wazir pondered the +Persian's words and approved of their wisdom; so he carried her to his palace, +where he appointed her private rooms, and allowed her every day whatever she +wanted of meat and drink and so forth. And on this wise she abode a while. +Now the Wazir Al-Fazl had a son like the full moon when sheeniest dight, with +face radiant in light, cheeks ruddy-bright, and a mole like a dot of ambergris +on a downy site; as said of him the poet and said full right, + +"A moon which blights you[FN#12] if you dare behold; * A branch which folds you in its waving fold: +Locks of the Zanj[FN#13] and golden glint of hair; * Sweet gait and form a spear to have and hold: +Ah! hard of heart with softest slenderest waist, * That evil to this weal why not remould?[FN#14] +Were thy form's softness placed in thy heart, * Ne'er would thy lover find thee harsh and cold: +Oh thou accuser! be my love's excuser, * Nor chide if love-pangs deal me woes untold! +I bear no blame: 'tis all my hear and eyne; * So leave thy blaming, let me yearn and pine." + + +Now the handsome youth knew not the affair of the damsel; and his father had +enjoined her closely, saying, "Know, O my daughter, that I have bought thee as +a bedfellow for our King, Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni; and I have a son who +is a Satan for girls and leaves no maid in the neighbourhood without taking her +maidenhead; so be on thy guard against him and beware of letting him see thy +face or hear thy voice." "Hearkening and obedience," said the girl; and he +left her and fared forth. Some days after this it happened by decree of +Destiny, that the damsel repaired to the baths in the house, where some of the +slave women bathed her; after which she arrayed herself in sumptuous raiment; +and her beauty and loveliness were thereby redoubled. Then she went in to the +Wazir's wife and kissed her hand; and the dame said to her, "Naiman! May it +benefit thee,[FN#15] O Anis al- Jalis![FN#16] Are not our baths handsome?" "O +my mistress," she replied, "I lacked naught there save thy gracious presence." +Thereupon the lady said to her slave-women, "Come with us to the Hammam, for it +is some days since we went there:" they answered, "To hear is to obey!" and +rose and all accompanied her. Now she had set two little slave-girls to keep +the door of the private chamber wherein was Anis al-Jalis and had said to them, +"Suffer none go in to the damsel." Presently, as the beautiful maiden sat +resting in her rooms, suddenly came in the Wazir's son whose name was Nur +al-Din Ali,[FN#17] and asked after his mother and her women, to which the two +little slave-girls replied, "They are in the Hammam." But the damsel, Anis +al-Jalis, had heard from within Nur al-Din Ali's voice and had said to herself, +"O would Heaven I saw what like is this youth against whom the Wazir warned me, +saying that he hath not left a virgin in the neighbourhood without taking her +virginity: by Allah, I do long to have sight of him!" So she sprang to her +feet with the freshness of the bath on her and, stepping to the door, looked at +Nur al-Din Ali and saw a youth like the moon in its full and the sight +bequeathed her a thousand sighs. The young man also glanced at her and the look +make him heir to a thousand thoughts of care; and each fell into Love's ready +snare. Then he stepped up to the two little slave-girls and cried aloud at +them; whereupon both fled before him and stood afar off to see what he would +do. And behold, he walked to the door of the damsel's chamber and, opening it, +went in and asked her "Art thou she my father bought for me?" and she answered +"Yes." Thereupon the youth, who was warm with wine, came up to her and embraced +her; then he took her legs and passed them round his waist and she wound her +arms about his neck, and met him with kisses and murmurs of pleasure and +amorous toyings. Next he sucked her tongue and she sucked his, and lastly, he +loosed the strings of her petticoat-trousers and abated her maidenhead. When +the two little slave-girls saw their young master get in unto the damsel, Anis +al-Jalis, they cried out and shrieked; so as soon as the youth had had his +wicked will of her, he rose and fled forth fearing the consequences of his +ill-doing. When the Wazir's wife heard the slave-girls' cries, she sprang up +and came out of the baths with the perspiration pouring from her face, saying, +"What is this unseemly clamour in the house[FN#18]?" Then she came up to the +two little slave- girls and asked them saying, "Fie upon you! what is the +matter?"; and both answered, "Verily our lord Nur al-Din came in and beat us, +so we fled; then he went up to Anis al-Jalis and threw his arms round her and +we know not what he did after that; but when we cried out to thee he ran away." +Upon this the lady went to Anis al-Jalis and said to her, "What tidings?" "O +my lady," she answered, "as I was sitting here lo! a handsome young man came in +and said to me:—Art thou she my father bought for me?; and I answered Yes; for, +by Allah, O mistress mine, I believed that his words were true; and he +instantly came in and embraced me." "Did he nought else with thee but this?" +quoth the lady, and quoth she, "Indeed he did! But he did it only three +times." "He did not leave thee without dishonouring thee!" cried the Wazir's +wife and fell to weeping and buffetting her face, she and the girl and all the +handmaidens, fearing lest Nur al-Din's father should kill him.[FN#19] Whilst +they were thus, in came the Wazir and asked what was the matter, and his wife +said to him, "Swear that whatso I tell thee thou wilt attend to it." "I will," +answered he. So she related to him what his son had done, whereat he was much +concerned and rent his raiment and smote his face till his nose bled, and +plucked out his beard by the handful. "Do not kill thyself," said his wife, "I +will give thee ten thousand dinars, her price, of my own money." But he raised +his head and cried, "Out upon thee! I have no need of her purchase-money: my +fear is lest life as well as money go." "O my lord, and how is that?" "Wottest +thou not that yonder standeth our enemy Al Mu'ín bin Sáwí who, as soon as he +shall hear of this matter, will go up to the Sultan"—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Thirty-fifth Night, + + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir said to +his wife, "Wottest thou not that yonder standeth our enemy Al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí +who, as soon as he hears of this matter will go up to the Sultan and say to +him, 'Thy Wazir who, thou wilt have it loveth thee, took from thee ten thousand +ducats and bought therewith a slave-girl whose like none ever beheld; but when +he saw her, she pleased him and he said to his son, 'Take her: thou art +worthier of her than the Sultan.' So he took her and did away with her +virginity and she is now in his house.' The King will say, 'Thou liest!' to +which he will reply, 'With thy leave I will fall upon him unawares and bring +her to thee.' The King will give him warranty for this and he will come down +upon the house and will take the girl and present her to the Sultan, who will +question her and she will not be able to deny the past. Then mine enemy will +say, 'O my lord, thou wottest that I give thee the best of counsel; but I have +not found favour in thine eyes.' Thereupon the Sultan will make an example of +me, and I shall be a gazing-stock to all the people and my life will be lost." +Quoth his wife, "Let none know of this thing which hath happened privily, and +commit thy case to Allah and trust in Him to save thee from such strait; for He +who knoweth the future shall provide for the future." With this she brought +the Wazir a cup of wine and his heart was quieted, and he ceased to feel wrath +and fear. Thus far concerning him; but as regards his son Nur al-Din Ali, +fearing the consequence of his misdeed he abode his day long in the flower +garden and came back only at night to his mother's apartment where he slept; +and, rising before dawn, returned to the gardens. He ceased not to do thus for +two whole months without showing his face to his parent, till at last his +mother said to his father, "O my lord, shall we lose our boy as well as the +girl? If matters continue long in this way he will flee from us." "And what +to do?" asked he; and she answered, "Do thou watch this night; and, when he +cometh, seize on him and frighten him: I will rescue him from thee and do thou +make peace with him and give him the damsel to wife, for she loveth him as he +loveth her. And I will pay thee her price." So the Minister say up that night +and, when his son came, he seized him and throwing him down knelt on his breast +and showed as thou he would cut his throat; but his mother ran to the youth's +succour and asked her husband, "What wouldest thou do with him?" He answered +her, "I will split his weasand." Said the son to the father, "Is my death, +then, so light a matter to thee?"; and his father's eyes welled with tears, for +natural affection moved him, and he rejoined, "O my son, how light was to thee +the loss of my good and my life!" Quoth Nur al-Din, "Hear, O my father, what +the poet hath said, + +‘Forgive me! thee-ward sinned I, but the wise * Ne'er to the sinner shall deny his grace: +Thy foe may pardon sue when lieth he * In lowest, and thou holdest highest place!'" + + +Thereupon the Wazir rose from off his son's breast saying, "I forgive thee!"; +for his heart yearned to him; and the youth kissed the hand of his sire who +said, "O my son, were I sure that thou wouldest deal justly by Anis al-Jalis, I +would give her to thee." "O my father, what justice am I to do to her?" "I +enjoin thee, O my son, not to take another wife or concubine to share with her, +nor sell her." "O my father! I swear to thee that verily I will not do her +injustice in either way." Having sworn to that effect Nur al-Din went in to +the damsel and abode with her a whole year, whilst Allah Almighty caused the +King to forget the matter of the maiden; and Al-Mu'ín, though the affair came +to his ears, dared not divulge it by reason of the high favour in which his +rival stood with the Sultan. At the end of the year Al-Fazl went one day to +the public baths; and, as he came out whilst he was still sweating, the air +struck him[FN#20] and he caught a cold which turned to a fever; then he took to +his bed. His malady gained ground and restlessness was longsome upon him and +weakness bound him like a chain; so he called out, "Hither with my son;" and +when Nur al-Din Ali came he said to him, "O my son, know that man's lot and +means are distributed and decreed; and the end of days by all must be dree'd; +and that every soul drain the cup of death is nature's need." The he repeated +these lines, + +"I die my death, but He alone is great who dieth not! * And well I wot, soon shall I die, for death was made my lot: +A King there's not that dies and holds his kingdom in his hand, * For Sovranty the Kingdom is of Him who dieth not." + + +Then he continued, "O my son, I have no charge to leave thee save that thou +fear Allah and look to the issues of thine acts and bear in mind my injunctions +anent Anis al-Jalis." "O my father!" said Nur al-Din, "who is like unto thee? +Indeed thou art famed for well doing and preachers offer prayers for thee in +their pulpits!" Quoth Al-Fazl, "O my son, I hope that Allah Almighty may grant +me acceptance!" Then he pronounced the Two Testimonies,[FN#21] or Professions +of the Faith, and was recorded among the blessed. The palace was filled with +crying and lamentation and the news of his death reached the King, and the +city-people wept, even those at their prayers and women at household cares and +the school-children shed tears for Bin- Khákán. Then his son Nur al-Din Ali +arose and made ready his funeral, and the Emirs and Wazirs and high Officers of +State and city-notables were present, amongst them the Wazir al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí. +And as the bier went forth from the house some one in the crowd of mourners +began to chant these lines, + +"On the fifth day I quitted al my friends for evermore, * And they laid me out and washed me on a slab without my door:[FN#22] +They stripped me of the clothes I was ever wont to wear, * And they clothed me in the clothes which till then I never wore. +On four men's necks they bore me and carried me from home * To chapel; and some prayed for him on neck they bore: +They prayed for me a prayer that no prostration knows;[FN#23] * They prayed for me who praisèd me and were my friends of yore; +And they laid me in a house with a ceiling vaulted o'er, * And Time shall be no more ere it ope to me its door." + + +When they had shovelled in the dust over him and the crowd had dispersed, Nur +al-Din returned home and he lamented with sobs and tears; and the tongue of the +case repeated these couplets, + +"On the fifth day at even-tide they went away from me: * I farewelled them as faring they made farewell my lot: +But my spirit as they went, with them went and so I cried, * 'Ah return ye!' but replied she, 'Alas! return is not +To a framework lere and lorn that lacketh blood and life, * A frame whereof remaineth naught but bones that rattle and rot: +Mine eyes are blind and cannot see quencht by the flowing tear! * Mine ears are dull and lost to sense: they have no power to hear!'" + + +He abode a long time sorrowing for his father till, one day, as he was sitting +at home, there came a knocking at the door; so he rose in haste and opening let +in a man, one of his father's intimates and who had been the Wazir's +boon-companion. The visitor kissed Nur al-Din's hand and said to him, "O my +lord, he who hath left the like of thee is not dead; and this way went also the +Chief of the Ancients and the Moderns. [FN#24] O my lord Ali, be comforted and +leave sorrowing." Thereupon Nur al-Din rose and going to the guest-saloon +transported thither all he needed. Then he assembled his companions and took +his handmaid again; and, collecting round him ten of the sons of the merchants, +began to eat meat and drink wine, giving entertainment after entertainment and +lavishing his presents and his favours. One day his Steward came to him and +said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, hast thou not heard the saying, Whoso spendeth and +reckoneth not, to poverty wendeth and recketh not?" And he repeated what the +poet wrote, + +"I look to my money and keep it with care, * For right well I wot 'tis my buckler and brand: +Did I lavish my dirhams on hostilest foes,[FN#25] * I should truck my good luck by mine ill luck trepanned: +So I'll eat it and drink it and joy in my wealth; * And no spending my pennies on others I'll stand: +I will keep my purse close 'gainst whoever he be; * And a niggard in grain a true friend ne'er I fand: +Far better deny him than come to say:—Lend, * And five-fold the loan shall return to thy hand! +And he turns face aside and he sidles away, * While I stand like a dog disappointed, unmanned. +Oh, the sorry lot his who hath yellow-boys none, * Though his genius and virtues shine bright as the sun! + + +"O my master," continued the Steward, "this lavish outlay and these magnificent +gifts waste away wealth." When Nur al-Din Ali heard these words he looked at +his servant and cried, "Of all thou hast spoken I will not heed one single +word, for I have heard the saying of the poet who saith, + +'An my palm be full of wealth and my wealth I ne'er bestow, * A palsy take my hand and my foot ne'er rise again! +Show me niggard who by niggardise e'er rose to high degree, * Or the generous in gifts generosity hath slain.'" + + +And he pursued, "Know, O Steward, it is my desire that so long as thou hast +money enough for my breakfast, thou trouble me not with taking thought about my +supper." Thereupon the Steward asked, "Must it be so?"; and he answered, "It +must." So the honest man went his way and Nur al-Din Ali devoted himself to +extravagance; and, if any of his cup-companions chanced to say, "This is a +pretty thing;" he would reply, "'Tis a gift to thee!"; or if another said, "O +my lord, such a house is handsome;" he would answer, "Take it: it is thine!" +After this reckless fashion he continued to live for a whole year, giving his +friends a banquet in the morning and a banquet in the evening and a banquet at +midnight, till one day, as the company was sitting together, the damsel Anis +al-Jalis repeated these lines, + +"Thou deemedst well of Time when days went well, * And feardest not what ills might deal thee Fate: +Thy nights so fair and restful cozened thee, * For peaceful nights bring woes of heavy weight." + + +When she had ended her verse behold, somebody knocked at the door. So Nur +al-Din rose to open it and one of his boon- companions followed him without +being perceived. At the door he found his Steward and asked him, "What is the +matter?"; and he answered, "O my lord, what I dreaded for thee hath come to +pass!" "How so?" "Know that there remains not a dirham's worth, less or more +in my hands. Here are my Daftars and account books showing both income and +outlay and the registers of thine original property." When Nur al-Din heard +these words he bowed his head and said, "There is no Majesty and there is no +Might save in Allah!" When the man who had followed him privily to spy on him +heard the Steward's words, he returned to his friends and warned them saying, +"Look ye well to what ye do: Nur al-Din is penniless;" and, as the young host +came back to his guests, vexation showed itself in his face. Thereupon one of +the intimates rose; and, looking at the entertainer, said to him, "O my lord, +may be thou wilt give me leave to retire?" "And why so early retirement this +day?"; asked he and the other answered him, "My wife is in childbirth and I may +not be absent from her: indeed I must return and see how she does." So he gave +him leave, whereupon another rose and said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, I wish now +to go to my brother's for he circumciseth his son to- day."[FN#26] In short +each and every asked permission to retire on some pretence or other, till all +the ten were gone leaving Nur al-Din alone. Then he called his slave-girl and +said to her, "O Anis al-Jalis, hast thou seen what case is mine?" And he +related to her what the Steward had told him. Then quoth she, "O my lord, for +many nights I had it in my mind to speak with thee of this matter, but I heard +thee repeating, + +'When the World heaps favours on thee, pass on * Thy favours to friends ere her hand she stay: +Largesse never let her when fain she comes, * Nor niggardise kept her from turning away!' + + +When I heard these verses I held my peace and cared not to exchange a word with +thee." "O Anis al-Jalis," said Nur al-Din, "thou knowest that I have not +wasted my wealth save on my friends, especially these ten who have now left me +a pauper, and I think they will not abandon and desert me without relief." "By +Allah," replied she, "they will not profit thee with aught of aid." Said he, +"I will rise at once and go to them; and knock at their doors; it may be I shall +get from them somewhat wherewith I may trade and leave pastime and pleasuring." +So he rose without stay or delay, and repaired to a street wherein all his ten +friends lived. He went up to the nearest door and knocked; whereupon a +handmaid came out and asked him, "Who art thou?"; and he answered, "Tell thy +master that Nur al-Din Ali standeth at the door and saith to him, 'Thy slave +kisseth thy hand and awaiteth thy bounty.'" The girl went in and told her +master, who cried at her, "Go back and say, 'My master is not at home.'" So +she returned to Nur al-Din, and said to him, "O my lord, my master is out." +Thereupon he turned away and said to himself, "If this one be a whoreson knave +and deny himself, another may not prove himself such knave and whoreson." Then +he went up to the next door and sent in a like message to the house-master, who +denied himself as the first had done, whereupon he began repeating, + +"He is gone who when to his gate thou go'st, * Fed thy famisht maw with his +boiled and roast." + + +When he had ended his verse he said, "By Allah, there is no help but that I +make trial of them all: perchance there be one amongst them who will stand me +in the stead of all the rest." So he went the round of the ten, but not one of +them would open his door to him or show himself or even break a bit of bread +before him; whereupon he recited, + +"Like a tree is he who in wealth doth wone, * And while fruits he the folk to his fruit shall run: +But when bared the tree of what fruit it bare, * They leave it to suffer from dust and sun. +Perdition to all of this age! I find * Ten rogues for every righteous one." + + +Then he returned to his slave-girl and his grief had grown more grievous and +she said to him, "O my lord, did I not tell thee, none would profit thee with +aught of aid?" And he replied, "By Allah, not one of them would show me his +face or know me!" "O my lord," quoth she, "sell some of the moveables and +household stuff, such as pots and pans, little by little; and expend the +proceeds until Allah Almighty shall provide." So he sold all of that was in +the house till nothing remained when he turned to Anis al-Jalis and asked her +"What shall we do now?"; and she answered, "O my lord, it is my advice that +thou rise forthwith and take me down to the bazar and sell me. Thou knowest +that they father bought me for ten thousand dinars: haply Allah may open thee a +way to get the same price, and if it be His will to bring us once more +together, we shall meet again." "O Anis al- Jalis," cried he, "by Allah it is +no light matter for me to be parted from thee for a single hour!" "By Allah, O +my lord," she replied, "nor is it easy to me either, but Need hath its own law, +as the poet said, + +'Need drives a man into devious roads, * And pathways doubtful of trend and scope: +No man to a rope[FN#27] will entrust his weight, * Save for cause that calleth for case of rope.'" + + +Thereupon he rose to his feet and took her,[FN#28] whilst the tears rolled down +his cheek like rain; and he recited with the tongue of the case these lines, + +"Stay! grant one parting look before we part, * Nerving my heart this severance to sustain: +But, an this parting deal thee pain and bane, * Leave me to die of love and spare thee pain!" + + +Then he went down with her to the bazar and delivered her to the broker and +said to him, "O Hájj Hasan,[FN#29] I pray thee note the value of her thou hast +to cry for sale." "O my lord Nur al- Din," quoth the broker, "the fundamentals +are remembered;"[FN#30] adding, "Is not this the Anis al-Jalis whom thy father +bought of me for ten thousand dinars?" "Yes," said Nur al-Din. Thereupon the +broker went round to the merchants, but found that all had not yet assembled. +So he waited till the rest had arrived and the market was crowded with +slave-girls of all nations, Turks, Franks and Circassians; Abyssinians, Nubians +and Takrúrís;[FN#31] Tartars, Georgians and others; when he came forward and +standing cried aloud, "O merchants! O men of money! every round thing is not a +walnut and every long thing a banana is not; all reds are not meat nor all +whites fat, nor is every brown thing a date![FN#32] O merchants, I have here +this union-pearl that hath no price: at what sum shall I cry her?" "Cry her at +four thousand five hundred dinars," quoth one of the traders. The broker opened +the door of sale at the sum named and, as he was yet calling, lo! the Wazir +Al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí passed through the bazar and, seeing Nur al-Din Ali waiting +at one side, said to himself, "Why is Khákán's son[FN#33] standing about here? +Hath this gallows-bird aught remaining wherewith to buy slave-girls?" Then he +looked round and, seeing the broker calling out in the market with all the +merchants around him, said to himself, "I am sure that he is penniless and hath +brought hither the damsel Anis al-Jalis for sale;" adding, "O how cooling and +grateful is this to my heart!" Then he called the crier, who came up and kissed +the ground before him; and he said to him, "I want this slave-girl whom thou +art calling for sale." The broker dared not cross him, so he answered, "O my +lord, Bismillah! in Allah's name so be it;" and led forward the damsel and +showed her to him. She pleased him much whereat he asked, "O Hasan, what is +bidden for this girl?" and he answered, "Four thousand five hundred dinars to +open the door of sale." Quoth Al-Mu'ín, "Four thousand five hundred is MY bid." +When the merchants heard this, they held back and dared not bid another +dirham, wotting what they did of the Wazir's tyranny, violence and treachery. +So Al-Mu'ín looked at the broker and said to him, "Why stand still? Go and +offer four thousand dinars for me and the five hundred shall be for thyself." +Thereupon the broker went to Nur al-Din and said, "O my lord, thy slave is +going for nothing!" "And how so?" asked he. The broker answered, "We had +opened the biddings for her at four thousand five hundred dinars; when that +tyrant, Al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí, passed through the bazar and, as he saw the damsel +she pleased him, so he cried to me, 'Call me the buyer at four thousand dinars +and thou shalt have five hundred for thyself.' I doubt not but that he knoweth +that the damsel is thine, and if he would pay thee down her price at once it +were well; but I know his injustice and violence; he will give thee a written +order upon some of his agents and will send after thee to say to them, 'Pay him +nothing.' So as often as though shalt go in quest of the coin they will say, +'We'll pay thee presently!' and they will put thee off day after day, and thou +art proud of spirit; till at last, when they are wearied with thine +importunity, they will say, 'Show us the cheque.' Then, as soon as they have +got hold of it they will tear it up and so thou wilt lose the girl's price." +When Nur al-Din heard this he looked at the broker and asked him, "How shall +this matter be managed?"; and he answered, "I will give thee a counsel which, +if thou follow, it shall bring thee complete satisfaction." "And what is that?" +quoth Nur al-Din. Quoth the broker, "Come thou to me anon when I am standing in +the middle of the market and, taking the girl from my hand, give her a sound +cuffing and say to her, 'Thou baggage, I have kept my vow and brought thee down +to the slave-market, because I swore an oath that I would carry thee from home +to the bazar, and make brokers cry thee for sale.' If thou do this, perhaps +the device will impose upon the Wazir and the people, and they will believe +that thou broughtest her not to the bazar but for the quittance of thine +oath." He replied, "Such were the best way." Then the broker left him and, +returning into the midst of the market, took the damsel by the hand, and signed +to the Wazir and said, "O my lord, here is her owner." With this up came Nur +al-Din Ali and, snatching the girl from the broker's hand, cuffed her soundly +and said to her, "Shame on thee, O thou baggage! I have brought thee to the +bazar for quittance of mine oath; now get thee home and thwart me no more as is +thy wont. Woe to thee! do I need thy price, that I should sell thee? The +furniture of my house would fetch thy value many times over!" When Al-Mu'ín saw +this he said to Nur al-Din, "Out on thee! Hast thou anything left for selling +or buying?" And he would have laid violent hands upon him, but the merchants +interposed (for they all loved Nur al-Din), and the young man said to them, +"Here am I in your hands and ye all know his tyranny." "By Allah," cried the +Wazir, "but for you I had slain him!" Then all signed with significant eyes to +Nur al-Din as much as to say, "Take thy wreak of him; not one of us will come +between thee and him." Thereupon Nur al-Din, who was stout of heart as he was +stalwart of limb, went up to the Wazir and, dragging him over the pommel of his +saddle, threw him to the ground. Now there was in that place a puddling- pit +for brick- clay,[FN#34] into the midst of which he fell, and Nur al-Din kept +pummelling and fisti-cuffing him, and one of the blows fell full on his teeth, +and his beard was dyed with his blood. Also there were with the minister ten +armed slaves who, seeing their master entreated after this fashion, laid hand +on sword-hilt and would have bared blades and fallen on Nur al-Din to cut him +down; but the merchants and bystanders said to them, "This is a Wazir and that +is the son of a Wazir; haply they will make friends some time or other, in +which case you will forfeit the favour of both. Or perchance a blow may befal +your lord, and you will all die the vilest of deaths; so it were better for you +not to interfere." Accordingly they held aloof and, when Nur al-Din had made an +end of thrashing the Wazir, he took his handmaid and fared homewards. Al-Mu'ín +also went his ways at once, with his raiment dyed of three colours, black with +mud, red with blood and ash coloured with brick-clay. When he saw himself in +this state, he bound a bit of matting[FN#35] round his neck and, taking in hand +two bundles of coarse Halfah-grass,[FN#36] went up to the palace and standing +under the Sultan's windows cried aloud, "O King of the age, I am a wronged man! +I am foully wronged!" So they brought him before the King who looked at him; +and behold, it was the chief Minister; whereupon he said, "O Wazir who did this +deed by thee?" Al-Mu'ín wept and sobbed and repeated these lines, + +"Shall the World oppress me when thou art in't? * In the lion's presence shall wolves devour? +Shall the dry all drink of thy tanks and I * Under rain-cloud thirst for the cooling shower?" + + +"O my lord," cried he, "the like will befal every one who loveth and serveth +thee well." "Be quick with thee," quoth the Sultan, "and tell me how this came +to pass and who did this deed by one whose honour is part of my honour." Quoth +the Wazir, "Know, O my lord, that I went out this day to the slave-market to +buy me a cookmaid, when I saw there a damsel, never in my life long saw I a +fairer; and I designed to buy her for our lord the Sultan; so I asked the +broker of her and of her owner, and he answered, "She belongeth to Ali son of +Al-Fazl bin Khákán. Some time ago our lord the Sultan gave his father ten +thousand dinars wherewith to buy him a handsome slave-girl, and he bought this +maiden who pleased him; so he grudged her to our lord the Sultan and gave her +to his own son. When the father died, the son sold all he had of houses and +gardens and household gear, and squandered the price till he was penniless. +Then he brought the girl to the market that he might sell her, and he handed +her over to the broker to cry and the merchants bid higher and higher on her, +until the price reached four thousand dinars; whereupon quoth I to myself, 'I +will buy this damsel for our lord the Sultan, whose money was paid for her.' +So I said to Nur al-Din, 'O my son, sell her to me for four thousand dinars.' +When he heard my words he looked at me and cried, 'O ill-omened oldster, I will +sell her to a Jew or to a Nazarene, but I will not sell her to thee!' 'I do +not buy her for myself,' said I, 'I buy her for our lord and benefactor the +Sultan.' Hearing my words he was filled with rage; and, dragging me off my +horse (and I a very old man), beat me unmercifully with his fists and buffeted +me with his palms till he left me as thou seest, and all this hath befallen me +only because I thought to buy this damsel for thee!" Then the Wazir threw +himself on the ground and lay there weeping and shivering. When the Sultan saw +his condition and heard his story, the vein of rage started out between his +eyes[FN#37] and he turned to his body-guard who stood before him, forty white +slaves, smiters with the sword, and said to them, "Go down forthright to the +house built by the son of Khákán and sack it and raze it and bring to me his +son Nur al-Din with the damsel; and drag them both on their faces with their +arms pinioned behind them." They replied, "To hear is to obey;" and, arming +themselves, they set out for the house of Nur al-Din Ali. Now about the Sultan +was a Chamberlain, Alam[FN#38] al-Din Sanjar hight, who had aforetime been +Mameluke to Al-Fazl; but he had risen in the world and the Sultan had advanced +him to be one of his Chamberlains. When he heard the King's command and saw +the enemies make them ready to slay his old master's son, it was grievous to +him: so he went out from before the Sultan and, mounting his beast, rode to Nur +al- Din's house and knocked at the door. Nur al-Din came out and knowing him +would have saluted him: but he said, "O my master this is no time for greeting +or treating. Listen to what the poet said, + + 'Fly, fly with thy life if by ill overtaken! + Let thy house speak thy death by its builder forsaken! + For a land else than this land thou may'st reach, my brother, + But thy life tho'lt ne'er find in this world another.'"[FN#39] + + +"O Alam al-Din what cheer?" asked Nur al-Din, and he answered, "Rise quickly +and fly for thy life, thou and the damsel; for Al- Mu'ín hath set a snare for +you both; and, if you fall into his hands, he will slay you. The Sultan hath +despatched forty sworders against you and I counsel you to flee ere harm can +hurt you." Then Sanjar put his hand to his purse and finding there forty gold +pieces took them; and gave them to Nur al-Din, saying, "O my lord receive these +and journey with them. Had I more I would give them to thee, but this is not +the time to take exception." Thereupon Nur al-Din went in to the damsel and +told her what had happened, at which she wrung her hands. Then they fared +forth at once from the city, and Allah spread over them His veil of protection, +so that they reached the river-bank where they found a vessel ready for sea. +Her skipper was standing amidships and crying, "Whoso hath aught to do, whether +in the way of provisioning or taking leave of his people; or whoso hath +forgotten any needful thing, let him do it at once and return, for we are about +to sail"; and all of them saying, "There is naught left to be done by us, O +captain!", he cried to his crew, "Hallo there! cast off the cable and pull up +the mooring- pole!"[FN#40] Quoth Nur al-Din, "Whither bound, O captain?" and +quoth he, "To the House of Peace, Baghdad,"—-And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Thirty-sixth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the skipper +answered, "To the House of Peace, Baghdad," Nur al-Din Ali and the damsel went +on board, and they launched the craft and shook out the sails, and the ship +sped forth as though she were a bird on wing; even as said one of them; and said +right well, + +"Watch some tall ship, she'll joy the sight of thee, * The breeze outstripping in her haste to flee; +As when a bird, with widely-spreading wings, * Leaveth the sky to settle on the sea." + + +So the vessel sailed on her fastest and the wind to her was fairest. Thus far +concerning them; but as regards the Mamelukes, they went to Nur al-Din's +mansion and, breaking open the doors, entered and searched the whole place, but +could find no trace of him and the damsel; so they demolished the house and, +returning to the Sultan, reported their proceedings; whereupon quoth he, "Make +search for them both, wherever they may be;" and they answered, "Hearing is +obeying." The Wazir Al-Mu'ín had also gone home after the Sultan had bestowed +upon him a robe of honour, and had set his heart at rest by saying, "None shall +take blood-wreak for thee save I;" and he had blessed the King and prayed for +his long life and prosperity. Then the Sultan bade proclaim about the city, +"Oyez, O ye lieges one and all! It is the will of our lord the Sultan that +whoso happeneth on Nur al-Din Ali son of Al- Fazl bin Khákán, and bringeth him +to the Sultan, shall receive a robe of honour and one thousand gold pieces; and +he who hideth him or knoweth his abiding place and informeth not, deserveth +whatsoever pains and penalties shall befal him." So all began to search for +Nur al-Din Ali, but they could find neither trace nor tidings of him. +Meanwhile he and his handmaid sailed on with the wind right aft, till they +arrived in safety at Baghdad, and the captain said to them, "This is Baghdad +and 'tis the city where security is to be had: Winter with his frosts hath +turned away and Prime hath come his roses to display; and the flowers are a- +glowing and the trees are blowing and the streams are flowing." So Nur al-Din +landed, he and his handmaid and, giving the captain five dinars, walked on a +little way till the decrees of Destiny brought them among the gardens, and they +came to a place swept and sprinkled, with benches along the walls and hanging +jars filled with water.[FN#41] Overhead was a trellis of reed-work and canes +shading the whole length of the avenue, and at the upper end was a garden gate, +but this was locked. "By Allah," quoth Nur al-Din to the damsel, "right +pleasant is this place!"; and she replied, "O my lord sit with me a while on +this bench and let us take our ease." So they mounted and sat them down on the +bench, after which they washed their faces and hands; and the breeze blew cool +on them; and they fell asleep and glory be to Him who never sleepeth! Now this +garden was named the Garden of Gladness[FN#42] and therein stood a belvedere +hight the Palace of Pleasure and the Pavilion of Pictures, the whole belonging +to the Caliph Harun al-Rashid who was wont, when his breast was straitened with +care, to frequent garden and palace and there to sit. The palace had eighty +latticed windows and fourscore lamps hanging round a great candelabrum of gold +furnished with wax- candles; and, when the Caliph used to enter, he would order +the handmaids to throw open the lattices and light up the rooms; and he would +bid Ishak bin Ibrahim the cup-companion and the slave- girls to sing till his +breast was broadened and his ailments were allayed. Now the keeper of the +garden, Shaykh Ibrahim, was a very old man, and he had found from time to time, +when he went out on any business, people pleasuring about the garden gate with +their bona robas; at which he was angered with exceeding anger.[FN#43] But he +took patience till one day when the Caliph came to his garden; and he +complained of this to Harun al-Rashid who said, "Whomsoever thou surprisest +about the door of the garden, deal with him as thou wilt." Now on this day the +Gardener chanced to be abroad on some occasion and returning found these two +sleeping at the gate covered with a single mantilla; whereupon said he, "By +Allah, good! These twain know not that the Caliph hath given me leave to slay +anyone I may catch at the door; but I will give this couple a shrewd whipping, +that none may come near the gate in future." So he cut a green +palm-frond[FN#44] and went up to them; and, raising his arm till the white of +his arm-pit appeared, was about to strike them, when he bethought himself and +said, "O Ibrahim, wilt thou beat them unknowing their case? Haply they are +strangers or of the Sons of the Road,[FN#45] and the decrees of Destiny have +thrown them here. I will uncover their faces and look at them." So he lifted +up the mantilla from their heads and said, "They are a handsome couple; it were +not fitting that I should beat them." Then he covered their faces again and, +going to Nur al-Din's feet, began to rub and shampoo them,[FN#46] whereupon the +youth opened his eyes and, seeing an old man of grave and reverend aspect +rubbing his feet, he was ashamed and drawing them in, sat up. Then he took +Shaykh Ibrahim's hand and kissed it. Quoth the old man, "O my son, whence art +thou?"; and quoth he, "O my lord, we two are strangers," and the tears started +from his eyes. "O my son," said Shaykh Ibrahim, "know that the Prophet (whom +Allah bless and preserve!) hath enjoined honour to the stranger;" and added, +"Wilt not thou arise, O my son, and pass into the garden and solace thyself by +looking at it and gladden thy heart?" "O my lord," said Nur al-Din, "to whom +doth this garden belong?;" and the other replied, "O my son, I have inherited +it from my folk." Now his object in saying this was to set them at their ease +and induce them to enter the garden. So Nur al-Din thanked him and rose, he +and the damsel, and followed him into the garden; and lo! it was a garden, and +what a garden! The gate was arched like a great hall and over walls and roof +ramped vines with grapes of many colours; the red like rubies and the black +like ebonies; and beyond it lay a bower of trelliced boughs growing fruits +single and composite, and small birds on branches sang with melodious recite, +and the thousand-noted nightingale shrilled with her varied shright; the turtle +with her cooing filled the site; the blackbird whistled like human wight[FN#47] +and the ring-dove moaned like a drinker in grievous plight. The trees grew in +perfection all edible growths and fruited all manner fruits which in pairs were +bipartite; with the camphor- apricot, the almond-apricot and the apricot +"Khorasani" hight; the plum, like the face of beauty, smooth and bright; the +cherry that makes teeth shine clear by her sleight, and the fig of three +colours, green, purple and white. There also blossomed the violet as it were +sulphur on fire by night; the orange with buds like pink coral and marguerite; +the rose whose redness gars the loveliest cheeks blush with despight; and +myrtle and gilliflower and lavender with the blood-red anemone from Nu'uman +hight. The leaves were all gemmed with tears the clouds had dight; the +chamomile smiled showing teeth that bite, and Narcissus with his negro[FN#48] +eyes fixed on Rose his sight; the citrons shone with fruits embowled and the +lemons like balls of gold; earth was carpeted with flowers tinctured infinite; +for Spring was come brightening the place with joy and delight; and the streams +ran ringing, to the birds' gay singing, while the rustling breeze upspringing +attempered the air to temperance exquisite. Shaykh Ibrahim carried them up +into the pavilion, and they gazed on its beauty, and on the lamps +aforementioned in the latticed windows; and Nur al-Din, remembering his +entertainments of time past, cried, "By Allah, this is a pleasant place; it +hath quenched in me anguish which burned as a fire of Ghaza-wood.[FN#49]" Then +they sat down and Shaykh Ibrahim set food before them; and they ate till they +were satisfied and washed their hands: after which Nur al-Din went up to one of +the latticed windows, and, calling to his handmaid fell to gazing on the trees +laden with all manner fruits. Presently he turned to the Gardener and said to +him, "O Shaykh Ibrahim hast thou no drink here, for folk are wont to drink +after eating?" The Shaykh brought him sweet water, cool and pleasant, but he +said, "This is not the kind of drink I wanted." "Perchance thou wishest for +wine?" "Indeed I do, O Shaykh!" "I seek refuge from it with Allah: it is +thirteen years since I did this thing, for the Prophet (Abhak[FN#50]) cursed +its drinker, presser, seller and carrier!" "Hear two words of me." "Say on." +"If yon cursed ass[FN#51] which standeth there be cursed, will aught of his +curse alight upon thee?" "By no means!" "Then take this dinar and these two +dirhams and mount yonder ass and, halting afar from the wine-shop, call the +first man thou seest buying liquor and say to him, 'Take these two dirhams for +thyself, and with this dinar buy me some wine and set it on the ass.' So shalt +thou be neither the presser, nor the buyer, nor the carrier; and no part of the +curse will fall upon thee." At this Shaykh Ibrahim laughed and said, "By +Allah, O my son, I never saw one wilier of wit than thou art, nor heard aught +sweeter than thy speech." So he did as he was bidden by Nur al- Din who +thanked him and said, "We two are now dependent on thee, and it is only meet +that thou comply with our wishes; so bring us here what we require." "O my +son," replied he, "this is my buttery before thee" (and it was the store-room +provided for the Commander of the Faithful); "so go in, and take whatso thou +wilt, for there is over and above what thou wantest." Nur al-Din then entered +the pantry and found therein vessels of gold and silver and crystal set with +all kinds of gems, and was amazed and delighted with what he saw. Then he took +out what he needed and set it on and poured the wine into flagons and glass +ewers, whilst Shaykh Ibrahim brought them fruit and flowers and aromatic herbs. +Then the old man withdrew and sat down at a distance from them, whilst they +drank and made merry, till the wine got the better of them, so that their +cheeks reddened and their eyes wantoned like the gazelle's; and their locks +became dishevelled and their brightness became yet more beautiful. Then said +Shaykh Ibrahim to himself, "What aileth me to sit apart from them? Why should +I not sit with them? When shall I ever find myself in company with the like of +these two that favour two moons?" So he stepped forward and sat down on the +edge of the daïs, and Nur al- Din said to him, "O my lord, my life on thee, +come nearer to us!" He came and sat by them, when Nur al-Din filled a cup and +looked towards the Shaykh and said to him, "Drink, that thou mayest try the +taste of it!" "I take refuge from it with Allah!" replied he; "for thirteen +years I have not done a thing of the kind." Nur al-Din feigned to forget he +was there and, drinking off the cup, threw himself on the ground as if the +drink had overcome him; whereupon Anis al-Jalis glanced at him and said, "O +Shaykh Ibrahim see how this husband of mine treateth me;" and he answered, "O +my lady, what aileth him?" "This is how he always serveth me," cried she, "he +drinketh awhile, then falleth asleep and leaveth me alone with none to bear me +company over my cup nor any to whom I may sing when the bowl goeth round." +Quoth the Shaykh (and his mien unstiffened for that his soul inclined towards +her), "By Allah, this is not well!" Then she crowned a cup and looking towards +him said, "By my life thou must take and drink it, and not refuse to heal my +sick heart!" So he put forth his hand and took it and drank it off and she +filled a second and set it on the chandelier and said, "O master mine, there is +still this one left for thee." "By Allah, I cannot drink it;" cried he, "what +I have already drunk is enough for me;" but she rejoined, "By Allah, there is +no help for it." So he took the cup and drank; and she filled him a third +which he took and was about to drink when behold, Nur al-Din rolled round and +sat upright,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Thirty-seventh Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din sat upright +and said, "Ho, Shaykh Ibrahim, what is this? Did I not adjure thee a while ago +and thou refusedst, saying, 'What, I! 'tis thirteen years ago since I have done +such a thing!'" "By Allah," quoth the Shaykh (and indeed he was abashed), "no +sin of mine this, she forced me to do it." Nur al-Din laughed and they sat down +again to wine and wassail, but the damsel turned to her master and said in a +whisper, "O my lord, drink and do not press him, that I may show thee some +sport with him." Then she began to fill her master's cup and he hers and so +they did time after time, till at last Shaykh Ibrahim looked at them; and said, +"What fashion of good fellowship is this? Allah curse the glutton who keepeth +the cup to himself! Why dost thou not give me to drink, O my brother? What +manners are these, O blessed one?" At this the two laughed until they fell on +their backs; then they drank and gave him to drink and ceased not their +carousal till a third part of the night was past. Then said the damsel, "O +Shaykh Ibrahim, with thy leave I will get up and light one of these candles." +"Do so," he replied, "but light no more than one." So she sprang to her feet +and, beginning with one candle, lighted all the eighty and sat down again. +Presently Nur al-Din said, "O Shaykh Ibrahim, in what favour am I with thee? +May I not light one of these lamps?" "Light one," replied he, "and bother me no +more in thy turn!" So he rose and lighted one lamp after another, till he had +lighted the whole eight and the palace seemed to dance with brilliancy. Quoth +the Shaykh (and indeed intoxication had overcome him), "Ye two are bolder than +I am." Then he rose to his feet and opened all the lattices and sat down again; +and they fell to carousing and reciting verses till the place rang with their +noisy mirth. Now Allah, the Decreer who decreeth all things and who for every +effect appointeth a cause, had so disposed that the Caliph was at that moment +sitting in the light of the moon at one of the windows of his palace +overlooking the Tigris. He saw the blaze of the lamps and wax candles +reflected in the river and, lifting his eyes, perceived that it came from the +Garden Palace which was all ablaze with brilliancy. So he cried, "Here to me +with Ja'afar the Barmaki!"; and the last word was hardly spoken ere the Wazir +was present before the Commander of the Faithful, who cried at him, "O dog of a +Minister, hast thou taken from me this city of Baghdad without saying aught to +me?" "What words are these words?" asked Ja'afar; and the Caliph answered, "If +Baghdad city were not taken from me, the Palace of Pictures would not be +illuminated with lamps and candles, nor would its windows be thrown open. Woe +to thee! who durst do a deed like this except the Caliphate had been taken from +me?" Quoth Ja'afar (and indeed his side-muscles trembled as he spoke), "Who +told thee that the Palace of Pictures was illuminated and the windows thrown +open?" "Come hither and see," replied the Caliph. Then Ja'afar came close to +the Caliph and, looking towards the garden, saw the palace blazing with +illumination that rayed through the gloom of the night; and, thinking that this +might have been permitted by the keeper for some reason of his own, he wished +to make an excuse for him; so quoth he, "O Commander of the Faithful, Shaykh +Ibrahim said to me last week, 'O my lord Ja'afar, I much wish to circumcise my +sons during the life of the Commander of the Faithful and thy life.' I asked, +'What dost thou want?'; and he answered, 'Get me leave from the Caliph to hold +the festival in the Garden Palace.' So said I to him, 'Go circumcise them; and I +will see the Caliph and tell him.' Thereupon he went away and I forgot to let +thee know." "O Ja'afar," said the Caliph, "thou hast committed two offences +against me; first in that thou didst no report to me, secondly, thou didst not +give him what he sought; for he came and told thee this only as excuse to ask +for some small matter of money, to help him with the outlay; and thou gavest +him nothing nor toldest me." "O Commander of the Faithful," said Ja'afar, "I +forgot." "Now by the rights of my forefathers and the tombs of my forbears," +quoth the Caliph, "I will not pass the rest of this night save in company with +him; for truly he is a pious man who frequenteth the Elders of the Faith and +the Fakirs and other religious mendicants and entertaineth them; doubtless they +are not assembled together and it may be that the prayer of one of them will +work us weal both in this world and in the next. Besides, my presence may +profit and at any rate be pleasing to Shaykh Ibrahim." "O Commander of the +Faithful," quoth Ja'afar, "the greater part of the night is passed, and at this +time they will be breaking up." Quoth the Caliph, "It matters not: I needs +must go to them." So Ja'afar held his peace, being bewildered and knowing not +what to do. Then the Caliph rose to his feet and, taking with him Ja'afar and +Masrur the eunuch sworder, the three disguised themselves in merchants' gear +and leaving the City-palace, kept threading the streets till they reached the +garden. The Caliph went up to the gate and finding it wide open, was surprised +and said, "See, O Ja'afar, how Shaykh Ibrahim hath left the gate open at this +hour contrary to his custom!" They went in and walked on till they came under +the pavilion, when the Caliph said, "O Ja'afar, I wish to look in upon them +unawares before I show myself, that I may see what they are about and get sight +of the elders; for hitherto I have heard no sound from them, nor even a Fakir +calling upon the name of Allah.[FN#52]" Then he looked about and, seeing a tall +walnut-tree, said to Ja'afar, "I will climb this tree, for its branches are +near the lattices and so look in upon them." Thereupon he mounted the tree and +ceased not climbing from branch to branch, till he reached a bough which was +right opposite one of the windows, and here he took seat and looked inside the +palace. He saw a damsel and a youth as they were two moons (glory be to Him who +created them; and fashioned them!), and by them Shaykh Ibrahim seated cup in +hand and saying, "O Princess of fair ones, drinking without music is nothing +worth; indeed I have heard a poet say, + +'Round with big and little, the bowl and cup, * Take either that moon[FN#53] in his sheen hath crowned: +Nor drink without music, for oft I've seen, * The horse drink best to the whistle's sound!'" + + +When the Caliph saw this, the vein of wrath started up between his eyes and he +came down and said to the Wazir, "O Ja'afar, never beheld I yet men of piety in +such case; so do thou mount this tree and look upon them, lest the blessings of +the blest be lost to thee." Ja'afar, hearing the words of the Commander of the +Faithful and being confounded by them, climbed to the tree- top and looking in, +saw Nur al-Din and the damsel, and Shaykh Ibrahim holding in his hand a +brimming bowl. At this sight he made sure of death and, descending, stood +before the Commander of the Faithful, who said to him, "O Ja'afar, praise be to +Allah who hath made us of those that observe external ordinances of Holy Law +and hath averted from us the sin of disguising ourselves after the manner of +hypocrites!"[FN#54] But Ja'afar could not speak a word for excess of +confusion; so the Caliph looked at him and said, "I wonder how they came +hither, and who admitted them into my pavilion! But aught like the beauty of +this youth and this damsel my eyes never yet saw!" "Thou sayest sooth, O our +Lord the Sultan!" replied Ja'afar (and he hoped to propitiate the Caliph Harun +al-Rashid). Then quoth the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, let us both mount the branch +opposite the window, that we may amuse ourselves with looking at them." So the +two climbed the tree and, peering in, heard Shaykh Ibrahim say, "O my lady, I +have cast away all gravity mine by the drinking of wine, but 'tis not sweet +save with the soft sounds of the lute-strings it combine." "By Allah," replied +Anis al-Jalis, "O Shaykh Ibrahim, an we had but some instrument of music our +joyance were complete." Hearing this he rose to his feet and the Caliph said +to Ja'afar, "I wonder what he is about to do!" and Ja'afar answered, "I know +not." The Shaykh disappeared and presently reappeared bringing a lute; and the +Caliph took note of it and knew it for that of Abu Ishak the +Cup-companion.[FN#55] "By Allah," said the Caliph, "if this damsel sing ill I +will crucify all of you; but if she sing well I will forgive them; and only +gibbet thee." "O Allah cause her to sing vilely!" quoth Ja'afar. Asked the +Caliph, "Why so?"; and he answered, "If thou crucify us all together, we shall +keep one another company." The Caliph laughed at his speech. Presently the +damsel took the lute and, after looking at it and tuning it, she played a +measure which made all hearts yearn to her; then she sang these lines, + +"O ye that can aid me, a wretched lover, * Whom longing burns nor can rest restore me! +Though all you have done I have well deserved, * I take refuge with you, so exult not o'er me: +True, I am weak and low and vile, * But I'll bear your will and whatso you bore me: +My death at your hands what brings it of glory? * I fear but your sin which of life forlore me!" + + +Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, good! O Ja'afar, never in my life have I heard a +voice so enchanting as this." "Then haply the Caliph's wrath hath passed +away," said Ja'afar, and he replied, "Yes, 'tis gone." Thereupon they +descended from the tree, and the Caliph said to Ja'afar, "I wish to go in and +sit with them; and hear the damsel sing before me." "O Commander of the +Faithful," replied Ja'afar, "if thou go in to them they will be terribly +troubled, and Shaykh Ibrahim will assuredly die of fright." But the Caliph +answered, "O Ja'afar, thou must teach me some device wherewith to delude them +and whereby I can foregather with them without their knowing me." So they +walked towards the Tigris pondering the matter, and presently came upon a +fisherman who stood fishing under the pavilion windows. Now some time before +this, the Caliph (being in the pavilion) had called to Shaykh Ibrahim and asked +him, "What noise is this I hear under the windows?" and he had answered, "It is +voices of fisher folk catching fish:" so quoth the Caliph, "Go down and forbid +them this place;" and he forbade them accordingly. However that night a +fisherman named Karim, happening to pass by and seeing the garden gate open, +said to himself, "This is a time of negligence; and I will take advantage of it +to do a bit of fishing." So he took his net and cast it, but he had hardly +done so when behold, the Caliph come up single-handed and, standing hard by, +knew him and called aloud to him, "Ho, Karim!" The fisherman, hearing himself +named, turned round, and seeing the Caliph, trembled and his side-muscles +quivered, as he cried, "By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I did it not in +mockery of the mandate; but poverty and a large family drove me to what thou +seest!" Quoth the Caliph, "Make a cast in my name." At this the fisherman was +glad and going to the bank threw his net, then waiting till it had spread out +at full stretch and settled down, hauled it up and found in it various kinds of +fish. The Caliph was pleased and said, "O Karim, doff thy habit." So he put +off a gaberdine of coarse woollen stuff patched in an hundred places whereon +the lice were rampant, and a turband which had never been untwisted for three +years but to which he had sewn every rag he came upon. The Caliph also pulled +off his person two vests of Alexandrian and Ba'lbak silk, a loose inner robe +and a long-sleeved outer coat, and said to the fisherman, "Take them; and put +them on," while he assumed the foul gaberdine and filthy turband and drew a +corner of the head-cloth as a mouth-veil[FN#56] before his face. Then said he +to the fisherman, "Get thee about thy business!"; and the man kissed the +Caliph's feet and thanked him and improvised the following couplets, + +"Thou hast granted more favours than ever I craved; * Thou hast satisfied needs which my heart enslaved: +I will thank thee and thank whileas life shall last, * And my bones will praise thee in grave engraved!" + + +Hardly had the fisherman ended his verse, when the lice began to crawl over the +Caliph's skin, and he fell to catching them on his neck with his right and left +and throwing them from him, while he cried, "O fisherman, woe to thee! what be +this abundance of lice on thy gaberdine." "O my lord," replied he, "they may +annoy thee just at first, but before a week is past thou wilt not feel them nor +think of them." The Caliph laughed and said to him, "Out on thee! Shall I +leave this gaberdine of thine so long on my body?" Quoth the fisherman, "I +would say a word to thee but I am ashamed in presence of the Caliph!"; and +quoth he, "Say what thou hast to say." "It passed through my thought, O +Commander of the Faithful," said the fisherman, "that, since thou wishest to +learn fishing so thou mayest have in hand an honest trade whereby to gain thy +livelihood, this my gaberdine besitteth thee right well."[FN#57] The Commander +of the Faithful laughed at this speech, and the fisherman went his way. Then +the Caliph took up the basket of fish and, strewing a little green grass over +it, carried it to Ja'afar and stood before him. Ja'afar thinking him to be +Karim the fisherman feared for him and said, "O Karim, what brought thee +hither? Flee for thy life, for the Caliph is in the garden to-night and, if he +see thee, thy neck is gone." At this the Caliph laughed and Ja'afar recognized +him and asked, "Can it be thou, our lord the Sultan?"; and he answered, "Yes, O +Ja'afar, and thou art my Wazir and I and thou came hither together; yet thou +knowest me not; so how should Shaykh Ibrahim know me, and he drunk? Stay here, +till I came back to thee." "To hear is to obey," said Ja'afar. Then the +Caliph went up to the door of the pavilion and knocked a gentle knock, +whereupon said Nur al-Din," O Shaykh Ibrahim, some one taps at the door." "Who +goes there?" cried the Shaykh and the Caliph replied, "It is I, O Shaykh +Ibrahim!" "Who art thou," quoth he, and quoth the other, "I am Karim the +fisherman: I hear thou hast a feast, so I have brought thee some fish, and of a +truth 'tis good fish." When Nur al-Din heard the mention of fish, he was glad, +he and the damsel, and they both said to the Shaykh, "O our lord, open the door +and let him bring us his fish." So Shaykh Ibrahim opened and the Caliph came in +(and he in fisherman guise), and began by saluting them. Said Shaykh Ibrahim, +"Welcome to the blackguard, the robber, the dicer! Let us see thy fish." So +the Caliph showed them his catch and behold, the fishes were still alive and +jumping, whereupon the damsel exclaimed, "By Allah! O my lord, these are +indeed fine fish: would they were fried!" and Shaykh Ibrahim rejoined, "By +Allah, O my lady, thou art right." Then said he to the Caliph, "O fisherman, +why didst thou not bring us the fish ready fried? Up now and cook them; and +bring them back to us." "On my head be thy commands!" said the Caliph, "I will +fry thee a dish and bring it." Said they, "Look sharp." Thereupon he went and +ran till he came up to Ja'afar when he called to him, "Hallo, Ja'afar!"; and he +replied, "Here am I, O Commander of the Faithful, is all well?" "They want the +fish fried," said the Caliph, and Ja'afar answered, "O Commander of the +Faithful, give it to me and I'll fry it for them." "By the tombs of my +forbears," quoth the Caliph, "none shall fry it but I, with mine own hand!" So +he went to the gardener's hut, where he searched and found all that he +required, even to salt and saffron and wild marjoram and else besides. Then he +turned to the brasier and, setting on the frying-pan, fried a right good fry. +When it was done, he laid it on a banana-leaf, and gathering from the garden +wind-fallen fruits, limes and lemons, carried the fish to the pavilion and set +the dish before them. So the youth and the damsel and Shaykh Ibrahim came +forward and ate; after which they washed their hands and Nur al-Din said to the +Caliph, "By Allah, O fisherman, thou hast done us a right good deed this +night." Then he put hand in pouch and, taking out three of the dinars which +Sanjar had given him, said, "O fisherman, excuse me. By Allah had I known thee +before that which hath lately befallen me, I had done away the bitterness of +poverty from thy heart; but take thou this as the best I can do for thee." +Then he threw the gold pieces to the Caliph, who took them; and kissed them; and +put them in pouch. Now his sole object in doing all this was to hear the damsel +sing; so he said to Nur al-Din, "Thou hast rewarded me most liberally, but I +beg of thy boundless bounty that thou let this damsel sing an air, that I may +hear her."[FN#58] So Nur al- Din said, "O Anis al-Jalis!" and she answered +"Yes!" and he continued, "By my life, sing us something for the sake of this +fisherman who wisheth so much to hear thee." Thereupon she took the lute and +struck the strings, after she had screwed them tight and tuned them, and sang +these improvised verses, + +"The fawn of a maid hent her lute in hand * And her music made us right mettlesome: +For her song gave hearing to ears stone-deaf, * While Brava! Brava! exclaimed the dumb." + + +Then she played again and played so ravishingly, that she charmed their wits +and burst out improvising and singing these couplets, + +"You have honoured us visiting this our land, * And your splendour illumined the glooms that blent: +So 'tis due that for you I perfume my place * With rose-water, musk and the camphor-scent!" + + +Hereupon the Caliph was agitated, and emotion so overpowered him that he could +not command himself for excess of pleasure, and he exclaimed, "By Allah, good! +by Allah, good! by Allah, good!"[FN#59] Asked Nur al-Din, "O fisherman, doth +this damsel please thee?" and the Caliph answered, "Ay, by Allah!" Whereupon +said Nur al-Din, "She is a gift to thee, a gift of the generous who repenteth +him not of his givings and who will never revoke his gift!" Then he sprang to +his feet and, taking a loose robe, threw it over the fisherman and bade him +receive the damsel and be gone. But she looked at him and said, "O my lord, +art thou faring forth without farewell? If it must be so, at least stay till I +bid thee good-bye and make known my case." And she began versifying in these +verses, + +"When love and longing and regret are mine, * Must not this body show of ills a sign? +My love! say not, 'Thou soon shalt be consoled'; * When state speaks state none shall allay my pine. +If living man could swim upon his tears, * I first should float on waters of these eyne: +O thou, who in my heart infusedst thy love, * As water mingles in the cup with wine, +This was the fear I feared, this parting blow. * O thou whose love my heart-core ne'er shall tyne! +O Bin Khákán! my sought, my hope, my will, * O thou whose love this breast made wholly thine! +Against thy lord the King thou sinn'dst for me, * And winnedst exile in lands peregrine: +Allah ne'er make my lord repent my loss * To cream[FN#60] o' men thou gavest me, one right digne." + + +When she had ended her verses, Nur al-Din answered her with these lines, + +"She bade me farewell on our parting day, * And she wept in the fire of our bane and pains: +'What wilt thou do when fro' thee I'm gone?' * Quoth I, 'say this to whom life remains!'" + + +When the Caliph heard her saying in her verse, + +"To Karim, the cream of men thou gavest me;" + + +his inclination for her redoubled and it seemed a hard matter and a grievous to +part them; so quoth he to the youth, "O my lord, truly the damsel said in her +verses that thou didst transgress against her master and him who owned her; so +tell me, against whom didst thou transgress and who is it hath a claim on +thee?" "By Allah, O fisherman," replied Nur al-Din, "there befel me and this +damsel a wondrous tale and a marvellous matter: an 't were graven with +needle-gravers on the eye-corners it would be a warner to whoso would be +warned." Cried the Caliph, "Wilt thou not tell me thy story and acquaint me +with thy case? Haply it may bring thee relief, for Allah's aid is ever +nearhand." "O fisherman," said Nur al-Din, "Wilt thou hear our history in verse +or in prose?" "Prose is a wordy thing, but verses," rejoined the Caliph, "are +pearls on string." Then Nur al-Din bowed his head, and made these couplets, + +"O my friend! reft of rest no repose I command, * And my grief is edoubled in this far land: +Erst I had a father, a kinder ne'er was; * But he died and to Death paid the deodand: +When he went from me, every matter went wrong * Till my heart was nigh-broken, my nature unmanned: +He bought me a handmaid, a sweeting who shamed * A wand of the willow by Zephyr befanned: +I lavisht upon her mine heritage, * And spent like a nobleman puissant and grand: +Then to sell her compelled, my sorrow increased; * The parting was sore but I mote not gainstand: +Now as soon as the crier had called her, there bid * A wicked old fellow, a fiery brand: +So I raged with a rage that I could not restrain, * And snatched her from out of his hireling's hand; +When the angry curmudgeon made ready for blows, * And the fire of a fight kindled he and his band, +I smote him in fury with right and with left, * And his hide, till well satisfied, curried and tanned: +Then in fear I fled forth and lay hid in my house, * To escape from the snares which my foeman had spanned: +So the King of the country proclaimed my arrest; * When access to me a good Chamberlain fand: +And warned me to flee from the city afar, * Disappear, disappoint what my enemies planned: +Then we fled from our home 'neath the wing of the night, * And sought us a refuge by Baghdad strand: +Of my riches I've nothing on thee to bestow, * O Fisher, except the fair gift thou hast scanned: +The loved of my soul, and when I from her part, * Know for sure that I give thee the blood of my heart."[FN#61] + + +When he had ended his verse, the Caliph said to him, "O my lord Nur al-Din, +explain to me thy case more fully," So he told him the whole story from +beginning to end, and the Caliph said to him, "Whither dost thou now intend?" +"Allah's world is wide," replied he. Quoth the Caliph, "I will write thee a +letter to carry to the Sultan Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, which when he +readeth, he will not hurt nor harm thee in aught."—-And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Thirty-eighth Night, + + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph said +to Nur al-Din Ali, "I will write thee a letter to carry to the Sultan Mohammed +bin Sulayman al-Zayni, which when he readeth, he will not hurt nor harm thee in +aught," Nur al-Din asked "What! is there in the world a fisherman who writeth +to Kings? Such a thing can never be!"; and the Caliph answered, "Thou sayest +sooth, but I will tell thee the reason. Know that I and he learnt in the same +school under one schoolmaster, and that I was his monitor. Since that time +Fortune befriended him and he is become a Sultan, while Allah hath abased me +and made me a fisherman; yet I never send to him to ask aught but he doeth my +desire; nay, though I should ask of him a thousand favours every day, he would +comply." When Nur al-Din heard this he said, "Good! write that I may see." So +the Caliph took ink-case and reed-pen and wrote as follows,—"In the name of +Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate! But after.[FN#62] This letter +is written by Harun al-Rashid, son of Al-Mahdi, to his highness Mohammed bin +Sulayman al-Zayni, whom I have encompassed about with my favour and made my +viceroy in certain of my dominions. The bearer of these presents is Nur al-Din +Ali, son of Fazl bin Khákán the Wazir. As soon as they come to thy hand divest +thyself forthright of the kingly dignity and invest him therewith; so oppose +not my commandment and peace be with thee." He gave the letter to Nur al-Din, +who took it and kissed it, then put it in his turband and set out at once on +his journey. So far concerning him; but as regards the Caliph, Shaykh Ibrahim +stared at him (and he still in fisher garb) and said, "O vilest of fishermen, +thou hast brought us a couple of fish worth a score of half-dirhams,[FN#63] and +hast gotten three dinars for them; and thinkest thou to take the damsel to +boot?" When the Caliph heard this, he cried out at him, and signed to Masrur +who discovered himself and rushed in upon him. Now Ja'afar had sent one of the +gardener-lads to the doorkeeper of the palace to fetch a suit of royal raiment +for the Prince of the Faithful; so the man went and, returning with the suit, +kissed the ground before the Caliph and gave it him. Then he threw off the +clothes he had on[FN#64] and donned kingly apparel. Shaykh Ibrahim was still +sitting upon his chair and the Caliph tarried to behold what would come next. +But seeing the Fisherman become the Caliph, Shaykh Ibrahim was utterly +confounded and he could do nothing but bite his finger- ends[FN#65] and say, +"Would I knew whether am I asleep or am I awake!" At last the Caliph looked at +him and cried, "O Shaykh Ibrahim, what state is this in which I see thee?" +Thereupon he recovered from his drunkenness and, throwing himself upon the +ground, repeated these verses, + +"Pardon the sinful ways I did pursue; * Ruth from his lord to every slave is due: +Confession pays the fine that sin demands; * Where, then, is that which grace and mercy sue?"[FN#66] + + +The Caliph forgave him and bade carry the damsel to the city- palace, where he +set apart for her an apartment and appointed slaves to serve her, saying to +her, "Know that we have sent thy lord to be Sultan in Bassorah and, Almighty +Allah willing, we will dispatch him the dress of investiture and thee with it." +Meanwhile, Nur al-Din Ali ceased not travelling till he reached Bassorah, where +he repaired to the Sultan's palace and he shouted a loud shout.[FN#67] The +Sultan heard him and sent for him; and when he came into his presence, he +kissed the ground between his hands and, producing the letter, presented it to +him. Seeing the superscription in the writing of the Commander of the +Faithful, the Sultan rose to his feet and kissed it three times; and after +reading it said, "I hear and I obey Allah Almighty and the Commander of the +Faithful!" Then he summoned the four Kazis[FN#68] and the Emirs and was about +to divest himself of the rule royal, when behold, in came Al Mu'ín bin Sáwí. +The Sultan gave him the Caliph's letter and he read it, then tore it to pieces +and putting it into his mouth, chewed it[FN#69] and spat it out. "Woe to +thee," quoth the Sultan (and indeed he was sore angered); "what induced thee to +do this deed?" "Now by thy life! O our lord the Sultan," replied Mu'ín, "this +man hath never foregathered with the Caliph nor with his Wazir; but he is a +gallows-bird, a limb of Satan, a knave who, having come upon a written paper in +the Caliph's hand, some idle scroll, hath made it serve his own end. The +Caliph would surely not send him to take the Sultanate from thee without the +imperial autograph[FN#70] and the diploma of investiture, and he certainly +would have despatched with him a Chamberlain or a Minister. But he hath come +alone and he never came from the Caliph, no, never! never! never!" "What is to +be done?" asked the Sultan, and the Minister answered, "Leave him to me and I +will take him and keep him away from thee, and send him in charge of a +Chamberlain to Baghdad-city. Then, if what he says be sooth, they will bring +us back autograph and investiture; and if not, I will take my due out of this +debtor." When the Sultan heard the Minister's words he said, "Hence with thee +and him too." Al Mu'ín took trust of him from the King and, carrying him to his +own house, cried out to his pages who laid him flat and beat him till he +fainted. Then he let put upon his feet heavy shackles and carried him to the +jail, where he called the jailor, one Kutayt,[FN#71] who came and kissed the +ground before him. Quoth the Wazir, "O Kutayt, I wish thee to take this fellow +and throw him into one of the underground cells[FN#72] in the prison and +torture him night and day." "To hear is to obey," replied the jailor and, +taking Nur al-Din into the prison, locked the door upon him. Then he gave +orders to sweep a bench behind the door and, spreading on it a sitting-rug and +a leather-cloth, seated Nur al-Din thereon and loosed his shackles and +entreated him kindly. The Wazir sent every day enjoining the jailor to beat +him, but he abstained from this, and so continued to do for forty days. On the +forty-first day there came a present from the Caliph; which when the Sultan +saw, it pleased him and he consulted his Ministers on the matter, when one of +them said, "Perchance this present was for the new Sultan." Cried Al-Mu'ín, +"We should have done well had we put him to death at his first coming;" and the +Sultan cried "By Allah, thou hast reminded me of him! Go down to the prison +and fetch him, and I will strike off his head." "To hear is to obey," replied +Al-Mu'ín: then he stood up and said, "I will make proclamation in the +city:—Whoso would solace himself with seeing the beheading of Nur al-Din bin +al-Fazl bin Khákán, let him repair to the palace! So follower and followed, +great and small will flock to the spectacle, and I shall heal my heart and harm +my foe." "Do as thou wilt," said the Sultan. The Wazir went off (and he was +glad and gay), and ordered the Chief of Police to make the afore-mentioned +proclamation. When the people heard the crier, they all sorrowed and wept, even +the little ones at school and the traders in their shops; and some strove to +get places for seeing the sight, whilst others went to the prison with the +object of escorting him thence. Presently, the Wazir came with ten Mamelukes +to the jail and Kutayt the jailor asked him, "Whom seekest thou, O our lord the +Wazir?"; whereto he answered, "Bring me out that gallows- bird." But the +jailor said, "He is in the sorriest of plights for the much beating I have +given him." Then he went into the prison and found Nur al-Din repeating these +verses, + +"Who shall support me in calamities, * When fail all cures and greater cares arise? +Exile hath worn my heart, my vitals torn; The World to foes hath turned my firm allies. +O folk, will not one friend amidst you all * Wail o'er my woes, and cry to hear my cries? +Death and it agonies seem light to me, * Since life has lost all joys and jollities: +O Lord of Mustafá,[FN#73] that Science-sea, * Sole Intercessor, Guide all-ware, all-wise! +I pray thee free me and my fault forego, * And from me drive mine evil and my woe." + + +The jailor stripped off his clean clothes and, dressing him in two filthy +vests, carried him to the Wazir. Nur al-Din looked at him and saw it was his +foe that sought to compass his death; so he wept and said, "Art thou, then, so +secure against the World? Hast thou not heard the saying of the poet, + +'Kisras and Caesars in a bygone day * Stored wealth; where is it, and ah! where +are they?' + + +"O Wazir," he continued, "know that Allah (be He extolled and exalted!) will do +whatso He will!" "O Ali," replied he, "thinkest thou to frighten me with such +talk? I mean this very day to smite thy neck despite the noses of the Bassorah +folk and I care not; let the days do as they please; nor will I turn me to thy +counsel but rather to what the poet saith, + +'Leave thou the days to breed their ban and bate, * And make thee strong t' +upbear the weight of Fate.' + + +And also how excellently saith another, + +'Whoso shall see the death-day of his foe, * One day surviving, wins his +bestest wish.'" + + +Then he ordered his attendants to mount Nur al-Din upon the bare back of a +mule; and they said to the youth (for truly it was irksome to them), "Let us +stone him and cut him down though our lives go for it." But Nur al-Din said to +them, "Do not so: have ye not heard the saying of the poet, + +'Needs must I bear the term by Fate decreed, * And when that day be dead needs must I die: +If lions dragged me to their forest-lair, * Safe should I live till draw my death-day nigh.'" + + +Then they proceeded to proclaim before Nur al-Din, "This is the least of the +retribution for him who imposeth upon Kings with forgeries." And they ceased +not parading him round about Bassorah, till they made him stand beneath the +palace-windows and set him upon the leather of blood,[FN#74] and the sworder +came up to him and said, "O my lord, I am but a slave commanded in this matter: +an thou have any desire, tell it me that I may fulfil it, for now there +remaineth of they life only so much as may be till the Sultan shall put his +face out of the lattice." Thereupon Nur al-Din looked to the right and to the +left, and before him and behind him and began improvising, + +"The sword, the sworder and the blood-skin waiting me I sight, * And cry, Alack, mine evil fate! ah, my calamity! +How is't I see no loving friend with eye of sense or soul? * What! no one here? I cry to all: will none reply to me? +The time is past that formed my life, my death term draweth nigh, * Will no man win the grace of God showing me clemency; +And look with pity on my state, and clear my dark despair, * E'en with a draught of water dealt to cool death's agony?" + + +The people fell to weeping over him; and the headsman rose and brought him a +draught of water; but the Wazir sprang up from his place and smote the gugglet +with his hand and broke it: then he cried out at the executioner and bade him +strike off Nur al-Din's head. So he bound the eyes of the doomed man and folk +clamoured at the Wazir and loud wailings were heard and much questioning of man +and man. At this moment behold, rose a dense dust-cloud filling sky and wold; +and when the Sultan, who was sitting in the palace, descried this, he said to +his suite, "Go and see what yon cloud bringeth:" Replied Al Mu'ín, "Not till +we have smitten this fellow's neck;" but the Sultan said, "Wait ye till we see +what this meaneth." Now the dust-cloud was the dust of J'afar the Barmecide, +Wazir to the Caliph, and his host; and the cause of his coming was as follows. +The Caliph passed thirty days without calling to mind the matter of Nur al-Din +Ali,[FN#75] and none reminded him of it, till one night, as he passed by the +chamber of Anis al-Jalis, he heard her weeping and singing with a soft sweet +voice these lines of the poet, + +"In thought I see thy form when farthest far or nearest near; * And on my +tongue there dwells a name which man shall ne'er unhear." + + +Then her weeping redoubled; when lo! the Caliph opened the door and, entering +the chamber, found Anis al-Jalis in tears. When she saw him she fell to the +ground and kissing his feet three times repeated these lines, + +"O fertile root and noble growth of trunk; * Ripe-fruitful branch of never sullied race; +I mind thee of what pact thy bounty made; * Far be 't from thee thou should'st forget my case!" + + +Quoth the Caliph, "Who art thou?" and she replied, "I am she whom Ali bin +Khákán gave thee in gift, and I wish the fulfilment of thy promise to send me +to him with the robe of honour; for I have now been thirty days without tasting +the food of sleep." Thereupon the Caliph sent for Ja'afar and said to him, "O +Ja'afar, 'tis thirty days since we have had news of Nur al-Din bin Khákán, and +I cannot but suppose that the Sultan hath slain him; but, by the life of my head +and by the sepulchres of my forefathers, if aught of foul play hath befallen +him, I will surely make an end of him who was the cause of it, though he be the +dearest of all men to myself! So I desire that thou set out for Bassorah within +this hour and bring me tidings of my cousin, King Mohammed bin Sulayman +al-Zayni, and how he had dealt with Nur al-Din Ali bin Khákán;" adding, "If +thou tarry longer on the road than shall suffice for the journey, I will strike +off thy head. Furthermore, do thou tell the son of my uncle the whole story of +Nur al-Din, and how I sent him with my written orders; and if thou find, O my +cousin,[FN#76] that the King hath done otherwise than as I commanded, bring him +and the Wazir Al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí to us in whatsoever guise thou shalt find +them."[FN#77] "Hearing and obedience," replied Ja'afar and, making ready on the +instant, he set out for Bassorah where the news of his coming had foregone him +and had reached to the ears of King Mohammed. When Ja'afar arrived and saw the +crushing and crowding of the lieges, he asked, "What means all this gathering?" +so they told him what was doing in the matter of Nur al-Din; whereupon he +hastened to go to the Sultan and saluting him, acquainted him with the cause +why he came and the Caliph's resolve, in case of any foul play having befallen +the youth, to put to death whoso should have brought it about. Then he took +into custody the King and the Wazir and laid them in ward and, giving order for +the release of Nur al-Din Ali, enthroned him as Sultan in the stead of Mohammed +bin Sulayman. After this Ja'afar abode three days in Bassorah, the usual +guest-time, and on the morning of the fourth day, Nur al-Din Ali turned to him +and said, "I long for the sight of the Commander of the Faithful." Then said +Ja'afar to Mohammed bin Sulayman, "Make ready to travel, for we will say the +dawn-prayer and mount Baghdad-wards;" and he replied, "To hear is to obey." +Then they prayed and they took horse and set out, all of them, carrying with +them the Wazir, Al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí, who began to repent him of what he had done. +Nur al-Din rode by Ja'afar's side and they stinted not faring on till they +arrived at Baghdad, the House of Peace, and going in to the Caliph told him how +they had found Nur al-Din nigh upon death. Thereupon the Caliph said to the +youth, "Take this sword and smite with it the neck of thine enemy." So he took +the sword from his hand and stepped up to Al-Mu'ín who looked at him and said, +"I did according to my mother's milk, do thou according to thine."[FN#78] Upon +this Nur al-Din cast the sword from his hand and said to the Caliph, "O +Commander of the Faithful, he hath beguiled me with his words;" and he repeated +this couplet, + +"By craft and sleight I snared him when he came; * A few fair words aye trap +the noble-game!" + + +"Leave him then," cried the Caliph and, turning to Masrur said, "Rise thou and +smite his neck." So Masrur drew his sword and struck off his head. Then quoth +the Caliph to Nur al-Din Ali, "Ask a boon of me." "O my lord," answered he, "I +have no need of the Kingship of Bassorah; my sole desire is to be honoured by +serving thee and by seeing thy countenance." "With love and gladness," said the +Caliph. Then he sent for the damsel, Anis al-Jalis, and bestowed plentiful +favours upon them both and gave them one of his palaces in Baghdad, and +assigned stipends and allowances, and made Nur al-Din Ali bin Fazl bin Khákán, +one of his cup-companions; and he abode with the Commander of the Faithful +enjoying the pleasantest of lives till death overtook him. "Yet (continued +Shahrazad) is not his story in any wise more wondrous than the history of the +merchant and his children." The King asked "And what was that?" and Shahrazad +began to relate the + + + + +Tale of Ghanim bin Ayyub[FN#79], the Distraught, the Thrall o' Love. + + +It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that in times of yore and in years and +ages long gone before, there lived in Damascus a merchant among the merchants, +a wealthy man who had a son like the moon on the night of his fulness[FN#80] +and withal sweet of speech, who was named Ghánim bin ‘Ayyúb surnamed the +Distraught, the Thrall o' Love. He had also a daughter, own sister to Ghanim, +who was called Fitnah, a damsel unique in beauty and loveliness. Their father +died and left them abundant wealth.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Thirty-ninth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the merchant left his two +children abundant wealth and amongst other things an hundred loads[FN#81] of +silks and brocades, musk-pods and mother o' pearl; and there was written on +every bale, "This is of the packages intended for Baghdad," it having been his +purpose to make the journey thither, when Almighty Allah took him to Himself, +which was in the time of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid. After a while his son took +the loads and, bidding farewell to his mother and kindred and townsfolk, went +forth with a company of merchants, putting his trust in Allah Almighty, who +decreed him safety, so that he arrived without let or stay at Baghdad. There he +hired for himself a fair dwelling house which he furnished with carpets and +cushions, curtains and hangings; and therein stored his bales and stabled his +mules and camels, after which he abode a while resting. Presently the merchants +and notables of Baghdad came and saluted him, after which he took a bundle +containing ten pieces of costly stuffs, with the prices written on them, and +carried it to the merchants' bazar, where they welcomed and saluted him and +showed him all honour; and, making him dismount from his beast, seated him in +the shop of the Syndic of the market, to whom he delivered the package. He +opened it and drawing out the pieces of stuff, sold them for him at a profit +of two dinars on every dinar of prime cost. At this Ghanim rejoiced and kept +selling his silks and stuffs one after another, and ceased not to do on this +wise for a full year. On the first day of the following year he went, as was +his wont, to the Exchange which was in the bazar, but found the gate shut; and +enquiring the reason was told, "One of the merchants is dead and all the others +have gone to follow his bier,[FN#82] and why shouldst thou not win the meed of +good deeds by walking with them?"[FN#83] He replied "Yes," and asked for the +quarter where the funeral was taking place, and one directed him thereto. So he +purified himself by the Wuzu-ablution[FN#84] and repaired with the other +merchants to the oratory, where they prayed over the dead, then walked before +the bier to the burial-place, and Ghanim, who was a bashful man, followed them +being ashamed to leave them. They presently issued from the city, and passed +through the tombs until they reached the grave where they found that the +deceased's kith and kin had pitched a tent over the tomb and had brought +thither lamps and wax-candles. So they buried the body and sat down while the +readers read out and recited the Koran over the grave; and Ghanim sat with +them, being overcome with bashfulness and saying to himself "I cannot well go +away till they do." They tarried listening to the Koranic perlection till +nightfall, when the servants set supper and sweetmeats[FN#85] before them; and +they ate till they were satisfied; then they washed their hands and again took +their places. But Ghanim's mind was preoccupied with his house and goods, being +in fear of robbers, and he said to himself, "I am a stranger here and supposed +to have money; if I pass the night abroad the thieves will steal my money-bags +and my bales to boot." So when he could no longer control his fear he arose and +left the assembly, having first asked leave to go about some urgent business; +and following the signs of the road he soon came to the city-gate. But it was +midnight and he found the doors locked and saw none going or coming nor heard +aught but the hounds baying and the wolves howling. At this he exclaimed, +"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! I was in fear for my +property and came back on its account, but now I find the gate shut and I am in +mortal fear for my life!" Then he turned back and, looking out for a place +where he could sleep till morning, presently found a Santon's tomb, a square of +four walls with a date-tree in the central court and a granite gateway. The +door was wide open; so he entered and would fain have slept, but sleep came not +to him; and terror and a sense of desolation oppressed him, for that he was +alone amidst the tombs. So he rose to his feet and, opening the door, looked +out and lo! he was ware of a light afar off in the direction of the city-gate; +then walking a little way towards it, he saw that it was on the road whereby he +had reached the tomb. This made him fear for his life, so he hastily shut the +door and climbed to the top of the date-tree where he hid himself in the heart +of the fronds. The light came nearer and nearer till it was close to the tomb; +then it stopped and he saw three slaves, two bearing a chest and one with a +lanthorn, an adze and a basket containing some mortar. When they reached the +tomb, one of those who were carrying the case said, "What aileth thee O +Sawáb?"; and said the other, "What is the matter O Káfúr?"[FN#86] Quoth he, +"Were we not here at supper-tide and did we not leave the door open?" "Yes," +replied the other, "that is true.'' "See," said Kafur, "now it is shut and +barred." "How weak are your wits!" cried the third who bore the adze and his +name was Bukhayt,[FN#87] "know ye not that the owners of the gardens use to +come out from Baghdad and tend them; and, when evening closes upon them, they +enter this place and shut the door, for fear lest the wicked blackmen, like +ourselves, should catch them; and roast 'em and eat 'em."[FN#88] "Thou sayest +sooth," said the two others, "but by Allah, however that may be, none amongst +us is weaker of wits than thou." "If ye do not believe me," said Bukhayt, "let +us enter the tomb and I will rouse the rat for you; for I doubt not but that, +when he saw the light and us making for the place, he ran up the date-tree and +hid there for fear of us." When Ghanim heard this, he said in himself, "O +curstest of slaves! May Allah not have thee in His holy keeping for this thy +craft and keenness of wit! There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great! How shall I win free of these blackamoors?" +Then said the two who bore the box to him of the adze, "Swarm up the wall and +open the gate for us, O Bukhayt, for we are tired of carrying the chest on our +necks; and when thou hast opened the gate thou shalt have one of those we catch +inside, a fine fat rat which we will fry for thee after such excellent fashion +that not a speck of his fat shall be lost." But Bukhayt answered, "I am afraid +of somewhat which my weak wits have suggested to me: we should do better to +throw the chest over the gateway; for it is our treasure." "If we throw it +'twill break," replied they; and he said, "I fear lest there be robbers within +who murder folk and plunder their goods, for evening is their time of entering +such places and dividing their spoil." "O thou weak o' wits," said both the +bearers of the box, "how could they ever get in here!"[FN#89] Then they set +down the chest and climbing over the wall dropped inside and opened the gate, +whilst the third slave (he that was called Bukhayt) stood by them holding the +adze, the lanthorn and the hand-basket containing the mortar. After this they +locked the gate and sat down; and presently one of them said, "O my brethren, +we are wearied with walking and with lifting up and setting down the chest, and +with unlocking and locking the gate; and now 'tis midnight, and we have no +breath left to open a tomb and bury the box: so let us rest here two or three +hours, then rise and do the job. Meanwhile each of us shall tell how he came to +be castrated and all that befel him from first to last, the better to pass away +our time while we take our rest." Thereupon the first, he of the lanthorn and +whose name was Bukhayt, said, "I'll tell you my tale." "Say on," replied they; +so he began as follows the + + + + +Tale of the First Eunuch, Bukhayt. + + +Know, O my brothers, that when I was a little one, some five years old, I was +taken home from my native country by a slave-driver who sold me to a certain +Apparitor.[FN#90] My purchaser had a daughter three years old, with whom I was +brought up, and they used to make mock of me, letting me play with her and +dance for her[FN#91] and sing to her, till I reached the age of twelve and she +that of ten; and even then they did not forbid me seeing her. One day I went in +to her and found her sitting in an inner room, and she looked as if she had +just come out of the bath which was in the house; for she was scented with +essences and reek of aromatic woods, and her face shone like a circle of the +moon on the fourteenth night. She began to sport with me, and I with her. Now I +had just reached the age of puberty; so my prickle stood at point, as it were a +huge key. Then she threw me on my back and, mounting astraddle on my breast, +fell a-wriggling and a-bucking upon me till she had uncovered my yard. When she +saw it standing with head erect, she hent it in hand and began rubbing it upon +the lips of her little slit[FN#92] outside her petticoat-trousers. Thereat hot +lust stirred in me and I threw my arms round her, while she wound hers about my +neck and hugged me to her with all her might, till, before I knew what I did, +my pizzle split up her trousers and entered her slit and did away her +maidenhead. When I saw this, I ran off and took refuge with one of my comrades. +Presently her mother came in to her; and, seeing her in this case, fainted +clean away. However she managed the matter advisedly and hid it from the girl's +father out of good will to me; nor did they cease to call to me and coax me, +till they took me from where I was. After two months had passed by, her mother +married her to a young man, a barber who used to shave her papa, and portioned +and fitted her out of her own monies; whilst the father knew nothing of what +had passed. On the night of consummation they cut the throat of a pigeon-poult +and sprinkled the blood on her shift.[FN#93] After a while they seized me +unawares and gelded me; and, when they brought her to her bridegroom, they made +me her Agha,[FN#94] her eunuch, to walk before her wheresoever she went, +whether to the bath or to her father's house. I abode with her a long time +enjoying her beauty and loveliness by way of kissing and clipping and coupling +with her,[FN#95] till she died, and her husband and mother and father died +also; when they seized me for the Royal Treasury as being the property of an +intestate, and I found my way hither, where I became your comrade. This, then, +O my brethren, is the cause of my cullions being cut off; and peace be with +you! He ceased and his fellow began in these words the + + + + +Tale of the Second Eunuch, Kafur. + + +Know, O my brothers that, when beginning service as a boy of eight, I used to +tell the slave-dealers regularly and exactly one lie every year, so that they +fell out with one another, till at last my master lost patience with me and, +carrying me down to the market, ordered the brokers to cry, "Who will buy this +slave, knowing his blemish and making allowance for it?" He did so and they +asked him, "Pray, what may be his blemish?" and he answered, "He telleth me one +single lie every year." Now a man that was a merchant came up and said to the +broker, "How much do they allow for him with his blemish?" "They allow six +hundred dirhams," he replied; and said the other, "Thou shalt have twenty +dirhams for thyself." So he arranged between him and the slave-dealer who took +the coin from him and the broker carried me to the merchant's house and +departed, after receiving his brokerage. The trader clothed me with suitable +dress, and I stayed in his service the rest of my twelvemonth, until the new +year began happily. It was a blessed season, plenteous in the produce of the +earth, and the merchants used to feast every day at the house of some one among +them, till it was my master's turn to entertain them in a flower-garden without +the city. So he and the other merchants went to the garden, taking with them +all that they required of provaunt and else beside, and sat eating and +carousing and drinking till mid-day, when my master, having need of some matter +from his home, said to me, "O slave, mount the she-mule and hie thee to the +house and bring from thy mistress such and such a thing and return quickly." I +obeyed his bidding and started for the house but, as I drew near it, I began to +cry out and shed tears, whereupon all the people of the quarter collected, +great and small; and my master's wife and daughters, hearing the noise I was +making, opened the door and asked me what was the matter. Said I, "My master +was sitting with his friends beneath an old wall, and it fell on one and all of +them; and when I saw what had happened to them, I mounted the mule and came +hither in haste to tell you." When my master's daughters and wife heard this, +they screamed and rent their raiment and beat their faces, whilst the +neighbours came around them. Then the wife overturned the furniture of the +house, one thing upon another, and tore down the shelves and broke the windows +and the lattices and smeared the walls with mud and indigo, saying to me, "Woe +to thee, O Kafur! come help me to tear down these cupboards and break up these +vessels and this china ware,[FN#96] and the rest of it." So I went to her and +aided her to smash all the shelves in the house with whatever stood upon them, +after which I went round about the terrace-roofs and every part of the place, +spoiling all I could and leaving no china in the house unbroken till I had laid +waste the whole, crying out the while "Well away! my master!" Then my mistress +fared forth bare-faced wearing a head-kerchief and naught else, and her +daughters and the children sallied out with her, and said to me, "O Kafur, go +thou before us and show us the place where thy master lieth dead, that we may +take him from under the fallen wall and lay him on a bier and bear him to the +house and give him a fine funeral." So I went forth before them crying out, +"Alack, my master!"; and they after me with faces and heads bare and all +shrieking, "Alas! Alas for the man!" Now there remained none in the quarter, +neither man nor woman, nor epicene, nor youth nor maid, nor child nor old trot, +but went with us smiting their faces and weeping bitterly, and I led them +leisurely through the whole city. The folk asked them what was the matter, +whereupon they told them what they had heard from me, and all exclaimed, "There +is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah!" Then said one of them, "He +was a personage of consequence; so let us go to the Governor and tell him what +hath befallen him." When they told the Governor,—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Fortieth Night,[FN#97] + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when they told the +Governor, he rose and mounted and, taking with him labourers, with spades and +baskets, went on my track, with many people behind him; and I ran on before +them, howling and casting dust on my head and beating my face, followed by my +mistress and her children keening for the dead. But I got ahead of them; and +entered the garden before them, and when my master saw me in this state, I +smiting my face and saying, "Well away! my mistress! Alas! Alas! Alas! who is +left to take pity on me, now that my mistress is gone? Would I had been a +sacrifice for her!", he stood aghast and his colour waxed yellow and he said to +me, "What aileth thee O Kafur! What is the matter?" "O my lord," I replied, +"when thou sentest me to the house, I found that the saloon-wall had given way +and had fallen like a layer upon my mistress and her children!" "And did not +thy mistress escape?" "No, by Allah, O my master; not one of them was saved; +the first to die was my mistress, thine elder daughter!" "And did not my +younger daughter escape?"; "No, she did not!" "And what became of the mare-mule +I use to ride, is she safe?" "No, by Allah, O my master, the house-walls and +the stable-walls buried every living thing that was within doors, even to the +sheep and geese and poultry, so that they all became a heap of flesh and the +dogs and cats are eating them; and not one of them is left alive." "And hath not +thy master, my elder son, escaped?" "No, by Allah! not one of them was saved, +and now there is naught left of house or household, nor even a sign of them: +and, as for the sheep and geese and hens, the cats and dogs have devoured +them." When my master heard this the light became night before his sight; his +wits were dazed and he so lost command of his senses that he could not stand +firm on his feet: he was as one struck with a sudden palsy and his back was +like to break. Then he rent his raiment and plucked out his beard and, casting +his turband from off his head, buffeted his face till the blood ran down and he +cried aloud, "Alas, my children! Alas, my wife! Alas, my calamity! To whom ever +befel that which hath befallen me?" The merchants, his friends, also cried +aloud at his crying and wept for his weeping and tore their clothes, being +moved to pity of his case; and so my master went out of the garden, smiting his +face with such violence that from excess of pain he staggered like one drunken +with wine. As he and the merchants came forth from the garden gate, behold, +they saw a great cloud of dust and heard a loud noise of crying and +lamentation; so they looked and lo! it was the Governor with his attendants and +the townsfolk, a world of people, who had come out to look on, and my master's +family following them, all screaming and crying aloud and weeping exceeding +sore weeping. The first to address my owner were his wife and children; and +when he saw them he was confounded and laughed[FN#98] and said to them, "How is +it with all of you and what befel you in the house and what hath come to pass +to you?" When they saw him they exclaimed, "Praise be to Allah for thy +preservation!" and threw themselves upon him and his children hung about him +crying, "Alack, our father! Thanks to Allah for thy safety, O our father!" And +his wife said to him, "Art thou indeed well? Laud to Allah who hath shown us +thy face in safety!" And indeed she was confounded and her reason fled when she +saw him, and she asked, "O, my lord, how didst thou escape, thou and thy +friends the merchants?"; and he answered her, "And how fared it with thee in +the house?" Quoth they, "We were all well, whole and healthy, nor hath aught of +evil befallen us in the house, save that thy slave Kafur came to us, bareheaded +with torn garments and howling, 'Alas, the master! Alas the master!' So we +asked him, 'What tidings, O Kafur?' and he answered 'A wall of the garden hath +fallen on my master and his friends the merchants, and they are all crushed and +dead!''' "By Allah," said my master, "he came to me but now howling, 'Alas, my +mistress! Alas, the children of the mistress!', and said, 'My mistress and her +children are all dead, every one of them!'" Then he looked round and seeing me +with my turband rent in rags round my neck, howling and weeping with exceeding +weeping and throwing dust upon my head, he cried out at me. So I came to him +and he said, "Woe to thee, O ill-omened slave! O whoreson knave! O thou damned +breed! What mischief thou hast wrought? By Allah! I will flog thy skin from thy +flesh and cut thy flesh from thy bones!" I rejoined, "By Allah, thou canst do +nothing of the kind with me, O my lord, for thou boughtest me with my blemish; +and there are honest men to bear witness against thee that thou didst so +accepting the condition, and that thou knewest of my fault which is to tell one +lie every year. Now this is only a half-lie, but by the end of the year I will +tell the other half, then will the lie stand whole and complete." "O dog, son +of a dog!", cried my master, "O most accursed of slaves, is this all of it but +a half-lie? Verily if it be a half-lie 'tis a whole calamity! Get thee from me, +thou art free in the face of Allah!" "By Allah," rejoined I, if thou free me, I +will not free thee till my year is completed and I have told thee the half-lie +which is left. When this is done, go down with me to the slave-market and sell +me as thou boughtest me to whoso will buy me with my blemish; but thou shalt +not manumit me, for I have no handicraft whereby to gain my living;[FN#99] and +this my demand is a matter of law which the doctors have laid down in the +Chapter of Emancipation."[FN#100] While we were at these words, up came the +crowd of people, and the neighbours of the quarter, men, women and children, +together with the Governor and his suite offering condolence. So my master and +the other merchants went up to him and informed him of the adventure, and how +this was but a half-lie, at which all wondered, deeming it a whole lie and a +big one. And they cursed me and reviled me, while I stood laughing and grinning +at them, till at last I asked, "How shall my master slay me when he bought me +with this my blemish?" Then my master returned home and found his house in +ruins, and it was I who had laid waste the greater part of it,[FN#101] having +broken things which were worth much money, as also had done his wife, who said +to him, "'Twas Kafur who broke the vessels and chinaware." Thereupon his rage +redoubled and he struck hand upon hand exclaiming, "By Allah! in my life never +saw I a whoreson like this slave; and he saith this is but a half-lie! How, +then, if he had told me a whole lie? He would ruin a city, aye or even two." +Then in his fury he went to the Governor, and they gave me a neat thing in the +bastinado-line and made me eat stick till I was lost to the world and a +fainting-fit came on me; and, whilst I was yet senseless, they brought the +barber who docked me and gelded me[FN#102] and cauterised the wound. When I +revived I found myself a clean eunuch with nothing left, and my master said to +me, "Even as thou hast burned my heart for the things I held dearest, so have I +burnt thy heart for that of thy members whereby thou settest most store!" Then +he took me and sold me at a profit, for that I was become an eunuch. And I +ceased not bringing trouble upon all, wherever I was sold, and was shifted from +lord to lord and from notable to notable, being sold and being bought, till I +entered the palace of the Commander of the Faithful. But now my spirit is +broken and my tricks are gone from me, so--alas!--are my ballocks. When the two +slaves heard his history, they laughed at him and chaffed him and said, "Truly +thou art skite[FN#103] and skite-son! Thou liedest an odious lie." Then quoth +they to the third slave, "Tell us thy tale." "O sons of my uncle," quoth he, +"all that ye have said is idle: I will tell you the cause of my losing my +testicles, and indeed I deserved to lose even more, for I futtered both my +mistress and my master's eldest son and heir: but my story is a long one and +this is not the time to tell it; for the dawn, O my cousins, draweth near and +if morning come upon us with this chest still unburied, we shall get into sore +disgrace and our lives will pay for it. So up with you and open the door and, +when we get back to the palace, I will tell you my story and the cause of my +losing my precious stones." Then he swarmed up and dropped down from the wall +inside and opened the door, so they entered and, setting down the lantern, dug +between four tombs a hole as long as the chest and of the same breadth. Kafur +plied the spade and Sawab removed the earth by baskets-full till they reached +the depth of the stature of a man;[FN#104] when they laid the chest in the hole +and threw back the earth over it: then they went forth and shutting the door +disappeared from Ghanim's eyes. When all was quiet and he felt sure that he was +left alone in the place, his thought was busied about what the chest contained +and he said to himself, "Would that I knew the contents of that box!" However, +he waited till day broke, when morning shone and showed her sheen: whereupon he +came down from the date-tree and scooped away the earth with his hands, till +the box was laid bare and disengaged from the ground. Then he took a large +stone and hammered at the lock till he broke it and, opening the lid, beheld a +young lady, a model of beauty and loveliness, clad in the richest of garments +and jewels of gold and such necklaces of precious stones that, were the +Sultan's country evened with them, it would not pay their price. She had been +drugged with Bhang, but her bosom, rising and falling, showed that her breath +had not departed. When Ghanim saw her, he knew that some one had played her +false and hocussed her; so he pulled her out of the chest and laid her on the +ground with her face upwards. As soon as she smelt the breeze and the air +entered her nostrils, mouth and lungs, she sneezed and choked and coughed; when +there fell from out her throat a pill of Cretan Bhang, had an elephant smelt it +he would have slept from night to night. Then she opened her eyes and glancing +around said, in sweet voice and gracious words, "Woe to thee O wind! there is +naught in thee to satisfy the thirsty, nor aught to gratify one whose thirst is +satisfied! Where is Zhar al-Bostan?" But no one answered her, so she turned her +and cried out, "Ho Sabíhah! Shajarat al-Durr! Núr al-Hudá! Najmat al-Subh! be +ye awake? Shahwah, Nuzhah, Halwá, Zarífah, out on you, speak![FN#105]'' But no +one answered; so she looked all around and said, "Woe's me! have they entombed +me in the tombs? O Thou who knowest what man's thought enwombs and who givest +compensation on the Day of Doom, who can have brought me from amid hanging +screens and curtains veiling the Harím-rooms and set me down between four +tombs?" All this while Ghanim was standing by: then he said to her, "O my lady, +here are neither screened rooms nor palace-Haríms nor yet tombs; only the slave +henceforth devoted to thy love, Ghanim bin Ayyub, sent to thee by the +Omniscient One above, that all thy troubles He may remove and win for thee +every wish that doth behove!" Then he held his peace. She was reassured by his +words and cried, "I testify that there is no god but the God and I testify that +Mohammed is the Apostle of God!"; then she turned to Ghanim and, placing her +hands before her face, said to him in the sweetest speech, "O blessed youth, +who brought me hither? See, I am now come to myself." "O my lady," he replied, +"three slave-eunuchs came here bearing this chest;" and related to her the +whole of what had befallen him, and how evening having closed upon him had +proved the cause of her preservation, otherwise she had died smothered.[FN#106] +Then he asked her who she was and what was her story, and she answered, "O +youth, thanks be to Allah who hath cast me into the hands of the like of thee! +But now rise and put me back into the box; then fare forth upon the road and +hire the first camel-driver or muleteer thou findest to carry it to thy house. +When I am there, all will be well and I will tell thee my tale and acquaint +thee with my adventures, and great shall be thy gain by means of me." At this +he rejoiced and went outside the tomb. The day was now dazzling bright and the +firmament shone with light and the folk had begun to circulate; so he hired a +man with a mule and, bringing him to the tomb, lifted the chest wherein he had +put the damsel and set it on the mule. Her love now engrossed his heart and he +fared homeward with her rejoicing, for that she was a girl worth ten thousand +gold pieces and her raiment and ornaments would fetch a mint of money. As soon +as he arrived at his house he carried in the chest and opening it,—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Forty-first night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ghanim son of Ayyub +arrived with the chest at his house, he opened it and took out the young lady, +who looked about her and, seeing that the place was handsome, spread with +carpets and dight with cheerful colours and other deckings; and noting the +stuffs up-piled and packed bales and other else than that, knew that he was a +substantial merchant and a man of much money. Thereupon she uncovered her face +and looked at him, and lo! he was a fair youth; so when she saw him she loved +him and said, "O my lord, bring us something to eat." "On my head and mine +eyes!" replied he; and, going down to the bazar, bought a roasted lamb and a +dish of sweetmeats and with these dry fruits and wax candles, besides wine and +whatsoever was required of drinking materials, not forgetting perfumes. With +all this gear he returned to the house; and when the damsel saw him she laughed +and kissed him and clasped his neck. Then she began caressing him, which made +his love wax hotter till it got the mastery of his heart. They ate and drank +and each had conceived the fondest affection; for indeed the two were one in +age and one in loveliness; and when night came on Ghanim bin Ayyub, the +Distraught, the Thrall o' Love, rose and lit the wax candles and lamps till the +place blazed with light;[FN#107] after which he produced the wine-service and +spread the table. Then both sat down again, he and she, and he kept filling and +giving her to drink, and she kept filling and giving him to drink, and they +played and toyed and laughed and recited verses; whilst their joy increased and +they clove in closer love each to each (glory be to the Uniter of Hearts!). They +ceased not to carouse after this fashion till near upon dawn when drowsiness +overcame them; and they slept where they were, apart each from other, till the +morning.[FN#108] Then Ghanim arose and going to the market, bought all they +required of meat and vegetables and wine and what not, and brought them to the +house; whereupon both sat down to eat and ate their sufficiency, when he set on +wine. They drank and each played with each, till their cheeks flushed red and +their eyes took a darker hue and Ghanim's soul longed to kiss the girl and to +lie with her and he said, "O my lady, grant me one kiss of that dear mouth: per +chance 't will quench the fire of my heart." "O Ghanim," replied she, "wait +till I am drunk and dead to the world; then steal a kiss of me, secretly and on +such wise that I may not know thou hast kissed me." Then she rose and taking +off her upper dress sat in a thin shift of fine linen and a silken head +kerchief.[FN#109] At this passion inflamed Ghanim and he said to her, "O my +lady, wilt thou not vouchsafe me what I asked of thee?" "By Allah," she +replied, "that may not be thine, for there is written upon my trouser +string[FN#110] a hard word!" Thereupon Ghanim's heart sank and desire grew on +him as its object offered difficulties; and he improvised these verses, + +"I asked the author of mine ills * To heal the wound with one sweet kiss: +No! No! she cried,[FN#111] for ever no! * But I, soft whispering, urged yes: +Quoth she, Then take it by my leave, * When smiles shall pardon thine amiss: +By force, cried I? Nay, she replied * With love and gladness eke I wis. +Now ask me not what next occurred * Seek grace of God and whist of this! +Deem what thou wilt of us, for love * By calumnies the sweeter is: +Nor after this care I one jot * Whether my foe be known or not." + + +Then his affection increased and love fires rose hotter in his heart, while she +refused herself to him saying, "Thou canst not possess me." They ceased not to +make love and enjoy their wine and wassail, whilst Ghanim was drowned in the +sea of love and longing; but she redoubled in coyness and cruelty till the +night brought on the darkness and let fall on them the skirts of sleep. +Thereupon Ghanim rose and lit the lamps and wax candles and refreshed the room +and removed the table; then he took her feet and kissed them; and, finding them +like fresh cream, pressed his face[FN#112] on them; and said to her, "O my lady, +take pity on one thy love hath ta'en and thine eyes hath slain; for indeed I +were heart-whole but for thy bane!" And he wept somewhat. "O my lord, and light +of my eyes," quoth she, "by Allah, I love thee in very sooth and I trust to thy +truth, but I know that I may not be thine." "And what is the obstacle?" asked +he; when she answered, "To-night I will tell thee my tale, that thou mayst +accept my excuse." Then she threw herself upon him and winding her arms like a +necklace about his neck, kissed him and caressed him and promised him her +favours; and they ceased not playing and laughing till love get the firmest +hold upon both their hearts. And so it continued a whole month, both passing +the night on a single carpet-bed, but whenever he would enjoy her, she put him +off; whilst mutual love increased upon them; and each could hardly abstain from +other. One night, as he lay by her side, and both were warm with wine, Ghanim +passed his hand over her breasts and stroked them; then he slipped it down to +her waist as far as her navel. She awoke and, sitting up, put her hand to her +trousers and finding them fast tied, once more fell asleep. Presently, he again +felt her and sliding his hand down to her trouser-string, began pulling at it, +whereupon she awoke and sat upright. Ghanim also sat up by her side and she +asked him, "What dost thou want?" "I want to lie with thee," he answered, "and +that we may deal openly and frankly with each other." Quoth she, "I must now +declare to thee my case, that thou mayst know my quality; then will my secret +be disclosed to thee and my excuse become manifest to thee." Quoth he, "So be +it!" Thereat she opened the skirt of her shift and taking up her trouser +string, said to him, "O my lord, read what is worked on the flat of this +string:" so he took it in hand, and saw these words broidered on it in gold, "I +AM THINE, AND THOU ART MINE, O COUSIN OF THE APOSTLE!''[FN#113] When he read +this, he withdrew his hand and said to her, "Tell me who thou art!" "So be it," +answered she; "know that I am one of the concubines of the Commander of the +Faithful, and my name is Kút al-Kulúb--the Food of Hearts. I was brought up in +his palace and, when I grew to woman's estate, he looked on me and, noting what +share of beauty and loveliness the Creator had given me, loved me with +exceeding love, and assigned me a separate apartment, and gave me ten slave +girls to wait on me and all these ornaments thou seest me wearing. On a certain +day he set out for one of his provinces, and the Lady Zubaydah came to one of +the slave-girls in my service and said to her, 'I have something to require of +thee.' 'What is it, O my lady?' asked she and the Caliph's wife answered, 'When +thy mistress Kut al-Kulub is asleep, put this piece of Bhang into her nostrils +or drop it into her drink, and thou shalt have of me as much money as will +satisfy thee.' 'With love and gladness;' replied the girl and took the Bhang +from her, being a glad woman because of the money and because aforetime she had +been one of Zubaydah's slaves. So she put the Bhang in my drink, and when it +was night I drank, and the drug had no sooner settled in my stomach than I fell +to the ground, my head touching my feet, and knew naught of my life but that I +was in another world. When her device succeeded, she bade put me in this chest, +and secretly brought in the slaves and the doorkeepers and bribed them; and, on +the night when thou wast perched upon the date-tree, she sent the blacks to do +with me as thou sawest. So my delivery was at thy hands, and thou broughtest me +to this house and hast entreated me honourably and with thy kindest. This is my +story, and I wot not what is become of the Caliph during my absence. Know then +my condition and divulge not my case." When Ghanim heard her words and knew +that she was a concubine of the Caliph, he drew back, for awe of the Caliphate +beset him, and sat apart from her in one of the corners of the place, blaming +himself and brooding over his affair and patiencing his heart bewildered for +love of one he could not possess. Then he wept for excess of longing, and +plained him of Fortune and her injuries, and the world and its enmities (and +praise be to Him who causeth generous hearts to be troubled with love and the +beloved, and who endoweth not the minds of the mean and miserly with so much of +it as eveneth a grain-weight!). So he began repeating, + +"The lover's heart for his beloved must meet * Sad pain, and from her charms bear sore defeat: +What is Love's taste? They asked and answered I, * Sweet is the aste but ah! 'tis bitter sweet." + + +Thereupon Kut al-Kulub arose and took him to her bosom and kissed him; for the +love of him was firm fixed in her heart, so that she disclosed to him her +secret and all the affection she felt; and, throwing her arms round Ghanim's +neck like a collar of pearls, kissed him again and yet again. But he held off +from her in awe of the Caliph. Then they talked together a long while (and +indeed both were drowned in the sea of their mutual love); and, as the day +broke, Ghanim rose and donned his clothes and going to the bazar, as was his +wont, took what the occasion required and returned home. He found her weeping; +but when she saw him she checked herself and, smiling through her tears, said, +"Thou hast desolated me, O beloved of my heart. By Allah, this hour of absence +hath been to me like a year![FN#114] I have explained to thee my condition in +the excess of my eager love for thee; so come now near me, and forget the past +and have thy will of me." But he interrupted her crying, "I seek refuge with +Allah! This thing may never be. How shall the dog sit in the lion's stead? What +is the lord's is unlawful to the slave!" So he with-drew from her, and sat down +on a corner of the mat. Her passion for him increased with his forbearance; so +she seated herself by his side and caroused and played with him, till the two +were flushed with wine, and she was mad for her own dishonour. Then she sang +these verses, + +"The lover's heart is like to break in twain: * Till when these coy denials ah! till when? +O thou who fliest me sans fault of mine, * Gazelles are wont at times prove tame to men: +Absence, aversion, distance and disdain, * How shall young lover all these ills sustain?" + + +Thereupon Ghanim wept and she wept at his weeping, and they ceased not drinking +till nightfall, when he rose and spread two beds, each in its place. "For whom +is this second bed?" asked she, and he answered her, "One is for me and the +other is for thee: from this night forth we must not sleep save thus, for that +which is the lord's is unlawful to the thrall." "O my master!" cried she, "let +us have done with this, for all things come to pass by Fate and Fortune." But +he refused, and the fire was lighted in her heart and, as her longing waxed +fiercer, she clung to him and cried, "By Allah, we will not sleep save side by +side!" "Allah forefend!" he replied and prevailed against her and lay apart +till the morning, when love and longing redoubled on her and distraction and +eager thirst of passion. They abode after this fashion three full-told months, +which were long and longsome indeed, and every time she made advances to him, +he would refuse himself and say, "Whatever belongeth to the master is unlawful +to the man." Now when time waxed tiresome and tedious to her and anguish and +distress grew on her, she burst out from her oppressed heart with these verses, + +"How long, rare beauty! wilt do wrong to me? * Who was it bade thee not belong to me? +With outer charms thou weddest inner grace * Comprising every point of piquancy: +Passion thou hast infused in every heart, * From eyelids driven sleep by deputy: +Erst was (I wot) the spray made thin of leaf. * O Cassia-spray! Unlief thy sin I see:[FN#115] +The hart erst hunted I: how is 't I spy * The hunter hunted (fair my hart!) by thee? +Wondrouser still I tell thee aye that I * Am trapped while never up to trap thou be! +Ne'er grant my prayer! For if I grudge thyself * To thee, I grudge my me more jealously; +And cry so long as life belong to me, * Rare beauty how, how long this wrong to me?" + + +They abode in this state a long time, and fear kept Ghanim aloof from her. So +far concerning these two; but as regards the Lady Zubaydah, when, in the +Caliph's absence she had done this deed by Kut al-Kulub she became perplexed, +saying to herself, "What shall I tell my cousin when he comes back and asks for +her? What possible answer can I make to him?" Then she called an old woman, who +was about her and discovered her secret to her saying, "How shall I act seeing +that Kut al-Kulub died by such untimely death?" "O my lady," quoth the old +crone, "the time of the Caliph's return is near; so do thou send for a +carpenter and bid him make thee a figure of wood in the form of a corpse. We +will dig a grave for it midmost the palace and there bury it: then do thou +build an oratory over it and set therein lighted candles and lamps, and order +each and every in the palace to be clad in black.[FN#116] Furthermore command +thy handmaids and eunuchs as soon as they know of the Caliph's returning from +his journey, to spread straw over the vestibule-floors and, when the Commander +of the Faithful enters and asks what is the matter, let them say:— Kut al-Kulub +is dead, and may Allah abundantly compensate thee for the loss of her![FN#117]; +and, for the high esteem in which she was held of our mistress, she hath buried +her in her own palace. When he hears this he will weep and it shall be grievous +to him; then will he cause perlections of the Koran to be made for her and he +will watch by night at her tomb. Should he say to himself, 'Verily Zubaydah, +the daughter of my uncle, hath compassed in her jealousy the death of Kut +al-Kulub'; or, if love-longing overcome him and he bid her be taken out of her +tomb, fear thou not; for when they dig down and come to the image in human +shape he will see it shrouded in costly grave-clothes; and, if he wish to take +off the winding-sheet that he may look upon her, do thou forbid him or let some +other forbid him, saying, 'The sight of her nakedness is unlawful.' The fear of +the world to come will restrain him and he will believe that she is dead and +will restore the figure to its place and thank thee for thy doings; and thus +thou shalt escape, please Almighty Allah, from this slough of despond." When +the Lady Zubaydah heard her words, she commended the counsel and gave her a +dress of honour and a large sum of money, ordering her to do all she had said. +So the old woman set about the business forthright and bade the carpenter make +her the aforesaid image; and, as soon as it was finished, she brought it to +the Lady Zubaydah, who shrouded it and buried it and built a sepulchre over it, +wherein they lighted candles and lamps, and laid down carpets about the tomb. +Moreover she put on black and she spread abroad in the Harim that Kut al-Kulub +was dead. After a time the Caliph returned from his journey and went up to the +palace, thinking only of Kut al-Kulub. He saw all the pages and eunuchs and +handmaids habited in black, at which his heart fluttered with extreme fear; +and, when he went in to the Lady Zubaydah, he found her also garbed in black. +So he asked the cause of this and they gave him tidings of the death of Kut +al-Kulub, whereon he fell a-swooning. As soon as he came to himself, he asked +for her tomb, and the Lady Zubaydah said to him, "Know, O Prince of the +Faithful, that for especial honour I have buried her in my own palace." Then he +repaired in his travelling-garb[FN#118] to the tomb that he might wail over +her, and found the carpets spread and the candles and lamps lighted. When he +saw this, he thanked Zubaydah for her good deed and abode perplexed, halting +between belief and unbelief till at last suspicion overcame him and he gave +order to open the grave and take out the body. When he saw the shroud and would +have removed it to look upon her, the fear of Allah Almighty restrained him, +and the old woman (taking advantage of the delay) said, "Restore her to her +place." Then he sent at once for Fakirs and Koran-readers, and caused +perlections to be made over her tomb and sat by the side of the grave, weeping +till he fainted; and he continued to frequent the tomb and sit there for a +whole month,— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Forty-second Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph ceased not to +frequent the tomb for the period of a whole month, at the end of which time it +so happened one day that he entered the Serraglio, after dismissing the Emirs +and Wazirs, and lay down and slept awhile; and there sat at his head a slave +girl fanning him, and at his feet a second rubbing and shampooing them. +Presently he awoke and, opening his eyes, shut them again and heard the +handmaid at his head saying to her who was at his feet, "A nice business this, +O Khayzarán!" and the other answered her "Well, O Kazíb al-Bán?"[FN#119] +"Verily" said the first, "our lord knoweth naught of what hath happened and +sitteth waking and watching by a tomb wherein is only a log of wood carved by +the carpenter's art." "And Kut al-Kulub," quoth the other, "what hath befallen +her?" She replied, "Know that the Lady Zubaydah sent a pellet of Bhang by one +of the slave women who was bribed to drug her; and when sleep overpowered her +she let put her in a chest, and ordered Sawab and Kafur and Bukhayt to throw +her amongst the tombs." "What dost thou say, O Kazib al-Ban;" asked Khayzaran, +"is not the lady Kut al-Kulub dead?" "Nay, by Allah!" she answered "and long +may her youth be saved from death! but I have heard the Lady Zubaydah say that +she is in the house of a young merchant named Ghanim bin Ayyub of Damascus, +hight the Distraught, the Thrall o' Love; and she hath been with him these four +months, whilst our lord is weeping and watching by night at a tomb wherein is +no corpse." They kept on talking this sort of talk, and the Caliph gave ear to +their words; and, by the time they had ceased speaking, he knew right well that +the tomb was a feint and a fraud, and that Kut al-Kulub had been in Ghanim's +house for four months. Whereupon he was angered with exceeding anger and rising +up, he summoned the Emirs of his state; and his Wazir Ja'afar the Barmaki came +also and kissed the ground between his hands. The Caliph said to him in fury, +"Go down, O Ja'afar, with a party of armed men and ask for the house of Ghanim +son of Ayyub: fall upon it and spoil it and bring him to me with my slave girl, +Kut al-Kulub, for there is no help but that I punish him!" "To hear is to +obey," said Ja'afar; and setting out with the Governor and the guards and a +world of people, repaired to Ghanim's house. Now about that time the youth +happened to have brought back a pot of dressed meat and was about to put forth +his hand to eat of it, he and Kut al-Kulub, when the lady, happening to look +out saw calamity surrounding the house on every side; for the Wazir and the +Governor, the night-guard and the Mamelukes with swords drawn had girt it as +the white of the eye girdeth the black. At this she knew that tidings of her +had reached the Caliph, her lord; and she made sure of ruin, and her colour +paled and her fair features changed and her favour faded. Then she turned to +Ghanim and said to him, "O my love? fly for thy life!" "What shall I do," asked +he, "and whither shall I go, seeing that my money and means of maintenance are +all in this house?"; and she answered, "Delay not lest thou be slain and lose +life as well as wealth." "O my loved one and light of mine eyes!" he cried, +"how shall I do to get away when they have surrounded the house?" Quoth she, +"Fear not;" and, stripping off his fine clothes, dressed him in ragged old +garments, after which she took the pot and, putting in it bits of broken bread +and a saucer of meat,[FN#120] placed the whole in a basket and setting it upon +his head said, "Go out in this guise and fear not for me who wotteth right well +what thing is in my hand for the Caliph."[FN#121] So he went out amongst them, +bearing the basket with its contents, and the Protector vouchsafed him His +protection and he escaped the snares and perils that beset him, by the blessing +of his good conscience and pure conduct. Meanwhile Ja'afar dismounted and +entering the house, saw Kut al-Kulub who had dressed and decked herself in +splendid raiments and ornaments and filled a chest with gold and jewellery and +precious stones and rarities and what else was light to bear and of value rare. +When she saw Ja'afar come in, she rose and, kissing the ground before him, +said, "O my lord, the Reed hath written of old the rede which Allah +decreed!''[FN#122] "By Allah, O my lady," answered Ja'afar, "he gave me an +order to seize Ghanim son of Ayyub;" and she rejoined, "O my lord, he made +ready his goods and set out therewith for Damascus and I know nothing more of +him; but I desire thee take charge of this chest and deliver it to me in the +Harim of the Prince of the Faithful." "Hearing and obedience," said Ja'afar, +and bade his men bear it away to the head-quarters of the Caliphate together +with Kut al-Kulub, commanding them to entreat her with honour as one in high +esteem. They did his bidding after they had wrecked and plundered Ghanim's +house. Then Ja'afar went in to the Caliph and told him all that had happened, +and he ordered Kut al-Kulub to be lodged in a dark chamber and appointed an old +women to serve her, feeling convinced that Ghanim had debauched her and slept +with her. Then he wrote a mandate to the Emir Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, +his viceroy in Damascus, to this effect: "The instant thou shalt receive this +our letter, seize upon Ghanim bin Ayyub and send him to us." When the missive +came to the viceroy, he kissed it and laid it on his head; then he let proclaim +in the bazars, "Whoso is desirous to plunder, away with him to the house of +Ghanim son of Ayyub."[FN#123] So they flocked thither, when they found that +Ghanim's mother and sister had built him a tomb[FN#124] in the midst of the +house and sat by it weeping for him; whereupon they seized the two without +telling them the cause and, after spoiling the house, carried them before the +viceroy. He questioned them concerning Ghanim and both replied, "For a year or +more we have had no news of him." So they restored them to their place. Thus +far concerning them; but as regards Ghanim, when he saw his wealth spoiled and +his ruin utterest he wept over himself till his heart well-nigh brake. Then he +fared on at random till the last of the day, and hunger grew hard on him and +walking wearied him. So coming to a village he entered a mosque[FN#125] where +he sat down upon a mat and propped his back against the wall; but presently he +sank to the ground in his extremity of famine and fatigue. There he lay till +dawn, his heart fluttering for want of food; and, owing to his sweating, the +lice[FN#126] coursed over his skin; his breath waxed fetid and his whole +condition was changed. When the villagers came to pray the dawn-prayer, they +found him prostrate, ailing, hunger-lean, yet showing evident signs of former +affluence. As soon as prayers were over, they drew near him; and, understanding +that he was starved with hunger and cold, they gave him an old robe with ragged +sleeves and said to him, "O stranger, whence art thou and what sickness is upon +thee?" He opened his eyes and wept but returned no answer; whereupon one of +them, who saw that he was starving, brought him a saucer of honey and two +barley scones. He ate a little and they sat with him till sun-rise, when they +went to their work. He abode with them in this state for a month, whilst +sickness and weakliness grew upon him; and they wept for him and, pitying his +condition, took counsel with one another upon his case and agreed to forward +him to the hospital in Baghdad.[FN#127] Meanwhile behold, two beggar-women, who +were none other than Ghanim's mother and sister,[FN#128] came into the mosque +and, when he saw them, he gave them the bread that was at his head; and they +slept by his side that night but he knew them not. Next day the villagers +brought a camel and said to the cameleer, "Set this sick man on thy beast and +carry him to Baghdad and put him down at the Spital-door; so haply he may be +medicined and be healed and thou shalt have thy hire."[FN#129] "To hear is to +comply," said the man. So they brought Ghanim, who was asleep, out of the +mosque and set him, mat and all, on the camel; and his mother and sister came +out among the crowd to gaze upon him, but they knew him not. However, after +looking at him and considering him carefully they said, "Of a truth he favours +our Ghanim, poor boy!; can this sick man be he?" Presently, he woke and finding +himself bound with ropes on a camel's back, he began to weep and +complain,[FN#130] and the village-people saw his mother and sister weeping over +him, albeit they knew him not. Then they fared forth for Baghdad, but the +camel-man forewent them; and, setting Ghanim down at the Spital-gate, went away +with his beast. The sick man lay there till dawn and, when the folk began to go +about the streets, they saw him and stood gazing on him, for he had become as +thin as a toothpick, till the Syndic of the bazar came up and drove them away +from him, saying, "I will gain Paradise through this poor creature; for if they +take him into the Hospital, they will kill him in a single day."[FN#131] Then +he made his young men carry him to his house, where they spread him a new bed +with a new pillow,[FN#132] and he said to his wife, "Tend him carefully;" and +she replied, "Good! on my head be it!" Thereupon she tucked up her sleeves and +warming some water, washed his hands, feet and body; after which she clothed +him in a robe belonging to one of her slave-girls and made him drink a cup of +wine and sprinkled rose-water over him. So he revived and complained, and the +thought of his beloved Kut al-Kulub made his grief redouble. Thus far +concerning him; but as regards Kut al-Kulub, when the Caliph was angered +against her,— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Forty-third Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph was +angered against Kut al-Kulub, he ordered her to a dark chamber where she abode +eighty days, at the end of which the Caliph, happening to pass on a certain day +the place where she was, heard her repeating poetry, and after she ceased +reciting her verse, saying, "O my darling, O my Ghanim! how great is thy +goodness and how chaste is thy nature! thou didst well by one who did ill by +thee and thou guardedst his honour who garred thine become dishonour, and his +Harim thou didst protect who to enslave thee and thine did elect! But thou +shalt surely stand, thou and the Commander of the Faithful, before the Just +Judge, and thou shalt be justified of him on the Day when the Lord (to whom be +honour and glory!) shall be Kazi and the Angels of Heaven shall be witnesses!" +When the Caliph heard her complaint, he knew that she had been wronged and, +returning to the palace, sent Masrur the Eunuch for her. She came before him +with bowed head and eyes tearful and heart sorrowful; and he said to her, "O +Kut al-Kulub, I find thou accuses me of tyranny and oppression, and thou +avouchest that I have done ill by one who did well by me. Who is this who hath +guarded my honour while I garred his become dishonour? Who protected my Harim +and whose Harim I wrecked?" "He is Ghanim son of Ayyub," replied she, "for he +never approached me in wantonness or with lewd intent, I swear by thy +munificence, O Commander of the Faithful!" Then said the Caliph, "There is no +Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! Ask what thou wilt of me, O Kut +al-Kulub." "O Prince of the Faithful!", answered she, "I require of thee only +my beloved Ghanim son of Ayyub." He did as she desired, whereupon she said, "O +Lord of the Moslems, if I bring him to thy presence, wilt thou bestow me on +him?"; and he replied, "If he come into my presence, I will give thee to him as +the gift of the generous who revoketh not his largesse." "O Prince of True +Believers," quoth she, "suffer me to go and seek him; haply Allah may unite me +with him:" and quoth he, "Do even as thou wilt." So she rejoiced and, taking +with her a thousand dinars in gold, went out and visited the elders of the +various faiths and gave alms in Ghanim's name.[FN#133] Next day she walked to +the merchants' bazar and disclosed her object to the Syndic and gave him money, +saying, "Bestow this in charity to the stranger!" On the following Friday she +fared to the bazar (with other thousand dinars) and, entering the goldsmiths' +and jewellers' market-street, called the Chief and presented to him a thousand +dinars with these words, "Bestow this in charity to the stranger!" The Chief +looked at her (and he was the Syndic who had taken in Ghanim) and said, "O my +lady, wilt thou come to my house and look upon a youth, a stranger I have there +and see how goodly and graceful he is?" Now the stranger was Ghanim, son of +Ayyub, but the Chief had no knowledge of him and thought him to be some +wandering pauper, some debtor whose wealth had been taken from him, or some +lover parted from his beloved. When she heard his words her heart +fluttered[FN#134] and her vitals yearned, and she said to him, "Send with me +one who shall guide me to thy house." So he sent a little lad who brought her +to the house wherein was the head man's stranger-guest and she thanked him for +this. When she reached the house, she went in and saluted the Syndic's wife, +who rose and kissed the ground between her hands, for she knew her. Then quoth +Kut al-Kulub, "Where is the sick man who is with thee?" She wept and replied, +"Here is he, O my lady; by Allah, he is come of good folk and he beareth the +signs of gentle breeding: you see him lying on yonder bed." So she turned and +looked at him: and she saw something like him, but he was worn and wasted till +he had become lean as a toothpick, so his identity was doubtful to her and she +could not be certain that it was he. Yet pity for him possessed her and she +wept saying, "Verily the stranger is unhappy, even though he be a prince in his +own land!"; and his case was grievous to her and her heart ached for him, yet +she knew him not to be Ghanim. Then she furnished him with wine and medicines +and she sat awhile by his head, after which she mounted and returned to her +palace and continued to visit every bazar in quest of her lover. Meanwhile +Ghanim's mother and sister Fitnah arrived at Baghdad and met the Syndic, who +carried them to Kut al-Kulub and said to her, "O Princess of beneficent ladies, +there came to our city this day a woman and her daughter, who are fair of +favour and signs of good breeding and dignity are apparent in them, though they +be dressed in hair-cloth and have each one a wallet hanging to her neck; and +their eyes are tearful and their hearts are sorrowful. So I have brought them +to thee that thou mayst give them refuge, and rescue them from beggary, for +they are not of asker-folk and, if it please Allah, we shall enter Paradise +through them." "By Allah, O my master," cried she, "thou makest me long to see +them! Where are they?", adding, "Here with them to me!" So he bade the eunuch +bring them in; and, when she looked on them; and saw that they were both of +distinguished beauty, she wept for them; and said, "By Allah, these are people +of condition and show plain signs of former opulence." "O my lady," said the +Syndic's wife, "we love the poor and the destitute, more especially as reward +in Heaven will recompense our love; and, as for these persons, haply the +oppressor hath dealt hardly with them; and hath plundered their property and +harried their houses." Then Ghanim's mother and sister wept with sore weeping, +remembering their former prosperity and contrasting it with their present +poverty and miserable condition; and their thoughts dwelt upon son and brother, +whilst Kut al-Kulub wept for their weeping; and they said, "We beseech Allah to +reunite us with him whom we desire, and he is none other but my son named +Ghanim bin Ayyub!" When Kut al-Kulub heard this, she knew them to be the mother +and sister of her lover and wept till a swoon came over her. When she revived +she turned to them; and said, "Have no fear and sorrow not, for this day is the +first of your prosperity and the last of your adversity!"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Forty-fourth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Kut al-Kulub had +consoled them she bade the Syndic lead them to his house and let his wife carry +them to the Hammam and dress them in handsome clothes and take care of them; and +honour them with all honour; and she gave him a sufficient sum of money. Next +day, she mounted and, riding to his house, went in to his wife who rose up and +kissed her hands and thanked her for her kindness. There she saw Ghanim's +mother and sister whom the Syndic's wife had taken to the Hammam and clothed +afresh, so that the traces of their former condition became manifest upon them. +She sat talking with them awhile, after which she asked the wife about the sick +youth who was in her house and she replied, "He is in the same state." Then +said Kut al-Kulub, "Come, let us go and visit him." So she arose, she and the +Chief's wife and Ghanim's mother and sister, and went in to the room where he +lay and sat down near him. Presently Ghanim bin Ayyub, the Distraught, the +Thrall o' Love, heard them mention the name of Kut al-Kulub; whereupon life +returned to him, emaciated and withered as he was, and he raised his head from +the pillow and cried aloud, "O Kut al-Kulub!" She looked at him and made +certain it was he and shrieked rather than said, "Yes, O my beloved!" "Draw +near to me;" said he, and she replied, "Surely thou art Ghanim bin Ayyub?"; and +he rejoined "I am indeed!" Hereupon a swoon came upon her; and, as soon as +Ghanim's mother and his sister Fitnah heard these words, both cried out "O our +joy'" and fainted clean away. When they all recovered, Kut al-Kulub exclaimed, +"Praise be to Allah who hath brought us together again and who hath reunited +thee with thy mother and thy sister!" And she related to him all that had +befallen her with the Caliph and said, "I have made known the truth to the +Commander of the Faithful, who believed my words and was pleased with thee; and +now he desireth to see thee," adding, "He hath given me to thee." Thereat he +rejoiced with extreme joy, when she said, "Quit not this place till I come +back" and, rising forthwith, betook herself to her palace. There she opened the +chest which she had brought from Ghanim's house and, taking out some of the +dinars, gave them to the Syndic saying, "Buy with this money for each of them +four complete suits of the finest stuffs and twenty kerchiefs, and else beside +of whatsoever they require;" after which she carried all three to the baths and +had them washed and bathed and made ready for them consommés, and +galangale-water and cider against their coming out. When they left the Hammam, +they put on the new clothes, and she abode with them three days feeding them +with chicken meats and bouillis, and making them drink sherbert of sugar candy. +After three days their spirits returned; and she carried them again to the +baths, and when they came out and had changed their raiment, she led them back +to the Syndic's house and left them there, whilst she returned to the palace +and craved permission to see the Caliph. When he ordered her to come in, she +entered and, kissing the ground between his hands, told him the whole story and +how her lord, Ghanim bin Ayyub, yclept the Distraught, the Thrall o' Love, and +his mother and sister were now in Baghdad. When the Caliph heard this, he +turned to the eunuchs and said, "Here with Ghanim to me." So Ja'afar went to +fetch him; but Kut al-Kulub forewent him and told Ghanim, "The Caliph hath sent +to fetch thee before him," and charged him to show readiness of tongue and +firmness of heart and sweetness of speech. Then she robed him in a sumptuous +dress and gave him dinars in plenty, saying, "Be lavish of largesse to the +Caliph's household as thou goest in to him." Presently Ja'afar, mounted on his +Nubian mule, came to fetch him; and Ghanim advanced to welcome the Wazir and, +wishing him long life, kissed the ground before him. Now the star of his good +fortune had risen and shone brightly; and Ja'afar took him; and they ceased not +faring together, he and the Minister, till they went in to the Commander of the +Faithful. When he stood in the presence, he looked at the Wazirs and Emirs and +Chamberlains, and Viceroys and Grandees and Captains, and then at the Caliph. +Hereupon he sweetened his speech and his eloquence and, bowing his head to the +ground, broke out in these extempore couplets, + +"May that Monarch's life span a mighty span, * Whose lavish of largesse all lieges scan: +None other but he shall be Kaysar hight, * Lord of lordly hall and of haught Divan: +Kings lay their gems on his threshold-dust * As they bow and salam to the mighty man; +And his glances foil them; and all recoil, * Bowing beards aground and with faces wan: +Yet they gain the profit of royal grace, * The rank and station of high soldan. +Earth's plain is scant for thy world of men, * Camp there in Kay wan's[FN#135] Empyrean! +May the King of Kings ever hold thee dear; * Be counsel thine and right steadfast plan, +Till thy justice spread o'er the wide-spread earth * And the near and the far be of equal worth." + + +When he ended his improvisation the Caliph was pleased by it and marvelled at +the eloquence of his tongue and the sweetness of his speech,—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Forty-fifth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph, after +marvelling at his eloquence of tongue and sweetness of speech, said to him, +"Draw near to me." So he drew near and quoth the King, "Tell me thy tale and +declare to me thy case." So Ghanim sat down and related to him what had +befallen him in Baghdad, of his sleeping in the tomb and of his opening the +chest after the three slaves had departed, and informed him, in short, of +everything that had happened to him from commencement to conclusion--none of +which we will repeat for interest fails in twice told tales. The Caliph was +convinced that he was a true man; so he invested him with a dress of honour, +and placed him near himself in token of favour, and said to him, "Acquit me of +the responsibility I have incurred.''[FN#136] And Ghanim so did, saying, "O our +lord the Sultan, of a truth thy slave and all things his two hands own are his +master's." The Caliph was pleased at this and gave orders to set apart a palace +for him and assigned to him pay and allowances, rations and donations, which +amounted to something immense. So he removed thither with sister and mother; +after which the Caliph, hearing that his sister Fitnah was in beauty a very +"fitnah,"[FN#137] a mere seduction, demanded her in marriage of Ghanim who +replied, "She is thy handmaid as I am thy slave." The Caliph thanked him and +gave him an hundred thousand dinars, then summoned the witnesses and the Kazi, +and on one and the same day they wrote out the two contracts of marriage +between the Caliph and Fitnah and between Ghanim bin Ayyub and Kut al-Kulub; +and the two marriages were consummated on one and the same night. When it was +morning, the Caliph gave orders to record the history of what had befallen +Ghanim from first to last and to deposit it in the royal muniment-rooms, that +those who came after him might read it and marvel at the dealings of Destiny +and put their trust in Him who created the night and the day. Yet, O auspicious +King, this story to which thou hast deigned give ear is on no wise more +wondrous than the + + + + +Tale Of King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons Sharrkan +and Zau Al-Makan, and What Befel Them of Things Seld-Seen and Peregrine.[FN#138] + + +The King asked her, "And what was their story?" and she answered: It hath +reached me, O auspicious King, that there was in the City of Safety, Baghdad, +before the Caliphate of Abd al-Malik bin Marwán,[FN#139] a King, Omar bin +al-Nu'umán hight, who was of the mighty giants and had subjected the Chosroës +of Persia and the Kaysars of Eastern Rome; for none could warm himself at his +fire;[FN#140] nor could any avail to meet him in the field of foray and fray; +and, when he was angered, there came forth from his nostrils sparks of flame. +He had made himself King over all quarters, and Allah had subjected to him all +His creatures; his word went forth to all great cities and his hosts had +harried the farthest lands. East and West had come under his command with +whatsoever regions lay interspersed between them, Hind and Sind and +Sin,[FN#141] the Holy Land, Al-Hijaz, the rich mountains of Al-Yaman and the +archipelagos of India and China. Moreover, he reigned supreme over the north +country and Diyár Bakr, or Mesopotamia, and over Sudán, the Eastern Negro-land +and the Islands of the Ocean, and all the far famed rivers of the earth, Sayhún +and Jayhún,[FN#142] Nile and Euphrates. He sent envoys and ambassadors to +capitals the most remote, to provide him with true report; and they would bring +back tidings of justice and peace, with assurance of loyalty and obedience and +of prayers in the pulpits for King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; for he was, O Ruler of +the Age, a right noble King; and there came to him presents of rarities and +toll and tribute from all lands of his governing. This mighty monarch had a son +yclept Sharrkan,[FN#143] who was likest of all men to his father and who proved +himself one of the prodigies of his time for subduing the brave and bringing +his contemporaries to bane and ban. For this his father loved him with love so +great none could be greater, and made him heir to the kingdom after himself. +This Prince grew up till he reached man's estate and was twenty years old, and +Allah subjected His servants to him, by reason of his great might and prowess +in battle. Now his father, King Omar, had four wives legally married, but +Allah had vouchsafed him no son by them, save Sharrkan, whom he had begotten +upon one of them, and the rest were barren. Moreover he had three hundred and +sixty concubines, after the number of days in the Coptic year, who were of all +nations; and he had furnished for each and every a private chamber within his +own palace. For he had built twelve pavilions, after the number of the months, +each containing thirty private chambers, which thus numbered three hundred and +three score, wherein he lodged his handmaids: and he appointed according to law +for each one her night, when he lay with her and came not again to her for a +full year;[FN#144] and on this wise he abode for a length of time. Meanwhile +his son Sharrkan was making himself renowned in all quarters of the world and +his father was proud of him and his might waxed and grew mightier; so that he +passed all bounds and bore himself masterfully and took by storm castles and +cities. Presently, by decree of the Decreer, a handmaid among the handmaids of +Omar bin Nu'uman became pregnant; and, her pregnancy being announced to the +Harim, the King was informed thereof; whereupon he rejoiced with exceeding joy +and said, "Haply 't will be a son, and so all my offspring will be males!" Then +he documented the date of her conception and entreated her with all manner of +kindness. But when the tidings came to Sharrkan, he was troubled and the +matter seemed to him a sore one and a grievous; and he said, "Verily one cometh +who shall dispute with me the sovereignty:" so quoth he to himself, "If this +concubine bear a male child I will kill it:" but he kept that intention hidden +in his heart. Such was the case with Sharrkan; but what happened in the matter +of the damsel was as follows. She was a Roumiyah, a Greek girl, by name +Sofiyah or Sophia,[FN#145] whom the King of Roum and Lord of Cæsarea had sent +to King Omar as a present, together with great store of gifts and of rarities: +she was the fairest of favour and loveliest of all his handmaids and the most +regardful of her honour; and she was gifted with a wit as penetrating as her +presence was fascinating. Now she had served the King on the night of his +sleeping with her, saying to him, "O King! I desire of the God of the Heavens +that he bless thee this night with a male child by me, so I may bring him up +with the best of rearing, and enable him to reach man's estate perfect in +intelligence, good manners and prudent bearing"[FN#146]—a speech which much +pleased the King. During her pregnancy she was instant in prayer, fervently +supplicating the Lord to bless her with a goodly male child and make his birth +easy to her; and Allah heard her petition so that after her months were +accomplished she sat safely upon the birth-stool.[FN#147] Now the King had +deputed a eunuch to let him know if the child she should bring forth were male +or female; and in like way his son Sharrkan had sent one to bring him tidings +of the same. In due time Sophia was delivered of a child, which the midwives +examined and found to be a girl with a face sheenier than the moon. So they +announced this to all present in the room, whereupon the King's messenger +carried the news to him; and Sharrkan's eunuch did the like with his master, who +rejoiced with exceeding joy. But, after the two had departed, quoth Sophia to +the midwives, "Wait with me awhile, for I feel as if there were still somewhat +in my womb." Then she cried out and the pains of child-bed again took her; and +Allah made it easy to her and she gave birth to a second child. The wise women +looked at it and found it a boy like the full moon, with forehead flower-white, +and cheek ruddy-bright with rosy light; whereupon the mother rejoiced, as did +the eunuchs and attendants and all the company; and Sophia was delivered of the +after-birth whilst all in the palace sent forth the trill of joy.[FN#148] The +rest of the concubines heard it and envied her lot; and the tidings reached +Omar son of Al- Nu'uman, who was glad and rejoiced at the excellent news. Then +he rose and went to her and kissed her head, after which he looked at the boy; +and, bending over him, kissed him, whilst the damsels struck the tabors and +played on instruments of music; and the King gave order that the boy should be +named Zau al-Makán and his sister Nuzhat al-Zamán.[FN#149] They answered +"Hearing and obedience," and did his bidding; so he appointed wet nurses and +dry nurses and eunuchs and attendants to serve them; and assigned them rations +of sugar and diet-drinks and unguents and else beside, beyond the power of +tongue to rehearse. Moreover the people of Baghdad, hearing that Allah had +blessed their King with issue, decorated the city and made proclamation of the +glad tidings with drum and tom-tom; and the Emirs and Wazirs and high +dignitaries came to the palace and wished King Omar bin al-Nu'uman joy of his +son, Zau al-Makan, and of his daughter Nuzhat al-Zaman, wherefore he thanked +them; and bestowed on them dresses of honour and further favoured them with +gifts, and dealt largesse to all, gentle and simple, who were present. After +this fashion he did for four days full told, and he lavished upon Sophia +raiment and ornaments and great store of wealth; and, every few days he would +send a messenger to ask after her and the new-borns. And when four years had +gone by, he provided her with the wherewithal to rear the two children +carefully and educate them with the best of instructions. All this while his +son Sharrkan knew not that a male child had been born to his father, Omar son +of Al-Nu'uman, having news only that he had been blessed with the birth of +Nuzhat al-Zaman; and they hid the intelligence from him, until days and years +had sped by, whilst he was busied in battling with the brave and fighting +single-handed against the knights. One day, as King Omar was sitting in his +palace, his Chamberlains came in to him and, kissing the ground before him, +said, "O King there be come Ambassadors from the King of Roum, Lord of +Constantinople the Great, and they desire admission to thee and submission to +thy decree: if the King command us to introduce them we will so do; and, if +not, there is no disputing his behest." He bade them enter and, when they came +in, he turned to them; and, courteously receiving them, asked them of their +case, and what was the cause of their coming. They kissed the ground before +him and said, "O King glorious and strong! O lord of the arm that is long! +know that he who despatched us to thee is King Afrídún,[FN#150] Lord of +Ionia-land[FN#151] and of the Nazarene armies, the sovereign who is firmly +established in the empery of Constantinople, to acquaint thee that he is now +waging fierce war and fell with a tyrant and a rebel, the Prince of Cæsarea; +and the cause of this war is as follows. One of the Kings of the Arabs in past +time, during certain of his conquests, chanced upon a hoard of the time of +Alexander,[FN#152] whence he removed wealth past compute; and, amongst other +things, three round jewels, big as ostrich eggs, from a mine of pure white gems +whose like was never seen by man. Upon each were graven characts in Ionian +characters, and they have many virtues and properties, amongst the rest that if +one of these jewels be hung round the neck of a new-born child, no evil shall +befal him and he shall neither wail, nor shall fever ail him as long as the +jewel remain without fail.[FN#153] When the Arab King laid hands upon them; and +learned their secrets, he sent to King Afridun presents of certain rarities and +amongst them the three jewels afore mentioned; and he equipped for the mission +two ships, one bearing the treasure and the other men of might to guard it from +any who might offer hindrance on the high seas, albeit well assured that none +would dare waylay his vessels, for that he was King of the Arabs, and more by +token that their course lay over waters subject to the King of Constantinople +and they were bound to his port; nor were there on the shores of that sea any +save the subjects of the Great King, Afridun. The two ships set out and +voyaged till they drew near our city, when there sallied out on them certain +corsairs from that country and amongst them troops from the Prince of Cæsarea, +who took all the treasures and rarities in the ships, together with the three +jewels, and slew the crews. When our King heard of this, he sent an army +against them, but they routed it; then he marched a second and a stronger but +they put this also to flight,—whereupon the King waxed wroth and swore that he +would not go forth[FN#154] against them save in his own person at the head of +his whole army; nor would he turn back from them till he had left Cæsarea, of +Armenia[FN#155] in ruins and had laid waste all the lands and cities over which +her Prince held sway. So he sent us to the Lord of the age and the time, +Sultan Omar bin al-Nu'uman, King of Baghdad and of Khorasan, desiring that he +aid us with an army, so may honour and glory accrue to him; and he hath also +forwarded by us somewhat of various kinds of presents, and of the King's grace +he beggeth their acceptance and the friendly boon of furtherance." Then the +Ambassadors kissed the ground before him,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Forty-sixth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that, after the Ambassadors +and retinue from the Constantinopolitan King had kissed the ground before Omar +and had delivered their embassage, they brought out the presents, which were +fifty damsels of the choicest from Græcia-land, and fifty Mamelukes in tunics +of brocade, belted with girdles of gold and silver, each wearing in his ears +hoops of gold with pendants of fine pearls costing a thousand ducats every one. +The girls were adorned in like fashion and were clad in stuffs worth a +treasury of money. When the King saw them, he rejoiced in them; and accepted +them; then he bade the Ambassadors be honourably entreated and, summoning his +Wazirs, took counsel with them of what he should do. Herewith rose up among +them a Wazir, an ancient man, Dandán[FN#156] hight, who kissed the ground +before Omar and said, "O King, there is nothing better to do in this matter +than equip an army valiant and victorious, and set over it thy son Sharrkan +with us as his lieutenants; and this rede commendeth itself to me on two +counts; first, because the King of Roum hath invoked thine assistance and hath +sent thee gifts which thou hast accepted; and, secondly, because while no enemy +dareth attack our country, thine army may go forth safely and, should it +succour the King of Græcia-land and defeat his foe, the glory will be thine. +Moreover, the news of it will be noised abroad in all cities and countries and +especially, when the tidings shall reach the Islands of the Ocean and the Kings +of Mauritania shall hear it, they will send thee offerings of rarities and pay +thee tribute of money." The King, pleased by the Wazir's words and approving his +rede, gave him a dress of honour and said to him, "Of the like of thee should +Kings ask counsel, and it seemeth fit that thou shouldst conduct the van of our +army and our son Sharrkan command the main battle." Then he sent for his son +who came and kissed ground before him and sat down; and he expounded to him the +matter, telling him what the Ambassadors and the Wazir Dandan had said, and he +charged him to take arms and equip himself for the campaign, enjoining him not +to gainsay Dandan in aught he should do. Moreover, he ordered him to pick out +of his army ten thousand horsemen, armed cap-à-pie and inured to onset and +stress of war. Accordingly, Sharrkan arose on the instant, and chose out a +myriad of horsemen, after which he entered his palace and mustered his host and +distributed largesse to them, saying, "Ye have delay of three days." They +kissed the earth before him in obedience to his commands and began at once to +lay in munitions, and provide provisions for the occasion; whilst Sharrkan +repaired to the armouries and took therefrom whatsoever he required of arms and +armour, and thence to the stable where he chose horses of choice blood and +others. When the appointed three days were ended, the army drew out to the +suburbs of Baghdad city;[FN#157] and King Omar came forth to take leave of his +son who kissed the ground before him and received from the King seven parcels +of money.[FN#158] Then he turned to Dandan and commended to his care the army +of his son; and the Wazir kissed the ground before him and answered, "I hear +and I obey;" and lastly he charged Sharrkan that he should consult the Wazir on +all occasions, which he promised to do. After this, the King returned to his +city and Sharrkan ordered the officers to muster their troops in battle-array. +So they mustered them; and their number was ten thousand horsemen, besides +footmen and camp-followers. Then they loaded their baggage on their beasts and +the war-drums beat and the trumpets blared and the bannerols and standards were +unfurled, whilst Sharrkan mounted horse, with the Wazir Dandan by his side, and +the colours fluttering over their heads. So the host fared forth and stinted +not faring, with the ambassadors preceding them, till day departed and night +drew nigh, when they alighted and encamped for the night. And as soon as Allah +caused the morn To-morrow, they mounted and hied on, guided by the Ambassadors, +for a space of twenty days; and by the night of the twenty-first they came to a +fine and spacious Wady well grown with trees and shrubbery. Here Sharrkan +ordered them to alight and commanded a three days' halt, so they dismounted and +pitched their tents, spreading their camp over the right and the left slopes of +the extensive valley, whilst the Wazir Dandan and the Ambassadors of King +Afridun pitched in the sole of the Wady.[FN#159] As for Sharrkan, he tarried +behind them for awhile till all had dismounted and had dispersed themselves +over the valley-sides; he then slacked the reins of his steed, being minded to +explore the Wady and to mount guard in his own person, because of his father's +charge and owing to the fact that they were on the frontier of Græcia land and +in the enemy's country. So he rode out alone after ordering his armed slaves +and his body-guard to camp near the Wazir Dandan, and he fared on along the +side of the valley till a fourth part of the night was passed, when he felt +tired and drowsiness overcame him, so that he could no longer urge horse with +heel. Now he was accustomed to take rest on horseback; so when slumber +overpowered him, he slept and the steed ceased not going on with him till half +the night was spent and entered one of the thickets[FN#160] which was dense +with growth; but Sharrkan awoke not until his horse stumbled over wooded +ground. Then he started from sleep and found himself among the trees, and the +moon arose and shone brightly over the two horizons, Eastern and Western. He +was startled when he found himself alone in this place and said the say which +ne'er yet shamed its sayer, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" But as he rode on, in fear of wild beasts, +behold, the moon spread her glad light over a meadow as if 'twere of the meads +of Paradise; and he heard pleasant voices and a loud noise of talk and laughter +captivating the senses of men. So King Sharrkan alighted and, tying his steed +to one of the trees, went over a little way till he came upon a stream and +heard a woman talking in Arabic and saying, "Now by the truth of the Messiah, +this is not well of you! but whoso utters a word, I will throw her and truss +her up with her own girdle[FN#161]!" He kept walking in the direction of the +sound and when he reached the further side he looked and behold, a stream was +gushing and flowing, and antelopes at large were frisking and roving, and wild +cattle amid the pasture moving, and birds expressed joy and gladness in their +divers tongues, and that place was purfled with all manner flowers and green +herbs, even as a poet described it in these couplets, + +"Most beautiful is earth in budding bloom, * When lucid waters course through plain and wood: +No work but His th' All great, th' All glorious, * Giver of all gifts, Giver of all good!" + + +And as Sharrkan considered the place, he saw in it a Christian Monastery within +whose enceinte a castle towered high in air catching the light of the +moon.[FN#162] Through the midst of the convent passed a stream, the water +flowing amongst its gardens; and upon the bank sat the woman whose voice he had +heard, while before her stood ten handmaids like moons and wearing various +sorts of raiment and ornaments that dazed and dazzled the beholder, +high-bosomed virgins, as saith of them the poet in these couplets, + +"The mead is bright with what is on't * Of merry maidens debonnair: +Double its beauty and its grace * Those trooping damsels slender-fair: +Virgins of graceful swimming gait * Ready with eye and lip to ensnare; +And like the tendril'd vine they loose * The rich profusion of their hair: +Shooting their shafts and arrows from * Beautiful eyes beyond compare; +Overpowering and transpiercing * Every froward adversaire." + + +Sharrkan gazed upon the ten girls and saw in their midst a lady like the moon +at fullest, with ringleted hair and forehead sheeny-white, and eyes wondrous +wide and black and bright, and temple-locks like the scorpion's tail; and she +was perfect in essence and attributes, as the poet said of her in these +couplets, + +"She beamed on my sight with a wondrous glance, * And her straight slender stature enshamed the lance: +She burst on my sight with cheeks rosy-red, * Where all manner of beauties have habitance: +And the locks on her forehead were lowering as night * Whence issues a dawn-tide of happiest chance." + + +Then Sharrkan heard her say to the handmaids, "Come ye on, that I may wrestle +with you and gravel you, ere the moon set and the dawn break!" So each came up +to her in turn and she grounded them forthright, and pinioned them with their +girdles, and ceased not wrestling and pitching them until she had overthrown +one and all. Then there turned to her an old woman who was before her, and the +beldam said as in wrath, "O strumpet, dost thou glory in grounding these girls? +Behold I am an old woman, yet have I thrown them forty times! So what hast +thou to boast of? But if thou have the strength to wrestle with me, stand up +that I may grip thee and set thy head between thy heels!" The young lady smiled +at her words, but she was filled with inward wrath, and she jumped up and +asked, "O my lady Zat al-Dawahi,[FN#163] by the truth of the Messiah, wilt thou +wrestle with me in very deed, or dost thou jest with me?"; and she answered, +"Yea,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Forty-seventh Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the young lady asked +Zat al-Dawahi, "By the truth of the Messiah, wilt wrestle with me or dost +jest?", and she answered, "Yea, I will wrestle with thee in very deed" +(Sharrkan looking on the while), the damsel cried, "Rise up for the fall an +thou have spunk so to do." When the old woman heard this, she raged with +exceeding rage, and her body-hair stood on end like the bristles of a fretful +hedgehog.[FN#164] Then she sprang to her feet, whilst the damsel stood up to +her, and said, "Now by the truth of the Messiah, I will not wrestle with thee +unless I be naked, Mistress whore!"[FN#165] So she loosed her petticoat +trousers and, putting her hand under her clothes, tore them off her body; then +twisted up a silken kerchief into cord-shape, girt it round her middle and +became as she were a scald-head Ifritah or a spotted snake. With this she +inclined towards the damsel and said, "Do thou as I have done." All this time, +Sharrkan was gazing at the twain, and laughing at the beldam's loathly +semblance. So the damsel leisurely rose and, taking a sash of Yamani stuff, +passed it twice round her waist, then she tucked up her trousers and displayed +two calves of alabaster carrying a mound of crystal, smooth and rounded, and a +stomach which exhaled musk from its dimples, as it were a bed of Nu'uman's +anemones; and breasts like double pomegranates. Then the old woman leant +towards her, and the two laid hold either of each, while Sharrkan raised his +head Heavenwards and prayed Allah that the belle might beat the beldam. +Presently the young woman gat beneath the old woman; and, gripping her waist +cloth with the left and circling her neck with the right hand, hoisted her off +the ground with both; whereupon the old woman strove to free herself and, in so +doing fell on her back arsiversy, with her legs high in air and her hairy bush +between them showed manifest in the moonshine; furthermore she let fly two +great farts[FN#166] one of which blew up the dust from the earth's face and the +other steamed up to the gate of Heaven. Sharrkan laughed till he fell back +upon the ground. Then he arose and, baring his brand looked right and left, +but he saw no one save the old woman sprawling on her back, and said to +himself, "He lied not who named thee Lady of Calamities! Verily thou knewest +her prowess by her performance upon the others." So he drew near them to hear +what should pass between them. Then the young lady went up to the old one and, +throwing a wrapper of thin silk upon her nakedness, helped her to don her +clothes and made excuses saying, "O my lady Zat al- Dawahi, I intended only to +throw thee and not all this, but thou triedst to twist out of my hands; so laud +to Allah for safety!" She returned her no answer, but rose in her shame and +walked away till out of sight, leaving the handmaids prostrate and pinioned, +with the fair damsel standing amongst them. Quoth Sharrkan to himself, "Every +luck hath its cause. Sleep did not fall upon me nor the war-horse bear me +hither save for my good fortune; for doubtless this maid and what is with her +shall become booty to me." So he made towards his steed and mounted and +heeled[FN#167] him on, when he sped as the shaft speeds from the bow and in his +hand he still hent his brand bare of sheath, which he brandished shouting the +while his war cry, "Allah is All-mighty[FN#168]!" When the damsel saw him she +sprang to her feet and, taking firm stand on the bank of the stream, whose +breadth was six ells, the normal cubits, made one bound and landed clear on the +farther side,[FN#169] where she turned and cried out with a loud voice, "Who +art thou, O thou fellow, that breakest in upon our privacy and pastime, and +that too hanger in hand as if charging a host? Whence camest thou and whither +art thou going? Speak sooth, for truth will stand thee in good stead, and lie +not, for lies come of villein-breed Doubtless thou hast wandered this night +from thy way, that thou chancedst upon this place whence escape were the +greatest of mercies; for thou art now in an open plain and, did we shout but a +single shout, would come to our rescue four thousand knights.[FN#170] So tell +me what thou wantest; and if thou wouldst only have us set thee on the right +road, we will do so." When Sharrkan heard her words he replied, "I am a +stranger of the Moslems, who fared forth this night single-handed, seeking for +spoil; nor could this moonlight show me a fairer booty than these ten maidens; +so I shall seize them; and rejoin my comrades with them." Quoth she, "I would +have thee know that as for the booty thou hast not come at it; and, as for the +handmaids, by Allah, they shall never be thy spoil. Have I not told thee that +to lie is villein-vile?" Quoth he, "The wise man is he who taketh warning by +others." Thereupon quoth she, "By the truth of the Messiah, did I not fear that +thy death would be on my hands, I would shout a shout should fill the mead for +thee with war steeds and with men of might, but I take pity upon the stranger. +So, if thou seek booty, I require of thee that thou alight from thy steed and +swear to me, by thy faith, that thou wilt not advance against me aught like +arms in hand, and we will wrestle, I and thou. If thou throw me, set me on thy +steed and take all of us to thy booty; but if I throw thee, thou shalt become +under my command. Swear this to me, for I fear thy treachery: indeed it hath +become a common saw, 'Where Perfidy is innate there Trust is a weakly mate.' +Now an thou wilt swear I will return and draw near to thee and tackle thee." +Answered Sharrkan (and indeed he lusted to seize her and said in his soul, +"Truly she knoweth not that I am a champion of champions"); "Swear me by what +oath thou wilt and by what thou deemest most binding, and I will not approach +thee with aught till thou hast made thy preparation and sayest, 'Draw near that +I wrestle with thee.' If thou throw me, I have money wherewithal to ransom +myself; and if I throw thee, 'twill be booty and booty enough for me!" Rejoined +the damsel, "I am content herewith!" and Sharrkan was astounded at her words +and said, "And by the truth of the Apostle (whom Allah bless and keep!) I too +am content on the other part!" Then said she, "Swear to me by Him who sprite in +body dight and dealt laws to rule mankind aright, that thou wilt not offer me +aught of violence save by way of wrestling; else mayst thou die without the +pale of Al- Islam." Sharrkan replied, "By Allah! were a Kazi to swear me, even +though he were a Kazi of the Kazis,[FN#171] he would not impose upon me such an +oath as this!" Then he sware to her by all she named and tied his steed to a +tree; but he was drowned in the sea of thought, saying in himself, "Praise be +to Him who fashioned her from dirty water!"[FN#172] Then he girt himself and +made ready for wrestling, and said to her, "Cross the stream to me;" but she +replied, "It is not for me to come over to thee: if thou wilt, pass thou over +here to me." "I cannot do that," quoth he, and quoth she, "O boy, I will come +across to thee." So she tucked up her skirts and, leaping, landed on the other +side of the stream by his side; whereupon he drew near to her and bent him +forwards and clapped palms.[FN#173] But he was confounded by her beauty and +loveliness; for he saw a shape which the Hand of Power had tanned with the +dye-leaves of the Jánn, which had been fostered by the Hand of Beneficence and +fanned by the Zephyrs of fair fortune and whose birth a propitious ascendant +had greeted. Then she called out to him, "O Moslem, come on and let us wrestle +ere the break of morning," and tucked up her sleeves from a forearm like fresh +curd, which illumined the whole place with its whiteness; and Sharrkan was +dazzled by it. Then he bent forwards and clapped his palms by way of +challenge, she doing the like, and caught hold of her, and the two grappled and +gripped and interlocked hands and arms. Presently he shifted his hands to her +slender waist, when his finger tips sank into the soft folds of her middle, +breeding languishment, and he fell a trembling like the Persian reed in the +roaring gale. So she lifted him up and, throwing him to the ground, sat upon +his breast with hips and hinder cheeks like mounds of sand, for his soul had +lost mastery over his senses. Then she asked him, "O Moslem! the slaying of +Nazarenes is lawful to you folk; what then hast thou to say about being slain +thyself?"; and he answered, "O my lady, thy speech as regards slaying me is not +other than unlawful; for our prophet Mohammed (whom Allah bless and preserve!) +prohibited the slaying of women and children, old men and monks!" "As it was +thus revealed to your Prophet," she replied, "it behoveth us to render the +equivalent of his mercy; so rise. I give thee thy life, for generosity is +never lost upon the generous." Then she got off his breast and he rose and +stood shaking the dust from his head against the owners of the curved rib, even +women; and she said to him, "Be not ashamed; but verily one who entereth the +land of Roum in quest of booty, and cometh to assist Kings against Kings, how +happeneth it that he hath not strength enough to defend himself from one made +out of the curved rib?" "'Twas not for lack of strength in me," he answered; +"nor didst thou throw me by thy force; it was thy loveliness overthrew me; so +if thou wilt grant me another bout, it will be of thy courtesy." She laughed +and said, "I grant thee thy request: but these handmaids have long been +pinioned and their arms and sides are weary, and it were only right I should +loose them, for haply this next wrestling bout will be long." Then she went to +the slave-girls and, unbinding them, said to them in the tongue of Greece, "Get +ye to some safe place, till I foil this Moslem's lust and longing for you." So +they went away, whilst Sharrkan kept gazing at them; and they kept turning to +look at the two. Then each approached the adversary and he set his breast +against hers, but when he felt waist touch waist, his strength failed him; and +she, waxing ware of this, lifted him with her hands swiftlier than the blinding +leven-flash, and threw him to the ground. He fell on his back,[FN#174] and +then she said to him, "Rise: I give thee thy life a second time. I spared thee +in the first count because of thy Prophet, for that he made unlawful the +slaying of women; and I do so on the second count because of thy weakliness and +the greenness of thine years and thy strangerhood; but I charge thee, if there +be in the Moslem army sent by Omar bin al-Nu'uman to succour the King of +Constantinople, a stronger than thou, send him hither and tell him of me: for +in wrestling there are shifts and trips, catches and holds, such as the feint +or falsing and the snap or first grip, the hug, the feet-catch, the +thigh-bite,[FN#175] the jostle and the leg-lock." "By Allah, O my lady," quoth +Sharrkan (and indeed he was highly incensed against her), "had I been Master +al-Safdí, Master Mohammed Kimál or Ibn al-Saddí,[FN#176] as they were in their +prime, I had kept no note of these shifts thou mentionest; for O my mistress, +by Allah, thou hast not grassed me by thy strength, but by the blandishments of +thy back parts; for we men of Mesopotamia so love a full-formed thigh that nor +sense was left me nor foresight. But now, an thou wish, thou shalt try a third +fall with me while my wits are about me, and this last match is allowed me by +the laws of the game which sayeth the best of three: moreover I have regained +my presence of mind." When she heard his words she said to him, "Hast thou not +had a belly-full of this wrestling, O vanquished one? However come on, an thou +wilt; but know that this must be the last round." Then she bent forward and +challenged him and Sharrkan did likewise, setting to it in real earnest and +being right cautious about the throw: so the two strove awhile and the damsel +found in him a strength such as she had not observed before and said to him, "O +Moslem, thou art now on thy mettle." "Yes," he replied, "thou knowest that +there remaineth to me but this one round, after which each of us will wend a +different way." She laughed and he laughed too;[FN#177] then she overreached at +his thigh and caught firm hold of it unawares, which made him greet the ground +and fall full on his back. She laughed at him and said, "Art thou an eater of +bran? Thou are like a Badawi's bonnet which falleth off with every touch or +else the Father of Winds[FN#178] that droppeth before a puff of air. Fie upon +thee, O thou poor thing!" adding, "Get thee back to the Moslem army and send us +other than thyself, for thou failest of thews; and proclaim for us, among the +Arabs and Persians, the Turks and Daylamites,[FN#179] whoso hath might in him, +let him come to us." Then she made a spring and landed on the other side of the +stream and said to Sharrkan, laughing, "Parting with thee is right grievous to +me, O my lord; but get thee to thy mates before dawn, lest the Knights come +upon thee and pick thee up on their lance-points. Thou hast no strength to +defend thee against a woman, so how couldst thou hold thine own amongst men of +might and Knights?" Sharrkan was confounded and called to her (as she turned +from him making towards the convent), "O my lady, wilt thou go away and leave +the miserable stranger, the broken hearted slave of love?" So she turned to him +laughing and said, "What is thy want? I will grant thee thy prayer." "Have I +set foot in thy country and tasted the sweetness of thy courtesy," replied he, +"and shall I return without eating of thy victual and tasting thy hospitality; +I who have become one of thy servitors!" "None baulk kindliness save the base," +she rejoined, "honour us in Allah's name, on my head and eyes be it! Mount thy +steed and ride along the brink of the stream over against me, for now thou art +my guest." At this Sharrkan was glad and, hastening back to his horse, mounted +and walked him abreast of her, and she kept faring on till they came to a +drawbridge[FN#180] built of beams of the white poplar, hung by pullies and +steel-chains and made fast with hooks and padlocks. When Sharrkan looked, he +saw awaiting her upon the bridge the same ten handmaids whom she had thrown in +the wrestling-bouts; and, as she came up to them, she said to one in the Greek +tongue, "Arise and take the reins of his horse and conduct him across into the +convent." So she went up to Sharrkan and led him over, much puzzled and +perturbed with what he saw, and saying to himself, "O would that the Wazir +Dandan were here with me that his eyes might look upon these fairest of +favours." Then he turned to the young lady and said to her, "O marvel of +loveliness, now I have two claims upon thee; first the claim of good +fellowship, and secondly for that thou hast carried me to thy home and offered +me thy hospitality. I am now under thy commandance and thy guidance; so do me +one last favour by accompanying me to the lands of Al-Islam; where thou shalt +look upon many a lion-hearted warrior and thou shalt learn who I am." When she +heard this she was angered and said to him, "By the truth of the Messiah, thou +hast proved thyself with me a man of keen wit; but now I see what mischief +there is in thy heart, and how thou canst permit thyself a speech which proveth +thy traitorous intent. How should I do as thou sayest, when I wot that if I +came to that King of yours, Omar bin al- Nu'uman, I should never get free from +him? For truly he hath not the like of me or behind his city walls or within +his palace-halls, Lord of Baghdad and of Khorasan though he be, who hath built +for himself twelve pavilions, in number as the months of the year, and in each +a concubine after the number of the days; and if I come to him he would not +prove shy of me, for your folk believe I am lawful to have and to hold as is +said in your writ, 'Or those women whom your right hand shall possess as +slaves.'[FN#181] So how canst thou speak thus to me? As for thy saying, 'Thou +shalt look upon the braves of the Moslems,' by the truth of the Messiah, thou +sayest that which is not true, for I saw your army when it reached our land, +these two days ago; and I did not see that your ordinance was the ordinance of +Kings, but I beheld only a rabble of tribesmen gathered together. And as to +thy words, 'Thou shalt know who I am,' I did not do thee kindness because of +thy dignity but out of pride in myself; and the like of thee should not talk +thus to the like of me, even wert thou Sharrkan, Omar bin al- Nu'uman's son, +the prowest name in these days!" "Knowest thou Sharrkan?" asked he; and she +answered "Yes! and I know of his coming with an army numbering ten thousand +horsemen; also that he was sent by his sire with this force to gain prevalence +for the King of Constantinople." "O my lady," said Sharrkan, "I adjure thee by +thy religion, tell me the cause of all this, that sooth may appear to me clear +of untruth, and with whom the fault lies." "Now by the virtue of thy faith," +she replied, "did I not fear lest the news of me be bruited abroad that I am of +the daughters of Roum, I would adventure myself and sally forth single-handed +against the ten thousand horsemen and slay their leader, the Wazir Dandan and +vanquish their champion Sharrkan.[FN#182] Nor would aught of shame accrue to me +thereby, for I have read books and studied the rules of good breeding in the +language of the Arabs. But I have no need to vaunt my own prowess to thee, +more by token as thou hast proved in thy proper person my skill and strength in +wrestling; and thou hast learnt my superiority over other women. Nor, indeed, +had Sharrkan himself been here this night and it were said to him, 'Clear this +stream,' could he have done it; and I only long and lust that the Messiah would +throw him into my hands in this very convent, that I might go forth to him in +the habit of a man and drag him from his saddle-seat and make him my captive +and lay him in bilboes."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Forty-eighth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Nazarene damsel +said to Sharrkan (and he listening impatiently enow), "Verily if Sharrkan fell +into my hands, I would go forth to him in the habit of a man and drag him from +his saddle-seat and make him my captive and lay him in bilboes," pride and +passion and knightly jealousy took possession of him and he desired to discover +and declare himself and to lay on load; but her loveliness restrained him and +he began repeating, + +"An faulty of one fault the Beauty prove, * Her charms a thousand advocates +shall move." + + +So she went up and Sharrkan after her; and, when he saw the maiden's back and +hinder cheeks that clashed against each other, like rollers in the rolling sea, +he extemporised these couplets:— + +"For her sins is a pleader that brow, * And all hearts its fair pleading must trow: +When I saw it I cried, "To-night * The moon at its fullest doth show; +Tho' Balkis' own Ifrit[FN#183] try a bout, * Spite his force she would deal him a throw." + + +The two fared on till they reached a gate over which rose a marble archway. +This she opened and ushered Sharrkan into a long vestibule, vaulted with ten +connected arches, from each of which hung a crystal lamp glistening like a +spark of fire. The handmaids met her at the further end bearing wax candles of +goodly perfume, and wearing on their heads golden fillets crusted with all +manner bezel-gems,[FN#184] and went on before her (Sharrkan still following), +till they reached the inner convent. There the Moslem saw couches and sofas +ranged all around, one opposite the other and all overhung with curtains +flowered in gold. The monastery floor was paved with every kind of +vari-coloured marbles and mosaic-work, and in the midst stood a basin that held +four-and-twenty jetting fountains of gold, whence the water ran like molten silver; +whilst at the upper end stood a throne spread with silks fit only for Kings. +Then said the damsel, "Ascend, O my lord, this throne." So he went up to it and +sat down and she withdrew to remain absent for some time. Sharrkan asked of her +from one of the servants who answered him, "She hath gone to her dormitory; but +we will serve thee even as she ordered." So they set before him viands of rare +varieties, and he ate his sufficiency, when they brought him a basin of gold +and an ewer of silver, and he washed his hands. Then his thoughts reverted to +his army, knowing not what had befallen it in his absence and calling to mind +also how he had forgotten his father's injunctions: so he was troubled about +his case, repenting of what he had done till the dawn broke and the day +appeared; when he lamented and sighed and became drowned in sea of sadness and +repeated, + +"I am not lost to prudence, but indeed * Here I'm bewildered, what shall be my rede? +Would any aid me in mine ails of love, * By my own might and sleight would I be free'd: +But ah! my heart is lost and passion-shent: * To none save Allah can I trust my need!" + + +When he ended his verse behold, there came up to him a rare show and a fair, +more than twenty maidens like crescents encompassing the young lady, who shone +in their midst as the full moon among the constellations guarding and girding +her. She was clad in brocades befitting Kings; her breasts were like twin +pomegranates, a woven zone set with all kinds of jewels tightly clasped her +waist which expanded below into jutting hips; and her hinder cheeks stood out +as a mound of crystal[FN#185] supporting a silvern shaft. When Sharrkan looked +at her his wits went nigh to fly away from him with delight; and he forgot army +and Wazir as he gazed on her fair head decked and dight with a net-work of +pearls set off by divers sorts of gems. Handmaids on her right and handmaids +on her left bore her train, as she paced with dainty graceful gait in all the +pride of seemlihead. He sprang to his feet seeing such beauty and loveliness, +and cried aloud, "Beware and beware of that zone rarely fair!" and broke out +into these couplets, + +"With heavy back parts, high breasts delicate, * And lissome form that sways with swimming gait +She deftly hides love-longing in her breast; * But I may never hide its ban and bate: +While hosts of followers her steps precede,[FN#186] * Like pearls now necklaced and now separate." + + +She gazed upon him for a long time and considered him till she was assured of +him, when she came up to him and said, "In very sooth the place is honoured and +illumined by thee, O Sharrkan! How sped thy night, O hero, after we went away +and left thee?"; adding, "Verily lying is a vile thing and a shameful, +especially in great Kings! and thou art Crown-Prince Sharrkan, son and heir of +King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; so henceforth make no secret of thy rank and +condition, nor let me hear aught from thee but the truth; for leasing +bequeatheth hate and despite. And as thou art pierced by the shaft of Fate, be +resignation thine and abide content to wait." When he heard her words he saw +that artifice availed him naught and he acknowledged the truth, saying, "I am +Sharrkan, bin Omar bin al-Nu'uman, whom fortune hath afflicted and cast into +this place; so whatso thou willest, do it in my case!" She hung her head +groundwards a long while, then turned to him and said, "Be of good cheer and +let thine eyes be cool and clear;[FN#187] for thou art the guest of my +hospitality, and bread-and-salt hath made a tie between me and thee; wherefore +thou art in my ward and under my safeguard. Have no fear for, by the truth of +the Messiah, if all on earth sought to do thee hurt they should not come at +thee, till life had left my body for thy sake: indeed thou art now under the +charge of the Messiah and of me." Hereat she sat her down by his side and fell +to playing with him, till his alarm subsided and he knew that had she desired +to slay him, she would have done so during the past night. Presently she +bespoke in the Grecian tongue, one of her slave-girls, who went away and soon +came back bringing a beaker and a tray of food; but Sharrkan abstained from +eating and said to himself, "Haply she hath put somewhat in this meat." She +knew what was in his thought; so she turned to him and said, "By the truth of +the Messiah, the case is not on such wise, nor is there aught in this meat of +what thou suspectest! Had my mind been set on slaying thee, I had slain thee +ere now." Then she walked up to the tray and ate of every dish a mouthful; +whereupon Sharrkan came forward and ate too. She was pleased at this and both +ate till they were satisfied. They washed their hands and after that she rose +and ordered a handmaid to bring perfumes and herbs of sweet savour, wines of +all colours and kinds and a wine-service with vessels of gold, silver and +crystal. She filled a first goblet and drank it off before offering it to him, +even as she had done with the food: then she crowned a second and handed it to +him. He drank and she said to him, "O Moslem, see how thou art here in all +solace and delight of life!" And she ceased not to drink and ply him with +drink, till he took leave of his wits,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day, and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Forty-ninth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the damsel ceased not to +drink and ply Sharrkan with drink till he took leave of his wits, for the wine +and the intoxication of love he bore her. Presently she said to the slave +girl, "O Marjanah[FN#188]! bring us some instruments of music!" "To hear is to +obey," said the handmaid and going out, returned in the twinkling of an eye +with a Damascus lute,[FN#189] a Persian harp, a Tartar pipe, and an Egyptian +dulcimer. The young lady took the lute and, after tuning each several string, +began in gentle undersong to sing, softer than zephyr's wing and sweeter than +Tasmin[FN#190]-spring, with heart safe and secure from everything the couplets +following, + +"Allah assain those eyne! What streams of blood they shed! * How many an arrowy glance those lids of thine have sped. +I love all lovers who to lovers show them dure; * 'Twere wrong to rue the love in wrong-head born and bred: +Haply fall hapless eye for thee no sleeping kens! * Heaven help the hapless heart by force of thee misled! +Thou doomest me to death who art my king, and I * Ransom with life the deemster who would doom me dead." + + +Thereupon each and every of the maidens rose up and taking an instrument, +played and recited couplets in the Roumi tongue; then their mistress sang also +and seeing Sharrkan in ecstasies asked him, "O Moslem, dost thou understand +what I say?"; and he answered, "Nay, my ecstasy cometh from the beauty of thy +finger-tips." She laughed and continued, "If I sing to thee in Arabic what +wouldst thou do?" "I should no longer," quoth he, "be master of my senses." +Then she took an instrument and, changing the measure, began singing these +verses, + +"The smack of parting's myrrh to me, * How, then, bear patience' aloë? +I'm girt by ills in trinity * Severance, distance, cruelty! +My freedom stole that fairest she, * And parting irks me bitterly." + + +When she ended her verse, she looked at Sharrkan and found him lost to +existence, and he lay for a while stretched at full length and prone among the +maidens.[FN#191] Then he revived and, remembering the songs, again inclined to +mirth and merriment; and the twain returned to their wine and wassail, and +continued their playing and toying, their pastime and pleasure till day ceased +illuminating and night drooped her wing. Then the damsel went off to her +dormitory and when Sharrkan asked after her they answered, "She is gone to her +sleeping-chamber," whereto he rejoined, "Under Allah's ward and His good +guard!" As soon as it was morning, a handmaid came to him and said to him, "My +mistress biddeth thee to her." So he rose and followed her and, as he drew near +her lodging, the damsels welcomed him with smitten tabrets and songs of +greeting, and led him through a great door of ivory studded with pearls and +jewels. Thence they passed with him into a tall and spacious hall, at the +upper end of which was a wide daïs carpeted with all kinds of silks, and round +it open lattices commanding a view of trees and streams. About the saloon were +figures carved in human form, and fashioned on such wise that the air passed +through them; and set in motion musical instruments within, so that the beholder +would fancy they spoke.[FN#192] Here sat the young lady, looking at the +figures; but when she saw Sharrkan, she sprang to her feet and, taking him by +the hand, made him sit down by her side, and asked him how he had passed the +night. He blessed her and the two sat talking awhile till she asked him, +"Knowest thou aught touching lovers and slaves of love?"; and he answered "Yes! +I wot somewhat in verse on that matter." "Let me hear it," quoth she, so he +began quoting, + +"Pleasure and health, good cheer, good appetite * To Azzah, freest with our name and fame! +By Allah! would I near her off she flies * At tangent, granting less the more I claim: +I dote on Azzah, but when clear I off * My rivals, clears me too that dearest dame; +Like wandering wight that chose for shade a cloud * Which, ere siesta done, thin air became." + + +When she heard this she said, "Verily Al-Kuthayyir[FN#193] was conspicuous for +sweet speech and chaste, and he was superlative in his praise of Azzah when he +sang" (and she began to recite), + +"Did Azzah deal behest to Sun o' noon, * The judge had 'judged her beauty's bestest boon; +And girls who come to me and carp at her, * God make their rosy cheeks her sandal-shoon! + + +"And indeed," quoth she, "'twas said that Azzah boasted exceeding beauty and +loveliness." Then she asked Sharrkan saying, "O Prince, dost thou know aught of +Jamíl's[FN#194] verses to Buthaynah? if so repeat to us somewhat of them;" and +he answered, "Yes, I know them better than any;" whereupon he began repeating +these couplets, + +"Jamil, in Holy war go fight!" to me they say: * What war save fight for fair ones would I e'er essay? +To me their every word and work are mere delight, * And martyrs clepe I all they slay in fight and fray: +An ask I, 'O Buthaynah! what's this love, I pray, * Which eats my heart?' quoth she ' 'Twill stay for ever and aye!' +And when I cry, 'Of wits return some small display * For daily use,' quoth she, 'Far, far 'tis fled away!" +Thou seekst my death; naught else thy will can satisfy * While I no goal espy save thee and thee alway. + + +"Thou hast spoken right well," said she, "O King's son, and Jamil also spoke +excellently well. But what would Buthaynah have done with him that he saith in +his hemistich, + +'Thou seekst my death; naught else thy will can satisfy?'" + + +"O my lady," quoth Sharrkan, "she willed to do him what thou willest to do with +me, and even that will not satisfy thee." She laughed at his opportune reply +and they ceased not carousing till Day put out her light and Night came in +darkness dight. Then she rose and went to her dormitory and slept, while +Sharrkan slept in his place till morning dawned. As soon as he awoke, the +hand-maids came to him with tabrets and other instruments of mirth and merriment, as +wont; and, kissing the ground between his hands, said to him, "Bismillah!--in +Allah's name--be so kind as to come[FN#195]: our mistress biddeth thee to her +presence!" So he rose and accompanied the slave-girls who surrounded him, +playing on tabrets and other instruments of music, till they passed from that +saloon into another and a yet more spacious hall, decorated with pictured +likenesses and figures of birds and beasts, passing all description. Sharrkan +marvelled at the art and artifice of the place and began reciting, + +"He pluckt fruits of her necklace in rivalry, * And her breast-pearls that bedded in gold-mine lie. +Pure water on silvern bars is her brow, * And her cheeks show roses with rubies vie: +Meseems in her eyne that the violet's hue * Lies purpling set in the Ithmid's[FN#196] dye." + + +When the lady saw Sharrkan, she stood up to him in honour and, +taking his hand, seated him by her side and asked, "O son of King +Omar bin al-Nu'uman, hast thou any cunning in the game of chess?" +"Yes," he answered, "but do not thou with me as said the poet, + +'I speak and longing love upties me and unties me; * Till with her honey-dew of inner lip she plies me: +I brought the chess-board and my liefest lover plays me * With white and black,[FN#197] but black-cum-white ne'er satisfies me: +'Twas as if King for Castle I were fain to place me * Till wilful loss of game atwixt two queens surprise me: +And if I seek to read intent in eyes that eye me * Oh man! that glance askance with hint of wish defies me.'" + + +Then she brought the chess-board and played with him; but Sharrkan, instead of +looking at her moves, kept gazing at her fair mouth, and putting knight in +place of elephant and elephant[FN#198] in stead of knight. She laughed and said +to him, "If thy play be after this fashion, thou knowest naught of the game." +"This is only our first," replied he, "judge not by this bout." When she beat +him he replaced the pieces in position and played again with her; but she beat +him a second time, a third, a fourth and a fifth. So she turned to him and +said, "Thou art beaten in everything;" and he replied, "O my lady, how should +one playing with the like of thee avoid being beaten?" Then she bade bring +food, and they ate and washed their hands; after which the wine was set before +them; and they drank. Presently, she took the dulcimer, for her hand was +cunning in smiting it, and she began repeating to an accompaniment these +couplets, + +"Twixt the close-tied and open-wide no medium Fortune knoweth, * Now ebb and flow then flow and ebb this wise her likeness showeth. +Then drink her wine the syne she's thine and smiling thou dost find her * Anon she'll fall and fare away when all thy good forth goeth." + + +They ceased not to carouse till nightfall and this day was pleasanter even than +the first. When darkness set in, the lady betook her to her dormitory, leaving +him alone with the handmaids; so he threw himself on the ground and slept till +dawn, when the damsels came to him with tambourines and other instruments +according to custom. Seeing them he roused him hastily and sat up; and they +carried him to their mistress, who came to meet him and, taking him by the +hand, seated him by her side. Then she asked him how he had passed his night, +whereat he prayed that her life be prolonged; and she took the lute and sang to +it these verses which she improvised, + +"Ne'er incline thee to part * Which embitters the heart; +E'en the sun when he sets * Shall in pallor depart." + + +While they were solacing themselves after this fashion, behold, there arose a +great and sudden clamour, and a confused crowd of knights and men rushed in, +holding drawn swords that glittered and gleamed in their hands, and cried aloud +in the Grecian tongue, "Thou hast fallen into our hands, O Sharrkan, so make +thee sure of death!" When he heard this, he said to himself, "By Allah, she +hath entrapped me and held me in play, till her men should come. These are the +Knights with whom she threatened me; but 'tis I who have thrown myself into +this strait." Then he turned towards the young lady to reproach her, but saw +that she had changed colour and her face was pale; and she sprang to her feet +and asked the crowd, "Who are ye?" "O most gracious Princess and peerless +union-pearl," answered the leading Knight, "dost thou weet who is yon man by thy +side?" "Not I," she replied, "who may he be?" Quoth the Patrician, "This is of +towns the highwayman! This is he who rideth in the horseman's van! This is +Sharrkan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman! This is he that forceth fortalice +and penetrateth every impregnable place! The news of him reached King Hardub, +thy father, by report of the ancient dame Zat al- Dawahi; and thy sire, our +sovereign, hath made sure that thou hast rendered good service to the army of +the Greeks by taking captive this ominous lion." When she heard this, she +looked at the Knight and asked him, "What be thy name?" and he answered, "I am +Másúrah, son of thy slave Mausúrah bin Káshardah, Knight of Knights." "And +how?" quoth she, "durst thou enter my presence without leave?" Quoth he, "O my +lady, when I came to the gate, none forbade me, neither chamberlain nor porter, +but all the door-keepers rose and forewent us as of wont; although, when others +come, they leave them standing at the gate while they ask permission to admit +them. But this is not a time for long talking, when the King is expecting our +return with this Prince, the scorpion-sting[FN#199] of the Islamitic host, that +he may kill him and drive back his men whither they came, without the bane of +battling with them." "These words be ill words," rejoined the Princess, "and +Dame Zat al-Dawahi lied, avouching an idle thing and a vain, whereof she +weeteth not the truth; for by the virtue of the Messiah, this man who is with +me is not Sharrkan, nor is he a captive, but a stranger who came to us seeking +our hospitality, and I made him my guest. So even were we assured that this be +Sharrkan and were it proved to us that it is he beyond a doubt, I say it would +ill befit mine honour that I should deliver into your hands one who hath +entered under my protection. So make me not a traitor to my guest and a +disgrace among men; but return to the King, my father, and kiss the ground +before him, and inform him that the case is contrariwise to the report of the +Lady Zat al-Dawahi." "O Abrízah," replied Masurah, the Knight, "I cannot return +to the King's majesty without his debtor and enemy." Quoth she (and indeed she +had waxed very wroth), "Out on thee! Return to him with my answer, and no +blame shall befal thee!" Quoth Masurah, "I will not return without him." +Thereupon her colour changed and she exclaimed, "Exceed not in talk and vain +words; for verily this man had not come in to us, were he not assured that he +could of himself and single-handed make head against an hundred riders; and if +I said to him, 'Thou art Sharrkan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman,' he would +answer, 'Yes.' But 'tis not of your competence to let or hinder him; for if you +do so, he will not turn back from you till he hath slain all that are in this +place. Behold, here he is by my side, and I will bring him before you sword +and targe in hand." "Albeit I were safe from thy wrath," answered Masurah the +Knight, "I am not safe from that of thy father, and when I see him, I shall +sign to the Knights to take him captive, and we will carry him to the King +bound and in abject sort." When she heard this, she said, "The matter shall not +pass thus, for 'twould be blazoning mere folly. This man is but one and ye are +an hundred Knights: so if you would attack him come out against him, one after +one, that it may appear to the King which is the valiant amongst you."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Fiftieth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Princess Abrizah said to +the Knight, "This man is but one, and ye are an hundred: so if ye would attack +him, come out against him, one after one, that it may appear to the King which +is the valiant." Quoth Masurah, the Knight, "By the truth of the Messiah, thou +sayest sooth, and none but I shall sally out against him first." Quoth she, +"Wait till I go to him and acquaint him with the case and hear what answer he +will make. If he consent, 'tis well; but if he refuse, ye shall on no wise +come to him, for I and my handmaids and whosoever is in the convent will be +his ransom." So she went to Sharrkan and told him the news, whereat he smiled +and knew that she had not informed any of the Emirs; but that tidings of him +had been bruited and blazed abroad, till the report reached the King, against +her wish and intent. So he again began reproaching himself and said, "How came +I to adventure and play with my life by coming to the country of the Greeks?" +But hearing the young lady's proposal he said to her, "Indeed their onset, one +after one, would be overburdensome to them. Will they not come out against me, +ten by ten?" "That would be villeiny," said she; "Let one have at one." When he +heard this, he sprang to his feet and made for them with his sword and battle-gear; +and Masurah, the Knight, also sprang up and bore down upon him. Sharrkan +met him like a lion and delivered a shoulder-cut[FN#200] which clove him to the +middle, and the blade came out gleaming and glittering from his back and +bowels. When the lady beheld that swashing-blow, Sharrkan's might was magnified +in her sight and she knew that when she overthrew him in the wrestle it was not +by her strength but by her beauty and loveliness. So she turned to the Knights +and said, "Take wreak for your chief!" Thereupon out came the slain man's +brother, a fierce and furious Knight, and rushed upon Sharrkan, who delayed +not, but smote him also with the shoulder-cut and the sword came out glittering +from his vitals. Then cried the Princess, "O ye servants of the Messiah, +avenge your comrade!" So they ceased not charging down upon him, one after one; +and Sharrkan also ceased not playing upon them with the blade, till he had +slain fifty Knights, the lady looking on the while. And Allah cast a panic +into the hearts of the survivors, so that they held back and dared not meet him +in the duello, but fell upon him in a body; and he laid on load with heart +firmer than a rock, and smote them; and trod them down like straw under the +threshing-sled,[FN#201] till he had driven sense and soul out of them. Then +the Princess called aloud to her damsels, saying, "Who is left in the +convent?"; and they replied, "None but the gate-keepers;" whereupon she went up +to Sharrkan and took him to her bosom, he doing the same, and they returned to +the palace, after he had made an end of the melée. Now there remained a few of +the Knights hiding from him in the cells of the monastery, and when the +Princess saw this she rose from Sharrkan's side and left him for a while, but +presently came back clad in closely-meshed coat of ring-mail and holding in her +hand a fine Indian scymitar. And she said, "Now by the truth of the Messiah, I +will not be a niggard of myself for my guest; nor will I abandon him though for +this I abide a reproach and a by-word in the land of the Greeks." Then she took +reckoning of the dead and found that he had slain fourscore of the Knights, and +other twenty had taken to flight.[FN#202] When she saw what work he had made +with them she said to him, "Allah bless thee, O Sharrkan! The Cavaliers may +well glory in the like of thee." Then he rose and wiping his blade clean of the +blood of the slain began reciting these couplets, + +"How oft in the mellay I've cleft the array, * And given their bravest to lions a prey: +Ask of me and of them when I proved me prow * O'er creation, on days of the foray and fray: +When I left in the onslaught their lions to lie * On the sands of the low-lands[FN#203] in fieriest day." + + +When he ended his verse, the Princess came up to him with smiles and kissed his +hand; then she doffed her hauberk and he said to her, "O lady mine, wherefore +didst thou don that coat of mail and bare thy brand?" "To guard thee against +these caitiffs,"[FN#204] she replied. Then she summoned the gate-keepers and +asked them, "How came ye to admit the King's Knights into my dwelling without +leave of me?"; and they answered, "O Princess, it is not our custom to ask +leave of thee for the King's messengers, and especially for the chief of his +Knights." Quoth she, "I think ye were minded only to disgrace me and murder my +guest;" and bade Sharrkan smite their necks. He did so and she cried to the +rest of her servants, "Of a truth, they deserved even more than that!" Then +turning to Sharrkan, she said to him, "Now that there hath become manifest to +thee what was concealed, thou shalt be made acquainted with my history. Know, +then, that I am the daughter of King Hardub of Roum; my name is Abrizah and the +ancient dame, yclept Zat al-Dawahi, is my grandmother by the sword side. She +it certainly is who told my father of thee, and as surely she will compass a +sleight to slay me, more by token as thou hast slain my father's chivalry and +it is noised abroad that I have separated myself from the Nazarenes and have +become no better than I should be with the Moslems. Wherefore it were wiser +that I leave this dwelling while Zat al-Dawahi is on my track; but I require of +thee the like kindness and courtesy I have shown thee, for enmity will +presently befal between me and my father on thine account. So do not thou +neglect to do aught that I shall say to thee, remembering all this betided me +not save by reason of thee." Hearing her words, Sharrkan joyed greatly; his +breast broadened and his wits flew from him for delight, and he said, "By +Allah, none shall come at thee, while life is in my bosom! But hast thou +patience to bear parting from thy parents and thy people?" "Even so," she +answered; and Sharrkan swore to her and the two plighted their troth. Then +said she, "Now is my heart at ease; but there remaineth one other condition for +thee." "What is it?" asked he and she answered, "It is that thou return with +thy host to thine own country." Quoth he, "O lady mine, my father, King Omar +bin al- Nu'uman, sent me to wage war upon thy sire, on account of the treasure +he plundered from the King of Constantinople, and amongst the rest three great +jewels, noted givers of good fortune." Quoth she, "Cheer thy heart and clear +thine eyes: I will tell thee the whole of the tale and the cause of our feud +with the King of Constantinople. Know that we have a yearly festival, hight +the Convent-Feast, whereat Kings from all quarters and the noblest women are +wont to congregate; thither also come merchants and traders with their wives +and families, and the visitors abide there seven days. I was wont to be one of +them; but, when there befel enmity between us, my father forbade me to be +present at the festival for the space of seven years. One year, it chanced that +amongst the daughters of the great who resorted to the patron, as was their +custom, came a daughter of the King of Constantinople, a beautiful girl called +Sophia. They tarried at the monastery six days and on the seventh the folk +went their ways;[FN#205] but Sophia said, 'I will not return to Constantinople +save by water.' So they equipped for her a ship in which she embarked with her +suite; and making sail they put out to sea; but as they were voyaging behold, a +contrary wind caught them; and drove the vessel from her course till, as Fate +and Fortune would have it, she fell in with a Nazarene craft from the Camphor +Island[FN#206] carrying a crew of five hundred armed Franks, who had been +cruising about a long time. When they sighted the sails of the ship, wherein +Sophia and her women were, they gave chase in all haste and in less than an +hour they came up with her, then they laid the grappling-irons aboard her and +captured her. Then taking her in tow they made all sail for their own island +and were but a little distant from it when the wind veered round and, splitting +their sails, drove them on to a shoal which lies off our coast. Thereupon we +sallied forth and, looking on them as spoil driven to us by Fate,[FN#207] +boarded and took them; and, slaying the men, made prize of the wreck, wherein +we found the treasures and rarities in question and forty maidens, amongst whom +was the King's daughter, Sophia. After the capture we carried the Princess and +her women to my father, not knowing her to be a daughter of King Afridun of +Constantinople; and he chose out for himself ten including her; and divided the +rest among his dependants. Presently he set apart five damsels, amongst whom +was the King s daughter, and sent them to thy father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, +together with other gifts, such as broadcloth[FN#208] and woollen stuffs and +Grecian silks. Thy father accepted them; and chose out from amongst the five +girls Sophia, daughter of King Afridun; nor did we hear more of her till the +beginning of this year, when her father wrote to my father in words unfitting +for me to repeat, rebuking him with menaces and saying to him: Two years ago, +you plundered a ship of ours which had been seized by a band of Frankish +pirates in which was my daughter, Sophia, attended by her maidens numbering +some threescore. Yet ye informed me not thereof by messenger or otherwise; nor +could I make the matter public, lest reproach befal me amongst the Kings, by +reason of my daughter's honour. So I concealed my case till this year, when I +wrote to certain Frankish corsairs and sought news of my daughter from the +Kings of the Isles. They replied, 'By Allah we carried her not forth of thy +realm; but we have heard that King Hardub rescued her from certain pirates. +And they told me the whole tale.' Then he added in the writing which he writ to +my father: 'Except you wish to be at feud with me and design to disgrace me and +dishonour my daughter, you will, the instant my letter reacheth you, send my +daughter back to me. But if you slight my letter and disobey my commandment, I +will assuredly make you full return for your foul dealing and the baseness of +your practices.'[FN#209] When my father read this letter and understood the +contents,[FN#210] it vexed him and he regretted not having known that Sophia, +King Afridun's daughter, was among the captured damsels, that he might have +sent her back to her sire; and he was perplexed about the case because, after +so long a time, he could not send to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and demand her +back from him, especially as he had lately heard that Heaven had granted him +boon of babe by this Sophia. So when we pondered that truth, we knew that this +letter was none other than a grievous calamity; and my father found nothing for +it but to write an answer to King Afridun, making his excuses and swearing to +him by strong oaths that he knew not his daughter to be among the bevy of +damsels in the ship and setting forth how he had sent her to King Omar bin al +Nu'uman, who had gotten the blessing of issue by her. When my father's reply +reached King Afridun he rose up and sat down,[FN#211] and roared and foamed at +the mouth crying:—'What! shall he take captive my daughter and even her with +slave-girls and pass her on from hand to hand sending her for a gift to Kings, +and they lie with her without marriage-contract? By the Messiah and the true +Faith,' said he, 'I will not desist till I have taken my blood-vengeance for +this and have wiped out my shame; and indeed I will do a deed which the +chroniclers shall chronicle after me!' So he bided his time till he devised a +device and laid notable toils and snares, when he sent an embassy to thy +father, King Omar, to tell him that which thou hast heard: accordingly thy +father equipped thee and an army with thee and sent thee to King Afridun, whose +object is to seize thee and thine army to boot. As for the three jewels +whereof he told thy father when asking his aid, there was not one soothfast +word in that matter, for they were with Sophia, his daughter; and my father +took them from her, when he got possession of her and of her maidens, and gave +them to me in free gift, and they are now with me. So go thou to thy host and +turn them back ere they be led deep into, and shut in by, the land of the +Franks and the country of the Greeks; +for as soon as you have come far enough into their interior, they will +stop the roads upon you and there will be no escape for you till the Day of +retribution and retaliation. I know that thy troops are still halting where +thou leftest them, because thou didst order a three days' rest; withal they +have missed thee all this time and they wot not what to do." When Sharrkan +heard her words, he was absent awhile in thought; then he kissed Princess +Abrizah's hand and said, "Praise be to Allah who hath bestowed thee on me and +appointed thee to be the cause of my salvation and the salvation of whoso is +with me! But 'tis grievous to me to part from thee and I know not what will +become of thee after my departure." "Go now to thine army," she replied, "and +turn them back, while ye are yet near your own country. If the envoys be still +with them, lay hands on them; and keep them, that the case may be made manifest +to you; and, after three days, I will be with you all and we will enter Baghdad +together." As he turned to depart she said, "Forget not the compact which is +between me and thee;" then she rose to bid[FN#212] him farewell and embrace him +and quench the fire of desire, so she took leave of him and, throwing her arms +round his neck, wept with exceeding weeping, and repeated these verses, + +"I bade adieu, my right hand wiped my tears away, * The while my left hand held her in a close embrace: +'Fearest thou naught,' quoth she, 'of shame?' I answered 'Nay, * The lover's parting day is lover's worst disgrace.'" + + +Then Sharrkan left her and walked down from the convent. They brought his +steed, so he mounted and rode down-stream to the drawbridge which he crossed +and presently threaded the woodland paths and passed into the open meadow. As +soon as he was clear of the trees he was aware of horsemen which made him stand +on the alert, and he bared his brand and rode cautiously; but as they drew near +and exchanged curious looks he recognized them; and behold, it was the Wazir +Dandan and two of his Emirs. When they saw him and knew him, they dismounted +and saluting him, asked the reason of his absence; whereupon he told them all +that had passed between him and Princess Abrizah from first to last. The Wazir +returned thanks to Almighty Allah for his safety and said,[FN#213] "Let us at +once leave these lands; for the envoys who came with us are gone to inform the +King of our approach, and haply he will hasten to fall on us and take us +prisoners." So Sharrkan cried to his men to saddle and mount, which they did +and, setting out at once, they stinted not faring till they reached the sole of +the valley wherein the host lay. The Ambassadors meanwhile had reported +Sharrkan's approach to their King, who forthright equipped a host to lay hold +of him and those with him. But Sharrkan, escorted by the Wazir Dandan and the +two Emirs, had no sooner sighted the army, than he raised the cry "March! +March!" They took horse on the instant and fared through the first day and +second and third day, nor did they cease faring for five days; at the end of +which time they alighted in a well-wooded valley, where they rested awhile. +Then they again set out and stayed not riding for five and twenty days which +placed them on the frontiers of their own country. Here, deeming themselves +safe, they halted to rest; and the country people came out to them with guest-gifts +for the men and provender and forage for the beasts. They tarried there +two days after which, as all would be making for their homes, Sharrkan put the +Wazir Dandan in command, bidding him lead the host back to Baghdad. But he +himself remained behind with an hundred riders, till the rest of the army had +made one day's march: then he called "To horse!" and mounted with his hundred +men. They rode on two parasangs'[FN#214] space till they arrived at a gorge +between two mountains and lo! there arose before them a dark cloud of sand and +dust. So they checked their steeds awhile till the dust opened and lifted, +discovering beneath it an hundred cavaliers, lion-faced and in mail-coats +cased. As soon as they drew within earshot of Sharrkan and his meiny they +cried out to them, saying, "By the virtue of John and Mary, we have won to our +wish! We have been following you by forced marches, night and day, till we +forewent you to this place. So dismount and lay down your arms and yield +yourselves, that we may grant you your lives." When Sharrkan heard this, his +eyes stood out from his head and his cheeks flushed red and he said 'How is it, +O Nazarene dogs, ye dare enter our country and overmarch our land? And doth +not this suffice you, but ye must adventure yourselves and address us in such +unseemly speech? Do you think to escape out of our hands and return to your +country?" Then he shouted to his hundred horsemen, "Up and at these hounds, for +they even you in number!" So saying, he bared his sabre and bore down on them, +he and his, but the Franks met them with hearts firmer than rocks, and wight +dashed against wight, and knight dashed upon knight, and hot waxed the fight, +and sore was the affright, and nor parley nor cries of quarter helped their +plight; and they stinted not to charge and to smite, right hand meeting right, +nor to hack and hew with blades bright-white, till day turned to night and +gloom oppressed the sight. Then they drew apart and Sharrkan mustered his men +and found none wounded save four only, who showed hurts but not death-hurts. +Said he to them, "By Allah, my life long have I waded in the clashing sea of +fight and I have met many a gallant sprite, but none so unfrightened of the +sword that smites and the shock of men that affrights like these valiant +Knights!" "Know, O King," said they, that there is among them a Frankish +cavalier who is their leader and, indeed, he is a man of valour and fatal is +his spear-thrust: but, by Allah, he spares us great and small; for whoso falls +into his hands he lets him go and forbears to slay him. By Allah, had he +willed he had killed us all." Sharrkan was astounded when he heard what the +Knight had done and such high report of him, so he said, "When the morn shall +morrow, we will draw out and defy them, for we are an hundred to their hundred; +and we will seek aid against them from the Lord of the Heavens." So they rested +that night in such intent; whilst the Franks gathered round their Captain and +said, "Verily this day we did not win our will of these;" and he replied, "At +early dawn when the morrow shall morn, we will draw out and challenge them, one +after one." They also rested in that mind, and both camps kept guard until +Almighty Allah sent the light of day-dawn. Thereupon King Sharrkan and his +hundred riders took horse and rode forth to the plain, where they found the +Franks ranged in line of battle; and Sharrkan said to his followers, "Our foes +have determined like ourselves to do their devoir; so up and at them; and lay on +load." Then came forth an Herald of the Franks and cried out, saying, "Let +there be no general engagement betwixt us this day, save by the duello, a +champion of yours against a champion of ours." Whereupon one of Sharrkan's +riders dashed out from the ranks and drave between the two lines crying, "Ho! +who is for smiting? Let no dastard engage me this day nor nidering!" Hardly +had he made an end of his vaunt, when there sallied forth to him a Frankish +cavalier, armed cap-à-pie and clad in a surcoat of gold stuff, riding on a +grey-white steed,[FN#215] and he had no hair on his cheeks. He urged his charger on +to the midst of the battle-plain and the two fell to derring-do of cut and +thrust, but it was not long before the Frank foined the Moslem with the +lance-point; and, toppling him from his steed, took him prisoner and led him off +crestfallen. His folk rejoiced in their comrade and, forbidding him to go out +again to the field, sent forth another, to whom sallied out another Moslem, +brother to the captive, and offered him battle. The two fell to, either +against other, and fought for a little while, till the Frank bore down upon the +Moslem and, falsing him with a feint, tumbled him by a thrust of the lance-heel +from his destrier and took him prisoner. After this fashion the Moslems ceased +not dashing forwards, one after one, and the Franks to unhorse them; and take +them captive, till day departed and the night with darkness upstarted. Now +they had captured of the Moslems twenty cavaliers, and when Sharrkan saw this, +it was grievous to him and he mustered his men and said to them, "What is this +thing that hath befallen us? To- morrow, I myself will go forth to the field +and offer singular combat to their chief and learn what is the cause of his +entering our land and warn him against doing battle with our band. If he +persist, we will punish him with death, and if he prove peaceable we will make +peace with him." They righted on this wise till Allah Almighty caused the morn +to dawn, when mounted the twain and drew up for battle fain; and Sharrkan was +going forth to the plain, but behold, more than one half of the Franks +dismounted and remained on foot before one of them who was mounted, till they +reached the midst of the battle-plain. Sharrkan looked at that horseman and +lo! he was their chief. He was clad in a surcoat of blue satin and a close-ringed +mail shirt; his face was as the moon when it rises and no hair was upon +his cheeks. He hent in hand an Indian scymitar and he rode a sable steed with +a white blaze on brow, like a dirham; and he smote the horse with heel till he +stood almost in the midst of the field when, signing to the Moslems, he cried +out in fluent Arab speech, "Ho, Sharrkan! Ho, son of Omar bin al- Nu'uman! Ho, +thou who forcest fortalice and overthrowest cities and countries! up and out +to battle-bout, and blade single-handed wield with one who halves with thee the +field! Thou art Prince of thy people and I am Prince of mine; and whoso +overcometh his adversary, him let the other's men obey and come under his +sway." Hardly had he ended his speech, when out came Sharrkan with a heart full +of fury, and urging his steed into the midst of the field, closed like a raging +lion with the Frank who encountered him with wariness and steadfastness and met +him with the meeting of warriors. Then they fell to foining and hewing, and +they stinted not of onset and offset, and give and take, as they were two +mountains clashing together or two seas together dashing; nor did they cease +fighting until day darkened and night starkened. Then they drew apart and each +returned to his own party; but as soon as Sharrkan foregathered with his +comrades, he said, "Never looked I on the like of this cavalier: he hath one +quality I have not yet seen in any and this it is that, when his foemen +uncovereth a place for the death-blow, he reverseth his weapon and smiteth with +the lance-heel! In very deed I know not what will be the issue 'twixt him and +me; but 'tis my wish that we had in our host his like and the like of his men." +Then he went to his rest for the night and, when morning dawned, the Frank came +forth and rode down to the mid-field, where Sharrkan met him; and they fell to +fighting and to wheeling, left and right; and necks were stretched out to see +the sight, nor did they stint from strife and sword-play and lunge of lance +with main and might, till the day turned to night and darkness overwhelmed the +light. Then the twain drew asunder and returned each to his own camp, where +both related to their comrades what had befallen them in the duello; and at +last the Frank said to his men, "To-morrow shall decide the matter!" So they +both passed that night restfully till dawn; and, as soon as it was day, they +mounted and each bore down on other and ceased not to fight till half the day +was done. Then the Frank bethought him of a ruse; first urging his steed with +heel and then checking him with the rein, so that he stumbled and fell with his +rider; thereupon Sharrkan threw himself on the foe, and would have smitten him +with the sword fearing lest the strife be prolonged, when the Frank cried out +to him, "O Sharrkan, champions are not wont to do thus! This is the act of a +man accustomed to be beaten by a woman."[FN#216] When Sharrkan heard this, he +raised his eyes to the Frank's face and gazing steadfastly at him, recognized +in him Princess Abrizah with whom that pleasant adventure had befallen him in +the convent; whereupon he cast brand from hand and, kissing the earth before +her, asked her, "What moved thee to a deed like this?"; and she answered, "I +desired to prove thy prowess afield and test thy doughtiness in tilting and +jousting. These that are with me are my handmaids, and they are all clean +maids; yet they have vanquished thy horsemen in fair press and stress of plain; +and had not my steed stumbled with me, thou shouldst have seen my might and +prowess in combat." Sharrkan smiled at her speech and said, "Praise be to Allah +for safety and for my reunion with thee, O Queen of the age!" Then she cried +out to her damsels to loose the twenty captives of Sharrkan's troop and +dismount. They did as she bade and came and kissed the earth before her and +Sharrkan who said to them, "It is the like of you that Kings keep in store for +the need-hour." Then he signed to his comrades to salute the Princess; so all +alighted and kissed the earth before her, for they knew the story. After this, +the whole two hundred took horse, and fared on night and day for six days' +space, till they drew near to Baghdad, when they halted and Sharrkan bade +Abrizah and her handmaids doff the Frankish garb that was on them,—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Fifty-first Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan bade Princess +Abrizah and her damsels doff the garb that was on them; and don the garments of +daughters of Greece; and thus did they. Then he despatched a company of his +companions to Baghdad to acquaint his father Omar bin al-Nu'uman, with his +arrival and report that he was accompanied by Princess Abrizah, daughter of +King Hardub, Lord of Græcia-land. They halted forthright in the place they +had reached, and Sharrkan also halted and all nighted there; and when Almighty +Allah made morning dawn, Sharrkan and his company and Abrizah and her company +took horse and fared on towards the city; when lo! on the way they met the +Wazir Dandan, who had come out amongst a thousand horse to honour Abrizah and +Sharrkan, by especial commandment of King Omar Son of Al- Nu'uman. When the +two drew near, they turned towards them; and kissed ground before them; then +they mounted again and escorted them into the city and went up with them to the +palace. Sharrkan walked in to his father, who rose and embraced him and +questioned him of his case. So he told him all that Abrizah had told him, and +what had passed between them; and said, "She hath parted from her sire and +departed from her reign and hath chosen to take part with us and make her abode +with us; "And indeed," he said to his father, "the King of Constantinople hath +plotted to do us a mischief, because of his daughter Sophia, for that the King +of Greece had made known to him her story and the cause of her being given to +thee; and he (the Grecian King) not knowing her to be daughter of King Afridun, +Lord of Constantinople; and, had he known that, he would not have bestowed her +upon thee, but he would have restored her to her parent. And of a verity," he +continued, "we were saved from these perils only by the Lady Abrizah, and never +saw we a more valiant than she." And he went on to tell his father all that had +passed from first to last of the wrestling and the single-fighting. When King +Omar heard the story of Sharrkan, Abrizah was exalted in his eyes, and he +longed to see her and question her. Thereupon Sharrkan went out to her and +said, "The King calleth for thee;" she replied, "I hear and I obey;" and he +took her and brought her in to his father, who was seated on his throne and +who, having dismissed his high officers, was attended only by his eunuchs. The +Princess entered and kissing the ground between his hands, saluted him in +choice terms. He was amazed at her eloquent speech and thanked her for her +dealing with his son Sharrkan and bade her be seated. So she sat down and +unveiled her face;[FN#217] and, when the King saw her beauty, his reason fled +his head and he made her draw near and showed her favour, appointing her an +especial palace for herself and her damsels, and assigning them solde and +allowances. Then began he to ask her of the three jewels aforesaid, and she +answered, "Here be they with me, O King of the age!" So saying, she rose and +going to her lodging, unpacked her baggage and from it brought out a box and +from the box a casket of gold. She opened the casket and taking out those +three jewels, kissed them; and gave them to the King. Then she went away +bearing his heart with her. After her going the King sent for his son Sharrkan +and gave him one jewel of the three, and when he enquired of the other two +replied, "O my son! I mean to give one to thy brother Zau al-Makan, and the +other to thy sister Nuzhat al- Zaman." But when Sharrkan heard that he had a +brother (for to that time he knew only of his sister) he turned to his sire and +said to him, "O King, hast thou a son other than myself?" He answered, "Yes, +and he is now six years old;" adding that his name was Zau al- Makan and that +he and Nuzhat al-Zaman were twins, born at a birth. This news was grievous to +Sharrkan, but he kept his secret and said, "The bless- ing of Allah Most High +be upon them!", and he cast the jewel from his hand and shook the dust off his +clothes. Quoth the King, "How do I see thee change thy manner when hearing of +this, considering that after me thou becomest heir of the kingdom. Of a truth +the troops have sworn to thee and the Emirs and Grandees have taken the oath of +succession to thee; and this one of the three jewels is thine." Sharrkan bowed +his head to the ground and was ashamed to bandy words with his parent so he +accepted the jewel and went away, knowing not what to do for exceeding wrath, +and stayed not walking till he had entered Abrizah's palace. As he approached +she stood up to meet him and thanked him for what he had done and prayed for +blessings on him and his sire. Then she sat down and seated him by her side; +but when he had taken his place she saw rage in his face and questioned him, +whereupon he told her that Allah had blessed his father with two children by +Sophia, a boy and a girl, and that he had named the boy Zau al-Makan and the +girl Nuzhat al-Zaman; adding, "He hath kept the other two jewels for them; and +hath given me one of thine, so I left it behind; I knew naught of Zau +al-Makan's birth till this day, and the twain are now six years old. So when I +learnt this, wrath possessed me; and I tell thee the reason of my rage and hide +nothing from thee. But now I fear lest my father take thee to wife, for he +loveth thee and I saw in him signs of desire for thee: so what wilt thou say, +if he wish this?" Quoth she, "Know, O Sharrkan, that thy father hath no +dominion over me, nor can he have me without my consent; and if he prevail over +me by force, I will take my own life. As for the three jewels, it was not my +intent that he should give any of them to either of his children and I had no +thought but that he would lay them up in his treasury with his things of price; +but now I desire of thy favour that thou make me a present of the jewel which +he gave thee, if thou have accepted it." "Hearkening and obedience," replied +Sharrkan, and gave it to her. Then said she, "Fear nothing," and talked with +him awhile and continued, "I fear lest my father hear that I am with you and +sit not patiently under my loss, but do his endeavours to find me; and to that +end he may ally himself with King Afridun, on account of his daughter Sophia, +and both come on thee with armies and so there befal great turmoil." When +Sharrkan heard these words, he said to her, "O my lady, if it please thee to +sojourn with us, take no thought of them; though there gather together against +us all that be on land and on sea." " 'Tis well," rejoined she; "if ye entreat +me fair, I will tarry with you, and if ye deal evilly by me, I will depart from +you." Then she bade her slave-maidens bring food; so they set the tables, and +Sharrkan ate a little and went away to his own house, disturbed and perturbed. +Such was his case; but regarding the affairs of his father, Omar bin +al-Nu'uman, after dismissing his son Sharrkan he arose and, taking the other +two jewels, betook himself to the Lady Sophia, who stood up when she saw him +and remained standing till he was seated. Presently, his two children, Zau +al-Makan and Nuzhat al-Zaman, came to him and he kissed them; and hung a jewel +round each one's neck, at which they rejoiced and kissed his hands. Then went +they to their mother, who joyed in their joy and wished the King long life; so +he asked her, "Why hast thou not informed me all this time that thou art the +daughter of King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, that I might have honoured +thee still more and enlarged thee in dignity and raised thy rank?" "O King," +answered Sophia, "and what could I desire greater or higher than this my +standing with thee, overwhelmed as I am with thy favours and thy benefits? +And, furthermore, Allah hath blessed me with two children by thee, a son and a +daughter." Her reply pleased the King and after leaving her, he set apart for +her and her children a wondrous fine palace. Moreover, he appointed for them +eunuchs and attendants and doctors of law and doctors of philosophy and +astrologers and physicians and surgeons to do them service; and in every way he +redoubled his favour and entreated them with the best of treatment. And +presently he returned to the palace of his dominion and to his Court where he +distributed justice among the lieges. So far concerning him and Sophia and her +children; but in the matter of Abrizah the King was greatly occupied with love +of her and burnt with desire of her night and day; and every night, he would go +in to her and converse with her and pay his court to her, but she gave him no +answer, only saying, "O King of the age! I have no desire for men at this +present." When he saw her withdraw from him, his passion waxed hotter and his +longing and pining increased until, when weary of this, he summoned his Wazir +Dandan and, opening his very heart to him, told him of his love for Princess +Abrizah, daughter of Hardub, and informed him how she refused to yield to his +wishes and how desire for her was doing him to die, for that he could get no +grace of her. The Wazir, hearing these words, said to the King, "As soon as it +is dark night, take thou a piece of Bhang the measure of a miskal, about an +ounce, and go in to her and drink somewhat of wine with her. When the hour of +ending the carousel shall draw near, fill her a last cup and dropping therein +the Bhang, give it to her to drink, and she will not reach her sleeping-chamber +ere the drug take effect on her. Then do thou go in to her and take thy will +of her; and such is my advice."[FN#218] "Thy rede is aright," quoth the King, +and seeking his treasury, he took thence a piece of concentrated Bhang, if an +elephant smelt it he would sleep from year to year. This he put in his bosom-pocket +and waited till some little of the night went by, when he betook himself +to the palace of Princess Abrizah, who seeing him stood up to receive him; but +he bade her sit down. So she sat down, and he sat by her, and he began to talk +with her of wine and wassail, whereupon she furnished the carousing-table[FN#219] +and placed it before him. Then she set on the drinking vessels +and lighted the candles and ordered to bring dried fruits and sweetmeats and +all that pertaineth to drinking. So they fell to tippling and the King ceased +not to pledge her till drunkenness crept into her head; and seeing this he took +out the bit of Bhang from his pocket and, holding it between his fingers, +filled a cup with his own hand and drank it off. Then filling a second he +said, "To thy companionship!"; and dropped the drug into her cup, she knowing +naught of it. She took it and drank it off; then she rose and went to her +sleeping-chamber. He waited for less than an hour till he was assured that the +dose had taken effect on her and had robbed her of her senses, when he went in +to her and found her thrown on her back: and she had doffed her petticoat +trousers and the air raised the skirt of her shift and discovered what was +between her thighs. When the King saw the state of things and found a lighted +candle at her head and another at her feet, shining upon what her thighs +enshrined he took leave of his five senses for lust and Satan seduced him and +he could not master himself, but put off his trousers and fell upon her and +abated her maidenhead. Then he rose off her and went to one of her women, by +name Marjánah, and said, "Go in to thy lady and speak with her." So she went in +to her mistress and found her lying on her back insensible, with the blood +running down to the calves of her legs, whereupon she took a kerchief and wiped +away the blood and lay by her that night. As soon as Almighty Allah brought +the dawn, the handmaid Marjanah washed her mistress's hands and feet and +brought rose-water and bathed her face and mouth with it, whereupon she +sneezed and yawned and cast up from her inside that bit of Bhang like a +bolus.[FN#220] Then she revived and washed her hands and mouth and said to +Marjanah, "Tell me what hath befallen me." So she told her what had passed and +how she had found her, lying on her back, with the blood running down, +wherefore she knew that King Omar bin al-Nu'uman had lain with her and had +undone her and taken his will of her. At this she grieved with exceeding grief +and retired into privacy, saying to her damsels, "Deny me to whoso would come +in to me and say to him that I am ill, till I see what Allah will do with me." +Presently the news of her sickness came to the King; so he sent her sherbets +and sugar electuaries. Some months she thus passed in solitude, during which +time the King's flame cooled and his desire for her was quenched, so that he +abstained from her. Now she had conceived by him, and when the months of +child-breeding had gone by, her pregnancy appeared and her belly swelled, and the +world was straitened upon her, so she said to her handmaid Marjanah, "Know that +it is not the folk who have wronged me, but I who sinned against my own +self[FN#221] in that I left my father and mother and country. Indeed, I abhor +life, for my spirit is broken and neither courage nor strength is left me. I +used, when I mounted my steed, to have the mastery of him, but now I am unable +to ride. If I be brought to bed among them I shall be dishonoured before my +hand-women and every one in the palace will know that he hath taken my +maidenhead in the way of shame; and if I return to my father, with what face +shall I meet him or with what face shall I have recourse to him? How well +quoth the poet, + +'Say, what shall solace one who hath nor home nor stable stead * Nor cup-companion, nor a cup, nor place to house his head?'" + + +Marjanah answered her, "It is thine to command; I will obey;" and Abrizah said, +"I desire at once to leave this place secretly, so that none shall know of me +but thou; and return to my father and my mother, for when flesh stinketh, there +is naught for it but its own folk and Allah shall do with me e'en as He will." +"O Princess," Marjanah replied, "what thou wouldest do is well." Then she made +matters ready and kept her secret and waited for some days till the King went +out to chase and hunt, and his son Sharrkan betook himself to certain of the +fortresses to sojourn there awhile. Then said she to Marjanah, "I wish to set +out this night, but how shall I do against my destiny? For already I feel the +pangs of labour and child-birth, and if I abide other four or five days, I +shall be brought to bed here, and I shall be unable to travel to my country. +But this is what was written on my forehead." Then she considered awhile, and +said to Marjanah, "Look us out a man who will go with us and serve us by the +way, for I have no strength to bear arms." "By Allah, O my lady," replied +Marjanah, "I know none but a black slave called Al- Ghazbán,[FN#222] who is one +of the slaves of King Omar bin al- Nu'uman; he is a valiant wight, and he +keepeth guard at our palace-gate. The King appointed him to attend us, and +indeed we have overwhelmed him with our favours; so, lookye, I will go out and +speak with him of this matter, and promise him some monies and tell him that, +if he have a mind to tarry with us, I will marry him to whom he will. He told +me before to-day that he had been a highwayman; so if he consent to us we shall +win our wish and reach to our own land." She rejoined, "Call him, that I may +talk with him;" whereupon Marjanah fared forth and said to the slave, 'O +Ghazban, Allah prosper thee, so thou fall in with what my lady saith to thee!" +Then she took him by the hand and brought him to the Princess, whose hands he +kissed, but as she beheld him, her heart took fright at him. "However," she +said to herself, "of a truth, Need giveth the law;" and she approached to speak +with him, yet her heart started away from him. Presently she said, "O Ghazban, +say me, wilt thou help me against the perfidies of Fortune and conceal my +secret if I discover it to thee?" When the slave saw her, his heart was taken +by storm and he fell in love with her forthright and could not but reply; "O my +mistress, whatsoever thou biddest me do, I will not depart therefrom." Quoth +she, "I would have thee take me at this hour and take this my handmaid and +saddle us two camels and two of the King's horses and set on each horse a +saddle-bag of goods and somewhat of provaunt, and go with us to our own +country; where, if thou desire to abide with us, I will marry thee to her thou +shalt choose of my handmaidens; or, if thou prefer return to thine own land, we +will marry thee and give thee whatso thou desirest after thou hast taken of +money what shall satisfy thee." When Al-Ghazban, heard this, he rejoiced with +great joy and replied, "O my lady, I will serve both of you with mine eyes and +will go at once and saddle the horses." Then he went away gladsome and saying +to himself, "I shall get my will of them; and if they will not yield to me, I +will kill them both and take their riches." But he kept this his intent to +himself, and presently returned with two camels and three head of horses, one +of which he rode, and Princess Abrizah made Marjanah mount the second, she +mounting the third, albeit she was in labour-pains and possessed not her soul +for anguish. And the slave ceased not travelling with them night and day +through the passes of the mountains, till there remained but a single march +between them; and their own country; when the travail pangs came upon Abrizah +and she could no longer resist; so she said to Al-Ghazban, "Set me down, for +the pains of labour are upon me;" and cried to Marjanah, "Do thou alight and +sit by me and deliver me." Then Marjanah dismounted from her horse, and +Al-Ghazban did in like sort, and they made fast the bridles and helped the +Princess to dismount, for she was aswoon from excess of anguish. When +Al-Ghazban saw her on the ground, Satan entered into him and he drew his +falchion and brandishing it in her face, said "O my lady, vouchsafe me thy +favours." Hearing these words she turned to him and said, "It remaineth for me +only that I yield me to negro slaves, after having refused Kings and +Braves!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Fifty-second Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Princess Abrizah said to +the black slave Al-Ghazban, "It remaineth for me only that I yield me to negro +slaves, after having refused Kings and Braves!" And she was wroth with him and +cried, "Woe to thee! what words are these thou sayest? Out on thee, and talk +not thus in my presence and know that I will never consent to what thou sayest, +though I drink the cup of death. Wait till I have cast my burden and am +delivered of the after-birth, and then, if thou be able thereto, do with me as +thou wilt; but, an thou leave not lewd talk at this time, assuredly I will slay +myself with my own hand and quit the world and be at peace from all this." And +she began reciting extempore,[FN#223] + +"O spare me, thou Ghazban, indeed enow for me * Are heavy strokes of time, mischance and misery! +Whoredom my Lord forfends to all humanity; * Quoth He, 'Who breaks my bidding Hell for home shall see!' +And if thou leave not suing me to whoredom's way * Against th' Almighty's choicest gift, my chastity, +Upon my tribesmen I with might and main will call * And gather all, however far or near they be; +And with Yamáni blade were I in pieces hewn, * Ne'er shall he sight my face who makes for villeiny, +The face of free-born come of noble folk and brave; * What then can be to me the seed of whoreson slave?" + + +When Ghazban heard these lines he was wroth exceedingly; his eyes reddened with +blood and his face became a dusty-grey[FN#224]; his nostrils swelled, his lips +protruded and the repulsiveness of his aspect redoubled. And he repeated these +couplets, + +"Ho thou, Abrizah, mercy! leave me not for I * Of thy love and Yamáni[FN#225] glance the victim lie +My heart is cut to pieces by thy cruelty, * My body wasted and my patience done to die: +From glances ravishing all hearts with witchery * Reason far flies, the while desire to thee draws nigh; +Though at thy call should armies fill the face of earth * E'en now I'd win my wish and worlds in arms defy!" + + +When Abrizah heard these words, she wept with sore weeping and said to him, +"Woe to thee, O Ghazban! How dareth the like of thee to address me such +demand, O base-born and obscene-bred? Dost thou deem all folk are alike?" When +the vile slave heard this from her, he waxt more enraged and his eyes grew +redder: and he came up to her and smiting her with the sword on her neck +wounded her to the death. Then he drove her horse before him with the treasure +and made off with himself to the mountains. Such was the case with Al-Ghazban; +but as regards Abrizah, she gave birth to a son, like the moon, and Marjanah +took the babe and did him the necessary offices and laid him by his mother's +side; and lo and behold! the child fastened to its mother's breast and she +dying.[FN#226] When Marjanah saw this, she cried out with a grievous cry and +rent her raiment and cast dust on her head and buffeted her cheeks till blood +flowed, saying, "Alas, my mistress! Alas, the pity of it! Thou art dead by +the hand of a worthless black slave, after all thy knightly prowess!" And she +ceased not weeping when suddenly a great cloud of dust arose and walled the +horizon;[FN#227] but, after awhile, it lifted and discovered a numerous +conquering host. Now this was the army of King Hardub, Princess Abrizah's +father, and the cause of his coming was that when he heard of his daughter and +her handmaids having fled to Baghdad, and that they were with King Omar bin al- +Nu'uman, he had come forth, leading those with him, to seek tidings of her from +travellers who might have seen her with the King. When he had gone a single +day's march from his capital, he espied three horse men afar off and made +towards them, intending to ask whence they came and seek news of his daughter. +Now these three whom he saw at a distance were his daughter and Marjanah and +the slave Al- Ghazban; and he made for them to push enquiry. Seeing this the +villain blackamoor feared for himself; so he killed Abrizah and fled for his +life. When they came up, King Hardub saw his daughter lying dead and Marjanah +weeping over her, and he threw himself from his steed and fell fainting to the +ground. All the riders of his company, the Emirs and Wazirs, took foot and +forthright pitched their tents on the mountain and set up for the King a great +pavilion, domed and circular, without which stood the grandees of the realm. +When Marjanah saw her master, she at once recognized him and her tears +redoubled; and, when he came to himself, he questioned her and she told him all +that had passed and said, "Of a truth he that hath slain thy daughter is a +black slave belonging to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, and she informed him how +Sharrkan's father had dealt with the Princess. When King Hardub heard this, +the world grew black in his sight and he wept with sore weeping. Then he +called for a litter and, therein laying his dead daughter, returned to Cæsarea +and carried her into the palace, where he went in to his mother, Zat al-Dawahi, +and said to that Lady of Calamities, "Shall the Moslems deal thus with my girl? +Verily King Omar bin al-Nu'uman despoiled her of her honour by force, and +after this, one of his black slaves slew her. By the truth of the Messiah, I +will assuredly take blood-revenge for my daughter and clear away from mine +honour the stain of shame; else will I kill myself with mine own hand!" And he +wept passing sore. Quoth his mother, "None other than Marjanah killed thy +daughter, for she hated her in secret;" and she continued to her son, "Fret not +for taking the blood-wit of thy daughter, for, by the truth of the Messiah, I +will not turn back from King Omar bin al-Nu'uman till I have slain him and his +sons; and of a very truth I will do with him a deed, passing the power of Sage +and Knight, whereof the chroniclers shall tell chronicles in all countries and +in every place: but needs must thou do my bidding in all I shall direct, for +whoso be firmly set on the object of his desire shall surely compass his +desire." "By the virtue of the Messiah," replied he, "I will not cross thee in +aught thou shalt say." Then quoth she, "Bring me a number of handmaids, +high-bosomed virgins, and summon the wise men of the age and let them teach them +philosophy and the rules of behaviour before Kings, and the art of conversation +and making verses; and let them talk with them of all manner science and +edifying knowledge. And the sages must be Moslems, that they may teach them +the language and traditions of the Arabs, together with the history of the +Caliphs and the ancient annals of the Kings of Al-Islam; and if we persevere in +this for four years' space, we shall gain our case. So possess thy soul in +patience and wait; for one of the Arabs saith, 'If we take man-bote after years +forty the time were short to ye.' When we have taught the girls these things, +we shall be able to work our will with our foe, for he doteth on women and he +hath three hundred and sixty concubines, whereto are now added an hundred of +the flowers of thy handmaidens who were with thy daughter, she that hath found +mercy.[FN#228] As soon as I have made an end of their education, as described +to thee, I will take them; and set out with them in person." When King Hardub +heard his mother's words, he rejoiced and arose and kissed her head; and at +once despatched messengers and couriers to lands sundry and manifold to fetch +him Moslem sages. They obeyed his commands and fared to far countries and +thence brought him the sages and the doctors he sought. When these came into +presence, he honoured them with notable honours and bestowed dresses on them +and appointed to them stipends and allowances and promised them much money +whenas they should have taught the damsels. Then he committed the handmaidens +to their hands—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Fifty-third Night. + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the sages and the +doctors stood in presence of King Hardub, he honoured them with notable honours +and committed the handmaidens to their hands, enjoining that these be +instructed in all manner of knowledge, philosophy and polite accomplishments; +and they set themselves to do his bidding. Such was the case with King Hardub; +but as for King Omar bin al Nu'uman, when he returned from coursing and hunting +and entered his palace, he sought Princess Abrizah but found her not, nor any +one knew of her nor could any give him news of her. This was grievous to him +and he said, "How could the lady leave the palace unknown of any? Had my +kingdom been at stake in this case, it were in perilous condition there being +none to govern it! I will never again go to sport and hunt till I have +stationed at the gates those who shall keep good guard over them!" And he was +sore vexed and his breast was straitened for the loss of Princess Abrizah. +Hereupon behold, his son Sharrkan returned from his journey; and the father +told him what had happened, and informed him how the lady had fled, whilst he +was chasing and hunting, whereat he grieved with exceeding grief. Then King +Omar took to visiting his children every day and making much of them; and +brought them learned men and doctors to teach them, appointing for them +stipends. When Sharrkan saw this, he raged with exceeding rage and envied +thereupon his brother and sister till the signs of chagrin appeared in his face +and he ceased not to languish by reason of this matter: so one day his father +said to him, "Why do I see thee grown weak in body and yellow of face?" "O my +father," replied Sharrkan, "every time I see thee fondle my brother and sister +and make much of them, jealousy seizeth on me, and I fear lest it grow on me +till I slay them; and thou slay me in return. And this is the reason of my +weakness of body and change of complexion. But now I crave of thy favour that +thou give me one of thy castles outlying the rest, that I may abide there the +remnant of my life, for as the sayer of bywords saith, 'Absence from my friend +is better and fitter for me'; and, 'Whatso eye doth not perceive, that garreth +not heart to grieve.'" And he bowed his head towards the ground. When King +Omar bin al-Nu'uman heard his words and knew the cause of his ailment and of +his being broken down, he soothed his heart and said to him, "O my son, I grant +thee this and I have not in my reign a greater than the Castle of Damascus, and +the government of it is thine from this time." Thereupon he forthright summoned +his secretaries of state and bade them write Sharrkan's patent of investiture +to the viceroyalty of Damascus of Syria. And when they had written it, he +equipped him and sent with him the Wazir Dandan, and invested him with the rule +and government and gave him instructions as to policy and regulations; and took +leave of him, and the grandees and officers of state did likewise, and he set +out with his host. When he arrived at Damascus, the townspeople beat the drums +and blew the trumpets and decorated the city and came out to meet him in great +state; whilst all the notables and grandees paced in procession, and those who +stood to the right of the throne walked on his right flank, and the others to +the left. Thus far concerning Sharrkan; but as regards his father, Omar bin +al- Nu'uman, soon after the departure of his son, the children's tutors and +governors presented themselves before him and said to him, "O our lord, thy +children have now learnt knowledge and they are completely versed in the rules +of manners and the etiquette of ceremony." The King rejoiced thereat with +exceeding joy and conferred bountiful largesse upon the learned men, seeing Zau +al- Makan grown up and flourishing and skilled in horsemanship. This Prince had +reached the age of fourteen and he occupied himself with piety and prayers, +loving the poor, the Olema and the Koran-students, so that all the people of +Baghdad loved him, men and women. One day, the procession of the +Mahmil[FN#229] of Irák passed round Baghdad before its departure for the +pilgrimage to Meccah and visitation of the tomb of the Prophet (whom Allah +bless and preserve!). When Zau al-Makan saw the Mahmil procession he was seized +with longing desire to become a pilgrim,[FN#230] so he went in to his sire and +said, "I come to ask thy leave to make the pilgrimage." But his father forbade +him saying, "Wait till next year and I will go and thou too." When the Prince +saw that the matter was postponed, he betook himself to his sister Nuzhat +al-Zaman, whom he found standing at prayer. As soon as she had ended her +devotions he said to her, "I am dying with desire of pilgrimage to the Holy +House of Allah at Meccah and to visit the tomb of the Prophet, upon whom be +peace! I asked my father's leave, but he forbade me that, so I mean to take +privily somewhat of money and set out on the pilgrimage without his knowledge." +"Allah upon thee," exclaimed she, "take me with thee and deprive me not of +visitation to the tomb of the Prophet, whom Allah bless and keep!" And he +answered, "As soon as it is dark night, do thou come forth from this place, +without telling any." Accordingly, when it was the middle of the night she arose +and took somewhat of money and donned a man's habit; and she ceased not walking +to the palace-gate, where she found Zau al-Makan with camels ready for +marching. So he mounted and mounted her; and the two fared on till they were +in the midst of the Iraki[FN#231] pilgrim-party, and they ceased not marching +and Allah wrote safety for them, till they entered Meccah the Holy and stood +upon Arafát and performed the pilgrimage-rites. Then they made a visitation to +the tomb of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and assain!) and thought to return +with the pilgrims to their native land. But Zau al-Makan said to his sister, +"O my sister, it is in my mind to visit the Holy House,[FN#232] Jerusalem, and +Abraham the Friend of Allah[FN#233] (on whom be peace!)." "I also desire so to +do," replied she. So they agreed upon this and he fared forth and took passage +for himself and her and they made ready and set out in the ship with a company +of Jerusalem palmers. That very night the sister fell sick of an aguish chill, +and was grievously ill but presently recovered, after which the brother also +sickened. She tended him during his malady and they ceased not wayfaring till +they arrived at Jerusalem, but the fever increased on him and he grew weaker +and weaker. They alighted at a Khan and there hired a lodging; but Zau al- +Makan's sickness ceased not to increase on him, till he was wasted with +leanness and became delirious. At this, his sister was greatly afflicted and +exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the +Glorious, the Great! This is the decree of Allah!" They sojourned in that place +awhile, his weakness ever increasing and she attending him and buying +necessaries for him and for herself, till all the money she had was expended +and she became so poor that she had not so much as a dirham left. Then she +sent a servant of the Khan to the bazar with some of her clothes, and he sold +them; and she spent the price upon her brother; then sold she something more and +she ceased not selling all she had, piece by piece, till nothing was left but +an old rug. Whereupon she wept and exclaimed, "Verily is Allah the Orderer of +the past and the future!" Presently her brother said to her, "O my sister, I +feel recovery drawing near and my heart longeth for a little roast meat." "By +Allah! O my brother," replied she, "I have no face to beg; but To-morrow I will +enter some rich man's house and serve him and earn somewhat for our living." +Then she bethought herself awhile and said, "Of a truth 'tis hard for me to +leave thee and thou in this state, but I must despite myself!" He rejoined, +"Allah forbid! Thou wilt be put to shame; but there is no Majesty and there is +no Might save in Allah!" And he wept and she wept too. Then she said, "O my +brother, we are strangers who have dwelt here a full year, but none hath yet +knocked at our door. Shall we then die of hunger? I know no resource but that +I go out and do service and earn somewhat to keep us alive, till thou recover +from thy sickness, when we will travel back to our native land." She sat +weeping awhile and he wept too, propped upon his elbow. Then Nuzhat al-Zaman +arose and, veiling her head with a bit of camlet,[FN#234] which had been of the +cameleer's clothes and which the owner had forgotten and left with them; she +kissed the head of her brother and embraced him and went forth from him, +weeping and knowing not whither she should wend. And she stinted not going and +her brother Zau al-Makan awaiting her return till the supper-time; but she came +not, and he watched for her till the morning morrowed but still she returned +not; and this endured till two days went by. He was greatly troubled thereat +and his heart fluttered for her, and hunger was sore upon him. At last he left +the chamber and, calling the servant of the caravanserai, said, "I wish thee to +bear me to the bazar." So he carried him to the market-street and laid him down +there; and the people of Jerusalem gathered round him and were moved to tears +seeing his condition. He signed to them begging for somewhat to eat; so they +brought him some money from certain of the merchants who were in the bazar, and +bought food and fed him therewith; after which they carried him to a shop, +where they spread him a mat of palm-leaves and set an ewer of water at his +head. When night fell, all the folk went away, sore concerned for him and, in +the middle of the night, he called to mind his sister and his sickness +redoubled on him, so that he abstained from eating and drinking and became +insensible to the world around him. Then the bazar-people arose and took for +him from the merchants thirty-seven dirhams, and hiring a camel, said to the +driver, "Carry this sick man to Damascus and leave him in the hospital; haply +he may be cured and recover health." "On my head be it!" replied the camel-man; +but he said to himself, "How shall I take this sick man to Damascus, and he +nigh upon death?" So he carried him away to a place and hid with him till the +night, when he threw him down on the ash-heap near the fire-hole of a Hammam +and went his way. When morning dawned the Stoker[FN#235] of the bath came to +his work and, finding Zau al-Makan cast on his back, exclaimed, "Why did they +not throw their dead body any where but here?" So saying, he gave him a kick and +he moved; whereupon quoth the Fireman, "Some one of you who hath eaten a bit of +Hashish and hath thrown himself down in whatso place it be!" Then he looked at +his face and saw his hairless cheeks and his grace and comeliness; so he took +pity on him and knew that he was sick and a stranger in the land. And he +cried, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! verily, I +have sinned against this youth, for indeed the Prophet (whom Allah bless and +keep!) enjoineth honour to the stranger, more especially when the stranger is +sick." Then he carried him home and went in with him to his wife and bade her +tend him. So she spread him a sleeping-rug and set a cushion under his head, +then warmed water for him and washed therewith his hands and feet and face. +Meanwhile, the Stoker went to the market and bought some rose-water and sugar, +and sprinkled Zau al-Makan's face with the water and gave him to drink of the +sherbet. Then he fetched a clean shirt and put it on him. With this, Zau +al-Makan sniffed the zephyr of health and recovery returned to him; and he sat +up and leant against the pillow. Hereat the Fireman rejoiced and exclaimed, +"Praise be to Allah for the welfare of this youth! O Allah, I beseech Thee by +Thy knowledge of hidden things, that Thou make the salvation of this youth to +be at my hands!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Fifty-fourth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Fireman exclaimed, "O +Allah, I beseech Thee of Thy knowledge of hidden things, that Thou make this +young man's life the work of my hands!" And he ceased not to nurse him for +three days, giving him to drink of sherbet of sugar and willow-flower water and +rose-water; and doing him all manner of service and kindness, till health began +to return to his body and Zau al-Makan opened his eyes. Presently came in the +Fireman and, seeing him sitting up and showing signs of amendment, said to him, +"What is now thy state, O my son?" "Praise be to Allah," replied Zau al-Makan, +"I am well and like to recover, if such be the will of Allah Almighty at this +time." The Stoker praised the Lord of All for this and, wending fast to the +market, bought ten chickens, which he carried to his wife and said, "Kill two +of these for him every day, one at dawn of day and the other at fall of day." +So she rose up and killed a fowl and brought it to him boiled, and fed him with +the flesh and made him drink its broth. When he had done eating, she fetched +hot water and he washed his hands and lay back upon the pillow, whereupon she +covered him up with the coverlet, and he slept till the time of the mid-afternoon +prayer. Then she arose and killed another fowl and boiled it; after +which she cut it up and, bringing it to Zau al-Makan, said, "Eat, O my son!" +While he was eating; behold, her husband entered and seeing her feeding him, +sat down at his head and said to him, "How is it with thee now, O my son?" +"Thanks be to Allah for recovery!" he replied: "may the Almighty requite thee +thy kindness to me." At this the Fireman rejoiced and going out, bought sherbet +of violets and rose-water and made him drink it. Now the Stoker used to work +at the Hammam all day for a wage of five dirhams, whereof he spent every day, +for Zau al-Makan, one dirham upon sugar and sherbet of rose-water and +willow-flower water,[FN#236] and another dirham for fowls; and he ceased not to +entreat him thus kindly during a whole month, till the traces of illness ceased +from him and he was once more sound and whole. Thereupon the Fireman and his +wife rejoiced and asked him, "O my son, wilt thou go with me to the bath?"; +whereto he answered, "Yes!" So the Stoker went to the bazar and fetched a +donkey-boy, and he mounted Zau al-Makan on the ass and supported him in the +saddle till they came to the bath. Then he made him sit down and seated the +donkey-boy in the furnace-room and went forth to the market and bought lote-leaves +and lupin-flour,[FN#237] with which he returned to the bath and said to +Zau al-Makan, "O my master, in Allah's name, walk in and I will wash thy body." +So they entered the inner room of the bath, and the Fireman took to rubbing Zau +al-Makan's legs and began to wash his body with the leaves and meal, when there +came to them a bathman, whom the bath-keeper had sent to Zau al-Makan; and he, +seeing the Stoker washing and rubbing him, said, "This is doing injury to the +keeper's rights." Replied the Fireman, "The master overwhelmeth us with his +favours!" Then the bathman proceeded to shave Zau al-Makan's head, after which +he and the Stoker washed themselves and returned to the house, where he clad +Zau al-Makan in a shirt of fine stuff and a robe of his own; and gave him a +handsome turband and girdle and a light kerchief which he wound about his neck. +Meanwhile the Fireman's wife had killed and cooked two chickens; so, as soon as +Zau al-Makan entered and seated himself on the carpet, the husband arose and, +dissolving sugar in willow-flower water, made him drink of it. Then he brought +the food-tray and, cutting up the chickens, fed him with the flesh and gave him +the broth to drink till he was satisfied; when he washed his hands and praised +Allah for recovery, and said to the Fireman, "Thou art he whom the Almighty +vouchsafed to me and made the cause of my cure!" "Leave this talk," replied the +other, "and tell us the cause of thy coming to this city and whence thou art. +Thy face showeth signs of gentle breeding." "Tell me first how thou camest to +fall in with me," said Zau al-Makan; "and after I will tell thee my story." +Rejoined the Fireman, "As for that, I found thee lying on the rubbish-heap by +the door of the fire-house, as I went to my work near the morning, and knew not +who had thrown thee there. So I carried thee home with me; and this is all my +tale." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "Glory to Him who quickeneth the bones, though they +be rotten! Indeed, O my brother, thou hast not done good save to one worthy of +it, and thou shalt presently gather its fruitage." And he added, "But where am +I now?" "Thou art in the city of Jerusalem," replied the Stoker; whereupon Zau +al-Makan called to mind his strangerhood and remembered his separation from his +sister and wept. Then he discovered his secret to the Fireman and told him his +story and began repeating, + +"In love they bore me further than my force would go, * And for them made me suffer resurrection-throe: +Oh, have compassion, cruel! on this soul of mine * Which, since ye fared, is pitied by each envious foe; +Nor grudge the tender mercy of one passing glance * My case to lighten, easing this excess of woe: +Quoth I 'Heart, bear this loss in patience!' Patience cried * 'Take heed! no patience in such plight I'm wont to show.' " + + +Then he redoubled his weeping, and the Fireman said to him, "Weep not, but +rather praise Allah for safety and recovery." Asked Zau al-Makan, "How far is +it hence to Damascus?" Answered the other, "Six days' journey." Then quoth Zau +al-Makan, "Wilt thou send me thither?" "O my lord," quoth the Stoker, "how can +I allow thee to go alone, and thou a youth and a stranger to boot? If thou +would journey to Damascus, I am one who will go with thee; and if my wife will +listen to and obey me and accompany me, I will take up my abode there; for it +is no light matter to part with thee." Then said he to his wife, "Wilt thou +travel with me to Damascus of Syria or wilt thou abide here, whilst I lead this +my lord thither and return to thee? For he is bent upon going to Damascus of +Syria and, by Allah, it is hard to me to part with him, and I fear for him from +highway men." Replied she, "I will go with you both;" and he rejoined, "Praised +be Allah for accord, and we have said the last word!" Then he rose and selling +all his own goods and his wife's gear,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say, + +When it was the Fifty-fifth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Fire man and his wife +agreed with Zau al-Makan to travel with him Damascus wards. Then the Stoker +sold his goods and his wife's gear and bought a camel and hired an ass for Zau +al-Makan; and they set out, and ceased not wayfaring for six days till they +reached Damascus. And they arrived there towards eventide; when the Fireman +went forth and, as was his wont, bought some meat and drink. They had dwelt +but five days in Damascus, when his wife sickened and, after a short illness, +was translated to the mercy of Almighty Allah. Her death was a heavy matter to +Zau al-Makan, for he was grown used to her as she had tended him assiduously; +and the Fireman grieved for her with excessive grief. Presently the Prince +turned to the Stoker and finding him mourning, said to him, "Grieve not, for at +this gate we must all go in." Replied he, "Allah make weal thy lot, O my son! +Surely He will compensate us with His favours and cause our mourning to cease. +What sayst thou, O my son, about our walking abroad to view Damascus and cheer +thy spirits?" Replied Zau al-Makan, "Thy will is mine." So the Fireman arose +and placed his hand in that of Zau al- Makan and the two walked on till they +came to the stables of the Viceroy of Damascus, where they found camels laden +with chests and carpets and brocaded stuffs, and horses ready saddled and +Bactrian dromedaries, while Mamelukes and negro slaves and folk in a hubbub +were running to and fro. Quoth Zau al-Makan, "I wonder to whom belong all +these chattels and camels and stuffs!" So he asked one of the eunuchs, "Whither +this dispatching?'' and he answered, "These are presents sent by the Emir of +Damascus to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, with the tribute of Syria." Now when Zau +al-Makan heard his father's name his eyes brimmed over with tears, and he began +repeating, + +"Oh ye gone from the gaze of these ridded eyne, * Ye whose sight in my spirit shall ever dwell! +Your charms are gone, but this heart of me * Hath no sweet, and no pleasures its sour dispel; +If Allah's grace make us meet again, * In long drawn love-tale my love I'll tell." + + +And when he had ended his verse, he wept and the Fireman said to him, "O my +son, we hardly believed that thy health had returned;[FN#238] so take heart and +do not weep, for I fear a relapse for thee." And he ceased not comforting and +cheering him, whilst Zau al-Makan sighed and moaned over his strangerhood and +separation from his sister and his family; and tears streamed from his eyes and +he recited these couplets, + +"Get thee provaunt in this world ere thou wend upon thy way, * And know how surely Death descends thy life lot to waylay: +All thy worldly goods are pride and the painfullest repine; * All thy worldly life is vexing, of thy soul in vain display: +Say is not worldly wone like a wanderer's place of rest, * Where at night he 'nakhs'[FN#239] his camels and moves off at dawn of day?" + + +And he continued to weep and wail over his separation; whilst the Fireman also +bewept the loss of his wife, yet ceased not to comfort Zau al-Makan till +morning dawned. When the sun rose, he said to him, "Meseemeth thou yearnest +for thy native land?" "Yes," replied Zau al-Makan, "and I can no longer tarry +here; so I will commend thee to Allah's care and set out with these folk and +journey with them, little by little, till I come to my mother land." Said the +Stoker, "And I with thee; for of a truth I cannot bear to part with thee. I +have done thee kindly service and I mean to complete it by tending thee on thy +travel." At this, Zau al-Makan rejoiced and said, "Allah abundantly requite +thee for me!" and was pleased with the idea of their travelling together. The +Fireman at once went forth and bought another ass, selling the camel; and laid +in his provaunt and said to Zau al-Makan, "This is for thee to ride by the way; +and, when thou art weary of riding, thou canst dismount and walk." Said Zau +al-Makan, "May Allah bless thee and aid me to requite thee! for verily thou +hast dealt with me more lovingly than one with his brother." Then he waited +till it was dark night, when he laid the provisions and baggage on that ass and +set forth upon their journey. This much befel Zau al-Makan and the Fireman; +but as regards what happened to his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman, when she left her +brother in the Khan where they abode and, wrapped in the old camlet, went out +to seek service with some one, that she might earn wherewithal to buy him the +roast meat he longed for, she fared on, weeping and knowing not whither to go, +whilst her mind was occupied with thoughts of her brother and of her family and +her native land. So she implored Allah Almighty to do away with these +calamities from them; and began versifying, + +"Dark falls the night and Passion comes sore pains to gar me dree, * And pine upstirs those ceaseless pangs which work my tormentry, +And cease not separation flames my vitals to consume, * And drives me on destruction way this sorrow's ecstacy +And longing breeds me restlessness; desire for ever fires, * And tears to all proclaim what I would keep in secrecy +No cunning shift is known to me a meeting to secure, * That I may quit this sickly state, may cure my malady: +The love which blazeth in my heart is fed with fancy fuel, * The lover from its hell of fire must bear Hell's agony![FN#240] +O thou who blamest me for all befel me, 'tis enough, * Patient I bear what ever wrote the Reed of Doom for me: +By Love I swear I'll never be consoled, no, never more; * I swear the oath of Love's own slaves who know no perjury: +O Night, to chroniclers of Love the news of me declare; * That sleep hath fed mine eyelids of thy knowledge witness bear!" + + +Then she walked on, weeping and turning right and left as she went, when +behold, there espied her an old Badawi[FN#241] who had come into the town from +the desert with wild Arabs other five. The old man took note of her and saw +that she was lovely, but she had nothing on her head save a piece of camlet, +and, marvelling at her beauty, he said to himself, "This charmer dazzleth men's +wits but she is in squalid condition, and whether she be of the people of this +city or she be a stranger, I needs must have her." So he followed her, little +by little, till he met her face to face and stopped the way before her in a +narrow lane, and called out to her, asking her case, and said, "Tell me, O my +little daughter! art thou a free woman or a slave?" When she heard this, she +said to him, "By thy life, do not add to my sorrows!" Quoth he, "Allah hath +blessed me with six daughters, of whom five died and only one is left me, the +youngest of all; and I came to ask thee if thou be of the folk of this city or +a stranger; that I might take thee and carry thee to her, to bear her company +so as to divert her from pining for her sisters. If thou have no kith and kin, +I will make thee as one of them; and thou and she shall be as my two children." +Nuzhat al-Zaman bowed her head in bashfulness when she heard what he said and +communed with herself, "Haply I may trust myself to this old man." Then she +said to him, "O nuncle, I am a maiden of the Arabs and a stranger and I have a +sick brother; but I will go with thee to thy daughter on one condition, which +is, that I may spend only the day with her and at night may return to my +brother. If thou strike this bargain I will fare with thee, for I am a +stranger and I was high in honour among my tribe, and I awoke one morning to +find myself vile and abject. I came with my brother from the land of Al-Hijaz +and I fearless he know not where I am." When the Badawi heard this, he said to +himself, "By Allah, I have got my desire!" Then he turned to her and replied, +"There shall none be dearer to me than thou; I wish thee only to bear my +daughter company by day and thou shalt go to thy brother at earliest nightfall. +Or, if thou wilt, bring him over to dwell with us." And the Badawi ceased not +to console her heart and coax her, till she trusted in him and agreed to serve +him. Then he walked on before her and, when she followed him, he winked to his +men to go in advance and harness the dromedaries and load them with their packs +and place upon them water and provisions, ready for setting out as soon as he +should come up with the camels. Now this Badawi was a base born churl, a +highway thief and a traitor to the friend he held most fief, a rogue in grain, +past master of plots and chicane. He had no daughter and no son and was only +passing through the town when, by the decree of the Decreer, he fell in with +this unhappy one. And he ceased not to hold her in converse on the highway +till they came without the city of Jerusalem and, when outside, he joined his +companions and found they had made ready the dromedaries. So the Badawi +mounted a camel, having seated Nuzhat al-Zaman behind him and they rode on all +night. Then she knew that the Badawi's proposal was a snare and that he had +tricked her; and she continued weeping and crying out the whole night long, +while they journeyed on making for the mountains, in fear any should see them. +Now when it was near dawn, they dismounted from their dromedaries and the +Badawi came up to Nuzhat al-Zaman and said to her, "O city strumpet, what is +this weeping? By Allah, an thou hold not thy peace, I will beat thee to death, +O thou town filth!" When she heard this she loathed life and longed for death; +so she turned to him and said, "O accursed old man, O gray beard of hell, how +have I trusted thee and thou hast played me false, and now thou wouldst torture +me?" When he heard her reply he cried out, "O lazy baggage, dost thou dare to +bandy words with me?" And he stood up to her and beat her with a whip, saying, +"An thou hold not thy peace, I will kill thee!" So she was silent awhile, then +she called to mind her brother and the happy estate she had been in and she +shed tears secretly. Next day, she turned to the Badawi and said to him, "How +couldst thou play me this trick and lure me into these bald and stony +mountains, and what is thy design with me?" When he heard her words he hardened +his heart and said to her, "O lazy baggage of ill omen and insolent! wilt thou +bandy words with me?" and he took the whip and came down with it on her back +till she felt faint. Then she bowed down over his feet and kissed[FN#242] +them; and he left beating her and began reviling her and said, "By the rights +of my bonnet,[FN#243] if I see or hear thee weeping, I will cut out thy tongue +and stuff it up thy coynte, O thou city filth!" So she was silent and made him +no reply, for the beating pained her; but sat down with her arms round her +knees and, bowing her head upon her collar, began to look into her case and her +abasement after her lot of high honour; and the beating she had endured; and +she called to mind her brother and his sickness and forlorn condition, and how +they were both strangers in a far country, which drave her tears down her +cheeks and she wept silently and began repeating, + +"Time hath for his wont to upraise and debase, * Nor is lasting condition for human race: +In this world each thing hath appointed turn; * Nor may man transgress his determined place: +How long these perils and woes? Ah woe * For a life, all woeful in parlous case! +Allah bless not the days which have laid me low * I' the world, with disgrace after so much grace! +My wish is baffled, my hopes cast down, * And distance forbids me to greet his face: +O thou who passeth that dear one's door, * Say for me, these tears shall flow evermore!" + + +When she had finished her verses, the Badawi came up to her and, taking +compassion on her, bespoke her kindly and wiped away her tears. Then he gave +her a barley scone and said, "I love not one who answereth at times when I am +in wrath: so henceforth give me no more of these impertinent words and I will +sell thee to a good man like myself, who will do well with thee, even as I have +done." "Yes; whatso thou doest is right," answered she; and when the night was +longsome upon her and hunger burnt her, she ate very little of that barley +bread. In the middle of the night the Badawi gave orders for departure,—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Fifty-sixth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Badawi gave the +barley scone to Nuzhat al-Zaman and promised he would sell her to a good man +like himself, she replied, "Whatso thou doest is right!" and, about midnight +when hunger burned her,[FN#244] she ate a very little of that barley bread and +the Badawi ordered his party to set out; so they loaded their loads and he +mounted a camel setting Nuzhat al-Zaman behind him. Then they journeyed and +ceased not journeying for three days, till they entered the city of Damascus +and alighted at the Sultan's Khan, hard by the Viceroy's Gate. Now she had +lost her colour by grief and the fatigue of such travelling, and she ceased not +to weep over her misfortunes. So the Badawi came up to her and said, "O thou +city filth, by the right of my bonnet, if thou leave not this weeping, I will +sell thee to none but a Jew!" Then he arose and took her by the hand and +carried her to a chamber, and walked off to the bazar, and he went round to, +the merchants who dealt in slave-girls, and began to parley with them, saying, +"I have brought a slave girl whose brother fell ill, and I sent him to my +people about Jerusalem, that they might tend him till he is cured. As for her +I want to sell her, but after the dog her brother fell sick, the separation +from him was grievous to her, and since then she doth nothing but weep, and now +I wish that whoso is minded to buy her of me speak softly to her and say, 'Thy +brother is with me in Jerusalem ill'; and I will be easy with him about her +price." Then one of the merchants came up to him and asked, "How old is she?" +He answered "She is a virgin, just come to marriageable age, and she is endowed +with sense and breeding and wit and beauty and loveliness. But from the day I +sent her brother to Jerusalem, her heart hath been yearning for him, so that +her beauty is fallen away and her value lessened." Now when the merchant heard +this, he set forth with the Badawi and said, "O Shaykh[FN#245] of the Arabs, I +will go with thee and buy of thee this girl whom thou praisest so highly for +wit and manners and beauty and loveliness; and I will pay thee her price but it +must be upon conditions which if thou accept, I will give thee ready money, and +if thou accept not I will return her to thee." Quoth the Badawi, "An thou wilt, +take her up to the Sultan Sharrkan, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman lord of Baghdad +and of the land of Khorasan, and condition me any conditions thou likest, for +when thou hast brought her before King Sharrkan, haply she will please him, and +he will pay thee her price and a good profit for thyself to boot." Rejoined the +merchant, "It happens that I have just now something to ask from him, and it is +this that he write me an order upon the office, exempting me from custom dues +and also that he write me a letter of recommendation to his father, King Omar +bin al-Nu'uman. So if he take the girl, I will weigh[FN#246] thee out her +price at once." "I agree with thee to this condition," answered the Badawi. So +they returned together to the place where Nuzhat al-Zaman was and the wild Arab +stood at the chamber door and called out, saying, "O Nájiyah[FN#247]!" which +was the name wherewith he had named her. When she heard him, she wept and made +no answer. Then he turned to the merchant and said to him, "There she sitteth; +go to her and look at her and speak to her kindly as I enjoined thee." So the +trader went up to her in courteous wise and saw that she was wondrous beautiful +and loveable, especially as she knew the Arabic tongue; and he said to the +Badawi, "If she be even as thou saddest, I shall get of the Sultan what I will +for her." Then he bespake her, "Peace be on thee, my little maid! How art +thou?" She turned to him and replied, "This also was registered in the Book of +Destiny." Then she looked at him and, seeing him to be a man of respectable +semblance with a handsome face, she said to herself, "I believe this one cometh +to buy me;" and she continued, "If I hold aloof from him, I shall abide with my +tyrant and he will do me to death with beating. In any case, this person is +handsome of face and maketh me hope for better treatment from him than from my +brute of a Badawi. May be he cometh only to hear me talk; so I will give him a +fair answer." All this while her eyes were fixed on the ground; then she raised +them to him and said in a sweet voice, "And upon thee be peace, O my lord, and +Allah's mercy and His benediction![FN#248] This is what is commanded of the +Prophet, whom Allah bless and preserve! As for thine enquiry how I am, if thou +wouldst know my case, it is such as thou wouldst not wish but to thy foe." And +she held her peace. When the merchant heard what she said, his fancy took +wings for delight in her and, turning to the Badawi, he asked him, "What is her +price, for indeed she is noble?" Thereupon the Badawi waxed angry and answered, +"Thou wilt turn me the girl's head with this talk! Why dost thou say that she +is noble,[FN#249] while she is of the scum of slave-girls and of the refuse of +folk? I will not sell her to thee!" When the merchant heard this, he knew the +man to be weak of wits and said to him, "Calm thyself, for I will buy her of +thee with these blemishes thou mentionest." "And how much wilt thou give me for +her?" enquired the Badawi. Replied the merchant, "Name thy price for her: none +should name the son save his sire." Rejoined the Badawi, "None shall name it +but thou thyself." Quoth the merchant to himself, "This wildling is a rudesby +and a maggotty head. By Allah, I cannot tell her price, for she hath won my +heart with her fair speech and good looks; and, if she can read and write, it +will be complete fair luck to her and to her purchaser. But this Badawi does +not know her worth." Then he turned and said to him, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, I +will give thee in ready money, clear of the tax and the Sultan's dues, two +hundred gold pieces." Now when the Badawi heard this, he flew into a violent +rage and cried at the merchant, saying, "Get up and go thy ways! By Allah, +wert thou to offer me two hundred dinars for the bit of camlet she weareth, I +would not sell it to thee. And now I will not sell her, but will keep her by +me, to pasture the camels and grind my grist." And he cried out to her, saying, +"Come here, thou stinkard! I will not sell thee." Then he turned to the +merchant and said to him, "I used to think thee a man of judgment; but, by the +right of my bonnet, if thou begone not from me, I will let thee hear what shall +not please thee!" Quoth the merchant to himself, "Of a truth this Badawi is mad +and knoweth not her value, and I will say no more to him about her price at the +present time; for by Allah, were he a man of sense, he would not say, 'By the +rights of my bonnet!' By the Almighty, she is worth the kingdom of the Chosroës +and I have not her price by me, but if he ask even more, I will give him what +he will, though it be all my goods." Then he turned and said to him, "O Shaykh +of the Arabs, take patience and calm thyself and tell me what clothes she hath +with thee?" Cried the Badawi, "And what hath the baggage to do with clothes? +By Allah, this camlet in which she is wrapped is ample for her." "With thy +leave," said the merchant, "I will unveil her face and examine her even as folk +examine slave-girls whom they think of buying."[FN#250] Replied the other, "Up +and do what thou wilt and Allah keep thy youth! Examine her outside and inside +and, if thou wilt, strip off her clothes and look at her when she is naked." +Quoth the trader, "Allah forfend! I will look at naught save her +face."[FN#251] Then he went up to her and was put to shame by her beauty and +loveliness,—And Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Fifty-seventh Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the merchant went up to +Nuzhat al-Zaman and was put to shame by her beauty and loveliness, so he sat by +her side and asked her, "O my mistress, what is thy name?" She answered, "Doss +thou ask what is my name this day or what it was before this day?" Thereupon +the merchant enquired, "Hast thou then two names: to-day's and yesterday's?" +"Yes," replied she, "my name in the past was Nuzhat al-Zaman, the Delight of +the Age; but my name at this present is Ghussat[FN#252] al-Zaman, the Despight +of the Age." When the merchant heard this his eyes brimmed over with tears and +quoth he to her, "Hast thou not a sick brother?" "Ay by Allah, O my lord, I +have," quoth she, "but fortune hath parted me and him and he lieth sick in +Jerusalem." The merchant's head was confounded at the sweetness of her speech +and he said to himself, "Verily, the Badawi spake the truth of her." Then she +called to mind her brother and his sickness and his strangerhood and her +separation from him in his hour of weakness and her not knowing what had +befallen him; and she thought of all that had happened to her with the Badawi +and of her severance from her mother and father and native land; and the tears +coursed down her cheeks and fast as they started they dropped; and she began +reciting, + +"Allah, where'er thou be, His aid impart * To thee, who distant dwellest in my heart! +Allah be near thee how so far thou fare; * Ward off all shifts of Time, all dangers thwart! +Mine eyes are desolate for thy vanisht sight, * And start my tears-ah me, how fast they start! +Would Heaven I kenned what quarter or what land * Homes thee, and in what house and tribe thou art +An fount of life thou drain in greenth of rose, * While drink I tear drops for my sole desert? +An thou 'joy slumber in those hours, when I * Peel 'twixt my side and couch coals' burning smart? +All things were easy save to part from thee, * For my sad heart this grief is hard to dree." + + +When the merchant heard her verses, he wept and put out his hand to wipe away +the tears from her cheeks; but she let down her veil over her face, saying, +"Heaven forbid, O my lord!''[FN#253] Then the Badawi, who was sitting at a +little distance watching them, saw her cover her face from the merchant while +about to wipe the tears from her cheeks; and he concluded that she would have +hindered him from handling her: so he rose and running to her, dealt her, with +a camel's halter he had in his hand, such a blow on the shoulders that she fell +to the ground on her face. Her eyebrow struck a stone which cut it open, and +the blood streamed down her cheeks; whereupon she screamed a loud scream and +felt faint and wept bitterly. The merchant was moved to tears for her and said +in himself, "There is no help for it but that I buy this damsel, though at her +weight in gold, and free her from this tyrant." And he began to revile the +Badawi whilst Nazhat al- Zaman lay in sensible. When she came to herself, she +wiped away the tears and blood from her face; and she bound up her head: then, +raising her glance to heaven, she besought her Lord with a sorrowful heart and +began repeating, + +"And pity one who erst in honour throve, * And now is fallen into sore disgrace. +She weeps and bathes her cheeks with railing tears, * And asks 'What cure can meet this fatal case?'" + + +When she had ended her verse, she turned to the merchant and said in an +undertone, "By the Almighty, do not leave me with a tyrant who knoweth not +Allah the Most High! If I pass this night in his place, I shall kill myself +with my own hand: save me from him, so Allah save thee from Gehenna-fire." Then +quoth the merchant to the Badawi, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, this slave is none of +thine affair; so do thou sell her to me for what thou wilt." "Take her," quoth +the Badawi, "and pay me down her price, or I will carry her back to the camp +and there set her to feed the camels and gather their dung."[FN#254] Said the +merchant, "I will give thee fifty thousand dinars for her." "Allah will +open!"[FN#255] replied the Badawi. "Seventy thousand," said the merchant. +"Allah will open!" repeated the Badawi: "this is not the capital spent upon +her, for she hath eaten with me barley bread to the value of ninety thousand +gold pieces." The merchant rejoined, "Thou and thine and all thy tribe in the +length of your lives have not eaten a thousand ducats' worth of barley; but I +will say thee one word, wherewith if thou be not satisfied, I will set the +Viceroy of Damascus on thee and he will take her from thee by force." The +Badawi continued, "Say on!" "An hundred thousand," quoth the merchant. "I have +sold her to thee at that price," answered the Badawi; "I shall be able to buy +salt with her." The merchant laughed and, going to his lodgings, brought the +money and put it into the hand of the Badawi, who took it and made off, saying +to himself, "Needs must I go to Jerusalem where, haply, I shall happen on her +brother, and I will bring him here and sell him also." So he mounted and +journeyed till he arrived at Jerusalem, where he went to the Khan and asked for +Zau al-Makan, but could not find him. Such was the case with him; but for what +regards the merchant and Nazhat al-Zaman, when he took her he threw some of his +clothes over her and carried her to his lodgings,—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Fifty-eighth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the trader saved +Nuzhat al-Zaman from the Badawi and bore her to his lodgings and robed her in +the richest raiment, he went down with her to the bazar, where he bought her +what ornaments she chose and put them in a satin bag, which he set before her, +saying, "All is for thee and I ask nothing of thee in return but that, when I +lead thee to the Sultan, Viceroy of Damascus, thou acquaint him with the price +I paid for thee, albeit it was little compared with thy value: and, if seeing +thee he buy thee of me, thou tell him how I have dealt with thee and ask of him +for me a royal patent, and a written recommendation wherewith I can repair to +his father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad, to the intent that he +may forbid the tax on my stuffs or any other goods in which I traffic." When +she heard his words, she wept and sobbed, and the merchant said to her, "O my +lady, I observe that, every time I mention Baghdad, thine eyes are tearful: is +there any one there whom thou lovest? If it be a trader or the like, tell me; +for I know all the merchants and so forth there and, if thou wouldst send him a +message, I will bear it for thee." Replied she, "By Allah, I have no +acquaintance among merchant folk and the like! I know none there but King Omar +bin Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad." When the merchant heard her words, he laughed +and rejoiced with exceeding joy and said in himself, "By Allah, I have won my +wish!" Then he said to her, "Hast thou been shown to him in time past?" She +answered, "No, but I was brought up with his daughter and he holdeth me dear +and I have high honour with him; so if thou wouldst have the King grant thee +thy desire, give me ink case and paper and I will write thee a letter; and when +thou reachest the city of Baghdad, do thou deliver it into the hand of King +Omar bin al-Nu'uman and say to him, 'Thy handmaid, Nuzhat al-Zaman, would have +thee to know that the chances and changes of the nights and days have struck +her as with a hammer, and have smitten her so that she hath been sold from +place to place, and she sendeth thee her salams.' And, if he ask further of +her, say that I am now with the Viceroy at Damascus." The merchant wondered at +her eloquence, and his affection for her increased and he said to her I cannot +but think that men have played upon thine understanding and sold thee for +money. Tell me, dost thou know the Koran by heart?" "Yes," answered she; "and +I am also acquainted with philosophy and medicine and the prolegomena of +science and the commentaries of Galen, the physician, on the canons of +Hippocrates; and I have commented him and I have read the Tazkirah and have +commented the Burhán; and I have studied the Simples of Ibn Baytár, and I have +something to say of the canon of Meccah, by Avicenna. I can ree riddles and +can solve ambiguities, and discourse upon geometry and am skilled in anatomy I +have read the books of the Sháfi'í[FN#256] school and the Traditions of the +Prophet and syntax; and I can argue with the Olema and discourse of all manner +learning. Moreover I am skilled in logic and rhetoric and arithmetic and the +making of talismans and almanacs, and I know thoroughly the Spiritual +Sciences[FN#257] and the times appointed for religious duties and I understand +all these branches of knowledge." Then quoth she to the merchant, "Bring me +ink case and paper, that I write thee a letter which shall aid thee on thy +journey to Baghdad and enable thee to do without passports." Now when the +merchant heard this, he cried out "Brava! Brava![FN#258] Then O happy he in +whose palace thou shalt! Thereupon he brought her paper and ink case and a pen +of brass and bussed the earth before her face to do her honour. She took a +sheet and handled the reed and wrote therewith these verses, + +"I see all power of sleep from eyes of me hath flown; * Say, did thy parting teach these eyne on wake to wone? +What makes thy memory light such burnings in my heart? * Hath every lover strength such memories to own? +How sweet the big dropped cloud which rained on summer day; * 'Tis gone and ere I taste its sweets afar 'tis flown: +I pray the wind with windy breath to bring some news * From thee, to lover wightwi' love so woe begone +Complains to thee a lover of all hope forlorn, * For parting pangs can break not only heart but stone." + + +And when she had ended writing the verses she continued, "These words are from +her who saith that melancholy destroyeth her and that watching wasteth her; in +the murk of whose night is found no light and darkness and day are the same in +her sight. She tosseth on the couch of separation and her eyes are blackened +with the pencils of sleeplessness; she watcheth the stars arise and into the +gloom she strains her eyes: verily, sadness and leanness have consumed her +strength and the setting forth of her case would run to length. No helper hath +she but tears and she reciteth these verses, + +'No ring dove moans from home on branch in morning light, * But shakes my very frame with sorrow's killing might: +No lover sigheth for his love or gladdeth heart * To meet his mate, but breeds in me redoubled blight +I bear my plaint to one who has no ruth for me, * Ah me, how Love can part man's mortal frame and sprite!' " + + +Then her eyes welled over with tears, and she wrote also these two couplets, + +"Love smote my frame so sore on parting day, * That severance severed sleep and eyes for aye. +I waxt so lean that I am still a man, * But for my speaking, thou wouldst never say." + + +Then she shed tears and wrote at the foot of the sheet, "This cometh from her +who is far from her folk and her native land, the sorrowful hearted woman +Nuzhat al-Zaman." In fine, she folded the sheet and gave it to the merchant, +who took it and kissed it and understood its contents and exclaimed, "Glory to +Him who fashioned thee!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Fifty-ninth Night, + + +She said, It reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al-Zaman wrote the +letter and gave it to the merchant; and he took it and read it and understood +the contents and exclaimed, "Glory to Him who fashioned thee!" Then he +redoubled his kindness and made himself pleasant to her all that day, and when +night came he sallied out to the bazar and bought some food, wherewith he fed +her; after which he carried her to the Hammam and said to the bath woman, "As +soon as thou hast made an end of washing her head, dress her and send and let +me know of it." And she replied "Hearing is obeying." Meanwhile he fetched food +and fruit and wax candles and set them on the bench in the outer room of the +bath; and when the tire woman had done washing her, she dressed her and led her +out of the bath and seated her on the bench. Then she sent to tell the +merchant, and Nuzhat al-Zaman went forth to the outer room, where she found the +tray spread with food and fruit. So she ate and the tire woman with her, and +gave the rest to the people and keeper of the bath. Then she slept till the +morning, and the merchant lay the night in a place apart from her. When he +aroused himself from sleep he came to her and waking her, presented her with a +shift of fine stuff and a head-kerchief worth a thousand dinars, a suit of +Turkish embroidery and walking boots purfled with red gold and set with pearls +and gems. Moreover, he hung in each of her ears a circlet of gold with a fine +pearl therein, worth a thousand dinars, and threw round her neck a collar of +gold with bosses of garnet and a chain of amber beads that hung down between +her breasts over her navel. Now to this chain were attached ten balls and nine +crescents, and each crescent had in its midst a bezel of ruby, and each ball a +bezel of balass: the value of the chain was three thousand dinars and each of +the balls was priced at twenty thousand dirhams, so that the dress she wore was +worth in all a great sum of money. When she had put these on, the merchant +bade her adorn herself, and she adorned herself to the utmost beauty; then she +let fall her fillet over her eyes and she fared forth with the merchant +preceding her. But when folk saw her, all wondered at her beauty and +exclaimed, "Blessed be Allah, the most excellent Creator! O lucky the man in +whose house the hall be!" And the trader ceased not walking (and she behind +him) till they entered the palace of Sultan Sharrkan; when he sought an +audience and, kissing the earth between his hands, said, "O auspicious King, I +have brought thee a rare gift, unmatched in this time and richly gifted with +beauty and with good qualities." Quoth the King, "Let me see it." So the +merchant went out and brought her, she following him till he made her stand +before King Sharrkan. When he beheld her, blood yearned to blood, though she +had been parted from him in childhood and though he had never seen her, having +only heard a long time after her birth that he had a sister called Nuzhat al- +Zaman and a brother Zau al-Makan, he having been jealous of them, because of +the succession. And such was the cause of his knowing little about them. +Then, having placed her before the presence, the merchant said, "O King of the +age, besides being peerless in her time and beauty and loveliness, she is also +versed in all learning, sacred and profane, including the art of government and +the abstract sciences." Quoth the King to the trader, "Take her price, +according as thou boughtest her, and go thy ways." "I hear and I obey," replied +the merchant; "but first write me a patent, exempting me for ever from paying +tithe on my merchandise." Said the King, "I will do this, but first tell me +what price thou paidest for her." Said the merchant, "I bought her for an +hundred thousand dinars, and her clothes cost me another hundred thousand." +When the Sultan heard these words, he declared, "I will give thee a higher +price than this for her;" and, calling his treasurer, said to him, "Pay this +merchant three hundred and twenty thousand ducats; so will he have an hundred +and twenty thousand dinars profit." Thereupon the Sultan summoned the four +Kazis and paid him the money in their presence and then he said, "I call you to +witness that I free this my slave girl and purpose to marry her." So the Kazis +wrote out the deed of emancipation and the contract of marriage, when the +Sultan scattered much gold on the heads of those present; and the pages and the +eunuchs picked up this largesse. Then, after paying him his monies, Sharrkan +bade them write for the merchant a perpetual patent, exempting him from toll, +tax or tithe upon his merchandise and forbidding each and every in all his +government to molest him, and lastly bestowed on him a splendid dress of +honour.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the Sixtieth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Sharrkan bade them +write for the merchant a mandate, after paying him his monies; and they wrote a +perpetual patent, exempting him from the tithe upon his merchandise and +forbidding any in his government to molest him; and lastly bestowed upon him a +splendid dress of honour. Then all about him retired, and none remained save +the Kazis and the merchant, whereupon said he to the judges, "I wish you to +hear such discourse from this damsel as may prove her knowledge and +accomplishments in all aimed for her by this trader, that we ascertain the +truth of his assertions." They answered, "There is no evil in that!"; and he +commanded the curtain to be let down between him and those with him and the +maiden and those with her; and the women about the damsel behind the curtains +began to wish her joy and kiss her hands and feet, when they learned that she +was become the King's wife. Then they came round her and took off her dresses +easing her of the weight of her clothes and began to look upon her beauty and +loveliness. Presently the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs heard that King +Sharrkan had bought a handmaiden unmatched for her beauty and learning and +philosophy and account keeping, and versed in all branches of knowledge, that +he had paid for her three hundred and twenty thousand dinars, and that he had +set her free and had written a marriage-contract with her and had summoned the +four Kazis to make trial of her, how she would answer all their questions and +hold disputetion with them. So they asked leave of their husbands and repaired +to the palace wherein was Nuzhat al- Zaman. When they came in to her, they +found the eunuchs standing before her; and, as soon as she saw the wives of the +Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees of the realm coming to call upon her, she arose +to them on her feet and met them with courtesy, her handmaidens standing behind +her, and she received them saying, "Ye be welcome!" The while she smiled in +their faces so as to win their hearts; and she promised them all manner of good +and seated them in their proper stations, as if she had been brought up with +them; so all wondered at her beauty and loveliness and said to one another, +"This damsel is none other than a Queen, the daughter of a King." Then they sat +down, magnifying her worth and said to her, "O our lady, this our city is +illumined by thee, and our country and abode and birth place and reign are +honoured by thy presence. The kingdom indeed is thy kingdom and the palace is +thy palace, and we all are thy handmaids; so, by Allah, do not shut us out from +thy favours and the sight of thy beauty." And she thanked them for this. All +this while the curtains were let down between Nuzhat al-Zaman and the women +with her, on the one side, and King Sharrkan and the four Kazis and the +merchant seated by him on the other. Presently King Sharrkan called to her and +said, "O Queen, the glory of thine age, this merchant hath described thee as +being learned and accomplished; and he claimeth that thou art skilled in all +branches of knowledge, even to astrology: so let us hear something of all this +he hath mentioned, and favour us with a short discourse on such subjects." She +replied, saying: "O King, to hear is to obey.[FN#259] The first subjects +whereof I will treat are the art of government and the duties of Kings and what +behoveth governors of command meets according to religious law, and what is +incumbent on them in respect of satisfactory speech and manners. Know then, O +King, that all men's works tend either to religious or to laical life, for none +attaineth to religion save through this world, because it is the best road to +futurity. Now the works of this world are not ordered save by the doings of +its people, and men's doings are divided into four divisions, government, +commerce, husbandry and craftsmanship. Now government requireth perfect +administration with just and true judgment; for government is the pivot of the +edifice of the world, which world is the road to futurity; since Allah Almighty +hath made the world for His servants as viaticum to the traveller for the +attainment of his goal; and it befitteth each man that he receive of it such +measure as shall bring him to Allah, and that he follow not herein his own mind +and his individual lust. If folk would take of worldly goods with justice and +equity, all cause of contention would be cut off; but they take thereof with +violence ant after their own desires, and their persistence therein giveth rise +to contentions; so they have need of the Sultan, that he do justice between +them; and order their affairs; and, if the King restrain not his folk from one +another, the strong will drive the weak to the wall. Hence Ardeshir[FN#260] +saith, 'Religion and Kingship be twins'; religion is a hidden treasure and the +King is its keeper; and the Divine Ordinances and men's intelligence point out +that it behoveth the people to adopt a Sultan who shall withhold oppressor from +oppressed and do the weak justice against the strong and restrain the violence +of the proud and the rebels against rule. For know, O King, that according to +the measure of the Sultan's good morals, even so will be the time; as saith the +Apostle of Allah (on whom be peace and salvation!), 'There be two classes who, +if they be good, the people will be good; and if they be bad, the people will +be bad, even the Olema and the Emirs.' And it is said by a certain sage, 'There +be three kinds of Kings, the King of the Faith, the King who protecteth things +to which reverence is due, and the King of his own lusts.' The King of the +Faith obligeth his subjects to follow their faith, and it behoveth he be the +most faithful,[FN#261] for it is by him that they take pattern in the things of +the Faith; and it becometh the folk to obey him in whatso he commandeth +according to Divine Ordinance; but he shall hold the discontented in the same +esteem as the contented, because of submission to the decrees of Destiny. As +for the King who protecteth things to be reverenced, he upholdeth the things of +the Faith and of the World and compelleth his folk to follow the Divine Law and +to preserve the rights of humanity; and it fitteth him to unite Pen and Sword; +for whoso declineth from what Pen hath written his feet slip and the King shall +rectify his error with the sharp Sword and dispread his justice over all +mankind. As for the King of his own lusts, he hath no religion but the +following his desire and, as he feareth not the wrath of his Lord who set him +on the throne, so his Kingdom inclineth to deposition and the end of his pride +is in the house of perdition. And sages say, 'The King hath need of many +people, but the people have need of but one King' wherefore it beseemeth that +he be well acquainted with their natures, that he reduce their discord to +concord, that with his justice be encompass them all and with his bounties +overwhelm them all. And know, O King, that Ardeshir, styled Jamr Shadíd, or +the Live Coal, third of the Kings of Persia, conquered the whole world and +divided it into four divisions and, for this purpose, get for himself four seal +rings, one for each division. The first seal was that of the sea and the +police of prohibition and on it was written, Alterna lives. The second was the +seal of tribute and of the receipt of monies, and on it was written, Building +up. The third was the seal of the provisioning department and on it was +written, Plenty. The fourth was the seal of the oppressed, and on it was +written, Justice. And these usages remained valid in Persia until the +revelation of Al-Islam. Chosroës also wrote his son, who was with the army, +'Be not thou too open handed with thy troops, or they will be too rich to need +thee.'—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Sixty-first night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Chosroës wrote his son, +'Be not thou too open handed with thy troops, or they will be too rich to need +thee; nor be thou niggardly with them, or they will murmur against thee. Give +thy giving deliberately and confer thy favours advisedly; open thy hand to them +in time of success and stint them not in time of distress.' There is a legend +that a desert Arab came once to the Caliph Al- Mansúr[FN#262] and said, 'Starve +thy dog and he shall follow thee.' When the Caliph heard his words, he was +enraged with the Arab, but Abu 'l-Abbás of Tús said to him, 'I fear that if +some other than thou should show him a scone, the dog would follow him and +leave thee alone.' Thereupon the Caliph Al-Mansur's wrath subsided and he knew +that the wild Arab had intended no offence and ordered him a present. And +know, O King, that Abd al-Malik bin Marwán wrote to his brother Abd al-Azíz, +when he despatched him to Egypt, as follows, 'Pay heed to thy Secretaries and +thy Chamberlains, for the Secretaries will acquaint thee with estate fished +matters and the Chamberlains with matters of official ceremony, whilst thine +expenditure will make thy troops known to thee.' Omar bin Al-Khattáb[FN#263] +(whom Allah accept!) when engaging a servant was in the habit of conditioning +him with four conditions; the first that he should not ride the baggage beasts, +the second that he should not wear fine clothes, the third that he should not +eat of the spoil and the fourth that he should not put off praying till after +the proper period. It is said that there is no wealth more profitable than +understanding, and there is no understanding like common sense and prudence, +and there is no prudence like piety; that there is no means of drawing near to +God like good morals, no measure like good breeding, no traffic like good works +and no profit like earning the Divine favour; that there is no temperance like +standing within the limits of the law, no science like that of meditation, no +worship like obeying the Divine commends, no faith like modesty, no calculation +like self abasement and no honour like knowledge. So guard the head and what +it containeth and the belly and what it compriseth; and think of death and doom +ere it ariseth. Saith Ali (whose face Allah honour!), 'Beware of the +wickedness of women and be on thy guard against them: consult them not in +aught;[FN#264] but grudge not complaisance to them, lest they greed for +intrigue.' And eke quoth he, 'Whoso leaveth the path of moderation his wits +become perplexed'; and there be rules for this which we will mention, if it be +Allah's will. And Omar (whom Allah accept!) saith, 'There are three kinds of +women, firstly the true believing, Heaven fearing, love full and fruit full, +who helpeth her mate against fate, not helping fate against her mate; secondly, +she who loveth her children but no more and, lastly, she who is a shackle Allah +setteth on the neck of whom He will.' Men be also three: the wise when he +exerciseth his own judgement; the wiser who, when befalleth somewhat whereof he +knoweth not the issue, seeketh folk of good counsel and acteth by their advice; +and the unwise irresolute ignoring the right way nor heeding those who would +guide him straight. Justice is indispensable in all things; even slave-girls +have need of justice; and men quote as an instance highway robbers who live by +violenting mankind, for did they not deal equitably among themselves and +observe justice in dividing their booty, their order would fall to +pieces.[FN#265] In short, for the rest, the Prince of noble qualities is +Beneficence cum Benevolence; and how excellent is the saying of the poet, + +By open hand and ruth the youth rose to his tribe's command; * Go and do +likewise for the same were easy task to thee.' + + +And quoth another, + +'In ruth and mildness surety lies and mercy wins respect, * And Truth is best asylum for the man of soothfast soul: +Whoso for wealth of gold would win and wear the world's good word, * On glory's course must ever be the first to gain the goal.'" + + +And Nazhat al-Zaman discoursed upon the policy of Kings till the bystanders +said, "Never have we seen one reason of rule and government like this damsel! +Haply she will let us hear some discourse upon subject other than this." When +she heard their words and understood them she said, "As for the chapter of good +breeding, it is wide of comprehension, being a compend of things perfect. Now +it so happened that one day there came to the Caliph Mu'áwiyah[FN#266] one of +his companions, who mentioned the people of Irak and the goodness of their wit; +and the Caliph's wife Maysún, mother of Yezíd, heard his words. So, when he +was gone, she said to the Caliph, 'O Prince of the Faithful, I would thou let +some of the people of Irak come in and talk to thee, that I may hear their +discourse.' Therewith Mu'awiyah said to his attendants, 'See who is at the +door?' And they answered, 'The Banu Tamim.' 'Let them come in,' said he. So +they came in and with them Al-Ahnáf son of Kays.[FN#267] Then quoth Mu'awiyah, +'Enter, O Abu Bahr,' and drew a curtain between himself and Maysun, that she +might hear what they said without being seen herself; then he said to Al-Ahnaf, +'O Son of the Sea, draw near and tell me what counsel thou hast for me.' Quoth +Al-Ahnaf, 'Part thy hair and trim thy moustachio and pare thy nails and pluck +thine armpits and shave thy pubes[FN#268] and ever use the toothstick because +therein be two and seventy virtues, and make the Ghusl or complete ablution on +Friday, as an expiation for all between the Fridays.'—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Sixty-second Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ahnaf bin Kays replied to +Al-Mu'awiyah's[FN#269] question, 'And ever use the toothstick, because therein +be two end seventy virtues and make the complete Friday ablution as an +expiation for all between the two Fridays.' Quoth Mu'awiyah, 'What is thy +counsel to thyself?' 'To set my feet firmly on the ground, to move them +deliberately and watch over them with mine eyes!' 'How dost thou order thyself +when thou goest in to one not of the nobles of thy tribe?' 'I lower mine eyes +modestly and I salute first; I avoid what concerneth me not and I spare my +words!' 'And how when thou goest in to thine equals?' 'I give ear to them when +they speak and I do not assail them when they err!' 'When thou goest in to thy +chiefs?' 'I salute without making any sign and await the reply: if they bid me +draw near, I draw near, and if they draw off from me I withdraw!' 'How dost +thou with thy wife?' Quoth Ahnaf, 'Excuse me from answering this, O Commander +of the Faithful!'; but Mu'awiyah cried, 'I conjure thee inform me.' He said, 'I +entreat her kindly and show her familiarity and am large in expenditure, for +woman was created of a crooked rib.'[FN#270] 'And how dost thou when thou hast +a mind to lie with her?' 'I bid her perfume herself and kiss her till she is +moved to desire; then, should it be as thou knowest,[FN#271] I throw her on her +back. If the seed abide in her womb I say, 'O Allah make it blessed and let it +not be a wastrel, but fashion it into the best of fashions!'[FN#272] Then I +rise from her to ablution and first I pour water over my hands and then over my +body and lastly, I praise Allah for the joy He hath given me.' Said Mu'awiyah, +'Thou hast answered right well and now tell me what be thy requirements?' Said +Ahnaf, 'I would have thee rule thy subjects in the fear of Allah and do even +handed justice between them.' Thereupon Ahnaf rose to his feet and left the +Caliph's presence, and when he had gone Maysun said, 'Were there but this man +in Irak, he would suffice to it.' Then continued Nuzhat al-Zaman, "And all this +is a section of the chapter of good breeding, and know O King, that Muaykib was +intendant of the public treasury during the Caliphate of Omar bin +al-Khattáb,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Sixty-third Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman +continued, "Know, O King, that Mu'aykib was intendant of the public treasury +during the Caliphate of Omar bin al-Khattab; and it so befel him that he saw +Omar's son and gave him a dirham out of the treasury. Thereupon, quoth +Mu'aykib, 'I returned to my own house, and while I was sitting there behold, a +messenger came to me from Omar and I was afraid and went to him, and when I +came into his presence, in his hand was the dirham I had given his son. He +said to me, 'Woe to thee Mu'aykib! I have found somewhat concerning thy soul.' +I asked 'And what is that?'; and he answered, 'It is that thou hast shown +thyself a foe to the followers of Mohammed (on whom be peace and salvation!) in +the matter of this dirham, and thou wilt have to account for it on Resurrection +Day.'[FN#273] And Omar also wrote a letter to Abú Músá al-Ashári[FN#274] as +follows, 'When these presents reach thee, give the people what is theirs and +remit to me the rest.' And he did so. Now when Othman succeeded to the +Caliphate, he wrote a like letter to Abu Musa, who did his bidding and sent him +the tribute accordingly, and with it came Ziyád.[FN#275] And when Ziyad laid +the tribute before Othman, the Caliph's son came in and took a dirham, +whereupon Ziyad shed tears. Othman asked 'Why weepest thou?'; and Ziyad +answered, 'I once brought Omar bin al-Khattab the like of this and his son took +a dirham, whereupon Omar bade snatch it from his hand. Now thy son hath taken +of the tribute, yet I have seen none say aught to him or snatch the money from +him.' Then Othman[FN#276] cried, 'And where wilt thou find the like of Omar?' +Again Zayd bin Aslam relates of his father that he said, 'I went out one night +with Omar till we approached a blazing fire. Quoth Omar, 'O Aslam, I think +these must be travellers who are suffering from the cold. Come, let us join +them.' So we walked on till we came to them; and behold! we found a woman who +had lighted a fire under a cauldron and by her side were two children, both a +wailing. Said Omar, 'Peace be with you, O folk of light (for it was repugnant +to him to say 'folk of fire'),[FN#277] what aileth you?' Said she, 'The cold +and the night trouble us.' He asked, 'What aileth these little people that they +weep?'; and she answered, 'They are hungry.' He enquired, 'And what is in this +cauldron?'; and she replied, 'It is what I quiet them withal, and Allah will +question Omar bin al- Khattab of them, on the Day of Doom.' He said, 'And what +should Omar know of their case?' 'Why then,' rejoined she, 'should he manage +people's affairs and yet be unmindful of them?' Thereupon Omar turned to me +(continned Aslam) and cried, 'Come with us!' So we set off running till we +reached the pay department of his treasury, where he took out a sack containing +flour and a pot holding fat and said to me, 'Load these on my back!' Quoth I, +'O Commander of the Faithful, I will carry them for thee.' He rejoined, 'Wilt +thou bear my load for me on the Day of Resurrection?' So I put the things on +his back, and we set off, running, till we threw down the sack hard by her. +Then he took out some of the flour and put it in the cauldron; and, saying to +the woman, 'Leave it to me,' he began blowing the fire under the cauldron. Now +he was a long bearded man[FN#278] and I saw the smoke issuing from between the +hairs of his beard till the flour was cooked, when he took some of the fat and +threw it in and said to the woman, 'Bed them while I cool it for them.' So they +fell to eating till they had eaten their fill, and he left the rest with her. +Then he turned to me and said, 'O Aslam, I see it was indeed hunger made them +weep; and I am glad I did not go away ere I found out the cause of the light I +saw.'—And Shahrazad per ceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Sixty-fourth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman +continued, "It is related that Omar passed by a flock of sheep, kept by a +Mameluke, and asked him to sell him a sheep. He answered, 'They are not mine.' +'Thou art the man I sought,' said Omar, and bought him and freed him; whereupon +the slave exclaimed, 'O Allah, as thou hast bestowed on me the lesser +emancipation; so vouchsafe me the greater!'[FN#279] It is also said that Omar +bin al- Khattab was wont to give his servants sweet milk and himself eat coarse +fare, and to clothe them softly and himself wear rough garments. He rendered +unto all men their due, and exceeded in his giving to them. He once gave a man +four thousand dirhams and added thereto a thousand, wherefore it was said to +him, 'Why dost thou not increase to thy son as thou increasest to this man?' He +answered, 'This man's father stood firm at the battle day of Ohod.'[FN#280] +Al-Hasan relates that Omar once came back from foray with much money, and that +Hafsah[FN#281] approached him and said, 'O Commander of the Faithful, the due +of kinship!' 'O Hafsah!' replied he, 'verily Allah hath enjoined us to satisfy +the dues of kinship, but not with the monies of the True Believers. Indeed, +thou pleasest" thy family, but thou angerest thy father.' And she went away +trailing her skirts.[FN#282] The son of Omar said, 'I implored the Lord to +show me my father one year after his death, till at last I saw him wiping the +sweat from his brow and asked him, 'How is it with thee, O my father?' He +answered, 'But for my Lord's mercy thy father surely had perished.' Then said +Nuzhat al-Zaman, "Hear, O auspicious King, the second division of the first +chapter of the instances of the followers of the Apostle and other holy men. +Saith Al Hasan al-Basrí,[FN#283] Not a soul of the sons of Adam goeth forth of +the world without regretting three things,- failure to enjoy what he hath +amassed, failure to compass what he hoped, failure to provide himself with +sufficient viaticum for that hereto he goeth.[FN#284] It was said of +Sufyan,[FN#285] 'Can a man be a religious and yet possess wealth?' He replied, +'Yes, so he be patient when grieved and be thankful when he hath received.' +Abdullah bin Shaddád, being about to die, sent for his son Mohammed and +admonished him, saying, 'O my son, I see the Summoner of Death summoning me, +and so I charge thee to fear Allah both in public and private, to praise Allah +and to be soothfastin thy speech, for such praise bringeth increase of +prosperity, and piety in itself is the best of provision for the next world; +even as saith one of the poets, + +'I see not happiness lies in gathering gold; * The man most pious is man happiest: +In truth the fear of God is best of stores, * And God shall make the pious choicely blest.' + + +Then quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman, "Let the King also give ear to these notes from the +second section of the first chapter." He asked her 'What be they?'; and she +answered, "When Omar bin Abd al-Azíz[FN# 286] succeeded to the Caliphate, he +went to his household and laying hands on all that was in their hold, put it +into the public treasury. So the Banu Umayyah flew for aid to his father's +sister, Fátimah, daughter of Marwan, and she sent to him saying, 'I must needs +speak to thee.' So she came to him by night and, when he had made her alight +from her beast and sit down, he said to her, 'O aunt, it is for thee to speak +first, since thou hast some thing to ask: tell me then what thou wouldst with +me.' Replied she, 'O Commander of the Faithful, it is thine to speak first, for +thy judgment perceiveth that which is hidden from the intelligence of others.' +Then said Omar, 'Of a verity Allah Almighty sent Mohammed as a blessing to some +and a bane to others; and He elected for him those with him, and commissioned +him as His Apostle and took him to Himself,'—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Sixty-fifth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman +continued thus, "Said Omar, 'Verily Allah commissioned as His Apostle Mohammed +(upon whom be the benediction of Allah and His salvation!), for a blessing to +some and a bane to others; and He elected for him those with him and took him +to Himself, leaving the people a stream whereof they might drink. After him +Abu Bakr[FN#287] the Truth teller became Caliph and he left the river as it +was, doing what was pleasing to Allah. Then arose Omar and worked a work and +strove in holy war and strife where of none might do the like. But when Othman +arose to power he diverted a streamlet from the stream, and Mu'awiyah in his +turn diverted from it several streamlets; and without ceasing in like manner, +Yezid and the Banu Marwán such as Abd al-Malik and Walíd and Sulaymán[FN#288] +drew away water from the stream, and the main course dried up, till rule +devolved upon me, and now I am minded to restore the stream to its normal +condition.' When Fatimah heard this, she said, 'I came wishing only to speak +and confer with thee, but if this be thy word, I have nothing to say to thee.' +Then she returned to the Ommiades and said to them, 'Now take ye the +consequences of your act when ye allied yourselves by marriage with Omar bin +al-Khattab.'[FN#289] And it is also said that when Omar was about to die, he +gathered his children round him, and Maslamah[FN#290] bin Abd al-Malik said to +him, 'O Prince of the Faithful, how wilt thou leave thy children paupers and +thou their protector? None can hinder thee in thy lifetime from giving them +what will suffice them out of the treasury; and this indeed were better than +leaving the good work to him who shall rule after thee.' Omar looked at him +with a look of wrath and wonder and presently replied, 'O Maslamah, I have +defended them from this sin all the days of my life, and shall I make them +miserable after my death? Of a truth my sons are like other men, either +obedient to Almighty Allah who will prosper them, or disobedient and I will not +help them in their disobedience. Know, O Maslamah, that I was present, even as +thou, when such an one of the sons of Marwanwas buried, and I fell asleep by +him and saw him in a dream given over to one of the punishments of Allah, to +whom belong Honour and Glory! This terrified me and made me tremble, and I +vowed to Allah, that if ever I came to power, I would not do such deeds as the +dead man had done. I have striven to fulfil this vow all the length of my life +and I hope to die in the mercy of my Lord.' Quoth Maslamah, 'A certain man died +and I was present at his burial, and when all was over I fell asleep and I saw +him as a sleeper seeth a dream, walking in a garden of flowing waters clad in +white clothes. He came up to me and said: 'O Maslamah, it is for the like of +this that rulers should rule.' Many are the instances of this kind, and quoth +one of the men of authority, 'I used to milk the ewes in the Caliphate of Omar +bin Abd al-Aziz, and one day I met a shepherd, among whose sheep I saw a wolf +or wolves. I thought them to be dogs, for I had never before seen wolves; so I +asked, 'What dost thou with these dogs?' 'They are not dogs, but wolves,' +answered the shepherd. Quoth I, 'Can wolves be with sheep and not hurt them?' +Quoth he, 'When the head is whole, the body is whole.'[FN#291] Omar bin Abd +al-Aziz once preached from a pulpit of clay and, after praising and glorifying +Allah Almighty, said three words as follows, 'O folk, make clean your inmost +hearts, that your outward lives may be dean to your brethren, and abstain ye +from the things of the world. Know that between us and Adam there is no one +man alive among the dead. Dead are Abd al- Malik and those who forewent him, +and Omar also shall die and those who forewent him.' Asked Maslamah, 'O +Commander of the Faithful, an we set a pillow behind thee, wilt thou lean on it +a little while?' But Omar answered, 'I fear lest it be a fault about my neck on +Resurrection Day.' Then he gasped with the death rattle and fell back in a +faint; whereupon Fatimah cried out, saying, 'Ho, Maryam! Ho, Muzahim![FN#292] +Ho, such an one! Look to this man!' And she began to pour water on him +weeping, till he revived from his swoon; and, seeing her in tears said to her, +'What causeth thee to weep, O Fatimah?' She replied, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, I saw thee lying prostrate before us and thought of thy prostration +in death before Almighty Allah, of thy departure from the world and of thy +separation from us. This is what made me weep.' Answered he, 'Enough, O +Fatimah, for indeed thou exceedest.' Then he would have risen, but fell down +and Fatimah strained him to her and said, 'Thou art to me as my father and my +mother, O Commander of the Faithful! We cannot speak to thee, all of us.' Then +quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman to her brother Sharrkan and the four Kazis, "Here endeth +the second section of the first chapter."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Sixty-sixth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman said to +her brother Sharrkan and the four Kazis, "Here endeth the second section of the +first chapter. And it so happened that Omar bin Abd al-Aziz wrote to the +people of the festival at Meccah as follows, 'I call Allah to witness, in the +Holy Month, in the Holy City and on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage,[FN#293] +that I am innocent of your oppression and of his wrongs that doth wrong you, in +that I have neither commanded this nor purposed it, neither hath any report of +aught thereof hitherto reached me, nor have I compassed any knowledge thereof; +and I trust that a cause for pardon will be found in that none hath authority +from me to oppress any man, for I shall assuredly be questioned concerning +every one oppress. And if any of my officers swerve from the right and act +otherwise than the Holy Book and the Traditions of the Apostle do authorise, +obey him not so that he may return to the way of righteousness.' He said also +(Allah accept of him!), 'I do not wish to be relieved from death, because it is +the supreme thing for which the True Believer is rewarded.' Quoth one of +authority, 'I went to the Prince of the Faithful, Omarbin Abd al-Aziz, who was +then Caliph, and saw before him twelve dirhams, which he ordered for deposit in +the public treasury. So I said to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, thou +impoverishest thy children and reducest them to beggary having nothing whereon +to live. An thou wouldst appoint somewhat by will to them; and to those who are +poor of the people of thy house, it were well.' 'Draw near to me,' answered he: +so I drew near to him and he said, 'Now as for thy saying, 'Thou beggarest thy +children; provide for them; and for the poor of thy household,' it is without +reason; for Allah of a truth will replace me to my children and to the poor of +my house, and He will be their guardian. Verily, they are like other men; he +who feareth Allah, right soon will Allah provide for him a happy issue, and he +that is addicted to sins, I will not up hold him in his sin against Allah.' +Then he summoned his sons who numbered twelve, and when he beheld them his eyes +dropped tears and presently he said to them, 'Your Father is between two +things; either ye will be well to do, and your parent will enter the fire, or +ye will be poor and your parent will enter Paradise; and your father's entry +into Paradise is liefer to him than that ye should be well to do.[FN#294] So +arise and go, Allah be your helper, for to Him I commit your affairs!' Khálid +bin Safwán[FN#295] said, 'Yúsuf bin Omar[FN#296] accompanied me to Hishám bin +Abd al-Malik,[FN#297] and as I met him he was coming forth with his kinsmen and +attendants. He alighted and a tent was pitched for him. When the people had +taken their seats, I came up to the side of the carpet whereon he sat reclining +and looked at him; and, waiting till my eyes met his eyes, bespoke him thus, +'May Allah fulfil His bounty to thee, O Commander of the Faithful, I have an +admonition for thee, which hath come down to us from the history of the Kings +preceding thee!' At this, he sat up whenas he had been reclining and said to +me, 'Bring what thou hast, O son of Safwan!' Quoth I, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, one of the Kings before thee went forth in a time before this thy +time, to this very country and said to his companions, 'Saw ye ever any state +like mine and say me, hath such case been given to any man even as it hath been +given unto me?' Now there was with him a man of those who survive to bear +testimony to Truth; upholders of the Right and wayfarers in its highway, and he +said to him, 'O King, thou askest of a grave matter. Wilt thou give me leave +to answer?' 'Yes,' replied the King, and the other said, 'Dost thou judge thy +present state to be short lasting or ever lasting?' 'It is temporary,' replied +the King. 'How then,' rejoined the man, 'do I see thee exulting in that which +thou wilt enjoy but a little while and whereof thou wilt be questioned for a +long while and for the rendering an account whereof thou shalt be as a pledge +which is pawned?' Quoth the King, 'Whither shall I flee and what must I seek +for me?' 'That thou abide in thy kingship,' replied the other, 'or else robe +thee in rags[FN#298] and apply thyself to obey Almighty Allah thy Lord until +thine appointed hour. I will come to thee again at daybreak.' Khalid bin +Safwan further relates that the man knocked at the door at dawn and behold, the +King had put off his crown and resolved to become an anchorite, for the stress +of his exhortation. When Hishám bin Abd al-Malik heard this, he wept till his +beard was wet, and, bidding his rich apparel be put off, shut himself up in his +palace. Then the grandees and dependants came to Khalid and said, 'What is +this thou hast done with the Commander of the Faithful? Thou hast troubled his +pleasure and disturbed his life!' Then quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman, addressing +herself to Sharrkan, "How many instances of admonition are there not in this +chapter! Of a truth I cannot report all appertaining to this head in a single +sitting,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Sixty-seventh Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman +continued, speaking to Sharrkan, "Know, O King, that in this chapter be so many +instances of admonition that of a truth I cannot report all appertaining to +this head in a single sitting but, with length of days, O King of the age, all +will be well." There said the Kazis, "O King, of a truth this damsel is the +wonder of the world, and of our age the unique pearl! Never heard we her like +in the length of time or in the length of our lives." And they called down +blessings on the King and went away. Then Sharrkan turned to his attendants and +said, "Begin ye to prepare the marriage festival and make ready food of all +kinds." So they forthright did his bidding as regards the viands, and he +commanded the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees depart not until the +time of the wedding banquet and of the unveiling of the bride. Hardly came the +period of afternoon prayer when the tables were spread with whatso heart can +desire or eye can delight in of roast meats and geese and fowls; and the +subjects ate till they were satisfied. Moreover, Sharrkan had sent for all the +singing women of Damascus and they were present, together with every slave girl +of the King and of the notables who knew how to sing. And they went up to the +palace in one body. When the evening came and darkness starkened they lighted +candles, right and left, from the gate of the citadel to that of the palace; +and the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees marched past before King Sharrkan, whilst +the singers and the tire women took the damsel to dress and adorn her, but +found she needed no adornment. Meantime King Sharrkan went to the Hammam and +coming out, sat down on his seat of estate, whilst they paraded the bride +before him in seven different dresses: after which they eased her of the weight +of her raiment and ornaments and gave such injunctions as are enjoined upon +virgins on their wedding nights. Then Sharrkan went in unto her and took her +maidenhead;[FN#299] and she at once conceived by him and, when she announced +it, he rejoiced with exceeding joy and commanded the savants to record the date +of her conception. On the morrow he went forth and seated himself on his +throne, and the high officers came in to him and gave him joy. Then he called +his private secretary and bade him write a letter to his father, King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman, saying that he had bought him a damsel, who excels in learning and +good breeding and who is mistress of all kinds of knowledge. Moreover he +wrote, "There is no help but that I send her to Baghdad to visit my brother Zau +al-Makan and my sister Nuzhat al-Zaman. I have set her free and married her +and she hath conceived by me." And he went on to praise her wit and salute his +brother and sister together with the Wazir Dandan and all the Emirs. Then he +sealed the letter and despatched it to his father by a post courier who was +absent a whole month, after which time he returned with the answer and +presented it in the presence. Sharrkan took it and read as follows, "After the +usual Bismillah, this is from the afflicted distracted man, from him who hath +lost his children and home by bane and ban, King Omar bin al- Nu'uman, to his +son Sharrkan. Know that, since thy departure from me, the place is become +contracted upon me, so that no longer I have power of patience nor can I keep +my secret: and the cause thereof is as follows. It chanced that when I went +forth to hunt and course Zau al-Makan sought my leave to fare Hijaz wards, but +I, fearing for him the shifts of fortune, forbade him therefrom until the next +year or the year after. My absence while sporting and hunting endured for a +whole month"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Sixty-eighth night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Omar bin al-Nu'uman +wrote in his letter, "My absence while sporting and hunting endured for a whole +month, and when I returned I found that thy brother and sister had taken +somewhat of money and had set out with the pilgrim caravan for pilgrimage by +stealth. When I knew this, the wide world narrowed on me, O my son! but I +awaited the return of the caravan, hoping that haply they would come back with +it. Accordingly, when the palmers appeared I asked concerning the twain, but +they could give me no news of them; so I donned mourning for them, being heavy +at heart, and in sleep I have no part and I am drowned in the tears of my +eyes." Then he wrote in verse, + +"That pair in image quits me not one single hour, * Whom in my heart's most honourable place I keep: +Sans hope of their return I would not live one hour, * Without my dreams of them I ne'er would stretch me in sleep." + + +The letter went on, "And after the usual salutations to thee and thine, I +command thee neglect no manner of seeking news of them for indeed this is a +shame to us." When Sharrkan read the letter he felt grief for his father and +joy for the loss of his brother and sister. Then he took the missive and went +in with it to Nuzhat al-Zaman who knew not that he was her brother, nor he that +she was his sister, albeit he often visited her both by night and by day till +the months were accomplished and she sat down on the stool of delivery. Allah +made the child-birth easy to her and she bare a daughter, whereupon she sent +for Sharrkan and seeing him she said to him, "This is thy daughter: name her as +thou wilt." Quoth he, "It is usual to name children on the seventh day after +birth.[FN#300]" Then he bent over the child to kiss it and he saw, hung about +its neck, a jewel, which he knew at once for one of those which Princess +Abrizah had brought from the land of the Greeks. Now when he saw the jewel +hanging from his babe's neck he recognised it right well, his senses fled and +wrath seized on him; his eyes rolled in rage and he looked at Nuzhat al- Zaman +and said to her, "Whence hadst thou this jewel, O slave girl?" When she heard +this from Sharrkan she replied, "I am thy lady, and the lady of all in thy +palace! Art thou not ashamed to say to me Slave girl? I am a Queen, daughter +of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman." Hearing this, he was seized with trembling and +hung his head earthwards,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + +When it was the Sixty-ninth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sharrkan heard these +words, his heart fluttered and his colour waxed yellow and he was seized with +trembling and he hung his head earthwards, for he knew that she was his sister +by the same father. Then he lost his senses; and, when he revived, he abode in +amazement, but did not discover his identity to her and asked, O my lady, say, +art thou in sooth the daughter of King Omar bin al- Nu'uman?" "Yes," answered +she; and he continued, "Tell me the cause of thy leaving thy sire and of thy +being sold for a slave." So she related to him all that had befallen her from +beginning to end, how she had left her brother sick in the Sanctified City, +Jerusalem, and how the Badawi had kidnapped her and had sold her to the trader. +When Sharrkan heard this, he was certified of her being his sister on the +sword side and said to himself, "How can I have my sister to wife? By Allah, +needs must I marry her to one of my chamberlains; and, if the thing get wind, I +will declare that I divorced her before consummation and married her to my +Chief Chamberlain." Then he raised his head and sighing said, "O Nuzhat +al-Zaman, thou art my very sister and I cry: 'I take refuge with Allah from +this sin whereinto we have fallen,' for I am Sharrkan, son of Omar bin +al-Nu'uman." She looked at him and knew he spoke the truth; and, becoming as +one demented, she wept and buffeted her face, exclaiming, "There is no Majesty +and there is no Might save in Allah! Verily have we fallen into mortal +sin![FN#301] What shall I do and what shall I say to my father and my mother +when they ask me, Whence hadst thou thy daughter?" Quoth Sharrkan, "It were +meetest that I marry thee to my Chamberlain and let thee bring up my daughter +in his house, that none may know thou be my sister. This hath befallen us from +Almighty Allah for a purpose of his own, and nothing shall cover us but thy +marriage with this Chamberlain, ere any know." Then he fell to comforting her +and kissing her head and she asked him, "What wilt thou call the girl?" "Call +her Kuzia Fakán,"[FN#302] answered he. Then he gave the mother in marriage to +the Chief Chamberlain, and transferred her to his house with the child, which +they reared on the laps of the slave-girls, and fed with milk and dosed with +powders. Now all this occurred whilst the brother, Zau al-Makan, still tarried +with the Fireman at Damascus. One day there came to King Sharrkan a courier +from his father, with a letter which he took and read and found therein, "After +the Bismillah know, O beloved King, that I am afflicted with sore affliction +for the loss of my children: sleep ever faileth me and wakefulness ever +assaileth me. I send thee this letter that, as soon as thou receivest it, thou +make ready the monies and the tribute, and send them to us, together with the +damsel whom thou hast bought and taken to wife; for I long to see her and hear +her discourse; more especially because there hath come to us from Roumland an +old woman of saintly bearing and with her be five damsels high-bosomed virgins, +endowed with knowledge and good breeding and all arts and sciences befitting +mortals to know; and indeed tongue faileth me to describe this old woman and +these who with her wend; for of a truth they are compendiums of perfections in +learning and accomplishments. As soon as I saw them I loved them, and I wished +to have them in my palace and in the compass of my hand; for none of the Kings +owneth the like of them; so I asked the old woman their price and she answered, +'I will not sell them but for the tribute of Damascus.' And I, by Allah, did +not hold this price exorbitant, indeed it is but little, for each one of them +is worth the whole valuation. So I agreed to that and took them into my +palace, and they remain in my possession. Wherefore do thou forward the +tribute to us that the woman may return to her own country; and send to us the +damsel to the end that she may dispute with them before the doctors; and, if +she prevail over them, I will return her to thee accompanied by the tribute of +Baghdad."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Seventieth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Omar son of +Al-Nu'uman said in his letter, "And send to us the damsel to the end that she +may dispute with them before the doctors and, if she prevail over them, I will +return her to thee accompanied with the tribute of Baghdad." As soon as +Sharrkan knew the contents, he went in to his brother in law and said to him, +"Bring the damsel to whom I married thee;" and when she came he showed her the +letter and said, "O my sister! what answer wouldst thou advise me make to this +letter?" Replied she, "Seek advice from thyself!" and presently added (for she +yearned after her people and her native land), "Send me together with my +husband the Chamberlain, to Baghdad, that I may tell my father my tale and let +him know whatso befel me with the Badawi who sold me to the merchant, and that +I also inform him how thou boughtest me of the trader and gavest me in marriage +to the Chamberlain, after setting me free." "Be it so," replied Sharrkan. Then +Sharrkan took his daughter, Kuzia Fakan, and committed her to the charge of the +wet nurses and the eunuchs, and he made ready the tribute in haste, bidding the +Chamberlain travel with the Princess and the treasure to Baghdad. He also +furnished him two travelling litters one for himself and the other for his +wife. And the Chamberlain replied, "To hear is to obey." Moreover Sharrkan +collected camels and mules and wrote a letter to his father and committed it to +the Chamberlain; then he bade farewell to his sister, after he had taken the +jewel from her and hung it round his daughter's neck by a chain of pure gold; +and she and her husband set out for Baghdad the same night. Now it so happened +that Zau al-Makan and his friend the Fireman had come forth from the hut in +which they were, to see the spectacle, and they beheld camels and +Bukhti[FN#303] dromedaries and bât-mules and torches and lanterns alight; and +Zau al-Makan enquired about the loads and their owner and was told that it was +the tribute of Damascus going to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of the City of +Baghdad. He then asked, "Who be the leader of the caravan?" and they answered, +"The Head Chamberlain who hath married the damsel so famous for learning and +science." Thereupon Zau al-Makan wept with bitter weeping and was minded of his +mother and his father and his sister and his native land, and he said to the +Stoker, "I will join this caravan and, little by little, will journey +homewards." Quoth the Fireman, "I would not suffer thee to travel single-handed +from the Holy City to Damascus, then how shall I be sure of thy safety when +thou farest for Baghdad? But I will go with thee and care for thee till thou +effectest thine object." "With joy and good will," answered Zau al-Makan. Then +the Fireman get him ready for the journey and hired an ass and threw saddle +bags over it and put therein something of provaunt; and, when all was prepared, +he awaited the passage of the caravan. And presently the Chamberlain came by on +a dromedary and his footmen about him. Then Zau al-Ma ken mounted the ass and +said to his companion, "Do thou mount with me." But he replied, "Not so: I will +be thy servant." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "There is no help for it but thou ride +awhile." "'Tis well," quoth the Stoker; "I will ride when I grow tired." Then +said Zau al-Makan, "O my brother, soon shalt thou see how I will deal with +thee, when I come to my own folk." So they fared on till the sun rose and,When +it was the hour of the noonday sleep[FN#304] the Chamberlain called a halt and +they alighted and reposed and watered their camels. Then he gave the signal +for departure and, after five days, they came to the city of Hamáh,[FN#305] +where they set down and made a three days' halt;—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Seventy-first Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they halted in the city +of Hamah three days; they then fared forwards and ceased not travelling till +they reached another city. Here also they halted three days and thence they +travelled till they entered the province Diyár Bakr. Here blew on them the +breezes of Baghdad, and Zau al-Makan bethought him of his father and mother and +native land, and how he was returning to his sire without his sister: so he +wept and sighed and complained, and his regrets grew on him, and he began +improvising these couplets, + +"Sweetheart! How long must I await by so long suffering teed? * Nor cometh messenger to tell me where thou dost abide: +Ah me! in very sooth our meeting time was short enow: * Would Heaven shorter prove to me the present parting-tide! +Now trend my hand and open my robe and thou within shall sight * How wasted are the limbs of me and yet the waste I hide: +When say they 'Comfort take for loss of love' I but reply * 'By Allah, till the Day of Doom no comfort shall betide!' " + + +Thereupon said to him the Fireman, "Leave this weeping and wailing, for we are +near the Chamberlain's tent." Quoth Zau al- Makan, "Needs must I recite +somewhat of verse; haply it may quench the fire of my heart." "Allah upon +thee," cried the other, "cease this lamentation till thou come to shine own +country; then do what thou wilt, and I will be with thee wherever thou art." +Replied Zau al-Makan, "By Allah! I cannot forbear from this!" Then he turned +his face towards Baghdad and the moon was shining brightly and shedding her +light on the place, and Nuzhat al-Zaman could not sleep that night, but was +restless and called to mind her brother and wept. And while she was in tears, +he heard Zau al-Makan weeping and improvising the following distichs, + +'Al-Yaman's[FN#306] leven-gleam I see, * And sore despair despaireth me +For friend who erst abode wi' me * Crowning my cup with gladdest gree: +It minds me o' one who jilted me * To mourn my bitter liberty. +Say sooth, thou fair sheet lightning! shall * We meet once more in joy and glee? +O blamer! spare to me thy blame * My Lord hath sent this dule to dree, +Of friend who left me, fain to flee; * Of Time that breeds calamity: +All bliss hath fled the heart of me * Since Fortune proved mine enemy. +He[FN#307] brimmed a bowl of merest pine, * And made me drain the dregs, did he: +I see me, sweetheart, dead and gone * Ere I again shall gaze on thee. +Time! prithee bring our childhood back, * Restore our happy infancy, +When joy and safety 'joyed we * From shafts that now they shoot at me! +Who aids the hapless stranger wight, * That nights in fright and misery, +That wastes his days in lonely grief, * For 'Time's Delight'[FN#308] no more must be? +Doomed us despite our will to bear * The hands of base bores cark and care." + + +When he ended his verse he cried out and fell down in a fainting-fit. This is +how it fared with him; but as regards Nuzhat al- Zaman, when she heard that +voice in the night, her heart was at rest and she rose and in her joy she +called the Chief Eunuch, who said to her, "What is thy will?" Quoth she, "Arise +and bring me him who recited verses but now." Replied he, "Of a truth I did not +hear him"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the Seventy-second Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nuzhat Al-Zaman +heard her brother reciting, she called the Chief Eunuch and said to him, "Go, +fetch me the man who is repeating this poetry!" Replied he, "Of a truth I heard +him not and I wot him not and folks are all sleeping." But she said, +"Whomsoever thou seest awake, he is the reciter." So he went, yet found none on +wake save the Stoker; for Zau al-Makan was still insensible, and when his +companion saw the Eunuch standing by his head he was afraid of him. Then said +the Eunuch, "Art thou he who repeated poetry but now and my lady heard him?" +The Stoker fancied that the dame was wroth with the reciter; and, being afraid, +he replied, "By Allah, 'twas not I!" Rejoined the Eunuch, "Who then was the +reciter?: point him out to me. Thou must know who it was, seeing that thou art +awake." The Fireman feared for Zau al- Makan and said in himself, "Haply the +Eunuch will do him some hurt"; so he answered, "By Allah, I know not who it +was." Said the Eunuch, "By Allah, thou liest, for there is none on wake here +but thou! So needs must thou know him." "By Allah," replied the Fireman, "I +tell thee the truth!: some passer by, some wayfarer must have recited the +verses and disturbed me and kept me awake; Allah requite him!" Quoth the +Eunuch, "If thou happen upon him, point him out to me and I will lay hands on +him and bring him to the door of our lady's litter[FN#309] or do thou take him +with thine own hand." Said the Fireman, "Go thou back and I will bring him to +thee." So the Eunuch left him and went his ways; and, going in to his mistress, +told her all this and said to her, "None knoweth who it was; it must have been +some passer by, some wayfarer." And she was silent. Meanwhile, Zau al-Makan +came to himself and saw that the moon had reached the middle Heavens; the +breath of the dawn breeze[FN#310] breathed upon him and his heart was moved to +longing and sadness; so he cleared his throat and was about to recite verses, +when the Fire man asked him, "What wilt thou do?" Answered Zau al-Makan, "I +have a mind to repeat somewhat of poetry, that I may quench therewith the fire +of my heart." Quoth the other, "Thou knowest not what befel me whilst thou wast +a faint, and how I escaped death only by beguiling the Eunuch." "Tell me what +happened," quoth Zau al-Makan. Replied the Stoker, "Whilst thou wast aswoon +there came up to me but now an Eunuch, with a long staff of almond tree wood in +his hand, who took to looking in all the people's faces, as they lay asleep, +and asked me who it was recited the verses, finding none awake but myself. I +told him in reply it was some passerby, some wayfarer; so he went away and +Allah delivered me from him; else had he killed me. But first he said to me, +'If thou hear him again, bring him to us.'" When Zau al-Makan heard this he +wept and said, "Who is it would forbid me to recite? I will surely recite, +befal me what may; for I am near mine own land and care for none." Rejoined the +Fireman, "Thy design is naught save to lose thy life;" and Zau al-Makan +retorted, "Needs must I recite verses." "Verily," said the Stoker, "needs must +there be a parting between me and thee in this place, albeit;I had intended not +to leave thee, till I had brought thee to thy native city and reunited thee +with thy mother and father. Thou hast now tarried with me a year and a half +and I have never harmed thee in aught. What ails thee, then, that thou must +needs recite verses, seeing that we are tired out with walking and watching and +all the folk are asleep, for they require sleep to rest them of their fatigue?" +But Zau al-Makan answered, "I will not be turned away from my purpose."[FN#311] +Then grief moved him and he threw off concealment and began repeating these +couplets, + +"Stand thou by the homes and hail the lords of the ruined stead; * Cry thou for an answer, belike reply to thee shall be sped: +If the night and absence irk thy spirit kindle a torch * Wi' repine; and illuminate the gloom with a gleaming greed: +If the snake of the sand dunes hiss, I shall marvel not at all! * Let him bite so I bite those beauteous lips of the luscious red: +O Eden, my soul hath fled in despite of the maid I love: * Had I lost hope of Heaven my heart in despair were dead." + + +And he also improvised the two following distichs, + +"We were and were the days enthralled to all our wills, * Dwelling in union sweet and homed in fairest site: +Who shall restore the home of the beloved, where showed * Light of the Place for aye conjoined with Time's Delight?''[FN#312] + + +And as he ceased his verses, he shrieked three shrieks and fell senseless to +the ground and the Fireman rose and covered him. When Nuzhat al-Zaman heard the +first improvisation, she called to mind her father and her mother and her +brother and their whilome home; then she wept and cried at the Eunuch and said +to him, "Woe to thee! He who recited the first time hath recited a second time +and I heard him hard by. By Allah, an thou fetch him not to me, I will +assuredly rouse the Chamberlain on thee, and he shall beat thee and cast thee +out. But take these hundred dinars and give them to the singer and bring him +to me gently, and do him no hurt. If he refuse, hand to him this purse of a +thousand dinars, then leave him and return to me and tell me, after thou hast +informed thyself of his place and his calling and what countryman he is. +Return quickly and linger not."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Seventy-third Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman sent the +Eunuch to make enquiries concerning the singer and said, "Beware how thou come +back to me and report, I could not find him." So the Eunuch went out and laid +about the people and trod in their tents, but found none awake, all being +asleep for weariness, till he came to the Stoker and saw him sitting up, with +his head uncovered. So he drew near and seizing him by the hand, said to him, +"It was thou didst recite the verses!" The Fireman was afeard for his life and +replied, "No, by Allah, O chief of the people, it was not I!" But the Eunuch +said, "I will not leave thee till thou show me who it was that recited the +verses, for I dread returning to my lady without him." Now when the Fireman +heard these words he feared for Zau al-Makan and wept with exceeding weeping +and said to the Eunuch, "By Allah, it was not I, and I know him not. I only +heard some passer by, some wayfarer, recite verses: so do not thou commit sin +on me, for I am a stranger and come from the Holy City of Jerusalem; and +Abraham, the friend of Allah, be with you all." "Rise up and fare with me," +rejoined the Eunuch, "and tell my lady this with thine own mouth, for I have +seen none awake save thyself." Quoth the Stoker, "Hast thou not come and seen +me sitting in the place where I now am, and dost thou not know my station? +Thou wottest none can stir from his place, except the watchman seize him. So +go thou to thy station and if thou again meet any one after this hour reciting +aught of poetry, whether he be near or far, it will be I or some one I know, +and thou shalt not learn of him but by me." Then he kissed the Eunuch's head +and spake him fair till he went away; but the Castrato fetched a round and, +returning secretly, came and stood behind the Fireman, fearing to go back to +his mistress without tidings. As soon as he was gone, the Stoker arose and +aroused Zau al-Makan and said to him, "Come, sit up, that I may tell thee what +hath happened." So Zau al-Makan sat up, and his companion told him what had +passed, and he answered, "Let me alone; I will take no heed of this and I care +for none, for I am mine own country."[FN#313] Quoth the Stoker, "Why wilt thou +obey thy flesh and the devil? If thou fear no one, I fear for thee and for my +life, so Allah upon thee! recite nothing more of verses till thou come to +thine own land. Indeed, I had not deemed thee so ill conditioned. Dost thou +not know that this lady is the wife; of the Chamberlain and is minded to +chastise thee for disturbing her? Belike, she is ill or restless for fatigue +of the journey and the distance of the place from her home, and this is the +second time she hath sent the Eunuch to look for thee." However Zau al-Makan +paid no heed to the Fireman's words but cried out a third time and began +versifying with these couplets, + +"I fly the carper's injury,* Whose carping sorely vexeth me: +He chides and taunts me, wotting not * He burns me but more grievously. +The blamer cries 'He is consoled!' * I say, 'My own dear land[FN#314] to see:' +They ask, 'Why be that land so dear?' * I say, 'It taught me in love to be:' +They ask, 'What raised its dignity?' * I say, 'What made my ignomy:' +Whate'er the bitter cup I drain, * Far be fro' me that land to flee: +Nor will I bow to those who blame, * And for such love would deal me shame. + + +Hardly had he made an end of his verses and come to a conclusion, when the +Eunuch (who had heard him from his hiding place at his head) came up to him; +whereupon the Fireman flea end stood afar off to see what passed between them. +Then said the Eunuch to Zau al-Makan, "Peace be with thee, O my lord!" "And on +thee be peace," replied Zau al-Makan, "and the mercy of Allah and His +blessings!" "O my lord," continued the Eunuch—-And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say, + +When it was the Seventy-fourth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Eunuch said to Zau +al-Makan, "O my lord, I have sought thee these several times this night, for my +mistress biddeth thee to her." Quoth Zau al- Makan, "And who be this bitch that +seeketh for me? Allah curse her and curse her husband with her!"[FN#315] And he +began to revile the Eunuch, who could make him no answer, because his mistress +had charged him to do Zau al-Makan no hurt, nor bring him save of his own +especial free will; and, if he would not accompany him, to give him the +thousand dinars. So the Castrato began to speak him fair and say to him, "O my +lord, take this purse and go with me. We will do thee no upright, O my son, +nor wrong thee in aught; but our object is that thou bend thy gracious steps +with me to my mistress, to receive her answer and return in weal and safety: +and thou shalt have a handsome present as one who bringeth good news." When Zau +al- Makan heard this, he arose and went with the Eunuch and walked among the +sleeping folk, stepping over them; whilst the Fireman followed after them from +afar, and kept his eye upon him and said to himself, "Alas the pity of his +youth! To-morrow they will hang him." And he ceased not following them till he +approached their station,[FN#316] without any observing him. Then he stood +still and said, "How base it will be of him, if he say it was I who bade him +recite the verses!" This was the case of the Stoker; but as regards what befel +Zau al-Makan, he ceased not walking with the Eunuch till he reached his station +and the Castrato went in to Nuzhat al-Zaman and said, "O my lady, I have +brought thee him whom thou soughtest, and he is a youth, fair of face and +bearing the marks of wealth and gentle breeding." When she heard this, her +heart fluttered and she cried, "Let him recite some verses, that I may hear him +near hand, and after ask him his name and his condition and his native land." +Then the Eunuch went out to Zau al-Makan and said to him, "Recite what verses +thou knowest, for my lady is here hard by, listening to thee, and after I will +ask thee of thy name and thy native country and thy condition." Replied he, +"With love and gladness but, an thou ask my name, it is erased and my trace is +unplaced and my body a waste. I have a story, the beginning of which is not +known nor can the end of it be shown, and behold, I am even as one who hath +exceeded in wine drinking and who hath not spared himself; one who is afflicted +with distempers and who wandereth from his right mind, being perplexed about +his case and drowned in the sea of thought." When Nuzhat al-Zaman heard this, +she broke out into excessive weeping and sobbing, and said to the Eunuch, "Ask +him if he have parted from one he loveth even as his mother or father." The +Castrato asked as she bade him, and Zau al-Makan replied, "Yes, I have parted +from every one I loved: but the dearest of all to me was my sister, from whom +Fate hath separated me." When Nuzhat al- Zaman heard this, she exclaimed, +"Allah Almighty reunite him with what he loveth!"—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Seventy-fifth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nuzhat al-Zaman +heard his words she said, "Allah reunite him with what he loveth!" Then quoth +she to the Eunuch, "Tell him to let me hear somewhat anent his separation from +his countrymen and his country." The Eunuch did so, and Zau al-Makan sighed +heavily and began repeating these couplets,[FN#317] + +"Is not her love a pledge by all mankind confest? * The house that hometh Hinda be forever blest' +Her love all levels; man can reck of naught beside; * Naught or before or after can for man have zest +'Tis though the vale is paved with musk and ambergris * That day when Hinda's footstep on its face is prest: +Hail to the beauty of our camp, the pride of folk, * The dearling who en' Slaves all hearts by her behest: +Allah on 'Time's Delight' send large dropped clouds that teem * With genial rain but bear no thunder in their breast." + + +And also these, + +"I vow to Allah if at home I sight * My sister Nuzhat al-Zamani hight +I'll pass the days in joyance and delight * Mid bashful minions, maidens soft and white: +To sound of harps in various modes they smite * Draining the bowl, while eyes rain lively light +'Neath half closed lids, a sipping lips red bright * By stream bank flowing through my garden site." + + +When he had finished his verse, Nuzhat al-Zaman lifted up a skirt of the litter +curtain and looked at him. As soon as her eyes fell on his face, she knew him +for certain and cried out, "O my brother! O Zau al-Makan!" He also looked at +her and knew her and cried out, "O my sister! O Nuzhat al-Zaman!" Then she +threw herself upon him and he gathered her to his bosom and the twain fell down +in a fainting-fit. When the Eunuch saw this case, he wondered at them; and +throwing over them somewhat to cover them, waited till they should recover. +After a while they came to themselves, and Nuzhat al-Zaman rejoiced with +exceeding joy: oppression and depression left her and gladness took the mastery +of her, and she repeated these verses, + +"Time sware my life should fare in woeful waste; * Forsworn art Time, expiate thy sin in haste![FN#318] +Comes weal and comes a welcome friend to aid; * To him who brings good news, rise, gird thy waist +I spurned old world tales of Eden bliss; * Till came I Kausar[FN#319] on those lips + + +When Zau al-Makan heard this, he pressed his sister to his breast; tears +streamed from his eyes for excess of joy and he repeated these +couplets,[FN#320] + +"Long I lamented that we fell apart, * While tears repentant railed from these eyne; +And sware, if Time unite us twain once more, * 'Severance' shall never sound from tongue of mine: +Joy hath so overwhelmed me that excess * Of pleasure from mine eyes draws gouts of brine: +Tears, O mine eyes, have now become your wont * Ye weep for pleasure and you weep for pine!" + + +They sat awhile at the litter door till she said to him, "Come with me into the +litter and tell me all that hath befallen thee, and I will tell thee what +happened to me." So they entered and Zau al-Maken said, "Do thou begin thy +tale." Accordingly she told him all that had come to her since their separation +at the Khan and what had happened to her with the Badawi; how the merchant had +bought her of him and had taken her to her brother Sharrkan and had sold her to +him; how he had freed her at the time of buying; how he had made a marriage +contract with her and had gone in to her and how the King, their sire, had sent +and asked for her from Sharrkan. Then quoth she, "Praised be Allah who hath +vouchsafed thee to me and ordained that, even as we left our father together, +so together shall we return to him!" And she added, "Of a truth my brother +Sharrkan gave me in marriage to this Chamberlain that he might carry me to my +father. And this is what befel me from first to last; so now tell me how it +hath fared with thee since I left thee." Thereupon he told her all that had +happened to him from beginning to end; and how Allah vouchsafed to send the +Fireman to him, and how he had journeyed with him and spent his money on him +and had served him night and day. She praised the Stoker for this and Zau +al-Makan added, "Of a truth, O my sister, this Fireman hath dealt with me in +such benevolent wise as would not lover with lass nor sire with son, for that +he fasted and gave me to eat, and he walked whilst he made me ride; and I owe +my life to him." Said she, "Allah willing, we will requite him for all this, +according to our power." Then she called the Eunuch, who came and kissed Zau +al- Makan's hand, and she said, "Take thy reward for glad tidings, O face of +good omen! It was thy hand reunited me with my brother; so the purse I gave +thee and all in it are thine. But now go to thy master and bring him quickly +to me." The Castrato rejoiced and, going in to the Chamberlain, him to his +mistress. Accordingly, he came in to his wife and finding Zau al-Makan with +her, asked who he was. So she told him all that had befallen them both, first +and last, and added, "Know, O Chamberlain, that thou hast married no slave +girl; far from it, thou hast taken to wife the daughter of King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman for I am Nuzhat al- Zaman, and this is my brother, Zau al-Makan." +When the Chamberlain heard the story he knew it to be sooth, and its manifest +truth appeared to him and he was certified that he was become King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman's son in law, so he said to himself, " 'Twill be my fate to be made +viceroy of some province."[FN#321] Then he went up to Zau al-Makan and gave him +joy of his safety and reunion with his sister, and bade his servants forthwith +make him ready a tent and one of the best of his own horses to ride. Thereupon +said Nuzhat al-Zaman, "We are now near our country and I would be left alone +with my brother, that we may enjoy each other's company and take our fill of it +ere we reach Baghdad; for we have been parted a long, long time." "Be it as +thou biddest," replied the Chamberlain, and, going forth from them, sent them +wax candles and various kinds of sweetmeats, together with three suits of the +costliest for Zau al-Makan. Then he returned to the litter and related the +good he had done and Nuzhat al-Zaman said to him, "Bid the Eunuch bring me the +Fireman and give him a horse to ride and ration him with a tray of food morning +and evening, and let him be forbidden to leave us." The Chamberlain called the +Castrato and charged him to do accordingly; so he replied, "I hear and I obey;" +and he took his pages with him and went out in search of the Stoker till he +found him in the rear of the caravan, girthing his ass and preparing for +flight. The tears were running adown his cheeks, out of fear for his life and +grief for his separation from Zau al-Makan; and he was saying to himself, +"Indeed, I warned him for the love of Allah, but he would not listen to me; Oh +would I knew what is become of him!" Ere he had done speaking the Eunuch was +standing by his head whilst the pages surrounded him The Fireman turned and +seeing the Eunuch and the pages gathered around him became yellow with +fear,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Seventy-sixth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Stoker girthed +his ass for flight and bespake himself, saying, "Oh would I knew what is become +of him!"; ere he had done speaking the Castrato was standing by his head and +his side muscles quivered for fear and he lifted up his voice and cried, +"Verily he knoweth not the value of the good offices I have done him! I +believe he hath denounced me to the Eunuch (hence these pages et about me) and +he hath made me an accomplice in his crime." Then the effeminated one cried at +him, saying, "Who was it recited the verses? O liar! why didst thou say, 'I +never repeated these couplets, nor do I know who repeated them;' when it was +thy companion? But now I will not leave thee between this place and Baghdad, +and what betideth thy comrade shall betide thee." Quoth the Fireman, "What I +feared hath befallen me." And he repeated this couplet, + +"'Twas as I feared the coming ills discerning: * But unto Allah we are all +returning." + + +Then the Eunuch cried upon the pages, saying, "Take him off the ass." So they +carried him along with the caravan, surrounded by the pages, as the white +contains the black of the eye; and the Castrato said to them, "If a hair of him +be lost, you will be lost with it." And he bade them privily treat him with +honour and not humiliate him. But when the Stoker saw himself beset by the +pages, he despaired of his life and turning to the Eunuch, said to him, "O +Chief, I am neither this youth's brother nor am I akin to him, nor is he sib to +me; but I was a Fireman in a Hammam and found him cast out, in his sickness, on +the dung heap." Then the caravan fared on and the Stoker wept and imagined in +himself a thousand things, whilst the Eunuch walked by his side and told him +nothing, but said to him, "Thou disturbedst our mistress by reciting verses, +thou and this youth: but fear nothing for thy self;" and kept laughing at him +the while to himself. Whenever the caravan halted, they served him with food, +and he and the Castrato ate from one dish.[FN#322] Then the Eunuch bade his +lads bring a gugglet of sugared sherbet and, after drinking himself, gave it to +the Fireman, who drank; but all the while his tears never dried, out of fear +for his life and grief for his separation from Zau al-Makan and for what had +befallen them in their strangerhood. So they both travelled on with the +caravan, whilst the Chamberlain now rode by the door of his wife's litter, in +attendance on Zau al-Makan and his sister, and now gave an eye to the Fireman; +and Nuzhat al-Zaman and her brother occupied themselves with converse and +mutual condolence; and they ceased not after this fashion till they came within +three days' journey from Baghdad. Here they alighted at eventide and rested +till the morning morrowed; and as they awoke and they were about to load the +beasts, behold, there appeared afar off a great cloud of dust that darkened the +firmament till it became black as gloomiest night.[FN#323] Thereupon the +Chamberlain cried out to them, "Stay, and your loading delay!"; then, mounting +with his Mamelukes, rode forward in the direction of the dust cloud. When they +drew near, suddenly appeared under it a numerous conquering host like the full +tide sea, with flags and standards, drums and kettledrums, horsemen and +footmen. The Chamberlain marvelled at this; and when the troops saw him, there +detached itself from amongst them a plump of five hundred cavaliers, who fell +upon him and his suite and surrounded them, five for one; whereupon said he to +them, "What is the matter and what are these troops, that ye do this with us?" +Asked they, "Who art thou; and whence comest thou, and whither art thou bound?" +and he answered, "I am the Chamberlain of the Emir of Damascus, King Sharrkan, +son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad and of the land of Khorasan, and I +bring tribute and presents from him to his father in Baghdad." When the +horsemen heard his words they let their head-kerchiefs fall over their faces +and wept, saying, "In very sooth King Omar is dead and he died not but of +poison. So fare ye forwards; no harm shall befal you till you join his Grand +Wazir, Dandan." Now when the Chamberlain heard this, he wept sore and +exclaimed, "Oh for our disappointment in this our journey!" Then he and all his +suite wept till they had come up with the host and sought access to the Wazir +Dandan, who granted an interview and called a halt and, causing his pavilion to +be pitched, sat down on a couch therein and commanded to admit the Chamberlain. +Then he bade him be seated and questioned him; and he replied that he was +Chamberlain to the Emir of Damascus and was bound to King Omar with presents +and the tribute of Syria. The Wazir, hearing the mention of King Omar's name, +wept and said, "King Omar is dead by poison, and upon his dying the folk fell +out amongst themselves as to who should succeed him, until they were like to +slay one another on this account; but the notables and grandees and the four +Kazis interposed and all the people agreed to refer the matter to the decision +of the four judges and that none should gainsay them. So it was agreed that we +go to Damascus and fetch thence the King's son, Sharrkan, and make him Sultan +over his father's realm. And amongst them were some who would have chosen the +cadet, Zau Al-Makan, for, quoth they, his name be Light of the Place, and he +hath a sister Nuzhat al-Zaman hight, the Delight of the Time; but they set out +five years ago for Al-Hijaz and none wotteth what is become of them." When the +Chamberlain heard this, he knew; that his wife had told him the truth of her +adventures; and he grieved with sore grief for the death of King Omar, albeit +he joyed with exceeding joy, especially at the arrival of Zau al-Makan, for +that he would now become Sultan of Baghdad in his father's stead—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Seventy-seventh Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sharrkan's +Chamberlain heard of the death of King Omar bin al- Nu'uman he mourned, but he +rejoiced because of his wife and her brother Zau al-Makan who would become +Sultan of Baghdad in his father's stead. So he turned to the Wazir Dandan and +said to him, "Verily your tale is a wonder of wonders! Know, O Chief Wazir, +that here, where you have encountered me, Allah hath given you rest from +fatigue and bringeth you your desire after the easiest of fashions, for that +His Almighty Will restoreth to you Zau al-Makan and his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman; +whereby we will settle the matter as we easily can." When the Minister heard +these words he rejoiced with great joy and said, "O Chamberlain, tell me the +tale of the twain and what befel them; and the cause of their long absence." So +he repeated to him the whole story and told him that Nuzhat al-Zaman was his +wife and related to him the adventures of Zau al-Makan from first to last. As +soon as he had ended his tale, the Wazir sent for the Emirs and Wazirs and +Chief Officers and acquainted them with the matter; whereat they rejoiced with +great joy and wondered at the happy chance. Then they gathered in a body and +went in to the Chamberlain and did their service to him, kissing the ground +between his hands; and the Wazir Dandan also rose and went out to meet him and +stood before him in honour. After this, the Chamberlain held on that day a +Divan council; and he and the Wazir sat upon a throne, whilst all the Emirs and +Grandees and Officers of State took their places before them, according to +their several ranks.[FN#324] Then they melted sugar in rose-water and drank, +after which the Emirs sat down to hold council and permitted the rest of the +host to mount and ride forward leisurely, till they should make an end of their +debate and overtake them. So the officers kissed the ground between their +hands and mounting, rode onwards, preceded by the standards of war. When the +grandees had finished their conference, they took horse and rejoined the host; +and the Chamberlain approached the Wazir Dandan and said, "I deem it well to +ride on before you, and precede you, that I may get ready a place for the +Sultan and notify him of your coming and of your choosing him as Sultan over +the head of his brother Sharrkan." "Aright thou reckest," answered the Wazir +Then the Chamberlain rose up in haste and Dandan also stood up to do him honour +and brought him presents, which he conjured him to accept. In similar guise did +all the Emirs and Grandees and Officers of State, bringing him gifts and +calling down blessings on him and saying to him, "Haply thou wilt mention our +case to Sultan Zau al-Makan and speak to him to continue us in our +dignities."[FN#325] The Chamberlain promised all they required and bade his +pages be ready to march, whereupon the Wazir Dandan sent with him tents and +bade the tent pitchers set them up at a day's journey from the city. And they +did his bidding. Then the Chamberlain mounted and rode forward, full of joy +and saying to himself, "How blessed is this gurney!", and indeed his wife was +exalted in his eyes, she and her brother Zau al-Makan. They made all haste +over their wayfare, till they reached a place distant a day's journey from +Baghdad, where the Chamberlain called a halt for rest, and bade his men alight +and make ready a sitting place for the Sultan Zau al-Makan, son of King Omar +bin al-Nu'uman, while he rode forward with his Mamelukes and, alighting at a +distance from Nuzhat al-Zaman's litter, commanded the eunuchs to ask leave of +admission to the presence. They did so and she gave permission; whereupon he +went in to her and conversed with her and her brother; and told them of the +death of their father; and of Zau al-Makan, how the heads of the people had +made him King over them in the stead of his sire; and he gave them joy of the +kingdom. They both wept for their father and asked the manner of his being +killed; but the Chamberlain answered, "The news rests with the Wazir Dandan who +will be here To-morrow leading all the host; and it only remaineth for thee, O +King, to do what they counsel, since they have unanimously chosen thee Sultan; +for if thou do not this, they will choose some one else and thou canst not be +sure of thy life with another Sultan. Haply he will kill thee, or discord may +befal between you twain and the kingdom pass out of the hands of both." Zau +al-Makan bowed his head awhile and then said, "I accept this position;" for +indeed there was no refusing; and he was certified that the Chamberlain had +counselled him well and wisely and set him on the right way. Then he added, "O +my uncle, how shall I do with my brother Sharrkan?" "O my son," replied the +Chamberlain, "thy brother will be Sultan of Damascus and thou Sultan of +Baghdad; so take heart of grace and get ready thy case." Zau al-Makan accepted +this and the Chamberlain presented him with a suit of royal raiment and a +dagger[FN#326] of state, which the Wazir Dandan had brought with him; then +leaving him he bade the tent pitchers choose a spot of rising ground and set up +thereon a spacious pavilion, wherein the Sultan might sit to receive the Emirs +and Grandees. Moreover he ordered the kitcheners to cook rich viands and serve +them; and he commanded the water carriers to dispose the water troughs. They +did as he bade them; and presently arose a cloud of dust from the ground and +spread till it walled the horizon round. After awhile, the dust dispersed and +there appeared under it the army of Baghdad and Khorasan, a conquering host +like the full tide sea.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + +When it was the Seventy-eighth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Chamberlain bade +the tent pitchers set up a pavilion spacious enough to receive the subjects +flocking to their Sultan, they planted a splendid Sháhmiyánah[FN#327] befitting +Kings. And as they ended their labours behold, a dust cloud spired aloft and +the breeze made it lift and beneath it showed a conquering host; and presently +it appeared that this was the army of Baghdad and Khorasan preceded by the +Wazir Dandan. And in it all rejoiced at the accession of the "Light of the +Place." Now Zau al-Makan had donned robes of royal estate and girt himself with +the sword of state: so the Chamberlain brought him a steed and he mounted +surrounded by the Mamelukes and all the company from the tents on foot, to do +him service, and he rode on until he came to the great pavilion, where he sat +down and he laid the royal dagger across his thighs, whilst the Chamberlain +stood in attendance on him and his armed slaves stationed themselves under the +entrance awning of the Shahmiyanah, with drawn swords in their hands. +Presently, up came the troops and the host and craved admission so the +Chamberlain went in to Zau al-Makan and asked his leave whereupon he bade admit +them, ten by ten. The Chamberlain acquainted them with the King's commands, to +which they replied, "We hear and we obey;" and all drew up before the pavilion +entrance. Then he took ten of them; and carried them through the vestibule into +the presence of Sultan Zau al-Makan, whom when they saw, they were awed; but he +received them with most gracious kindness and promised them all good. So they +gave him joy of his safe return and invoked Allah's blessings upon him after +which they took the oath of fealty never to gainsay him in aught and they +kissed ground before him and withdrew. Then other ten entered and he entreated +them as he had entreated the ethers; and they ceased not to enter, ten by ten, +till none was left but the Wazir Dandan. Lastly the Minister went in and +kissed the ground before Zau al-Makan, who rose to meet him, saying, "Welcome, +O Wazir and sire sans peer! Verily, thine acts are those of a counsellor right +dear, and judgement and foreseeing clear are in the hands of the Subtle of +Lere." Then bade he the Chamberlain forthwith go out and cause the tables to be +spread and order all the troops thereto. So they came and ate and drank. +Moreover the Sultan commanded his Wazir Dandan call a ten days' halt of the +army, that he might be private with him and learn from him how and wherefore +his father had been slain. The Wazir obeyed the commands of the Sultan with +submission and wished him eternity of glory and said, "This needs must be!" He +then repaired to the heart of the encampment and ordered the host to halt ten +days. They did as he bade them; and, moreover, he gave them leave to divert +themselves and ordered that none of the lords in waiting should attend upon the +King for service during the space of three days. Then the Wazir went to the +Sultan and reported all to him, and Zau al-Makan waited until nightfall, when +he went in to his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman and asked her, "Dost thou know the +cause of my father's murder or not?" "I have no knowledge of the cause," she +answered, and drew a silken curtain before herself, whilst Zau al-Makan seated +himself without the curtain and commanded the Wazir to the presence and, when +he came, said to him, "I desire thou relate to me in detail the cause of the +killing of my sire, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman!" "Know then, O King," replied +Dandan, "that King Omar bin al- Nu'uman, when he returned to Baghdad from his +chasing and hunting and entered the city, enquired for thee and thy sister, but +could not find you and knew that you twain had gone on the Pilgrimage; whereat +he was greatly grieved and much angered, and his breast was straitened and he +abode thus half a year, seeking news of you from all who came and went but none +could give him any tidings. Now while we were in attendance upon him one day, +after a whole year had sped since ye were lost to his sight, lo! there came to +us an ancient dame with signs of being a devotee, accompanied by five damsels, +high-bosomed virgins like moons, endowed with such beauty and loveliness as +tongue faileth to describe; and, to crown their perfections of comeliness, they +could read the Koran and were versed in various kinds of learning and in the +histories of bygone peoples. Then that old woman sought audience of the King, +and he bade admit her; whereupon she entered the presence and kissed the ground +between his hands. I was then sitting by his side and he, seeing in her the +signs of asceticism and devoutness, made her draw near and take seat hard by +him. And when she had sat down she addressed him and said, 'Know, O King, that +with me are five damsels, whose like no King among the Kings possesseth; for +they are endowed with wit and beauty and loveliness and perfection. They read +the Koran—and the Traditions and are skilled in all manner of learning and in +the history of bygone races. They stand here between thy hands to do thee +service, O King of the Age, and it is by trial that folk are prized or +despised. 'Thy father, who hath found mercy;[FN#328] looked at the damsels and +their favour pleased him; so he said to them, Let each and every of you make me +hear something of what she knoweth anent the history of the folk of yore and of +peoples long gone before!'—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Seventy-ninth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan said +unto King Zau al-Makan, "Thy father, who hath found mercy, glanced at the +damsels and their favour pleased him and he said to them, 'Let each and every +of you make me hear something of what she knoweth anent the history of the folk +of yore and of peoples long gone before!' Thereupon one of them came forward +and, kissing the ground before him, spake as follows[FN#329] 'Know, O King, +that it behoveth one of good breeding to eschew impertinence and adorn himself +with excellencies, and observe the Divine injunctions and avoid mortal sins; +and to this he should apply himself with the assiduity of one who, if he stray +therefrom, falleth into perdition; for the foundation of good breeding is +virtuous behaviour. And know that the chief cause and reason of man's +existence is the endeavour after life everlasting, and the right way thereto is +the service of Allah. Wherefore it behoveth thee to deal beneficently with the +people: and swerve not from this canon, for the mightier men are in dignity, +the more their need of prudence and foresight; and indeed Monarchs need this +more than the many, for the general cast themselves into affairs, without +taking thought to the issue thereof. Be thou prodigal of thy life and thy good +in the way of Allah, and know that, if an enemy dispute with thee, thou mayst +dispute with him and refute him with proofs and be proof against him; but as +for thy friend, there is none can judge between thee and him save righteousness +and fair dealing. Choose, therefore, thy friend for thyself, after thou hast +proved him. If he be of the brotherhood of futurity,[FN#330] let him be +zealous in observing the externals of the Holy Law and versed in its inner +meaning, as far as may be; and if he be of the brotherhood of the world, let +him be free-born, sincere, neither a fool nor a perverse, for the fool man is +such that even his parents might well flee from him, and a liar cannot be a +true friend. Indeed the word, Siddík[FN#331] ('friend') deriveth from Sidk +('truth') that welleth up from the bottom of the heart; and how can this be the +case, when falsehood is manifest upon the tongue? And know, that the +observance of the Law profiteth him who practiseth it: so love thy brother, if +he be of this quality and do not cast him off, even if thou see in him that +which irketh thee, for a friend is not I like a wife, whom one can divorce and +re-marry: nay, his heart is like glass: once broken, it may not be mended. And +Allah bless him who saith, + +'Ware how thou hurtest man with hurt of heart; * 'Tis hard to win thee back the heart offended: +For hearts indeed, whence love is alien made, * Like broken glass may nevermore be mended.' + + +The maiden continued and concluded with pointing out to us what sages say, 'The +best of brethren is he who is the most constant in good counsel; the best of +action is that which is fairest in its consequence, and the best of praise is +not that which is in the mouths of men. It is also said, 'It behoveth not the +servant to neglect thanking Allah especially for two favours, health and +reason.' Again it is said, 'Whoso honoureth himself, his lust is a light matter +to him, and he who maketh much of his small troubles, Allah afflicteth him with +the greater; he who obeyeth his own inclination neglecteth his duties and he +who listeneth to the slanderer loseth the true friend. He who thinketh well of +thee, do thou fulfill his thought of thee. He who exceedeth in contention +sinneth, and he who against upright standeth not on ward, is not safe from the +sword. Now will I tell thee somewhat of the duties of Kazis and judges. Know, +O King, that no judgement serveth the cause of justice save it be given after +proof positive, and it behoveth the judge to treat all people on the same +level, to the intent that the great may not hunger for oppression nor the small +despair of justice. Furthermore he should extract proof from the complainant +and impose an oath upon the defendant; and mediation is admissible between +Moslems, except it be a compromise sanctioning the unlawful or forbidding the +lawful.[FN#332] If thou shalt have done aught during the day, of which thy +reason is doubtful but thy good intention is proved, thou (O Kazi) shouldst +revert to the right, for to do justice is a religious obligation and to return +to that which is right is better than persistence in wrong. Then (O judge) +thou shouldest study precedents and the law of the case and do equal justice +between the suitors, withal fixing thine eyes upon the truth and committing +thine affair to Allah (be He extolled and exalted!). And require thou proof of +the complainant, and if he adduce evidence let him have due benefit of it; and +if not, put the defendant to his oath; for this is the ordinance of Allah. +Receive thou the testimony of competent Moslem witnesses, one against other, +for Almighty Allah hath commanded judges to judge by externals, He Himself +taking charge of the inner and secret things. It behoveth the judge also to +avoid giving judge meet, whilst suffering from stress of pain or +hunger,[FN#333] and that in his decisions between folk he seek the face of +Allah Almighty for he whose intent is pure and who is at peace with himself, +Allah shall guarantee him against what is between him and the people.' Quoth +al-Zuhri,[FN#334] 'There are three things for which, if they be found in a +Kazi, he should be deposed; namely, if he honour the base, if he love praise +and if he fear dismissal. And Omar bin Abd al-Aziz once deposed a Kazi, who +asked him, 'Why hast thou dismissed me? It hath reached me,' answered Omar, +'that thy converse is greater than thy condition.' It is said also that +Iskandar[FN#335] said to his Kazi, 'I have invested thee with this function and +committed to thee in it my soul and mine honour and my manliness; so do thou +guard it with thy sense and thine understanding.' To his Cook he said, 'Thou +art the Sultan of my body; so look thou tender it as thine own self.' To his +Secretary he said, 'Thou art the controller of my wit: so do thou watch over me +in what thou writest for me and from me.'" Thereupon the first damsel backed +out from the presence and a second damsel came forward.—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Eightieth Night, + + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +said to Zau al-Makan, "Thereupon the first damsel backed out from the presence +and a second damsel came forward and, kissing the ground seven times before the +King thy father, spake as follows, 'The sage Lukmán[FN#336] said to his son, +'There be three who are known only in three several cases; the merciful man is +unknown save in time of wrath, the brave only in battle, and thy friend in time +of need.' It is said that the oppressor shall be depress though by people +praised, and that the oppress is at rest though by people blamed. Quoth Allah +Almighty,[FN#337] 'Assuredly deem not that those who rejoice in what they have +done, and who love to be praised for what they have not done, shall escape +reckoning of punishment: indeed there is reserved for them a grievous penalty.' +And he said[FN#338] (on whom be salvation and salutation!), 'Works are +according to intention and to each man is attributed that which he intendeth.' +He said also, 'In the body is a part which being sound the rest is sound, and +which being unsound the whole is unsound.' And this is the heart. Now this +heart is the most marvellous of what is in man, since it is that which ordereth +his whole affair: If covetise stir in it, desire destroyeth him, and if +affliction master it, anguish slayeth him; if anger rage in it, danger is hard +upon him; if it be blest with contentment, he is safe from discontent; if fear +surprise it, he is full of mourning; and if calamity overtake it, affliction +betideth him. If a man gain the use of wealth, peradventure he is diverted +thereby from the remembrance of his Lord; if poverty choke him his heart is +distracted by woe, or if disquietude waste his heart, weakness causeth him to +fall. Thus, in any case, nothing profiteth him but that he be mindful of Allah +and occupy himself with gaining his livelihood in this world and securing his +place in the next. It was asked of a certain sage, 'Who is the most ill +conditioned of men?'; and he answered, 'The man whose lusts master his manhood +and whose mind soareth over high, so that his knowledge dispreadeth and his +excuse diminisheth; and how excellently saith the poet, + +Freest am I of all mankind fro' meddling wight * Who, seeing others err, self error ne'er can sight: +Riches and talents are but loans to creature lent, * Each wears the cloak of that he bears in breast and sprite: +If by mistaken door attempt on aught thou make, * Thou shalt go wrong and if the door be right, go right!' + + +Continued the maiden, 'As for anecdotes of devotees, quoth Hisham bin Bashar, +'I asked Omar bin Ubayd, What is true piety?'; and he answered, 'The Apostle of +Allah (to whom be salutation and salvation!) hath explained it when he sayeth, +The pious is he who forgetteth not the grave nor calamity and who preferreth +that which endureth to that which passeth away; who counteth not the morrow as +of his days but reckoneth himself among the dead.' And it is related that Abu +Zarr[FN#339] used to say, Want is dearer to me than wealth, and unheal is +dearer to me than health.' Quoth one of the listeners, 'May Allah have mercy on +Abu Zarr!'. For my part, I say, 'Whoso putteth his trust in the goodness of +the election of Almighty Allah should be content with that condition which +Allah hath chosen for him.' Quoth one of the Companions of the Prophet, 'Ibn +Abi Aufa[FN#340] once prayed with us the dawn-prayer. When he had done, he +recited, 'O Thou Enwrapped!'[FN#341] till he came to where Allah saith, 'When +there shall be a trumping on the trumpet,' and fell down dead. It is said that +Sabit al-Banani wept till he well-nigh lost his eyes. They brought him a man +to medicine him who said to him, 'I will cure thee, provided thou obey my +bidding' Asked Sabit, 'In what matter?' Quoth the leach, 'In that thou leave +weeping!' 'What is the worth of mine eyes?', rejoined Sabit, 'if they do not +weep?' Quoth a man to Mohammed bin Abdillah, 'Exhort thou me!'"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Eighty-first Night, + + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +said to Zau al-Makan, "Thus spake the second handmaid to the King who hath +found mercy, Omar bin al-Nu'uman. 'Quoth a man to Mohammed bin Abdillah, Exhort +thou me!' 'I exhort thee,' replied he, 'to be a self ruler, an abstainer in +this world, and in the next a greedy slave.' 'How so?' asked the other and +Mohammed answered, 'The abstinent man in this world conquereth both the world +that is and the world to come.' And quoth Ghaus bin Abdillah, 'There were two +brothers among the sons of Israel, one of whom said to the other, 'What be the +most perilous[FN#342] thing thou hast done?' Replied the brother, 'I once came +upon a nest of young birds; so I took out one and threw it back into the nest; +but among the chickens were some which drew apart from it. This is the most +perilous thing I ever did; now what be the most perilous thing thou hast ever +done?' He rejoined, 'When I arise for prayer I am fearful that it is only for +the sake of the reward.' Now their father heard these words and exclaimed, 'O +Allah, an say they sooth take them to Thyself!' It was declared by one of the +wise men, 'Verily, these were of the most virtuous of children.' Quoth Sa'íd +bin Jubayr,[FN#343] 'I was once in company with Fuzalah bin 'Ubaydand said to +him, 'Exhort thou me!, Replied he, 'Bear in mind these two necessaries, Shun +syntheism[FN#344] and harm not any of Allah's creatures.' And he repeated these +two couplets, + +'Be as thou wilt, for Allah still is bounteous Lord, * And care dispeller dread not therefore bane and ban +To two things only never draw thee nigh, nor give * Partner to Allah trouble to thy brother man.' + + +And how well saith the poet, + +'An thou of pious works a store neglect * And after death meet one who did collect, +Thou shalt repent thou diddest not as he, * Nor madest ready as he did elect.' + + +Then the third damsel came forward, after the second had with drawn, and said, +'Of a truth, the chapter of piety is exceeding wide; but I will mention what +occurreth to me thereof, concerning the pious of old. Quoth a certain holy +man, 'I congratulate myself in death, though I am not assured of rest therein, +save that I know death interveneth between a man and his works; so I hope for +the doubling of good works and the docking off of ill works.' And Ita'a al +Salami, when he had made an end of an exhortation, was wont to tremble and +grieve and weep sore; and as they asked him why he did this he answered, 'I +desire to enter upon a grave matter, and it is the standing up before Almighty +Allah to do in accordance with my exhortation.' In similar guise Zayn +al-Abidín,[FN#345] son of Al-Husayn, was wont to tremble when he rose to pray. +Being asked the cause of this, he replied, 'Know ye not before whom I stand and +whom I address?' It is said that there lived near Sufyán al-Thauri[FN#346] a +blind man who, when the month of Ramazan came, went out with the folk to +pray,[FN#347] but remained silent and hung back. Said Sufyan, 'On the Day of +Resurrection he shall come with the people of the Koran and they will be +distinguished by increase of honour from their fellows.' Quoth Sufyan, 'Were +the soul established in the heart as befitteth, it would fly away for joy and +pining for Paradise, and for grief and fear of hell-fire.' It is related also +of Sufyan Al-Thauri that he said, 'To look upon the face of a tyrant is a sin.' +Then the third damsel retired and came for ward the fourth, who said, 'Here am +I to treat of sundry traditions of pious men which suggest themselves to me. +It is related that Bishr Barefoot[FN#348] said, 'I once heard Khálid say, +'Beware of secret polytheism.' I asked, 'What may secret polytheism be?'; and +he answered, 'When one of you in praying prolong his inclinations and +prostrations till a cause of impurity[FN#349] come upon him.' And one of the +sages said, 'Doing works of weal expiateth what is ill.' Quoth Ibrahim,[FN#350] +'I supplicated Bishr Barefoot to acquaint me with some theological mysteries; +but he said, 'O my son, this knowledge it behoveth us not to teach to every +one; of every hundred five, even as the legal alms upon money.' Said Ibrahim, +'I thought his reply excellent and approved of it and while I was praying +behold, Bishr was also praying: so I stood behind him[FN#351] making the prayer +bow till the Mu'ezzin called his call. Then rose a man of tattered appearance +and said, O folk, beware of a truth which bringeth unweal, for there is no harm +in a lie bringing weal,[FN#352] and in time of need no choice we heed: speech +booteth not in the absence of good qualities even as silence hurteth not in the +presence of good. Presently I saw Bishr drop a danik,[FN#353] so I picked it +up and exchanged it for a dirham which I gave him. Quoth he, 'I will not take +it.' Quoth I, 'It is perfectly lawful change'; but he rejoined 'I cannot take +in exchange the riches of the present world for those of the future world.' It +is related also that Bishr Barefoot's sister once went to Ahmad bin +Hanbal"[FN#354]—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Eighty-second Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +continued to bespeak Zau al-Makan on this wise, "And quoth the maiden to thy +father, 'Bishr Barefoot's sister once went to Ahmad bin Hanbal and said to him, +'O Imam of the Faith, we are a family that spin thread by night and work for +our living by day; and oftentimes the cressets of the watch of Baghdad pass by +and we on the roof spinning by their light. Is this forbidden to us?' Asked +Ahmad:'Who are thou?' 'I am the sister of Bishr Barefoot,' answered she. +Rejoined the Iman, 'O household of Bishr, I shall never cease to drink full +draughts of piety from your hearts.' Quoth one of the sages, 'When Allah +willeth well to His servant He openeth upon him the gate of action.' Málik bin +Dinár,[FN#355] when he passed through the bazar and saw aught he desired, was +wont to say, 'O soul, take patience, for I will not accord to thee what thou +desirest.' He said also (Allah accept him!), 'The salvation of the soul lies in +resistance to it and its damnation in submission to it.' Quoth Mansúr bin +Ammár,[FN#356] 'I made a pilgrimage and was faring Meccahwards by way of Cufa, +and the night was overcast, when I heard a voice crying out from the deeps of +the darkness saying, 'O Allah, I swear by Thy Greatness and Thy Glory, I meant +not through my disobedience to transgress against Thee; for indeed I am not +ignorant of Thee; but my fault is one Thou didst foreordain to me from eternity +without beginning;[FN#357] so do Thou pardon my transgression, for indeed I +disobeyed Thee of my ignorance!' When he had made an end of his prayer he +recited aloud the verse, 'O true believers, save your souls and those of your +families from the fire whose fuel is men and stones.'[FN#358] Then I heard a +fall, but not knowing what it was I passed on. When the morning morrowed, as +we went our way, behold, we fell in with a funeral train, followed by an old +woman whose strength had left her. I asked her of the dead, and she answered, +'This is the funeral of a man who passed by us yesterday whilst my son was +standing at prayer and after his prayers he recited a verse from the Book of +Allah Almighty when the man's gall bladder burst and he fell dead.' Therewith +the fourth damsel retired and the fifth came forward and said, 'I here will +also repeat what occurreth to me regarding the acts of devotees in olden time. +Maslamah bin Dinár used to say, 'By making sound the secret thoughts, sins +great and small are covered'; and, 'when the servant of Allah is resolved to +leave sinning, victory cometh to him.' Also quoth he, 'Every worldly good which +doth not draw one nearer to Allah is a calamity, for a little of this world +distracteth from a mickle of the world to come and a mickle of the present +maketh thee forget the whole of the future.' It was asked of Abú Házim,[FN#359] +'Who is the most prosperous of men?'; and he answered, 'Whoso spendeth his life +in submission to Allah.' The other enquired, 'And who is the most foolish of +mankind?' 'Whoso selleth his future for the worldly goods of others,' replied +Abu Hazim. It is reported of Moses[FN#360] (on whom be peace!) that when he +came to the waters of Midian he exclaimed, 'O Lord, verily I stand in need of +the good which thou shalt send down to me.'[FN#361] And he asked of his Lord +and not of his folk. There came two damsels and he drew water for them both +and allowed not the shepherds to draw first. When the twain returned, they +informed their father Shu'ayb (on whom be peace!) who said, 'Haply, he is +hungry,' adding to one of them, 'Go back to him and bid him hither.' Now when +she came to Moses, she veiled her face and said, 'My father biddeth thee to him +that he may pay thee thy wage for having drawn water for us.' Moses was averse +to this and was not willing to follow her. Now she was a woman large in the +back parts, and the wind blowing upon her garment[FN#362] covered the hinder +cheeks to Moses; which when Moses saw, he lowered his eyes and said to her, +'Get thee behind while I walk in front.' So she followed him till he entered +the house of Shu'ayb where supper was ready."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Eighty-third Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +continued to Zau al-Makan, "Now, quoth the fifth damsel to thy sire, 'When +Moses (on whom be peace!) entered the home of Shu'ayb where supper was ready, +Shu'ayb said to him, 'O Moses, I desire to pay thee thy wage for having drawn +water for these two.' But Moses answered, 'I am of a household which selleth +nothing of the fashion of the next world[FN#363] for what is on earth of gold +and silver.' Then quoth Shu'ayb, 'O youth! nevertheless thou art my guest, and +it is my wont and that of my forbears to honour the guest by setting food +before him.' So Moses sat down and ate. Then Shu'ayb hired Moses for eight +pilgrimages, that is to say, eight years, and made his wage marriage with one +of his two daughters, and Moses' service to him was to stand for her dowry. As +saith the Holy Writ of him, 'Verily I will give thee one of these my two +daughters in marriage, on condition that thou serve me for hire eight +pilgrimages: and if thou fulfil ten years, it is in thine own breast; for I +seek not to impose a hardship on thee.'[FN#364] A certain man once said to one +of his friends whom he had not met for many days, 'Thou hast made me desolate, +for that I have not seen thee this long while.' Quoth the other, 'I have been +distracted from thee by Ibn Shiháb: dost thou know him?' Quoth his friend, +'Yes, he hath been my neighbour these thirty years, but I have never spoken to +him.' He replied, 'Verily thou forgettest Allah in forgetting—thy neighbour! If +thou lovedst Allah thou wouldst love thy neighbour. Knowest thou not that a +neighbour hath a claim upon his neighbour,[FN#365] even as the right of kith +and kin?' Said Huzayfah, 'We entered Meccah with Ibráhím bin Adham, and Shakík +al-Balkhí was also making a pilgrimage that year. Now we met whilst +circumambulating the Ka'abah and Ibrahim said to Shakik, 'What is your fashion +in your country?' Replied Shakik, 'When we are blest with our daily bread we +eat, and when we hunger we take patience.' 'This wise,' said Ibrahim, 'do the +dogs of Balkh; but we, when blest with plenty, do honour to Allah and when an +hungered we thank Him.' And Shakik seated himself before Ibrahim and said to +him, 'Thou art my master.' Also said Mohammed bin Imrán, 'A man once asked of +Hátim the Deaf[FN#366] 'What maketh thee to trust in Allah?' 'Two things,' +answered he, 'I know that none save myself shall eat my daily bread, so my +heart is at rest as to that; and I know that I was not created without the +knowledge of Allah, and am abashed before Him.' Then the fifth damsel retired +and the ancient dame came forward and, kissing the ground before thy father +nine times, said, 'Thou hast heard, O King, what these all have spoken on the +subject of piety; and I will follow their example in relating what hath reached +me of the famous men of past times. It is said that the Imam al-Sháfi'í +departed the night into three portions, the first for study, the second for +sleep and the third for prayer. The Imam Abú Hanífah[FN#367] was wont also to +pass half the night in prayer. One day a man pointed him out to another, as he +walked by and remarked, 'Yonder man watcheth the whole night.' When he heard +this Abu Hanifah said, 'I was abashed before Allah to hear myself praised for +what was not in me'; so after this he used to watch the whole night. And one of +the Sages hath said, + +'Who seeketh for pearl in the Deep dives deep; * Who on high would hie robs his +night of sleep.' + + +Al-Rabí a relates that Al-Shafi'i used to recite the whole Koran seventy times +during the month of Ramazan, and that in his daily prayers. Quoth Al-Shafi'i +(Allah accept him!), 'During ten years I never ate my fill of barley bread, for +fullness hardeneth the heart and deadeneth the wit and induceth sleep and +enfeebleth one from standing up to pray.'[FN#368] It is reported of Abdullah +bin Mohammed al-Sakrá that he said, 'I was once talking with Omar and he +observed to me, 'Never saw I a more God fearing or eloquent man than Mohammed +bin Idris al-Shafi'i.' It so happened I went out one day with Al-Háris bin +Labíb al-Saffár, who was a disciple of Al-Muzani[FN#369] and had a fine voice +and he read the saying of the Almighty, 'This shall be a day whereon they shall +not speak to any purpose, nor shall they be permitted to excuse +themselves.'[FN#370] I saw Al-Shafi'i's colour change; his skin shuddered with +horripilation, he was violently moved and he fell down in a fainting-fit When +he revived he said, 'I take refuge with Allah from the stead of the liars and +the lot of the negligent! O Allah, before whom the hearts of the wise abase +themselves, O Allah, of Thy bene ficence accord to me the remission of my sins, +adorn me with the curtain of Thy protection and pardon me my shortcomings, by +the magnanimity of Thy Being!' Then I rose and went away. Quoth one of the +pious, 'When I entered Baghdad, Al-Shafi'i was there. So I sat down on the +river bank to make the ablution before prayer; and behold, there passed me one +who said, 'O youth, make thy Wuzu-ablution well and Allah will make it well for +thee in this world and in the next.' I turned and lo! there was a man behind +whom came a company of people. So I hastened to finish my ablution and +followed him. Presently, he turned and asked me, 'Say, dost thou want aught?' +'Yes,' answered I, 'I desire that thou teach me somewhat of that which Allah +Almighty hath taught thee.' He said, 'Know then that whoso believeth in Allah +shall be saved, and whoso jealously loveth his faith shall be delivered from +destruction, and whoso practiseth abstinence in this world, his eyes shall be +solaced on the morrow of death. Shall I tell thee any more?' I replied, +'Assuredly;' and he continued, 'Be thou of the world that is, heedless; and of +the world to come, greediest. Be truthful in all thy dealings, and thou shalt +be saved with the Salvationists.' Then he went on and I asked about him and was +told that he was the Imam Al-Shafi'i. Al-Shafi'i was wont to remark, 'I love +to see folk profit by this learning of mine, on condition that nothing of it be +attributed to me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the Eighty-fourth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +continued to Zau al-Makan, "The old woman bespake thy sire, saying, 'The Imam +Al-Shafi'i was wont to remark, I love to see folk profit by this learning of +mine on condition that nothing of it be attributed to me.' He also said, 'I +never disputed with any one, but I would that Almighty Allah should give him +the knowledge of the Truth and aid him to dispread it: nor did I ever dispute +with anyone at all but for the showing forth of the Truth, and I reck not +whether Allah manifest it by my tongue or by His.' He said also (whom Allah +accept!), 'If thou fear to grow conceited of thy lore, then bethink thee Whose +grace thou seekest and for what good thou yearnest and what punishment thou +dreadest.' It was told to Abu Hanífah that the Commander of the Faithful, Abú +Ja'afar al-Mansúr, had appointed him Kazi and ordered him a salary of ten +thousand dirhams; but he would not accept of this; and, when the day came on +which the money was to be paid him, he prayed the dawn-prayer, then covered his +head with his robe—and spoke not. When the Caliph's messenger came with the +money, he went in to the Imam and accosted him, but he would not speak to him. +So the messenger said, 'Verily this money is lawfully thine.' 'I know that it +is lawfully mine,' replied he: 'but I abhor that the love of tyrants get a hold +upon my heart.'[FN#371] Asked the other, 'If thou go in to them canst thou not +guard thyself from loving them?' Answered Abu Hanifah, 'Can I look to enter the +sea without my clothes being wet?' Another of Al-Shafi'i's sayings (Allah +accept him!) is, + +'Oh soul of me, an thou accept my rede, * Thou shalt be wealthy and of grace entire: +Cast off ambitious hopes and vain desires, * How many a death was done by vain desire!' + + +Among the sayings of Sufyán al-Thaurí, with which he admonished Ali bin +al-Hasan al-Salami was, 'Be thou a man of truth and 'ware lies and treachery +and hypocrisy and pride. Be not indebted save to Him who is merciful to His +debtors; and let thine associate be one who shall dissociate thee from the +world. Be ever mindful of death and be constant in craving pardon of Allah and +in beseeching of Allah peace for what remaineth of thy life. Counsel every True +Believer, when he asketh thee concerning the things of his faith; and beware of +betraying a Believer, for whoso betrayeth a Believer, betrayeth Allah and His +Apostle. Avoid dissensions and litigation; and leave that which causeth doubt +in thee for things which breed no doubt:[FN#372] so shalt thou be at peace. +Enjoin beneficence and forbid malevolence: so shalt thou be loved of Allah. +Adorn thine inner man and Allah shall adorn thine outer man. Accept the excuse +of him who excuseth self to thee and hate not any one of the Moslems. Draw +near unto those who withdraw from thee and excuse those that misuse thee: so +shalt thou be the friend of the Prophets. Let thine affairs, both public and +private, be in Allah's charge, and fear Him with the fear of one who knoweth he +is dead and who fareth towards Resurrection and Judgement stead between the +hands of the Lord of Dread; and remember that to one of two houses thou art +sped, either for Heavens eterne or to the Hell fires that burn.' Thereupon the +old woman sat down beside the damsels. Now when thy father, who hath found +mercy, heard their discourse, he knew that they were the most accomplished of +the people of their time; and, seeing their beauty and loveliness and the +extent of their wisdom and lore, he showed them all favour. Moreover, he +turned to the ancient dame and treated her with honour, and set apart for her +and her damsels the palace which had lodged Princess Abrizah, daughter of the +King of Greece, to which he bade carry all the luxuries they needed. They +abode with him ten days and the old woman abode with them; and, whenever the +King visited them, he found her absorbed in prayer, watching by night and +fasting by day; whereby love of her took hold upon his heart and he said to me, +'O Wazir, verily this old woman is of the pious, and awe of her is strong in my +heart.' Now on the eleventh day, the King visited her, that he might pay her +the price of the damsels; but she said to him, 'O King, know that the price of +these maidens surpasseth the competence of men; indeed I seek not for them +either gold or silver or jewels, be it little or much.' Now when thy father +heard these words he wondered and asked her, 'O my lady and what is their +price?'; whereto she answered, 'I will not sill them to thee save on condition +that thou fast, watching by night a whole month, and abstaining by day, all for +the love of Allah Almighty; and, if thou do this, they are thy property to use +in thy palace as thou please.' So the King wondered at the perfection of her +rectitude and piety and abnegation; she was magnified in his eyes and he said, +'Allah make this pious woman to profit us!' Then he agreed with her to fast for +a month as she had stipulated, and she said to him, 'I will help thee with the +prayers I pray for thee and now bring me a gugglet of water.' They brought one +and she took it and recited over it and muttered spells, and sat for an hour +speaking in speech no one understood or knew aught thereof. Lastly she covered +it with a cloth and, sealing it with her signet ring, gave it to thy sire, +saying, 'When thou hast fasted the first ten days, break thy fast on the +eleventh night with what is in this gugglet, for it will root out the love of +the world from thy heart and fill it with light and faith. As for me, To-morrow +I will go forth to my brethren, the Invisible[FN#373] Controuls, for I yearn +after them, and I will return to thee when the first ten days are past. Thy +father took the gugglet and arose and set it apart in a closet of his palace, +then locked the door and put the key in his pocket. Next day the King fasted +and the old woman went her ways."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Eighty-fifth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan thus +continued to Zau al-Makan, "Now when came the day for the Sultan's fast, the +old woman went her ways. And after he had accomplished the ten days thereof, +on the eleventh he opened the gugglet and drank what was therein and found it +cordial to his stomach. Within the second ten days of the month the old woman +returned, bringing sweetmeats wrapped in a green leaf, like no leaf of known +tree. She went in to thy sire and saluted him; and, when he saw her, he rose +to her saying, 'Welcome, O pious lady!' 'O King,' quoth she, 'the Invisible +Controuls salute thee, for I told them of thee, and they rejoiced in thee and +have sent thee their Halwá,[FN#374] which is of the sweetmeats of the other +world. Do thou break thy fast on it at the end of the day.' The King rejoiced +at this with great joy, and exclaimed, 'Praised be Allah, who hath given me +brethren of the Invisible World!' Thereupon he thanked the ancient dame and +kissed her hands; and he honoured her and the damsels with exceeding honour. +She went forth for the twenty days of thy father's fast at the end of which +time she came to him and said, 'Know, O King, that I told the Invisible +Controuls of the love which is between me and thee, and informed them how I had +left the maidens with thee, and they were glad that the damsels should belong +to a King like thee; for they were wont, when they saw them, to be strenuous in +offering on their behalf prayers and petitions ever granted. So I would fain +carry them to the Invisible Controuls that they may benefit by the breath of +their favour, and peradventure, they shall not return to thee without some +treasure of the treasures of the earth, that thou, after completing thy fast, +mayst occupy thyself with their raiment and help thyself by the money they +shall bring thee, to the extent of thy desires.' When thy sire heard her words, +he thanked her for them; and said, 'Except that I fear to cross thee, I would +not accept the treasure or aught else; but when wilt thou set out with them?' +Replied she, 'On the seven and twentieth night; and I will bring them back to +thee at the head of the month, by which time thou wilt have accomplished thy +fast and they will have had their courses and be free from impurity; and they +shall become thine and be at thy disposal. By Allah, each damsel of them is +worth many times thy kingdom!' He said, 'I know it, O pious lady!' Then quoth +the old woman, 'There is no help but that thou send with them someone in thy +palace who is dear to thee, that she may find solace and seek a blessing of the +Invisible Controuls.' Quoth he, 'I have a Greek slave called Sophia, by whom I +have been blessed with two children, a girl and a boy; but they were lost; +years ago. Take her with thee that she may get the blessing'"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Eighty-sixth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +continued to Zau al-Makan, "Quoth thy sire to the ancient woman when she +demanded the handmaids of him, 'I have a Greek slave called Sophia, by whom I +have been blest with two children, a girl and a boy, but they were lost years +ago; so take her with thee, haply she may get the benediction and, belike, the +Invisible Controuls will sue Allah for her that her two children may be +restored to her.' 'Thou hast said well,' replied she; 'for that indeed was her +grievousest want.' Thy sire gave not over finishing his fast till the old +woman said to him, 'O my son, I am going to the Invisible Controuls; so bring +me Sophia.' Accordingly, he summoned her and she came forthright, and he +delivered her to the old woman who mixed her up with the other damsels. Then +she went in to her chamber and bringing out a sealed cup, presented it to the +Sultan saying, 'On the thirtieth day, do thou repair to the Hammam and when +thou comest out, enter one of the closets in thy palace and drink what is in +this cup. Then sleep, and thou shalt attain what thou seekest, and peace be +with thee'! Thereat the King was glad and thanked her and kissed her hands. +Quoth she, 'I commend thee to Allah's care;' whereat quoth he, 'And when shall +I see thee again, O pious lady? In very sooth I love not to part with thee.' +Then she called down blessings on him and departed with the five damsels and +the Queen; whilst the King fasted after her departure other three days, till +the month ended, when he arose and went to the Hammam and coming out shut +himself up in a closet of his palace, commanding that none should go in to +him. There, after making fast the door, he drank what was in the cup and lay +down to sleep; and we sat awaiting him till the end of the day, but he did not +come out and we said, 'Perchance he is tired with the bath and with watching +by night and fasting by day; wherefore he sleepeth.' So we waited till next +day; but still he did not come forth. Then we stood at the closet door and +cried aloud so haply he might awake and ask what was the matter. But nothing +came of that; so at last we lifted up the door;[FN#375] and, going in, found +him dead, with his flesh torn into strips and bits and his bones +broken.[FN#376] When we saw him in this condition it was grievous to us, and +we took up the cup and found within its cover a piece of paper whereon was +inscribed, 'Whoso doeth evil leaveth no regrets, and this be the reward of him +who playeth traitor with the daughters of Kings and who debaucheth them; and +we make known to all who fall upon this scroll that Sharrkan, when he came to +our country, seduced our Queen Abrizah; nor did that suffice him but he must +needs take her from us and bring her to you. Then he[FN#377] sent her away in +company of a black slave who slew her, and we found her lying dead on the +desert sward and thrown out to wild beasts. This be no kingly deed, and he +who did this is requited with naught but what he merited. So do ye suspect +none of having killed him, for no one slew him but the cunning witch, whose +name is Zat al-Dawahi. And behold, I have taken the King's wife, Sophia, and +have carried her to her father, Afridun King of Constantinople. Moreover, +there is no help for it but that we wage war upon you and kill you and take +your country from you, and ye shall be cut off even to the last man, nor shall +a living soul be spared by Death nor one who bloweth fire with his breath, +save he who Cross and Belt[FN#378] worshippeth.' When we read this paper, we +knew that the ancient woman had beguiled us and carried out her plot against +us: whereupon we cried aloud and buffeted our faces and wept sore when weeping +availed us naught. And the troops fell out as to whom they should make +Sultan; some would have thee, and others would have thy brother Sharrkan; and +we ceased not to dispute about this for the space of a month, at the end of +which certain of us drew together and agreed to repair to thy brother +Sharrkan: so we set out and journeyed on till we fell in with thee. And such +is the manner of the death of Sultan Omar bin al-Nu'uman!" Now when the Wazir +Dandan had made an end of his story, Zau al- Makan and his sister, Nuzhat +al-Zaman wept; and the Chamberlain, who wept also, said to Zau al-Makan, "O +King, weeping will avail thee naught; nor shall aught profit thee but that +thou harden thy heart and strengthen thy stress and establish thy sovranty; +for verily whoso leaveth the like of thee is not dead." Thereupon Zau al-Makan +gave over his weeping and caused his throne to be set up without the pavilion, +and then commanded the army to pass in review order before him. And the +Chamberlain sat by his side and all the armour-bearers[FN#379] behind him, +whilst the Wazir Dandan and the rest of the Emirs and Grandees stood each in +his individual stead. Then quoth King Zau al-Makan to the Minister Dandan, +"Inform me concerning my sire's treasures;" and he replied, "I hear and I +obey;" and gave him to know of the late King's hoards and monies, and what was +in the treasury of amassed wealth and jewels, and acquainted him with other +precious things. So Zau al-Makan opened his hand to the army, and gave a +sumptuous robe of honour to the Wazir Dandan, saying, "Thou continues" in +office. Whereupon Dandan kissed the ground before him and wished him long +life. Then he bestowed dresses on the Emirs, after which he said to the +Chamberlain, "Bring out before me the tribute of Damascus that is with thee." +So he was shown the chests of money and rarities and jewels, when he took them +and parted them all amongst the troops,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Eighty-seventh Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zau al- Makan ordered the +Chamberlain to bring out before him what he had brought of the tribute of +Damascus; and, when he was shown the chests of money and rarities and jewels, +he took them; and parted them all amongst the troops, till nothing was left. +And the Emirs kissed the ground before him and wished him long life, saying, +"Never saw we a King, who gave the like of these gifts." Then all went away to +their tents and when it was morning he gave orders for marching. So they +marched for three days, till, on the fourth day, they drew near to Baghdad. +When they entered the city, they found it decorated, and Zau al-Makan, the +Sultan, went up to his father's palace and sat down on the throne, whilst the +Emirs of the army and the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain of Damascus stood +between his hands. Then he bade his private secretary write a writ to his +brother Sharrkan, acquainting him with all that had passed, from first to last, +and he concluded, "As soon as thou hast read this letter, make ready thine +affair and join us with thine army, that we may turn to Holy War upon the +Infidels and take man-bote for our father and wipe out the stain upon our +honour." Then he folded the letter and sealed it with his seal ring and said to +the Minister Dandan, "None shall carry this letter but thou; and it behoveth +thee speak my brother fair and say to him, 'If thou have a mind to thy father's +kingdom, it is thine, and thy brother shall be Viceroy for thee in Damascus; +for to this effect am I instructed by him.'" So the Wazir went down from before +him and made ready for his march. Then Zau al-Makan bade set apart a +magnificent house for the Fireman and furnished it with the best of furniture +and long is the tale of that Fireman.[FN#380] Presently Zau al-Makan went out +chasing and hunting and, as he was returning to Baghdad, one of the Emirs +presented him with blood horses and with beauteous handmaids whose description +the tongue evades. One of the damsels pleased him: so he went in unto her and +knew her that night, and she conceived by him forthright. After a while, the +Wazir Dandan returned from his journey, bringing him news of his brother +Sharrkan and that he was then on his way to him, and said, "It were fitting +thou go forth to meet him." Zau al- Makan replied, "I hear and I consent;" and +riding forth with his Grandees a day's journey from Baghdad, he pitched his +pavilions there awaiting his brother. Next morning appeared King Sharrkan amid +the army of Syria, a horseman of might, a lion fierce in fight, a prow and +doughty knight. As the squadrons drew nigh and the dust clouds came hard by +and the troops rode up with banners on high, Zau al-Makan and those with him +pushed forward to meet Sharrkan and his men; and when Zau al-Makan saw his +brother, he desired to dismount, but Sharrkan conjured him not to do on this +wise, and himself footed it, and walked a few paces towards him.[FN#381] As +soon as he reached Zau al-Makan, the new Sultan threw himself upon him, and +Sharrkan embraced him and wept with great weeping and the twain condoled with +each other. Then they mounted and rode onward, they and their troops, till +they reached Baghdad, where they alighted and went up to the royal palace and +there they passed that night, and when next morning came, Zau al- Makan went +forth and bade summon the troops from all parts, and proclaimed a Holy War and +a Razzia.[FN#382] They then awaited the coming of the levies from each quarter +of the kingdom, and every one who came they entreated with honour and promised +him all manner of good; till in so doing a full month had sped, and the +fighting men flocked to them in a continuous body. Then Sharrkan said to Zau +al-Makan, "O my brother, tell me thy history." So he told him all that had +befallen him from first to last, including the benevolent dealing of the +Fireman with him. Asked Sharrkan, 'Hast thou requited his kindness?"; and he +answered, "O my brother! I have not rewarded him as yet, but Inshallah! I +will recompense him whenas I return from this raid"—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Eighty-eighth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan asked his +brother Zau al-Makan, "Hast thou requited the Fireman for his kindness?"; and +he answered, "O my brother, I have not rewarded him as yet, but Inshallah! I +will recompense him whenas I return from this raid and find time so to do." +Therewith Sharrkan was certified that his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman, had told him +the whole truth; but he concealed what had passed between them; and offered his +salutation to her by her husband the Chamberlain. She sent him back her +greeting, calling down blessings on him and enquiring after her daughter +Kuzia-Fakan, to which he replied that the maiden was well and in the best of +health and safety. whereupon she praised Almighty Allah and gave him thanks. +Then Sharrkan went to his brother to take counsel with him for departure; and +Zau al-Makan said, "O my brother, as soon as the army is complete and the Arabs +have come in from all parts, we will march forth." So he bade make ready the +commissariat and prepare munitions of war and went in to his wife, who was now +five months gone with child; and he put under her astrologers and +mathematicians, to whom he appointed stipends and allowances. Then he set out +three months after the arrival of the army of Syria, and as soon as the Arabs +were come in and the troops were assembled from all directions; and, as he +fared forth, he was followed by the warriors and the united host. Now the name +of the General of the Daylam army was Rustam and that of the General of the +army of the Turks[FN#383] Bahram. And Zau al- Makan marched in mid host and on +his right was his brother Sharrkan, and on his left the Chamberlain his +brother-in-law. So the squadrons broke up and pushed forward and the +battalions and companies filed past in battle-array, till the whole army was in +motion. They ceased not to fare on for the space of a month, and each body +dismounted at its own ground and there rested every week three days (for the +host was great); and they advanced in this order till they came to the country +of the Greeks. Then the people of the villages and hamlets and the poorer sort +took fright at them; and fled to Constantinople. But when King Afridun heard +the tidings he arose and betook himself to Zat al-Dawahi, the same who had +contrived the stratagem, and had travelled to Baghdad and had slain King Omar +bin Al-Nu'uman; and who after carrying off her slaves and Queen Sophia, had +returned with them all to her native land. Now when she had been restored to +her son, the King of Greece, and felt herself safe, she said to King Hardub, +"Cool thine eyes; for I have avenged by blood the shame of thy daughter +Abrizah, and have killed Omar bin al-Nu'uman and have brought back Sophia. So +now let us go to the King of Constantinople and carry to him his daughter and +acquaint him with what hath happened, that all of us be on guard and prepare +our forces; and I will fare with thee to King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, +for I opine that the Moslems will not await our attack." Said Hardub, "Tarry +thou till they draw near our country, that we may make us ready meantime and +assemble our power." Accordingly they took to levying their forces and +preparing for war, and, when the news of the Moslems' advance reached them, +they were prepared for defence; and Zat al Dawahi had preceded them. Now when +she and her son arrived at Constantinople, the King of Kings, Afridun, hearing +of the approach of Hardub, King of the Greeks, came forth to meet him and asked +how it was with him and the cause of his visit. So Hardub acquainted him with +the cunning doings of his mother, Zat al-Dawahi, how she had slain the Moslem +King and recovered from him Queen Sophia, and had said, "The Moslems have +assembled their forces and are on their way to attack us, wherefore it behoveth +that we two join hands in single band and meet them." Now King Afridun rejoiced +in the return of his daughter and the killing of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; and +he sent to all countries seeking succour and acquainting the folk with the +cause of slaying the Moslem King. So the Nazarene troops flocked to him and +three months were not past ere the army of the Greeks was complete, besides +which there joined themselves to him Franks from all their lands, French, +Germans[FN#384] and Ragusans,[FN#385] with men of Zara,[FN#386] Venetians, +Genoese, and all the hosts of the Yellow Faces[FN#387]; and, when the gathering +was at its full, earth was straitened on them by reason of their multitude. +Then Afridun, the Great King, ordered a march; so they set out and ceased not +to defile through the city for ten days. They fared on till they reached the +Wady hight Al-Nu'uman, a broad sided vale hard by the Salt Sea, where they +halted three days; and on the fourth they were about to set out again, when +news came that the army of Al-Islam on them press, and the defenders of the +faith of Mohammed, of Men the Best. So they halted in it other three days, and +on the eighth they espied a dust cloud which towered till it walled the whole +land; nor was an hour of the day past ere that dust began to drift and was torn +to shreds in the lift, and pierced through its shades the starry radiance of +lance and the white leven of blades. Presently there appeared beneath it the +banners Islamitan and the ensigns Mahometan; the horsemen urged forward, like +the letting loose of seas that surged, clad in mail, as they were mackerel-back +clouds which the moon enveil; whereupon the two hosts clashed, like two +torrents on each other dashed. Eyes fell upon eyes; and the first to seek +combat singular was the Wazir Dandan, he and the army of Syria, numbering +thirty thousand bridles, and with him were the General of the Turks, and the +General of Daylam, Rustam and Bahram, amid twenty thousand horse, behind whom +came the men from the shores of the Salt Sea, clad in iron mail, as they were +full moons that past through a night o'ercast. Then the Nazarene host called +out on Jesus and Mary, and the defiled[FN#388] Cross and they heaped themselves +upon the Wazir Dandan and those with him of the Syrian host. Now all this was +in pursuance of a stratagem devised by that ancient woman Zat al-Dawahi; for, +before his departure, King Afridun had gone in to her and asked her, "How shall +I do and what plan shall I pursue?; it is thou hast caused this great distress +to us;" and she had answered, "O great King and mighty Cohen![FN#389] I will +teach thee a trick would baffle Iblis himself, though he summon to his +assistance all his grisly hosts."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Eighty-ninth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, all this was a stratagem of +the ancient woman, for that the King before his departure had gone to her and +asked, "How shall I do and what plan shall I pursue? it is thou hast caused +this great distress to us!" And she had answered, "O great King and mighty +Cohen, I will teach thee a trick would baffle the Devil himself though he +summon to his assistance all his grisly hosts. It is that thou send fifty +thousand men going down in ships, and sailing over the sea to the Mountain of +Smoke; and there let them land and stir not till {he standards of Al-Islam come +upon thee, when do thou up and at them. Then bid the troops from the seaward +sally out upon the Moslems and take them in rear, whilst we confront them from +the landward. So not one of them shall escape, and our sorrows shall tease and +peace abide with us." Now the counsel of this ancient woman commended itself to +King Afridun, and he replied, "Right is the recking thou reckest, O Princess of +wits and recourse of Kings and Cohens warring for their blood-wit!" So when the +army of Al-Islam came upon them in chat valley, before they knew of it the +flames began to burn up the tents and the swords in men's bodies to make rents. +Then hurried up the army of Baghdad and Khorasan who numbered one hundred and +twenty thousand horse, with Zau al-Makan in the front of war. When the host of +the Infidels that lay by the sea saw them, they sallied out against them; and +followed in their tracks; and when Zau al- Makan espied this he cried out to +his men, "Turn back to the Infidels, O People of the Chosen Apostle, and slay +those who deny and hate the authority of the Compassionating, the +Compassionate!" So they turned and fought with the Christians. Then Sharrkan +marched up with another corps of the Moslem host, some hundred thousand men, +whilst the Infidels numbered nigh upon a thousand and six hundred thousand men. +When the Moslems were united, their hearts were strengthened and they cried +out, saying, "Verily Allah hath pro mised us victory, and to the Infidels hath +assigned defeat." And they clashed together with sword and spear. Now Sharrkan +tare through rank and row and raged among the masses of the foe, fighting so +fierce a fight as to make children grey grow; nor did he cease tourneying among +the infidel horde and working havoc among them with the keen edged sword, +shouting "Allaho Akbar!" (Allah is Most Great) till he drove back the host to +the coast. Then failed the force of the foe and Allah gave victory to the +faith of Al-Islam, and folk fought folk, drunken without strong drink till they +slew of the Infidels in this affair forty and five thousand, while of the +Moslems but three thousand and five hundred fell. Moreover, the Lion of the +Faith, King Sharrkan, and his brother, Zau al-Makan, slept not that night, but +occupied themselves with congratulating their braves and with looking to the +wounded and with assuring the army of victory and salvation and promise of +reward in the world to come. Thus far concerning the Moslem; but as regards +King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople and Sovran of Roum, and Zat Al-Dawahi, +they assembled the Emirs of the host and said to them, "Verily, we had worked +our will and solaced our hearts, but our over confidence in our numbers, and +that only, defeated us." Then quoth to them the ancient one, the Lady of +Calamities, "In very sooth nought shall profit you, except ye draw you nigh +unto the Messiah and put your trust in the True Belief, for, by the virtue of +the Messiah, the whole strength of the Moslem host lieth in that Satan, King +Sharrkan." "To-morrow," said King Afridun, "I have resolved to draw up in battle +array and to send out against them that redoubtable cavalier, Lúká bin Shamlút; +for if King Sharrkan come forth as a champion to fight single-handed, our man +will slay him and will slay the other Moslem Knights, till not one is left. +And I purpose this night to sacre you all with the Holy Incense." When the +Emirs heard these words they kissed the ground before him. Now the incense +which he designated was the excrement of the Chief Patriarch, the denier, the +defiler of the Truth, and they sought for it with such instance, and they so +highly valued it that the high priests of the Greeks used to send it to all the +countries of the Christians in silken wraps after mixing it with musk and +ambergris. Hearing of it Kings would pay a thousand gold pieces for every dram +and they sent for and sought it to fumigate brides withal; and the Chief +Priests and the great Kings were wont to use a little of it as collyrium for +the eyes and as a remedy in sickness and colic; and the Patriarchs used to mix +their own skite[FN#390] with it, for that the skite of the Chief Patriarch +could not suffice for ten countries.[FN#391] So, as soon as dawn was seen and +the morning shone with its shine and sheen, the horsemen ran to their spears +full keen, and King Afridun,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Ninetieth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, as soon as dawn was seen and +the morning shone with its shine and sheen, the horsemen ran to their spears +full keen and King Afridun summoned his chief Knights and Nobles and invested +them with dresses of honour; and, drawing the sign of the cross on their +brows, incensed them with the incense which as aforesaid was the skite of the +Chief Patriarch, the Cohen, the Heresiarch. This incensing done, he called +for Luka bin Shamlut, surnamed the Sword of the Messiah; and, after fumigating +him and rubbing his palate with the Holy Merde, caused him to snuff it and +smeared his cheeks and anointed his moustaches with the rest. Now there was +no stouter champion in the land of Roum than this accursed Luka, nor any +better at bending of bow or sway of sword or lunge with lance on the day of +devoir; but he was foul of favour, for his face was as the face of an ass, his +shape that of an ape and his look as the look of a malignant snake: his +presence was grievouser than parting from the beloved make; and blacker than +night was his blackness and more fetid than the lion was his breath for +foulness; more crooked than a bow was his crookedness and grimmer than the +leopard was his ugliness, and he was branded with the mark of the Infidels on +face.[FN#392] After this he came up to King Afridun and kissed his feet and +stood before him; and the King said to him, "I desire thou go out against +Sharrkan, King of Damascus, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman, and deliver us from +this affliction." Quoth Luka, "Hearkening and obedience;" and the King made +the sign of the cross on his forehead and felt assured of help from Heaven +being near hand. Then Luka went out from the presence and the accursed one +mounted a sorrel horse; he was clad in a red robe and a hauberk of gold set +with jewels, and he bore a trident spear, as he were Iblis the damned on the +day of drewing out his hosts war to darraign. Then he rode forward, he and +his horde of Infidels, even as though they were driving to the Fire, preceded +by a herald, crying aloud in the Arabic tongue and saying, "Ho, sect of +Mohammed (upon whom be salutation and salvation!), let none of you come out +but your champion Sharrkan, the Sword of Al-Islam, Lord of Damascus in +Shám[FN#393]!" Nor had he made an end of speaking, when arose a tumult in the +plain; all the people heard the strain and the whole moving bodies of the +armies twain called to mind the Day of Complain. Then the cowards trembled +and all necks turned towards the sound, and lo! it was King Sharrkan, son of +King Omar bin al-Nu'uman. For when his brother, Zau al-Makan, saw that +accursed one push out on the plain, and heard the pursuivant, he turned to +Sharrkan and said to him, "Of a surety they seek for thee." Said he, "Should +it so be, 'twere most pleasing to me." So when they made sure of the matter +and heard the herald crying in the plain, "Let none of you come out against me +save Sharrkan," they knew this cursed Luka to be champion of the land of Roum +who had sworn to sweep the earth clean of Moslems. Now he was one of the +greatest of villains, a wretch who caused hearts to pain; and the DayIamites, +Turks and Kurds dreaded his might and main. Presently Sharrkan drave at him +like a lion angry grim, mounted on a courser like a wild gazelle flying snell +and slim; and coming nigh to him made the spear he hent to shake as it were a +darting snake, and recited these couplets, + +"I have a sorrel steed, whose pride is fain to bear the rein, * Shall give thee what thou likest not and make thee feel his main: +I have a handy limber spear full bright and keen of point, * Upon whose shaft the dam of Death her throny seat hath ta'en: +I have a trenchant glaive of Hind; and, when I bare its face * Of scabbard" veil, from out its brow the rays of leven rain." + + +Luka understood not the sense of his speech nor did he apprehend the vehemence +of the verse; but he smote his forehead with his hand, in honour of the Cross +drawn thereon and kissed it; then he couched his throw spear and ran at +Sharrkan. But first he tossed the javelin with one hand in air to such height +that it was lost to the spectators' sight; and, catching it with the other hand +as do the jugglers, hurled it at Sharrkan. It flew from his grasp like a +shooting star and folk clamoured and feared for Sharrkan; but, as the spear +flew near him, he put out his hand and caught it in full flight to the +amazement of all who saw the sight. Then he shook it with the hand that took it +till it was well-nigh broken, and hurled it so high into the welkin that it +disappeared from view. As it descended, he caught it again with the other +hand, in less than the twinkling of an eye, and cried out from his heart core, +saying, "By the truth of Him who created the sevenfold skies, I will assuredly +make this cursed wight a byword for mankind to despise!" Then threw he the +throw spear at Luka, who thought to do as Sharrkan had done and put forth his +hand to trend it in mid flight; but Sharrkan prevented him, and sped at him a +second throw spear which smote him and the point fell on his forehead, in the +very centre of the sign of the Cross, and Allah hurried his soul to the Fire +and Dwelling place dire.[FN#394] But when the Infidels saw Luka bin Shamlut +fall slain, they buffeted their faces and they cried, "Alas!" and "Woe worth +the day!" and called for aid upon the Abbots of the monasteries,—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Ninety-first Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Infidels saw +Luka bin Shamlut fall slain, they buffeted their faces and cried, "Alas!" and +"Woe worth the day!" and called upon the Abbots of the monasteries and cried, +"Where be the crosses?" So the Religious offered up prayers and the Christians +all drew together against Sharrkan; and, brandishing their scymitars and +lances, rushed forward to the attack. Then army met army and breasts fell +under hoof, whilst spear and sword ruled the day and forearms and wrists grew +weak and the coursers seemed created without legs;[FN#395] nor did the herald +of-war cease calling to fight, till arms were aweary and day took flight and +night came on with darkness dight. So the two hosts drew apart, whilst every +brave staggered like a drunken knave, for that with so much cut and thrust they +strave; and the place was choked with the slain; fell were the wounds and the +hurt knew not by whom they fell. Then Sharrkan joined his brother, Zau +al-Makan, and the Chamberlain and the Wazir Dandan, and said to them, "Verily +Allah hath opened a door for the Infidels to fall, praised be the Lord of the +Worlds one and all!" Replied Zau al-Makan, "Let us never cease to praise Allah, +for that He hath dispelled trouble from the Arab and the Ajam. Indeed the +folk, generation after generation, shall tell of thy derring-do against the +accursed Luka, the falsifier of the Evangel;[FN#396] of thy catching the throng +spear in mid-flight, and how the enemy of Allah among men thou didst smite; and +thy fame shall endure until the end of time." Then said Sharrkan, "Harkye, O +grand Chamberlain and doughty Capitayne!" and he answered, "Adsum!"[FN#397] +Quoth Sharrkan, "Take with thee the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand horse, and +lead them seven parasangs towards the sea, and force the march till ye shall +have come near the shore, and there remain only two parasangs between thee and +the foe. Then ambush ye in the hollows of the ground till ye hear the tumult +of the Infidels disembarking from their ships; and the war cry from every side +strike your ear and ye know that the sabres have begun labour between us and +them; and, whenso ye see our troops falling back, as if defeated, and all the +Infidels following them, as well those in front as those from the seaward and +the tents, do ye still lie in wait for them: but as soon as ye see the standard +with the words, There is no god but the God, and Mohammed is God's Apostle (on +whom be salutation and salvation!), then up with the green banner, and do your +endeavour and fall on their rear and shout, 'Alla ho Akbar! Allah is most +Great!' and circle round that they may not interpose between the retreating +army and the sea." He replied, "To hear is to obey!"; and forthright they +agreed upon this matter and they went forth. Now the Chamberlain took with +himself the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand men even as Sharrkan had +commanded. As soon as dawned the morn, the troops sprung to horse when they +had donned their armour gear and drawn the scymitar and slung the spear. Then +the Christians dispread themselves over hill and dale and the +Ecclesiasts[FN#398] cried out and all heads were bared, and those in the ships +hoisted the Cross at their mast heads and began making for shore from every +side, and landed their horses and get them ready for fight and fray, whilst the +sword blades glittered bright and the javelins glanced like leven-light on mail +shirt white; and all joined fight and the grind mill of Death whirled round and +ground those who fought from horse and aground: heads from bodies flew end +tongues mute grew and eyes no vision knew. Scymitars strave with utmost strain +and heads flew over the battle-plain; gall bladders clave and wrists were shorn +in twain; steeds plashed in pools of gore and beards were gripped right sore; +the host of Al-Islam called out, saying, "On the Prince of Mankind be blessings +and peace, and to the Compassionate glory and praise, which ne'er shall cease, +for His boons which aye increase;" and the host of the Infidels shouted, "Glory +to the Cross and the Belt and the vine press juice, and the wine presser and +the Priests and the Monks and the Festival of Palms and the Metropolitan!" Now +Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan held back and their troops gave way and feigned +flight from before the enemy, while the Infidel array pressed hard upon them +deeming them in rout, and made ready to foin and hew. Then the meiny of the +Moslems raised their voices, reciting the first verses of the Chapter of the +Cow,[FN#399] whilst the dead were trampled under hoofs of steeds, and the +heralds of the Greeks cried out, "Ho, servants of the Messiah! Ho, people of +the True Faith! Ho, followers of the Primate![FN#400] Verily Divine grace upon +you opes; for see, the hosts of Al Islam like birds with broken wings incline +to elope! So turn ye not to them your backs, but let your swords cleave deep in +their necks and hold not your hands from them, else are ye outcasts from the +Messiah, Mary's son, who spoke even when a cradled one!"[FN#401] Now Afridun, +King of Constantinople, deemed that the Infidels were victorious, knowing not +that this was but a clever stratagem of the Moslems, and sent to King Hardub of +Roum congratulations on success, adding, "Availed us naught but the Holy Merde +of the Arch Patriarch, whose fragrance exhaled from the beards and mustachios +of the slaves of the Cross near and far; and I swear, by the Miracles of the +Messiah; and by thy daughter Abrizah, the Nazarene, the Mariolater; and by the +Waters of Baptism, that I will not leave upon the earth a single defender of +Al- Islam! And to the bitter end will I carry out this plan." So the messenger +betook himself with the address to King Hardub, whilst the Infidels called to +one another saying, "Take we vengeance wreak for Luka!"—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Ninety-second Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Infidels called to +one another, saying, "Take we vengeance wreak for Luka!" while Hardub King of +Greece cried aloud, "Ho, to our revenge for Abrizah!" Thereupon King Zau +al-Makan shouted "Ho, servants of the Requiting King!: smite the children of +denial and disobedience with the blanch of sword and the brown of spear!" So +the Moslems returned to the Infidels and plied them with the keen edged +scymitar, whilst their herald cried aloud, "Up, and at the foes of the Faith, +all ye who love the Prophet Elect, with hope of salvation on the Day of Fear, +to win favour of the Bountiful, the Forgiving One; for verily the Garden of +Paradise is under the shadow of swords!" And behold, Sharrkan and his men +charged down upon the Infidels and cut off their retreat and wheeled and +tourneyed among the ranks; when lo! a knight of goodly presence opened a +passage through the army of Unbelievers and circled hither and thither amongst +the Deniers, cutting and thrusting and covering the ground with heads and +trunks, so that the Faithless feared him and their necks bent under his lunge +and hew. He was girt with two swords, his glances and his brand, and he was +armed with two lances, one of bamboo cane and the other his straight wand like +shape; and his flowing hair stood him in stead of many warriors, even as saith +the poet, + +"Laud not long hair,[FN#402] except it be dispread * In two fold locks, on day of fight and fray, +O'er youth who bears his lance 'twixt flank and thigh, * From many a whis kered knight to win the day." + + +And as singeth another, + +"I say to him, what while he slings his sword, * 'For sword shall serve those looks that sword like show!' +Says he, 'My sabre looks for those I love, * My sword for those who sweets of love unknow!'" + + +When Sharrkan saw him, he said to him, "I conjure thee by the Koran and the +attributes of the Compassionate One, O Champion of the Champions! tell me who +thou art: for verily by thy deeds this day thou hast pleased the Requiting +King, whom one thing distracteth not from other thing; in that thou hast been +discomforting the children of impiety and in rebellion revelling." Then cried +the Cavalier to him saying, "Thou art he who madest brother covenant with me +but yesterday: how quickly thou hast forgotten me!" Thereupon he withdrew his +mouth veil,[FN#403] so that what was hidden of his beauty was disclosed, and +lo! it was none other than Zau al-Makan. Then Sharrkan rejoiced in his +brother, save that he feared for him the rush of fighting and the crush of +braves a smiting; and this for two reasons, the first, his tender age and +exposure to the evil eye, and the second, that his safety was to the kingdom +the greater of the two overshadowing wings. So he said to him, "O King! thou +riskest thy life, so join thy steed to mine; in very sooth I fear for thee from +the foe; and better thou stint hazarding thyself forth of these squadrons, that +we may shoot at the enemy thine unerring shaft." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "I desire +to even thee in fray and I will not be niggard of myself before thee in the +melay." Then the host of Al-Islam, heaping itself upon the Infidels, girt them +on all sides, warred on them a right Holy War, and brake the power of the +children of impiety and pride and stowre. But King Afridun sighed when he saw +the evil wreak that had fallen on the Greek, and they turned their backs from +fight and addressed themselves to flight, making for the ships, when lo! there +came out upon them from the seacoast another host, led by the Minister Dandan, +the champion who was wont to make champions bite the dust, and to lay load on +them with cut and thrust. Nor less came forth the Emir Bahram, Lord of the +Provinces of Sham, amid twenty thousand horse doughty of arm; and the host of +Al-Islam pressed them in front and on flank and wrought them grievous harm. +Then a body of the Moslems turned against those who in the ships remained, and +perdition on them rained, till they threw themselves into the main, and they +slew of them many slain, more than a hundred thousand noblemen, nor was one of +their champions, great or small, saved from bale and bane. Moreover, they took +their ships, with all the money and treasure and cargo, save a score of keel, +and the Moslems got that loot whose like was never gotten in by gone years; nor +was such cut and thrust ever heard of by men's ears.[FN#404] Now amongst the +booty were fifty thousand horses, besides treasure and spoil past reckoning and +arithmetic, whereat the Moslems rejoiced with an exceeding joy for that Allah +had given them victory and protection. Such was the case with them; but as +regards the fugitive Infidels they soon reached Constantinople, whither the +tidings preceded them that King Afridun had prevailed over the Moslems; so +quoth the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, "I know that my son Hardub, King of +Roum, is no runagate and that he feareth not the Islamitic hosts, but will +restore the whole world to the Nazarene faith." Then she bade the Great King, +Afridun, give command that the city be decorated, and the people held festival +high and drank their wines drunkenly and knew not the decrees of Destiny. Now +whilst they were in the midst of their rejoicings, behold, the raven of dule +and downfall croaked over them, and up came the twenty fugitive ships wherein +was the King of Cæsarea. So King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, met them on +the sea shore, and they told him all that had befallen them from the Moslem, +and they wept sore and groaned and moaned; and rejoicing at weal was turned +into dismay for unheal; and they informed him concerning Luka son of Shamlut, +how calamity had betided him and how Death had shot him with his shaft. +Thereat the horrors of Doomday rose upon King Afridun,[FN#405] and he knew that +there was no making straight their crook. Then came up from them the sound of +weeping and wailing; the city was full of men mourning and the keepers were +keening, and sighs and cries were heard from all sides. And when King Hardub +of Greece met King Afridun he told him the truth of the case and how the flight +of the Moslems was by way of stratagem and deceit, and said to him, "Look not +to see any of the army, save those who have already reached thee." When King +Afridun heard these words he fell down in a fainting-fit, with his nose under +his feet; and, as soon as he revived, he exclaimed, "Surely the Messiah was +wroth with them that he caused the Moslems to prevail over them!" Then came the +Arch Patriarch sadly to the King who said to him, "O our father, annihilation +hath overtaken our army and the Messiah hath punished us!" Replied the +Patriarch, "Grieve not nor feel concerned, for it cannot be but that one of you +have sinned against the Messiah, and all have been punished for his offence; +but now we will read prayers for you in the churches, that the Mohammeden hosts +may be repelled from you." After which the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, came to +Afridun and said to him, "O King, verily the Moslem hosts are many, and we +shall never overcome them save by wile: wherefore I purpose to work upon them +by guile and repair to this army of Al-Islam, haply I may win my wish of their +leader and slay their champion, even as I slew his father. If my stratagem +succeed in his case, not one of the host he leads shall return to his native +land, for all are strong only because of him; but I desire to have some +Christian dwellers of Syria, such as go out every month and year to sell their +goods, that they may help me (for this they can do) in carrying out my plan." +Replied the King, "Be it so whenever thou wilt." So she bade fetch an hundred +men, natives of Najrán,[FN#406] in Sham, and the King asked them, "Have ye not +heard what hath befallen the Christians with the Moslems?" "Yes," answered +they; and he rejoined, "Know ye that this woman hath devoted her life to the +Messiah and purposeth to go forth with you, disguised as Monotheists and +Mohammedans, to work out a device which shall profit us and hinder the Moslem +from us: say, then, are ye also willing to devote yourselves to the Anointed +and I will give you a quintal of gold?[FN#407] He of you who escapeth shall +have the money, and him of you who dieth will the Messiah reward." "O King," +replied they, "we will devote our lives to the Messiah, and we will be thy +sacrifice." Thereupon the old woman took all she required of aromatic roots and +placed them in water which she boiled over the fire till the black essence of +them was extracted. She waited till the decoction was cold, then dipped the +corner of a long kerchief therein and stained her face therewith. Moreover, +she donned over her clothes a long gaberdine with an embroidered border and +took in her hand a rosary, and afterwards went in to King Afridun, who knew her +not, nor did any of his companions know her, till she discovered herself to +them: and there was none in the assembly but who thanked and praised her for +her cunning; and her son rejoiced and said, "May the Messiah never fail thee!" +Thereupon she took with her the Syrian Christians, and set out for the army of +Baghdad.— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the Ninety-third Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Afridun heard +these words, he fell into a fainting-fit with his nose under his feet; and, as +soon as he revived, fear fluttered the scrotum[FN#408] below his belly and he +complained to the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi. Now this accursed old woman was +a witch of the witches, past mistress in sorcery and deception; wanton and +wily, deboshed and deceptious; with foul breath, red eyelids, yellow cheeks, +dull brown face, eyes bleared, mangy body, hair grizzled, back humped, skin +withered and wan and nostrils which ever ran. But she had studied the +scriptures of Al-Islam and had made the Pilgrimage to the Holy House of Meccah +and all this that she might come to the knowledge of the Mohammedan ordinances +and the miraculous versets of the Koran; and she had professed Judaïsm in the +Holy City of Jerusalem[FN#409] for two years' space, that she might master the +magic of men and demons; so that she was a plague of plagues and a pest of +pests, wrong-headed as to belief and to no religion fief. Now the chief reason +of her sojourn with her son, King Hardub of Greece, was on account of the slave +virgins at his court: for she was given to tribadism[FN#410] and could not +exist without sapphism or she went mad: so if any damsel pleased her, she was +wont to teach her the art of rubbing clitoris against clitoris and would anoint +her with saffron[FN#411] till she fainted away for excess of volupty. Whoso +obeyed her she was wont to favour and make her son incline towards her; but +whoso repelled her she would contrive to destroy; and so she abode for a length +of time. This was known to Marjanah and Rayhánah and Utrijah, the handmaids of +Abrizah, and their Princess loathed the old woman and abhorred to lie with her, +because of the rank smell from her armpits, the stench of her fizzles more +fetid than carrion, and the roughness of her hide coarser than palm fibre. She +was wont to bribe those who rubbed parts with her by means of jewels and +instructions; but Abrizah held aloof from her and sought refuge with the +Omnipotent, the Omniscient; for, by Allah, right well quoth the poet, + +"Ho thou who grovellest low before the great * Nor over fording lesser men dost blench +Who gildest dross by dirham gathering, * No otter scent disguises carrion stench! + + +And now to return to the story of her stratagem and the woes of her working. +Presently she departed, taking the chief Nazarenes with their hosts, and turned +towards the army of the Moslems. Whereupon King Hardub went in to King Afridun +and said to him, "O King, we have no need of the Chief Patriarch nor of his +prayers, but will consult my mother's counsel and observe what she will do with +her craft unending against the Moslem hosts; for these are marching with all +their power, they will soon be upon us and they will encircle us on all sides." +When King Afridun heard this, terror took hold upon his heart and he wrote +letters, without stay or delay, to all the nations of the Nazarenes, saying, +"It behoveth none of the Messiahites or Cross knights to hold back, especially +the folk of the strongholds and forts: but let them all come to us, foot and +horse, women and children, for the Moslem hosts already tread our soil. So +haste! haste ye! ere what we fear to us here appear." Thus much concerning +them; but regarding the work of the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi; when she went +forth from the city with her suite, she clad them in the clothing of Moslem +merchants, having provided herself with an hundred mules carrying stuffs of +Antioch, such as goldwoven satins and royal brocades and so forth. And she had +taken a letter from King Afridun to the following effect: "These be merchantmen +from the land of Sham who have been with us: so it besitteth none to do them +harm or hindrance, nor take tax and tithe of them, till they reach their homes +and safe places, for by merchants a country flourisheth, and these are no men +of war nor of ill faith." Then quoth the accursed Zat al-Dawahi to those with +her, "Verily I wish to work out a plot for the destruction of the Moslem." +Replied they, "O Queen, command us whatso thou wilt; we are at thy disposal and +may the Messiah never disappoint thy dealings!" Then she donned a gown of fine +white wool and rubbed her forehead, till she made a great mark as of a scar and +anointed it with an ointment of her own fashion, so that it shone with +prodigious sheen. Now the old hag was lean bodied and hollow eyed, and she +bound her legs tightly round with cords[FN#412] just above her feet, till she +drew near the Moslem camp, when she unwound them, leaving their marks deeply +embedded in her ankles. Then she anointed the wheels with dragon's blood and +bade her companions beat her with a severe beating, and set her in a chest and, +quoth she, "Cry abroad the Refrain of Unity,[FN#413] nor fear from it aught of +damage!" Replied they, "How can we beat thee, who be our sovereign lady, Zat +al-Dawahi, mother of the King we glory in?" Then said she, "We blame not nor +deal reproach to him who goeth to the jakes, and in need evil becometh good +deed. When ye have set me in the chest, take it and make it one of the bales +and place it on mule back and fare forth with it and the other goods through +the Moslem camp, and fear ye no blame. And if any of the Moslems hinder you, +give up the mules and their lading and be take yourselves to their King, Zau +al-Makan, and implore his protection saying, 'We were in the land of the +Infidels and they took nothing from us, but wrote us a passport, that none +shall do us hindrance or work our mischance.' If he ask you, 'What profit had +ye of your property in the land of Roum?' answer him, 'We profited in the +deliverance of a pious man, who had been bound down in an underground cell nigh +fifteen years, crying out for help yet none helped him. Nay, the Infidels +tortured him night and day. We knew not this; but, after we had tarried in +Constantinople for some time, having sold our goods and bought others in their +stead, we determined on and made ready for a return to our native land. We +spent that night conversing about our journey and when day broke, we saw +figured upon the wall a human form and as we drew nigh it, behold, it moved and +said, 'O Moslems, is there amongst you one who is minded to woo the favour of +the Lord of the three Worlds?'[FN#414] 'How so?' asked we; and the figure +answered, 'Know that Allah hath made me speak to you, to the intent that your +faith be fortified, and that your belief embolden you and that you may go forth +of the country of the Infidels and repair to the Moslem host; for with them +wones the Sword of the Com passionate One, of our Age the Champion, King +Sharrkan, by whom He shall conquer Constantinople town and destroy the sect of +the Nazarene. And when ye shall have journeyed three days, you will find an +hermitage known as the Hermitage of the ascetic Matruhina[FN#415] and +containing a cell; visit it with pure intent and contrive to arrive there by +force of will, for therein is a Religious from the Holy City, Jerusalem, by +name Abdullah, and he is one of the devoutest of mankind, endowed with the +power of working saintly miracles[FN#416] such as dispel doubts and obscurity. +Certain of the monks seized him by fraud and shut him up in a souterrain where +he hath lain a long time. By his deliverance you will please the Lord of +Faithful Men, for such release is better than fighting for the Faith.'" Now +when the ancient dame and those with her had agreed upon such words, she said, +"As soon as that which I impart shall reach the ears of King Sharrkan, say him +further, 'Hearing this from that image we knew that the holy man'"—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the Ninety-fourth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old woman, Zat +al-Dawahi, and those with her had agreed upon such words, she said, "Now as +soon as that which I impart shall reach the ears of King Sharrkan say him +further, 'Hearing these words from that image we knew that the holy man was +indeed of the chiefest devotees and Allah's servants of purest qualities; so we +made three days' march till we came in sight of that hermitage, and then we +went up to it and passed the day in buying and selling, as is the wont of +merchants. As soon as day had departed our sight and night was come to darken +light, we repaired to the cell wherein was the dungeon, and we heard the holy +man, after chanting some verses of the Koran, repeat the following couplets, + +'My heart disheartened is, my breast is strait, * And sinks my soul in sea of bale and bate +Unless escape be near I soon shall die; * And Death were better than this doleful strait: +O Lightning an thou light my home and folk, * An their still brighter charms thy shine abate, +Say, what my path to meet them, being barred * By wars, and barricado'd succour's gate?' + + +"When once ye have brought me into the Moslem camp, and I mix with them you +shall see," the old woman continued, "how I will make shift to beguile them; and +slay them all, even to the last man." The Nazarenes hearing whet she said, +kissed her hands and set her in the chest, after they had beaten her with a +grievous beating in obedience to her commands, for they saw it was incumbent on +them to do her bidding in this; then they all made for the Moslem host as hath +erst been said. Such was the case with the damned hag, Zat al-Dawahi and her +companions; but as regards the Mohammeden army, they indeed, after Allah had +given them victory over their enemies and they had plundered everything in the +ships of money and hoards, all sat down to converse with one another and Zau +al-Makan said to his brother Sharrkan, "Verily, Allah hath granted us to +prevail because of our just dealing and discipline and concord amongst +ourselves; wherefore continue, O Sharrkan, to obey my commandment, in +submission to Allah (be He exalted and extolled!), for I mean to slay ten Kings +in blood-revenge for my sire, to cut the throat of fifty thousand Greeks and to +enter Constantinople." Replied Sharrkan, "My life be thy ransom against death! +Needs must I follow out the Holy War, though I wone many a year in their +country. But I have, O my brother, in Damascus a daughter, named Kuzia Fakan, +whom I love heartily for she is one of the marvels of the time and she will +soon be of age.' Said Zau al-Makan, "And I also have left my wife with child +and near her time, nor do I know what Allah will vouchsafe me by her. But +promise me, O my brother, that if Allah bless me with a son, thou wilt grant me +thy daughter for wife to him, and make covenant with me and pledge me thy faith +thereon." "With love and good will, replied Sharrkan; and, stretching out his +hand to his brother, he said, If she bring thee a son, I will give him my +daughter Kuzia Fakan, to wife." At this Zau al-Makan rejoiced, and they fell to +congratulating each other on the victory over the enemy. And the Wazir Dandan +also congratulated the two brothers and said to them, "Know, O ye Kings, that +Allah hath given us the victory, for that we have devoted our lives to Him (be +He exalted and ex tolled!); and we have left our homes and households; and it +is my counsel that we follow up the foe and press upon him and harass him, so +haply Allah shall enable us to win our wishes, and we shall destroy our +enemies, branch and root. If it please you, do ye go down in these ships and +sail over the sea, whilst we fare forward by land and bear the brunt of battle +and the thrust of fight." And the Minister Dandan ceased not to urge them to +combat and repeated his words who said, + +"To slay my foes is chiefest bliss I wist, * And on the courser's back be borne a list; +Comes promising tryst a messenger from friend * Full oft, when comes the friend withouten tryst." + + +And these words of another, + +"War for my mother (an I live) I'll take; * Spear for my brother; scymitar for sire +With every shag haired brave who meets his death * Smiling, till won from Doom his dear desire!" + + +And when the Wazir ended his verses, he said, "Praise be to Him who aided us +dear victory to uphold and who hath given us spoil of silver and fine gold!" +Then Zau al-Makan commanded the army to depart; and they fared on forcing their +marches for Constantinople, till they came to a wide and spacious champaign, +full of all things fair and fain, with wild cattle frisking and gazelles pacing +to and fro across the plain. Now they had traversed great deserts and drink +had been six days cut off from them, when they drew near this meadow and saw +therein waters founting and ripe fruits daunting and that land as it were +Paradise; for it had donned its adornments and decked itself.[FN#417] Gently +waved the branches of its trees drunken with the new wine of the dew, and +combined with the nectar of Tasnim the soft breathings of the morning breeze. +Mind and gazer were confounded by its beauty, even as saith the poet, + +"Behold this lovely garden! 'tis as though * Spring o'er its frame her greeny cloak had spread. +Looking with fleshly eyne, thou shalt but sight * A lake whose waters balance in their bed, +But look with spirit eyes and lo! shalt see * Glory in every leaf o'erwaves thy head." + + +And as another saith, + +"The stream's a cheek by sunlight rosy dyed, * Whose down[FN#418] is creeping shade of tamarisk stems +Round legs of tree trunks waveless roll in rings * Silvern, and blossoms are the diadems." + + +When Zau al-Makan saw this champaign, with its trees bowing and its flowers +blooming and its birds warbling, he called to his brother Sharrkan and said, "O +my brother, verily in Damascus is naught the like of this place. We will not +march from it save after three days, that we may take rest ourselves and that +the army of Al-Islam may regain strength and their souls be fortified to +encounter the blamed Infidels." So they halted therein and while camping +behold, they heard a noise of voices from afar, and Zau al-Makan asked the +cause thereof, and was answered that a caravan of merchants from the Land of +Syria had halted there to rest and that the Moslem troops had come on them; and +had haply seized something of the goods which they had brought from the country +of the Infidels. After a while up came the merchants, crying out and appealing +to the King for aidance. When Zau al- Makan saw this, he bade them be brought +before him and, when in presence they said to him, "O King, we have been in the +country of the Infidels and they plundered us of nothing: why then do our +brothers the Moslems despoil our goods, and we in their own land? Of a truth +when we saw your troops, we went up to them; and they robbed us of what we had +with us and we have now reported to thee all that hath befallen us." Thereupon +they brought out to him the letter of the King of Constantinople, and Sharrkan +read it and said, "We will presently restore to you what hath been taken from +you; but yet it behoveth you not to carry merchandise to the country of the +Infidels." Replied they, "O our Lord, in very sooth Allah despatched us thither +that we might win what Gházi[FN#419] never won the like of, not even thou in +all thy razzias." Asked Sharrkan, "What was it ye won?" "O King," answered +they, "we will not tell thee save in private; for if this matter be noised +among the folk, haply it may come to the ears of some,[FN#420] and this will be +the cause of our ruin and of the ruin of all Moslems who resort to the land of +the Greeks." Now they had hidden the chest wherein was the damned Zat al- +Dawahi. So Zau al-Makan and his brother brought them to a private place, where +they laid bare to both of them the story of the devotee, and wept till they +made the two Kings weep.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Ninety-fifth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Nazarenes who wore +merchants' weed, when brought to a private place by Zau al-Makan and his +brother Sharrkan, laid bare to both of them the story of the devotee and wept +till they made the two Kings weep and repeated to them all which had been +taught by the old witch Zat al-Dawahi. Thereupon Sharrkan's heart yearned to +the devotee and he was moved to ruth for him and was fired with zeal for the +service of Almighty Allah. So quoth he to them, "Did ye rescue this holy man +or is he still in the hermitage?" Quoth they, "We delivered him and slew the +hermit, fearing for our lives; after which we made haste to fly for dread of +death; but a trusty man told us that in this hermitage are quintals of gold and +silver and stones of price." Then they fetched the chest and brought out the +accursed old woman, as she were a cassia pod[FN#421] for excess of blackness +and leanness, and she was laden with the same fetters and shackles. When Zau +al-Makan and the bystanders saw her, they took her for a man of the best of +Allah's devotees and surpassing in pious qualities, more especially because of +the shining of her forehead for the ointment wherewith she had anointed her +face. So Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan wept sore; then they rose up in honour and +kissed her hands and feet, sobbing aloud: but she signed to them; and said, +"Cease this weeping and hear my words. Hereat they dried their tears in +obedience to her bidding, and she said, "Know ye both that I was content to +accept what my Lord did unto me, for I kenned that the affliction which befel +me was a trial from Him (be He exalted and extolled!); and whoso hath not +patience under calamity and tribulation, for him there is no coming to the +delights of Paradise. I had indeed supplicated Him that I might return to my +native land, not as a compensation for the sufferings decreed to me, but that I +might die under the horse hoofs of warriors fighting for the Faith who, being +slain in fray, live again without suffering death."[FN#422] Then she repeated +the following couplets, + +"Our Fort is Tor,[FN#423] and flames the fire of fight: * Moses art thou and this is time for aid: +Cast down thy rod, 'twill swallow all they wrought, * Nor dread for men their ropes be vipers made.[FN#424] +For Chapters read on fight day lines of foes, * And on their necks 'grave versets[FN#425] wi' thy blade!" + + +When the old woman had ended her verse, her eyes overflowed with tears and her +forehead under the unguent shone like gleaming light, and Sharrkan rose and +kissed her hand and caused food be brought before her: but she refused it, +saying, "I have not broken my fast by day for fifteen years; and how should I +break it at such a time when my Lord hath been bountiful to me in delivering me +from the captivity of the Infidels and removing from me that which was more +grievous to me than torment of fire? I will wait till sun down." So when it was +nightfall, Sharrkan and Zau al-Makan came and served her with food and said, +"Eat, O ascetic!" But she said, "This is no time for eating; it is the time for +worshipping the Requiting King." Then she stood up in the prayer niche and +remained praying till the night was spent; and she ceased not to do after this +fashion for three days and nights, sitting not but at the time of the Salám or +salutation[FN#426] ending with several prayers. When Zau al- Makan saw her on +this wise, firm belief in her get hold of his heart and he said to Sharrkan, +"Cause a tent of perfumed leather to be pitched for this Religious, and appoint +a body servant to wait upon him." On the fourth day she called for food; so +they brought her all kinds of meats that could seduce the sense or delight the +sight; but of all this she would eat only a scone with salt. Then she again +turned to her fast and, as the night came, she rose anew to pray; when Sharrkan +said to Zau al-Makan, "Verily, this man carrieth renunciation of the world to +the extreme of renouncing, and, were it not for this Holy War, I would join +myself to him and worship Allah in his service, till I came before His +presence. And now I desire to enter his tent and talk with him for an hour." +Quoth Zau al-Makan, "And I also: To-morrow we sally forth to fight against +Constantinople, and we shall find no time like the present." Said the Wazir +Dandan, "And I no less desire to see this ascetic; haply he will pray for me +that I find death in this Holy War and come to the presence of my Lord, for I +am aweary of the world." So as soon as night had darkened, they repaired to the +tent of that witch, Zat al-Dawahi; and, seeing her standing to pray, they drew +near her and fell a weeping for pity of her; but she paid no heed to them till +midnight was past, when she ended her orisons by pronouncing the salutation. +Then she turned to them; and after wishing them long life, asked them "Wherefore +come ye?", whereto they answered, "O thou holy man! diddest thou not hear us +weep around thee?" She rejoined, "To him who standeth in the presence of Allah, +remaineth no existence in time, either for hearing any or for seeing aught +about him." Quoth they, "We would have thee recount to us the cause of thy +captivity and pray for us this night, for that will profit us more than the +possession of Constantinople." Now when she heard their words she said, "By +Allah, were ye not the Emirs of the Moslems, I would not relate to you aught of +this at any time; for I complain not but to Allah alone. However, to you I +will relate the circumstances of my captivity. Know, then, that I was in the +saintly City of Jerusalem with certain ecstatics and inspired men, and did not +magnify myself among them, for that Allah (be He exalted and extolled!) had +endowed me with humility and abnegation, till I chanced to go down to the sea +one night and walked upon the water. Then entered into me pride; whence I know +not, and I said to myself, 'Who like me can walk the water?' And my heart from +that time hardened and Allah afflicted me with the love of travel. So I +journeyed to Roum land and visited every part for a whole year, and left no +place but therein I worshiped Allah. When I came to this spot,[FN#427] I clomb +the mountain and saw there an hermitage, inhabited by a monk called Matrubina, +who, when he sighted me, came out and kissed my hands and feet and said, +'Verily, I have seen thee since thou enteredst the land of the Greeks, and thou +hast filled me with longing for the land of Al-Islam.' Then he took my hand and +carried me into that hermitage, and brought me to a dark room; and, when I +entered it unawares, he locked the door on me and left me there forty days, +without meat or drink; for it was his intent to kill me by delay. It chanced +one day, that a Knight called Dakianús[FN#428] came to the hermitage, +accompanied by ten squires and his daughter Tamásil, a girl whose beauty was +incom parable. When they entered that hermitage, the monk Matruhina told them +of me, and the Knight said, 'Bring him out, for surely there is not on him a +bird's meal of meat.' So they opened the door of the dark room and found me +standing in the niche, praying and reciting the Koran and glorifying Allah and +humbling myself before the Almighty. When they saw me in this state Matrohina +exclaimed, 'This man is indeed a sorcerer of the sorcerers!'; and hearing his +words, they all came in on me, Dakianus and his company withal, and they beat +me with a grievous beating, till I desired death and reproached myself, saying, +'This is his reward who exalteth himself and who prideth himself on that which +Allah hath vouchsafed to him, beyond his own competence! And thou, O my soul, +verily self esteem and arrogance have crept into thee. Dost thou not know that +pride angereth the Lord and hardeneth the heart and bringeth men to the Fire?' +Then they laid me in fetters and returned me to my place which was the dungeon +under ground. Every three days, they threw me down a scone of barley bread and +a draught of water; and every month or two the Knight came to the hermitage. +Now his daughter Tamasil had grown up, for she was nine years old when I first +saw her, and fifteen years passed over me in captivity, so that she had reached +her four and twentieth year. There is not in our land nor in the land of the +Greeks a fairer than she, and her father feared lest the King take her from +him; for she had vowed herself to the Messiah and rode with Dakianus in the +habit of a cavalier, so that albeit none might compare with her in loveliness, +no one who saw her knew her for a woman. And her father had laid up his monies +in this hermitage, every one who had aught of price or treasured hoard being +wont to deposit it therein; and I saw there all manner of gold and silver and +jewels and precious vessels and rarities, none may keep count of them save +Almighty Allah. Now ye are worthier of these riches than those Infidels; so +lay hands on that which is in the hermitage and divide it among the Moslems and +especially on fighters in the Holy War. When these merchants came to +Constantinople and sold their merchandise, that image which is on the wall +spoke to them, by grace of a marvel which Allah granted to me; so they made for +that hermitage and slew Matruhina, after torturing him with most grievous +torments, and dragging him by the beard, till he showed them the place where I +was; when they took me and found no path but flight for dread of death. Now +To-morrow night Tamasil will visit that hermitage as is her habit, and her +father and his squires will come after her, as he feareth for her; so, if ye +would witness these things, take me with you and I will deliver to you the +monies and the riches of the Knight Dakianus which be in that mountain; for I +saw them bring out vessels of gold and silver to drink therefrom, and I heard a +damsel of their company sing to them in Arabic and well-away! that so sweet a +voice should not be busied in chaunting the Koran. If, then, ye will; enter +into that hermitage and hide there against the coming of Dakianus and his +daughter; and take her, for she is fit only for the King of the Age, Sharrkan, +or King Zau al-Makan." Thereat they all rejoiced with the exception of the +Wazir Dandan, who put scant faith in her story, for her words took no hold on +his reason, and signs of doubt in her and disbelief showed in his face.[FN#429] +Yet he was confounded at her discourse, but he feared to speak with her for +awe of the King. Then quoth the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, "Verily, I fear +lest the Knight come and, seeing these troops encamped in the meadow, be afraid +to enter the hermitage." So Zau al-Makan ordered the army to march upon +Constantinople and said, "I have resolved to take with me an hundred horse and +many mules and make for that mountain, where we will load the beasts with the +monies which be in the hermitage." Then he sent at once for the Chief +Chamberlain whom they brought into the presence; and he summoned likewise the +leaders of the Turks and Daylamites and said, "As soon as it is dawn, do ye set +forth for Constantinople; and thou, O Chamberlain, shalt take my place in +council and contrivance, while thou, O Rustam, shalt be my brother's deputy in +battle. But let none know that we are not with you and after three days we +will rejoin you." Then he chose out an hundred of the doughtiest riders, and he +and Sharrkan and the Minister Dandan set out for the hermitage, and the hundred +horsemen led the mules with chests for transporting the treasure.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Ninety-sixth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan and his brother, +Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan set off with an hundred horse for the +hermitage described to them by that accursed Zat al-Dawahi, and they took with +them mules and chests for transporting the treasure. Now as soon as dawned the +morn, the Chamberlain signalled to the host an order for departure, and they +set out thinking that the two Kings and the Wazir were with them; knowing not +that the three had made for the monastery. Such was the case with the host, but +as regards the two Kings and the Minister, they tarried in their place till the +end of that day. Now the Infidels who were with Zat al-Dawahi took their +departure privily, after they had gone in to her and kissed her hands and feet +and obtained her leave to march. So she not only gave them permission but also +taught them all she minded of wile and guile. And when it was dark night, she +arose and went in to Zau al-Makan and his companions and said to them, "Come, +let us set out for the mountain, and take with you a few men at arms." They +obeyed her and left five horsemen at the foot of the mountain, whilst the rest +rode on before Zat al-Dawahi, who gained new strength for excess of joy, so +that Zau al-Makan said, "Glory be to Him who sustaineth this holy man, whose +like we never saw!" Now the witch had written a letter to the King of +Constantinople and despatched it on the wings of a bird,[FN#430] acquainting +him with what had passed and ending, "I wish thee to send me ten thousand +horsemen of the bravest of the Greeks and let them steal along the foot of the +mountains with caution, lest the host of Al-Islam get sight of them; and, when +they reach the hermitage, let them ambush themselves there, till I come to them +with the Moslem King and his brother, for I shall inveigle them; and will bring +them thither, together with the Wazir and an hundred horse and no more, that I +may presently deliver to them the crosses which be in the hermitage. I am +resolved to slay the Monk Matruhina, since my scheme cannot be carried out but +by taking his life. If my plot work well, not one of the Moslems shall return +to his own country; no, not a living wight nor one who blows the fire alight; +and Matruhina shall be a sacrifice for the followers of the Nazarene faith and +the servants of the Cross, and praise be to the Messiah, first and last." When +this letter reached Constantinople, the keeper of the carrier pigeons carried +it to King Afridun, who read it and forthwith inspected his host and equipped +ten thousand cavaliers with horses and dromedaries and mules and provaunt and +bade them repair to that hermitage and, after reaching the tower, to hide +therein. Thus far concerning them; but as regards King Zau al-Makan and his +brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan and the escort, when they reached the +hermitage they entered and met the Monk Matruhina, who came out to see who and +what they were; whereupon quoth that pious man Zat al-Dawahi, "Slay this damned +fellow."[FN#431] So they smote him with their swords and made him drink the cup +of death. Then the accursed old woman carried them to the place of offerings +and ex votos, and brought out to them treasures and precious things more than +she had described to them; and after gathering the whole together, they set the +booty in chests and loaded the mules therewith. As for Tamasil, she came not, +she or her father, for fear of the Moslems; so Zau al-Makan tarried there, +awaiting her all that day and the next and a third, till Sharrkan said to him, +"By Allah, I am troubled anent the army of Al-Islam, for I know not what is +become of them." His brother replied, "And I also am concerned for them: we +have come by this great treasure and I do not believe that Tamasil or any one +else will approach the hermitage, after that befel which hath befallen the host +of the Christians. It behoveth us, then, to content ourselves with what Allah +hath given us and depart; so haply He will help us conquer Constantinople." +Accordingly they came down from the mountain, while Zat al-Dawahi was impotent +to oppose their march for fear of betraying her deceit; and they fared forwards +till they reached the head of a defile, where the old woman had laid an ambush +for them with the ten thousand horse. As soon as these saw the Moslems they +encircled them from all sides, couching lance and baring the white sabre blade; +and the Infidels shouted the watch word of their faithless Faith and set the +shafts of their mischief astring. When Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan +and the Minister Dandan looked upon this host, they saw that it was a numerous +army and said, "Who can have given these troops information of us?" Replied +Sharrkan, "O my brother, this be no time for talk; this is the time for smiting +with swords and shooting with shafts) so gird up your courage and hearten your +hearts, for this strait is like a street with two gates; though, by the virtue +of the Lord of Arabs and Ajams, were not the place so narrow I would bring them +to naught, even though they were an hundred thousand men!" Said Zau al-Makan, +"Had we wotted this we would have brought with us five thousand horse;" and the +Wazir Dandan continued, "If we had ten thousand horse they had availed us +naught in these narrows; but Allah will succour us against them. I know this +defile and its straitness, and I know there be many places of refuge in it; for +I have been here on razzia with King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, what while we +besieged Constantinople. We abode in this place, and here is water colder than +snow. So come, let us push out of this defile ere the Infidel host increase on +us and get the start of us to the mountain top, whence they will hurl down +rocks upon us, and we powerless to come at them." So they began hurrying on to +get out of those narrows; but the pious man, Zat al-Dawahi, looked at them; and +said, "What is it ye fear, ye who have vowed yourselves to the Lord, and to +working His will? By Allah, I abode imprisoned underground for fifteen years, +yet never gainsaid the Almighty in aught he did with me! Fight ye in Allah's +way; so whoever of you is slain Paradise shall be his abode, and whoso slayeth, +his striving shall be to his honour." When they heard from the ascetic these +words, their care and anxiety ceased from them; and they stood firm till the +Infidels charged down from all sides, whilst the swords played upon their necks +and the cup of death went round amongst them. The Moslems fought for the +service of Allah a right good fight, and wrought upon His foes with sway of +sword and lunge of lance; whilst Zau al-Makan smote upon the men and garred the +knights bite the dust and their heads from their bodies take flight, five by +five and ten by ten, till he had done to death a number of them past numbering +and an accompt beyond counting. Now while so doing, he looked at the accursed +old woman who was waving her sword and heartening them, and all who feared fled +to her for shelter; but she was also signing the Infidels to slay Sharrkan. So +troop after troop rushed on him with design to do him die; but each troop that +charged, he charged and drove back; and when another troop attacked him he +repelled the assault with the sword in their backs; for he thought it was the +devotee's blessing that gave him the vic tory, and he said in himself, "Verily +on this holy men Allah looketh with eyes of His favour and strengtheneth my +prowess against the Infidels with the purity of his pious intent: for I see +that they fear me and cannot prevail against me, but every one who assaileth me +turneth tail and taketh flight." So they battled the rest of the day and, when +night fell, the Moslems took refuge in a cave of that defile being weary with +stress of war and cast of stone: and that day were slain of them five and +forty. And when they were gathered together, they sought the devotee, but +could find no trace of him; and this was grievous to them; and they said, +"Belike, he hath died a martyr." Quoth Sharrkan, "I saw him heartening the +horsemen with divine instances and using as talisman verses of Holy Writ." Now +while they were talking, behold, the accursed old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, stood +before them, hending in hand the head of the Chief Captain of the ten thousand +horse, a noble knight, a champion fierce in fight and a Satan for blight. One +of the Turks had slain him with an arrow, and Allah hurried his soul to the +fire; and when the Infidels saw what that Moslem had done with their leader, +they all fell on him and wrought his bane and hewed him in pieces with their +swords, and Allah hurried his soul to Heaven. Then the accursed old woman cut +off that Knight's head and brought it and threw it at the feet of Sharrkan and +Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan. Now when Sharrkan sew her, he sprang up +hastily before her and exclaimed, "Praised be Allah for thy safety and for our +sighting thee, O holy man and devout champion of the Religion!" Replied she, O +my son, I have sought martyrdom this day, and have thrown my life away amid the +Infidel array, but they feared me with dismay. When ye dispersed, I waxed +jealous for your honour; so I rushed on the Chief Knight their leader, albeit +he was a match for a thousand horse, and I smote him till I severed head from +trunk. Not one of the Infidels could near me; so I brought his head to +you,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the Ninety-seventh Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damned witch, +Zat al-Dawahi, took the head of the Knight, the leader of the twenty thousand +Infidels, she brought it and threw it down before Zau al-Makan and his brother +Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan, saying, "When I saw your condition, I waxed +jealous for your honour; so I rushed on the Chief Knight and smote him with the +sword till I severed head from trunk. And none could near me, so I brought his +head to you, that you may be strengthened in Holy War and work out with your +swords the will of the Lord of the Faithful. And now I purpose leaving you to +strive against the Infidels, whilst I go to your army, though they be at the +gates of Constantinople, and return with twenty thousand horse to destroy these +Unfaithfuls." Quoth Sharrkan, "How wilt thou pass to them, O thou holy man, +seeing that the valley is blocked up on all sides by the Miscreants?" Quoth the +accursed hag, "Allah will veil me from their eyes and they shall not sight +me;[FN#432] nor, if any saw me, would he dare to attack me at that time, for I +shall be as one non existing, absorbed in Allah, and He will fend off from me +His foes." "Thou sayest sooth, O holy man," rejoined Sharrkan, "for indeed I +have been witness of that; so, if thou can pass out at the first of the night, +'twill be best for us." Replied she, "I will set out at this very hour and, if +thou desire, thou shalt go with me and none shall see thee. Furthermore if thy +brother also have a mind to go with us we will take him, but none else; for the +shadow of a saint can cover only twain." Sharrkan said, "As for me I will not +leave my comrades; but, if my brother will, there is no harm in his going with +thee and setting us free of this strait; for he is the stronghold of the +Moslems and the sword of the Lord of the three Worlds; and if it be his +pleasure, let him take with him the Wazir Dandan, or whom else he may elect and +send us ten thousand horse to succour us against these caitiffs." So after +debate they agreed on this and the old woman said, "Give me leisure to go +before you and consider the condition of the Infidels, if they be asleep or +awake." Quoth they, "We will not go forth save with thee and trust our affair +to Allah." "If I do your bidding," replied she, "blame me not but blame +yourselves; for it is my rede that you await me till I bring you tidings of the +case." Then said Sharrkan, "Go to them; and delay not from us, for we shall be +awaiting thee." Thereupon she fared forth and Sharrkan turned to his brother +addressing him and said, "Were not this holy man a miracle worker, he had never +slain yonder furious knight. This is proof sufficient of the ascetic's power; +and of a truth the pride of the Infidels is laid low by the slaying of this +cavalier, for he was violent, an evil devil and a stubborn." Now whilst they +were thus devising of the mighty works of the devotee, behold, the accursed Zat +al-Dawahi came upon them; and promised them victory over the Unbelievers; +wherefor they thanked her (not knowing that all this was wile and guile) and +the damned hag asked, "Where be the King of the Age, Zau al-Makan, and the +Minister Dandan?" Answered he, "Here am I!" Take with thee thy Wazir," said +she, "and follow after me, that we may fare forth to Constantinople." Now she +had acquainted the Infidels with the cheat she had put upon the Moslems, and +they rejoiced with exceeding great joy, and said, Our hearts will not be +contented till we shall have slain their King in return for the Knight's death; +because we had no stouter rider than he;" and they added (bespeaking the ill +omened hag as she told them her plan of faring to the land of the Moslems), +"When thou bringest him to us, we will bear him to King Afridun." Then she went +out and went out with her Zau al-Makan and the Minister Dandan, and she walked +on before the two saying, "Fare forth with the blessing of Almighty Allah!" So +they did her bidding, for the shaft of Pate and Fortune of man's lot had shot +them, and she ceased not leading them both through the midst of the Grecian +camp, till they came to the defile, the narrow pass aforesaid, whilst the +Infidel enemy watched them, but did them no hindrance; for the infernal old +woman had enjoined this. Now when Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan saw that +the Infidel host offered them no let and stay and yet had them in sight, the +Wazir exclaimed, "By Allah, this is one of the holy man's saintly miracles! +and doubtless he be of the elect." Rejoined Zau al-Makan, "By Allah, I think +the Infidels be naught but blind, for we see them; and they see us not." And +while they were thus praising the holy man and recounting his mighty works and +his piety and his prayers, behold, the Infidels charged down on them from all +sides and surrounded them; and seized them, saying, "Is there anyone else with +you twain, that we may seize upon him too?" And the Wazir Dandan replied, "See +you not yon other man that is before us? ' Replied the Unbelievers, "By the +truth of the Messiah and the Monks, and the Primate and the Metropolitan, we +see none save you two!" Then Zau Al-Makan said, "By Allah, this is a +chastisement decreed to us by Almighty Allah!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Ninety-eighth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Unfaithful had +seized upon King Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan, they said to the two, "Is +there anyone else with you twain, that we may seize upon him also?" And the +Wazir Dandan replied, "See you not yon other man who be with us?" They +rejoined, "By the truth of the Messiah and the Monks and the Primate and the +Metropolitan, we see none save you two!" Then the Infidels laid shackles on +their feet and set men to guard them during the night, whilst Zat al-Dawahi +fared on and disappeared from their sight. So they fell to lamenting and +saying to each other, "Verily, the opposing of pious men leadeth to greater +distress than this, and we are punished by the strait which hath befallen us." +So far concerning Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan; but as regards King +Sharrkan, he passed that night in the cavern with his comrades, and when dawned +the day and he had prayed the morn prayer, he and his men made ready to do +battle with the Infidel and he heartened them; and promised them all good. Then +they sallied out till they were hard upon the Unbelievers and, when these saw +them from afar, they cried out to them, saying, "O Moslems, we have taken +captives your Sultan and your Wazir who hath the ordering of your affairs; and +except ye leave off fighting us, we will slay you to the last man; but an you +yield yourselves we will take you to our King, who will make peace with you on +condition that you quit our country and return home and harm us in naught, and +we will do you no harm in aught. If ye accept, it will be well for you; but if +ye refuse there remaineth nothing for you but death. So we have told you +sooth, and this is our last word to you." Now when Sharrkan heard this and was +certified of the captivity of his brother and the Wazir Dandan, he was weighed +down with woe and wept; his force failed him and, making sure of death, he said +to himself, "Would I knew the cause of their capture! Did they fail of respect +to the holy man or disobey him, or what was the matter?" Then they sprang up to +battle with the Unbelievers and slew great numbers of them. The brave was known +that day from craven men, and sword and spear were dyed with bloody stain; for +the Infidels flocked up on them, as flies flock to drink, from hill and from +plain; but Sharrkan and his men ceased not to wage the fight of those who fear +not to die, nor let death hinder them from the pursuit of victory, till the +valley ran gore and earth was full of the slain she bore. And when night fell +the armies separated each making for his own place; and the Moslems returned to +the cavern where gain and loss were manifest to them: few remained of them; and +there was no dependence for them but on Allah and the scymitar. Now there had +been slain of them that day five and thirty men of the chiefest Emirs, and they +had killed thousands of the Infidels, footmen and fighters on horse. When +Sharrkan saw this, the case was grievous to him and he asked his comrades "What +shall we do?"; whereto all answered, "That which Almighty Allah willeth shall +befal us." On the morning of the second day, Sharrkan said to the remnant of +his troop, "If ye go forth to fight, not one of you will remain alive and we +have but little left of food and water; so I deem ye would do better to bare +your brands and go forth and stand at the mouth of this cavern, to hinder any +from entering. Haply the holy man may have reached the Moslem host, and may +return with ten thousand horses to succour us in fight with the Infidels, for +belike the Unfaithful may have failed to see him and those with him." They +said, This were the better course to take, and of its expediency no doubt we +make." So the troop went out and held the cavern mouth standing by its walls; +and every one of the Infidels who sought to enter in, they slew. Thus did they +fend off the foe from the gape of the cave and they patiently supported all +such assaults, till day was done and night came on dusky and dun;—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the Ninety-ninth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the army of the Moslems +held the cavern mouth and stood by its walls and they fended off the foe, and +every one of the Infidels attempted to charge them, him they slew; and they +patiently supported all such assaults till day was done and night came on dusky +and dun, by which time King Sharrkan had only five and twenty men and no more +left. Then quoth the Infidels to one another, "When shall these battle days +have an end? We are weary of warring the Moslems." And quoth one of them, "Up +and at them, for there remain of them but five and twenty men! If we cannot +prevail on them to fight, let us light a fire upon them;[FN#433] and if they +submit themselves and yield to us, we will take them prisoners; but if they +refuse we will leave them for fuel to the fire, so shall they become to men of +foreseeing mind a warning dire. May the Messiah on their fathers have no +grace, and may the sojourn of the Nazarenes be for them no abiding place!" So +they carried fuel to the jaws of the cavern and set fire to it. Thereupon +Sharrkan and his companions made sure of perdition and yielded themselves +prisoners. And while they were in this condition, lo! the knight their +captain said to those who counselled their slaughter, "It is not for any save +for King Afridun to kill them, that he may gratify his wrath; therefore it +behoveth us to keep them in durance by us till the morrow, when we will journey +with them to Constantinople and deliver them to our King, who shall deal with +them as he please." Said they, "This is the right course;" and he commanded to +pinion them; and set guards over them. Then, as soon as it was black night, the +Infidels busied themselves with feasting and making festival; and they called +for wine and drank it till all fell upon their backs. Now Sharrkan and his +brother, Zau al-Makan, were in confinement and so also were his companion +knights; whereupon the elder turned to the younger brother and said to him, "O +my brother, how win free?" "By Allah," replied Zau al Makan, "I know not; for +here we be like birds in cage." Then Sharrkan waxed wroth and sighed for excess +of rage and stretched himself, till his pinion bonds brass asunder; whereupon +being free he arose and went up to the Captain of the guard, and taking from +his pocket the keys of the fetters, freed Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan and +the rest of his men. Then he turned to the two and said, "I desire to slay +three of these Infidels and take and don their dress, we three; so that we +shall be guised as Greeks and we will pass through them, with out their knowing +us, and fare forth to our own force." Replied Zau al-Makan, "This is no safe +counsel for if we kill them, I fear some of their comrades may hear their +shrieks and the foe be aroused upon us and kill us. 'Twere the surer way to +pass out of the defile." So they agreed upon this and set out; and, when they +had left the head of the strait a little distance behind, they saw horses +picketed and the riders sleeping: and Sharrkan said to his brother, "Better we +take each one of us a steed." There were five and twenty horsemen, so they took +five and twenty horses, whilst Allah sent sleep upon the Infidels for a purpose +He knew and the Faithful mounted and fared on till they were out of reach. +Meanwhile Sharrkan set to gathering from the Infidels as many weapons, swords, +and spears, as were wanted. And while they took saddle and struck forwards +none of the Infidels supposed that anyone could release Zau al-Makan and his +brother and their men; or that their prisoners had power to escape. Now when +all the captives were safe from the Unfaithful, Sharrkan came up with his +comrades, and found them awaiting his arrival, on coals of flame, expecting him +in anxious grame, so he turned to them; and said, "Feel no fear since Allah +protecteth us. I have that to propose which haply shall effect our purpose." +"What is it?" asked they and he answered, "I desire that ye all climb to the +mountain top and cry out with one voice, 'Allaho Akbar!' and ye add, 'The army +of Al Islam is upon you! Allaho Akbar!' This wise their company will surely be +dissolved nor will they find out the trick for they are drunk, but they will +think that the Moslem troops have encompassed them about on all sides and have +mingled with them; so they will fall on one another brand in hand during the +confusion of drunkenness and sleep, and we will cleave them asunder with their +own swords and the scymitar will go round amongst them till dawn." Replied Zau +al-Makan, "This plan is not good; we should do better to make our way to our +army and speak not a word; for if we cry out 'Allaho Akbar,' they will wake and +fall on us and not one of us will escape." Rejoined Sharrkan, "By Allah, though +they should awake tis no matter, and I long that ye fall in with my plan, for +naught save good can come of it!" So they agreed thereon and clomb the mountain +and shouted, "Allaho Akbar!" And hills and trees and rocks reworded their +Allaho Akbar for fear of the Almighty. But when the Kafirs heard this slogan +they cried out to one another,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundredth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan spake thus, "I +long that ye fall in with this my plan, for naught save good can come of it." +So they agreed thereon and clomb the mountain head and shouted, "Allaho +Akbar!"; and hills and trees and rocks re worded their Allaho Akbar for fear of +the Almighty. The Infidels heard it and cried out one to other and donned their +armour and said, "The foe is upon us, by the truth of the Messiah!" Then they +fell on one another and slew of their own men more than any knoweth save +Almighty Allah. As soon as it was dawn, they sought for the captives, but +found no trace of them, and their captains said, "They who did this were the +prisoners in our possession; up, then, and after them in all haste till ye +overtake them, when we will make them quaff the cup of requital; and let not +fright nor the panic of sudden awaking possess you." So they took horse and +rode after the fugitives and it wanted but an eye twinkling before they +overtook them; and surrounded them. Now when Zau al-Makan saw this, he was +seized with increase of terror and said to his brother, "What I feared would +come, is come upon us, and now it remaineth only for us to fight for the +Faith." But Sharrkan preferred to hold his peace. Then Zau al- Makan and his +companions rushed down from the hill crest, shouting, "Allaho Akbar!" and his +men repeated the war cry and addressed themselves to fight and to sell their +lives in the service of the Lord of Faithful Men; and while they were in this +case, behold, they heard many voices voicing, "There is no god but the God! +God is most great! Salutation and salvation upon the Apostle, the Bringer of +glad Tidings, the Bearer of bad Tidings!''[FN#434] So they turned towards the +direction of the sound and saw a company of Moslems who believed in one God, +pushing towards them, whereat their hearts were heartened and Sharrkan charged +upon the Infidels crying out, "There is no god but the God! God is most great! +he and those with him, so that earth quaked as with an earthquake and the +Unbeliever host brake asunder and fled into the mountains and the Moslems +followed them with lunge and blow; and Zau al-Makan and his comrades of the +Moslems ceased not to smite the hosts of the Infidel foe, and parted heads from +bodies till day darkened and night coming on starkened sight. Thereupon the +Moslems drew together and passed the night in congratulations, and, when +morning dawned and daybreak shone with its shine and sheen, they saw Bahram, +the captain of the Daylamites, and Rustam, the captain of the Turks, advancing +to join them, with twenty thousand cavaliers like lions grim. As soon as they +saw Zau al-Makan, the riders dismounted and saluted him, and kissed ground +between his hands when he said to them, "Rejoice ye in the glad tidings of the +victory of the Moslem and the discomfiture of the tribe of Unbelievers!" Then +they gave one another joy of their deliverance and of the greatness of their +reward after Resurrection Day. Now the cause of the coming of the succours to +that place was this. When the Emir Bahram and the Emir Rustam and the Chief +Chamberlain, with the Moslem host and flags flaunting high ahead, came in sight +of Constantinople they saw that the Nazarenes had mounted the walls and manned +the towers and the forts, and had set all their defenders in order of defence, +as soon as they learned of the approach of the host of Al-Islam and the banners +Mohammedan, and they heard the clash of arms and the noise of war voices and +tramp of horse hoofs and from their look outs they beheld the Moslems, with +their standards and ensigns of the Faith of Unity under the dust clouds and lo! +they were like a flight of locusts or rain clouds raining rain, and the voices +of the Moslems chanting the Koran and glorifying the Compassionate One, struck +their ears. Now the Infidels knew of the approach of this host through Zat +al-Dawahi with her craft and whoredom,[FN#435] calumny and contrivance. And +the armies of Al-Islam drew near, as it were the swollen sea, for the multitude +of footmen and horsemen and women and children. Then quoth the General of the +Turks to the General of the Daylamites, "O Emir, of a truth, we are in jeopardy +from the multitude of the foe who is on the walls. Look at yonder bulwarks and +at this world of folk like the seas that clash with dashing billows. Indeed +yon Infidel outnumbereth us an hundredfold and we cannot be safe from spies who +may inform them that we are without a Sultan. In very sooth, we run danger +from these enemies, whose numbers may not be told and whose resources none can +withhold, especially in the absence of King Zau al-Makan and his brother +Sharrkan and the illustrious Wazir Dandan. If they know of this, they will be +emboldened to attack us in their absence and with the sword they will +annihilate us to the last man; not one of us safety shall see. So it is my +counsel that thou take ten thousand riders of the allies and the Turks, and +march them to the hermitage of Matruhina and the meadow of Malúkhiná in quest +of our brothers and comrades. If thou act by my advice, it may be we shall +approve ourselves the cause of their deliverance, in case they be hard pressed +by the Infidels; and if thou act not, blame will not attach to me. But, an ye +go, it behoveth that ye return quickly, for ill suspicion is part of prudence." +The Emir aforesaid fell in with his counsel; so they chose twenty thousand +horse and they set out covering the roads and making for the monastery above +mentioned. So much for the cause of their coming; but as regards the ancient +dame, Zat al-Dawahi, as soon as she had delivered Sultan Zau al-Makan and his +brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan into the hands of the Infidels, the foul +whore mounted a swift steed, saying to the Faithless, "I design to rejoin the +Moslem army which is at Constantinople and contrive for their destruction; for +I will inform them that their chiefs are dead, and when they hear that from me, +their joining will be disjointed and the cord of their confederation cut and +their host scattered. Then will I go to King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, +and to my son Hardub, King of Roum, and relate to them their tidings and they +will sally forth on the Moslems with their troops and will destroy them; and +will not leave one of them alive." So she mounted and struck across country on +her good steed all the livelong night; and, when day-dawned, appeared the +armies of Bahram and Rustam advancing towards her. So she turned into a +wayside brake and hid her horse among the trees and she walked a while saying +to herself, "Haply the Moslem hosts be returning, routed, from the assault of +Constantinople." However, as she drew near them she looked narrowly and made +sure that their standards were not reversed,[FN#436] and she knew that they +were coming not as conquered men, but fearing for their King and comrades. +When she was assured of this, she hastened towards them, running at speed, like +a devil of ill rede, till reaching them she cried out, "Haste ye! haste ye! O +soldiers of the Compassionate One, hasten to the Holy War against the hosts of +Satan!" When Bahram saw her he dismounted and kissed the ground before her and +asked her, "O friend of Allah what is behind thee?" Answered she, "Question not +of sad case and sore condition; for when our comrades had taken the treasure +from the hermitage of Matruhina, and designed to win their way Constantinople +wards, thereupon came out on them a driving host and a dreadful of the +Infidels." And the damned witch repeated to them the story to fill them with +trouble and terror, adding, "The most of them are dead, and there are but five +and twenty men left." Said Bahram, "O holy man! when didst thou leave them?" +"But this night,"[FN#437] replied she. He cried, "Glory be to Allah! to Him +who hath rolled up the far distance for thee like a rug, so that thou hast sped +thus walking upon thy feet and props upon a mid-rib of palm-tree! But thou art +one of the saints which fly like birds when inspired and possessed by His +directions."[FN#438] Then he mounted his horse, and he was perplexed and +confounded by what he had heard from the beldam so strong in lies and ill +calumnies, and he said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Verily our labour is lost and our hearts are +heavy within us, for our Sultan is a prisoner and those who are with him." Then +they cut across the country, wide and side, night and day, and when morning +dawned they reached the head of the defile and saw Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan +shouting. "There is no god but the God! Allaho Akbar! and Salutation and +Salvation upon the Congratulator, the Comminator."[FN#439] Whereupon he and +his drove at the Unbelievers and whelmed them, as the rain torrent whelms the +waste; and cried out their war cries, till fear get hold of the prowess Knights +and the mountains were cloven in affright. And when shone the day and showed +its shine and sheen, the breeze of morning blew upon them sweet and fragrant, +and each recognised other as hath been said before. Then they kissed the +ground before the King and before his brother Sharrkan, who told them all that +had befallen the party in the cave. Now thereat they marvelled and said to one +another, "Hasten we back to Constantinople, for we left our companions there, +and our hearts are with them." So they hurried departure, commending themselves +to the Subtle, the All-wise, and Zau al-Makan exhorted the Moslems to +steadfast- ness and versified in the following couplets,[FN#440] + +"Be praises mine to all praiseworthy Thee, * O Lord, who stinted not mine aid to be! +Though was I lost abroad, Thou west to me * Strongest support which vouchsafed victory: +Thou gav'st me wealth and reign and goodly gifts, * And slungest con quering sword of valiancy: +Thou mad'st me blest beneath Thy kingly shade, * Engraced with generous boons dealt fain and free: +Thou savedst *from every fear I feared, by aid * Of my Wazir, the Age's noblest he! +Garred us Thy grace in fight to throw the Greek, * Who yet came back dight in War's cramoisie: +Then made I feint to fly from out the fight; * But like grim lion turning made them flee, +And left on valley sole my foemen, drunk * Not with old wine[FN#441] but Death-cup's revelry: +Then came the Saintly Hermit, and he showed * His marvels wrought for town and wold to see; +When slew they hero-wights who woke to dwell * In Eden bowers wherein sweet rill-lets well." + + +But, when Zau al-Makan had made an end of versifying, his brother Sharrkan +congratulated him on his safety and thanked him for the deeds he had done; +after which both set out forcing their marches to rejoin their army.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and First Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan congratulated +his brother, Zau al-Makan, on his safety and thanked him for the deeds he had +done; after which both set out forcing their marches to rejoin their army. +Such was their case; but as regards the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, after she had +foregathered with the hosts of Rustam and Bahram, she returned to the coppice, +where she took her steed and mounted and sped on at speed, till she drew near +the Moslem army that beleaguered Constantinople, when she lighted down from her +destrier and led it to the pavilion tent of the Chief Chamberlain. And when he +saw her, he stood up to her in honour and signed to her with his right hand and +said, "Welcome O pious recluse!" Then he questioned her of what had befallen, +and she repeated to him her disquieting lies and deluding calumnies, saying, +"In sooth I fear for the Emir Rustam, and the Emir Bahram, for that I met them +and theirs on the way and sent them; and their following to relieve the King and +his companions. Now there are but twenty thousand horse and the Unbelievers +outnumber them; so I would have thee at this moment send off the rest of thy +troops at full speed to their suc cour, lest they be slain to the last man." +And she cried to them, "Haste! Haste!" When the Chamberlain and the Moslems +heard these words, their spirits fell and they wept; but Zat al-Dawahi said to +them, "Ask aidance of Allah and bear patiently this triburation; for ye have +the example of those who have been before you of the people of Mohammed; and +Paradise with its palaces is laid out by Allah for those who die martyrs; and +needs must all die, but most praiseworthy is dying while fighting for the +Faith." The Chamberlain, hearing this speech of the accursed old woman, called +for the Emir Bahram's brother, a knight by name Tarkash; and, choosing out for +him ten thousand horse, riders famed for force, bade him set out at once. So +he fared forth and marched all that day and the whole of the next night, till +he neared the Moslems. When daylight dawned, Sharrkan saw the dust cloud about +them; and feared for the men of Al-Islam and said, "If these troops which are +coming upon us be Moslem men our victory is assured by them; but, if these be +Nazarenes, there is no gainsaying Destiny's decrees." Then he turned to his +brother, Zau al- Makan, and said, Never fear, for with my life I will ransom +thee from death. If these be Mohammedan troops, then were it an increase of +heavenly favours; but, if they be our foes, there is no help save that we fight +them. Yet do I long to meet the Holy Man ere I die, so I may beg him to pray +that I die not save by death of martyrdom." Whilst the twain were thus +speaking, behold, there appeared the banners inscribed with the words, "There +is no god but the God and Mohammed is the Apostle of God;" and Sharrkan cried +out, "How is it with the Moslems?" "All are sound and safe," replied they, "and +we came not but out of concern for you." Then the Chief of the army dismounted +and, kissing ground before Sharrkan, asked, "O my lord, how be the Sultan and +the Wazir Dandan and Rustam and my brother Bahram; are they all in safety?" He +answered, "All well; but who brought thee tidings of us?" Quoth Tarkash; "It +was the Holy Man who told us that he had met my brother Bahram and Rustam and +had sent them both to you and he also assured us that the Infidels had +encompassed you and out numbered you; but I see not the case save the contrary +thereof and that you are victorious." They questioned him, "And how did the +Holy Man reach you?"; and he replied, "Walking on his feet and he had compassed +in a day and a night, ten days' journey for a well girt horseman." "There is no +doubt but that he is a Saint of Allah," said Sharrkan, "but where is he now?" +They rejoined, "We left him with our troops, the folk of the Faith, moving them +to do battle with the rebels and the Faithless." Thereat Sharrkan rejoiced and +all thanked Allah for their own deliverance and the safety of the Holy Man; and +commended the dead to His mercy saying, "This was writ in the Book." Then they +set out making for Constantinople by forced marches, and whilst they were on +this enterprise, behold, a dust cloud arose to such height that it walled the +two horizons, the eastern and the western, from man's sight and the day was +darkened by it to night. But Sharrkan looked at it and said, "Verily, I fear +lest this be the Infidels who have routed the army of Al-Islam for that this +dust walleth the world, east and west, and hideth the two horizons, north and +south." Presently appeared under the dust a pillar of darkness, blacker than +the blackness of dismal days; nor ceased to come upon them that column more +dreadful than the dread of the Day of Doom. Horse and foot hastened up to look +at it and know the terrors of the case, when behold, they saw it to be the +recluse aforesaid; so they thronged round him to kiss his hands and he cried +out, "O people of the Best of Mankind,[FN#442] the lamp which shineth in +darkness blind, verily the Infidels have outwitted the Moslems by guile, for +they fell upon the host of the One God whilst they deemed themselves safe from +the Faithless, and attacked them in their tents and made a sore slaughter of +them what while they looked for no wile; so hasten to the aid of the Believers +in the unity of God, and deliver them from those who deny Him!" Now when +Sharrkan heard these words, his heart flew from his breast with sore trouble; +and, alighting from his steed in amazement, he kissed the Recluse's hands and +feet. On like wise did his brother, Zau al-Makan, and the rest of the foot and +horse troops; except the Wazir Dandan, who dismounted not but said, "By Allah, +my heart flieth from this devotee, for I never knew show of devotion to +religion that bred not bane. So leave him and rejoin your comrades the +Moslems, for this man is of the outcasts from the gate of the mercy of the Lord +of the Three Worlds! How often have I here made razzias with King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman and trodden the earth of these lands!" Said Sharrkan, "Put away from +thee such evil thought, hast thou not seen this Holy Man exciting the Faithful +to fight, and holding spears and swords light? So slander him not, for +backbiting is blameable and poisoned is the flesh of the pious.[FN#443] Look +how he inciteth us to fight the foe; and, did not Almighty Allah love him, He +had cast him aforetime into fearful torment." Then Sharrkan bade bring a Nubian +mule for the ascetic to ride and said, "Mount, O pious man, devout and +virtuous!" But the devotee refused to ride and feigned self denial, that he +might attain his end; and they knew not that this holy personage was like him +of whom the poet saith, + +"He prayeth and he fasteth for an end he doth espy; * When once his end is +safely won then fast and prayer good bye."[FN#444] + + +So the devotee ceased not to walk among the horsemen and the footmen, like a +wily fox meditating guile, and began to uplift her voice, chanting the Koran +and praising the Compassionate One. And they continued pressing forward till +they approached the camp of Al-Islam, where Sharrkan found the Moslem in +conquered plight and the Chamberlain upon the brink of falling back in flight, +whilst the sword of Greece havoc dight among the Faithful, the righteous and +those who work upright,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Second Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sharrkan saw the +Moslems in conquered plight and the Chamberlain upon the brink of retreat and +flight and the sword havoc dight among the righteous and the workers of +upright, the cause of this weakness among the Moslems was that the accursed old +woman, Zat al- Dawahi, the foe of the Faith, after seeing that Bahram and +Rustam had set forward with their troops to join Sharrkan and his brother Zau +al-Makan, repaired to the camp of the Mahometans before Constantinople and +caused the mission of the Emir Tarkash, as hath been before said. In this her +purpose was to divide the Moslem forces the better to weaken them. Then she +left them; and entered Constantinople, and called with a loud voice on the +knights of the Greeks, saying, "Let me down a cord that I may tie thereto this +letter, and do ye bear it to your King Afridun, that he may read it and to my +son King Hardub that they both do what is written therein of bidding and +forbidding." So they let down for her a string and she tied thereto a letter +whose purport was the following: "From the terriblest of tribulations[FN#445] +and the chiefest of all calamities, Zat al-Dawahi, to King Afridun greeting. +But afterwards, of a truth I have contrived a device for destroying the +Moslems; so bide ye quiet and content. I have cozened and captured their +Sultan and the Wazir Dandan; and then I returned to their camp and acquainted +them therewith, whereby their pride had a fall and their withers were wrung. +And I have so wrought upon the host 'leaguering Constantinople that they have +sent ten thousand men under the Emir Tarkash to succour the capitves, of whom +there be now left but few; it is therefore my object that ye sally forth +against them with all your power while this day endureth; and that ye fall on +them in their tents and that ye leave them not till ye shall have slain them to +the last man; for, verily the Messiah looketh down upon you and the Blessed +Virgin favoureth you; and I hope of the Messiah that he forget not what deed I +have done." When her letter came to King Afridun, he rejoiced with great +joyance; and, sending at once for King Hardub of Greece, son of Zat al-Dawahi, +read the letter to him as soon as he came,whereathe was exceeding glad and +said, "See my mother's craft; verily it dispenseth with swords, and her aspect +standeth in stead of the terrors of the Day of Dread." Rejoined Afridun, "May +the Messiah not bereave us of thy venerable parent nor deprive her of her wile +and guile!" Then he bade the Knights give orders for sallying outside the city, +and the news was noised abroad in Constantinople. So the Nazarenes and the +cohorts of the Cross burst forth and unsheathed their keen sabres in their +numbers, shouting out their professions of impiety and heresies, and +blaspheming the Lord of all Creatures. When the Chamberlain saw the sally, he +said, "Behold, the Greek is upon us and they surely have learned that our +Sultan is far away; and haply they have attacked us, for that the most part of +our troops have marched to the succour of King Zau al-Makan!" Therewith he +waxed wroth and cried out, "Ho, soldiers of Al-Islam and favourers of the True +Faith, an you flee you are lost, but if ye stand fast, ye win! Know ye that +valiancy lieth in endurance of outrance and that no case is so strait but that +the Almighty is able to make it straight; Allah assain you and look upon you +with eyes of compassion fain!" Thereupon the Moslems cried out, "Allaho Akbar!" +and the believer in the One God shouted his slogan, and whirled the mill wheels +of fight with cutting and thrusting in main and might; scymitars and spears +played sore and the plains and valleys were swamped with gore. The priests and +monks priested it, tight girding their girdles and uplifting the Crucifixes, +while the Moslem shouted out the professions of the Requiting King and verses +of the Koran began to sing. The hosts of the Compassion are One fought against +the legions of Satan; and head flew from body of man, while the good Angels +hovered above the people of the Chosen Prophet, nor did the sword cease to +smite till the day darkened and night came on and starkened. Now the miscreants +had encompassed the Moslems and made sure of escaping the pains that awaited +them; and the Faithless greeded for victory over the Faithful until day-dawned +and dazzled. Thereupon the Chamberlain mounted, he and his men, trusting thee +Allah would help them to victory; and host was mingled with host and battle +rose a foot and took post. And heads flew from trunks whilst the brave stood +fast in stead; the craven turned tail and fled; and the Judge of death judged +and sentence sped, so that the champions fell from their saddles slain and +corpses cumbered meadow and plain. Then the Moslem began to give ground and +rearwards bent; and the Greek took possession of some of their tents; whereupon +the Moslems were about to break and retreat and take flight, when meanwhile +behold, up came Sharrkan with the rest of the host of Al-Islam and the +standards of the Believers in Unity. And having come up with them, he charged +the Infidels; and followed him Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan and the Emirs +Bahram and Rustam with his brother Tarkash. When the foe saw this, they lost +head and their reason fled, and the dust clouds towered till they covered the +country whilst the righteous Believers joined their pious comrades. Then +Sharrkan accosted the Chamberlain and praised him for his steadfastness; and he +in turn gave the Prince joy of his timely succour and his gaining the day. +Thereat the Moslems were glad and their hearts were heartened; so they rushed +upon their enemies and devoted themselves to Allah in their Fight for the +Faith. But when the Idolaters beheld the standards Mohammedan and there on the +profession of Faith Islamitan, proclaiming the Unity, they shrieked "Woe!" and +"Ruin!" and besought succour of the Patriarchs of the Monasteries. Then fell +they to calling upon John and Mary and the Cross abhorrent and stayed their +hands from slaughter, whilst King Afridun went up to consult King Hardub of +Greece, for the two Kings stood one at the head of each wing, right and left. +Now there was with them also a famous cavalier, Láwiyá hight, who commanded the +centre; and they drew out in battle-array, but indeed they were full of alarm +and affray. Meanwhile, the Moslems aligned their forces and thereupon Sharrkan +came to his brother, Zau al-Makan, and said, "O King of the Age, doubtless they +mean to champion it, and that is also the object of our desire; but it is my +wish to push forward the stoutest hearted of our fighters, for by forethought +is one half of life wrought." Replied the Sultan, "As thou wilt, O companion of +good counsel!" "It is my wish," added Sharrkan, "to stand in mid line opposite +the Infidel, with the Wazir Dandan on my left and thee on my right, whilst the +Emir Bahram leads the dexter wing and the Emir Rustam leads the wing sinistral; +and thou, O mighty King, shalt be under the standards and the ensigns, for that +thou art the pillar of our defence; upon thee, after Allah, is our dependence +and we will all be thy ransom from aught that can harm thee." Zau al-Makan +thanked him therefor, and the slogan arose and the sabre was drawn; but, as +things stood thus, behold, there came forth a cavalier from the ranks of Roum; +and, as he drew near, they saw that he was mounted on a slow paced she-mule, +fleeing with her master from the shock of swords. Her housings were of white +silk covered by a prayer-carpet of Cash mere stuff, and on her back sat a +Shaykh, an old man of comely presence and reverend aspect, garbed in a gown of +white wool. He stinted not pushing her and hurrying her on till he came near +the Moslem and said, "I am an ambassador to you all, and an ambassador hath +naught to do save to deliver; so give me safe conduct and permit of speech, +that I communicate to you my message." Replied Sharrkan, "Thou art in safety: +fear neither sway of sword nor lunge of lance." Thereupon the old man +dismounted and, taking the Cross from his neck, placed it before the Sultan and +humbled himself with much humility. Then quoth to him the Moslems, "What is +with thee of news?"; and quoth he, "I am an ambassador from King Afridun, for I +counselled him to avert the destruction of all these frames of men and temples +of the Compassionate One; and to him it seemed righteous to stay the shedding +of blood and limit it to the encounter of two knights in shock of fight +singular; so he agreed to that and he saith to you, 'Verily, I will ransom my +army with my life; so let the Moslem King do as I do and with his life ransom +his host. And if he kill me, there will be no stay left in the army of Roum, +and if I kill him, there will be no stability with the Moslems." When Sharrkan +heard this he said, "O monk, I agree to that, for it is just nor may it be +gainsaid; and behold, I will meet him in duello and do with him derring-do, for +I am Champion of the Faithful even as he is Champion of the Faithless; and if +he slay me, he will have won the day and naught will remain for the Moslems +forces save flight. So return to him, O thou monk, and say that the single +combat shall take place to morrow, for this day we have come off our journey +and are aweary; but after rest neither reproach nor blame fear ye." So the monk +returned (and he rejoicing) to King Afridun and King Hardub, and told them both +what Sharrkan had said, whereat King Afridun was glad with exceeding gladness +and fell from him anxiety and sadness, and he said to himself, "No doubt but +this Sharrkan is their doughtiest swayer of the sword and the dourest at lunge +of lance; and when I shall have slain him, their hearts will be disheartened +and their strength will be shattered." Now Zat al-Dawahi had written to King +Afridun of that and had told him how Sharrkan was a Knight of the Braves and +the bravest of knights and had warned him against him; but Afridun was a +stalwart cavalier who fought in many a fashion; he could hurl rocks and throw +spears and smite with the iron mace and he feared not the prowess of the prow. +So when he heard the report of the monk that Sharrkan agreed to the duello, he +was like to fly for exceeding joy because he had self confidence and he knew +that none could with stand him. The Infidels passed that night in joy and +jubilee and wine bibbing; and, as soon as it was dawn, the two armies drew out +with the swart of spear and the blanch of blade. And behold a cavalier rode +single-handed into the plain, mounted on a steed of purest strain, and for +foray and fray full ready and fain. And that Knight had limbs of might and he +was clad in an iron cuirass made for stress of fight. On his breast he wore a +jewelled mirror and in his hand he bore a keen scymitar and his lance of +Khalanj wood,[FN#446] the curious work of the Frank, weighing a quintal. Then +the rider uncovered his face and cried out, saying, "Whoso knoweth me verily +hath enough of me, and whoso knoweth me not right soon[FN#447] shall ken who I +be. I am Afridun the overwhelmed by the well omened Shawáhi,[FN#448] Zat +al-Dawahi." But he had not ended speaking ere Sharrkan, the Champion of the +Moslems, fared forth to meet him, mounted on a sorrel horse worth a thousand +pieces of red gold with accoutrements purfled in pearls and precious stone; and +he bore in baldrick a blade of watered Indian steel that through necks shore +and made easy the hard and sore. He drave his charger between the two hosts in +line whilst the horsemen all fixed on him their eyne, and he cried out to +Afridun, "Woe to thee, O accursed! dost thou deem me one of the horsemen thou +hast overta'en who cannot stand against thee on battle-plain?" Then each rushed +upon other and they bashed together like two mountains crashing or two billows +dash ing and clashing: they advanced and retreated; and drew together and +withdrew; and stinted not of fray and fight and weapon play, and strife and +stay, with stroke of sword and lunge of lance. Of the two armies looking on, +some said, "Sharrkan is victor!" and others, "Afridun will conquer!"; and the +two riders stayed not their hands from the hustle until ceased the clamour and +the bustle; and the dust columns rose and the day waned and the sun waxed +yellow and wan. Then cried out King Afridun to Sharrkan, saying, "By the truth +of the Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, thou art nought save a doughty +rider and a stalwart fighter; but thou art fraudful and thy nature is not that +of the noble. I ken thy work is other than praiseworthy nor is thy prowess +that of a Prince; for thy people behave to thee as though thou wert a +slave;[FN#449] and see! they bring thee out a charger which is not thine, that +thou mayst mount and return to the fight. But by the truth of my Faith, thy +fighting irketh and fatigueth me and I am weary of cutting and thrusting with +thee; and if thou purpose to lay on load with me to night, thou wouldst not +change aught of thy harness nor thy horse, till thou approve to the cavaliers, +thy generous blood and skill in brunt." When Sharrkan heard him say these words +concerning his own folk behaving to him though he were a slave, he waxt wroth +and turned towards his men, meaning to sign to them; and bid them not prepare +him change of harness or horse, when lo! Afridun shook his throw spear high in +air and cast it at Sharrkan. Now when the Moslem turned his back, he found +none of the men near him, and he knew this to be a trick of the accursed +Infidel; so he wheeled round in haste and behold, the javelin came at him, so +he swerved from it, till his head was bent low as his saddle bow. The weapon +grazed his breast, and pierced the skin of his chest, for Sharrkan was +high-bosomed: whereupon he gave one cry and swooned away. Thereat the accursed +Afridun was joyful, thinking he had slain him; and shouted to the Infidels +bidding them rejoice, whereat the Faithless were encouraged and the Faithful +wept. When Zau al-Makan saw his brother reeling in selle so that he well-nigh +fell, he despatched cavaliers towards him and the braves hurried to his aid and +came up with him. Thereupon the Infidels drove at the Moslems; the two hosts +joined battle and the two lines were mingled, whilst the keen scymitar of +Al-Yaman did good work. Now the first to reach Sharrkan was the Wazir +Dandan,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Third Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Zau al-Makan +saw that the accursed Infidel had struck with javelin his brother Sharrkan, he +deemed him dead, and despatched cavaliers towards him; and the first to reach +him were the Wazir Dandan and the Emir of the Turks, Bahram, and the Emir of +the Daylamites, Rustam. They found him falling from his horse; so they stayed +him in his saddle and returned with him to his brother, Zau al-Makan; then they +gave him in charge to his pages, and went again to do the work of cut and +thrust. So the strife redoubled and the weapons together clashed and ceased +not bate and debate and naught was to be seen but blood flowing and necks +bowing; nor did the swords cease on the napes of men to make play nor the +strife to rage with more and more affray, till the most part of the night was +past away and the two hosts were aweary of the mellay. So they called a truce +and each army returned to its tents, whilst all the Infidels repaired to King +Afridun and kissed the ground before him, and the priests and monks wished him +joy of his victory over Sharrkan. Then the King fared for Constantinople and +sat upon the throne of his realm, when King Hardub came to him and said, "May +the Messiah strengthen thy fore arm and never cease to be thy helper and +hearken to what prayers my pious mother, Zat al-Dawahi, shall pray for thee! +Know that the Moslems can make no stay without Sharrkan." Replied Afridun, "To +morrow shall end the affair when to fight I fare: I will seek Zau al-Makan and +slay him, and their army shall turn tail and of flight shall avail." Such was +the case with the Kafirs; but as regards the host of Al-Islam, when Zau +al-Makan returned to his tent, he thought of naught but his brother and, going +into the pavilion, found him in evil case and sore condition; whereupon he +summoned for counsel the Wazir Dandan and Rustam and Bahram. When they entered, +they opined to assemble the physicians that they might medicine Sharrkan, and +they wept and said, "The world will not readily afford his like!" and they +watched by him all that night, and about the later hours came to them the +Recluse in tears. When Zau al-Makan saw him, he rose in honour; and the +Religious stroked Sharrkan's wound with his hand, chanting somewhat of the +Koran and repeating by way of talisman some of the verses of the Compassionate +One. And the pretender ceased not to watch over him till dawn, when he came to +himself and, opening his eyes, moved his tongue in his mouth and spake. At +this Zau al-Makan rejoiced, saying, "Of a truth the blessing of the Holy Man +hath taken effect on him!" And Sharrkan said, "Praised be Allah for recovery; +indeed, I am well at this hour. That accursed one played me false; and, but +that I swerved aside lighter than lightening, the throw spear had pierced +through my breast. So praised be Allah for saving me! And how is it with the +Moslems?" Answered Zau al-Makan, "All are weeping for thee." Quoth Sharrkan, "I +am well and in good case; but where is the Holy Man?" Now he was sitting by him +and said, "At thy head." So the Prince turned to him and kissed his hand when +he said, "O my son! Be of good patience and Allah shall increase thy reward; +for the wage is measured by the work." Sharrkan rejoined, "Pray for me," and he +prayed for him. As soon as morning dawned and day brake in shine and sheen, +the Moslems sallied out to the plain and the Kafirs made ready to thrust and +cut. Then the Islamite host advanced and offered fight with weapons ready +dight, and King Zau al-Makan and Afridun made to charge one at other. But when +Zau al-Makan fared forth into the field, there came with him the Wazir Dandan +and the Chamberlain and Bahram, saying, "We will be thy sacrifice." He replied, +"By the Holy House and Zemzem and the Place![FN#450] I will not be stayed from +going forth against these wild asses." And when he rode out into the field he +played with sword and spear till riders marvelled and both armies wondered; +then he rushed upon the foe's right wing and of it slew two knights and in like +manner he dealt with the left wing. Presently he stayed his steed in the midst +of the field and cried out, "Where is Afridun, that I may make him taste the +cup of disgrace?" But when King Hardub saw the case he conjured Afridun not to +attack him, saying, "O King, yesterday it was thy turn to fight: it is mine to +day. I care naught for his prowess." So he rushed out towards Zau al-Makan +brand in hand and under him a stallion like Abjar, which was Antar's charger +and its coat was jet black even as saith the poet, + +"On the glancing racer outracing glance * He speeds, as though he would collar Doom: +His steed's black coat is of darkest jet, * And likest Night in her nightliest gloom: +Whose neigh sounds glad to the hearer's ears * Like thunders rolling in thun d'rous boom: +If he race the wind he will lead the way, * And the lightning flash will behind him loom.''[FN#451] + + +Then each rushed upon the opponent, parrying blows and proving the marvellous +qualities were stored in him; and they fell to drawing on and withdrawing till +the breasts of the bystanders were straitened and they were weary of waiting +for the event. At last Zau al-Makan cried out his war cry and rushed upon +Hardub, King of Cæsarea,[FN#452] and struck him a stroke that shore head from +trunk and slew him on the spot. When the Infidels saw this, they charged in a +body, compact and united, upon Zau al-Makan, who met them amidfield, and they +engaged in hewing and foining, till blood ran in rills. Then the Moslems cried +out, "Allaho Akbar!" (God is most Great) and "There is no god but the God!", +and invoked salvation for the Prophet, the Bringer of Glad Tidings, the Bearer +of Bad Tidings. And there befel a great fight, but Allah assigned victory to +the Faithful and defeat to the Faithless. The Wazir Dandan shouted, "Take your +blood-revenge for King Omar bin al Nu'uman and his son Sharrkan!"; and bared +his head and cried out to the Turks. Now there were by his side more than +twenty thousand horse, and all charged with him as men, when the Faithless +found naught to save their lives but flight. So they turned tail to fly while +the biting sabre wrought its havoc and the Moslems slew of them that day some +fifty thousand horse and took more than that number: much folk also were slain +while going in at the gates, for the flock was great. Then the Greeks hove to +the doors and swarmed up the walls to await the assault; and in fine the Moslem +hosts returned to their tents aided to glory and victory, and King Zau al-Makan +went in to his brother whom he found in most joyous case. So he made a +prostration of thanks to the Bountiful and the Exalted; and then he came +forward and gave Sharrkan joy of his recovery. Answered he, "Verily we are all +under the benediction of this Religious, holy and righteous, nor would you have +been victorious, but for his accepted orisons; indeed all day he remained at +prayer to invoke victory on the Moslems."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fourth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zau al- Makan went +in to his brother Sharrkan, he found him sitting with the Holy Man by his side; +so he rejoiced and drew near him and gave him joy of his recovery. Answered +he, "Verily we are all under the benediction of this Recluse nor would you have +been victorious but for his prayers, indeed he felt no fear this day and he +ceased not supplication for the Moslems. I found strength return to me, when I +heard your 'Allaho Akbar,' for then I knew you to be victorious over your +enemies. But now recount to me, O my brother, what befel thee." So he told him +all that had passed between him and the accursed Hardub and related how he had +slain him and sent him to the malediction of Allah; and Sharrkan praised him +and thanked him for his prowess. When Zat al-Dawahi heard tell of her son's +death (and she still drest as a devotee), her face waxed yellow and her eyes +ran over with railing tears: she kept her counsel, however, and feigned to the +Moslems that she was glad and wept for excess of joy. But she said to herself, +"By the truth of the Messiah, there remaineth no profit of my life, if I burn +not his heart for his brother, Sharrkan, even as he hath burned my heart for +King Hardub, the mainstay of Christendom and the hosts of Crossdom!" Still she +kept her secret. And the Wazir Dandan and King Zau al-Makan and the +Chamberlain remained sitting with Sharrkan till they had dressed and salved his +wound; after which they gave him medicines and he began to recover strength; +whereat they joyed with exceeding joy and told the troops who congratulated +themselves, saying, "To morrow he will ride with us and do manly devoir in the +siege." Then said Sharrkan to them, "Ye have fought through all this day and +are aweary of fight; so it behoveth that you return to your places and sleep +and not sit up." They accepted his counsel and then each went away to his own +pavilion, and none remained with Sharrkan but a few servants and the old woman +Zat al-Dawahi. He talked with her through part of the night, then he stretched +himself to rest: and his servants did likewise and presently sleep overcame +them all and they lay like the dead. Such was the case with Sharrkan and his +men; but as regards the old woman she alone abode awake while they slumbered in +the tent and, looking at Sharrkan she presently saw that he was drowned in +sleep. Thereupon she sprang to her feet, as she were a scald she bear or a +speckled snake, and drew from her waist-cloth a dagger so poisoned that if laid +thereon it would have melted a rock. Then she unsheathed the poniard and went +up to Sharrkan's head and she drew the knife across his throat and severed his +weasand and hewed off his head from his body. And once more she sprang to her +feet; and, going the round of the sleeping servants, she cut off their heads +also, lest they should awake. Then she left the tent and made for the Sultan's +pavilion, but finding the guards on the alert, turned to that of the Wazir +Dandan. Now she found him reading the Koran and when his sight fell upon her +he said, "Welcome to the Holy Man!" Hearing this from the Wazir, her heart +trembled and she said, "The reason of my coming hither at this time is that I +heard the voice of a saint amongst Allah's Saints and am going to him." Then +she turned her back, but the Wazir said to himself, "By Allah, I will follow +our Devotee this night!" So he rose and walked after her; but when the accursed +old woman sensed his footsteps, she knew that he was following her: wherefore +she feared the disgrace of discovery and said in herself, "Unless I serve some +trick upon him he will disgrace me." So she turned and said to him from afar, +"Ho, thou Wazir, I am going in search of this Saint that I may learn who he is; +and, after learning this much, I will ask his leave for thee to visit him. +Then I will come back and tell thee: for I fear thine accompanying me, without +having his permission, lest he take umbrage at me seeing thee in my society." +Now when the Wazir heard these words, he was ashamed to answer her; so he left +her and returned to his tent, and would have slept; but sleep was not +favourable to him and the world seemed heaped upon him. Presently he rose and +went forth from the tent saying in himself, "I will go to Sharrkan and chat +with him till morning." But when he entered into Sharrkan's pavilion, he found +the blood running like an aqueduct and saw the servants lying with their +throats cut like beasts for food. At this he cried a cry which aroused all who +were asleep; the folk hastened to him and, seeing the blood streaming, set up a +clamour of weeping and wailing. Then the noise awoke the Sultan, who enquired +what was the matter, and it was said to him, "Sharrkan thy brother and his +servants are murthered." So he rose in haste and entered the tent, and found +the Wazir Dandan shrieking aloud and he saw his brother's body without a head. +Thereat he swooned away and all the troops crowded around him, weeping and +crying out, and so remained for a while, till he came to himself, when he +looked at Sharrkan and wept with sore weeping, while the Wazir and Rustam and +Bahram did the like. But the Chamberlain cried and lamented more than the rest +and asked leave to absent himself, such was his alarm. Then said Zau al-Makan, +"Know ye who did this deed and how is it I see not the Devotee, him who the +things of this world hath put away?" Quoth the Wazir, "And who should have been +the cause of this affliction, save that Devotee, that Satan? By Allah, my +heart abhorred him from the first, because I know that all who pretend to be +absorbed in practices religious are vile and treacherous!" And he repeated to +the King the tale of how he would have followed the Religious, but he forbade +him, whereupon the folk broke out into a tumult of weeping and lamentation and +humbled themselves before Him who is ever near, Him who ever answereth prayer, +supplicating that He would cause the false Devotee who denied Allah's testimony +to fall into their hands. Then they laid Sharrkan out and buried him in the +mountain aforesaid and mourned over his far-famed virtues.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fifth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they laid Sharrkan out +and buried him in the mountain aforesaid and mourned over his far-famed +virtues. Then they looked for the opening of the city-gate; but it opened not +and no sign of men appeared to them on the walls; whereat they wondered with +exceeding wonder. But King Zau al-Makan said, "By Allah, I will not turn back +from them, though I sit here for years and years, till I take blood-revenge for +my brother Sharrkan and waste Constantinople and kill the King of the +Nazarenes, even if death overcome me and I be at rest from this woeful world!" +Then he bade be brought out the treasure taken from the Monastery of Matruhina; +and mustered the troops and divided the monies among them, and he left not one +of them but he gave him gifts which contented him. Moreover, he assembled in +the presence three hundred horse of every division and said to them, "Do ye +send supplies to your households, for I am resolved to abide by this city, year +after year, till I have taken man-bote for my brother Sharrkan, even if I die +in this stead." And when the army heard these words and had received his gifts +of money they replied, "To hear is to obey!" Thereupon he summoned couriers and +gave them letters and charged them to deliver the same, together with the +monies, to the soldiers' families and inform them that all were safe and +satisfied, and acquaint them saying, "We are encamped before Constantinople and +we will either destroy it or die; and, albeit we be obliged to abide here +months and years, we will not depart hence till we take it." Moreover, he bade +the Wazir Dandan write to his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman, and said to him, +"Acquaint her with what hath befallen us, and what be our situation and commend +my child to her care since that, when I went out to war, my wife was near her +delivery and by this time she must needs have been brought to bed; and if she +hath given birth to a boy, as I have heard say, hasten your return and bring me +the acceptable news." Then he gave them somewhat of money, which they pouched +and set out at once; and all the people flocked forth to take leave of them; and +entrust them with the monies and the messages. After they had departed, Zau +al-Makan turned to the Wazir Dandan and commanded him to advance with the army +against the city walls. So the troops pushed forward, but found none on the +ramparts, whereat they marvelled, while Zau al-Makan was troubled at the case, +for he deeply mourned the severance from his brother Sharrkan and he was sore +perturbed about that traitor the Ascetic. In this condition they abode three +days without seeing anyone. So far concerning the Moslems; but as regards the +Greeks and the cause of their refusing to fight during these three days the +case was this. As soon as Zat al-Dawahi had slain Sharrkan, she hastened her +march and reached the walls of Constantinople, where she called out in the +Greek tongue to the guards to throw her down a rope. Quoth they, "Who art +thou?"; and quoth she, "I am Zat al- Dawahi." They knew her and let down a cord +to which she tied herself and they drew her up; and, when inside the city, she +went in to the King Afridun and said to him, "What is this I hear from the +Moslems? They say that my son King Hardub is slain." He answered, "Yes;" and +she shrieked out and wept right grievously and ceased not weeping thus till she +made Afridun and all who were present weep with her. Then she told the King +how she had slain Sharrkan and thirty of his servants, whereat he rejoiced and +thanked her; and, kissing her hands, exhorted her to resignation for the loss +of her son. Said she, "By the truth of the Messiah, I will not rest content +with killing that dog of the Moslem dogs in blood-revenge for my son, a King of +the Kings of the age! Now there is no help for it but that I work some guile +and I contrive a wile whereby to slay the Sultan Zau al-Makan and the Wazir +Dandan and the Chamberlain and Rustam and Bahram and ten thousand cavaliers of +the army of Al-Islam; for it shall never be said that my son's head be paid +with the bloodwit of Sharrkan's head; no, never!" Then said she to King +Afridun, "Know, O King of the Age, that it is my wish to set forth mourning for +my son and to cut my Girdle and to break the Crosses." Replied Afridun, "Do +what thou desire; I will not gainsay thee in aught. And if thou prolong thy +mourning for many days it were a little thing; for though the Moslems resolve +to beleaguer us years and years, they will never win their will of us nor gain +aught of us save trouble and weariness." Then the Accursed One (when she had +ended with the calamity she had wrought and the ignominies which in herself she +had thought) took ink case and paper and wrote thereon: "From Shawahi, Zat al- +Dawahi, to the host of the Moslems. Know ye that I entered your country and +duped by my cunning your nobles and at first hand I slew your King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman in the midst of his palace. Moreover, I slew, in the affair of the +mountain pass and of the cave, many of your men; and the last I killed were +Sharrkan and his servants. And if fortune do not stay me and Satan obey me, I +needs must slay me your Sultan and the Wazir Dandan, for I am she who came to +you in disguise of a Recluse and who heaped upon you my devices and deceits. +Wherefore, an you would be in safety after this, fare ye forth at once; and if +you seek your own destruction cease not abiding for the nonce; and though ye +tarry here years and years, ye shall not do your desire on us. And so peace be +yours!" After writing her writ she devoted three days to mourning for King +Hardub; arid, on the fourth, she called a Knight and bade him take the letter +and make it fast to a shaft and shoot it into the Moslem camp. When this was +done, she entered the church and gave herself up to weeping and wailing for the +loss of her son, saying to him who took the kingship after him, "Nothing will +serve me but I must kill Zau al-Makan and all the nobles of Al-Islam." Such was +the case with her; but as regards what occurred to the Moslems, all passed +three days in trouble and anxiety, and on the fourth when gazing at the walls +behold, they saw a knight holding a bow and about to shoot an arrow along whose +side a letter was bound. So they waited till he had shot it among them; and the +Sultan bade the Wazir Dandan take the missive and read it. He perused it +accordingly; and, when Zau al-Makan heard it to end and understood its purport, +his eyes filled with tears and he shrieked for agony at her perfidy; and the +Minister Dandan said, "By Allah, my heart shrank from her!" Quoth the Sultan, +"How could this whore play her tricks upon us twice? But by the Almighty I +will not depart hence till I fill her cleft with molten lead and jail her with +the jailing of a bird encaged, then bind her with her own hair and crucify her +over the gate of Constantinople." And he called to mind his brother and wept +with excessive weeping. But when Zat al-Dawahi arrived amongst the Infidels +and related to them her adventures at length, they rejoiced at her safety and +at the slaying of Sharrkan. Thereupon the Moslems addressed themselves again +to the siege of the city and the Sultan promised his men that, if it should be +taken, he would divide its treasures among them in equal parts. But he dried +not his tears grieving for his brother till his body was wasted and sick, +growing thin as a tooth pick. Presently the Wazir Dandan came in to him and +said, "Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear; in very sooth thy +brother died not but because his hour was come, and there is no profit in this +mourning. How well saith the poet, + +"Whatso is not to be no sleight shall bring to pass; * What is to be without a failure shall become; +Soon the becoming fortune shall be found to be, * And Folly's brother[FN#453] shall abide forlorn and glum." + + +Wherefore do thou leave this weeping and wailing and hearten thy heart to bear +arms." He replied, "O Wazir, my heart is heavy for the death of my father and +my brother and for our absence from hearth and home; and my mind is concerned +for my subjects." Thereupon the Wazir and the bystanders wept; but they ceased +not from pushing forward the siege of Constantinople for a length of days. And +they being thus, behold, news arrived from Baghdad, by one of the Emirs to the +effect that the King's wife had been blessed with a boy, and that his sister, +Nuzhat al-Zaman, had named him Kánmákán.[FN#454] Moreover, that the boy bid +fair to be famous, already showing wondrous signs and marvellous tokens; and +that she had commanded the Olema and the preachers to pray for mother and child +from the pulpits and bless them in all wise; furthermore that the twain were +well, that the land had enjoyed abundant rains, and that his comrade the +Fireman was established in all prosperity, with eunuchs and slaves to wait upon +him; but that he was still ignorant of what had befallen him. And she ended +with the greeting of peace. Then quoth Zau al- Makan to the Wazir Dandan, "Now +is my back strengthened for that I have been blest with a son whose name is +Kanmakan."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Sixth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when they brought him the +news of his wife having borne him a boy child, Zau al- Makan rejoiced with +great joy and cried, "Now is my back strengthened, for that I have been blessed +with a son[FN#455] whose name is Kanmakan." And he spake to the Wazir Dandan, +saying, "I am minded to leave this mourning and order perlections of the Koran +for my brother and command almsdeeds on his account." Quoth the Wazir, "Thy +design is good." Thereupon he caused tents to be pitched over his brother's +tomb; so they raised them; and gathered together such of the men at arms as +could repeat the Koran; and some began reciting the Holy volume; whilst others +chanted litanies containing the names of Allah, and thus they did till the +morning. Then Zau al-Makan went up to the grave of his brother Sharrkan and +poured forth copious tears, and improvised these couplets, + +"They bore him bier'd, and all who followed wept * With Moses' shrieks what day o'erhead shook Tor;[FN#456] +Till reached the grave which Pate had made his home, * Dug in men's souls who one sole God adore: +Ne'er had I thought before to see my joy * Borne on the bier which heads of bearers bore: +Ah no! nor ere they homed thee in the dust * That stars of heaven earth ever covered o'er. +Is the tomb dweller hostage of a stead, * Where light and splendour o'er thy face shall pour? +Praise to restore his life her word hath pledged: * Cribbed and confined he shall dispread the more!" + + +When Zau al-Makan had made an end of his versifying he wept and wept with him +all the troops; then he came to the grave and threw himself upon it wild with +woe, and the Wazir repeated the words of the poet, + +"Pain leaving life that fleets thou hast th' eternal won; * Thou didst as whilom many a doer like thee hath done +Leftest this worldly house without reproach or blame; * Ah, may th' ex change secure thee every benison! +Thou west from hostile onset shield and firm defence, * For us to baffle shafts and whistling spears to shun. +I see this world is only cheat and vanity, * Where man naught else must seek but please the Truthful One: +Th' Empyrean's Lord allow thee bower of heavenly bliss, * And wi' thy faithful friends The Guide show goodly wone: +I bid thee last good e'en with sigh of bitter grief, * Seeing the West in woe for lack of Easting Sun." + + +When the Wazir Dandan had finished his reciting, he wept with sore weeping and +the tears rained from his eyes like cushioned pearls. Then came forward one +who had been of Sharrkan's boon companions in his cups and he wept till ran in +rills the drops, and he enumerated the dead man's generous qualities, reciting +the following pentastichs, + +"Where gone is Bounty since thy hand is turned to clay? * And I in misery lie since thou west ta'en away. +See'st not, O litter guide[FN#457] (Heaven keep thee glad and gay!), * How tears adorn my cheeks, these furrowed wrinkles fray? +A sight to joy shine eyes and fill thee with dismay.[FN#458] +By Allah ne'er this heart within I spoke of thee; * Ah no! nor dared my sight to see thy brilliancy: +Save that my tear drops sorest wound have garred me dree * Yea! and if e'er on other rest these eyne of me, +May yearning draw their reins nor suffer sleep to see." + + +And when the man stinted reciting, Zau al-Makan and the Minister Dandan wept +and the whole army was moved to tears; after which all retired to their tents, +and the King turning to the Wazir took counsel with him concerning the conduct +of the campaign. On this wise the two passed days and nights, while Zau +al-Makan was weighed down with grief and mourning till at last he said, "I long +to hear stories and adventures of Kings and tales of lover folk enslaved by +love; haply Allah may make this to solace that which is on my heart of heavy +anxiety, and stint and stay my weeping and wailing." Quoth the Wazir, "If +naught can dispel thy trouble but hearing curious tales of Kings and people +long gone before and stories of folk enslaved by love of yore, and so forth, +this thing were easy, for I had no other business, in the lifetime of thy +father (who hath found mercy) than to relate stories and to repeat verses to +him. This very night I will tell thee a tale of a lover and his beloved, so +shall thy breast be broadened." When Zau al-Makan heard these words from the +Minister, his heart was set upon that which had been promised to him and he did +nothing but watch for the coming of the night, that he might hear what the +Wazir Dandan had to tell of the Kings of yore and distracted lovers long gone +before. And hardly would he believe that night had fallen ere he bade light +the wax candles and the lamps and bring all that was needful of meat and drink +and perfume gear, and what not; and when all was in presence, he summoned the +Wazir Dandan, and the Emirs Rustam and Bahram and Tarkash and the Grand +Chamberlain; then waited till the whole party was seated before him; whereupon +he turned to the Minister and said, "Know, O Wazir, that night is come and hath +let down over us its veil of gloom, and we desire that thou tell us those tales +which thou promisedst us." Replied the Wazir, "With joy and good will."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Seventh Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Zau Al-Makan +summoned the Wazir and the Chamberlain and Rustam and Bahram, he turned towards +the Minister Dandan and said, "Know, O Wazir, that night is come and hath let +down over us its veil of gloom, and we desire that thou tell us those tales +which thou promisedst us." Replied the Wazir, "With love and gladness! Know, O +auspicious King, that there reached my ears a relation of a lover and a loved +one and of the discourse between them; and what befel them of things rare and +fair, a story such as repelleth care from the heart and dispelleth sorrow like +unto that of the patriarch Jacob[FN#459]; and it is as follows": + + + + +Tale of Taj al-Muluk and the Princess Dunya +(The Lover and the Loved). + + +There stood in times long gone by behind the Mountains of Ispahán, a city hight +the Green City, wherein dwelt a King named Suláyman Sháh. Now he was a man of +liberality and beneficence, of justice and integrity, of generosity and +sincerity, to whom travellers repaired from every country, and his name was +noised abroad in all regions and cities and he reigned many a year in high +worship and prosperity, save that he owned neither wives nor children. He had +a Minister who rivalled him in goodness and generosity and it so happened that +one day, he sent for him and when he came into the presence said to him, "O my +Wazir, my heart is heavy and my patience is past and my force faileth me, for +that I have neither wife nor child. This is not the way of Kings who rule over +all men, princes. and paupers; for they rejoice in leaving behind them +children and successors whereby are doubled their number and their strength. +Quoth the Prophet (whom Allah bless and keep!); 'Marry ye, increase ye, and +multiply ye, that I may boast me of your superiority over the nations on the +Day of Resurrection.' So what is thy rede, O Wazir? Advise me of what course +and contrivance be advisable!" When the Minister heard these words, the tears +sprang from his eyes in streams, and he replied, "Far be it from me, O King of +the Age, that I debate on that which appertaineth to the Compassionate One! +Wilt thou have me cast into the fire by the All powerful King's wrath and ire? +Buy thee a concubine." Rejoined the King, "Know, O Wazir, that when a sovereign +buyeth a female slave, he knoweth neither her rank nor her lineage and thus he +cannot tell if she be of simple origin that he may abstain from her, or of +gentle strain that he may be intimate in her companionship. So, if he have +commerce with her, haply she will conceive by him and her son be a hypocrite, a +man of wrath and a shedder of blood. Indeed the like of such woman may be +instanced by a salt and marshy soil, which if one till for ever it yieldeth +only worthless growth and no endurance show eth; for it may be that her son +will be obnoxious to his Lord's anger, doing not what He biddeth him or +abstaining from what He for biddeth him. Wherefore will I never become the +cause of this through the purchase of a concubine; and it is my desire that +thou demand for me in marriage the daughter of some one of the Kings, whose +lineage is known and whose loveliness hath renown. If thou can direct me to +some maiden of birth and piety of the daughters of Moslem Sovranty, I will ask +her in marriage and wed her in presence of witnesses, so may accrue to me the +favour of the Lord of all Creatures." Said the Wazir, "O King, verily Allah +hath fulfilled thy wish and hath brought thee to thy desire;" presently adding, +"Know, O King, it hath come to my knowledge that King Zahr Shah,[FN#460] Lord +of the White Land, hath a daughter of surpassing loveliness whose charms talk +and tale fail to express: she hath not her equal in this age, for she is +perfect in proportion and symmetry, black eyed as if Kohl dyed and long locked, +wee of waist and heavy of hip. When she draweth nigh she seduceth and when she +turneth her back[FN#461] she slayeth; she ravisheth heart and view and she +looketh even as saith of her the poet, + +'A thin waist maid who shames the Willow-wand; * Nor sun nor moon can like her rising shine: +'Tis as her honey-dew of lips were blent * With wine, and pearls of teeth were bathed in wine: +Her form, like heavenly Houri's, graceful slim; * Fair face; and ruin dealt by glancing eyne: +How many a dead done man her eyes have slain * Upon her way of love in ruin li'en: +An live I she's my death! I'll say no more * But dying without her vain were life of mine.' " + + +Now when the Wazir had made an end of describing that maiden, he said to +Sulayman Shah, "It is my counsel, O King, that thou despatch to her father an +ambassador, sagacious, experienced and trained in the ways of the world, who +shall courteously demand her in marriage for thee of her sire; for in good +sooth she hath not her equal in the far parts of the world nor in the near. So +shalt thou enjoy her lovely face in the way of grace, and the Lord of Glory be +content with thy case; for it is reported of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and +preserve!) that he said, 'There be no monkery in Al-Islam."' At this the King +was transported to perfect joy; his breast was broadened and lightened; care +and cark ceased from him and he turned to the Wazir and said, "Know thou, O +Minister, that none shall fare about this affair save thou, by reason of thy +consummate intelligence and good breeding; wherefore hie thee home and do all +thou hast to do and get thee ready by the morrow and depart and demand me in +marriage this maiden, with whom thou hast occupied my heart and thought; and +return not to me but with her." Replied the Wazir, "I hear and I obey." Then he +tried to his own house and bade make ready presents befitting Kings, of +precious stones and things of price and other matters light of load but weighty +of worth, besides Rabite steeds and coats of mail, such as David made[FN#462] +and chests of treasure for which speech hath no measure. And the Wazir loaded +the whole on camels and mules, and set out attended by an hundred slave-girls +with flags and banners flaunting over his head. The King charged him to return +to him after a few days; and, when he was gone, Sulayman Shah lay on coals of +fire, engrossed night and day with desire; while the envoy fared on without +ceasing through gloom and light, spanning fertile field and desert site, till +but a day's march remained between him and the city whereto he was bound. Here +he sat him down on the banks of a river and, summoning one of his confidants, +bade him wend his way to King Zahr Shah and announce his approach without +delay. Quoth the messenger, "I hear and I obey!" And he rode on in haste to +that city and, as he was about to enter therein, it so chanced that the King, +who was sitting in one of his pleasaunces before the city-gate, espied him as +he was passing the doors, and knowing him for a stranger, bade bring him before +the presence. So the messenger coming forward informed him of the approach of +the Wazir of the mighty King Sulayman Shah, Lord of the Green Land and of the +Mountains of Ispahan: whereat King Zahr Shah rejoiced and welcomed him. Then +he carried him to his palace and asked him, "Where leavedst thou the Wazir?"; +and he answered, "I left him in early day on the banks of such a river and +To-morrow he will reach thee, Allah continue his favours to thee and have mercy +upon thy parents!" Thereupon King Zahr Shah commanded one of his Wazirs to take +the better part of his Grandees and Chamberlains and Lieutenants and Lords of +the land, and go out to meet the ambassador in honour of King Sulayman Shah; +for that his dominion extended over the country. Such was the case with Zahr +Shah; but as regards the Wazir he abode in his stead till night was half +spent[FN#463] and then set out for the city; but when morning shone and the sun +rose upon hill and down, of a sudden he saw King Zahr Shah's Wazir approaching +him, with his Chamberlains and high Lords and Chief Officers of the kingdom; +and the two parties joined company at some parasangs' distance from the +city.[FN#464] Thereat the Wazir made sure of the success of his errand and +saluted the escort, which ceased not preceding him till they reached the King's +palace and passed in before him through the gate to the seventh vestibule, a +place where none might enter on horseback, for it was near to where the King +sat. So the Minister alighted and fared on a foot till he came to a lofty +saloon, at whose upper end stood a marble couch, set with pearls and stones of +price, and having for legs four elephant's tusks. Upon it was a coverlet of +green satin purfled with red gold, and above it hung a canopy adorned with +pearls and gems, whereon sat King Zahr Shah, whilst his officers of state stood +in attendance before him. When the Wazir went in to him, he composed his mind +and, unbinding his tongue, displayed the oratory of Wazirs and saluted the King +in the language of eloquence.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say, + +When it was the One Hundred and Eighth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Wazir of King +Sulayman Shah entered the presence of King Zahr Shah he composed his mind and, +unbinding his tongue, displayed the oratory of Wazirs and saluted the King in +the language of eloquence and improvised these couplets, + +"He cometh robed and bending gracefully: * O'er crop and cropper dews of grace sheds he: +He charms; nor characts, spells nor gramarye * May fend the glances of those eyne from thee: +Say to the blamer, "Blame me not, for I * From love of him will never turn to flee": +My heart hath played me false while true to him, * And Sleep, in love with him, abhorreth me: +O heart! th'art not the sole who loveth him, * So bide with him while I desertion dree: +There's nought to joy mine ears with joyous sound * Save praise of King Zahr Shah in jubilee: +A King albeit thou leave thy life to win * One look, that look were all sufficiency: +And if a pious prayer thou breathe for him, * Shall join all Faithfuls in such pious gree: +Folk of his realm! If any shirk his right * For other hoping, gross Unfaith I see." + + +When the Wazir had ended his poetry, King Zahr Shah bade him draw near and +honoured him with the highmost honours; then, seating him by his own side, +smiled in his face and favoured him with a gracious reply. They ceased not on +this wise till the time of the under meal when the attendants brought forward +the tables of food in that saloon and all ate till they were sated; after which +the tables were removed and those who were in the assembly withdrew, leaving +only the chief officers. Now when the Minister saw this, he rose to his feet +and, after complimenting the King a second time and kissing the ground before +him, spake as follows, "O mighty King and dread Lord! I have travelled hither +and have visited thee upon a matter which shall bring thee peace, profit and +prosperity: and it is this, that I come as ambassador to thee, seeking in +marriage thy daughter, the noble and illustrious maid, from Sulayman Shah, a +Prince famed for justice and integrity, sincerity and generosity, Lord of the +Green Land and of the Mountains of Ispahan, who sendeth thee of presents a +store, and gifts of price galore, ardently desiring to become thy son in law. +But art thou inclined to him as he to thee?" He then kept silence, awaiting a +reply. When King Zahr Shah heard these words, he sprang to his feet and kissed +the ground respectfully before the Wazir, while the bystanders were confounded +at his condescension to the ambassador and their minds were amazed. Then he +praised Him who is the Lord of Honour and Glory and replied (and he still +standing), "O mighty Wazir and illustrious Chief; hear thou what I say! Of a +truth we are to King Sulayman Shah of the number of his subjects, and we shall +be ennobled by his alliance and we covet it ardently; for my daughter is a +handmaid of his handmaidens, and it is my dearest desire that he may become my +stay and my reliable support." Then he summoned the Kazis and the witnesses, +who should bear testimony that King Sulayman Shah had despatched his Wazir as +proxy to conclude the marriage, and that King Zahr Shah joyfully acted and +officiated for his daughter. So the Kazis concluded the wedding contract and +offered up prayers for the happiness and prosperity of the wedded feres; after +which the Wazir arose and, fetching the gifts and rarities and precious things, +laid them all before the King. Then Zahr Shah occupied himself anent the +fitting out of his daughter and honourably entertained the Wazir and feasted +his subjects all, great and small; and for two months they held high festival, +omitting naught that could rejoice heart and eye. Now when all things needful +for the bride were ready, the King caused the tents to be carried out and they +pitched the camp within sight of the city, where they packed the bride's stuffs +in chests and get ready the Greek handmaids and Turkish slave-girls, and +provided the Princess with great store of precious treasures and costly jewels. +Then he had made for her a litter of red gold, inlaid with pearls and stones +of price, and set apart two mules to carry it; a litter which was like one of +the chambers of a palace, and within which she seemed as she were of the +loveliest Houris and it became as one of the pavilions of Paradise. And after +they had made bales of the treasures and monies, and had loaded them upon the +mules and camels, King Zahr Shah went forth with her for a distance of three +parasangs; after which he bade farewell to her and the Wazir and those with +him, and returned to his home in gladness and safety. Thereupon the Wazir, +faring with the King's daughter, pushed on and ceased not his stages over +desert ways,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Ninth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir fared on with +the King's daughter and ceased not forcing his stages over desert ways and +hastened his best through nights and days, till there remained between him and +his city but three marches. Thereupon he sent forward to King Sulayman Shah +one who should announce the coming of the bride. The King rejoiced thereat and +bestowed on the messenger a dress of honour; and bade his troops march forth in +grand procession to meet the Princess and her company for due worship and +honour, and don their richest apparel with banners flying over their heads. +And his orders were obeyed. He also commanded to cry throughout the city that +neither curtained damsel nor honoured lady nor time-ruptured crone should fail +to fare forth and meet the bride. So they all went out to greet her and the +grandest of them vied in doing her service and they agreed to bring her to the +King's palace by night. More over, the chief officers decided to decorate the +road and to stand in espalier of double line, whilst the bride should pass by +preceded by her eunuchs and serving women and clad in the gear her father had +given her. So when she made her appearance, the troops surrounded her, these +of the right wing and those of the left, and the litter ceased not advancing +with her till she approached the palace; nor remained any but came forth to +gaze upon the Princess. Drums were beaten and spears were brandished and horns +blared and flags fluttered and steeds pranced for precedence and scents shed +fragrance till they reached the palace-gate and the pages entered with the +litter through the Harim wicket. The place shone with its splendours and the +walls glittered for the glamour of its gear. Now when night came, the eunuchs +threw open the doors of the bridal chamber and stood surrounding the chief +entrance whereupon the bride came forward and amid her damsels she was like the +moon among stars or an union shining on a string of lesser pearls, and she +passed into the bridal closet where they had set for her a couch of alabaster +inlaid with unions and jewels. As soon as she had taken seat there, the King +came in to her and Allah filled his heart with her love so he abated her +maidenhead and ceased from him his trouble and disquiet. He abode with her +well-nigh a month but she had conceived by him the first night; and, when the +month was ended, he went forth and sat on his sofa of state, and dispensed +justice to his subjects, till the months of her pregnancy were accomplished. +On the last day of the ninth month, towards day break, the Queen was seized +with the pangs of labour; so she sat down on the stool of delivery and Allah +made the travail easy to her and she gave birth to a boy child, on whom +appeared auspicious signs. When the King heard of this, he joyed with +exceeding joy and rewarded the bearer of the good tidings with much treasure; +and of his gladness he went in to the child and kissed him between the eyes and +wondered at his brilliant loveliness; for in him was approved the saying of the +poet, + +"In the towering forts Allah throned him King, * A lion, a star in the skies of reign: +At his rising the spear and the throne rejoiced, * The gazelle, the ostrich, The men of main:[FN#465] +Mount him not on the paps, for right soon he'll show * That to throne on the war steed's loins he's fain: +And wean him from sucking of milk, for soon * A sweeter drink, the foe's blood, he'll drain." + + +Then the midwives took the newborn child and cut the navel cord and darkened +his eyelids with Kohl powder[FN#466] and named him Táj al-Mulúk Khárán.[FN#467] +He was suckled at the breast of fond indulgence and was reared in the lap of +happy fortune; and thus his days ceased not running and the years passing by +till he reached the age of seven. Thereupon Sulayman Shah summoned the doctors +and learned men and bade them teach his son writing and science and +belle-lettres. This they continued to do for some years, till he had learnt +what was needful; and, when the King saw that he was well grounded in whatso he +desired, he took him out of the teachers' and professors' hands and engaged for +him a skilful master, who taught him cavalarice and knightly exercises till the +boy attained the age of fourteen; and when he fared abroad on any occasion, all +who saw him were ravished by his beauty and made him the subject of verse; and +even pious men were seduced by his brilliant loveliness.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Tenth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, That when Taj al-Muluk Kharan, +son of Sulayman Shah, became perfect in riding craft and excelled all those of +his time, his excessive beauty, when he fared abroad on any occasion, caused +all who saw him to be ravished and to make him the subject of verse; and even +pious men were seduced by his brilliant loveliness. Quoth the poet of him, + +"I clipt his form and wax'd drunk with his scent, * Fair branch to whom Zephyr gave nutriment: +Nor drunken as one who drinks wine, but drunk * With night draught his lips of the honey-dew lent: +All beauty is shown in the all of him, * Hence all human hearts he in hand hath hens: +My mind, by Allah! shall ne'er unmind * His love, while I wear life's chains till spent: +If I live, in his love I'll live; if I die * For pine and longing, 'O blest!' I'll cry + + +When he reached the eighteenth year of his age, tender down[FN#468] sprouted, +on his side face fresh with youth, from a mole upon one rosy cheek and a second +beauty spot, like a grain of ambergris adorned the other; and he won the wits +and eyes of every wight who looked on him, even as saith the poet, + +"He is Caliph of Beauty in Yúsufs lieu, * And all lovers fear when they sight his grace: +Pause and gaze with me; on his cheek thou'lt sight * The Caliphate's banner of sable hue."[FN#469] + + +And as saith another, + +"Thy sight hath never seen a fairer sight, * Of all things men can in the world espy, +Than yon brown mole, that studs his bonny cheek * Of rosy-red beneath that jet black eye." + + +And as saith another, + +"I marvel seeing yon mole that serves his cheeks' bright flame * Yet burneth not in fire albeit Infidel[FN#470] +I wonder eke to see that apostolic glance, * Miracle working, though it work by magic spell: +How fresh and bright the down that decks his cheek, and yet * Bursten gall bladders feed which e'en as waters well." + + +And as saith another, + +"I marvel hearing people questioning of * The Fount of Life and in what land 'tis found: +I see it sprung from lips of dainty fawn, * Sweet rosy mouth with green mustachio down'd: +And wondrous wonder 'tis when Moses viewed * That Fount, he rested not from weary round."[FN#471] + + +Now having developed such beauty, when he came to man's estate his loveliness +increased, and it won for him many comrades and intimates; while every one who +drew near to him wished that Taj al-Muluk Kharan might become Sultan after his +father's death, and that he himself might be one of his Emirs. Then took he +passionately to chasing and hunting which he would hardly leave for a single +hour. His father, King Sulayman Shah, would have forbidden him the pursuit +fearing for him the perils of the waste and the wild beasts; but he paid no +heed to his warning voice. And it so chanced that once upon a time he said to +his attendants "Take ye ten days food and forage;" and, when they obeyed his +bidding, he set out with his suite for sport and disport. They rode on into +the desert and ceased not riding four days, till they came to a place where the +ground was green, and they saw in it wild beasts grazing and trees with ripe +fruit growing and springs flowing. Quoth Taj al-Muluk to his followers, "Set +up the nets here and peg them in a wide ring and let our trysting place be at +the mouth of the fence, in such a spot." So they obeyed his words and staked +out a wide circle with toils; and there gathered together a mighty matter of +all kinds of wild beasts and gazelles, which cried out for fear of the men and +threw themselves for fright in the face of the horses. Then they loosed on to +them the hounds and lynxes[FN#472] and hawks;[FN#473] and they shot the quarry +down with shafts which pierced their vitals; and, by the time they came to the +further end of the net ring, they had taken a great number of the wild beasts, +and the rest fled. Then Taj al-Muluk dismounted by the water side and bade the +game be brought before himself, and divided it, after he had set apart the best +of the beasts for his father, King Sulayman Shah, and despatched the game to +him; and some he distributed among the officers of his court. He passed the +night in that place, and when morning dawned there came up a caravan of +merchants conveying negro slaves and white servants, and halted by the water +and the green ground. When Taj al-Muluk saw them, he said to one of his +companions, "Bring me news of yonder men and question them why they have halted +in this place."[FN#474] So the messenger went up to them; and addressed them, +"Tell me who ye be, and answer me an answer without delay." Replied they, "We +are merchants and have halted to rest, for that the next station is distant and +we abide here because we have confidence in King Sulayman Shah and his son, Taj +al-Muluk, and we know that all who alight in his dominions are in peace and +safety; more over we have with us precious stuffs which we have brought for the +Prince." So the messenger returned and told these news to the King's son who, +hearing the state of the case and what the merchants had replied, said, "If +they have brought stuff on my account I will not enter the city nor depart +hence till I see it shown to me." Then he mounted horse and rode to the caravan +and his Mamelukes followed him till he reached it. Thereupon the merchants rose +to receive him and invoked on him Divine aid and favour with continuance of +glory and virtues; after which they pitched him a pavilion of red satin, +embroidered with pearls and jewels, wherein they spread him a kingly divan upon +a silken carpet worked at the upper end with emeralds set in gold. There Taj +al-Muluk seated himself whilst his white servants stood in attendance upon him, +and sent to bid the merchants bring out all that they had with them. +Accordingly, they produced their merchandise, and displayed the whole and he +viewed it and took of it what liked him, paying them the price. Then he looked +about him at the caravan, and remounted and was about to ride onwards, when his +glance fell on a handsome youth in fair attire, and a comely and shapely make, +with flower-white brow and moon like face, save that his beauty was wasted and +that yellow hues had overspread his cheeks by reason of parting from those he +loved;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Eleventh Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Taj Al- Muluk, when he +looked about him at the caravan, saw a handsome youth in neat attire and of +shapely make, with flower like forehead and moon like face, save that his +beauty was wasted and yellow hues had overspread his cheeks by reason of +parting from those he loved; and great was his groaning and moaning, and the +tears streamed from his eyelids as he repeated these couplets, + +"Longsome is Absence; Care and Fear are sore, * And ceaseless tears, O friend, mine eyes outpour: +Yea, I farewelled my heart on parting day * And heartless, hopeless, now I bide forlore: +Pause, O my friend, with me farewelling one * Whose words my cure can work, my health restore!" + + +Now when the youth ended his poetry he wept awhile and fell down in a fainting +fit, whilst Taj al-Muluk looked at him and wondered at his case. Then, coming +to himself, he stared with distracted air, and versified in these couplets, + +"Beware her glance I rede thee, 'tis like wizard wight, * None can escape unscathed those eye shafts' glancing flight: +In very sooth black eyes, with languorous sleepy look, * Pierce deeper than white swords however these may bite. +Be not thy senses by her sweets of speech beguiled, * Whose brooding fever shall ferment in thought and sprite: +Soft sided Fair[FN#475] did silk but press upon her skin, * 'Twould draw red blood from it, as thou thyself canst sight. +Chary is she of charms twixt neck and anklets dwell, * And ah! what other scent shall cause me such delight?[FN#476]" + + +Then he sobbed a loud sob and swooned away. But when Taj al- Muluk saw him in +this case, he was perplexed about his state and went up to him; and, as the +youth came to his senses and saw the King's son standing at his head, he sprang +to his feet and kissed the ground between his hands. Taj al-Muluk asked him, +'Why didst thou not show us thy merchandise?" end he answered, O my lord, there +is naught among my stock worthy of thine august highness." Quoth the Prince, +"Needs must thou show me what thou hast and acquaint me with thy circumstance; +for I see thee weeping eyed and heavyhearted. If thou have been oppressed, we +will end thine oppression, and if thou be in debt, we will pay thy debt; for of +a truth my heart burneth to see thee, since I first set eyes on thee."[FN#477] +Then Taj al-Muluk bade the seats be set, and they brought him a chair of ivory +and ebony with a net-work of gold and silk, and spread him a silken rug for his +feet. So he sat down on the chair and bidding the youth seat himself on the +rug said to him, "Show me thy stock in trade!" The young merchant replied, "O +my Lord, do not name this to me, for my goods be unworthy of thee." Rejoined +Taj al-Muluk "It needs must be thus!"; and bade some of the pages fetch the +goods. So they brought them in despite of him; and, when he saw them, the +tears streamed from his eyes and he wept and sighed and lamented: sobs rose in +his throat and he repeated these couplets, + +"By what thine eyelids show of Kohl and coquetry! * By what thy shape displays of lissome symmetry! +By what thy liplets store of honey-dew and wine! * By what thy mind adorns of gracious kindly gree! +To me thy sight dream-visioned, O my hope! exceeds * The happiest escape from horriblest injury." + + +Then the youth opened his bales and displayed his merchandise to Taj Al-Muluk +in detail, piece by piece, and amongst them he brought out a gown of satin +brocaded with gold, worth two thousand dinars. When he opened the gown there +fell a piece of linen from its folds. As soon as the young merchant saw this +he caught up the piece of linen in haste and hid it under his thigh; and his +reason wandered, and he began versifying, + +"When shall be healed of thee this heart that ever bides in woe? * Than thee the Pleiad-stars more chance of happy meeting show +Parting and banishment and longing pain and lowe of love, * Procrastinating[FN#478] and delay these ills my life lay low: +Nor union bids me live in joy, nor parting kills by grief, * Nor travel draws me nearer thee nor nearer comest thou: +Of thee no justice may be had, in thee dwells naught of rush, * Nor gain of grace by side of thee, nor flight from thee I know: +For love of thee all goings forth and comings back are strait * On me, and I am puzzled sore to know where I shall go." + + +Taj al-Muluk wondered with great wonder at his verse, and could not comprehend +the cause. But when the youth snatched up the bit of linen and placed it under +thigh, he asked him, "What is that piece of linen?" "O my Lord," answered the +merchant, "thou hast no concern with this piece." Quoth the King's son, "Show +it me;" and quoth the merchant, "O my lord, I refused to show thee my goods on +account of this piece of linen; for I cannot let thee look upon it."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say, + +When it was the One Hundred and Twelfth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant said +to Taj al-Muluk, "I did not refuse to show thee my goods save on this account, +for I cannot let thee look upon it." Whereupon Taj al Muluk retorted, "Perforce +I must and will see it;" and insisted and became angry. So the youth drew it +out from under his thigh, and wept and moaned and redoubled his sighs and +groans, and repeated these verses, + +"Now blame him not; for blame brings only irk and pain! * Indeed, I spake him sooth but ne'er his ear could gain: +May Allah guard my moon which riseth in the vale * Beside our camp, from loosed robe like skyey plain:[FN#479] +I left him but had Love vouchsafed to leave for me * Some peace in life such leave of him I ne'er had ta'en: +How long he pleaded for my sake on parting morn, * While down his cheeks and mine tears ran in railing rain: +Allah belie me not: the garb of mine excuse * This parting rent, but I will Mend that garb again! +No couch is easy to my side, nor on such wise * Aught easeth him, when all alone without me lain: +Time with ill-omened hand hath wrought between us two, * And made my waxing joys to wane and his to wane, +And poured mere grief and woe, what time Time fain had crowned * The bowl he made me drink and gave for him to drain." + + +When he ended his recitation, quoth Taj al-Muluk, "I see thy conduct without +consequence; tell me then why weepest thou at the sight of this rag!" When the +young merchant heard speak of the piece of linen, he sighed and answered, "O my +lord, my story is a strange and my case out of range, with regard to this piece +of linen and to her from whom I brought it and to her who wrought on it these +figures and emblems." Hereupon, he spread out the piece of linen, and behold, +thereon was the figure of a gazelle wrought in silk and worked with red gold, +and facing it was another gazelle traced in silver with a neck ring of red gold +and three bugles[FN#480] of chrysolite upon the ring. When Taj al-Muluk saw +the beauty of these figures, he exclaimed, "Glory be to Allah who teacheth man +that which he knoweth not!"[FN#481] And his heart yearned to hear the youth's +story; so he said to him, "Tell me thy story with her who owned these +gazelles." Replied the young man: "Hear, O my Lord, the + + + + +Tale of Aziz and Azizah.[FN#482] + + +My father was a wealthy merchant and Allah had vouchsafed him no other child +than myself; but I had a cousin, Azízah hight, daughter of my paternal uncle +and we twain were brought up in one house; for her father was dead and before +his death, he had agreed with my father that I should marry her. So when I +reached man's estate and she reached womanhood, they did not separate her from +me or me from her, till at last my father spoke to my mother and said, "This +very year we will draw up the contract of marriage between Aziz and Azizah." So +having agreed upon this he betook himself to preparing provision for the +wedding feast. Still we ceased not to sleep on the same carpet knowing naught +of the case, albeit she was more thoughtful, more intelligent and quicker +witted than I. Now when my father had made an end of his preparations, and +naught remained for him but to write out the contract and for me but to +consummate the marriage with my cousin, he appointed the wedding for a certain +Friday, after public prayers; and, going round to his intimates among the mer +chants and others, he acquainted them with that, whilst my mother went forth +and invited her women friends and summoned her kith and kin. When the Friday +came, they cleaned the saloon and prepared for the guests and washed the marble +floor; then they spread tapestry about our house and set out thereon what was +needful, after they had hung its walls with cloth of gold. Now the folk had +agreed to come to us after the Friday prayers; so my father went out and bade +them make sweetmeats and sugared dishes, and there remained nothing to do but +to draw up the contract. Then my mother sent me to the bath and sent after me a +suit of new clothes of the richest; and, when I came out of the Hammam, I +donned those habits which were so perfumed that as I went along, there exhaled +from them a delicious fragrance scenting the wayside. I had designed to repair +to the Cathedral mosque when I bethought me of one of my friends and returned +in quest of him that he might be present at the writing of the contract; and +quoth I to myself, "This matter will occupy me till near the time of +congregational prayer." So I went on and entered a by street which I had never +before entered, perspiring profusely from the effects of the bath and the new +clothes on my body; and the sweat streamed down whilst the scents of my dress +were wafted abroad: I therefore sat me at the upper end of the street resting +on a stone bench, after spreading under me an embroidered kerchief I had with +me. The heat oppressed me more and more, making my forehead perspire and the +drops trickled along my cheeks; but I could not wipe my face with my kerchief +because it was dispread under me. I was about to take the skirt of my robe and +wipe my cheeks with it, when unexpectedly there fell on me from above a white +kerchief, softer to the touch than the morning breeze and pleasanter to the +sight than healing to the diseased. I hent it in hand and raised my head to +see whence it had fallen, when my eyes met the eyes of the lady who owned these +gazelles.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say + +When it was the One Hundred and Thirteenth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth continued to +Taj al-Muluk: "So I raised my head to see whence this kerchief had fallen, when +my eyes met those of the lady who owned these gazelles. And lo! she was +looking out of a wicket in a lattice of brass and never saw my eyes a fairer +than she, and in fine my tongue faileth to describe her beauty. When she +caught sight of me looking at her, she put her forefinger into her mouth, then +joined her middle finger and her witness finger[FN#483] and laid them on her +bosom, between her breasts; after which she drew in her head and closed the +wicket shutter and went her ways. Thereupon fire broke out in and was heaped +upon my heart, and greater grew my smart; the one sight cost me a thousand +sighs and I abode perplexed, for that I heard no word by her spoken, nor +understood the meaning of her token. I looked at the window a second time, but +found it shut and waited patiently till sundown, but sensed no sound and saw no +one in view. So when I despaired of seeing her again, I rose from my place and +taking up the handkerchief, opened it, when there breathed from it a scent of +musk which caused me so great delight I became as one in Paradise.[FN#484] Then +I spread it before me and out dropped from it a delicate little scroll; +whereupon I opened the paper which was perfumed with a delicious perfume, and +therein were writ these couplets, + +"I sent to him a scroll that bore my plaint of love, * Writ in fine delicate hand; for writing proves man's skill: +Then quoth to me my friend, 'Why is thy writing thus; * So fine, so thin drawn 'tis to read unsuitable?' +Quoth I, 'for that I'm fine-drawn wasted, waxed thin, * Thus lovers' writ Should be, for so Love wills his will. + + +And after casting my eyes on the beauty of the kerchief,[FN#485] I saw upon one +of its two borders the following couplets worked in with the needle, + +"His cheek down writeth (O fair fall the goodly scribe!) * Two lines on table of his face in Rayhán-hand:[FN#486] +O the wild marvel of the Moon when comes he forth! * And when he bends, O shame to every Willow-wand!" + + +And on the opposite border these two couplets were traced, + +"His cheek down writeth on his cheek with ambergris on pearl * Two lines, like jet on apple li'en, the goodliest design: +Slaughter is in those languid eyne whene'er a glance they deal, * And drunkenness in either cheek and not in any wine." + + +When I read the poetry on the handkerchief the flames of love darted into my +heart, and yearning and pining redoubled their smart. So I took the kerchief +and the scroll and went home, knowing no means to win my wish, for that I was +incapable of conducting love affairs and inexperienced in interpreting hints +and tokens. Nor did I reach my home ere the night was far spent and I found +the daughter of my uncle sitting in tears. But as soon as she saw me she wiped +away the drops and came up to me, and took off my walking dress and asked me +the reason of my absence, saying, "All the folk, Emirs and notables and +merchants and others, assembled in our house; and the Kazi and the witnesses +were also present at the appointed time. They ate and tarried awhile sitting +to await thine appearance for the writing of the contract; and, when they +despaired of thy presence, they dispersed and went their ways. "And indeed," +she added, "thy father raged with exceeding wrath by reason of this, and swore +that he would not celebrate our marriage save during the coming year, for that +he hath spent on these festivities great store of money." And she ended by +asking, "What hath befallen thee this day to make thee delay till now?; and why +hast thou allowed that to happen which happened because of thine absence?" +Answered I, "O daughter of mine uncle, question me not concerning what hath +befallen me."[FN#487] Then I told her all that had passed from beginning to +end, and showed her the handkerchief. She took the scroll and read what was +written therein; and tears ran down her cheeks and she repeated these +cinquains, + +"Who saith that Love at first of free will came, * Say him: Thou liest! Love be grief and grame: +Yet shall such grame and grief entail no shame; * All annals teach us one thing and the same +Good current coin clips coin we may not crepe! + + +An please thou, say there's pleasure in thy pain, * Find Fortune's playful gambols glad and fain: +Or happy blessings in th' unhappy's bane, * That joy or grieve, with equal might and main: +Twixt phrase and antiphrase I'm all a heap! + + +But he, withal, whose days are summer bright, * Whom maids e'er greet with smiling lips' delight; +Whom spicey breezes fan in every site * And wins whate'er he wills, that happy wight +White blooded coward heart should never keep!" + + +Then she asked me, "What said she, and what signs made she to thee?" I +answered, "She uttered not a word, but put her fore finger in her mouth, then +joining it to her middle finger, laid both fingers on her bosom and pointed to +the ground. Thereupon she withdrew her head and shut the wicket; and after +that I saw her no more. However, she took my heart with her, so I sat till sun +down, expecting her again to look out of the window; but she did it not; and, +when I despaired of her, I rose from my seat and came home. This is my history +and I beg thee to help me in this my sore calamity." Upon this she raised her +face to me and said, "O son of mine uncle, if thou soughtest my eye, I would +tear it for thee from its eyelids, and perforce I cannot but aid thee to thy +desire and aid her also to her desire; for she is whelmed in passion for thee +even as thou for her." Asked I, "And what is the interpretation of her signs?"; +and Azizah answered, "As for the putting her finger in her mouth,[FN#488] it +showed that thou art to her as her soul to her body and that she would bite +into union with thee with her wisdom teeth. As for the kerchief, it betokeneth +that her breath of life is bound up in thee. As for the placing her two +fingers on her bosom between her breasts, its explanation is that she saith; +'The sight of thee may dispel my grief.' For know, O my cousin, that she loveth +thee and she trusteth in thee. This is my interpretation of her signs and, +could I come and go at Will, I would bring thee and her together in shortest +time, and curtain you both with my skirt." Hearing these words I thanked her +(continued the young merchant) for speaking thus, and said to myself, "I will +wait two days." So I abode two days in the house, neither going out nor coming +in; neither eating nor drinking but I laid my head on my cousin's lap, whilst +she comforted me and said to me, "Be resolute and of good heart and hope for +the best!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say, + +When it was the One Hundred and Fourteenth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth pursued to Taj +al-Muluk:—"And when the two days were past she said to me, "Be of good cheer +and clear thine eyes of tears and take courage to dress thyself and go to her, +according to thy tryst." Then she rose and changed my clothes and perfumed me +with incense smoke. So I braced myself up and heartened my heart and went out +and walked on till I came to the by-street, where I sat down on the bench +awhile. And behold, the wicket suddenly opened and I looked up and seeing her, +fell down in a swoon. When I revived, I called up resolution and took courage +and gazed again at her and again became insensible to the world around me. +Then I came to myself and looking at her, saw that she held in hand a mirror +and a red kerchief. Now when she caught my glance, she bared her forearms and +opened her five fingers and smote her breast with palm and digits; and after +this she raised her hands and, holding the mirror outside the wicket, she took +the red kerchief and retired into the room with it, but presently returned and +putting out her hand with the kerchief, let it down towards the lane three +several times, dipping it and raising it as often. Then she wrung it out and +folded it in her hands, bending down her head the while; after which she drew +it in from the lattice and, shutting the wicket shutter, went away without a +single word; nay, she left me confounded and knowing not what signified her +signs.[FN#489]. I tarried sitting there till supper-time and did not return +home till near midnight; and there I found the daughter of my uncle with her +cheek props in her hand and her eyelids pouring forth tears; and she was +repeating these couplets, + +"Woe's me! why should the blamer gar thee blaming bow? * How be consoled for thee that art so tender bough? +Bright being! on my vitals dost thou prey, and drive * My heart before platonic passion's[FN#490] force to bow. +Thy Turk like[FN#491] glances havoc deal in core of me, * As furbished sword thin ground at curve could never show: +Thou weigh's" me down with weight of care, while I have not * Strength e'en to bear my shift, so weakness lays me low: +Indeed I weep blood tears to hear the blamer say; * 'The lashes of thy lover's eyne shall pierce thee through!' +Thou hast, my prince of loveliness! an Overseer,[FN#492] * Who wrongs me, and a Groom[FN#493] who beats me down with brow. +He foully lies who says all loveliness belonged * To Joseph, in thy loveliness is many a Joe: +I force myself to turn from thee, in deadly fright * Of spies; and what the force that turns away my sight!" + + +When I heard her verse, cark increased and care redoubled on me and I fell down +in a corner of our house; whereupon she arose in haste and, coming to me lifted +me up and took off my outer clothes and wiped my face with her sleeve. Then +she asked me what had befallen me, and I described all that had happened from +her. Quoth she, "O my cousin, as for her sign to thee with her palm and five +fingers its interpretation is, Return after five days; and the putting forth of +her head out of the window, and her gestures with the mirror and the letting +down and raising up and wringing out of the red kerchief,[FN#494] signify, Sit +in the dyer's shop till my messenger come to thee." When I heard her words fire +flamed up in my heart and I exclaimed, "O daughter of my uncle, thou sayest +sooth in this thine interpretation; for I saw in the street the shop of a Jew +dyer." Then I wept, and she said, "Be of good cheer and strong heart: of a +truth others are occupied with love for years and endure with constancy the +ardour of passion, whilst thou hast but a week to wait; why then this +impatience?" Thereupon she went on cheering me with comfortable talk and +brought me food: so I took a mouthful and tried to eat but could not; and I +abstained from meat and drink and estranged myself from the solace of sleep, +till my colour waxed yellow and I lost my good looks; for I had never been in +love before nor had I ever savoured the ardour of passion save this time. So I +fell sick and my cousin also sickened on my account; but she would relate to +me, by way of consolation, stories of love and lovers every night till I fell +asleep; and when ever I awoke, I found her wakeful for my sake with tears +running down her cheeks. This ceased not till the five days were past, when my +cousin rose and warmed some water and bathed me with it. Then she dressed me +in my best and said to me, "Repair to her and Allah fulfil thy wish and bring +thee to thy desire of thy beloved!" So I went out and ceased not walking on +till I came to the upper end of the by street. As it was the Sabbath[FN#495] I +found the dyer's shop locked and sat before it, till I heard the call to mid-afternoon +prayer. Then the sun yellowed and the Mu'ezzins[FN#496] chanted the +call to sundown prayer and the night came; but I saw no sign nor heard one +word, nor knew any news of her. So I feared for my life sitting there alone; +and at last I arose and walked home reeling like a drunken man. When I reached +the house, I found my cousin Azizah standing, with one hand grasping a peg +driven into the wall and the other on her breast; and she was sighing and +groaning and repeating these couplets, + +"The longing of an Arab lass forlorn of kith and kin * (Who to Hijazian Willow-wand and myrtle[FN#497] doth incline, +And who, when meeting caravan, shall with love-lowe set light * To bivouac fire, and bang for conk her tears of pain and pine) +Exceeds not mine for him nor more devotion shows, but he * Seeing my heart is wholly his spurns love as sin indign." + + +Now when she had finished her verse she turned to me and, seeing me, wiped away +her tears and my tears with her sleeve. Then she smiled in my face and said, +"O my cousin, Allah grant thee enjoyment of that which He hath given thee! Why +didst thou not pass the night by the side of thy beloved and why hast thou not +fulfilled thy desire of her?" When I heard her words, I gave her a kick in the +breast and she fell down in the saloon and her brow struck upon the edge of the +raised pavement and hit against a wooden peg therein. I looked at her and saw +that her forehead was cut open and the blood running,—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Fifteenth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued to Taj al-Muluk: "Now when I kicked the daughter of my uncle in the +breast she fell on the edge of the raised pavement in the saloon and her brow +struck upon a wooden peg. Thereby her forehead was cut open and the blood ran +down, but she was silent and did not utter a single sound.[FN#498] Presently +she rose up, and made some tinder of rags, then staunching with it the bleeding +wound, bound her forehead with a bandage; after which she wiped up the blood +that had fallen on the carpet, and it was as if nothing had been. Presently +she came up to me and smiling in my face, said with gentle voice, "By Allah, O +son of my uncle, I spake not these words to mock at thee or at her! But I was +troubled with an ache in my head and was minded to be blooded, but now thou +hast eased my head and lightened my brow; so tell me what hath befallen thee to +day." Thereupon I told her all that had passed between me and her that day; and +she wept as she heard my words and said, "O son of my uncle, rejoice at the +good tidings of thy desire being fulfilled and thine aim being attained. Of a +truth this is a sign of acceptance; for that she stayed away only because she +wisheth to try thee and know if thou be patient or not, and sincere in thy love +for her or otherwise. To-morrow, repair to her at the old place and see what +sign she maketh to thee; for indeed thy gladness is near and the end of thy +sadness is at hand." And she went on to comfort me; but my cark and care ceased +not to increase on me. Presently she brought me food which I kicked away with +my foot so that the contents of every saucer were scattered in all directions, +and I said, "Every lover is a madman; he inclineth not to food neither enjoyeth +he sleep." And my cousin Azizah rejoined, "By Allah, O son of my uncle, these +be in very deed the signs of love!" And the tears streamed down her cheeks +whenas she gathered the fragments of the saucers and wiped up the food; then +she took seat and talked to me, whilst I prayed Allah to hasten the dawn. At +last, when morning arose with its sheen and shine, I went out to seek her and +hastening to her by street sat down on that bench, when lo! the wicket opened +and she put out her head laughing. Then she disappeared within and returned +with a mirror, a bag; and a pot full of green plants and she held in hand a +lamp. The first thing she did was to take the mirror and, putting it into the +bag, tie it up and throw it back into the room; then she let down her hair over +her face and set the lamp on the pot of flowers during the twinkling of an eye; +then she took up all the things and went away shutting the window without +saying a word. My heart was riven by this state of the case, and by her secret +signals, her mysterious secrets and her utter silence; and thereby my longing +waxed more violent and my passion and distraction redoubled on me. So I +retraced my steps, tearful-eyed and heavy hearted, and returned home, where I +found the daughter of my uncle sitting with her face to the wall; for her heart +was burning with grief and galling jealousy; albeit her affection forbade her +to acquaint me with what she suffered of passion and pining when she saw the +excess of my longing and distraction. Then I looked at her and saw on her head +two bandages, one on account of the accident to her forehead and the other over +her eye in consequence of the pain she endured for stress of weeping; and she +was in miserable plight shedding tears and repeating these couplets, + +"I number nights; indeed I count night after night; * Yet lived I long ere learnt so sore accompt to see, ah! +Dear friend, I compass not what Allah pleased to doom * For Laylá, nor what Allah destined for me, ah! +To other giving her and unto me her love, * What loss but Layla's loss would He I ever dree, ah!" + + +And when she had finished her reciting, she looked towards me and seeing me +through her tears, wiped them away and came up to me hastily, but could not +speak for excess of love. So she remained silent for some while and then said, +"O my cousin, tell me what befel thee with her this time." I told her all that +had passed and she said, "Be patient, for the time of thy union is come and +thou hast attained the object of thy hopes. As for her signal to thee with the +mirror which she put in the bag, it said to thee, When the sun is set; and the +letting down of her hair over her face signified, When night is near and +letteth fall the blackness of the dark and hath starkened the daylight, come +hither. As for her gesture with the pot of green plants it meant, When thou +comest, enter the flower-garden which is behind the street; and as for her sign +with the lamp it denoted, When thou enterest the flower-garden walk down it and +make for the place where thou seest the lamp shining; and seat thyself beneath +it and await me; for the love of thee is killing me." When I heard these words +from my cousin, I cried out from excess of passion and said, "How long wilt +thou promise me and I go to her, but get not my will nor find any true sense in +thine interpreting." Upon this she laughed and replied, "It remaineth for thee +but to have patience during the rest of this day till the light darken and the +night starker and thou shalt enjoy union and accomplish thy hopes; and indeed +all my words be without leasing." Then she repeated these two couplets, + +"Let days their folds and plies deploy, * And shun the house that deals annoy! +Full oft when joy seems farthest far * Thou nighmost art to hour of joy."' + + +Then she drew near to me and began to comfort me with soothing speech, but +dared not bring me aught of food, fearing lest I be angry with her and hoping I +might incline to her; so when coming to me she only took off my upper garment +and said to me, "Sit O my cousin, that I may divert thee with talk till the end +of the day and, Almighty Allah willing, as soon as it is night thou shalt be +with thy beloved." But I paid no heed to her and ceased not looking for the +approach of darkness, saying, "O Lord, hasten the coming of the night!" And +when night set in, the daughter of my uncle wept with sore weeping and gave me +a crumb of pure musk, and said to me, "O my cousin, put this crumb in thy +mouth, and when thou hast won union with thy beloved and hast taken thy will of +her and she hath granted thee thy desire, repeat to her this couplet, + +'Ho, lovers all! by Allah say me sooth * What shall he do when love sore +vexeth youth?'"[FN#499] + + +And she kissed me and swore me not to repeat this couplet till I should be +about to leave my lover and I said, "Hearing is obeying!" And when it was +supper-tide I went out and ceased not walking on till I came to the flower +garden whose door I found open. So I entered and, seeing a light in the +distance, made towards it and reaching it, came to a great pavilion vaulted +over with a dome of ivory and ebony, and the lamp hung from the midst of the +dome. The floor was spread with silken carpets embroidered in gold and silver, +and under the lamp stood a great candle, burning in a candelabrum of gold. In +mid pavilion was a fountain adorned with all manner of figures;[FN#500] and by +its side stood a table covered with a silken napkin, and on its edge a great +porcelain bottle full of wine, with a cup of crystal inlaid with gold. Near +all these was a large tray of silver covered over, and when I uncovered it I +found therein fruits of every kind, figs and pomegranates, grapes and oranges, +citrons and shaddocks[FN#501] disposed amongst an infinite variety of sweet +scented flowers, such as rose, jasmine, myrtle, eglantine, narcissus and all +sorts of sweet smelling herbs. I was charmed with the place and I joyed with +exceeding joy, albeit I found not there a living soul and my grief and anxiety +ceased from me.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her +permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Sixteenth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued to Taj al-Muluk: "I was charmed with the place and joyed with great +joy albeit there I found not a living soul of Almighty Allah's creatures, and +saw nor slave nor handmaid to oversee these things or to watch and ward these +properties. So I sat down in the pavilion to await the coming of the beloved +of my heart; but the first hour of the night passed by, and the second hour, +and the third hour, and still she came not. Then hunger grew sore upon me, for +that it was long since I had tasted food by reason of the violence of my love: +but when I found the place even as my cousin had told me, and saw the truth of +her in terpretation of my beloved's signs, my mind was set at rest and I felt +the pangs of hunger; moreover, the odour of the viands on the table excited me +to eat. So making sure of attaining my desire, and being famished for food I +went up to the table and raised the cover and found in the middle a china dish +containing four chickens reddened with roasting and seasoned with spices, round +the which were four saucers, one containing sweetmeats, another conserve of +pomegranate seeds, a third almond pastry[FN#502] and a fourth honey fritters; +and the contents of these saucers were part sweet and part sour. So I ate of +the fritters and a piece of meat, then went on to the almond cakes and ate what +I could; after which I fell upon the sweetmeats, whereof I swallowed a spoonful +or two or three or four, ending with part of a chicken and a mouthful of +something beside. Upon this my stomach became full and my joints loose and I +waxed too drowsy to keep awake; so I laid my head on a cushion, after having +washed my hands, and sleep over came me; I knew not what happened to me after +this, and I awoke not till the sun's heat scorched me, for that I had never +once tasted sleep for days past. When I awoke I found on my stomach a piece of +salt and a bit of charcoal; so I stood up and shook my clothes and turned to +look right and left, but could see no one; and discovered that I had been +sleeping on the marble pavement without bedding beneath me. I was perplexed +thereat and afflicted with great affliction; the tears ran down my cheeks and I +mourned for myself. Then I returned home, and when I entered, I found my +cousin beating her hand on her bosom and weeping tears like rain shedding +clouds; and she versified with these couplets, + +"Blows from my lover's land a Zephyr cooly sweet, * And with its every breath makes olden love new glow: +O Zephyr of the morning hour, come show to us * Each lover hath his lot, his share of joy and woe: +Could I but win one dearest wish, we had embraced * With what embrace and clip of breast fond lovers know. +Allah forbids, while bides unseen my cousin's face, * All joys the World can give or hand of Time bestow. +Would Heaven I knew his heart were like this heart of me, * Melted by passion-flame and charged with longing owe." + + +When she saw me, she rose in haste and wiped away her tears and addressed me +with her soft speech, saying, "O son of my uncle, verily Allah hath been +gracious to thee in thy love, for that she whom thou lovest loveth thee, whilst +I pass my time in weeping and bewailing my severance from thee who blamest me +and chidest me; but may Allah not punish thee for my sake!" Thereupon she +smiled in my face a smile of reproach and caressed me; then taking off my +walking clothes, she spread them out and said, "By Allah, this is not the scent +of one who hath enjoyed his lover! So tell me what hath befallen thee, O my +cousin." I told her all that had passed, and she smiled again a smile of +reproach and said, "Verily, my heart is full of pain; but may he not live who +would hurt thy heart! Indeed, this woman maketh herself inordinately dear and +difficult to thee, and by Allah, O son of my uncle, I fear for thee from +her.[FN#503] Know, O my cousin, that the meaning of the salt is thou west +drowned in sleep like insipid food, disgustful to the taste; and it is as +though she said to thee; 'It behoveth thou be salted lest the stomach eject +thee; for thou professes to be of the lovers noble and true; but sleep is +unlawful and to a lover undue; therefore is thy love but a lie.' However, it is +her love for thee that lieth; for she saw thee asleep yet aroused thee not and +were her love for thee true, she had indeed awoken thee. As for the charcoal, +it means 'Allah blacken thy face'[FN#504] for thou makest a lying presence of +love, whereas thou art naught but a child and hast no object in life other than +eating and drinking and sleeping! such is the interpretation of her signs, and +may Allah Almighty deliver thee from her!" When I heard my cousin's words, I +beat my hand upon my breast and cried out, "By Allah, this is the very truth, +for I slept and lovers sleep not! Indeed I have sinned against myself, for +what could have wrought me more hurt than eating and sleeping? Now what shall +I do?" Then I wept sore and said to the daughter of my uncle, "Tell me how to +act and have pity on me, so may Allah have pity on thee: else I shall die." As +my cousin loved me with very great love,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Seventeenth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued his tale to Taj al-Muluk: "Thereupon quoth I to the daughter of my +uncle, "Tell me what to do and have pity on me, so may Allah have pity on +thee!" As the daughter of my uncle loved me with great love, she replied, "On +my head and eyes! But, O my cousin, I repeat what I have told thee oftentimes, +if I could go in and out at will, I would at once bring you two together and +cover you both with my skirt: nor would I do this but hoping to win thy favour. +Inshallah, I will do my utmost endeavour to unite you; but hear my words and +do my bidding. Go thou to the very same place and sit down where thou sattest +before and at supper-tide look thou eat not, for eating induceth sleep; and +have a care-thou slumber not, for she will not come to thee till a fourth part +of the night be passed. And the Almighty avert her mischief from thee!" Now +when I heard these words I rejoiced and besought Allah to hasten the night; +and, as soon as it was dark, I was minded to go, and my cousin said to me, +"When thou shalt have met her, repeat to her the couplet I taught thee before, +at the time of thy leave taking." Replied I, "On my head and eyes!" and went +out and repaired to the garden, where I found all made ready in the same state +as on the previous night, with every requisite of meat and drink, dried fruits, +sweet scented flowers and so forth. I went up into the pavilion and smelt the +odour of the viands and my spirit lusted after them; but I possessed my soul in +patience for a while, till at last I could no longer withstand temptation. So +I arose from my seat and went up to the table and, raising its cover, found a +dish of fowls, surrounded by four saucers containing four several meats. I ate +a mouthful of each kind and as much as I would of the sweetmeats and a piece of +meat: then I drank from the saucer a sauce yellowed with saffron[FN#505] and as +it pleased me, I supped it up by the spoonful till I was satisfied and my +stomach was full. Upon this, my eyelids drooped; so I took a cushion and set it +under my head, saying, "Haply I can recline upon it without going to sleep." +Then I closed my eyes and slept, nor did I wake till the sun had risen, when I +found on my stomach a cube of bone,[FN#506] a single tip-cat stick,[FN#507] the +stone of a green date[FN#508] and a carob pod. There was no furniture nor +aught else in the place, and it was as if there had been nothing there +yesterday. So I rose and shaking all these things off me, fared forth in fury; +and, going home, found my cousin groaning and versifying with these couplets, + +"A wasted body, heart enpierced to core, * And tears that down my poor cheeks pour and pour: +And lover cure of access; but, but still * Naught save what's fair can come from fairest flow'r: +O cousin mine thou fill'st my soul with pate, * And from these tears mine eyelids ache full sore!" + + +I chid the daughter of my uncle and abused her, whereat she wept; then, wiping +away her tears, she came up to me and kissed me and began pressing me to her +bosom, whilst I held back from her blaming myself. Then said she to me, "O my +cousin, it seemeth thou sleptest again this night?" Replied I, "Yes; and when I +awoke, I found on my stomach a cube of bone, a single tip-cat stick, a stone of +a green date and a carob pod, and I know not why she did this." Then I wept and +went up to her and said, "Expound to me her meaning in so doing and tell me how +shall I act and aid me in my sore strait." She answered, "On my head and eyes! +By the single tip cat stick and the cube of bone which she placed upon thy +stomach she saith to thee 'Thy body is present but thy heart is absent'; and +she meaneth, 'Love is not thus: so do not reckon thyself among lovers.' As for +the date stone, it is as if she said to thee, 'An thou wert in love thy heart +would be burning with passion and thou wouldst not taste the delight of sleep; +for the sweet of love is like a green date[FN#509] which kindleth a coal of +fire in the vitals.' As for the carob pod[FN#510] it signifieth to thee, 'The +lover's heart is wearied'; and thereby she saith, 'Be patient under our +separation with the patience of Job.' " When I heard this interpretation, fires +darted into my vitals like a dart and grief redoubled upon my heart and I cried +out, saying, "Allah decreed sleep to me for my ill fortune." Then I said to +her, "O my cousin, by my life, devise me some device whereby I may win my will +of her!" She wept and answered, "O Aziz, O son of my uncle, verily my heart is +full of sad thought which I cannot speak: but go thou again to night to the +same place and beware thou sleep not, and thou shalt surely attain thy desire. +This is my counsel and peace be with thee!" Quoth I, "If Allah please I will +not sleep, but will do as thou biddest me." Then my cousin rose, and brought me +food, saying, "Eat now what may suffice thee, that nothing may divert thy +heart." So I ate my fill and, when night came, my cousin rose and bringing me a +sumptuous suit of clothes clad me therein. Then she made me swear I would +repeat to my lover the verse aforesaid and bade me beware of sleeping. So I +left her and repaired to the garden and went up into that same pavilion where I +occupied myself in holding my eyelids open with my fingers and nodding my head +as the night darkened on me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Eighteenth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued to Taj al Muluk: "So I repaired to the garden and went up into that +same pavilion and occupied myself in gazing upon the flower beds and in holding +my eyelids open with my fingers and nodding my head as the night darkened on +me. And presently I grew hungry with watching and the smell of the meats being +wafted towards me, my appetite increased: so I went up to the table and took +off the cover and ate a mouthful of every dish and a bit of meat; after which I +turned to the flagon of wine, saying to myself, I will drink one cup. I drank +it, and then I drank a second and a third, till I had drunk full ten, when the +cool air smote me and I fell to the earth like a felled man. I ceased not to +lie thus till day arose, when I awoke and found myself out side the garden, and +on my stomach were a butcher's knife and a dram-weight of iron.[FN#511] +Thereat I trembled and, taking them with me, went home, where I found my cousin +saying, "Verily, I am in this house wretched and sorrowful, having no helper +but weeping." Now when I entered, I fell down at full length and throwing the +knife and the dram weight from my hand, I fainted clean away. As soon as I +came to myself, I told her what had befallen me and said, Indeed, I shall never +enjoy my desire." But when she saw my tears and my passion, they redoubled her +distress on my account, and she cried, "Verily, I am helpless! I warned thee +against sleeping; but thou wouldst not hearken to my warning, nor did my words +profit thee aught." I rejoined, "By Allah, I conjure thee to explain to me the +meaning of the knife and the iron dram-weight." "By the dram weight," replied +my cousin, "she alludeth to her right eye,[FN#512] and she sweareth by it and +saith, 'By the Lord of all creatures and by my right eye! if thou come here +again and sleep, I will cut thy throat with this very knife.' And indeed I fear +for thee, O my cousin, from her malice; my heart is full of anguish for thee +and I cannot speak. Nevertheless, if thou can be sure of thyself not to sleep +when thou returnest to her, return to her and beware of sleeping and thou shalt +attain thy desire; but if when returning to her thou wilt sleep, as is thy +wont, she will surely slaughter thee." Asked I, "What shall I do, O daughter of +my uncle: I beg thee, by Allah, to help me in this my calamity." Answered she, +"On my head and eyes! if thou wilt hearken to my words and do my bidding, thou +shalt have thy will." Quoth I, "I will indeed hearken to thy words and do thy +bidding;" and quoth she, "When it is time for thee to go, I will tell thee." +Then she pressed me to her bosom and laying me on the bed, shampoo'd my feet, +till drowsiness overcame me and I was drowned in sleep, then she took a fan and +seated herself at my head with the fan in her hand and she was weeping till her +clothes were wet with tears. Now when she saw that I was awake, she wiped away +the drops and fetched me some food and set it before me. I refused it, but she +said to me, "Did I not tell thee that thou must do my bidding? Eat!" So I ate +and thwarted her not and she proceeded to put the food into my mouth and I to +masticate it, till I was full. Then she made me drink jujube sherbet[FN#513] +and sugar and washed my hands and dried them with a kerchief; after which she +sprinkled me with rose-water, and I sat with her awhile in the best of spirits. +When the darkness had closed in, she dressed me and said to me, "O son of my +uncle, watch through the whole night and sleep not; for she will not come to +thee this tide till the last of the dark hours and, Allah willing, thou shalt +be at one with her this night; but forget not my charge." Then, she wept, and +my heart was pained for her by reason of her over much weeping, and I asked, +"What is the charge thou gayest me?" She answered, "When thou takest leave of +her repeat to her the verse before mentioned." So, full of joy I left her and +repairing to the garden, went up into the pavilion where, being satiated with +food, I sat down and watched till a fourth part of the dark hours was past. +That night seemed longsome to me as it were a year: but I remained awake till +it was three quarters spent and the cocks crew and I was famished for long +watching. Accordingly I went up to the table and ate my fill, whereupon my +head grew heavy and I wanted to sleep, when behold, a light appeared making +towards me from afar. I sprang up and washed my hands and mouth and roused +myself; and before long she came with ten damsels, in whose midst she was like +the full moon among the stars. She was clad in a dress of green satin purfled +with red gold, and she was as saith the poet, + +"She lords it o'er our hearts in grass green gown, * With buttons[FN#514] loose and locks long flowing down. +Quoth I, 'What is thy name?' Quoth she, 'I'm she, * Who burns the lover-heart live coals upon:' +I made my plaint to her of loving lowe; * Laughed she, 'To stone thou moanest useless moan!' +Quoth I, 'An be of hardest stone thy heart, * Allah drew sweetest spring from hardest stone.' " + + +When she saw me she laughed and said, "How is it that thou art awake and that +sleep overcame thee not? Forasmuch as thou hast watched through the night, I +know that thou art a lover; for night watching is the mark of lovers displaying +brave endurance of their desires." Then she turned to her women and signed to +them; and they went away from her, whereupon she came up to me and strained me +to her breast and kissed me, whilst I kissed her, and she sucked my upper lip +whilst I sucked her lower lip. I put my hand to her waist and pressed it and +we came not to the ground save at the same moment. Then she undid her +petticoat-trousers which slipped down to her anklets, and we fell to clasping +and embracing and toying and speaking softly and biting and inter twining of +legs and going round about the Holy House and the corners thereof,[FN#515] till +her joints became relaxed for love delight and she swooned away. I entered the +sanctuary, and indeed that night was a joy to the sprite and a solace to the +sight even as saith the poet, + +"Sweetest of nights the world can show to me, that night * When cups went round and round as fed by ceaseless spring: +There utter severance made I 'twixt mine eyes and sleep, * And joined, re joined mine ear drop with the anklet ring."[FN#516] + + +We lay together in close embrace till the morning when I would have gone away, +but she stopped me and said, "Stay till I tell thee something"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Nineteenth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued his recital to Taj al Muluk: "When I would have gone away, she +stopped me and said, "Stay, till I tell thee something and charge thee with a +charge." So I stayed whilst she unfolded a kerchief and drew out this piece of +linen and spread it open before me. I found worked on it these two figures of +gazelles and admired it with great admiration. Then I took the piece of linen +and went away, joyful, after we had agreed that I should visit her every night +in the garden; but in my joy I forgot to repeat to her the verse my cousin had +taught me. For when giving me the piece of linen with the gazelles she had +said to me, "Keep this carefully, as it is my sister's handiwork." I asked her, +"What is thy sister's name?"; and she answered, "Her name is Núr al-Hudá." When +I went to my cousin, I found her lying down; but as soon as she saw me, she +rose, with the tears running from her eyes, and came up to me, and kissed me on +the breast and said, "Didst thou do as I enjoined thee? and repeat the verse +to her?" "I forgot it," replied I; "and nothing drove it out of my mind but +these two figured gazelles." And I threw the piece of linen on the floor before +her. She rose and sat down again, but was unable to contain herself for +impatience, and her eyes ran over with tears, whilst she repeated these two +couplets, + +"O thou who seekest parting, softly fare! * Let not the Pair delude with cunning art: +Pare softly, Fortune's nature is to 'guile, * And end of every meeting is to part." + + +And when she ended her recitation she said, "O my cousin, give me this piece of +linen." So I gave it to her and she took it and unfolding it, saw what was +therein. When the tryst time came for my going to my lover, the daughter of my +uncle said to me, "Go, and peace attend thee; and when thou art about to leave +her, recite to her the verse I taught thee long ago and which thou didst +forget." Quoth I, "Tell it me again"; and she repeated it. Then I went to the +garden and entered the pavilion, where I found the young lad, awaiting me. +When she saw me, she rose and kissed me and made me sit in her lap; and we ate +and drank and did our desire as before. In the morning, I repeated to her my +cousin's verse which was this, + +"Ho, lovers all! by Allah say me sooth * What shall he do when Love sor' vexeth youth?" + + +When she heard this, her eyes filled with tears and she answered and said, + +"Strive he to cure his case, to hide the truth, * Patiently humble self and sue for rush!" + + +I committed it to memory and returned home rejoicing at having done my cousin's +bidding. When I entered the house I found her lying down and my mother at her +head weeping over her case; but as soon as I went in to her my mother said to +me, "A foul plague on such a cousin! How couldst thou leave the daughter of +thy uncle ailing and not ask what ailed her?" But when my cousin saw me she +raised her head and sat up and asked me, "O Aziz, didst thou repeat to her the +couplet I taught thee?" I answered, "Yes, and when she heard it she wept and +recited in answer another couplet which I committed to memory." Quoth my +cousin, "Tell it me." I did so; and when she heard it she wept with much +weeping and repeated the following verses, + +'How shall youth cure the care his life undo'th, * And every day his heart in pieces hew'th? +In sooth he would be patient, but he findeth * Naught save a heart which love with pains imbu'th." + + +Then added my cousin, "When thou goest to her as of wont, repeat to her also +these two couplets which thou hast heard." I replied, "Hearkening and +obedience!" and I went at the wonted time, to the garden, where there passed +between my mistress and myself what tongue faileth to describe. When I was +about to leave her, I repeated to her those two couplets of my cousin's; +whereupon the tears streamed from her eyes and she replied, + +"If he of patience fail the truth to hide * For him no cure save Death my vision view'th!" + + +I committed them to memory and returned home, and when I went in to my cousin I +found her fallen into a fit and my mother sitting at her head. When she heard +my voice, she opened her eyes and asked, "O Aziz! didst thou repeat the two +couplets to her?" whereto I answered, "Yes; but she wept on hearing them; and +she replied with this couplet beginning, If he of patience fail, to the end." +And I repeated it; whereupon my cousin swooned again, and when she came to +herself, she recited these two couplets, + +"Hearkening, obeying, with my dying mouth * I greet who joy of union ne'er allow'th: +Pair fall all happy loves, and fair befal * The hapless lover dying in his drowth!" + + +Again when it was night, I repaired to the garden as usual where I found the +young lady awaiting me. We sat down and ate and drank, after which we did all +we wanted and slept till the morning; and, as I was going away, I repeated to +her the saying of my cousin. When she heard the couplet she cried out with a +loud cry and was greatly moved and exclaimed, "Awáh! Awáh![FN#517] By Allah, +she who spake these lines is dead!" Then she wept and said to me, "Woe to thee! +How is she who spoke thus related to thee?" Replied I, "She is the daughter of +my father's brother." "Thou liest," rejoined she; "by Allah, were she thy +cousin, thou hadst borne her the same love as she bore thee! It is thou who +hast slain her and may the Almighty kill thee as thou killedst her! By Allah, +hadst thou told me thou hadst a cousin, I would not have admitted thee to my +favours!" Quoth I, "Verily it was she who interpreted to me the signs thou +madest and it was she who taught me how to come to thee and how I should deal +with thee; and, but for her, I should never have been united to thee." She then +asked me, "Did thy cousin then know of us?"; and I answered, "Yes;" whereupon +she exclaimed, "Allah give thee sorrow of thy youth, even as thou hast sorrowed +her youth!" Then she cried to me, "Go now and see after her." So I went away +troubled at heart, and ceased not walking till I reached our street, when I +heard sounds of wailing, and asking about it, was answered, "Azizah, we found +her dead behind the door." I entered the house, and when my mother saw me, she +said, "Her death lieth heavy on thy neck and may Allah not acquit thee of her +blood!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Twentieth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued to Taj al-Muluk: "So I entered the house and when my mother saw me +she said, "Her death lieth heavy on thy neck and may Allah not acquit thee of +her blood! A plague on such a cousin!" Then came my father, and we laid her +out and get ready her bier and buried her; and we had recitations of the whole +Koran over her tomb and we abode by her grave three days, after which we +returned to our home, and I grieving for her grievously. Then my mother came +to me and said, "I would fain know what thou didst to her, to break her +heart[FN#518] for, O my son, I questioned her at all times of the cause of her +complaint, but she would tell me nothing nor let me know aught of it. So Allah +upon thee, tell me what thou hast been doing to her that she died." Quoth I, "I +did nothing." Quoth my mother, "Allah avenge her on thee! Verily she told me +naught, but kept her secret till she died of her love-longings for thee; but +when she died I was with her and she opened her eyes and said to me; 'O wife of +my uncle may Allah hold thy son guiltless of my blood and punish him not for +what he hath done by me! And now Allah transporteth me from the house of the +world which is perishable to the house of the other world which is eternal.' +Said I, 'O my daughter, Allah preserve thee and preserve thy youth!' And as I +questioned her of the cause of her illness, she made me no answer; but she +smiled and said, 'O wife of my uncle, bid thy son, whenever he would go whither +he goeth every day, repeat these two saws at his going away; 'Faith is fair! +Unfaith is foul!' For this is of my tender affection to him, that I am +solicitous concerning him during my lifetime and after my death.' Then she gave +me somewhat for thee and sware me that I would not give it until I see thee +weeping for her and lamenting her death. The thing is with me; and, when I have +seen thy case as I have said, I will make it over to thee." "Show it me," cried +I: but she would not. Then I gave myself up to love delights and thought no +more of my cousin's death: for my mind was unsettled and fain would I have been +with my lover the livelong day and night.[FN#519] So hardly had I perceived +the darkness fall when I betook myself to the garden, where I found the young +lady sitting on coals of fire for much impatience. As soon as she was sure +that she saw me, she ran to me and throwing her arms about my neck, enquired of +the daughter of my uncle. I replied, "Sooth to say she is dead, and we have +caused Zikr- litanies and recitations of the Koran to be performed for her; and +it is now four nights and this be the fifth since she is gone." When she heard +that, she shrieked aloud and wept and said, "Did I not tell thee that thou hast +slain her? Hadst thou let me know of her before her death, I would have +requited her the kindness she did me, in that she served me and united thee to +me; for without her, we had never foregathered, we twain, and I fear lest some +calamity befal thee because of thy sin against her." Quoth I, "She acquitted me +of offence ere she died;" and I repeated to her what my mother had told me. +Quoth she, "Allah upon thee! when thou returnest to thy mother, learn what +thing she keepeth for thee." I rejoined, "My mother also said to me; 'Before +the daughter of thy uncle died, she laid a charge upon me, saying, Whenever thy +son would go whither he is wont to go, teach him these two saws, 'Faith is +fair; Unfaith is foul!' " When my lady heard this she exclaimed, "The mercy of +Almighty Allah be upon her! Indeed, she hath delivered thee from me, for I +minded to do thee a mischief, but now I will not harm thee nor trouble thee." I +wondered at this and asked her, "What then west thou minded to do with me in +time past and we two being in bond of love?" Answered she, "Thou art infatuated +with me; for thou art young in life and a raw laddie; thy heart is void of +guile and thou weetest not our malice and deceit. Were she yet alive, she +would protect thee; for she is the cause of thy preservation and she hath +delivered thee from destruction. And now I charge thee speak not with any +woman, neither accost one of our sex, be she young or be she old; and again I +say Beware! for thou art simple and raw and knowest not the wiles of women and +their malice, and she who interpreted the signs to thee is dead. And indeed I +fear for thee, lest thou fall into some disgrace and find none to deliver thee +from it, now that the daughter of thy uncle is no more."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-first Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued to Taj al-Muluk: "Then the young lady said to me, "I fear for thee +lest thou fall into some disgrace and find none to deliver thee from it. Alas +for thy cousin and ah, the pity of her! Would I had known her before her +death, that I might have requited by waiting upon her the fair service she did +me. The mercy of Allah Almighty be upon her, for she kept her secret and +revealed not what she suffered, and but for her thou hadst never foregathered +with me; no, never! But there is one thing I desire of thee." I asked, "What +is it?"; and she answered, "It is that thou bring me to her grave, that I may +visit her in the tomb wherein she is and write some couplets thereon." I +rejoined, "To morrow, if Allah please!"[FN#520] I slept with her that night, +and she ceased not saying after every hour, "Would thou hadst told me of thy +cousin before her death!" And I asked her, "What is the meaning of the two saws +she taught me? 'Faith is fair! Unfaith is foul!'" But she made no answer. As +soon as it was day she rose and, taking a purse of gold pieces, said to me, +"Come, show me her tomb, that I may visit it and grave some verses thereon and +build a dome over it and commend her to Allah's mercy and bestow these dinars +in alms for her soul." I replied, "To hear is to obey!"; and walked on before +her, whilst she followed me, giving alms as she went and saying to all upon +whom she lavisht bounty, "This is an alms for the soul of Azizah, who kept her +counsel till she drank the cup of death and never told the secret of her love." +And she stinted not thus to give alms and say, "for Azizah's soul," till the +purse was empty and we came to the grave. And when she looked at the tomb, she +wept and threw herself on it; then, pulling out a chisel of steel and a light +hammer, she graved therewith upon the head stone in fine small characters these +couplets, + +"I past by a broken tomb amid a garth right sheen, * Whereon seven blooms of Nu'uman[FN#521] glowed with cramoisie; +Quoth I, 'Who sleepeth in this tomb?' Quoth answering Earth * 'Before a lover Hades-tombed[FN#522] bend reverently!' +Quoth I, 'May Allah help thee, O thou slain of Love, * And grant thee home in Heaven and Paradise height to see!' +Hapless are lovers all e'en tombed in their tombs, * Where amid living folk the dust weighs heavily! +Pain would I plant a garden blooming round thy grave, * And water every flower with tear drops flowing free!" + + +Then she turned away in tears and I with her and returned to the garden where +she said to me, "By Allah! I conjure thee never leave me!" "To hear is to +obey," replied I. Then I gave myself wholly up to her and paid her frequent +visits: she was good and generous to me; and as often as I passed the night +with her, she would make much of me and would ask me of the two saws my cousin +Azizah told my mother and I would repeat them to her. And matters ceased not +to be on this wise and I continued for a whole year eating and drinking and +enjoying dalliance and wearing change of rich raiment until I waxed gross and +fat, so that I lost all thought of sorrowing and mourning, and I clean forgot +my cousin Azizah. And on New Year's day I went to the bath, where I refreshed +myself and put on a suit of sumptuous clothes; then coming out I drank a cup of +wine and smelt the scent of my new gear which was perfumed with various +essences; and my breast was broadened thereby, for I knew not the tricks of +Pate nor the changing ways of Time. When the hour of night prayer came, I was +minded to repair to my lover; but, being the worse for wine, I knew not when +going to her whither I went, so my drunkenness turned me into a by street +called Syndic Street;[FN#523] and the while I walked up that street behold, I +caught sight of an old woman faring with a lighted taper in one hand, and in +the other a folded letter.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-second Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant, whose +name was Aziz, continued to Taj al-Muluk:—And when I entered the street called +Syndic Street behold, I caught sight of an old woman walking with a lighted +taper in one hand and in the other a folded letter and I drew near her and lo! +she was weeping and repeating these couplets, + +"O glad news bearer well come! Welcome! Hail! * How sweet thy speech to me, what treat thy tale: +O messenger from him whose weal I love, * God bless thee long as breathes soft morning-gale!" + + +Now when she saw me she asked, "O my son! canst thou read?"; and I answered, of +my officiousness, "Yes, old naunty!" Rejoined she, "Then take this letter and +read it to me." And when she handed it to me, I took it and unfolding it read +it to her and behold it was from an absent man to his friends and lovers whom +he greeted; and, when she heard its purport, she rejoiced at the good tidings +and blessed me, saying, "Allah dispel thine anxiety, even as thou hast +dispelled mine!" Then she took the letter and walked on. Meanwhile, I was urged +by a call of nature and sat down on my heels to make water.[FN#524] When I had +ended I stood up and wiped the orifice with a pebble and then, letting down my +clothes, I was about to wend my way, when suddenly the old woman came up to me +again and, bending down over my hand, kissed it and said, "O my master! the +Lord give thee joy of thy youth! I entreat thee to walk with me a few steps as +far as yonder door, for I told them what thou didst read to me of the letter, +and they believe me not, so come with me two steps and read them the letter +from behind the door and accept the prayers of a righteous woman." I enquired, +"What is the history of this letter?", and she replied, "O my son, this letter +is from my son, who hath been absent for a term of ten years. He set out with +a stock of merchandise and tarried long in foreign parts, till we lost hope of +him and supposed him to be dead. Now after all that delay cometh this letter +from him, and he hath a sister who weepeth for him night and day; so I said to +her, 'He is well and all right.' But she will not believe me and declares, +'There is no help but thou bring me one who will read this letter in my +presence, that my heart may be at rest and my mind at ease.' Thou knowest, O my +son, that all who love are wont to think evil: so be good enough to go with me +and read to her this letter, standing behind the curtain, whilst I call his +sister to listen within the door, so shalt thou dispel our heed and fulfil our +need. Verily quoth the Apostle of Allah (whom Allah bless and preserve!), +'Whoso easeth the troubled of one of the troubles of this troublous world, +Allah will ease him of an hundred troubles'; and according to another +tradition, 'Whoso easeth his brother of one of the troubles of this troublous +world, Allah shall relieve him of seventy and two troubles on the Day of +Resurrection.' And I have betaken myself to thee; so disappoint me not." +Replied I, "To hear is to obey: do thou go before me!" So she walked on +devancing me and I followed her a little way, till she came to the gate of a +large and handsome mansion whose door was plated with copper.[FN#525] I stood +behind the door, whilst the old woman cried out in Persian, and ere I knew it a +damsel ran up with light and nimble step. She had tucked up her trousers to +her knees, so that I saw a pair of calves that confounded thinker and lighter, +and the maid herself was as saith the poet describing her, + +"O thou who barest leg calf, better to suggest * For passion madded amourist better things above! +Towards its lover doth the bowl go round and run; * Cup[FN#526] and cup bearer only drive us daft with love."[FN#527] + + +Now these legs were like two pillars of alabaster adorned with anklets of gold, +wherein were set stones of price. And the damsel had tucked up the end of her +gown under her arm pit and had rolled up her sleeves to the elbow, so that I +could see her white wrists whereon were two pairs of bracelets with clasps of +great pearls; and round her neck was a collar of costly gems. Her ears were +adorned with pendants of pearls and on her head she wore a kerchief[FN#528] of +brocade, brand new and broidered with jewels of price. And she had thrust the +skirt of her shift into her trousers string being busy with some household +business. So when I saw her in this undress, I was confounded at her beauty, +for she was like a shining sun. Then she said, with soft, choice speech, never +heard I sweeter, "O my mother! is this he who cometh to read the letter?" "It +is," replied the old woman; and she put out her hand to me with the letter. +Now between her and the door was a distance of about half a rod[FN#529]; so I +stretched forth my hand to take the letter from her and thrust head and +shoulders within the door, thinking to draw near her and read the letter when, +before I knew what her design was, the old woman butted her head against my +back and pushed me forwards with the letter in my hand, so that ere I could +take thought I found myself in the middle of the hall far beyond the vestibule. +Then she entered, faster than a flash of blinding leven, and had naught to do +but to shut the door. And Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-third Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth Aziz pursued to +Taj al Muluk: "When the old woman pushed me forwards I found myself, ere I +could think, inside the vestibule; and the old woman entered faster than a +flash of blinding leven and had naught to do but to shut the door. When the +girl saw me in the vestibule, she came up to me and strained me to her bosom, +and threw me to the floor; then she sat astraddle upon my breast and kneaded my +belly with her fingers, till I well-nigh lost my senses. Thereupon she took me +by the hand and led me, unable to resist for the violence of her pressure, +through seven vestibules, whilst the old woman forewent us with the lighted +candle, till we came to a great saloon with four estrades whereon a horseman +might play Polo.[FN#530] Here she released me, saying, "Open thine eyes." So I +opened them still giddy for the excess of her embracing and pressing, and saw +that the whole saloon was built of the finest marbles and alabasters, and all +its furniture was of silk and brocade even to the cushions and mattresses. +Therein also were two benches of yellow brass and a couch of red gold, set with +pearls and precious stones, befitting none save Kings like thyself. And off +the saloon were smaller sitting rooms; and the whole place was redolent of +wealth. Then she asked, "O Aziz, which is liefer to thee life or death?" +"Life," answered I; and she said, "If life be liefer to thee, marry me." Quoth +I, "Indeed I should hate to marry the like of thee." Quoth she, "If thou marry +me thou wilt at least be safe from the daughter of Dalílah the Wily +One."[FN#531] I asked, "And who be that daughter of the Wily One?" Whereupon +she laughed and replied, " 'Tis she who hath companied with thee this day for a +year and four months (may the Almighty destroy and afflict her with one worse +than herself!) By Allah, there liveth not a more perfidious than she. How many +men hath she not slain before thee and what deeds hath she not done. Nor can I +understand how thou hast been all the time in her company, yet she hath not +killed thee nor done thee a mischief." When I heard her words, I marvelled with +exceeding marvel and said, "O my lady, who made thee to know her?" Said she, +"I know her as the age knoweth its calamities; but now I would fain have thee +tell me all that hath passed between you two, that I may ken the cause of thy +deliverance from her." So I told her all that had happened between us, +including the story of my cousin Azizah. She expressed her pity when she heard +of the death, and her eyes ran over with tears and she claps hand on hand and +cried out, Her youth was lost on Allah's way,[FN#532] and may the Lord bless +thee for her good works! By Allah, O Aziz, she who died for thee was the cause +of thy preservation from the daughter of Dalia the Wily; and, but for her, thou +hadst been lost. And now she is dead I fear for thee from the Crafty One's +perfidy and mischief; but my throat is choking and I cannot speak." Quoth I Ay, +by Allah: all this happened even as thou sayest." And she shook her head and +cried, "There liveth not this day the like of Azizah. I continued, "And on her +death bed she bade me repeat to my lover these two saws, 'Faith is fair! +Unfaith is foul'" When she heard me say this, she exclaimed, "O Aziz, by Allah +those same words saved thee from dying by her hand; and now my heart is at ease +for thee from her, for she will never kill thee and the daughter of thy uncle +preserved thee during her lifetime and after her death. By Allah, I have +desired thee day after day but could not get at thee till this time when I +tricked thee and outwitted thee; for thou art a raw youth[FN#533] and knowest +not the wiles of young women nor the deadly guile of old women." Rejoined I, +No, by Allah!" Then said she to me, "Be of good cheer and eyes clear; the dead +hath found Allah's grace, and the live shall be in good case. Thou art a +handsome youth and I do not desire thee but according to the ordinance of Allah +and His Apostle (on whom be salutation and salvation!). Whatever thou +requirest of money and stuff, thou shalt have forthright without stint, and I +will not impose any toil on thee, no, never!, for there is with me always bread +baked hot and water in pot. All I need of thee is that thou do with me even as +the cock doth." I asked "And what doth the cock?" Upon this she laughed and +clapped her hands and fell over on her back for excess of merriment then she +sat up and smiled and said, "O light of my eyes, really dost thou not know what +cock's duty is?" "No, by Allah!" replied I, and she, "The cock's duty is to eat +and drink and tread.' I was abashed at her words and asked, "Is that the cock's +duty? Yes, answered she; "and all I ask of thee now is to gird thy loins and +strengthen thy will and futter thy best." Then she clapped her hands and cried +out, saying, "O my mother, bring forward those who are with thee." And behold, +in came the old woman accompanied by four lawful witnesses, and carrying a veil +of silk. Then she lighted four candles, whilst the witnesses saluted me and +sat down; and the girl veiled herself with the veil and deputed one of them to +execute the contract on her behalf. So they wrote out the marriage bond and +she testified to have received the whole sum settled upon her, both the half in +advance and the half in arrears; and that she was indebted to me in the sum of +ten thousand dirhams.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + +When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night, + + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued to Taj al-Muluk: When they wrote out the marriage-contract, she +testified to having received the whole sum settled upon her, the half in +advance and the half in arrears and that she was indebted to me in the sum of +ten thousand dirhams. She paid the witnesses their wage and they withdrew +whence they came. Thereupon she arose and cast off her clothes and stood in a +chemise of fine silk edged with gold lace, after which she took off her +trousers and seized my hand and led me up to the couch, saying, "There is no +sin in a lawful put in." She lay down on the couch outspread upon her back; +and, drawing me on to her breast, heaved a sigh and followed it up with a +wriggle by way of being coy. Then she pulled up the shift above her breasts, +and when I saw her in this pose, I could not withhold myself from thrusting it +into her, after I had sucked her lips, whilst she whimpered and shammed shame +and wept when no tears came, and then said she, "O my beloved, do it, and do +thy best!" Indeed the case reminded me of his saying, who said, + +"When I drew up her shift from the roof of her coynte, * I found it as strait* as my mind and my money: +So I drove it half-way, and she sighed a loud sigh * Quoth I, 'Why this sigh?': 'For the rest of it, honey!'" + + +And she repeated, "O my beloved, let the finish be made for I am thine +handmaid. My life on thee, up with it! give it me, all of it! that I may +take it in my hand and thrust it into my very vitals!" And she ceased not to +excite me with sobs and sighs and amorous cries in the intervals of kissing and +clasping until amid our murmurs of pleasure we attained the supreme delight and +the term we had in sight. We slept together till the morning, when I would +have gone out; but lo! she came up to me, laughing, and said, "So! So! +thinkest thou that going into the Hammam is the same as going out?[FN#534] +Dost thou deem me to be the like of the daughter of Dalilah the Wily One? +Beware of such a thought, for thou art my husband by contract and according to +law. If thou be drunken return to thy right mind, and know that the house +wherein thou art openeth but one day in every year. Go down and look at the +great door." So I arose and went down and found the door locked and nailed up +and returned and told her of the locking and nailing. "O Aziz," said she, "We +have in this house flour, grain, fruits and pomegranates; sugar, meat, sheep, +poultry and so forth enough for many years; and the door will not be opened +till after the lapse of a whole twelvemonth and well I weet thou shalt not find +thyself without this house till then." Quoth I "There is no Majesty, and there +is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" "And how can this harm +thee," rejoined she; "seeing thou knowest cock's duty, whereof I told thee?" +Then she laughed and I laughed too, and I conformed to what she said and abode +with her, doing cock's duty and eating and drinking and futtering for a year of +full twelve months, during which time she conceived by me, and I was blessed +with a babe by her. On the New Year's day I heard the door opened and behold, +men came in with cakes and flour and sugar. Upon this, I would have gone out +but my wife said, "Wait till supper-tide and go out even as thou camest in." So +I waited till the hour of night prayer and was about to go forth in fear and +trembling, when she stopped me, saying, "By Allah, I will not let thee go until +thou swear to come back this night before the closing of the door." I agreed to +this, and she swore me a solemn oath on Blade and Book,[FN#535] and the oath of +divorce to boot, that I would return to her. Then I left her and going +straight to the garden, found the door open as usual; where at I was angry and +said to myself, "I have been absent this whole year and come here unawares and +find the place open as of wont! I wonder is the damsel still here as before? +I needs must enter and see before I go to my mother, more by reason that it is +now nightfall." So I entered the flower-garden,—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + +End of Vol. 2. + +Volume 2 Footnotes + + +[FN#1] Supplementarily to note 2, p. 2, [FN#2 Vol 1]and note 2, p. 14, [FN#21 +Vol 1] vol. i., I may add that "Shahrázád," in the Shams al-Loghat, is the P.N. +of a King. L. Langlès (Les Voyages de Sindibâd Le Marin et La Ruse des Femmes, +first appended to Savary's Grammar and reprinted 12mo. pp. 161 + 113, +Imprimerie Royale, Paris, M.D.CCC.XIV) explains it by Le cyprès, la beauté de +la ville; and he is followed by (A. de Biberstein) Kazimirski (Enis el-Djelis +Paris, Barrois, 1847). Ouseley (Orient. Collect.) makes Shahrzád=town-born; and +others an Arabisation of Chehr-ázád (free of face, ingenuous of countenance) +the petit nom of Queen Humay, for whom see the Terminal Essay. The name of the +sister, whom the Fihrist converts into a Kahramánah, or nurse, vulgarly written +Dínár-zád, would= child of gold pieces, freed by gold pieces, or one who has no +need of gold pieces: Dínzád=child of faith and Daynázád, proposed by Langlès, +"free from debt (!)" I have adopted Macnaghten's Dunyazad. "Shahryar," which +Scott hideously writes "Shier-ear," is translated by the Shams, King of the +world, absolute monarch and the court of Anushirwan while the Burhán-i-Káti'a +renders it a King of Kings, and P.N. of a town. Shahr-báz is also the P.N. of a +town in Samarcand. + +[FN#2] Arab. "Malik," here used as in our story-books: "Pompey was a wise and +powerful King" says the Gesta Romanorum. This King is, as will appear, a Regent +or Governor under Harun al-Rashid. In the next tale he is Viceroy of Damascus, +where he is also called "Sultan." + +[FN#3] The Bull Edit. gives the lines as follows:—- + + The lance was his pen, and the hearts of his foes * + His paper, and dipped he in blood for ink; + Hence our sires entitled the spear Khattíyah, * + Meaning that withal man shall write, I think. + +The pun is in "Khattíyah" which may mean a writer (feminine) and also a spear, +from Khatt-Hajar, a tract in the province Al-Bahrayn (Persian Gulf), and Oman, +where the best Indian bamboos were landed and fashioned into lances. Imr +al-Kays (Mu'allakah v. 4.) sings of "our dark spears firmly wrought of +Khattiyan cane;" Al-Busírí of "the brown lances of Khatt;" also see Lebid v. 50 +and Hamásah pp. 26, 231, Antar notes the "Spears of Khatt" and "Rudaynian +lances." Rudaynah is said to have been the wife of one Samhár, the Ferrara of +lances; others make her the wife of Al-Ka'azab and hold Samhár to be a town in +Abyssinia where the best weapons were manufactured The pen is the Calamus or +Kalam (reed cut for pen) of which the finest and hardest are brought from Java: +they require the least nibbing. The rhetorical figure in the text is called +Husn al-Ta'alíl, our aetiology; and is as admirable to the Arabs as it appears +silly to us. + +[FN#4] "He loves folk" is high praise, meaning something more than benevolence +and beneficence.. Like charity it covers a host of sins. + +[FN#5] The sentence is euphuistic. + +[FN#6] Arab. "Rubb"=syrup a word Europeanised by the "Rob +Laffecteur." + +[FN#7] The Septentriones or four oxen and their wain. + +[FN#8] The list fatally reminds us of "astronomy and the use of the globes" . . +. "Shakespeare and the musical glasses." + +[FN#9] The octave occurs in Night xv. I quote Torrens (p. 360) by way of +variety. + +[FN#10] A courteous formula of closing with the offer. + +[FN#11] To express our "change of climate" Easterns say, "change of water and +air," water coming first. + +[FN#12] "The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night" (Psalm +cxxi. 6). Easterns still believe in the blighting effect of the moon's rays, +which the Northerners of Europe, who view it under different conditions, are +pleased to deny. I have seen a hale and hearty Arab, after sitting an hour in +the moonlight, look like a man fresh from a sick bed; and I knew an Englishman +in India whose face was temporarily paralysed by sleeping with it exposed to +the moon. + +[FN#13] The negroids and negroes of Zanzibar. + +[FN#14] i.e. Why not make thy heart as soft as thy sides! The converse of this +was reported at Paris during the Empire, when a man had by mistake pinched a +very high personage: "Ah, Madame! if your heart be as hard as (what he had +pinched) I am a lost man." + +[FN#15] "Na'íman" is said to one after bathing or head-shaving: the proper +reply, for in the East every sign of ceremony has its countersign, is "Allah +benefit thee!" (Pilgrimage i. 11, iii. 285; Lane M. E. chaps. viii.; Caussin de +Perceval's Arabic Grammar, etc., etc.) I have given a specimen (Pilgrimage i., +122) not only of sign and countersign, but also of the rhyming repartee which +rakes love. Hanien ! (pleasant to thee! said when a man drinks). Allah pleasure +thee (Allah yuhanník which Arnauts and other ruffians perverted to Allah yaník, +Allah copulate with thee); thou drinkest for ten! I am the cock and thou art +the hen! (i.e. a passive catamite) Nay, I am the thick one (the penis which +gives pleasure) and thou art the thin! And so forth with most unpleasant +pleasantries. + +[FN#16] In the old version she is called "The Fair Persian," probably from the +owner: her name means "The Cheerer of the Companion." + +[FN#17] Pronounce "Nooraddeen." I give the name as written in +Arabic. + +[FN#18] Amongst Moslems, I have said, it is held highly disgraceful when the +sound of women's cries can be heard by outsiders. + +[FN#19] In a case like this, the father would be justified by Rasm (or usage) +not by Koranic law, in playing Brutus with his son. The same would be the case +in a detected intrigue with a paternal concubine and, in very strict houses, +with a slave-girl. + +[FN#20] Orientals fear the "Zug" or draught as much as Germans; and with even a +better reason. Draughts are most dangerous in hot climates. + +[FN#21] The Unity of the Godhead and the Apostleship of Mohammed. + +[FN#22] This would be done only in the case of the very poor. + +[FN#23] Prayers over the dead are not universal in Al-Islam; but when they are +recited they lack the "sijdah" or prostration. + +[FN#24] Or, "Of the first and the last," i.e. Mohammed, who claimed (and +claimed justly) to be the "Seal" or head and end of all Prophets and Prophecy. +For note that whether the Arab be held inspired or a mere impostor, no man +making the same pretension has moved the world since him. Mr. J. Smith the +Mormon (to mention one in a myriad) made a bold attempt and failed. + +[FN#25] i.e. flatterers. + +[FN#26] In one matter Moslems contrast strongly with Christians, by most +scrupulously following the example of their law-giver: hence they are the model +Conservatives. But (European) Christendom is here, as in other things, +curiously contradictory: for instance, it still keeps a "Feast of the +Circumcision," and practically holds circumcision in horror. Eastern +Christians, however, have not wholly abolished it, and the Abyssinians, who +find it a useful hygienic precaution, still practise it. For ulcers, syphilis +and other venereals which are readily cured in Egypt become dangerous in the +Highlands of Ethiopia. + +[FN#27] Arab. "Sabab," the orig. and material sense of the word; hence "a +cause," etc. + +[FN#28] Thus he broke his promise to his father, and it is insinuated that +retribution came upon him. + +[FN#29] "O Pilgrim" (Ya Hájj) is a polite address even to those who have not +pilgrimaged. The feminine "Hájjah" (in Egypt pronounced "Hággeh") is similarly +used. + +[FN#30] Arab. "usúl"=roots, i.e. I have not forgotten my business. + +[FN#31] Moslems from Central and Western North Africa. +(Pilgrimage i. 261; iii. 7, etc); the "Jabarti" is the Moslem +Abyssinian. + +[FN#32] This is a favourite bit of chaff and is to be lengthened out almost +indefinitely e.g. every brown thing is not civet nor every shining thing a +diamond; every black thing is not charcoal nor every white chalk; every red +thing is not a ruby nor every yellow a topaz; every long-necked thing is not a +camel, etc., etc., etc. + +[FN#33] He gives him the name of his grandfather; a familiar usage. + +[FN#34] Arab. "Ma'janah," a place for making unbaked bricks (Tob=Span. Adobe) +with chaff and bruised or charred straw. The use of this article in rainless +lands dates from ages immemorial, and formed the outer walls of the Egyptian +temple. + +[FN#35] Arab. "Barsh," a bit of round matting used by the poor as a seat. The +Wazir thus showed that he had been degraded to the condition of a mat-maker. + +[FN#36] The growth (a Poa of two species) which named Wady Halfá (vulg. +"Halfah"), of which the home public has of late heard perhaps a trifle too +much. Burckhardt (Prov. 226) renders it "dry reeds"—-incorrectly enough. + +[FN#37] This "Háshimi" vein, as they call it, was an abnormal development +between the eyes of the house of Abbas, inherited from the great- grandfather +of the Prophet; and the latter had it remarkably large, swelling in answer and +battle-rage. The text, however, may read "The sweat of wrath," etc. + +[FN#38] Torrens and Payne prefer "Ilm"=knowledge. Lane has more correctly +"Alam"=a sign, a flag. + +[FN#39] The lines were in Night xi.: I have quoted Torrens (p. 379) for a +change. + +[FN#40] Still customary in Tigris-Euphrates land, where sea-craft has not +changed since the days of Xisisthrus-Noah, and long before. + +[FN#41] To cool the contents. + +[FN#42] Hence the Khedivial Palace near Cairo "Kasr al-Nuzhah;" literally "of +Delights;" one of those flimsy new-Cairo buildings which contrast so +marvellously with the architecture of ancient and even of mediæval Egypt, and +which are covering the land with modern ruins. Compare Mohammed Ali's mosque in +the citadel with the older Sultan Hasan. A popular tale is told that, when the +conquering Turk, Yáwúz Sultan Selim, first visited Cairo, they led him to +Mosque Al-Ghúrí. "This is a splendid Ká'ah (saloon)!" quoth he. When he entered +Sultan Hasan, he exclaimed, "This is a citadel!"; but after inspecting the +Mosque Al-Mu'ayyad he cried, "'Tis a veritable place of prayer, a fit stead for +the Faithful to adore the Eternal!" + +[FN#43] Arab. gardeners are very touchy on this point. A friend of mine was on +a similar occasion addressed, in true Egyptian lingo, by an old Adam-son, "Ya +ibn al-Kalb! beta'mil ay?" (O dog- son, what art thou up to?). + +[FN#44] "The green palm-stick is of the trees of Paradise;" say the Arabs in +Solomonic style but not Solomonic words: so our "Spare the rod," etc. + +[FN#45] Wayfarers, travellers who have a claim on the kindness of those at +home: hence Abd al-Rahman al-Burai sings in his famous Ode:— + + He hath claim on the dwellers in the places of their birth, * +Whoso wandereth the world, for he lacketh him a home. + +It is given in my "First Footsteps in East Africa" (pp. 53-55). + +[FN#46] The good old man treated the youth like a tired child. + +[FN#47] In Moslem writings the dove and turtle-dove are mostly feminine, +whereas the female bird is always mute and only the male sings to summon or to +amuse his mate. + +[FN#48] An unsavoury comparison of the classical Narcissus with the yellow +white of a nigger's eyes. + +[FN#49] A tree whose coals burn with fierce heat: Al-Hariri (Vth Séance). This +Artemisia is like the tamarisk but a smaller growth and is held to be a +characteristic of the Arabian Desert. A Badawi always hails with pleasure the +first sight of the Ghazá, after he has sojourned for time away from his +wilds. Mr. Palgrave (i. 38) describes the "Ghadá" as an Euphorbia with a woody +stem often 5-6 feet high and slender flexible green twigs (?), "forming a +feathery tuft, not ungraceful to the eye, while it affords some shelter to the +traveller, and food to his camels." + +[FN#50] Arab. "Sal'am"=S(alla) A(llah) a(layhi) wa S(allam); A(llah) b(less) +h(im) a(nd) k(eep)=Allah keep him and assain! + +[FN#51] The ass is held to be ill-omened. I have noticed the braying elsewhere. +According to Mandeville the Devil did not enter the Ark with the Ass, but he +left it when Noah said "Benedicite." In his day (A.D. 1322) and in that of +Benjamin of Tudela, people had seen and touched the ship on Ararat, the Judi +(Gordiæi) mountains; and this dates from Berosus (S.C. 250) who, of course, +refers to the Ark of Xisisthrus. See Josephus Ant. i. 3, 6; and Rodwell (Koran, +pp. 65, 530). + +[FN#52] As would happen at a "Zikr," rogation or litany. Those who wish to see +how much can be made of the subject will read "Pearls of the Faith, or Islam's +Rosary, being the ninety-nine beautiful names of Allah" (Asmá-el-Husna) etc. by +Edwin Arnold: London, Trübner, 1883. + +[FN#53] i.e. the Sáki, cup-boy or cup-bearer. "Moon-faced," as I have shown +elsewhere, is no compliment in English, but it is in Persian and Arabic. + +[FN#54] He means we are "Záhirí," plain honest Moslems, not "Bátiní," gnostics +(ergo reprobates) and so forth, who disregard all appearances and external +ordinances. This suggests his opinion of Shaykh Ibrahim and possibly refers to +Ja'afar's suspected heresy. + +[FN#55] This worthy will be noticed in a subsequent page. + +[FN#56] Arab. "Lisám," the end of the "Kufiyah," or head-kerchief passed over +the face under the eyes and made fast on the other side. This mouth-veil serves +as a mask (eyes not being recognisable) and defends from heat, cold and thirst. +I also believe that hooding the eyes with this article, Badawi-fashion, +produces a sensation of coolness, at any rate a marked difference of apparent +temperature; somewhat like a pair of dark spectacles or looking at the sea from +a sandy shore. (Pilgrimage i., 210 and 346.) The woman's "Lisám" (chin-veil) or +Yashmak is noticed in i., 337. + +[FN#57] Most characteristic is this familiarity between the greatest man then +in the world and his pauper subject. The fisherman alludes to a practise of +Al-Islam, instituted by Caliph Omar, that all rulers should work at some +handicraft in order to spare the public treasure. Hence Sultan Mu'ayyad of +Cairo was a calligrapher who sold his handwriting, and his example was followed +by the Turkish Sultans Mahmúd, Abd al-Majíd and Abd al-Azíz. German royalties +prefer carpentering and Louis XVI, watch-making. + +[FN#58] There would be nothing singular in this request. The democracy of +despotism levels all men outside the pale of politics and religion. + +[FN#59] "Wa'lláhi tayyib!" an exclamation characteristic of the +Egyptian Moslem. + +[FN#60] The pretended fisherman's name Karím=the Generous. + +[FN#61] Such an act of generosity would appear to Europeans well- nigh +insanity, but it is quite in Arab manners. Witness the oft- quoted tale of +Hatim and his horse. As a rule the Arab is the reverse of generous, contrasting +badly, in this point, with his cousin the Jew: hence his ideal of generosity is +of the very highest. "The generous (i.e. liberal) is Allah's friend, aye, +though he be a sinner; and the miser is Allah's foe, aye, though he be a +saint!" Indian Moslems call a skin-flint Makhi-chús = fly-sucker. (Pilgrimage +i. 242.) + +[FN#62] Arab. "Ammá ba'ad" (or Wa ba'ad), an initiatory formula attributed to +Koss ibn Sa'idat al-Iyadi, bishop of Najrán (the town in Al-Yaman which +D'Herbelot calls Negiran) and a famous preacher in Mohammed's day, hence "more +eloquent than Koss" (Maydání, Arab. Prov., 189). He was the first who addressed +letters with the incept, "from A. to B."; and the first who preached from a +pulpit and who leant on a sword or a staff when discoursing. Many Moslems date +Ammá ba'ad from the Prophet David, relying upon a passage of the Koran +(xxxviii. 19). + +[FN#63] Arab. "Nusf"=half (a dirham): vulgarly pronounced "nuss," and +synonymous with the Egypt. "Faddah" (=silver), the Greek "Asper," and the +Turkish "paráh." It is the smallest Egyptian coin, made of very base metal and, +there being forty to the piastre, it is worth nearly a quarter of a farthing. + +[FN#64] The too literal Torrens and Lane make the Caliph give the gardener-lad +the clothes in which he was then clad, forgetting, like the author or copier, +that he wore the fisherman's lousy suit. + +[FN#65] In sign of confusion, disappointment and so forth: not "biting his +nails," which is European and utterly un-Asiatic. + +[FN#66] See lines like these in Night xiii. (i. 136); the sentiment is trite. + +[FN#67] The Arab will still stand under his ruler's palace and shout aloud to +attract his attention. Sayyid Sa'íd known as the "Imán of Muskat" used to +encourage the patriarchal practice. Mohammed repeatedly protested against such +unceremonious conduct (Koran xciv. 11, etc.). The "three times of privacy" +(Koran cv. 57) are before the dawn-prayer, during the Siesta (noon) and after +the even-prayer. + +[FN#68] The Judges of the four orthodox schools. + +[FN#69] That none might see it or find it ever after. + +[FN#70] Arab. "Khatt Sharíf"=a royal autographical letter: the term is still +preserved in Turkey, but Europeans will write "Hatt." + +[FN#71] Meaning "Little tom-cat;" a dim. of "Kitt" vulg. Kutt or +Gutt. + +[FN#72] Arab. "Matmúrah"—-the Algerine "Matamor"—-a "silo," made familiar to +England by the invention of "Ensilage." + +[FN#73] The older "Mustapha"=Mohammed. This Intercession-doctrine is fiercely +disputed. (Pilgrimage ii. 77.) The Apostle of Al- Islam seems to have been +unable to make up his mind upon the subject: and modern opinion amongst Moslems +is apparently borrowed from the Christians. + +[FN#74] Lane (i. 486) curiously says, "The place of the stagnation of blood:" +yet he had translated the word aright in the Introduction (i. 41). I have +noticed that the Nat'a is made like the "Sufrah," of well-tanned leather, with +rings in the periphery, so that a thong passed through turns it into a bag. The +Sufrah used for provisions is usually yellow, with a black border and small +pouches for knives or spoons. (Pilgrimage i. 111.) + +[FN#75] This improbable detail shows the Caliph's greatness. + +[FN#76] "Cousin" is here a term of familiarity, our "coz." + +[FN#77] i.e. without allowing them a moment's delay to change clothes. + +[FN#78] i.e. according to my nature, birth, blood, de race. + +[FN#79] Our "Job." The English translators of the Bible, who borrowed Luther's +system of transliteration (of A.D. 1522), transferred into English the German +"j" which has the sound of "i" or "y"; intending us to pronounce Yacob (or +Yakob), Yericho, Yimnites, Yob (or Hiob) and Yudah. Tyndall, who copied Luther +(A.D. 1525-26), preserved the true sound by writing lacob, Ben Iamin and Iudas. +But his successors unfortunately returned to the German; the initial I, having +from the xiii century been ornamentally lengthened and bent leftwards, became a +consonant. The public adopted the vernacular sound of "j" (da) and hence our +language and our literature are disgraced by such barbarisms as "Jehovah" and +"Jesus"; Dgehovah and Dgeesus for Yehovah and Yesus. Future generations of +school-teachers may remedy the evil; meanwhile we are doomed for the rest of +our days to hear + +Gee-rusalem! Gee-rusalem! etc. + +Nor is there one word to be said in favour of the corruption except that, like +the Protestant mispronunciation of Latin and the Erasmian ill-articulation of +Greek, it has become English, and has lent its little aid in dividing the +Britons from the rest of the civilised world. + +[FN#80] The moon, I repeat, is masculine in the so-called +"Semitic" tongues. + +[FN#81] i.e. camel loads, about lbs. 300; and for long journeys lbs. 250. + +[FN#82] Arab. "Janázah," so called only when carrying a corpse; else Na'ash, +Sarír or Tábút: Irán being the large hearse on which chiefs are borne. It is +made of plank or stick-work; but there are several varieties. (Lane, M. E. +chaps. xxviii.) + +[FN#83] It is meritorious to accompany the funeral cortège of a +Moslem even for a few paces. + +[FN#84] Otherwise he could not have joined in the prayers. + +[FN#85] Arab. "Halwá" made of sugar, cream, almonds, etc. That of +Maskat is famous throughout the East. + +[FN#86] i.e. "Camphor" to a negro, as we say "Snowball," by the figure +antiphrase. + +[FN#87] "Little Good Luck," a dim. form of "bakht"=luck, a +Persian word naturalized in Egypt. + +[FN#88] There are, as I have shown, not a few cannibal tribes in Central Africa +and these at times find their way into the slave-market. + +[FN#89] i.e. After we bar the door. + +[FN#90] Arab. "Jáwísh" from Turk. Cháwúsh, Chiaoosh, a sergeant, poursuivant, +royal messenger. I would suggest that this is the word "Shálish" or "Jálish" in +Al-Siyuti's History of the Caliphs (p. 501) translated by Carlyle "milites," by +Schultens "Sagittarius" and by Jarett "picked troops." + +[FN#91] This familiarity with blackamoor slave-boys is common in Egypt and +often ends as in the story: Egyptian blood is sufficiently mixed with negro to +breed inclination for miscegenation. But here the girl was wickedly neglected +by her mother at such an age as ten. + +[FN#92] Arab. "Farj"; hence a facetious designation of the other sex is +"Zawi'l-furuj" (grammatically Zawátu'l- furúj)=habentes rimam, slit ones. + +[FN#93] This ancient and venerable practice of inspecting the marriage-sheet is +still religiously preserved in most parts of the East; and in old-fashioned +Moslem families it is publicly exposed in the Harem to prove that the +"domestic calamity" (the daughter) went to her husband a clean maid. Also the +general idea is that no blood will impose upon the exerts, or jury of matrons, +except that of a pigeon-poult which exactly resembles hymeneal blood— when not +subjected to the microscope. This belief is universal in Southern Europe and I +have heard of it in England. Further details will be given in Night ccxi. + +[FN#94] "Agha" Turk.=sir, gentleman, is, I have said, politely addressed to a +eunuch. + +[FN#95] As Bukhayt tells us he lost only his testes, consequently his erectio +et distensio penis was as that of a boy before puberty and it would last as +long as his heart and circulation kept sound. Hence the eunuch who preserves +his penis is much prized in the Zenanah where some women prefer him to the +entire man, on account of his long performance of the deed of kind. Of this +more in a future page. + +[FN#96] It is or rather was the custom in Egypt and Syria to range long rows of +fine China bowls along the shelves running round the rooms at the height of six +or seven feet, and they formed a magnificent cornice. I bought many of them at +Damascus till the people, learning their value, asked prohibitive prices. + +[FN#97] The tale is interesting as well as amusing, excellently describing the +extravagances still practised in middle-class Moslem families on the death of +the pater familias. I must again note that Arab women are much more unwilling +to expose the back of the head covered by the "Tarhah" (head-veil) than the +face, which is hidden by the "Burka" or nose bag. + +[FN#98] The usual hysterical laughter of this nervous race. + +[FN#99] Here the slave refuses to be set free and starve. For a master so to do +without ample reasons is held disgraceful. I well remember the weeping and +wailing throughout Sind when an order from Sir Charles Napier set free the +negroes whom British philanthropy thus doomed to endure if not to die of +hunger. + +[FN#100] Manumission, which is founded upon Roman law, is an extensive subject +discussed in the Hidáyah and other canonical works. The slave here lays down +the law incorrectly but his claim shows his truly "nigger" impudence. + +[FN#101] This is quite true to nature. The most remarkable thing in the wild +central African is his enormous development of "destructiveness." At Zanzibar I +never saw a slave break a glass or plate without a grin or a chuckle of +satisfaction. + +[FN#102] Arab. "Khassá-ni"; Khusyatáni (vulg.) being the testicles, also called +"bayzatán" (the two eggs) a double entendre which has given rise to many tales. +For instance in the witty Persian book "Dozd o Kazi" (The Thief and the Judge) +a footpad strips the man of learning and offers to return his clothes if he can +ask him a puzzle in law or religion. The Kazi (in folk-lore mostly a fool) +fails, and his wife bids him ask the man to supper for a trial of wits on the +same condition. She begins with compliments and ends by producing five eggs +which she would have him distribute equally amongst the three; and, when he is +perplexed, she gives one to each of the men taking three for herself. Whereupon +the "Dozd" wends his way, having lost his booty as his extreme stupidity +deserved. In the text the eunuch, Kafur, is made a "Sandali" or smooth-shaven, +so that he was of no use to women. + +[FN#103] Arab. "Khara," the lowest possible word: Yá Khara! is the commonest of +insults, used also by modest women. I have heard one say it to her son. + +[FN#104] Arab. "Kámah," a measure of length, a fathom, also called "Bá'a." Both +are omitted in that sadly superficial book, Lane's Modern Egyptians, App. B. + +[FN#105] Names of her slave-girls which mean (in order), +Garden-bloom, Dawn (or Beautiful), Tree o' Pearl (P. N. of +Saladin's wife), Light of (right) Direction, Star o' the Morn, +Lewdness (= Shahwah, I suppose this is a chaff), Delight, +Sweetmeat and Miss Pretty. + +[FN#106] This mode of disposing of a rival was very common in Harems. But it +had its difficulties and on the whole the river was (and is) preferred. + +[FN#107] An Eastern dislikes nothing more than drinking in a dim dingy place: +the brightest lights seem to add to his "drinkitite." + +[FN#108] He did not sleep with her because he suspected some palace-mystery +which suggested prudence, she also had her reasons. + +[FN#109] This as called in Egypt "Allah." (Lane M. E. chaps. i.) + +[FN#110] It would be a broad ribbon-like band upon which the letters could be +worked. + +[FN#111] In the Arab. "he cried." These "Yes, Yes! and No! No!" trifles are +very common amongst the Arabs. + +[FN#112] Arab. "Maragha" lit. rubbed his face on them like a fawning dog. +Ghanim is another "softy" lover, a favourite character in Arab tales; and by +way of contrast, the girl is masterful enough. + +[FN#113] Because the Abbaside Caliphs descend from Al-Abbas, paternal uncle of +Mohammed, text means more explicitly, "O descendant of the Prophet's uncle!" + +[FN#114] The most terrible part of a belle passion in the East is that the +beloved will not allow her lover leave of absence for an hour. + +[FN#115] It is hard to preserve these wretched puns. In the original we have "O +spray (or branch) of capparis-shrub (aráki) which has been thinned of leaf and +fruit (tujna, i.e., whose fruit, the hymen, has been plucked before and not by +me) I see thee (aráka) against me sinning (tajní). + +[FN#116] Apparently the writer forgets that the Abbaside banners and dress were +black, originally a badge of mourning for the Imám Ibrahim bin Mohammed put to +death by the Ommiade Caliph Al-Marwan. The modern Egyptian mourning, like the +old Persian, is indigo-blue of the darkest; but, as before noted, the custom is +by no means universal. + +[FN#117] Koran, chaps. iv. In the East as elsewhere the Devil quotes Scripture. + +[FN#118] A servant returning from a journey shows his master due honour by +appearing before him in travelling suit and uncleaned. + +[FN#119] The first name means "Rattan", the second "Willow-wand," from the +"Bán" or "Khiláf" the Egyptian willow (Salix Ægyptiaca Linn.) vulgarly called +"Safsáf." Forskal holds the "Bán" to be a different variety. + +[FN#120] Arab. "Ta'ám," which has many meanings: in mod. parlance it would +signify millet, holcus-seed. + +[FN#121] i.e. "I well know how to deal with him." + +[FN#122] The Pen (title of the Koranic chaps. Ixviii.) and the +Preserved Tablet (before explained). + +[FN#123] These plunderings were sanctioned by custom. But a few years ago, when +the Turkish soldiers mutinied about arrears of pay (often delayed for years) +the governing Pasha would set fire to the town and allow the men to loot what +they pleased during a stated time. Rochet (soi-disant D'Héricourt) amusingly +describes this manoeuvre of the Turkish Governor of Al-Hodaydah in the last +generation. (Pilgrimage iii. 381.) + +[FN#124] Another cenotaph whose use was to enable women to indulge in their pet +pastime of weeping and wailing in company. + +[FN#125] The lodging of pauper travellers, as the chapel in Iceland is of the +wealthy. I have often taken benefit of the mosque, but as a rule it is +unpleasant, the matting being not only torn but over-populous. Juvenal seems to +allude to the Jewish Synagogue similarly used: "in quâ te quæro proseuchâ"? +(iii. 296) and in Acts iii. we find the lame, blind and impotent in the +Temple-porch. + +[FN#126] This foul sort of vermin is supposed to be bred by perspiration. It is +an epoch in the civilised traveller's life when he catches his first louse. + +[FN#127] The Moslem peasant is a kind-hearted man and will make many sacrifices +for a sick stranger even of another creed. It is a manner of "pundonor" with +the village. + +[FN#128] Such treatment of innocent women was only too common under the +Caliphate and in contemporary Europe. + +[FN#129] This may also mean, "And Heaven will reward thee," but camel-men do +not usually accept any drafts upon futurity. + +[FN#130] He felt that he was being treated like a corpse. + +[FN#131] This hatred of the Hospital extends throughout Southern +Europe, even in places where it is not justified. + +[FN#132] The importance of the pillow (wisádah or makhaddah) to the sick man is +often recognised in The Nights. "He took to his pillow" is = took to his bed. + +[FN#133] i.e in order that the reverend men, who do not render such suit and +service gratis, might pray for him. + +[FN#134] The reader will notice in The Nights the frequent mention of these +physical prognostications, with which mesmerists are familiar. + +[FN#135] The Pers. name of the planet Saturn in the Seventh +Heaven. Arab. "Zuhal"; the Kiun or Chiun of Amos vi. 26. + +[FN#136] i.e. "Pardon me if I injured thee"— a popular phrase. + +[FN#137] A "seduction," a charmer. The double-entendre has before been noticed. + +[FN#138] This knightly tale, the longest in the Nights (xliv.— cxlv.), about +one-eighth of the whole, does not appear in the Bres. Edit. Lane, who finds it +"objectionable," reduces it to two of its episodes, Azíz-cum-Azízah and Táj +al-Mulúk. On the other hand it has been converted into a volume (8vo, pp. 240) +"Scharkan, Conte Arabe," etc. Traduit par M. Asselan Riche, etc. Paris: +Dondey-Dupré. 1829. It has its longueurs and at times is longsome enough; but +it is interesting as a comparison between the chivalry of Al-Islam and European +knight-errantry. Although all the characters are fictitious the period is +evidently in the early crusading days. Cæsarea, the second capital of +Palestine, taken during the Caliphate of Omar (A.H. 19) and afterwards +recovered, was fortified in A.H. 353 = 963 as a base against the Arabs by the +Emperor Phocas, the Arab. "Nakfúr" i.e. Nicephorus. In A.H. 498=1104, crusading +craft did much injury by plundering merchantmen between Egypt and Syria, to +which allusion is found in the romance. But the story-teller has not quite made +up his mind about which Cæsarea he is talking, and M. Riche tells us that +Césarée is a "ville de la Mauritanie, en Afrique" (p. 20). + +[FN#139] The fifth Ommiade Caliph reign. A.H. 65-86 = 685-704. + +[FN#140] This does not merely mean that no one was safe from his wrath: or, +could approach him in the heat of fight: it is a reminiscence of the masterful +"King Kulayb," who established game-laws in his dominions and would allow no +man to approach his camp-fire. Moreover the Jinn lights a fire to decoy +travellers; but if his victim be bold enough to brave him, he invites him to +take advantage of the heat. + +[FN#141] China. + +[FN#142] The Jaxartes and the Bactrus (names very loosely applied). + +[FN#143] In full "Sharrun kána" i.e. an evil (Sharr) has come to being (kána), +that is, "bane to the foe" a pagan and knightly name. The hero of the Romance +"Al-Dalhamah" is described as a bitter gourd (colocynth), a viper, a calamity. + +[FN#144] This is a Moslem law (Koran chaps. iv. bodily borrowed from the +Talmud) which does not allow a man to marry one wife unless he can carnally +satisfy her. Moreover he must distribute his honours equally and each wife has +a right to her night unless she herself give it up. This was the case even with +the spouses of the Prophet; and his biography notices several occasions when +his wives waived their rights in favour of one another M. Riche kindly provides +the King with la piquante francaise (p. 15). + +[FN#145] So the celebrated mosque in Stambul, famed for being the largest +church in the world is known to the Greeks as "Agia (pron. Aya) Sophia" and to +Moslems as "Aya Sofíyeh" (Holy Wisdom) i.e. the Logos or Second Person of the +Trinity (not a Saintess). The sending a Christian girl as a present to a Moslem +would, in these days, be considered highly scandalous. But it was done by the +Mukaukis or Coptic Governor of Egypt (under Heraclius) who of course hated the +Greeks. This worthy gave two damsels to Mohammed; one called Sírín and the +other Máriyah (Maria) whom the Prophet reserved for his especial use and whose +abode is still shown at Al-Medinah. The Rev. Doctor Badger (loc. cit. p. 972) +gives the translation of an epistle by Mohammed to this Mukaukis, written in +the Cufic character ( ? ?) and sealed "Mohammed, The Apostle of Allah." My +friend seems to believe that it is an original, but upon this subject opinions +will differ. It is, however, exceedingly interesting, beginning with +"Bismillah," etc., and ending (before the signature) with a quotation from the +Koran (iii. 57); and it may be assumed as a formula addressee to foreign +potentates by a Prophet who had become virtually "King of Arabia." + +[FN#146] This prayer before "doing the deed of kind" is, I have said, Moslem as +well as Christian. + +[FN#147] Exodus i. 16, quoted by Lane (M. E., chaps. xxvii.). +Torrens in his Notes cites Drayton's "Moon-calf':— + + Bring forth the birth-stool—no, let it alone; + She is so far beyond all compass grown, + Some other new device us needs must stead, + Or else she never can be brought to bed. + +It is the "groaning-chair" of Poor Robin's Almanac (1676) and we find it +alluded to in Boccaccio, the classical sedile which according to scoffers has +formed the papal chair (a curule seat) ever since the days of Pope Joan, when +it has been held advisable for one of the Cardinals to ascertain that His +Holiness possesses all the instruments of virility. This "Kursí al-wiládah" is +of peculiar form on which the patient is seated. A most interesting essay might +be written upon the various positions preferred during delivery, e.g. the wild +Irish still stand on all fours, like the so-called "lower animals." Amongst the +Moslems of Waday, etc., a cord is hung from the top of the hut, and the woman +in labour holds on to it standing with her legs apart, till the midwife +receives the child. + +[FN#148] Some Orientalists call "lullilooing" the trilling cry, which is made +by raising the voice to its highest pitch and breaking it by a rapid succession +of touches on the palate with the tongue-tip, others "Ziraleet" and Zagaleet, +and one traveller tells us that it began at the marriage-festival of Isaac and +Rebecca (!). Arabs term it classically "Tahlíl" and vulgarly "Zaghrutah" (Plur. +Zaghárit) and Persians "Kil." Finally in Don Quixote we have "Lelilies," the +battle-cry of the Moors (Duffield iii. 289). Dr. Buchanan likens it to a +serpent uttering human sounds, but the good missionary heard it at the festival +of Jagannath. (Pilgrimage iii. 197 ) + +[FN#149] i.e. "Light of the Place" (or kingdom) and "Delight of the +Age." + +[FN#150] It is utterly absurd to give the old heroic Persian name Afridun or +Furaydun, the destroyer of Zohák or Zahhák, to a Greek, but such anachronisms +are characteristic of The Nights and are evidently introduced on purpose. See +Boccaccio, ix. 9. + +[FN#151] Arab. "Yunán" lit. Ionia, which applies to all Greece, insular and +continental, especially to ancient Greece. + +[FN#152] In 1870 I saw at Sidon a find of some hundreds of gold +"Philippi" and "Alexanders." + +[FN#153] M. Riche has (p. 21), "Ces talismans travaillés par le ciseau du +célèbre Califaziri," adding in a note, "Je pense que c'est un sculpteur Arabe." + +[FN#154] This periphrase, containing what seems to us a useless negative, adds +emphasis in Arabic. + +[FN#155] This bit of geographical information is not in the Bull +Edit. + +[FN#156] In Pers. = a tooth, the popular word. + +[FN#157] This preliminary move, called in Persian Nakl-iiSafar, is generally +mentioned. So the Franciscan monks in California, when setting out for a long +journey through the desert, marched three times round the convent and pitched +tents for the night under its walls. + +[FN#158] In Arab. "Khazinah" or "Khaznah" lit. a treasure, representing 1,000 +"Kís" or purses (each=£5). The sum in the text is 7,000 purses X 5=£35,000. + +[FN#159] Travellers often prefer such sites because they are sheltered from the +wind, and the ground is soft for pitching tents; but many have come to grief +from sudden torrents following rain. + +[FN#160] Arab "Ghábah" not a forest in our sense of the word, but a place where +water sinks and the trees (mostly Mimosas), which elsewhere are widely +scattered, form a comparatively dense growth and collect in thickets. These are +favourite places for wild beasts during noon-heats. + +[FN#161] At various times in the East Jews and Christians were ordered to wear +characteristic garments, especially the Zunnár or girdle. + +[FN#162] The description is borrowed from the Coptic Convent, which invariably +has an inner donjon or keep. The oldest monastery in the world is Mar Antonios +(St. Anthony the Hermit) not far from Suez. (Gold Mines of Midian, p. 85.) + +[FN#163] "Dawáhí," plur. of Dáhiyah = a mishap. The title means "Mistress of +Misfortunes" or Queen of Calamities (to the enemy); and the venerable lady, as +will be seen, amply deserved her name, which is pronounced Zát al-Dawáhí. + +[FN#164] Arab. "Kunfuz"=hedgehog or porcupine. + +[FN#165] These flowers of speech are mere familiarities, not insults. In +societies where the sexes are separated speech becomes exceedingly free. +"Étourdie que vous êtes," says M. Riche, toning down the text. + +[FN#166] Arab. "Zirt," a low word. The superlative "Zarrát" (fartermost) or, +"Abu Zirt" (Father of farts) is a facetious term among the bean-eating Fellahs +and a deadly insult amongst the Badawin (Night ccccx.). The latter prefer the +word Taggáa (Pilgrimage iii. 84). We did not disdain the word in +farthingale=pet en air. + +[FN#167] Arab. "kicked" him, i.e. with the sharp corner of the shovel-stirrup. +I avoid such expressions as "spurring" and "pricking over the plain," because +apt to give a wrong idea. + +[FN#168] Arab. "Allaho Akbar!" the classical Moslem slogan. + +[FN#169] Arab horses are never taught to leap, so she was quite safe on the +other side of a brook nine feet broad. + +[FN#170] "Batrík" (vulg. Bitrík)=patricius, a title given to +Christian knights who commanded ten thousand men; the Tarkhan (or +Nobb) heading four thousand, and the Kaumas (Arab. Káid) two +hundred. It must not be confounded with Batrak (or +Batrik)=patriarcha. (Lane's Lex.) + +[FN#171] Arab. "Kázi al-Kuzát," a kind of Chief Justice or Chancellor. The +office wag established under the rule of Harun al-Rashid, who so entitled Abú +Yúsuf Ya'akub al-Ansári: therefore the allusion is anachronistic. The same +Caliph also caused the Olema to dress as they do still. + +[FN#172] The allusion is Koranic: "O men, if ye be in doubt concerning the +resurrection, consider that He first created you of the dust of the ground +(Adam); afterwards of seed" (chaps. xxii.). But the physiological ideas of the +Koran are curious. It supposes that the Mani or male semen is in the loins and +that of women in the breast bone (chaps Ixxxvi.); that the mingled seed of the +two (chaps. Ixxvi.) fructifies the ovary and that the child is fed through the +navel with menstruous blood, hence the cessation of the catamenia. Barzoi +(Kalilah and Dímnah) says:— "Man's seed, falling into the woman's womb, is +mixed with her seed and her blood: when it thickens and curdles the Spirit +moves it and it turns about like liquid cheese; then it solidifies, its +arteries are formed, its limbs constructed and its joints distinguished. If the +babe is a male, his face is placed towards his mother's back; if a female, +towards her belly." (P. 262, Mr. L G.N. Keith- Falconer's translation.) But +there is a curious prolepsis of the spermatozoa-theory. We read (Koran chaps. +vii.), "Thy Lord drew forth their posterity from the loins of the sons of +Adam;" and the commentators say that Allah stroked Adam's back and extracted +from his loins all his posterity, which shall ever be, in the shape of small +ants; these confessed their dependence on God and were dismissed to return +whence they came." From this fiction it appears (says Sale) that the doctrine +of pre-existence is not unknown to the Mohammedans, and there is some little +conformity between it and the modern theory of generatio ex animalculis in +semine marium. The poets call this Yaum-i-Alast = the Day of Am-I-not (-your +Lord)? which Sir William Jones most unhappily translated "Art thou not with thy +Lord ?" (Alasta bi Rabbi- kum); fand they produce a grand vision of unembodied +spirits appearing in countless millions before their Creator. + +[FN#173] The usual preliminary of a wrestling bout. + +[FN#174] In Eastern wrestling this counts as a fair fail. So Ajax fell on his +back with Ulysses on his breast. (Iliad xxxii., 700, etc.) + +[FN#175] So biting was allowed amongst the Greeks in the ἀνακλινοπάλη, +the final struggle on the ground. + +[FN#176] Supposed to be names of noted wrestlers. "Kayim" (not El-Kim as +Torrens has it) is a term now applied to a juggler or "professor" of +legerdemain who amuses people in the streets with easy tricks. (Lane, M. E., +chaps. xx.) + +[FN#177] Lit. "laughed in his face" which has not the unpleasant meaning it +bears in English. + +[FN#178] Arab. "Abu riyáh"=a kind of child's toy. It is the "Ρόμβος" +of the Greeks, our "bull-roarer" well known in Australia and parts of Africa. + +[FN#179] The people of the region south of the Caspian which is called "Sea of +Daylam." It has a long history; for which see D'Herbelot, s.v. "Dilem." + +[FN#180] Coptic convents in Egypt still affect these drawbridges over the +keep-moat. + +[FN#181] Koran iv., xxii. etc., meaning it is lawful to marry women taken in +war after the necessary purification although their husbands be still living. +This is not permitted with a free woman who is a True Believer. I have noted +that the only concubine slave-girl mentioned in the Koran are these "captives +possessed by the right hand." + +[FN#182] The Amazonian dame is a favourite in folk-lore and is an ornament to +poetry from the Iliad to our modern day. Such heroines, apparently unknown to +the Pagan Arabs, were common in the early ages of Al-Islam as Ockley and Gibbon +prove, and that the race is not extinct may be seen in my Pilgrimage (iii. 55) +where the sister of Ibn Rumi resolved to take blood-revenge for her brother. + +[FN#183] And Solomon said, "O nobles, which of you will bring me her throne ?" +A terrible genius (i.e. an If rit of the Jinn named Dhakwan or the notorious +Sakhr) said, " I will bring it unto thee before thou arise from thy seat (of +justice); for I am able to perform it, and may be trusted" (Koran, xxvii. +38-39). Balkís or Bilkís (says the Durrat al-Ghawwás) daughter of Hozád bin +Sharhabíl, twenty-second in the list of the rulers of Al- Yaman, according to +some murdered her husband, and became, by Moslem ignorance, the Biblical " +Queen of Sheba." The Abyssinians transfer her from Arabian Saba to Ethiopia and +make her the mother by Solomon of Menelek, their proto-monarch; thus claiming +for their royalties an antiquity compared with which all reigning houses in the +world are of yesterday. The dates of the Tabábi'ah or Tobbas prove that the +Bilkis of history ruled Al-Yaman in the early Christian era. + +[FN#184] Arab. "Fass," fiss or fuss; the gem set in a ring; also applied to a +hillock rounded en cabochon. In The Nights it is used to signify "a fine gem." + +[FN#185] This prominence of the glutæi muscles is always insisted upon, because +it is supposed to promise well in a bed-fellow. In Somali-land, where the people +are sub- steatopygous, a rich young man, who can afford such luxury, will have +the girls drawn up in line and choose her to wife who projects furthest behind + +[FN#186] The "bull" is only half mine. + +[FN#187] A favourite Arab phrase, the "hot eye" is one full of tears. + +[FN#188] i.e., "Coral," coral branch, a favourite name for a slave-girl, +especially a negress. It is the older "Morgiana." I do not see why Preston in +Al-Haríni's "Makamah (Séance) of Singar" renders it pearls, because Golius +gives "small pearls," when it is evidently "coral." Richardson (Dissert. +xlviii.) seems to me justified in finding the Pari (fairy) Marjan of heroic +Persian history reflected in the Fairy Morgain who earned off King Arthur after +the battle of Camelon. + +[FN#189] Arab. "'Ud Jalaki"=Jalak or Jalik being a poetical and almost obsolete +name of Damascus. + +[FN#190] The fountain in Paradise whose water shall be drunk with "pure" wine +mixed and sealed with musk (for clay). It is so called because it comes from +the "Sanam" (Sanima, to be high) boss or highest ridge of the Moslem Heaven +(Koran lv. 78 and lxxxiii. 27). Mr. Rodwell says "it is conveyed to the highest +apartments in the Pavilions of Paradise." (?) + +[FN#191] This "hysterical" temperament is not rare even amongst the bravest +Arabs. + +[FN#192] An idea evidently derived from the Æolipyla (olla animatoria) the +invention of Hero Alexandrinus, which showed that the ancient Egyptians could +apply the motive force of steam. + +[FN#193] Kuthayyir ibn Abi Jumah, a poet and far-famed Ráwí or Tale-reciter, +mentioned by Ibn Khallikan he lived at Al-Medinah and sang the attractions of +one Azzah, hence his soubriquet Sáhib (lover of) Azzah. As he died in A. H. 105 +(=726), his presence here is a gross anachronism the imaginary Sharrkan +flourished before the Caliphate of Abd al-Malik bin Marwán A. H. 65-86. + +[FN#194] Jamíl bin Ma'amar, a poet and lover contemporary with +Al-Kuthayrir. + +[FN#195] Arab. "Tafazzal," a word of frequent use in conversation="favour me," +etc. + +[FN#196] The word has a long history. From the Gr. στίμμι or στίβι is the Lat. +stibium; while the Low Latin "antimonium" and the Span. Althimod are by +metathesis for Al-Ithmid. The dictionaries define the substance as a stone from +which antimony is prepared, but the Arabs understand a semi-mythical mineral of +yellow colour which enters into the veins of the eyes and gives them Iynx-like +vision. The famous Anz nicknamed Zarká (the blue eyed) of Yamámah (Province) +used it; and, according to some, invented Kohl. When her (protohistoric) tribe +Jadis had destroyed all the rival race of Tasm, except Ribáh ibn Murrah; the +sole survivor fled to the Tobba of Al-Yaman, who sent a host to avenge him. The +king commanded his Himyarites to cut tree-boughs and use them as screens (again +Birnam wood). Zarká from her Utum, or peel-tower, saw the army three marches +off and cried, "O folk, either trees or Himyar are coming upon you!" adding, in +Rajaz verse:— + +I swear by Allah that trees creep onward, or that Himyar beareth somewhat which +he draweth along! + +She then saw a man mending his sandal. But Jadis disbelieved; Cassandra was +slain and, when her eyes were cut out the vessels were found full of Ithmid. +Hence Al-Mutanabbi sang: + +"Sharper-sighted than Zarká of Jau" (Yamámah). + +See C. de Perceval i. 101; Arab. Prov. i. 192; and Chenery p. 381. +(The Assemblies of Al-Hariri; London, Williams and Norgate, 1867). +I have made many enquiries into the true nature of Ithmid and +failed to learn anything: on the Upper Nile the word is=Kohl. + +[FN#197] The general colour of chessmen in the East, where the game is played +on a cloth more often than a board. + +[FN#198] Arab. "Al-fil," the elephant=the French fol or fou and our bishop. I +have derived "elephant" from Píl (old Persian, Sansk. Pilu) and Arab. Fil, with +the article Al-Fil, whence the Greek ἐλέφας the suffix—as being devoted to barbarous +words as Obod-as (Al Ubayd), Aretas (Al-Háris), etc. Mr. Isaac Taylor (The +Alphabet i. 169), preserves the old absurdity of "eleph-ant or ox-like (!) +beast of Africa." Prof. Sayce finds the word al-ab (two distinct characters) in +line 3, above the figure of an (Indian) elephant, on the black obelisk of +Nimrod Mound, and suggests an Assyrian derivation. + +[FN#199] Arab. "Shaukat" which may also mean the "pride" or "mainstay" (of the +army). + +[FN#200] Lit. "smote him on the tendons of his neck." This is the famous +shoulder-cut (Tawash shuh) which, with the leg-cut (Kalam), formed, and still +forms, the staple of Eastern attack with the sword. + +[FN#201] Arab. "Dirás." Easterns do not thresh with flails. The material is +strewed over a round and smoothed floor of dried mud in the open air and +threshed by different connivances. In Egypt the favourite is a chair-like +machine called "Norag," running on iron plates and drawn by bulls or cows over +the corn. Generally, however, Moslems prefer the old classical Τρίβολον, the +Tribulum of Virgil and Varro, a slipper-shaped sled of wood garnished on the +sole with large-headed iron nails, or sharp fragments of flint or basalt. Thus +is made the "Tibn" or straw, the universal hay of the East, which our machines +cannot imitate. + +[FN#202] These numbers appear to be grossly exaggerated, but they were possible +in the days of sword and armour: at the battle of Saffayn the Caliph Ali is +said to have cut down five hundred and twenty-three men in a single night. + +[FN#203] Arab. "Bika'á": hence the "Buka'ah" or Cœlesyria. + +[FN#204] Richardson in his excellent dictionary (note 103) which modern +priggism finds "unscientific " wonderfully derives this word from Arab. +"Khattáf," a snatcher (i.e. of women), a ravisher. It is an evident corruption +of "captivus" through Italian and French + +[FN#205] These periodical and fair-like visitations to convents are still +customary; especially amongst the Christians of Damascus. + +[FN#206] Camphor being then unknown. + +[FN#207] The "wrecker" is known all over the world; and not only barbarians +hold that ships driven ashore become the property of the shore + +[FN#208] Arab. "Jokh": it is not a dictionary word, but the only term in +popular use for European broadcloth. + +[FN#209] The second person plural is used because the writer would involve the +subjects of his correspondent in the matter. + +[FN#210] This part of the phrase, which may seem unnecessary to the European, +is perfectly intelligible to all Orientalists. You may read many an Eastern +letter and not understand it. Compare Boccacoo iv. 1. + +[FN#211] i.e. he was greatly agitated + +[FN#212] In text "Li-ajal a al-Taudi'a," for the purpose of farewelling, a low +Egyptianism; emphatically a "Kalám wáti." (Pilgrimage iii. 330.) + +[FN#213] In the Mac. Edit. Sharrkan speaks, a clerical error. + +[FN#214] The Farsakh (Germ. Stunde) a measure of time rather than distance, is +an hour's travel or its equivalent, a league, a meile=three English stat. +miles. The word is still used in Persia its true home, but not elsewhere. It is +very old, having been determined as a lineal measure of distance by Herodotus +(ii. 5 and 6 ; v. 53), who computes it at 30 furlongs (=furrow-lengths, 8 to +the stat. mile). Strabo (xi.) makes it range from 40 to 60 stades (each=606 +feet 9 inches), and even now it varies between 1,500 to 6,000 yards. Captain +Francklin (Tour to Persia) estimates it = about four miles. (Pilgrimage ii. +113.) + +[FN#215] Arab. "Ashhab." Names of colours are few amongst semi civilised +peoples, but in Arabia there is a distinct word for every shade of horseflesh. + +[FN#216] She had already said to him "Thou art beaten in everything!" + +[FN#217] Showing that she was still a Christian. + +[FN#218] This is not Badawi sentiment: the honoratioren amongst wild people +would scorn such foul play; but amongst the settled Arabs honour between men +and women is unknown and such "hocussing" would be held quite fair. + +[FN#219] The table of wine, in our day, is mostly a japanned tray with glasses +and bottles, saucers of pickles and fruits and, perhaps, a bunch of flowers and +aromatic herbs. During the Caliphate the "wine-service" was on a larger scale. + +[FN#220] Here the "Bhang" (almost a generic term applied to hellebore, etc.) +may be hyoscyamus or henbane. Yet there are varieties of Cannabis, such as the +Dakha of South Africa capable of most violent effect. I found the use of the +drug well known to the negroes of the Southern United States and of the Brazil, +although few of their owners had ever heard of it. + +[FN#221] Amongst Moslems this is a reference to Adam who first "sinned against +himself,' and who therefore is called " Safíyu'llah," the Pure of Allah. +(Pilgrimage iii. 333.) + +[FN#222] Meaning, an angry, violent man. + +[FN#223] Arab. "Inshád," which may mean reciting the verse of another or +improvising one's own. In Modern Egypt "Munshid" is the singer or reciter of +poetry at Zikrs (Lane M. E. chaps. xxiv.). Here the verses are quite bad enough +to be improvised by the hapless Princess. + +[FN#224] The negro skin assumes this dust colour in cold, fear, concupiscence +and other mental emotions. + +[FN#225] He compares her glance with the blade of a Yamani sword, a lieu commun +of Eastern poetry. The weapons are famous in The Nights; but the best +sword-cutlery came from Persia as the porcelain from China to Sana'á. Here, +however, is especial allusion as to the sword "Samsam" or "Samsamah." It +belonged to the Himyarite Tobba, Amru bin Ma'ad Kurb, and came into the hands +of Harun al-Rashid. When the Emperor of the Greeks sent a present of superior +sword-blades to him by way of a brave, the Caliph, in the presence of the +Envoys, took "Samsam" in hand and cut the others in twain as if they were +cabbages without the least prejudice to the edge of "Samsam." + +[FN#226] This touch of pathos is truly Arab. So in the "Romance of Dalhamah" +(Lane, M. E. xxiii.) the infant Gundubah sucks the breast of its dead mother +and the King exclaims, "If she had committed this crime she would not be +affording the child her milk after she was dead." + +[FN#227] Arab. "Sadda'l-Aktár," a term picturesque enough to be preserved in +English. "Sadd," I have said, is a wall or dyke, the term applied to the great +dam of water- plants which obstructs the navigation of the Upper Nile, the +lilies and other growths floating with the current from the (Victoria) Nyanza +Lake. I may note that we need no longer derive from India the lotus-llily so +extensively used by the Ancient Egyptians and so neglected by the moderns that +it has well-nigh disappeared. All the Central African basins abound in the +Nymphæa and thence it found its way down the Nile Valley. + +[FN#228] Arab. "Al Marhúmah": equivalent to our "late lamented." + +[FN#229] Vulgarly pronounced "Mahmal," and by Egyptians and Turks "Mehmel." +Lane (M. E. xxiv.) has figured this queenly litter and I have sketched and +described it in my Pilgrimage (iii. 12). + +[FN#230] For such fits of religious enthusiasm see my Pilgrimage (iii. 254). + +[FN#231] "Irák" (Mesopotamia) means "a level country beside the banks of a +ever." + +[FN#232] "Al Kuds," or "Bays al-Mukaddas," is still the popular name of +Jerusalem, from the Heb. Yerushalaim ha-Kadushah (legend on shekel of Simon +Maccabeus). + +[FN#233] "Follow the religion of Abraham" says the Koran (chaps. iii. 89). +Abraham, titled "Khalílu'llah," ranks next in dignity to Mohammed, preceding +Isa, I need hardly say that his tomb is not in Jerusalem nor is the tomb itself +at Hebron ever visited. Here Moslems (soi disant) are allowed by the jealousies +of Europe to close and conceal a place which belongs to the world, especially +to Jews and Christians. The tombs, if they exist, lie in a vault or cave under +the Mosque. + +[FN#234] Abá, or Abáyah, vulg. Abayah, is a cloak of hair, goat's or camel's; +too well known to require description. + +[FN#235] Arab. "Al-Wakkád," the man who lights and keeps up the bath-fires. + +[FN#236] Arab. "Má al-Khaláf" (or "Khiláf") a sickly perfume but much prized, +made from the flowers of the Salix Ægyptiaca. + +[FN#237] Used by way of soap; like glasswort and other plants. + +[FN#238] i.e., "Thou art only just recovered." + +[FN#239] To "Nakh" is to gurgle "Ikh! Ikh!" till the camel kneels. Hence the +space called "Barr al-Manákhah" in Al-Medinah (Pilgrimage i. 222, ii. 91). +There is a regular camel vocabulary amongst the Arabs, made up like our "Gee" +(go ye!), etc. of significant words worn down. + +[FN#240] Arab. "Laza," the Second Hell provided for Jews. + +[FN#241] The word has been explained (vol. i. 112).[see Volume 1, note 199] It +is trivial, not occurring in the Koran which uses "Arabs of the Desert ;" +"Arabs who dwell in tents," etc. (chaps. ix. and xxxiii.). "A'arábi" is the +classical word and the origin of "Arab" is disputed. According to Pocock (Notæ +Spec. Hist. Arab.): "Diverse are the opinions concerning the denomination of +the Arabs; but the most certain of all is that which draws it from Arabah, +which is part of the region of Tehama (belonging to Al-Medinah Pilgrimage ii. +118), which their father Ismail afterwards inhabited." Tehamah (sierra +caliente) is the maritime region of Al Hijaz, the Moslems Holy Land; and its +"Arabah," a very small tract which named a very large tract, must not be +confounded, as some have done, with the Wady Arabah, the ancient outlet of the +Dead Sea. The derivation of "Arab" from "Ya'arab" a fancied son of Joktan is +mythological. In Heb. Arabia may be called "Eretz Ereb" (or "Arab")=land of the +West; but in Arabic "Gharb" (not Ereb) is the Occident and the Arab dates long +before the Hebrew. + +[FN#242] "When thine enemy extends his hand to thee, cut it off if thou can, or +kiss it," wisely said Caliph al-Mansur. + +[FN#243] The Tartur was a peculiar turban worn by the Northern Arabs and shown +in old prints. In modern Egypt the term is applied to the tall sugar-loaf caps +of felt affected mostly by regular Dervishes. Burckhardt (Proverbs 194 and 398) +makes it the high cap of felt or fur proper to the irregular cavalry called +Dely or Delaty. In Dar For (Darfour) "Tartur" is a conical cap adorned with +beads and cowries worn by the Manghwah or buffoon who corresponds with the +Egyptian "Khalbús" or "Maskharah" and the Turkish "Sutari." For an illustration +see Plate iv. fig. 10 of Voyage au Darfour par Mohammed El Tounsy (The +Tunisian), Paris, Duprat, 1845. + +[FN#244] The term is picturesque and true; we say "gnaw," which is not so good. + +[FN#245] Here, meaning an Elder, a Chief, etc.; the word has been almost +naturalised in English. I have noted that Abraham was the first "Shaykh." + +[FN#246] This mention of weighing suggests the dust of Dean Swift and the money +of the Gold Coast It was done, I have said, because the gold coin, besides +being "sweated" was soft and was soon worn down. + +[FN#247] Fem. of Nájí (a deliverer, a saviour)=Salvadora. + +[FN#248] This, I have noted, is according to Koranic command (chaps. iv. 88). +"When you are saluted with a salutation, salute the person with a better +salutation." The longer answer to "Peace be with (or upon) thee! " is still +universally the custom. The "Salem" is so differently pronounced by every +Eastern nation that the observant traveller will easily make of it a +Shibboleth. + +[FN#249] The Badawi, who was fool as well as rogue, begins to fear that he has +kidnapped a girl of family. + +[FN#250] These examinations being very indecent are usually done in strictest +privacy. The great point is to make sure of virginity. + +[FN#251] This is according to strict Moslem law: the purchaser may not look at +the girl's nakedness till she is his, and he ought to manage matters through an +old woman. + +[FN#252] Lit. wrath; affliction which chokes; in Hindustani it means simply +anger. + +[FN#253] i.e. Heaven forbid I be touched by a strange man. + +[FN#254] Used for fuel and other purposes, such as making "doss stick." + +[FN#255] Arab "Yaftah'Allah" the offer being insufficient. The rascal is greedy +as a Badaw and moreover he is a liar, which the Badawi is not. + +[FN#256] The third of the four great Moslem schools of Theology, taking its +name from the Imam al-Sháfi'í (Mohammed ibn Idrís) who died in Egypt A.H. 204, +and lies buried near Cairo. (Sale's Prel. Disc. sect. viii.) + +[FN#257] The Moslem form of Cabbala, or transcendental philosophy of the +Hebrews. + +[FN#258] Arab. "Bakh" the word used by the Apostle to Ali his son-in-law. It is +the Latin "Euge." + +[FN#259] Readers, who read for amusement, will do well to "skip" the fadaïses +of this highly educated young woman. + +[FN#260] There are three Persian Kings of this name (Artaxerxes) +which means "Flour and milk," or "high lion." The text alludes to +Ardeshir Babegan, so called because he married the daughter of +Babak the shepherd, founder of the Sassanides in A.D. 202. See +D,Herberot, and the Dabistan. + +[FN#261] Alluding to the proverb, "Folk follow their King's faith," +"Cujus regio ejus religio" etc. + +[FN#262] Second Abbaside, A.H. 136-158 (=754-775). + +[FN#263] The celebrated companion of Mohammed who succeeded Abu Bakr in the +Caliphate (A.H. 13-23=634-644). The Sunnis know him as Al-Adil the Just, and +the Shiahs detest him for his usurpation, his austerity and harshness. It is +said that he laughed once and wept once. The laugh was caused by recollecting +how he ate his dough-gods (the idols of the Hanifah tribe) in The Ignorance. +The tears were drawn by remembering how he buried alive his baby daughter who, +while the grave was being dug, patted away the dust from his hair and beard. +Omar was doubtless a great man, but he is one of the most ungenial figures in +Moslem history which does not abound in genialities. To me he suggests a +Puritan, a Covenanter of the sourest and narrowest type; and I cannot wonder +that the Persians abhor him, and abuse him on all occasions. + +[FN#264] The austere Caliph Omar whose scourge was more feared than the sword +was the - author of the celebrated saying "Consult them (feminines) and do +clear contrary-wise." + +[FN#265] Our "honour amongst thieves." + +[FN#266] The sixth successor of Mohammed and founder of the Banu Umayyah or +Ommiades, called the "sons of the little mother" from their eponymus (A.H. +41-60=661-680). For his Badawi wife Maysun, and her abuse of her husband, see +Pilgrimage iii. 262. + +[FN#267] Shaykh of the noble tribe, or rather nation, Banu Tamím and a notable +of the day, surnamed, no one knows why, "Sire of the Sea." + +[FN#268] This is essential for cleanliness in hot lands: however much the bath +may be used, the body-pile and lower hair, if submitted to a microscope, will +show more or less sordes adherent. The axilla-hair is plucked because if shaved +the growing pile causes itching and the depilatories are held deleterious. At +first vellication is painful but the skin becomes used to it. The pecten is +shaved either without or after using depilatories, of which more presently. The +body-pile is removed by "Takhfíf"; the Libán Shámi (Syrian incense), a fir- gum +imported from Scio, is melted and allowed to cool in the form of a pledget. +This is passed over the face and all the down adhering to it is pulled up by +the roots (Burckhardt No. 420). Not a few Anglo-Indians have adopted these +precautions + +[FN#269] This Caliph was a tall, fair, handsome man of awe-inspiring aspect. +Omar used to look at him and say, "This is the Cæsar of the Arabs," while his +wife called him a "fatted ass." + +[FN#270] The saying is attributed to Abraham when "exercised" by the unkindly +temper of Sarah; "woman is made hard and crooked like a rib;" and the modern +addition is, "whoso would straighten her, breaketh her." + +[FN#271] i.e. "When ready and in erection." + +[FN#272] "And do first (before going in to your wives) some act which may be +profitable unto your souls" or, for you: soul's good. (Koran, chaps. ii. 223.) +Hence Ahnaf makes this prayer. + +[FN#273] It was popularly said that "Truth-speaking left Omar without a +friend." Entitled "The Just" he was murdered by Abu Lúlúah, alias Fírúz, a +(Magian ?) slave of Al-Maghírah for denying him justice. + +[FN#274] Governor of Bassorah under the first four Caliphs. See +D'Herbelot s.v. "Aschári." + +[FN#275] Ziyad bin Abi Sufyan, illegitimate brother of the Caliph +Mu'awiyah afterwards governor of Bassorah, Cufa and Al-Hijaz. + +[FN#276] The seditions in Kufah were mainly caused by the wilful nepotism of +Caliph Othman bin Asákir which at last brought about his death. His main +quality seems to have been personal beauty: "never was seen man or woman of +fairer face than he and he was the most comely of men:" he was especially famed +for beautiful teeth which in old age he bound about with gold wire. He is +described as of middling stature, large- limbed, broad shouldered, fleshy of +thigh and long in the fore-arm which was hairy. His face inclined to yellow and +was pock-marked; his beard was full and his curly hair, which he dyed yellow, +fell below his ears. He is called "writer of the Koran" from his edition of the +M.S., and "Lord of the two Lights" because he married two of the Prophet's +daughters, Rukayyah and Umm Kulthum; and, according to the Shi'ahs who call him +Othman-i-Lang or" limping Othman," he vilely maltreated them. They justify his +death as the act of an Ijmá' al-Muslimín, the general consensus of Moslems +which ratifies "Lynch law." Altogether Othman is a mean figure in history. + +[FN#277] "Nár" (fire) is a word to be used delicately from its connection with +Gehenna. You say, e.g. "bring me a light, a coal (bassah)" etc.; but if you say +"bring me fire! " the enemy will probably remark "He wanteth fire even before +his time!" The slang expression would be "bring the sweet." (Pilgrimage i. +121.) + +[FN#278] Omar is described as a man of fair complexion, and very ruddy, but he +waxed tawny with age, when he also became bald and grey. He had little hair on +the cheeks but a long mustachio with reddish ends. In stature he overtopped the +people and was stout as he was tall. A popular saying of Mohammed's is, "All +(very) long men are fools save Omar, and all (very) short men are knaves save +Ali." The Persians, who abhor Omar, compare every lengthy, ungainly, longsome +thing with him; they will say, "This road never ends, like the entrails of +Omar." We know little about Ali's appearance except that he was very short and +stout, broad and full-bellied with a tawny complexion and exceedingly hairy, +his long beard, white as cotton, filling all the space between his shoulders. +He was a "pocket. Hercules," and incredible tales, like that about the gates of +Khaybar, are told of his strength. Lastly, he was the only Caliph who +bequeathed anything to literature: his "Cantiloquium" is famous and he has left +more than one mystical and prophetic work. See Ockley for his "Sentences" and +D'Herbelot s. D. "Ali" and "Gebr." Ali is a noble figure in Moslem history. + +[FN#279] The emancipation from the consequences of his sins; or it may mean a +holy death. + +[FN#280] Battle fought near Al-Medinah A.D. 625. The word is derived from +"shad" (one). I have described the site in my Pilgrimage, (vol. ii. 227). + +[FN#281] "Haphsa" in older writers; Omar's daughter and one of Mohammed's +wives, famous for her connection with the manuscripts of the Koran. From her +were (or claimed to be) descended the Hafsites who reigned in Tunis and +extended their power far and wide over the Maghrib (Mauritania), till +dispossessed by the Turks. + +[FN#282] i.e. humbly without the usual strut or swim: it corresponds with the +biblical walking or going softly. (I Kings xxi. 27; Isaiah xxxviii. 15, etc.) + +[FN#283] A theologian of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#284] i.e. to prepare himself by good works, especially alms-giving, for the +next world. + +[FN#285] A theologian of the eighth century. + +[FN#286] Abd al-Aziz was eighth Ommiade (regn. A.H. 99=717) and the fifth of +the orthodox, famed for a piety little known to his house. His most celebrated +saying was, " Be constant in meditation on death: if thou bein straitened case +'twill enlarge it, and if in affluence 'twill straiten it upon thee." He died. +poisoned, it is said, in A.H 101, + +[FN#287] Abu Bakr originally called Abd al-Ka'abah (slave of the Ka'abah) took +the name of Abdullah and was surnamed Abu Bakr (father of the virgin) when +Mohammed, who before had married only widows, took to wife his daughter, the +famous or infamous Ayishah. "Bikr" is the usual form, but "Bakr," primarily +meaning a young camel, is metaphorically applied to human youth (Lane's Lex. s. +c.). The first Caliph was a cloth-merchant, like many of the Meccan chiefs. He +is described as very fair with bulging brow, deep set eyes and thin-checked, of +slender build and lean loined, stooping and with the backs of his hands +fleshless. He used tinctures of Henna and Katam for his beard. The Persians who +hate him, call him "Pir-i-Kaftár," the old she-hyaena, and believe that he +wanders about the deserts of Arabia in perpetual rut which the males must +satisfy. + +[FN#288] The second, fifth, sixth and seventh Ommiades. + +[FN#289] The mother of Omar bin Abd al-Aziz was a granddaughter of +Omar bin al-Khattab. + +[FN#290] Brother of this Omar's successor, Yezid II. + +[FN#291] So the Turkish proverb "The fish begins to stink at the head." + +[FN#292] Calling to the slaves. + +[FN#293] When the "Day of Arafat" (9th of Zú'l-Hijjah) falls upon a Friday. For +this Hajj al- Akbar see my Pilgrimage iii. 226. It is often confounded by +writers (even by the learned M. Caussin de Perceval) with the common Pilgrimage +as opposed to the Umrah, or " Lesser Pilgrimage" (ibid. iii. 342, etc.). The +latter means etymologically cohabiting with a woman in her father's house as +opposed to 'Ars or leading her to the husband's home: it is applied to visiting +Meccah and going through all the pilgrim-rites but not at the +Pilgrimage-season. Hence its title "Hajj al-Asghar" the "Lesser Hajj." But +"Umrah" is also applied to a certain ceremony between the hills Safá (a large +hard rock) and Marwah (stone full of flints), which accompanies the Hajj and +which I have described (ibid. iii. 344). At Meccah I also heard of two places +called Al-Umrah, the Greater in the Wady Fátimah and the Lesser half way nearer +the city (ibid. iii. 344). + +[FN#294] A fair specimen of the unworthy egoism which all religious systems +virtually inculcate Here a pious father leaves his children miserable to save +his own dirty soul. + +[FN#295] Chief of the Banú Tamín, one of the noblest of tribes, derived from +Tamím, the uncle of Kuraysh (Koreish); hence the poets sang:— + + There cannot be a son nobler than Kuraysh, + Nor an uncle nobler than Tamím. + +The high minded Tamín is contrasted with the mean-spirited Kays, who also gave +rise to a tribe; and hence the saying concerning one absolutely inconsistent, +"Art thou now Tamín and then Kays?" + +[FN#296] Surnamed Al-Sakafi, Governor of Al-Yaman and Irak. + +[FN#297] Tenth Ommiade (regn. A H. 105-125 = 724-743). + +[FN#298] Or "clothe thee in worn-out clothes" i.e. "Become a Fakir" or +religious mendicant. + +[FN#299] This gratuitous incest in ignorance injures the tale and is as +repugnant to Moslem as to Christian taste. + +[FN#300] The child is named either on the day of its birth or on that day week. +The father whispers it in the right ear, often adding the Azán or prayer-call, +and repeating in the left ear the "Ikámah" or Friday sentence. There are many +rules for choosing names according to the week-day, the ascendant planet, the +"Sortes Coranicæ," etc. + +[FN#301] Amongst Moslems as amongst Christians there are seven deadly sins: +idolatry, murder, falsely charging modest women with unchastity, robbing +orphans, usury, desertion in Holy War and disobedience to parents. The +difference between the two creeds is noteworthy. And the sage knows only three, +intemperance, ignorance and egoism. + +[FN#302] Meaning, "It was decreed by Destiny; so it came to pass," appropriate +if not neat. + +[FN#303] The short, stout, dark, long-haired and two-bunched camel from +"Bukhtar" (Bactria), the "Eastern" (Bakhtar) region on the Amu or Jayhun (Oxus) +River; afterwards called Khorasan. The two-humped camel is never seen in Arabia +except with northern caravans, and to speak of it would be a sore test of +Badawi credulity. + +[FN#304] "Kaylúlah" is the "forty-winks" about noon: it is a Sunnat or Practice +of the Prophet who said, "Make the mid-day siesta, for verily at this hour the +devils sleep not." "Aylúlain" is slumbering after morning prayers (our +"beauty-sleep"), causing heaviness andid leness: "Ghaylúlah" is dozing about 9 +a.m. engendering poverty and wretchedness: "Kaylúlah" (with the guttural Kaf) +is sleeping before evening prayers and "Faylúlah" is slumbering after +sunset—both held to be highly detrimental. (Pilgrimage ii 49.) + +[FN#305] The Biblical "Hamath" (Hightown) too well known to require +description. It is still famous for the water-wheels mentioned by al-Hariri +(assembly of the Banu Harám). + +[FN#306] When they say, "The leven flashes bright on the hills of +Al-Yaman," the allusion is to the south quarter, where +summer-lightning is seen. Al-Yaman (always with the article) means, +I have said, the right-hand region to one facing the rising sun and +Al-Sham (Syria) the left-hand region. + +[FN#307] Again "he" for "she," in delicacy and jealousy of making public the +beauty or conditions of the "veiled sex." Even public singers would hesitate to +use a feminine pronoun. As will be seen however, the rule is not invariably +kept and hardly ever in Badawi poetry. + +[FN#308] The normal pun on "Nuzhat al-Zaman" = Delight of the Age or Time. + +[FN#309] The reader will find in my Pilgrimage (i. 305) a sketch of the +Takht-rawan or travelling-litter, in which pilgrimesses are wont to sleep. + +[FN#310] In poetry it holds the place of our Zephyr; end the "Bád- +i-Sabá"=Breeze o' the morn, Is much addressed by Persian poets. + +[FN#311] Here appears the nervous, excitable, hysterical Arab temperament which +is almost phrensied by the neighbourhood of a home from which he had run away. + +[FN#312] Zau al-Makan and Nuzhat al-Zaman. + +[FN#313] The idea is essentially Eastern, "A lion at home and a lamb abroad" is +the popular saying. + +[FN#314] Arab. "Hubb al-Watan" (= love of birthplace, patriotism) of which the +Tradition says "Min al-Imán" (=is part of man's religion). + +[FN#315] He is supposed to speak en prince; and he yields to a prayer when he +spurns a command. + +[FN#316] In such caravans each party must keep its own place under pain of +getting into trouble with the watchmen and guards. + +[FN#317] Mr. Payne (ii. 109) borrows this and the next quotation from the Bull +Edit. i. 386. + +[FN#318] For the expiation of inconsiderate oaths see Koran (chaps. v.). I +cannot but think that Al-Islam treats perjury too lightly: all we can say +is-that it improves upon Hinduism which practically seems to leave the +punishment to the gods. + +[FN#319] "Kausar," as has been said, represents the classical nectar, the +Amrita of the Hindus. + +[FN#320] From Bull Edit. i. 186. The couplet in the Mac. Edit. i. 457 is very +wildly applied. + +[FN#321] The "insula" of Sancho Panza. + +[FN#322] This should have assured him that he stood in no danger. + +[FN#323] Here ends the wearisome tale of the brother and sister, and the +romance of chivalry begins once more with the usual Arab digressions. + +[FN#324] I have derived this word from the Persian "rang"=colour, hue, kind. + +[FN#325] Otherwise all would be superseded, like U. S. officials under a new +President. + +[FN#326] Arab. "Nímshah" from the Pers. Nímchah, a "half-sword," a long dagger +worn in the belt. Richardson derives it from Namsh, being freckled (damasked). + +[FN#327] The Indian term for a tent large enough to cover a troop of cavalry. + +[FN#328] Arab. "Marhúm" a formula before noticed. It is borrowed from the +Jewish, "of blessed memory" (after the name of the honoured dead, Prov. x. +17.); with the addition of "upon whom be peace," as opposed to the imprecation, +"May the name of the wicked rot!" + +[FN#329] The speeches of the five damsels should be read only by students. + +[FN#330] i.e. Those who look for "another and a better." + +[FN#331] The title of Caliph Abu Bakr because he bore truthful witness to the +Apostle's mission or, others say, he confirmed the "Mi'ráj" or nocturnal +journey to Heaven. + +[FN#332] All this is Koranic (chaps. ii., etc.). + +[FN#333] This may have applied more than once to "hanging judges" in the Far +West. + +[FN#334] A traditionist and jurisconsult of Al-Medinah in the seventh and +eighth centuries. + +[FN#335] The Alexander of the Koran and Eastern legends, not to be confounded +with the Alexander of Macedon. He will be noticed in a future Night. + +[FN#336] Æsop, according to the Arabs: of him or rather of the two +Lukmans, more presently. + +[FN#337] Koran ii. 185. + +[FN#338] Mohammed. + +[FN#339] One of the Asháb or Companions of Mohammed. + +[FN#340] A noted traditionist at Cufa in the seventh century. + +[FN#341] Koran, chaps. lxxiv. I (and verse 8 follows). The Archangel Gabriel is +supposed to address Mohammed and not a few divines believe this Surah (chapter) +to have been first revealed. Mr. Rodwell makes it No. ii. following the Fatrah +or silent interval which succeeded No. xcvi. "Clots of Blood." See his 2nd +Edit. p. 3 for further details. + +[FN#342] i.e. dangerous to soul-health. + +[FN#343] In the Mac. Edit. "Abd" for "Sa'id." The latter was a black and a +native of Cufa during the first century (A.H ) and is still famous as a +traditionist. + +[FN#344] Arab. "Shirk," giving a partner to Allah, attending chiefly to +Christians and idolaters and in a minor degree to Jews and Guebres. We usually +English it by "polytheism," which is clumsy and conveys a wrong idea + +[FN#345] Grandson of the Caliph Ali. He is one of the Imams +(High-priests) of the Shi'ah school. + +[FN#346] An eminent traditionist of the eighth century (A.D.). + +[FN#347] The prayers of the Fast-month and Pilgrimage-month are often said in +especial places outside the towns and cities; these are the Indian Id(Eed-)gáh. +They have a screen of wall about a hundred yards long with a central +prayer-niche and the normal three steps for the preacher; and each extremity is +garnished with an imitation minaret. They are also called Namáz-gah and one is +sketched by Herklots (Plate iii. fig. 2). The object of the trips thither in +Zu'l-Ka'adah and Zu'l-Hijjah is to remind Moslems of the "Ta'aríf," or going +forth from Meccah to Mount Arafat. + +[FN#348] Arab. "Al-Háfi," which in Egyptian means sore-footed as well. He was +an ascetic of the eighth and ninth centuries (A.D.). He relates a tradition of +the famous soldier saint Khálid bin Walíd who lies buried like the poet Ka'ab +al-Ahbár near Hums (Emessa) once the Bœotia, Phrygia, Abdera, Suabia of Syria +now Halbun (pronounced Halbáun) near Damascus. I cannot explain how this +Kuraysh noble (a glorious figure in Moslem history) is claimed by the Afghans +as one of their countrymen and made to speak Pukhtu or Pushtu, their rough old +dialect of Persian. The curious reader will consult my Pilgrimage iii. 322 for +the dialogue between Mohammed and Khalid. Again there is general belief in +Arabia that the English sent a mission to the Prophet, praying that Khalid +might be despatched to proselytise them: unfortunately Mohammed was dead and +the "Ingríz" ratted. It is popularly held that no armed man can approach +Khalid's grave; but I suppose my revolver did not count. + +[FN#349] When he must again wash before continuing prayer. + +[FN#350] Bin Adham; another noted ascetic of the eighth century. +Those curious about these unimportant names will consult the great +Biographical Dictionary of Ibn Khallikan, translated by Baron +MacGuckin de Slane (1842-45). + +[FN#351] Thus making Bishr the "Imám" (artistes) lit. one who stands in front. +In Koran xvii. 74 it means "leader": in ii. 118 Allah makes Abraham an "Imam to +mankind." + +[FN#352] A favourite sentiment in the East: we find it at the very beginning of +Sa'di's Gulistan: better a weal-bringing lie than a harm-dealing truth. + +[FN#353] A penny, one sixth of the drachma. + +[FN#354] Founder of the Hanbali, fourth (in date) of the four orthodox Moslem +schools. The Caliph al-Mu'atasim bi'llah, son of Harun al-Rashid, who believed +the Koran to have been created and not a Logos (whatever that may be), +co-eternal with Allah, scourged this Imam severely for "differing in opinion" +(A.H. 220=833). In fact few of the notable reverends of that day escaped +without a caress of the scourge or the sword. + +[FN#355] A learned man of the eighth century at Bassorah (A.D.). + +[FN#356] A traditionist of Khorasan in the ninth century (A.D.). + +[FN#357] "Azal," opp. to "Abad," eternity without end, infinity. + +[FN#358] Koran lxvi. 6. + +[FN#359] A traditionist of Al-Medinah, eighth century (A.D.). + +[FN#360] Arab. "Músá": the Egyptian word was "Mesu," the "child" or the "boy" +(brought up in the palace?), and the Hebrews made it "Mosheh" or "one drawn out +of the water;" "Mu" in Egypt being water, the Arab "Ma"; whence probably the +moderns have derived the dim. "Moyeh ," vulg. Egyptian for water. + +[FN#361] Koran, chaps. xxviii.: Shu'ayb is our Jethro: Koran, chaps. vii. and +xi. Mr. Rodwell suggests (p. 101) that the name has been altered from Hobab +(Numb. x. 29). + +[FN#362] Arab. "Taub" (Saub), the long shirt popularly written in English Tobe +and pronounced so by Egyptians. It is worn by both sexes (Lane, M. E. chaps. i. +"Tob") in Egypt, and extends into the heart of Moslem Africa: I can compare it +with nothing but a long nightgown dyed a dirty yellow by safflower and about as +picturesque as a carter's smock-frock. + +[FN#363] There is nothing of this in the Koran; and it is a most unhappy +addition, as Moses utterly and pretentiously ignored a "next world." + +[FN#364] Koran xxviii. 22-27. Mohammed evidently confounded the contract +between Laban and Jacob. (Gen. xxix. 15-39.) + +[FN#365] So says Al-Hariri (Ass. of Sasan), "The neighbour before the house and +the traveller before the journey." In certain cities the neighbourhood is the +real detective police, noting every action and abating scandals (such as +orgies, etc.) with a strong hand and with the full consent of public opinion +and of the authorities. This loving the neighbour shows evident signs of being +borrowed from Christianity. + +[FN#366] Al-Asamm a theologian of Balkh, ninth century (A.D.). + +[FN#367] The founder of the Senior School, for which see Sale Prel. +Disc. sect. viii. + +[FN#368] Thus serving the Lord by sinning against his own body. + +[FN#369] An Egyptian doctor of the law (ninth century). + +[FN#370] Koran lxxvii. 35, 36. This is one of the earliest and most poetical +chapters of the book. + +[FN#371] Abu Hanifah was scourged for refusing to take office and was put to +death in prison, it is said by poison (A.H. 150=A.D. 767), for a judicial +sentence authorising rebellion against the second Abbaside, Al-Mansur, surnamed +Abu'l-Dawánik (Father of Pence) for his exceeding avarice. + +[FN#372] "Lá rayba fí-hi" says the Koran (ii. 1) of itself; and the saying is +popularly applied to all things of the Faith. + +[FN#373] Arab. "Rivál al-Ghayb," somewhat like the "Himalayan Brothers" of +modern superstition. See Herklots (Qanoon-e-Islam) for a long and careful +description of these "Mardán-i-Ghayb" (Pers.), a "class of people mounted on +clouds," invisible, but moving in a circular orbit round the world, and +suggesting the Hindu "Lokapálas." They should not be in front of the traveller +nor on his right, but either behind or on his left hand. Hence tables, memorial +couplets and hemistichs are required to ascertain the station, without which +precaution journeys are apt to end badly. + +[FN#374] A sweetmeat before noticed. + +[FN#375] Door hinges in the east are two projections for the top and bottom of +the leaf playing in hollows of the lintel and threshold. It appears to be the +primitive form, for we find it in the very heart of Africa. In the basaltic +cities of the Hauran, where the doors are of thick stone, they move easily on +these pins. I found them also in the official (not the temple)City of Palmyra, +but all broken. + +[FN#376] The effect of the poison and of the incantation which accompanied it. + +[FN#377] King Omar who had raped her. My sympathies are all with the old woman +who nightly punished the royal lecher. + +[FN#378] Arab. "Zunnár," the Gr. . Christians and Jews were compelled by +the fanatical sumptuary laws of the Caliph Al- Mutawakkil (AD. 856) to wear a +broad leather belt in public, hence it became a badge of the Faith. Probably it +was confounded with the "Janeo" (Brahmanical thread) and the Parsi sacred +girdle called Kashti. (Dabistan i, 297, etc.). Both Mandeville and La +Brocquière speak of "Christians of the Girdle, because they are all girt +above," intending Jacobites or Nestorians. + +[FN#379] "Siláh dár" (Arab. and Pers.)=a military officer of high rank; +literally an "armour-bearer," chosen for velour and trustworthiness. So +Jonathan had a "young man" (brave) who bare his armour (I Sam. xiv. 1, 6 and +7); and Goliath had a man that bare the shield before him (ibid. xvii. 7, 41). +Men will not readily forget the name of Sulayman Agha, called the Silahdar, in +Egypt. (Lane M. E. chaps. iv.) + +[FN#380] It will be told afterwards. + +[FN#381] The elder brother thus showed himself a vassal and proved himself a +good Moslem by not having recourse to civil war. + +[FN#382] Arab. "Ghazwah," the corrupt Gallicism, now +Europeanised=raid, foray. + +[FN#383] Turk in modern parlance means a Turkoman, a pomade: the settled people +call themselves Osmanli or Othmanli. Turkoman=Turk- like. + +[FN#384] Arab. "Nimsá;" southern Germans, Austrians; from the Slav. "Nemica" +(any Germans), literally meaning "The dumb" (nemac), because they cannot speak +Slav. + +[FN#385] Arab. "Dubárá" from the Slav. "Dubrovnik," from "Dub" (an oak) and +"Dubrava" (an oak forest). Ragusa, once a rival of Venice, gave rise to the +word "Argosy." D'Herbelot calls it "Dobravenedik" or "Good Venice," the Turkish +name, because it paid tribute when Venice would not (?). + +[FN#386] Arab. "Jawarnah," or, "Júrnah" evidently Zara, a place of many names, +Jadera (Hirtius de Bell. Alex. cap. 13), Jadra, Zadra (whence the modern term), +Diadora, Diadosca and Jadrossa. This important Liburnian city sent forth many +cruisers in crusading days; hence the Arabs came to know its name. + +[FN#387] Arab. "Banu'l-Asfar;" which may mean "Pale faces," in the sense of +"yeller girls" (New Orleans) and that intended by North American Indians, or, +possibly, the peoples with yellow (or rather tow-coloured) hair we now call +Russians. The races of Hindostan term the English not "white men," but "red +men;" and the reason will at once be seen by comparing a Britisher with a +high-caste Nágar Brahman whose face is of parchment colour as if he had drunk +exsangue cuminum. The Yellow-faces of the text correspond with the Sansk. +"Svetadvipa"—Whiteman's Land. + +[FN#388] Arab. "Al-Musakhkham." No Moslem believes that Isa was crucified and a +favourite fancy is that Judas, changed to the likeness of Jesus, thus paid for +his treason. (Evangel. Barnabæ.) Hence the resurrection is called not "Kiyámah" +but "Kumámah"=rubbish. This heresy about the Cross they share with the Docetes, +"certain beasts in the shape of men" (says Ignatius), who held that a phantom +was crucified. So far the Moslems are logical, for "Isa," being angelically, +miraculously and immaculately conceived, could not be; but they contradict +themselves when they hold a vacant place near Mohammed's tomb for the body of +Isa after his second coming as a forerunner to Mohammed and Doomday. +(Pilgrimage ii. 89.) + +[FN#389] A diviner, priest, esp. Jewish, and not belonging to the tribe of +Levi. + +[FN#390] Again the coarsest word "Khara." The allusion is to the +vulgar saying, "Thou eatest skite!" (i.e. thou talkest nonsense). +Decent English writers modify this to, "Thou eatest dirt:" and Lord +Beaconsfield made it ridiculous by turning it into "eating sand." + +[FN#391] These silly scandals, which cause us only to smile, excite +Easterns to fury. I have seen a Moslem wild with rage on hearing a +Christian parody the opening words of the Koran, "Bismillahi 'l- +Rahmáni 'l-Rahím, Mismish wa Kamar al-din," roughly translated, + +"In the name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate! Apricots and +marmalede." The idea of the Holy Merde might have been suggested by the +Hindus: see Mandeville, of the archiprotopapaton (prelate) carrying ox-dung +and urine to the King, who therewith anoints his brow and breast, &c. And, +incredible to relate, this is still practised after a fashion by the Parsis, +one of the most progressive and the sharpest witted of Asiatic races. + +[FN#392] Meaning that he had marked his brow with a cross (of ashes?) as +certain do on Ash Wednesday. + +[FN#393] Syria, the "left-hand land" as has before been explained. The popular +saying about its people is "Shámi shúmi!"—the Syrian is small potatoes (to +render the sense Americanicè). Nor did Syrus, the slave in Roman days, bear the +best of names. In Al-Hijaz the Syrian is addressed "Abú Shám" (Father of Syria) +and insulted as "Abuser of the Salt" (a traitor). Yet many sayings of Mohammed +are recorded in honour of Syria, and he sometimes used Syriac words. Such were +"Bakh, bakh" (=euge, before noticed), and "Kakh," a congener of the Latin Cacus +and Caca which our day has docked to "cack." (Pilgrimage iii. 115) + +[FN#394] Koran xiv. 34. "They (Unbelievers) shall be thrown therein (i.e., the +House of Perdition=Hell); and an unhappy dwelling shall it be." + +[FN#395] The leg-cut is a prime favourite with the Eastern Sworder, and a heavy +two-handed blade easily severs a horse's leg. + +[FN#396] Mohammed repeatedly declared (Koran lxi.) that the Christians had +falsified the passage ("I go to my Father and the Paraclete shall come," John +xvi. 7) promising the advent of the Comforter, (ibid. xiv. 20; xv. +26) by substituting the latter word for glorious, renowned, i.e., +Ahmed or Mohammed=the praised one. This may have been found in the Arabic +translation of the Gospels made by Warakah, cousin to Mohammed's first wife; +and hence in Koran lxi. we find Jesus prophesying of an Apostle "whose name +shall be Ahmad." The word has consequently been inserted into the Arabic Gospel +of Saint Barnabas (Dabistan iii. 67). Moslems accept the Pentateuch, the +Psalter and the Gospel; but assert (Koran, passim.) that all extant copies have +been hopelessly corrupted, and they are right. Moses, to whom the Pentateuch is +attributed, notices his own death and burial—"the mair the miracle," said the +old Scotch lady. The "Psalms of David" range over a period of some five hundred +years, and there are three Isaiahs who pass with the vulgar for one. The many +apocryphal Gospels, all of which have been held genuine and canonical at +different times and in different places, prove that the four, which are still +in use, were retained because they lack the manifest absurdities of their +discarded rivals. + +[FN#397] Arab. " Labbayka; " the Pilgrimage-cry (Night xxii.) which in Arabic +is, + + Labbayk' Allahumma, Labbayk'! + Lá Sharíka lake, Labbayk'! + Inna 'l-hamda w'al ni'amata lake wa'l mulk! + Labbayk' Allahumma, Labbayk'! + +Some add "Here am I, and I honour Thee, the son of Thy two slaves; beneficence +and good are all between Thy hands."With the "Talbiyah" the pilgrims should +bless the Prophet, pray Allah to grant Heaven and exclaim, "By Thy mercy spare +us from the pains of Hell-fire!" (Pilgrimage iii. 232.) Labbayka occurs in the +verses attributed to Caliph Ali; so labba=he faced, and yalubbu=it faces (as +one house faces another); lastly, he professed submission to Allah; in which +sense, together with the verbal noun "Talbiyah," it is used by Al- Hanri (Pref. +and Ass. of Su'adah). + +[FN#398] Arab. "Kissís" (plur. Kusús) from ‘ . + +[FN#399] Koran ii. The "red cow" is evidently the "red heifer" of +Barnabas, chaps. vii. + +[FN#400] Arab. "Al-Jásalík"= . + +[FN#401] This is from the first "Gospel of Infancy," wherein Jesus said to his +mother, "Verily I am Jesus, the Son of God, the Word which thou hast brought +forth, as the Angel Gabriel did declare unto thee; and my Father hath sent me +to save the world" (chaps. i. 2.). The passage is virtually quoted in the Koran +(chaps. iii. 141), of course omitting " the Son of God" + +[FN#402] Mohammed allowed his locks to grow down to his ear-lobes but never +lower. + +[FN#403] Arab. "Lisám" I have explained as a covering for the lower face, made +by drawing over it the corner of the head-kerchief (Pilgrimage i. 346). The +Lisám of the African Tawárik hoods the eyes so that a man must turn up his face +to see, and swathes all the lower half, leaving only the nose exposed. And this +is worn by many men by night as well as by day, doubtless to avoid the evil +eye. The native Sultans of Darfur, like those of Bornu and others further west, +used white muslin as a face-wrap: hence, too, the ceremonies when spitting, +etc., etc. The Kúfiyah or head-kerchief of the Arabs soon reached Europe and +became in Low Latin Cuphia; in Spanish Escofia; in Ital. Cuffia or Scuffia; in +French Escoffion, Scofion (Reine Marguerite) Coëffe (une pellicule, marque de +bonheur) Coiffe and Coife, &c.; the Scotch Curch or Coif, opposed to the +maiden snood, and, lastly our Sergeant-at-Law's Coif. Littré, the Learned, who +in erudition was né coiffé, has missed this obvious derivation. + +[FN#404] "Cutting," throughout the book, alludes to the scymitar with which +Arabs never give point; and "thrusting" to the footman's spear and the +horseman's lance. + +[FN#405] A popular phrase, I repeat, for extreme tenor and consternation. + +[FN#406] The name usually applies to a well-known district and city of Al +Yaman, where "Koss the eloquent" was bishop in Mohammed's day: the Negiran of +D'Herbelot. Here, however, it is the Syrian Najrán (Nejrân of Missionary +Porter's miserable Handbook), now a wretched village near the volcanic Lajjá, +about one hundred and twenty miles direct south of Damascus and held by Druzes +and Christians. + +[FN#407] The Kantár (quintal) of 100 ratls (Ibs.) =98-99 Ibs. avoir. + +[FN#408] Arab. "Juráb (bag) mi'adat- ih (of his belly)," the "curdling of the +testicles" in fear is often mentioned. + +[FN#409] Clearly alluding to the magic so deeply studied by mediæval Jews. + +[FN#410] Arab. "Sahákah," lit. rubbing. The Moslem Harem is a great school for +this "Lesbian (which I would call Atossan) love "; but the motive of the +practice lies deeper. As amongst men the mixture of the feminine with the +masculine temperament leads to sodomy, so the reverse makes women prefer their +own sex. These tribades are mostly known by peculiarities of form and features, +hairy cheeks and upper lips, gruff voices, hircine odour and the large +projecting clitoris with erectile powers known to the Arabs as "bazar" hence +Tabzír=circumcision or amputation of such clitoris. Burckhardt (Prov. 436) +translates " Bazarah" by slut or wench. He adds " it originally signifies the +labia which the Cairenes also entice Zambúr and which are cut off in girlhood." +See also Lane, Lex. s.v.; Tabzír. Both writers confuse excision of the nymphæ +with circumcision of the clitoris (Zambúr) Al-Siyúti (Kitab al-Izá' fi'Ilm +al-Nikah) has a very interesting chapter on Sapphic venery, which is well known +to Europe as proved by such works as "Gamiani," and "Anandria ou Confessions de +Mademoiselle Sappho, avec la Clef," Lesbos, 1718. Onanism is fatally prevalent: +in many Harems and girls' schools tallow candles and similar succedanea are +vainly forbidden and bananas when detected are cut into four so as to be +useless; of late years, however, China has sent some marvellous artificial +phalli of stuffed bladder, horn and even caoutchouc, the latter material of +course borrowed from Europe. + +[FN#411] This is considered a powerful aphrodisiac in the East. Hence male +devotees are advised to avoid tile "two reds," i.e. meat and wine; while the +"two reds," which corrupt women, are gold and saffron, that is perfumery. Hence +also the saying of Mohammed:— "Perfumes for men should have scent and not +colour; for women should have colour and not scent." (Mishkát al-Masábíh ii. +361.) + +[FN#412] These are the "Hibás" or thin cords of wool which the +Badawi binds round his legs, I believe to keep off cramp. +(Pilgrimage iii. 78). + +[FN#413] Crying out "La iláha illa 'llah." (There is no god but the +God.); technically called "Tahlíl." + +[FN#414] i.e. Men, angels and devils, the "Triloka" (triple people) of the +Hindus. Alamín (plur.), never Alamayn (dual), is the Triregno denoted by the +papal Tiara, the three Christian kingdoms being Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. + +[FN#415] Matrahinna or Mit-Rahinah is a well-known village near Memphis, the +name being derived from the old Egyptian Minat-ro- hinnu, the port at the mouth +of the canal. Let me remark that two of these three words, "Minat" and "Ru," +are still common in " Aryan" Persian. + +[FN#416] Kirámat, a sign, a prodigy, opposed to Mu'ujizah, a miracle wrought by +a prophet. The Sufis explain this thaumaturgy by Allah changing something of +Nature's ordinary course in favour of an especial worshipper, and, after a +fashion, this is Catholic doctrine (See Dabistan, iii. 173). + +[FN#417] Koran, x. 25, "until the earth receive its vesture and be adorned with +various plants." + +[FN#418] i.e. the young hair sprouting on the boy's cheek. + +[FN#419] A fighter for the faith and now a title which follows the name, e.g. +Osmán Páshá Ghází, whom the English press dubbed "Ghazi Osman." + +[FN#420] That is the King of Constantinople. + +[FN#421] Cassia fistularis, a kind of carob: " Shambar" is the +Arab. form of the Persian " Chambar." + +[FN#422] Koran, ii. 149. Hence the vulgar idea that Martyrs are still alive in +the flesh. See my Pilgrimage (ii. 110 and elsewhere) for the romantic and +picturesque consequences of that belief. The Commentators (Jalál al-Dín, etc.) +play tricks with the Koranic words, " they (martyrs) are not dead but living" +(iii. 179) by placing the happy souls in the crops of green birds which eat of +the fruits and drink of the waters of Paradise; whereas the reprobates and the +(very) wicked are deposited in black birds which drain the sanies and the +boiling waters of Hell. Amongst the Greeks a body remaining entire long after +death suggests Anathema Maranatha: it is the contrary with Catholic Christians +(Boccaccio iv. 5, of the Pot of Basil). Concerning this creed see Maundrell, +Letter of 1698. + +[FN#423] Tor is "Mount Sinai" in the Koran (xcv. 1). I have only to repeat my +opinion concerning the present site so called: "It is evident that Jebel Serbal +dates only from the early days of Coptic Christianity; that Jebel Musa, its +Greek rival, rose after the visions of Helena in the fourth century; whilst the +building of the Convent by Justinian belongs to A.D 527. Ras Safsáfah, its +rival to the north, is an affair of yesterday, and may be called the invention +of Robinson; and Jebel Katerina, to the south is the property of Rüppell" +(Midian Revisited i., 237). I would therefore call the "Sinaitic" Peninsula, +Peninsula of Paran in old days and Peninsula of Tor (from its chief port) in +our time. It is still my conviction that the true Mount Sinai will be found in +Jabal Aráif, or some such unimportant height to the north of the modern Hajj- +road from Suez to Akabah. Even about the name (which the Koran writes "Sainá" +and "Sínín") there is a dispute: It is usually derived from the root +"Sanah"=sentis, a bush; but this is not satisfactory. Our eminent +Assyriologist, Professor Sayce, would connect it with "Sin," the Assyrian Moon- +god as Mount Nebo with the Sun-god and he expects to find there the ruins of a +Lunar temple as a Solar fane stands on Ba'al Zapuna (Baal Zephon) or the +classical Mount Casius. + +[FN#424] Alluding to the miracle of Aaron's rod (the gift of Jethro) as related +in the Koran (chapts. vii. 1., xx., etc.), where the Egyptian sorcerers threw +down thick ropes which by their magic twisted and coiled like serpents. + +[FN#425] Arab. "Ayát" lit. "signs," here "miracles of the truth," 1. c. Koranic +versets as opposed to chapters. The ranks of the enemy represent the latter, +sword-cuts the former—a very persuasive mode of preaching. + +[FN#426] Lane (M. E. chapt.. iii.) shows by a sketch the position of the +worshipper during this "Salám" which is addressed, some say, to the guardian +angels, others suppose to all brother-believers and angels. + +[FN#427] i.e., where the Syrians found him. + +[FN#428] i.e., Dedianus Arabised; a name knightly and plebian. + +[FN#429] In such tales the Wazir is usually the sharp-witted man, contrasting +with the "dummy," or master. + +[FN#430] Carrier-pigeons were extensively used at this time. The Caliph +Al-Násir li-Díni ‘lláh (regn. A.H. 575=1180) was, according to Ibn Khaldún, +very fond of them. The moderns of Damascus still affect them. My successor, Mr. +Consul Kirby Green, wrote an excellent report on pigeon-fancying at Damascus. +The so-called Maundeville or Mandeville in A. D. 1322 speaks of carrier-pigeons +in Syria as a well-known mode Of intercourse between lord and lord. + +[FN#431] Mohammed who declared "There is no monkery in Al-Islam," and who +virtually abolished the priest, had an especial aversion to the shaveling +(Ruhbán). But the "Gens æterna in quâ nemo nascitur" (Pliny v. 17) managed to +appear even in Al-lslam, as Fakirs,, Dervishes, Súfis, etc. Of this more +hereafter. + +[FN#432] i.e. her holiness would act like a fascinating talisman. + +[FN#433] The "smoking out" practice is common amongst the Arabs: hence Marshal +Pelissier's so- called " barbarity." The Public is apt to forget that on a +campaign the general's first duty is to save his own men by any practice which +the laws of fair warfare do not absolutely forbid. + +[FN#434] i.e. Mohammed, who promised Heaven and threatened Hell. + +[FN#435] Arab. "Ahr" or "ihr," fornication or adultery, i.e., irreligion, +infidelity as amongst the Hebrews (Isaiah xxiii.17). + +[FN#436] A sign of defeat. + +[FN#437] In English "last night": I have already noted that the Moslem day, +like the Jewish and the Scandinavian, begins at sundown; and "layl " a night, +is often used to denote the twenty- four hours between sunset and sunset, +whilst "yaum," a day, would by us be translated in many cases "battle-day." + +[FN#438] Iterum the "Himalayan Brothers." + +[FN#439] Again, Mohammed who promised Good to the Good, and vice versâ. + +[FN#440] They are sad doggrel like most of the pièces d'occasion inserted in +The Nights. + +[FN#441] Here "Kahwah" (coffee) is used in its original sense of strong old +wine. The derivation is "Akhá"=fastidire fecit, causing disinclination for +food, the Matambre (kill- hunger) of the Iberians. In old days the scrupulous +called coffee "Kihwah" in order to distinguish it from 'Kakwah," wine. + +[FN#442] i.e. Mohammed, a common title. + +[FN#443] That is, fatal to the scoffer and the impious. + +[FN#444] Equivalent to our "The Devil was sick," etc. + +[FN#445] i.e. to the enemy: the North American Indians (so called) use similar +forms of "inverted speech"; and the Australian aborigines are in no way behind +them. + +[FN#446] See Vol. i., p. 154 (Night xvi.). + +[FN#447] Arab. "Sauf," a particle denoting a near future whereas +"Sa-" points to one which may be very remote. + +[FN#448] From the root "Shanh"=having a fascinating eye, terrifying. The Irish +call the fascinater "eybitter" and the victim (who is also rhymed to death) +"eybitten." + +[FN#449] i.e., not like the noble-born, strong in enduring the stress of fight. + +[FN#450] i.e., of Abraham. For the Well Zemzem and the Place of Abraham see my +Pilgrimage (iii. 171-175, etc.), where I described the water as of salt-bitter +taste, like that of Epsom (iii. 203). Sir William Muir (in his excellent life +of Mahomet, I. cclviii.) remarks that "the flavour of stale water bottled up +for months would not be a criterion of the same water freshly drawn;" but +soldered tins-full of water drawn a fortnight before are to be had in Calcutta +and elsewhere after Pilgrimage time; and analysis would at once detect the +salt. + +[FN#451] Racing was and is a favourite pastime with those hippomanists, the +Arabs; but it contrasts strongly with our civilised form being a trial of +endurance rather than of speed. The Prophet is said to have limited betting in +these words, "There shall be no wagering save on the Kuff (camel's foot), the +Hafir (hoof of horse, ass, etc.) or the Nasal (arrow-pile or lance head)." + +[FN#452] In the Mac. Edit. "Arman"=Armenia, which has before occurred. The +author or scribe here understands by "Cæsarea" not the old Turris Stratonis, +Herod's city called after Augustus, but Cæsareia the capital of Cappadocia +(Pliny, vi. 3), the royal residence before called Mazaca (Strabo). + +[FN#453] An idiom meaning "a very fool." + +[FN#454] i.e. Kána (was) má (that which) was (kána). + +[FN#455] A son being "the lamp of a dark house." + +[FN#456] When the Israelites refused to receive the Law (the souls of all the +Prophets even those unborn being present at the Covenant), Allah tore up the +mountain (Sinai which is not mentioned) by the roots and shook it over their +heads to terrify them, saying, "Receive the Law which we have given you with a +resolution to keep it" (Koran chaps. xlx. 170). Much of this story is from the +Talmud (Abodah Sar. 2, 2, Tract Sabbath, etc.) whence Al-Islam borrowed so much +of its Judaïsm, as it took Christianity from the Apocryphal New Testament. This +tradition is still held by the Israelites, says Mr. Rodwell (p. 333) who refers +it to a misunderstanding of Exod. xix. 17, rightly rendered in the E. version +"at the nether part of the mountain." + +[FN#457] Arab. "Azghán" = the camel-litters in which women travel. + +[FN#458] i.e. to joy foes and dismay friends. + +[FN#459] Whose eyes became white (i.e. went blind) with mourning for his son +Joseph (Koran, chaps. xii. 84). He recovered his sight when his face was +covered with the shirt which Gabriel had given to the youth after his brethren +had thrown him into the well. + +[FN#460] "Poison King" (Persian); or "Flower-King" (Arabic). + +[FN#461] A delicate allusion to the size of her hips and back parts, in which +volume is, I have said, greatly admired for the best of reasons. + +[FN#462] All Prophets had some manual trade and that of David was making coats +of mail, which he invented, for before his day men used plate-armour. So "Allah +softened the iron for him" and in his hands it became like wax (Koran xxi. +xxxiv., etc.). Hence a good coat of mail is called "Davidean." I have noticed +(First Footsteps, p. 33 and elsewhere) the homage paid to the blacksmith on the +principle which made Mulciber (Malik Kabir) a god. The myth of David inventing +mail possibly arose from his peculiarly fighting career. Moslems venerate Dáúd +on account of his extraordinary devotion, nor has this view of his character +ceased : a modern divine preferred him to "all characters in history." + +[FN#463] "Travel by night," said the Prophet, "when the plagues of earth +(scorpions, serpents, etc.) afflict ye not." Yet the night- march in Arabia is +detestable (Pilgrimage iii.). + +[FN#464] This form of ceremony is called "Istikbál" (coming forth to greet) and +is regulated by the severest laws of etiquette. As a rule the greater the +distance (which may be a minimum of one step) the higher the honour. Easterns +infinitely despise strangers who ignore these vitals of politeness. + +[FN#465] i.e. he will be a desert Nimrod and the game will delight to be killed +by him. + +[FN#466] This serves to keep the babe's eyes free from inflammation. + +[FN#467] i.e. Crown of the Kings of amorous Blandishment. + +[FN#468] Lane (i. 531) translates "the grey down." The Arabs use +"Akhzar" (prop. "green") in many senses, fresh, gray-hued, etc. + +[FN#469] Allusion to the well-known black banners of the house of Abbas. The +Persians describe the growth of hair on a fair young face by, "His cheeks went +into mourning for the loss of their charms." + +[FN#470] Arab. "Káfir" a Koranic word meaning Infidel, the active participle of +Kufr= Infidelity i.e. rejecting the mission of Mohammed. It is insulting and in +Turkish has been degraded to "Giaour." Here it means black, as Hafiz of Shiraz +terms a cheek mole "Hindu" i.e. dark-skinned and idolatrous. + +[FN#471] Alluding to the travel of Moses (Koran chaps. xviii.) with Al-Khizr +(the "evergreen Prophet") who had drunk of the Fountain of Life and enjoyed +flourishing and continual youth. Moses is represented as the external and +superficial religionist; the man of outsight; Al-Khizr as the spiritual and +illuminated man of insight. + +[FM#472] The lynx was used like the lion in Ancient Egypt and the Chita-leopard +in India: I have never seen or heard of it in these days. + +[FN#473] Arab. "Sukúr," whence our "Saker" the falcon, not to be confounded +with the old Falco Sacer, the Gr. . Falconry which, like all arts, began +in Egypt, is an extensive subject throughout Moslem lands. I must refer my +readers to "Falconry in the Valley of the Indus" (Van Voorst, 1852) and a long +note in Pilgrimage iii. 71. + +[FN#474] It was not respectful to pitch their camp within dog-bark. + +[FN#475] Easterns attach great importance to softness and smoothness of skin +and they are right: a harsh rough epidermis spoils sport with the handsomest +woman. + +[FN#476] Canticles vii. 8: Hosea xiv. 6. + +[FN#477] The mesmeric attraction of like to like. + +[FN#478] Arab. "Taswif"=saying "Sauf," I will do it soon. It is a beautiful +word–etymologically. + +[FN#479] A very far fetched allusion. The face of the beloved springing from an +unbuttoned robe is the moon rising over the camp in the hollow (bat'há). + +[FN#480] Arab. "Kasabát" = "canes," long beads, bugles. + +[FN#481] Koran, xcvi. 5. + +[FN#482] Both words (masc. and fem.) mean "dear, excellent, highly- prized." +The tale is the Arab form of the European "Patient Griselda" and shows a higher +conception of womanly devotion, because Azizah, despite her wearisome weeping, +is a girl of high intelligence and Aziz is a vicious zany, weak as water and +wilful as wind. The phenomenon (not rare in life) is explained by the couplet:— + + I love my love with an S— + Because he is stupid and not intellectual. + +This fond affection of clever women for fools can be explained only by the law +of unlikeness which mostly governs sexual unions in physical matters; and its +appearance in the story gives novelty and point. Aziz can plead only the +violence of his passion which distinguished him as a lover among the mob of men +who cannot love anything beyond themselves. And none can pity him for losing a +member which he so much abused. + +[FN#483] Arab. "Sháhid," the index, the pointer raised in testimony: the +comparison of the Eastern and the Western names is curious. + +[FN#484] Musk is one of the perfumes of the Moslem Heaven; and "musky" is much +used in verse to signify scented and dark-brown. + +[FN#485] Arab. "Mandíl": these kerchiefs are mostly oblong, the shore sides +being worked with gold and coloured silk, and often fringed, while the two +others are plain. + +[FN#486] Arab. "Rayhání," of the Ocymum Basilicum or sweet basil: a delicate +handwriting, so called from the pen resembling a leaf (?) See vol. i. p. 128. +[Volume 1, note 229 & 230] + +[FN#487] All idiom meaning "something unusual happened." + +[FN#488] An action common in grief and regret: here the lady would show that +she sighs for union with her beloved. + +[FN#489] Lane (i. 608) has a valuable note on the language of signs, from M. du +Vigneau's "Secretaire Turc," etc. (Paris, 1688), Baron von Hammer-Purgstall +("Mines de ['Orient," No. 1, Vienna, 1809) and Marcel's "Comes du Cheykh +El-Mohdy" (Paris, 1833). It is practised in Africa as well as in Asia. At +Abeokuta in Yoruba a man will send a symbolical letter in the shape of cowries, +palm-nuts and other kernels strung on rice- straw, and sharp wits readily +interpret the meaning. A specimen is given in p. 262 of Miss Tucker's +"Abbeokuta; or Sunrise within the Tropics." + +[FN#490] Mr. Payne (ii. 227) translates "Hawá al-'Urzí" by "the love of the +Beni Udhra, an Arabian tribe famous for the passion and devotion with which +love was practised among them." See Night dclxxxiii. I understand it as +"excusable love" which, for want of a better term, is here translated +"platonic." It is, however, more like the old "bundling" of Wales and Northern +England; and allows all the pleasures but one, the toyings which the French +call les plaisirs de la petite ode; a term my dear old friend Fred. Hankey +derived from la petite voie. The Afghans know it as "Námzad-bází" or betrothed +play (Pilgrimage, ii. 56); the Abyssinians as eye- love; and the Kafirs as +Slambuka a Shlabonka, for which see The traveller Delegorgue. + +[FN#491] "Turk" in Arabic and Persian poetry means a plunderer, a robber. Thus +Hafiz: "Agar án Turk-i-Shirázi ba-dast árad dil-i- márá," If that Shirazi (ah, +the Turk!) would deign to take my heart in hand, etc. + +[FN#492] Arab. "Názir," a steward or an eye (a "looker"). The idea is borrowed +from Al-Hariri (Assemblies, xiii.), and,— + +[FN#493] Arab. "Hájib," a groom of the chambers, a chamberlain; also an +eyebrow. See Al-Hariri, ibid. xiii. and xxii. + +[FN#494] This gesture speaks for itself: it is that of a dyer staining a cloth. +The "Sabbágh's" shop is the usual small recess, open to the street and showing +pans of various dyes sunk like "dog- laps" in the floor. + +[FN#495] The Arab. "Sabt" (from sabata, he kept Sabt) and the Heb. "Sabbath" +both mean Saturn's day, Saturday, transferred by some unknown process +throughout Christendom to Sunday. The change is one of the most curious in the +history of religions. If there be a single command stronger than all others it +is "Keep the Saturday holy." It was so kept by the Founder of Christianity; the +order was never abrogated and yet most Christians are not aware that Sabbath, +or "Sawbath," means Saturn's day, the "Shiyár" of the older Arabs. And to +complete its degradation "Sabbat" in French and German means a criaillerie, a +"row," a disorder, an abominable festival of Hexen (witches). This monstrous +absurdity can be explained only by aberrations of sectarian zeal, of party +spirit in religion. + +[FN#496] The men who cry to prayer. The first was Bilál, the Abyssinian slave +bought and manumitted by Abu Bakr. His simple cry was "I testify there is no +Iláh (god) but Allah (God)! Come ye to prayers!" Caliph Omar, with the +Prophet's permission, added, "I testify that Mohammed is the Apostle of Allah." +The prayer-cry which is beautiful and human, contrasting pleasantly with the +brazen clang of the bell. now is + + Allah is Almighty (bis). + I declare no god is there but Allah (bis). + Hie ye to Rogation (Hayya=halumma). + Hie ye to Salvation (Faláh=prosperity, Paradise). + ("Hie ye to Edification," a Shi'ah adjunct). + Prayer is better than sleep (in the morning, also bis). + No god is there but Allah + +This prayer call is similarly worded and differently pronounced and intoned +throughout Al-Islam. + +[FN#497] i.e. a graceful youth of Al-Hijaz, the Moslem Holy Land, whose "sons" +claim especial privileges. + +[FN#498] Arab. "harf'= a letter, as we should say a syllable. + +[FN#499] She uses the masculine "fatá," in order to make the question more +mysterious. + +[FN#500] The fountain-bowl is often ornamented by a rude mosaic of black and +white marble with enlivenments of red stone or tile in complicated patterns. + +[FN#501] Arab. "Kubád" = shaddock (citrus decumana): the huge orange which +Captain Shaddock brought from the West Indies; it is the Anglo-Indian +pompelmoose, vulg. pummelo. An excellent bitter is made out of the rind steeped +in spirits. Citronworts came from India whence they spread throughout the +tropics: they were first introduced into Europe by the heroic Joam de Castro +and planted in his garden at Cintra where their descendants are still seen. + +[FN#502] Arab. "Bakláwah," Turk. "Baklává," a kind of pastry with blanched +almonds bruised small between layers of dough, baked in the oven and cut into +lozenges. It is still common + +[FN#503] Her just fear was that the young woman might prove "too clever by +half" for her simpleton cousin. + +[FN#504] The curse is pregnant with meaning. On Judgment-day the righteous +shall arise with their faces shining gloriously: hence the blessing, "Bayyaz' +Allaho wajh-ak" (=Allah whiten thy countenance!). But the wicked shall appear +with faces scorched black and deformed by horror (Koran xxiv.): hence "God +blacken thy brow!" I may observe that Easterns curse, the curse being +everywhere the language of excited destructiveness; but only Westerns, and +these chiefly English, swear, a practice utterly meaningless. "Damn it" without +specifying what the "it" is, sounds like the speech of a naughty child anxious +only to use a "wicked word." "Damn you!" is intelligible all the world over. It +has given rise to "les goddams" in France, "Godámes" in the Brazil and "Gotáma" +amongst the Somal of Eastern Africa, who learn it in Aden, + +[FN#505] Arab. "Zardah," usually rice dressed with saffron and honey, from +Pers. "Zard," saffron, yellow. See Night dcxii. + +[FN#506] Vulgarly called "knuckle-bone," concerning which I shall have +something to say. + +[FN#507] A bit of wood used in the children's game called "Táb" which resembles +our tip-cat (Lane M. E. chaps. xvii.). + +[FN#508] Arab. "Balah," the unripened date, which is considered a laxative and +eaten in hot weather. + +[FN#509] Lane (i. 611), quoting Al-Kazwíní, notes that the date- stone is +called "Nawá" (dim. "Nawáyah") which also means distance, absence, severance. +Thus the lady threatens to cast off her greedy and sleepy lover. + +[FN#510] The pad of the carob-bean which changes little after being plucked is +an emblem of constancy. + +[FN#511] This dirham=48 grains avoir. + +[FN#512] The weight would be round: also "Hadíd" (=iron) means sharp or +piercing (Koran chaps. Vi]. 21). The double "swear" is intended to be very +serious. Moreover iron conjures away fiends: when a water-spout or a sand-devil +(called Shaytán also in Arabia) approaches, you point the index at the Jinn and +say, "Iron, O thou ill-omened one!" Amongst the Ancient Egyptians the metal was +ill- omened being the bones of Typhon, 80 here, possibly, we have an instance +of early homœopathy—similia similibus. + +[FN#513] Probably fermented to a kind of wine. The insipid fruit (Unnáb) which +looks like an apple in miniature, is much used in stews, etc. It is the fruit +(Nabak classically Nabik) of Rhamnus Nabeca (or Sidrat) also termed Zizyphus +Jujuba, seu Spina Christi because fabled to have formed the crown of thorns: in +the English market this plum is called Chinese Japonica. I have described it in +Pilgrimage ii. 205, and have noticed the infusion of the leaves for washing the +dead (ibid. ii. 105): this is especially the use of the "Ber" in India, where +the leaves are superstitiously held peculiarly pure. Our dictionaries translate +"Sidr" by "Lote-tree"; and no wonder that believers in Homeric writ feel their +bile aroused by so poor a realisation of the glorious myth. The Homerids +probably alluded to Hashish or Bhang. + +[FN#514] Arab. "Azrár": the open collar of the Saub ("Tobe") or long loose +dress is symptomatic. The Eastern button is on the same principle as ours (both +having taken the place of the classical fibula); but the Moslem affects a loop +(like those to which we attach our "frogs") and utterly ignores a button-hole. + +[FN#515] Alluding to the ceremonious circumambulation of the Holy +House at Meccah: a notable irreverence worthy of Kneph-town +(Canopus). + +[FN#516] The ear-drop is the penis and the anklet its crown of glory. + +[FN#517] Equivalent to our "Alas! Alas!" which, by the by, no one ever says. +"Awah," like "Yauh," is now a woman's word although used by Al-Hariri (Assembly +of Basrah) and so Al-awwáh=one who cries from grief "Awáh." A favourite +conversational form is "Yehh" with the aspirate exasperated, but it is an +expression of astonishment rather than sorrow. It enters into Europe +travel-books. + +[FN#518] In the text "burst her gall-bladder." + +[FN#519] The death of Azizah is told with true Arab pathos and simplicity: it +still draws tear. *from the eyes of the Badawi, and I never read it without a +"lump in the throat." + +[FN#520] Arab. "Inshallah bukra!" a universal saying which is the horror of +travellers. + +[FN#521] I have explained "Nu'uman's flower" as the anemone which in Grecised +Arabic is "Anúmiyá." Here they are strewed over the tomb; often the flowers are +planted in a small bed of mould sunk in the upper surface. + +[FN#522] Arab. "Barzakh" lit. a bar, a partition: in the Koran (chapts. xxiii. +and xxxv.) the space or the place between death and resurrection where souls +are stowed away. It corresponds after a fashion with the classical Hades and +the Limbus (Limbo) of Christendom, e.g.. Limbus patrum, infantum, fatuorum. But +it must not be confounded with Al-A'aráf, The Moslem purgatory. + +[FN#523] Arab. "Zukák al-Nakíb," the latter word has been explained as a chief, +leader, head man. + +[FN#524] Moslems never stand up at such times, for a spray of urine would make +their clothes ceremonially impure: hence the scrupulous will break up with +stick or knife the hard ground in front of them. A certain pilgrim was reported +to have made this blunder which is hardly possible in Moslem dress. A high +personage once asked me if it was true that he killed a man who caught him in a +standing position; and I found to my surprise that the absurd scandal was +already twenty years old. After urinating the Moslem wipes the os penis with +one to three bits of stone, clay or handfuls of earth, and he must perform Wuzu +before he can pray. Tournefort (Voyage au Levant iii. 335) tells a pleasant +story of certain Christians at Constantinople who powdered with "Poivre-d'Inde" +the stones in a wall where the Moslems were in the habit of rubbing the os +penis by way of wiping The same author (ii. 336) strongly recommends a +translation of Rabelais' Torcheculative chapter (Lib i., chaps. 13) for the +benefit of Mohammedans. + +[FN#525] Arab. "Nuhás ahmar," lit. red brass. + +[FN#526] The cup is that between the lady's legs. + +[FN#527] A play upon "Sák" = calf, or leg, and "Sákí," a cup- bearer. The going +round (Tawáf) and the running (Sa'i) allude to the circumambulation of the +Ka'abah, and the running between Mount Safá and Marwah (Pilgrimage ii. 58, and +iii. 343). A religious Moslem would hold the allusion highly irreverent. + +[FN#528] Lane (i. 614) never saw a woman wearing such kerchief which is +deshabille. It is either spread over the head or twisted turband-wise. + +[FN#529] The "Kasabah" was about two fathoms of long measure, and sometimes 12 +½ feet; but the length has been reduced. + +[FN#530] "Bat and ball," or hockey on horseback (Polo) is one of the earliest +Persian games as shown by every illustrated copy of Firdausi's "Shahnámeh." +This game was played with a Kurrah or small hand-ball and a long thin bat +crooked at the end called in Persian Chaugán and in Arabic Saulaján. Another +sense of the word is given in the Burhán-i-Káti translated by Vullers (Lex. +Persico-Latinum), a large bandy with bent head to which is hung an iron ball, +also called Kaukabah (our "morning-star") and like the umbrella it denotes the +grandees of the court. The same Kaukabah particularly distinguished one of the +Marquesses of Waterford. This Polo corresponds with the folliculus, the +pallone, the baloun-game (moyen âge) of Europe, where the horse is not such a +companion of man; and whereof the classics sang:— + +Folle decet pueros ludere, folle senes. + +In these days we should spell otherwise the "folle" of seniors playing at the +ball or lawn-tennis. + +[FN#531] "Dalíl" means a guide; `'Dalílah," a woman who misguides, a bawd. See +the Tale of Dalílah the Crafty, Night dcxcviii. + +[FN#532] i.e. she was a martyr. + +[FN#533] Arab. "Ghashím" a popular and insulting term, our "Johnny +Raw." Its use is shown in Pilgrimage i. 110. + +[FN#534] Bathers pay on leaving the Hammam; all enter without paying. + +[FN#535] i.e. she swore him upon his sword and upon the Koran: a loaf of bread +is sometimes added. See Lane (i. 615). + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law 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. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.12.12.00*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by J.C. Byers at jcbyers@capitalnet.com. +Proofreaders were: J.C. Byers, Laura Shaffer, Lan Wang, Doris +Ringbloom + + + + + + + + THE BOOK OF THE + THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT + A Plain and Literal Translation + of the Arabian Nights Entertainments + + Translated and Annotated by + Richard F. Burton + + VOLUME TWO + Privately Printed By The Burton Club + + + + To John Payne, Esq. + +My Dear Sir, + + Allow me thus publicly to express my admiration of your +magnum opus, "The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night;" and +to offer you my cordial thanks for honouring me with the +dedication of that scholar-like and admirable version. + + Ever yours sincerely, + + Richard F. Burton. + +Queen's College, Oxford, + August 1, 1885. + + + Contents of the Second Volume + + +7. Nur Al-Din Ali and the Damsel Anis Al-Jalis +8. Tale of Ghanim Bin Ayyub, The Distraught, The Thrall O' Love + a. Tale of the First Eunuch, Bukhayt + b. Tale of the Second Eunuch, Kafur +9. Tale of King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and His Sons Sharrkan and + Zau Al-Makan + a. Tale of Taj Al-Muluk and the Princess Dunya + aa. Tale of Aziz and Azizah + + + + The Book Of The + THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT + + + + Nur Al-Din Ali and the Damsel Anis Al-Jalis + +Quoth Shahrazad [FN#1]:--It hath reached me, O auspicious King of +intelligence penetrating, that there was, amongst the Kings of +Bassorah[FN#2], a King who loved the poor and needy and cherished +his lieges, and gave of his wealth to all who believed in +Mohammed (whom Allah bless and assain!), and he was even as one +of the poets described him, + +"A King who when hosts of the foe invade, * Receives them with + lance-lunge and sabre-sway; +Writes his name on bosoms in thin red lines, * And scatters the + horsemen in wild dismay."[FN#3] + +His name was King Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, and he had two +Wazirs, one called Al-Mu'n, son of Sw and the other Al-Fazl +son of Khkn. Now Al-Fazl was the most generous of the people of +his age, upright of life, so that all hearts united in loving him +and the wise flocked to him for counsel; whilst the subjects used +to pray for his long life, because he was a compendium of the +best qualities, encouraging the good and lief, and preventing +evil and mischief. But the Wazir Mu'n bin Sw on the contrary +hated folk [FN#4] and loved not the good and was a mere compound +of ill; even as was said of him, + +"Hold to nobles, sons of nobles! 'tis ever Nature's test * That + nobles born of nobles shall excel in noble deed: +And shun the mean of soul, meanly bred, for 'tis the law, * Mean + deeds come of men who are mean of blood and breed." + +And as much as the people loved and fondly loved Al-Fazl bin +Khkn, so they hated and thoroughly hated the mean and miserly +Mu'n bin Sw. It befel one day by the decree of the Decreer, +that King Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, being seated on his +throne with his officers of state about him, summoned his Wazir +Al-Fazl and said to him, "I wish to have a slave-girl of passing +beauty, perfect in loveliness, exquisite in symmetry and endowed +with all praiseworthy gifts." Said the courtiers, "Such a girl +is not to be bought for less than ten thousand gold pieces:" +whereupon the Sultan called out to his treasurer and said, "Carry +ten thousand dinars to the house of Al-Fazl bin Khkn." The +treasurer did the King's bidding; and the Minister went away, +after receiving the royal charge to repair to the slave-bazar +every day, and entrust to brokers the matter aforesaid. Moreover +the King issued orders that girls worth above a thousand gold +pieces should not be bought or sold without being first displayed +to the Wazir. Accordingly no broker purchased a slave-girl ere +she had been paraded before the minister; but none pleased him, +till one day a dealer came to the house and found him taking +horse and intending for the palace. So he caught hold of his +stirrup saying, + +"O thou, who givest to royal state sweet savour, * Thou'rt a + Wazir shalt never fail of favour! +Dead Bounty thou hast raised to life for men; * Ne'er fail of + Allah's grace such high endeavour!" + +Then quoth he, "O my lord, that surpassing object for whom the +gracious mandate was issued is at last found; [FN#5]" and quoth +the Wazir, "Here with her to me!" So he went away and returned +after a little, bringing a damsel in richest raiment robed, a +maid spear-straight of stature and five feet tall; budding of +bosom with eyes large and black as by Kohl traced, and dewy lips +sweeter than syrup or the sherbet one sips, a virginette smooth +cheeked and shapely faced, whose slender waist with massive hips +was engraced; a form more pleasing than branchlet waving upon the +top-most trees, and a voice softer and gentler than the morning +breeze, even as saith one of those who have described her, + +"Strange is the charm which dights her brows like Luna's disk + that shine; * O sweeter taste than sweetest Robb[FN#6] or + raisins of the vine. +A throne th'Empyrean keeps for her in high and glorious state, * + For wit and wisdom, wandlike form and graceful bending line: +She in the Heaven of her face[FN#7] the seven-fold stars + displays, * That guard her cheeks as satellites against + the spy's design: +If man should cast a furtive glance or steal far look at her, * + His heart is burnt by devil-bolts shot by those piercing + eyne." + +When the Wazir saw her she made him marvel with excess of +admiration, so he turned, perfectly pleased, to the broker and +asked, "What is the price of this girl?"; whereto he answered, +"Her market-value stands at ten thousand dinars, but her owner +swears that this sum will not cover the cost of the chickens she +hath eaten, the wine she hath drunken and the dresses of honour +bestowed upon her instructor: for she hath learned calligraphy +and syntax and etymology; the commentaries of the Koran; the +principles of law and religion; the canons of medicine, and the +calendar and the art of playing on musical instruments."[FN#8] +Said the Wazir, "Bring me her master." So the broker brought him +at once and, behold, he was a Persian of whom there was left only +what the days had left; for he was as a vulture bald and scald +and a wall trembling to its fall. Time had buffetted him with +sore smart, yet was he not willing this world to depart; even as +said the poet, + +"Time hath shattered all my frame, * Oh! how time hath + shattered me. +Time with lordly might can tame * Manly strength and vigour + free. +Time was in my youth, that none * Sped their way more fleet + and fast: +Time is and my strength is gone, * Youth is sped, and speed + is past.[FN#9]" + +The Wazir asked him, "Art thou content to sell this slave-girl to +the Sultan for ten thousand dinars?"; and the Persian answered, +"By Allah, if I offer her to the King for naught, it were but my +devoir."[FN#10] So the Minister bade bring the monies and saw +them weighed out to the Persian, who stood up before him and +said, "By the leave of our lord the Wazir, I have somewhat to +say;" and the Wazir replied, "Out with all thou hast!" "It is my +opinion," continued the slave-dealer, "that thou shouldst not +carry the maid to the King this day; for she is newly off a +journey; the change of air[FN#11] hath affected her and the toils +of trouble have fretted her. But keep her quiet in thy palace +some ten days, that she may recover her looks and become again as +she was. Then send her to the Hammam and clothe her in the +richest of clothes and go up with her to the Sultan: this will be +more to thy profit." The Wazir pondered the Persian's words and +approved of their wisdom; so he carried her to his palace, where +he appointed her private rooms, and allowed her every day +whatever she wanted of meat and drink and so forth. And on this +wise she abode a while. Now the Wazir Al-Fazl had a son like the +full moon when sheeniest dight, with face radiant in light, +cheeks ruddy bright, and a mole like a dot of ambergris on a +downy site; as said of him the poet and said full right, + +"A moon which blights you[FN#12] if you dare behold; * A branch + which folds you in its waving fold: +Locks of the Zanj[FN#13] and golden glint of hair; * Sweet gait + and form a spear to have and hold: +Ah! hard of heart with softest slenderest waist, * That evil to + this weal why not remould?[FN#14] +Were thy form's softness placed in thy heart, * Ne'er would thy + lover find thee harsh and cold: +Oh thou accuser! be my love's excuser, * Nor chide if love-pangs + deal me woes untold! +I bear no blame: 'tis all my hear and eyne; * So leave thy + blaming, let me yearn and pine." + +Now the handsome youth knew not the affair of the damsel; and his +father had enjoined her closely, saying, "Know, O my daughter, +that I have bought thee as a bedfellow for our King, Mohammed bin +Sulayman al-Zayni; and I have a son who is a Satan for girls and +leaves no maid in the neighbourhood without taking her +maidenhead; so be on thy guard against him and beware of letting +him see thy face or hear they voice." "Hearkening and obedience," +said the girl; and he left her and fared forth. Some days after +this it happened by decree of Destiny, that the damsel repaired +to the baths in the house, where some of the slave women bathed +her; after which she arrayed herself in sumptuous raiment; and +her beauty and loveliness were thereby redoubled. Then she went +in to the Wazir's wife and kissed her hand; and the dame said to +her, "Naiman! May it benefit thee,[FN#15] O Anis al- +Jalis![FN#16] Are not our baths handsome?" "O my mistress," she +replied, "I lacked naught there save thy gracious presence." +Thereupon the lady said to her slave-women, "Come with us to the +Hammam, for it is some days since we went there:" they answered, +"To hear is to obey!" and rose and all accompanied her. Now she +had set two little slave-girls to keep the door of the private +chamber wherein was Anis al-Jalis and had said to them, "Suffer +none go in to the damsel." Presently, as the beautiful maiden +sat resting in her rooms, suddenly came in the Wazir's son whose +name was Nur al-Din Ali,[FN#17] and asked after his mother and +her women, to which the two little slave-girls replied, "They are +in the Hammam." But the damsel, Anis al-Jalis, had heard from +within Nur al-Din Ali's voice and had said to herself, "O would +Heaven I saw what like is this youth against whom the Wazir +warned me, saying that he hath not left a virgin in the +neighbourhood without taking her virginity: by Allah, I do long +to have sight of him!" So she sprang to her feet with the +freshness of the bath on her and, stepping to the door, looked at +Nur al-Din Ali and saw a youth like the moon in its full and the +sight bequeathed her a thousand sighs. The young man also glanced +at her and the look make him heir to a thousand thoughts of care; +and each fell into Love's ready snare. Then he stepped up to the +two little slave-girls and cried aloud at them; whereupon both +fled before him and stood afar off to see what he would do. And +behold, he walked to the door of the damsel's chamber and, +opening it, went in and asked her "Art thou she my father bought +for me?" and she answered "Yes." Thereupon the youth, who was +warm with wine, came up to her and embraced her; then he took her +legs and passed them round his waist and she wound her arms about +his neck, and met him with kisses and murmurs of pleasure and +amorous toyings. Next he sucked her tongue and she sucked his, +and lastly, he loosed the strings of her petticoat-trousers and +abated her maidenhead. When the two little slave-girls saw their +young master get in unto the damsel, Anis al-Jalis, they cried +out and shrieked; so as soon as the youth had had his wicked will +of her, he rose and fled forth fearing the consequences of his +ill-doing. When the Wazir's wife heard the slave-girls' cries, +she sprang up and came out of the baths with the perspiration +pouring from her face, saying, "What is this unseemly clamour in +the house[FN#18]?" Then she came up to the two little slave- +girls and asked them saying, "Fie upon you! what is the matter?"; +and both answered, "Verily our lord Nur al-Din came in and beat +us, so we fled; then he went up to Anis al-Jalis and threw his +arms round her and we know not what he did after that; but when +we cried out to thee he ran away." Upon this the lady went to +Anis al-Jalis and said to her, "What tidings?" "O my lady," she +answered, "as I was sitting here lo! a handsome young man came in +and said to me:--Art thou she my father bought for me?; and I +answered Yes; for, by Allah, O mistress mine, I believed that his +words were true; and he instantly came in and embraced me." "Did +he nought else with thee but this?" quoth the lady, and quoth +she, "Indeed he did! But he did it only three times." "He did +not leave thee without dishonouring thee!" cried the Wazir's wife +and fell to weeping and buffetting her face, she and the girl and +all the handmaidens, fearing lest Nur al-Din's father should kill +him.[FN#19] Whilst they were thus, in came the Wazir and asked +what was the matter, and his wife said to him, "Swear that whatso +I tell thee thou wilt attend to it." "I will," answered he. So +she related to him what his son had done, whereat he was much +concerned and rent his raiment and smote his face till his nose +bled, and plucked out his beard by the handful. "Do not kill +thyself," said his wife, "I will give thee ten thousand dinars, +her price, of my own money." But he raised his head and cried, +"Out upon thee! I have no need of her purchase-money: my fear is +lest life as well as money go." "O my lord, and how is that?" +"Wottest thou not that yonder standeth our enemy Al Mu'n bin +Sw who, as soon as he shall hear of this matter, will go up to +the Sultan"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Thirty-fifth Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +Wazir said to his wife, "Wottest thou not that yonder standeth +our enemy Al-Mu'n bin Sw who, as soon as he hears of this +matter will go up to the Sultan and say to him, 'Thy Wazir who, +thou wilt have it loveth thee, took from thee ten thousand ducats +and bought therewith a slave-girl whose like none ever beheld; +but when he saw her, she pleased him and he said to his son, +'Take her: thou art worthier of her than the Sultan.' So he took +her and did away with her virginity and she is now in his house.' +The King will say, 'Thou liest!' to which he will reply, 'With +thy leave I will fall upon him unawares and bring her to thee.' +The King will give him warranty for this and he will come down +upon the house and will take the girl and present her to the +Sultan, who will question her and she will not be able to deny +the past. Then mine enemy will say, 'O my lord, thou wottest +that I give thee the best of counsel; but I have not found favour +in thine eyes.' Thereupon the Sultan will make an example of me, +and I shall be a gazing-stock to all the people and my life will +be lost." Quoth his wife, "Let none know of this thing which +hath happened privily, and commit thy case to Allah and trust in +Him to save thee from such strait; for He who knoweth the future +shall provide for the future." With this she brought the Wazir a +cup of wine and his heart was quieted, and he ceased to feel +wrath and fear. Thus far concerning him; but as regards his son +Nur al-Din Ali, fearing the consequence of his misdeed he abode +his day long in the flower garden and came back only at night to +his mother's apartment where he slept; and, rising before dawn, +returned to the gardens. He ceased not to do thus for two whole +months without showing his face to his parent, till at last his +mother said to his father, "O my lord, shall we lose our boy as +well as the girl? If matters continue long in this way he will +flee from us." "And what to do?" asked he; and she answered, "Do +thou watch this night; and, when he cometh, seize on him and +frighten him: I will rescue him from thee and do thou make peace +with him and give him the damsel to wife, for she loveth him as +he loveth her. And I will pay thee her price." So the Minister +say up that night and, when his son came, he seized him and +throwing him down knelt on his breast and showed as thou he would +cut his throat; but his mother ran to the youth's succour and +asked her husband, "What wouldest thou do with him?" He answered +her, "I will split his weasand." Said the son to the father, "Is +my death, then, so light a matter to thee?"; and his father's +eyes welled with tears, for natural affection moved him, and he +rejoined, "O my son, how light was to thee the loss of my good +and my life!" Quoth Nur al-Din, "Hear, O my father, what the +poet hath said, + +Forgive me! thee-ward sinned I, but the wise * Ne'er to the + sinner shall deny his grace: +Thy foe may pardon sue when lieth he * In lowest, and thou + holdest highest place!'" + +Thereupon the Wazir rose from off his son's breast saying, "I +forgive thee!"; for his heart yearned to him; and the youth +kissed the hand of his sire who said, "O my son, were I sure that +thou wouldest deal justly by Anis al-Jalis, I would give her to +thee." "O my father, what justice am I to do to her?" "I enjoin +thee, O my son, not to take another wife or concubine to share +with her, nor sell her." "O my father! I swear to thee that +verily I will not do her injustice in either way." Having sworn +to that effect Nur al-Din went in to the damsel and abode with +her a whole year, whilst Allah Almighty caused the King to forget +the matter of the maiden; and Al-Mu'n, though the affair came to +his ears, dared not divulge it by reason of the high favour in +which his rival stood with the Sultan. At the end of the year +Al-Fazl went one day to the public baths; and, as he came out +whilst he was still sweating, the air struck him[FN#20] and he +caught a cold which turned to a fever; then he took to his bed. +His malady gained ground and restlessness was longsome upon him +and weakness bound him like a chain; so he called out, "Hither +with my son;" and when Nur al-Din Ali came he said to him, "O my +son, know that man's lot and means are distributed and decreed; +and the end of days by all must be dree'd; and that every soul +drain the cup of death is nature's need." The he repeated these +lines, + +"I die my death, but He alone is great who dieth not! * And well + I wot, soon shall I die, for death was made my lot: +A King there's not that dies and holds his kingdom in his hand, * + For Sovranty the Kingdom is of Him who dieth not." + +Then he continued, "O my son, I have no charge to leave thee save +that thou fear Allah and look to the issues of thine acts and +bear in mind my injunctions anent Anis al-Jalis." "O my father!" +said Nur al-Din, "who is like unto thee? Indeed thou art famed +for well doing and preachers offer prayers for thee in their +pulpits!" Quoth Al-Fazl, "O my son, I hope that Allah Almighty +may grant me acceptance!" Then he pronounced the Two +Testimonies,[FN#21] or Professions of the Faith, and was recorded +among the blessed. The palace was filled with crying and +lamentation and the news of his death reached the King, and the +city-people wept, even those at their prayers and women at +household cares and the school-children shed tears for Bin- +Khkn. Then his son Nur al-Din Ali arose and made ready his +funeral, and the Emirs and Wazirs and high Officers of State and +city-notables were present, amongst them the Wazir al-Mu'n bin +Sw. And as the bier went forth from the house some one in the +crowd of mourners began to chant these lines, + +"On the fifth day I quitted al my friends for evermore, * And + they laid me out and washed me on a slab without my + door:[FN#22] +They stripped me of the clothes I was ever wont to wear, * And + they clothed me in the clothes which till then I never wore. +On four men's necks they bore me and carried me from home * To + chapel; and some prayed for him on neck they bore: +They prayed for me a prayer that no prostration knows;[FN#23] * + They prayed for me who praised me and were my friends of + yore; +And they laid me in a house with a ceiling vaulted o'er, * And + Time shall be no more ere it ope to me its door." + +When they had shovelled in the dust over him and the crowd had +dispersed, Nur al-Din returned home and he lamented with sobs and +tears; and the tongue of the case repeated these couplets, + +"On the fifth day at even-tide they went away from me: * + farewelled them as faring they made farewell my lot: +But my spirit as they went, with them went and so I cried, * 'Ah + return ye!' but replied she, 'Alas! return is not +To a framework lere and lorn that lacketh blood and life, * A + frame whereof remaineth naught but bones that rattle and + rot: +Mine eyes are blind and cannot see quencht by the flowing tear! * + Mine ears are dull and lost to sense: they have no power to + hear!'" + +He abode a long time sorrowing for his father till, one day, as +he was sitting at home, there came a knocking at the door; so he +rose in haste and opening let in a man, one of his father's +intimates and who had been the Wazir's boon-companion. The +visitor kissed Nur al-Din's hand and said to him, "O my lord, he +who hath left the like of thee is not dead; and this way went +also the Chief of the Ancients and the Moderns. [FN#24] O my lord +Ali, be comforted and leave sorrowing." Thereupon Nur al-Din +rose and going to the guest-saloon transported thither all he +needed. Then he assembled his companions and took his handmaid +again; and, collecting round him ten of the sons of the +merchants, began to eat meat and drink wine, giving entertainment +after entertainment and lavishing his presents and his favours. +One day his Steward came to him and said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, +hast thou not heard the saying, Whoso spendeth and reckoneth not, +to poverty wendeth and recketh not?" And he repeated what the +poet wrote, + +"I look to my money and keep it with care, * For right well I wot + 'tis my buckler and brand: +Did I lavish my dirhams on hostilest foes,[FN#25] * I should + truck my good luck by mine ill luck trepanned: +So I'll eat it and drink it and joy in my wealth; * And no + spending my pennies on others I'll stand: +I will keep my purse close 'gainst whoever he be; * And a niggard + in grain a true friend ne'er I fand: +Far better deny him than come to say:--Lend, * And five-fold the + loan shall return to thy hand! +And he turns face aside and he sidles away, * While I stand like + a dog disappointed, unmanned, +Oh, the sorry lot his who hath yellow-boys none, * Though his + genius and virtues shine bright as the sun! + +O my master," continued the Steward, "this lavish outlay and +these magnificent gifts waste away wealth." When Nur al-Din Ali +heard these words he looked at his servant and cried, "Of all +thou hast spoken I will not heed one single word, for I have +heard the saying of the poet who saith, + +'An my palm be full of wealth and my wealth I ne'er bestow, * A + palsy take my hand and my foot ne'er rise again! +Show my niggard who by niggardise e'er rose to high degree, * Or + the generous gifts generally hath slain.'" + +And he pursued, "Know, O Steward, it is my desire that so long as +thou hast money enough for my breakfast, thou trouble me not with +taking thought about my supper." Thereupon the Steward asked, +"Must it be so?"; and he answered, "It must." So the honest man +went his way and Nur al-Din Ali devoted himself to extravagance; +and, if any of his cup-companions chanced to say, "This is a +pretty thing;" he would reply, "'Tis a gift to thee!"; or if +another said, "O my lord, such a house is handsome;" he would +answer, "Take it: it is thine!" After this reckless fashion he +continued to live for a whole year, giving his friends a banquet +in the morning and a banquet in the evening and a banquet at +midnight, till one day, as the company was sitting together, the +damsel Anis al-Jalis repeated these lines, + +"Thou deemedst well of Time when days went well, * And feardest + not what ills might deal thee Fate: +Thy nights so fair and restful cozened thee, * For peaceful + nights bring woes of heavy weight." + +When she had ended her verse behold, somebody knocked at the +door. So Nur al-Din rose to open it and one of his boon- +companions followed him without being perceived. At the door he +found his Steward and asked him, "What is the matter?"; and he +answered, "O my lord, what I dreaded for thee hath come to pass!" +"How so?" "Know that there remains not a dirham's worth, less or +more in my hands. Here are my Daftars and account books showing +both income and outlay and the registers of thine original +property." When Nur al-Din heard these words he bowed his head +and said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah!" When the man who had followed him privily to spy on him +heard the Steward's words, he returned to his friends and warned +them saying, "Look ye well to what ye do: Nur al-Din is +penniless;" and, as the young host came back to his guests, +vexation showed itself in his face. Thereupon one of the +intimates rose; and, looking at the entertainer, said to him, "O +my lord, may be thou wilt give me leave to retire?" "And why so +early retirement this day?"; asked he and the other answered him, +"My wife is in childbirth and I may not be absent from her: +indeed I must return and see how she does." So he gave him +leave, whereupon another rose and said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, I +wish now to go to my brother's for he circumciseth his son to- +day."[FN#26] In short each and every asked permission to retire +on some pretence or other, till all the ten were gone leaving Nur +al-Din alone. Then he called his slave-girl and said to her, "O +Anis al-Jalis, hast thou seen what case is mine?" And he related +to her what the Steward had told him. Then quoth she, "O my +lord, for many nights I had it in my mind to speak with thee of +this matter, but I heard thee repeating, + +'When the World heaps favours on thee, pass on * Thy favours to + friends ere her hand she stay: +Largesse never let her when fain she comes, * Nor niggardise kept + her from turning away!' + +When I heard these verses I held my peace and cared not to +exchange a word with thee." "O Anis al-Jalis," said Nur al-Din, +"thou knowest that I have not wasted my wealth save on my +friends, especially these ten who have now left me a pauper, and +I think they will not abandon and desert me without relief." "By +Allah," replied she, "they will not profit thee with aught of +aid." Said he, "I will rise at once and go to them and knock at +their doors; it may be I shall get from them somewhat wherewith I +may trade and leave pastime and pleasuring." So he rose without +stay or delay, and repaired to a street wherein all his ten +friends lived. He went up to the nearest door and knocked; +whereupon a handmaid came out and asked him, "Who art thou?"; and +he answered, "Tell thy master that Nur al-Din Ali standeth at the +door and saith to him, 'Thy slave kisseth thy hand and awaiteth +thy bounty.'" The girl went in and told her master, who cried at +her, "Go back and say, 'My master is not at home.'" So she +returned to Nur al-Din, and said to him, "O my lord, my master is +out." Thereupon he turned away and said to himself, "If this one +be a whoreson knave and deny himself, another may not prove +himself such knave and whoreson." Then he went up to the next +door and sent in a like message to the house-master, who denied +himself as the first had done, whereupon he began repeating, + +"He is gone who when to his gate thou go'st, * Fed thy famisht + maw with his boiled and roast." + +When he had ended his verse he said, "By Allah, there is no help +but that I make trial of them all: perchance there be one amongst +them who will stand me in the stead of all the rest." So he went +the round of the ten, but not one of them would open his door to +him or show himself or even break a bit of bread before him; +whereupon he recited, + +"Like a tree is he who in wealth doth wone, * And while fruits he + the folk to his fruit shall run: +But when bared the tree of what fruit it bare, * They leave it to + suffer from dust and sun. +Perdition to all of this age! I find * Ten rogues for every + righteous one." + +Then he returned to his slave-girl and his grief had grown more +grievous and she said to him, "O my lord, did I not tell thee, +none would profit thee with aught of aid?" And he replied, "By +Allah, not one of them would show me his face or know me!" "O my +lord," quoth she, "sell some of the moveables and household +stuff, such as pots and pans, little by little; and expend the +proceeds until Allah Almighty shall provide." So he sold all of +that was in the house till nothing remained when he turned to +Anis al-Jalis and asked her "What shall we do now?"; and she +answered, "O my lord, it is my advice that thou rise forthwith +and take me down to the bazar and sell me. Thou knowest that +they father bought me for ten thousand dinars: haply Allah may +open thee a way to get the same price, and if it be His will to +bring us once more together, we shall meet again." "O Anis al- +Jalis," cried he, "by Allah it is no light matter for me to be +parted from thee for a single hour!" "By Allah, O my lord," she +replied, "nor is it easy to me either, but Need hath its own law, +as the poet said, + +'Need drives a man into devious roads, * And pathways doubtful of + trend and scope: +No man to a rope[FN#27] will entrust his weight, * Save for cause + that calleth for case of rope.'" + +Thereupon he rose to his feet and took her,[FN#28] whilst the +tears rolled down his cheek like rain; and he recited with the +tongue of the case these lines, + +"Stay! grant one parting look before we part, * Nerving my heart + this severance to sustain: +But, an this parting deal thee pain and bane, * Leave me to die + of love and spare thee pain!" + +Then he went down with her to the bazar and delivered her to the +broker and said to him, "O Hajj Hasan,[FN#29] I pray thee note +the value of her thou hast to cry for sale." "O my lord Nur al- +Din," quoth the broker, "the fundamentals are remembered;"[FN#30] +adding, "Is not this the Anis al-Jalis whom thy father bought of +me for ten thousand dinars?" "Yes," said Nur al-Din. Thereupon +the broker went round to the merchants, but found that all had +not yet assembled. So he waited till the rest had arrived and +the market was crowded with slave-girls of all nations, Turks, +Franks and Circassians; Abyssinians, Nubians and Takruris;[FN#31] +Tartars, Georgians and others; when he came forward and standing +cried aloud, "O merchants! O men of money! every round thing is +not a walnut and every long thing a banana is not; all reds are +not meat nor all whites fat, nor is every brown thing a +date![FN#32] O merchants, I have here this union-pearl that hath +no price: at what sum shall I cry her?" "Cry her at four thousand +five hundred dinars," quoth one of the traders. The broker opened +the door of sale at the sum named and, as he was yet calling, lo! +the Wazir Al-Mu'n bin Sw passed through the bazar and, seeing +Nur al-Din Ali waiting at one side, said to himself, "Why is +Khkn's son[FN#33] standing about here? Hath this gallows-bird +aught remaining wherewith to buy slave-girls?" Then he looked +round and, seeing the broker calling out in the market with all +the merchants around him, said to himself, "I am sure that he is +penniless and hath brought hither the damsel Anis al-Jalis for +sale;" adding, "O how cooling and grateful is this to my heart!" +Then he called the crier, who came up and kissed the ground +before him; and he said to him, "I want this slave-girl whom thou +art calling for sale." The broker dared not cross him, so he +answered, "O my lord, Bismillah! in Allah's name so be it;" and +led forward the damsel and showed her to him. She pleased him +much whereat he asked, "O Hasan, what is bidden for this girl?" +and he answered, "Four thousand five hundred dinars to open the +door of sale." Quoth Al-Mu'n, "Four thousand five hundred is MY +bid." When the merchants heard this, they held back and dared +not bid another dirham, wotting what they did of the Wazir's +tyranny, violence and treachery. So Al-Mu'n looked at the broker +and said to him, "Why stand still? Go and offer four thousand +dinars for me and the five hundred shall be for thyself." +Thereupon the broker went to Nur al-Din and said, "O my lord, thy +slave is going for nothing!" "And how so?" asked he. The broker +answered, "We had opened the biddings for her at four thousand +five hundred dinars; when that tyrant, Al-Mu'n bin Sw, passed +through the bazar and, as he saw the damsel she pleased him, so +he cried to me, 'Call me the buyer at four thousand dinars and +thou shalt have five hundred for thyself.' I doubt not but that +he knoweth that the damsel if thine, and if he would pay thee +down her price at once it were well; but I know his injustice and +violence; he will give thee a written order upon some of his +agents and will send after thee to say to them, 'Pay him +nothing.' So as often as though shalt go in quest of the coin +they will say, 'We'll pay thee presently!' and they will put thee +off day after day, and thou art proud of spirit; till at last, +when they are wearied with thine importunity, they will say, +'Show us the cheque.' Then, as soon as they have got hold of it +they will tear it up and so thou wilt lose the girl's price." +When Nur al-Din heard this he looked at the broker and asked him, +"How shall this matter be managed?"; and he answered, "I will +give thee a counsel which, if thou follow, it shall bring thee +complete satisfaction." "And what is that?" quoth Nur al-Din. +Quoth the broker, "Come thou to me anon when I am standing in the +middle of the market and, taking the girl from my hand, give her +a sound cuffing and say to her, 'Thou baggage, I have kept my vow +and brought thee down to the slave-market, because I swore an +oath that I would carry thee from home to the bazar, and make +brokers cry thee for sale.' If thou do this, perhaps the device +will impose upon the Wazir and the people, and they will believe +that thou broughtest her not to the bazar, but for the quittance +of thine oath." He replied, "Such were the best way." Then the +broker left him and, returning into the midst of the market, took +the damsel by the hand, and signed to the Wazir and said, "O my +lord, here is her owner." With this up came Nur al-Din Ali and, +snatching the girl from the broker's hand, cuffed her soundly and +said to her, "Shame on thee, O thou baggage! I have brought thee +to the bazar for quittance of mine oath; now get thee home and +thwart me no more as is thy wont. Woe to thee! do I need thy +price, that I should sell thee? The furniture of my house would +fetch thy value many times over!" When Al-Mu'n saw this he said +to Nur al-Din, "Out on thee! Hast thou anything left for selling +or buying?" And he would have laid violent hands upon him, but +the merchants interposed (for they all loved Nur al-Din), and the +young man said to them, "Here am I in your hands and ye all know +his tyranny." "By Allah," cried the Wazir, "but for you I had +slain him!" Then all signed with significant eyes to Nur al-Din +as much as to say, "Take thy wreak of him; not one of us will +come between thee and him." Thereupon Nur al-Din, who was stout +of heart as he was stalwart of limb, went up to the Wazir and, +dragging him over the pommel of his saddle, threw him to the +ground. Now there was in that place a puddling- pit for brick- +clay,[FN#34] into the midst of which he fell, and Nur al-Din kept +pummelling and fisti-cuffing him, and one of the blows fell full +on his teeth, and his beard was dyed with his blood. Also there +were with the minister ten armed slaves who, seeing their master +entreated after this fashion, laid hand on sword-hilt and would +have bared blades and fallen on Nur al-Din to cut him down; but +the merchants and bystanders said to them, "This is a Wazir and +that is the son of a Wazir; haply they will make friends some +time or other, in which case you will forfeit the favour of both. +Or perchance a blow may befal your lord, and you will all die the +vilest of deaths; so it were better for you not to interfere." +Accordingly they held aloof and, when Nur al-Din had made an end +of thrashing the Wazir, he took his handmaid and fared homewards. +Al-Mu'n also went his ways at once, with his raiment dyed of +three colours, black with mud, red with blood and ash coloured +with brick-clay. When he saw himself in this state, he bound a +bit of matting[FN#35] round his neck and, taking in hand two +bundles of coarse Halfah-grass,[FN#36] went up to the palace and +standing under the Sultan's windows cried aloud, "O King of the +age, I am a wronged man! I am foully wronged!" So they brought +him before the King who looked at him; and behold, it was the +chief Minister; whereupon he said, "O Wazir who did this deed by +thee?" Al-Mu'n wept and sobbed and repeated these lines, + +"Shall the World oppress me when thou art in't? * In the lion's + presence shall wolves devour? +Shall the dry all drink of thy tanks and I * Under rain-cloud + thirst for the cooling shower?" + +"O my lord," cried he, "the like will befal every one who loveth +and serveth thee well." "Be quick with thee," quoth the Sultan, +"and tell me how this came to pass and who did this deed by one +whose honour is part of my honour." Quoth the Wazir, "Know, O my +lord, that I went out this day to the slave-market to buy me a +cookmaid, when I saw there a damsel, never in my life long saw I +a fairer; and I designed to buy her for our lord the Sultan; so I +asked the broker of her and of her owner, and he answered, "She +belongeth to Ali son of Al-Fazl bin Khkn. Some time ago our +lord the Sultan gave his father ten thousand dinars wherewith to +buy him a handsome slave-girl, and he bought this maiden who +pleased him; so he grudged her to our lord the Sultan and gave +her to his own son. When the father died, the son sold all he had +of houses and gardens and household gear, and squandered the +price till he was penniless. Then he brought the girl to the +market that he might sell her, and he handed her over to the +broker to cry and the merchants bid higher and higher on her, +until the price reached four thousand dinars; whereupon quoth I +to myself, 'I will buy this damsel for our lord the Sultan, whose +money was paid for her.' So I said to Nur al-Din, 'O my son, +sell her to me for four thousand dinars.' When he heard my words +he looked at me and cried, 'O ill-omened oldster, I will sell her +to a Jew or to a Nazarene, but I will not sell her to thee!' 'I +do not buy her for myself,' said I, 'I buy her for our lord and +benefactor the Sultan.' Hearing my words he was filled with +rage; and, dragging me off my horse (and I a very old man), beat +me unmercifully with his fists and buffeted me with his palms +till he left me as thou seest, and all this hath befallen me only +because I thought to buy this damsel for thee!" Then the Wazir +threw himself on the ground and lay there weeping and shivering. +When the Sultan saw his condition and heard his story, the vein +of rage started out between his eyes[FN#37] and he turned to his +body-guard who stood before him, forty white slaves, smiters with +the sword, and said to them, "Go down forthright to the house +built by the son of Khkn and sack it and raze it and bring to +me his son Nur al-Din with the damsel; and drag them both on +their faces with their arms pinioned behind them." They replied, +"To hear is to obey;" and, arming themselves, they set out for +the house of Nur al-Din Ali. Now about the Sultan was a +Chamerlain, Alam[FN#38] al-Din Sanjar hight, who had aforetime +been Mameluke to Al-Fazl; but he had risen in the world and the +Sultan had advanced him to be one of his Chamberlains. When he +heard the King's command and saw the enemies make them ready to +slay his old master's son, it was grievous to him: so he went out +from before the Sultan and, mounting his beast, rode to Nur al- +Din's house and knocked at the door. Nur al-Din came out and +knowing him would have saluted him: but he said, "O my master +this is no time for greeting or treating. Listen to what the +poet said, + + 'Fly, fly with thy life if by ill overtaken! + Let thy house speak thy death by its builder forsaken! + For a land else than this land thou may'st reach, my brother, + But thy life tho'lt ne'er find in this world another.'"[FN#39] + +"O Alam al-Din what cheer?" asked Nur al-Din, and he answered, +"Rise quickly and fly for thy life, thou and the damsel; for Al- +Mu'n hath set a snare for you both; and, if you fall into his +hands, he will slay you. The Sultan hath despatched forty +sworders against you and I counsel you to flee ere harm can hurt +you." Then Sanjar put his hand to his purse and finding there +forty gold pieces took them and gave them to Nur al-Din, saying, +"O my lord receive these and journey with them. Had I more I +would give them to thee, but this is not the time to take +exception." Thereupon Nur al-Din went in to the damsel and told +her what had happened, at which she wrung her hands. Then they +fared forth at once from the city, and Allah spread over them His +veil of protection, so that they reached the river-bank where +they found a vessel ready for sea. Her skipper was standing +amidships and crying, "Whoso hath aught to do, whether in the way +of provisioning or taking leave of his people; or whoso hath +forgotten any needful thing, let him do it at once and return, +for we are about to sail"; and all of them saying, "There is +naught left to be done by us, O captain!", he cried to his crew, +"Hallo there! cast off the cable and pull up the mooring- +pole!"[FN#40] Quoth Nur al-Din, "Whither bound, O captain?" and +quoth he, "To the House of Peace, Baghdad,"-And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Thirty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +skipper answered, "To the House of Peace, Baghdad," Nur al-Din +Ali and the damsel went on board, and they launched the craft and +shook out the sails, and the ship sped forth as though she were a +bird on wing; even as said one of them and said right well, + +"Watch some tall ship, she'll joy the sight of thee, * The breeze + outstripping in her haste to flee; +As when a bird, with widely-spreading wings, * Leaveth the sky to + settle on the sea." + +So the vessel sailed on her fastest and the wind to her was +fairest. Thus far concerning them; but as regards the Mamelukes, +they went to Nur al-Din's mansion and, breaking open the doors, +entered and searched the whole place, but could find no trace of +him and the damsel; so they demolished the house and, returning +to the Sultan, reported their proceedings; whereupon quoth he, +"Make search for them both, wherever they may be;" and they +answered, "Hearing is obeying." The Wazir Al-Mu'n had also gone +home after the Sultan had bestowed upon him a robe of honour, and +had set his heart at rest by saying, "None shall take blood-wreak +for thee save I;" and he had blessed the King and prayed for his +long life and prosperity. Then the Sultan bade proclaim about +the city, "Oyez, O ye lieges one and all! It is the will of our +lord the Sultan that whoso happeneth on Nur al-Din Ali son of Al- +Fazl bin Khkn, and bringeth him to the Sultan, shall receive a +robe of honour and one thousand gold pieces; and he who hideth +him or knoweth his abiding place and informeth not, deserveth +whatsoever pains and penalties shall befal him." So all began to +search for Nur al-Din Ali, but they could find neither trace nor +tidings of him. Meanwhile he and his handmaid sailed on with the +wind right aft, till they arrived in safety at Baghdad, and the +captain said to them, "This is Baghdad and 'tis the city where +security is to be had: Winter with his frosts hath turned away +and Prime hath come his roses to display; and the flowers are a- +glowing and the trees are blowing and the streams are flowing." +So Nur al-Din landed, he and his handmaid and, giving the captain +five dinars, walked on a little way till the decrees of Destiny +brought them among the gardens, and they came to a place swept +and sprinkled, with benches along the walls and hanging jars +filled with water.[FN#41] Overhead was a trellis of reed-work +and canes shading the whole length of the avenue, and at the +upper end was a garden gate, but this was locked. "By Allah," +quoth Nur al-Din to the damsel, "right pleasant is this place!"; +and she replied, "O my lord sit with me a while on this bench and +let us take our ease." So they mounted and sat them down on the +bench, after which they washed their faces and hands; and the +breeze blew cool on them and they fell asleep and glory be to Him +who never sleepeth! Not this garden was named the Garden of +Gladness[FN#42] and therein stood a belvedere hight the Palace of +Pleasure and the Pavilion of Pictures, the whole belonging to the +Caliph Harun al-Rashid who was wont, when his breast was +straitened with care, to frequent garden and palace and there to +sit. The palace had eighty latticed windows and fourscore lamps +hanging round a great candelabrum of gold furnished with wax- +candles; and, when the Caliph used to enter, he would order the +handmaids to throw open the lattices and light up the rooms; and +he would bid Ishak bin Ibrahim the cup-companion and the slave- +girls to sing till his breast was broadened and his ailments were +allayed. Now the keeper of the garden, Shaykh Ibrahim, was a +very old man, and he had found from time to time, when he went +out on any business, people pleasuring about the garden gate with +their bona robas; at which he was angered with exceeding +anger.[FN#43] But he took patience till one day when the Caliph +came to his garden; and he complained of this to Harun al-Rashid +who said, "Whomsoever thou surprisest about the door of the +garden, deal with him as thou wilt." Now on this day the +Gardener chanced to be abroad on some occasion and returning +found these two sleeping at the gate covered with a single +mantilla; whereupon said he, "By Allah, good! These twain know +not that the Caliph hath given me leave to slay anyone I may +catch at the door; but I will give this couple a shrewd whipping, +that none may come near the gate in future." So he cut a green +palm-frond[FN#44] and went up to them and, raising his arm till +the white of his arm-pit appeared, was about to strike them, when +he bethought himself and said, "O Ibrahim, wilt thou beat them +unknowing their case? Haply they are strangers or of the Sons of +the Road,[FN#45] and the decrees of Destiny have thrown them +here. I will uncover their faces and look at them." So he +lifted up the mantilla from their heads and said, "They are a +handsome couple; it were not fitting that I should beat them." +Then he covered their faces again and, going to Nur al-Din's +feet, began to rub and shampoo them,[FN#46] whereupon the youth +opened his eyes and, seeing an old man of grave and reverend +aspect rubbing his feet, he was ashamed and drawing them in, sat +up. Then he took Shaykh Ibrahim's hand and kissed it. Quoth the +old man, "O my son, whence art thou?"; and quoth he, "O my lord, +we two are strangers," and the tears started from his eyes. "O +my son," said Shaykh Ibrahim, "know that the Prophet (whom Allah +bless and preserve!) hath enjoined honour to the stranger;" and +added, "Wilt not thou arise, O my son, and pass into the garden +and solace thyself by looking at it and gladden thy heart?" "O +my lord," said Nur al-Din, "to whom doth this garden belong?;" +and the other replied, "O my son, I have inherited it from my +folk." Now his object in saying this was to set them at their +ease and induce them to enter the garden. So Nur al-Din thanked +him and rose, he and the damsel, and followed him into the +garden; and lo! it was a garden, and what a garden! The gate was +arched like a great hall and over walls and roof ramped vines +with grapes of many colours; the red like rubies and the black +like ebonies; and beyond it lay a bower of trelliced boughs +growing fruits single and composite, and small birds on branches +sang with melodious recite, and the thousand-noted nightingale +shrilled with her varied shright; the turtle with her cooing +filled the site; the blackbird whistled like human wight[FN#47] +and the ring-dove moaned like a drinker in grievous plight. The +trees grew in perfection all edible growths and fruited all +manner fruits which in pairs were bipartite; with the camphor- +apricot, the almond-apricot and the apricot "Khorasani" hight; +the plum, like the face of beauty, smooth and bright; the cherry +that makes teeth shine clear by her sleight, and the fig of three +colours, green, purple and white. There also blossomed the +violet as it were sulphur on fire by night; the orange with buds +like pink coral and marguerite; the rose whose redness gars the +loveliest cheeks blush with despight; and myrtle and gilliflower +and lavender with the blood-red anemone from Nu'uman hight. The +leaves were all gemmed with tears the clouds had dight; the +chamomile smiled showing teeth that bite, and Narcissus with his +negro[FN#48] eyes fixed on Rose his sight; the citrons shone with +fruits embowled and the lemons like balls of gold; earth was +carpeted with flowers tinctured infinite; for Spring was come +brightening the place with joy and delight; and the streams ran +ringing, to the birds' gay singing, while the rustling breeze +upspringing attempered the air to temperance exquisite. Shaykh +Ibrahim carried them up into the pavilion, and they gazed on its +beauty, and on the lamps aforementioned in the latticed windows; +and Nur al-Din, remembering his entertainments of time past, +cried, "By Allah, this is a pleasant place; it hath quenched in +me anguish which burned as a fire of Ghaza-wood.[FN#49]" Then +they sat down and Shaykh Ibrahim set food before them; and they +ate till they were satisfied and washed their hands: after which +Nur al-Din went up to one of the latticed windows, and, calling +to his handmaid fell to gazing on the trees laden with all manner +fruits. Presently he turned to the Gardener and said to him, "O +Shaykh Ibrahim hast thou no drink here, for folk are wont to +drink after eating?" The Shaykh brought him sweet water, cool +and pleasant, but he said, "This is not the kind of drink I +wanted." "Perchance thou wishest for wine?" "Indeed I do, O +Shaykh!" "I seek refuge from it with Allah: it is thirteen years +since I did this thing, for the Prophet (Abhak[FN#50]) cursed its +drinker, presser, seller and carrier!" "Hear two words of me." +"Say on." "If yon cursed ass[FN#51] which standeth there be +cursed, will aught of his curse alight upon thee?" "By no means!" +"Then take this dinar and these two dirhams and mount yonder ass +and, halting afar from the wine-shop, call the first man thou +seest buying liquor and say to him, 'Take these two dirhams for +thyself, and with this dinar buy me some wine and set it on the +ass.' So shalt thou be neither the presser, nor the buyer, nor +the carrier; and no part of the curse will fall upon thee." At +this Shaykh Ibrahim laughed and said, "By Allah, O my son, I +never saw one wilier of wit than thou art, nor heard aught +sweeter than thy speech." So he did as he was bidden by Nur al- +Din who thanked him and said, "We two are now dependent on thee, +and it is only meet that thou comply with our wishes; so bring us +here what we require." "O my son," replied he, "this is my +buttery before thee" (and it was the store-room provided for the +Commander of the Faithful); "so go in, and take whatso thou wilt, +for there is over and above what thou wantest." Nur al-Din then +entered the pantry and found therein vessels of gold and silver +and crystal set with all kinds of gems, and was amazed and +delighted with what he saw. Then he took out what he needed and +set it on and poured the wine into flagons and glass ewers, +whilst Shaykh Ibrahim brought them fruit and flowers and aromatic +herbs. Then the old man withdrew and sat down at a distance from +them, whilst they drank and made merry, till the wine got the +better of them, so that their cheeks reddened and their eyes +wantoned like the gazelle's; and their locks became dishevelled +and their brightness became yet more beautiful. Then said Shaykh +Ibrahim to himself, "What aileth me to sit apart from them? Why +should I not sit with them? When shall I ever find myself in +company with the like of these two that favour two moons?" So he +stepped forward and sat down on the edge of the dais, and Nur al- +Din said to him, "O my lord, my life on thee, come nearer to us!" +He came and sat by them, when Nur al-Din filled a cup and looked +towards the Shaykh and said to him, "Drink, that thou mayest try +the taste of it!" "I take refuge from it with Allah!" replied he; +"for thirteen years I have not done a thing of the kind." Nur +al-Din feigned to forget he was there and, drinking off the cup, +threw himself on the ground as if the drink had overcome him; +whereupon Anis al-Jalis glanced at him and said, "O Shaykh +Ibrahim see how this husband of mine treateth me;" and he +answered, "O my lady, what aileth him?" "This is how he always +serveth me," cried she, "he drinketh awhile, then falleth asleep +and leaveth me alone with none to bear me company over my cup nor +any to whom I may sing when the bowl goeth round." Quoth the +Shaykh (and his mien unstiffened for that his soul inclined +towards her), "By Allah, this is not well!" Then she crowned a +cup and looking towards him said, "By my life thou must take and +drink it, and not refuse to heal my sick heart!" So he put forth +his hand and took it and drank it off and she filled a second and +set it on the chandelier and said, "O master mine, there is still +this one left for thee." "By Allah, I cannot drink it;" cried +he, "what I have already drunk is enough for me;" but she +rejoined, "By Allah, there is no help for it." So he took the +cup and drank; and she filled him a third which he took and was +about to drink when behold, Nur al-Din rolled round and sat +upright,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Thirty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din +sat upright and said, "Ho, Shaykh Ibrahim, what is this? Did I +not adjure thee a while ago and thou refusedst, saying, 'What I! +'tis thirteen years ago since I have done such a thing!'" "By +Allah," quoth the Shaykh (and indeed he was abashed), "no sin of +mine this, she forced me to do it." Nur al-Din laughed and they +sat down again to wine and wassail, but the damsel turned to her +master and said in a whisper, "O my lord, drink and do not press +him, that I may show thee some sport with him." Then she began +to fill her master's cup and he hers and so they did time after +time, till at last Shaykh Ibrahim looked at them and said, "What +fashion of good fellowship is this? Allah curse the glutton who +keepeth the cup to himself! Why dost thou not give me to drink, +O my brother? What manners are these, O blessed one?" At this +the two laughed until they fell on their backs; then they drank +and gave him to drink and ceased not their carousal till a third +part of the night was past. Then said the damsel, "O Shaykh +Ibrahim, with thy leave I will get up and light one of these +candles." "Do so," he replied, "but light no more than one." So +she sprang to her feet and, beginning with one candle, lighted +all the eighty and sat down again. Presently Nur al-Din said, "O +Shaykh Ibrahim, in what favour am I with thee? May I not light +one of these lamps?" "Light one," replied he, "and bother me no +more in thy turn!" So he rose and lighted one lamp after +another, till he had lighted the whole eight and the palace +seemed to dance with brilliancy. Quoth the Shaykh (and indeed +intoxication had overcome him), "Ye two are bolder than I am." +Then he rose to his feet and opened all the lattices and sat down +again; and they fell to carousing and reciting verses till the +place rang with their noisy mirth. Now Allah, the Decreer who +decreeth all things and who for every effect appointeth a cause, +had so disposed that the Caliph was at that moment sitting in the +light of the moon at one of the windows of his palace overlooking +the Tigris. He saw the blaze of the lamps and wax candles +reflected in the river and, lifting his eyes, perceived that it +came from the Garden Palace which was all ablaze with brilliancy. +So he cried, "Here to me with Ja'afar the Barmaki!"; and the last +word was hardly spoken ere the Wazir was present before the +Commander of the Faithful, who cried at him, "O dog of a +Minister, hast thou taken from me this city of Baghdad without +saying aught to me?" "What words are these words?" asked +Ja'afar; and the Caliph answered, "If Baghdad city were not taken +from me, the Palace of Pictures would not be illuminated with +lamps and candles, nor would its windows be thrown open. Woe to +thee! who durst do a deed like this except the Caliphate had been +taken from me?" Quoth Ja'afar (and indeed his side-muscles +trembled as he spoke), "Who told thee that the Palace of Pictures +was illuminated and the windows thrown open?" "Come hither and +see," replied the Caliph. Then Ja'afar came close to the Caliph +and, looking towards the garden, saw the palace blazing with +illumination that rayed through the gloom of the night; and, +thinking that this might have been permitted by the keeper for +some reason of his own, he wished to make an excuse for him; so +quoth he, "O Commander of the Faithful, Shaykh Ibrahim said to me +last week, 'O my lord Ja'afar, I much wish to circumcise my sons +during the life of the Commander of the Faithful and thy life.' +I asked, 'What dost thou want?'; and he answered, 'Get me leave +from the Caliph to hold the festival in the Garden Palace.' So +said I to him, 'Go circumcise them and I will see the Caliph and +tell him.' Thereupon he went away and I forgot to let thee +know." "O Ja'afar," said the Caliph, "thou hast committed two +offences against me; first in that thou didst no report to me, +secondly, thou didst not give him what he sought; for he came and +told thee this only as excuse to ask for some small matter of +money, to help him with the outlay; and thou gavest him nothing +nor toldest me." "O Commander of the Faithful," said Ja'afar, "I +forgot." "Now by the rights of my forefathers and the tombs of +my forbears," quoth the Caliph, "I will not pass the rest of this +night save in company with him; for truly he is a pious man who +frequenteth the Elders of the Faith and the Fakirs and other +religious mendicants and entertaineth them; doubtless they are +not assembled together and it may be that the prayer of one of +them will work us weal both in this world and in the next. +Besides, my presence may profit and at any rate be pleasing to +Shaykh Ibrahim." "O Commander of the Faithful," quoth Ja'afar, +"the greater part of the night is passed, and at this time they +will be breaking up." Quoth the Caliph, "It matters not: I needs +must go to them." So Ja'afar held his peace, being bewildered +and knowing not what to do. Then the Caliph rose to his feet +and, taking with him Ja'afar and Masrur the eunuch sworder, the +three disguised themselves in merchants' gear and leaving the +City-palace, kept threading the streets till they reached the +garden. The Caliph went up to the gate and finding it wide open, +was surprised and said, "See, O Ja'afar, how Shaykh Ibrahim hath +left the gate open at this hour contrary to his custom!" They +went in and walked on till they came under the pavilion, when the +Caliph said, "O Ja'afar, I wish to look in upon them unawares +before I show myself, that I may see what they are about and get +sight of the elders; for hitherto I have heard no sound from +them, nor even a Fakir calling upon the name of Allah.[FN#52]" +Then he looked about and, seeing a tall walnut-tree, said to +Ja'afar, "I will climb this tree, for its branches are near the +lattices and so look in upon them." Thereupon he mounted the +tree and ceased not climbing from branch to branch, till he +reached a bough which was right opposite one of the windows, and +here he took seat and looked inside the palace. He saw a damsel +and a youth as they were two moons (glory be to Him who created +them and fashioned them!), and by them Shaykh Ibrahim seated cup +in hand and saying, "O Princess of fair ones, drinking without +music is nothing worth; indeed I have heard a poet say, + +'Round with bit and little, the bowl and cup, * Take either than + moon[FN#53] in his sheen hath crowned: +Nor drink without music, for oft I've seen, * The horse drink + best to the whistle's sound!'" + +When the Caliph saw this, the vein of wrath started up between +his eyes and he came down and said to the Wazir, "O Ja'afar, +never beheld I yet men of piety in such case; so do thou mount +this tree and look upon them, lest the blessings of the blest be +lost to thee." Ja'afar, hearing the words of the Commander of +the Faithful and being confounded by them, climbed to the tree- +top and looking in, saw Nur al-Din and the damsel, and Shaykh +Ibrahim holding in his hand a brimming bowl. At this sight he +made sure of death and, descending, stood before the Commander of +the Faithful, who said to him, "O Ja'afar, praise be to Allah who +hath made us of those that observe external ordinances of Holy +Law and hath averted from us the sin of disguising ourselves +after the manner of hypocrites!"[FN#54] But Ja'afar could not +speak a word for excess of confusion; so the Caliph looked at him +and said, "I wonder how they came hither, and who admitted them +into my pavilion! But aught like the beauty of this youth and +this damsel my eyes never yet saw!" "Thou sayest sooth, O our +Lord the Sultan!" replied Ja'afar (and he hoped to propitiate the +Caliph Harun al-Rashid). Then quoth the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, let +us both mount the branch opposite the window, that we may amuse +ourselves with looking at them." So the two climbed the tree +and, peering in, heard Shaykh Ibrahim say, "O my lady, I have +cast away all gravity mine by the drinking of wine, but 'tis not +sweet save with the soft sounds of the lute-strings it combine." +"By Allah," replied Anis al-Jalis, "O Shaykh Ibrahim, an we had +but some instrument of music our joyance were complete." Hearing +this he rose to his feet and the Caliph said to Ja'afar, "I +wonder what he is about to do!" and Ja'afar answered, "I know +not." The Shaykh disappeared and presently reappeared bringing a +lute; and the Caliph took not of it and knew it for that of Abu +Ishak the Cup-companion.[FN#55] "By Allah," said the Caliph, "if +this damsel sing ill I will crucify all of you; but if she sing +well I will forgive them and only gibbet thee." "O Allah cause +her to sing vilely!" quoth Ja'afar. Asked the Caliph, "Why so?"; +and he answered, "If thou crucify us all together, we shall keep +one another company." The Caliph laughed at his speech. +Presently the damsel took the lute and, after looking at it and +tuning it, she played a measure which made all hearts yearn to +her; then she sang these lines, + +"O ye that can aid me, a wretched lover, * Whom longing burns nor + can rest restore me! +Though all you have done I have well deserved, * I take refuge + with you, so exult not o'er me: +True, I am weak and low and vile, * But I'll bear your will and + whatso you bore me: +My death at your hands what brings it of glory? * I fear but your + sin which of life forlore me!" + +Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, good! O Ja'afar, never in my life +have I heard a voice so enchanting as this." "Then haply the +Caliph's wrath hath passed away," said Ja'afar, and he replied, +"Yes, 'tis gone." Thereupon they descended from the tree, and +the Caliph said to Ja'afar, "I wish to go in and sit with them +and hear the damsel sing before me." "O Commander of the +Faithful," replied Ja'afar, "if thou go in to them they will be +terribly troubled, and Shaykh Ibrahim will assuredly die of +fright." But the Caliph answered, "O Ja'afar, thou must teach me +some device wherewith to delude them and whereby I can foregather +with them without their knowing me." So they walked towards the +Tigris pondering the matter, and presently came upon a fisherman +who stood fishing under the pavilion windows. Now some time +before this, the Caliph (being in the pavilion) had called to +Shaykh Ibrahim and asked him, "What noise is this I hear under +the windows?" and he had answered, "It is voices of fisher folk +catching fish:" so quoth the Caliph, "Go down and forbid them +this place;" and he forbade them accordingly. However that night +a fisherman named Karim, happening to pass by and seeing the +garden gate open, said to himself, "This is a time of negligence; +and I will take advantage of it to do a bit of fishing." So he +took his net and cast it, but he had hardly done so when behold, +the Caliph come up single-handed and, standing hard by, knew him +and called aloud to him, "Ho, Karim!" The fisherman, hearing +himself named, turned round, and seeing the Caliph, trembled and +his side-muscles quivered, as he cried, "By Allah, O Commander of +the Faithful, I did it not in mockery of the mandate; but poverty +and a large family drove me to what thou seest!" Quoth the +Caliph, "Make a cast in my name." At this the fisherman was glad +and going to the bank threw his net, then waiting till it had +spread out at full stretch and settled down, hauled it up and +found in it various kinds of fish. The Caliph was pleased and +said, "O Karim, doff thy habit." So he put off a gaberdine of +coarse woollen stuff patched in an hundred places whereon the +lice were rampant, and a turband which had never been untwisted +for three years but to which he had sown every rag he came upon. +The Caliph also pulled off his person two vests of Alexandrian +and Ba'lbak silk, a loose inner robe and a long-sleeved outer +coat, and said to the fisherman, "Take them and put them on," +while he assumed the foul gaberdine and filthy turband and drew a +corner of the head-cloth as a mouth-veil[FN#56] before his face. +Then said he to the fisherman, "Get thee about thy business!; and +the man kissed the Caliph's feet and thanked him and improvised +the following couplets, + +"Thou hast granted more favours than ever I craved; * Thou hast + satisfied needs which my heart enslaved: +I will thank thee and thank whileas life shall last, * And my + bones will praise thee in grave engraved!" + +Hardly had the fisherman ended his verse, when the lice began to +crawl over the Caliph's skin, and he fell to catching them on his +neck with his right and left and throwing them from him, while he +cried, "O fisherman, woe to thee! what be this abundance of lice +on thy gaberdine." "O my lord," replied he, "they may annoy thee +just at first, but before a week is past thou wilt not feel them +nor think of them." The Caliph laughed and said to him, "Out on +thee! Shall I leave this gaberdine of thine so long on my body?" +Quoth the fisherman, "I would say a word to thee but I am ashamed +in presence of the Caliph!"; and quoth he, "Say what thou hast to +say." "It passed through my thought, O Commander of the +Faithful," said the fisherman, "that, since thou wishest to learn +fishing so thou mayest have in hand an honest trade whereby to +gain thy livelihood, this my gaberdine besitteth thee right +well."[FN#57] The Commander of the Faithful laughed at this +speech, and the fisherman went his way. Then the Caliph took up +the basket of fish and, strewing a little green grass over it, +carried it to Ja'afar and stood before him. Ja'afar thinking him +to be Karim the fisherman feared for him and said, "O Karim, what +brought thee hither? Flee for thy life, for the Caliph is in the +garden to-night and, if he see thee, thy neck is gone." At this +the Caliph laughed and Ja'afar recognized him and asked, "Can it +be thou, our lord the Sultan?"; and he answered, "Yes, O Ja'afar, +and thou art my Wazir and I and thou came hither together; yet +thou knowest me not; so how should Shaykh Ibrahim know me, and he +drunk? Stay here, till I came back to thee." "To hear is to +obey," said Ja'afar. Then the Caliph went up to the door of the +pavilion and knocked a gentle knock, whereupon said Nur al-Din," +O Shaykh Ibrahim, some one taps at the door." "Who goes there?" +cried the Shaykh and the Caliph replied, "It is I, O Shaykh +Ibrahim!" "Who art thou," quoth he, and quoth the other, "I am +Karim the fisherman: I hear thou hast a feast, so I have brought +thee some fish, and of a truth 'tis good fish." When Nur al-Din +heard the mention of fish, he was glad, he and the damsel, and +they both said to the Shaykh, "O our lord, open the door and let +him bring us his fish." So Shaykh Ibrahim opened and the Caliph +came in (and he in fisherman guise), and began by saluting them. +Said Shaykh Ibrahim, "Welcome to the blackguard, the robber, the +dicer! Let us see thy fish." So the Caliph showed them his +catch and behold, the fishes were still alive and jumping, +whereupon the damsel exclaimed, "By Allah! O my lord, these are +indeed fine fish: would they were fried!" and Shaykh Ibrahim +rejoined, "By Allah, O my lady, thou art right." Then said he to +the Caliph, "O fisherman, why didst thou not bring us the fish +ready fried? Up now and cook them and bring them back to us." +"On my head be thy commands!" said the Caliph, "I will fry thee a +dish and bring it." Said they, "Look sharp." Thereupon he went +and ran till he came up to Ja'afar when he called to him, "Hallo, +Ja'afar!"; and he replied, "Here am I, O Commander of the +Faithful, is all well?" "They want the fish fried," said the +Caliph, and Ja'afar answered, "O Commander of the Faithful, give +it to me and I'll fry it for them." "By the tombs of my +forbears," quoth the Caliph, "none shall fry it but I, with mine +own hand!" So he went to the gardener's hut, where he searched +and found all that he required, even to salt and saffron and wild +marjoram and else besides. Then he turned to the brasier and, +setting on the frying-pan, fried a right good fry. When it was +done, he laid it on a banana-leaf, and gathering from the garden +wind-fallen fruits, limes and lemons, carried the fish to the +pavilion and set the dish before them. So the youth and the +damsel and Shaykh Ibrahim came forward and ate; after which they +washed their hands and Nur al-Din said to the Caliph, "By Allah, +O fisherman, thou hast done us a right good deed this night." +Then he put hand in pouch and, taking out three of the dinars +which Sanjar had given him, said, "O fisherman, excuse me. By +Allah had I known thee before that which hath lately befallen me, +I had done away the bitterness of poverty from thy heart; but +take thou this as the best I can do for thee." Then he threw the +gold pieces to the Caliph, who took them and kissed them and put +them in pouch. Now his sole object in doing all this was to hear +the damsel sing; so he said to Nur al-Din, "Thou hast rewarded me +most liberally, but I beg of thy boundless bounty that thou let +this damsel sing an air, that I may hear her."[FN#58] So Nur al- +Din said, "O Anis al-Jalis!" and she answered "Yes!" and he +continued, "By my life, sing us something for the sake of this +fisherman who wisheth so much to hear thee." Thereupon she took +the lute and struck the strings, after she had screwed them tight +and tuned them, and sang these improvised verses, + +"The fawn of a maid hent her lute in hand * And her music made us + right mettlesome: +For her song gave hearing to ears stone-deaf, * While Brava! + Brava! exclaimed the dumb." + +Then she played again and played so ravishingly, that she charmed +their wits and burst out improvising and singing these couplets, + +"You have honoured us visiting this our land, * And your + splendour illumined the glooms that blent: +So 'tis due that for you I perfume my place * With rose-water, + musk and the camphor-scent!" + +Hereupon the Caliph was agitated, and emotion so overpowered him +that he could not command himself for excess of pleasure, and he +exclaimed, "By Allah, good! by Allah, good! by Allah, +good!"[FN#59] Asked Nur al-Din, "O fisherman, doth this damsel +please thee?" and the Caliph answered, "Ay, by Allah!" Whereupon +said Nur al-Din, "She is a gift to thee, a gift of the generous +who repenteth him not of his givings and who will never revoke +his gift!" Then he sprang to his feet and, taking a loose robe, +threw it over the fisherman and bade him receive the damsel and +be gone. But she looked at him and said, "O my lord, art thou +faring forth without farewell? If it must be so, at least stay +till I bid thee good-bye and make known my case." And she began +versifying in these verses, + +"When love and longing and regret are mine, * Must not this body + show of ills a sign? +My love! say not, 'Thou soon shalt be consoled'; * When state + speaks state none shall allay my pine. +If living man could swim upon his tears, * I first should float + on waters of these eyne: +O thou, who in my heart infusedst thy love, * As water mingles in + the cup with wine, +This was the fear I feared, this parting blow. * O thou whose + love my heart-core ne'er shall tyne! +O Bin Khkn! my sought, my hope, my will, * O thou whose love + this breast make wholly thine! +Against thy lord the King thou sinn'dst for me, * And winnedst + exile in lands peregrine: +Allah ne'er make my lord repent my loss * To cream[FN#60] o' men + thou gavest me, one right digne." + +When she had ended her verses, Nur al-Din answered her with these +lines, + +"She bade me farewell on our parting day, * And she wept in the + fire of our bane and pains: +'What wilt thou do when fro' thee I'm gone?' * Quoth I, 'say this + to whom life remains!'" + +When the Caliph heard her saying in her verse, + + "To Karim, the cream of men thou gavest me;" + +his inclination for her redoubled and it seemed a hard matter and +a grievous to part them; so quoth he to the youth, "O my lord, +truly the damsel said in her verses that thou didst transgress +against her master and him who owned her; so tell me, against +whom didst thou transgress and who is it hath a claim on thee?" +"By Allah, O fisherman," replied Nur al-Din, "there befel me and +this damsel a wondrous tale and a marvellous matter: an 't were +graven with needle-gravers on the eye-corners it would be a +warner to whoso would be warned." Cried the Caliph, "Wilt thou +not tell me thy story and acquaint me with thy case? Haply it may +bring thee relief, for Allah's aid is ever nearhand." "O +fisherman," said Nur al-Din, "Wilt thou hear our history in verse +or in prose?" "Prose is a wordy thing, but verses," rejoined the +Caliph, "are pearls on string." Then Nur al-Din bowed his head, +and made these couplets, + +"O my friend! reft of rest no repose I command, * And my grief is + redoubled in this far land: +Erst I had a father, a kinder ne'er was; * But he died and to + Death paid the deodand: +When he went from me, every matter went wrong * Till my heart was + nigh-broken, my nature unmanned: +He bought me a handmaid, a sweeting who shamed * A wand of the + willow by Zephyr befanned: +I lavisht upon her mine heritage, * And spent like a nobleman + puissant and grand: +Then to sell her compelled, my sorrow increased; * The parting + was sore but I mote not gainstand: +Now as soon as the crier had called her, there bid * A wicked old + fellow, a fiery brand: +So I raged with a rage that I could not restrain, * And snatched + her from out of his hireling's hand; +When the angry curmudgeon made ready for blows, * And the fire of + a fight kindled he and his band, +I smote him in fury with right and with left, * And his hide, + till well satisfied, curried and tanned: +Then in fear I fled forth and lay hid in my house, * To escape + from the snares which my foeman had spanned: +So the King of the country proclaimed my arrest; * When access to + me a good Chamberlain fand: +And warned me to flee from the city afar, * Disappear, disappoint + what my enemies planned: +Then we fled from our home 'neath the wing of the night, * And + sought us a refuge by Baghdad strand: +Of my riches I've nothing on thee to bestow, * O Fisher, except + the fair gift thou hast scanned: +The loved of my soul, and when I from her part, * Know for sure + that I give thee the blood of my heart."[FN#61] + +When he had ended his verse, the Caliph said to him, "O my lord +Nur al-Din, explain to me thy case more fully," So he told him +the whole story from beginning to end, and the Caliph said to +him, "Whither dost thou now intend?" "Allah's world is wide," +replied he. Quoth the Caliph, "I will write thee a letter to +carry to the Sultan Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, which when he +readeth, he will not hurt nor harm thee in aught."-And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Thirty-eighth Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when +the Caliph said to Nur al-Din Ali, "I will write thee a letter to +carry to the Sultan Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, which when he +readeth, he will not hurt nor harm thee in aught," Nur al-Din +asked "What! is there in the world a fisherman who writeth to +Kings? Such a thing can never be!"; and the Caliph answered, +"Thou sayest sooth, but I will tell thee the reason. Know that I +and he learnt in the same school under one schoolmaster, and that +I was his monitor. Since that time Fortune befriended him and he +is become a Sultan, while Allah hath abased me and made me a +fisherman; yet I never send to him to ask aught but he doeth my +desire; nay, though I should ask of him a thousand favours every +day, he would comply." When Nur al-Din heard this he said, "Good! +write that I may see." So the Caliph took ink-case and reed-pen +and wrote as follows,--"In the name of Allah, the +Compassionating, the Compassionate! But after.[FN#62] This +letter is written by Harun al-Rashid, son of Al-Mahdi, to his +highness Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, whom I have encompassed +about with my favour and made my viceroy in certain of my +dominions. The bearer of these presents is Nur al-Din Ali, son +of Fazl bin Khkn the Wazir. As soon as they come to thy hand +divest thyself forthright of the kingly dignity and invest him +therewith; so oppose not my commandment and peace be with thee." +He gave the letter to Nur al-Din, who took it and kissed it, then +put it in his turband and set out at once on his journey. So far +concerning him; but as regards the Caliph, Shaykh Ibrahim stared +to him (and he still in fisher garb) and said, "O vilest of +fishermen, thou hast brought us a couple of fish worth a score of +half-dirhams,[FN#63] and hast gotten three dinars for them; and +thinkest thou to take the damsel to boot?" When the Caliph heard +this, he cried out at him, and signed to Masrur who discovered +himself and rushed in upon him. Now Ja'afar had sent one of the +gardener-lads to the doorkeeper of the palace to fetch a suit of +royal raiment for the Prince of the Faithful; so the man went +and, returning with the suit, kissed the ground before the Caliph +and gave it him. Then he threw of the clothes he had on[FN#64] +and donned kingly apparel. Shaykh Ibrahim was still sitting upon +his chair and the Caliph tarried to behold what would come next. +But seeing the Fisherman become the Caliph, Shaykh Ibrahim was +utterly confounded and he could do nothing but bite his finger- +ends[FN#65] and say, "Would I knew whether am I asleep or am I +awake!" At last the Caliph looked at him and cried, "O Shaykh +Ibrahim, what state is this in which I see thee?" Thereupon he +recovered from his drunkenness and, throwing himself upon the +ground, repeated these verses, + +"Pardon the sinful ways I did pursue; * Ruth from his lord to + every slave is due: +Confession pays the fine that sin demands; * Where, then, is that + which grace and mercy sue?"[FN#66] + +The Caliph forgave him and bade carry the damsel to the city- +palace, where he set apart for her an apartment and appointed +slaves to serve her, saying to her, "Know that we have sent thy +lord to be Sultan in Bassorah and, Almighty Allah willing, we +will dispatch him the dress of investiture and thee with it." +Meanwhile, Nur al-Din Ali ceased not travelling till he reached +Bassorah, where he repaired to the Sultan's palace and he shouted +a long shout.[FN#67] The Sultan heard him and sent for him; and +when he came into his presence, he kissed the ground between his +hands and, producing the letter, presented it to him. Seeing the +superscription in the writing of the Commander of the Faithful, +the Sultan rose to his feet and kissed it three times; and after +reading it said, "I hear and I obey Allah Almighty and the +Commander of the Faithful!" Then he summoned the four +Kazis[FN#68] and the Emirs and was about to divest himself of the +rule royal, when behold, in came Al Mu'n bin Sw. The Sultan +gave him the Caliph's letter and he read it, then tore it to +pieces and putting it into his mouth, chewed it[FN#69] and spat +it out. "Woe to thee," quoth the Sultan (and indeed he was sore +angered); "what induced thee to do this deed?" "Now by thy life! +O our lord the Sultan," replied Mu'n, "this man hath never +foregathered with the Caliph nor with his Wazir; but he is a +gallows-bird, a limb of Satan, a knave who, having come upon a +written paper in the Caliph's hand, some idle scroll, hath made +it serve his own end. The Caliph would surely not send him to +take the Sultanate from thee without the imperial +autograph[FN#70] and the diploma of investiture, and he certainly +would have despatched with him a Chamberlain or a Minister. But +he hath come alone and he never came from the Caliph, no, never! +never! never!" "What is to be done?" asked the Sultan, and the +Minister answered, "Leave him to me and I will take him and keep +him away from thee, and send him in charge of a Chamberlain to +Baghdad-city. Then, if what he says be sooth, they will bring us +back autograph and investiture; and if not, I will take my due +out of this debtor." When the Sultan heard the Minister's words +he said, "Hence with thee and him too." Al Mu'n took trust of +him from the King and, carrying him to his own house, cried out +to his pages who laid him flat and beat him till he fainted. +Then he let put upon his feet heavy shackles and carried him to +the jail, where he called the jailor, one Kutayt,[FN#71] who came +and kissed the ground before him. Quoth the Wazir, "O Kutayt, I +wish thee to take this fellow and throw him into one of the +underground cells[FN#72] in the prison and torture him night and +day." "To hear is to obey," replied the jailor and, taking Nur +al-Din into the prison, locked the door upon him. Then he gave +orders to sweep a bench behind the door and, spreading on it a +sitting-rug and a leather-cloth, seated Nur al-Din thereon and +loosed his shackles and entreated him kindly. The Wazir sent +every day enjoining the jailor to beat him, but he abstained from +this, and so continued to do for forty days. On the forty-first +day there came a present from the Caliph; which when the Sultan +saw, it pleased him and he consulted his Ministers on the matter, +when one of them said, "Perchance this present was for the new +Sultan." Cried Al-Mu'n, "We should have done well had we put +him to death at his first coming;" and the Sultan cried "By +Allah, thou hast reminded me of him! Go down to the prison and +fetch him, and I will strike off his head." "To hear is to +obey," replied Al-Mu'n: then he stood up and said, "I will make +proclamation in the city:--Whoso would solace himself with seeing +the beheading of Nur al-Din bin al-Fazl bin Khkn, let him +repair to the palace! So follower and followed, great and small +will flock to the spectacle, and I shall heal my heart and harm +my foe." "Do as thou wilt," said the Sultan. The Wazir went off +(and he was glad and gay), and ordered the Chief of Police to +make the afore-mentioned proclamation. When the people heard the +crier, they all sorrowed and wept, even the little ones at school +and the traders in their shops; and some strove to get places for +seeing the sight, whilst others went to the prison with the +object of escorting him thence. Presently, the Wazir came with +ten Mamelukes to the jail and Kutayt the jailor asked him, "Whom +seekest thou, O our lord the Wazir?"; whereto he answered, "Bring +me out that gallows- bird." But the jailor said, "He is in the +sorriest of plights for the much beating I have given him." Then +he went into the prison and found Nur al-Din repeating these +verses, + +"Who shall support me in calamities, * When fail all cures and + greater cares arise? +Exile hath worm my heart, my vitals torn; The World to foes + hath turned my firm allies. +O folk, will not one friend amidst you all * Wail o'er my woes, + and cry to hear my cries? +Death and it agonies seem light to me, * Since life has lost all + joys and jollities: +O Lord of Mustafa,[FN#73] that Science-sea, * Sole Intercessor, + Guide all-ware, all-wise! +I pray thee free me and my fault forego, * And from me drive mine + evil and my woe." + +The jailor stripped off his clean clothes and, dressing him in +two filthy vests, carried him to the Wazir. Nur al-Din looked at +him and saw it was his foe that sought to compass his death; so +he wept and said, "Art thou, then, so secure against the World? +Hast thou not heard the saying of the poet, + +'Kisras and Caesars in a bygone day * Stored wealth; where it is, + and ah! where are they?' + +O Wazir," he continued, "know that Allah (be He extolled and +exalted!) will do whatso He will!" "O Ali," replied he, +"thinkest thou to frighten me with such talk? I mean this very +day to smite thy neck despite the noses of the Bassorah folk and +I care not; let the days do as they please; nor will I turn me to +thy counsel but rather to what the poet saith, + +'Leave thou the days to breed their ban and bate, * And make thee + strong t' upbear the weight of Fate.' + +And also how excellently saith another, + +'Whoso shall see the death-day of his foe, * One day surviving, + wins his bestest wish.'" + +Then he ordered his attendants to mount Nur al-Din upon the bare +back of a mule; and they said to the youth (for truly it was +irksome to them), "Let us stone him and cut him down thou our +lives go for it." But Nur al-Din said to them, "Do not so: have +ye not heard the saying of the poet, + +'Needs must I bear the term by Fate decreed, * And when that day + be dead needs must I die: +If lions dragged me to their forest-lair, * Safe should I live + till draw my death-day nigh.'" + +Then they proceeded to proclaim before Nur al-Din, "This is the +least of the retribution for him who imposeth upon Kings with +forgeries." And they ceased not parading him round about +Bassorah, till they made him stand beneath the palace-windows and +set him upon the leather of blood,[FN#74] and the sworder came up +to him and said, "O my lord, I am but a slave commanded in this +matter: an thou have any desire, tell it me that I may fulfil it, +for now there remaineth of they life only so much as may be till +the Sultan shall put his face out of the lattice." Thereupon Nur +al-Din looked to the right and to the left, and before him and +behind him and began improvising, + +"The sword, the sworder and the blood-skin waiting me I sight, * + And cry, Alack, mine evil fate! ah, my calamity! +How is't I see no loving friend with eye of sense or soul? * + What! no one here? I cry to all: will none reply to me? +The time is past that formed my life, my death term draweth nigh, + * Will no man win the grace of God showing me clemency; +And look with pity on my state, and clear my dark despair, * E'en + with a draught of water dealt to cool death's agony?" + +The people fell to weeping over him; and the headsman rose and +brought him a draught of water; but the Wazir sprang up from his +place and smote the gugglet with his hand and broke it: then he +cried out at the executioner and bade him strike off Nur al-Din's +head. So he bound the eyes of the doomed man and folk clamoured +at the Wazir and loud wailings were heard and much questioning of +man and man. At this moment behold, rose a dense dust-cloud +filling sky and wold; and when the Sultan, who was sitting in the +palace, descried this, he said to his suite, "Go and see what yon +cloud bringeth:" Replied Al Mu'n, "Not till we have smitten +this fellow's neck;" but the Sultan said, "Wait ye till we see +what this meaneth." Now the dust-cloud was the dust of J'afar +the Barmecide, Wazir to the Caliph, and his host; and the cause +of his coming was as follows. The Caliph passed thirty days +without calling to mind the matter of Nur al-Din Ali,[FN#75] and +none reminded him of it, till one night, as he passed by the +chamber of Anis al-Jalis, he heard her weeping and singing with a +soft sweet voice these lines of the poet, + +"In thought I see thy form when farthest far or nearest near; * + And on my tongue there dwells a name which man shall ne'er + unhear." + +Then her weeping redoubled; when lo! the Caliph opened the door +and, entering the chamber, found Anis al-Jalis in tears. When +she saw him she fell to the ground and kissing his feet three +times repeated these lines, + +"O fertile root and noble growth of trunk; * Ripe-fruitful branch + of never sullied race; +I mind thee of what pact thy bounty made; * Far be 't from thee + thou should'st forget my case!" + +Quoth the Caliph, "Who art thou?" and she replied, "I am she whom +Ali bin Khkn gave thee in gift, and I wish the fulfilment of +thy promise to send me to him with the robe of honour; for I have +now been thirty days without tasting the food of sleep." +Thereupon the Caliph sent for Ja'afar and said to him, "O +Ja'afar, 'tis thirty days since we have had news of Nur al-Din +bin Khkn, and I cannot suppose that the Sultan hath slain him; +but, by the life of my head and by the sepulchres of my +forefathers, if aught of foul play hath befallen him, I will +surely make an end of him who was the cause of it, though he be +the dearest of all men to myself! So I desire that thou set out +for Bassorah within this hour and bring me tidings of my cousin, +King Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, and how he had dealt with +Nur al-Din Ali bin Khkn;" adding, "If thou tarry longer on the +road than shall suffice for the journey, I will strike off they +head. Furthermore, do thou tell the son of my uncle the whole +story of Nur al-Din, and how I sent him with my written orders; +and if thou find, O my cousin,[FN#76] that the King hath done +otherwise than as I commanded, bring him and the Wazir Al-Mu'n +bin Sw to us in whatsoever guise thou shalt find them."[FN#77] +"Hearing and obedience," replied Ja'afar and, making ready on the +instant, he set out for Bassorah where the news of his coming had +foregone him and had reached to the ears of King Mohammed. When +Ja'afar arrived and saw the crushing and crowding of the lieges, +he asked, "What means all this gathering?" so they told him what +was doing in the matter of Nur al-Din; whereupon he hastened to +go to the Sultan and saluting him, acquainted him with the cause +why he came and the Caliph's resolve, in case of any foul play +having befallen the youth, to put to death whoso should have +brought it about. Then he took into custody the King and the +Wazir and laid them in ward and, giving order for the release of +Nur al-Din Ali, enthroned him as Sultan in the stead of Mohammed +bin Sulayman. After this Ja'afar abode three days in Bassorah, +the usual guest-time, and on the morning of the fourth day, Nur +al-Din Ali turned to him and said, "I long for the sight of the +Commander of the Faithful." Then said Ja'afar to Mohammed bin +Sulayman, "Make ready to travel, for we will say the dawn-prayer +and mount Baghdad-wards;" and he replied, "To hear is to obey." +Then they prayed and they took horse and set out, all of them, +carrying with them the Wazir, Al-Mu'n bin Sw, who began to +repent him of what he had done. Nur al-Din rode by Ja'afar's +side and they stinted not faring on till they arrived at Baghdad, +the House of Peace, and going in to the Caliph told him how they +had found Nur al-Din nigh upon death. Thereupon the Caliph said +to the youth, "Take this sword and smite with it the neck of +thine enemy." So he took the sword from his hand and stepped up +to Al-Mu'n who looked at him and said, "I did according to my +mother's milk, do thou according to thine."[FN#78] Upon this Nur +al-Din cast the sword from his hand and said to the Caliph, "O +Commander of the Faithful, he hath beguiled me with his words;" +and he repeated this couplet, + +"By craft and sleight I snared him when he came; * A few fair + words aye trap the noble-game!" + +"Leave him then," cried the Caliph and, turning to Masrur said, +"Rise thou and smite his neck." So Masrur drew his sword and +struck off his head. Then quoth the Caliph to Nur al-Din Ali, +"Ask a boon of me." "O my lord," answered he, "I have no need of +the Kingship of Bassorah; my sole desire is to be honoured by +serving thee and by seeing the countenance." "With love and +gladness," said the Caliph. Then he sent for the damsel, Anis +al-Jalis, and bestowed plentiful favours upon them both and gave +them one of his palaces in Baghdad, and assigned stipends and +allowances, and made Nur al-Din Ali bin Fazl bin Khkn, one of +his cup-companions; and he abode with the Commander of the +Faithful enjoying the pleasantest of lives till death overtook +him. "Yet (continued Shahrazad) is not his story in any wise +more wondrous than the history of the merchant and his children." +The King asked "And what was that?" and Shahrazad began to relate +the + + + + +Tale of Ghanim bin Ayyub[FN#79], the Distraught, the Thrall o' +Love. + + +It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that in times of yore and +in years and ages long gone before, there lived in Damascus a +merchant among the merchants, a wealthy man who had a son like +the moon on the night of his fulness[FN#80] and withal sweet of +speech, who was named Ghnim bin Ayyb, surnamed the Distraught, +the Thrall o' Love. He had also a daughter, own sister to Ghanim, +who was called Fitnah, a damsel unique in beauty and loveliness. +Their father died and left them abundant wealth.--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Thirty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +merchant left his two children abundant wealth and amongst other +things an hundred loads[FN#81] of silks and brocades, musk pods +and mother o' pearl; and there was written on every bale, "This +is of the packages intended for Baghdad," it having been his +purpose to make the journey thither, when Almighty Allah took him +to Himself, which was in the time of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid. +After a while his son took the loads and, bidding farewell to his +mother and kindred and townsfolk, went forth with a company of +merchants, putting his trust in Allah Almighty, who decreed him +safety, so that he arrived without let or stay at Baghdad. There +he hired for himself a fair dwelling house which he furnished +with carpets and cushions, curtains and hangings; and therein +stored his bales and stabled his mules and camels, after which he +abode a while resting. Presently the merchants and notables of +Baghdad came and saluted him, after which he took a bundle +containing ten pieces of costly stuffs, with the prices written +on them, and carried it to the merchants' bazar, where they +welcomed and saluted him and showed him all honour; and, making +him dismount from his beast, seated him in the shop of the Syndic +of the market, to whom he delivered the package. He opened it +and, drawing out the pieces of stuff, sold them for him at a +profit of two diners on every diner of prime cost. At this Ghanim +rejoiced and kept selling his silks and stuffs one after another, +and ceased not to do on this wise for a full year. On the first +day of the following year he went, as was his wont, to the +Exchange which was in the bazar, but found the gate shut; and +enquiring the reason was told, "One of the merchants is dead and +all the others have gone to follow his bier,[FN#82] and why +shouldst thou not win the meed of good deeds by walking with +them?"[FN#83] He replied "Yes," and asked for the quarter where +the funeral was taking place, and one directed him thereto. So he +purified himself by the Wuzu-ablution[FN#84] and repaired with +the other merchants to the oratory, where they prayed over the +dead, then walked before the bier to the burial place, and +Ghanim, who was a bashful man, followed them being ashamed to +leave them. They presently issued from the city, and passed +through the tombs until they reached the grave where they found +that the deceased's kith and kin had pitched a tent over the tomb +and had brought thither lamps and wax candles. So they buried the +body and sat down while the readers read out and recited the +Koran over the grave; and Ghanim sat with them, being overcome +with bashfulness and saying to himself "I cannot well go away +till they do." They tarried listening to the Koranic perfection +till nightfall, when the servants set supper and +sweetmeats[FN#85] before them and they ate till they were +satisfied; then they washed their hands and again took their +places. But Ghanim's mind was preoccupied with his house and +goods, being in fear of robbers, and he said to himself, "I am a +stranger here and supposed to have money; if I pass the night +abroad the thieves will steal my money bags and my bales to +boot." So when he could no longer control his fear he arose and +left the assembly, having first asked leave to go about some +urgent business; and following the signs of the road he soon came +to the city gate. But it was midnight and he found the doors +locked and saw none going or coming nor heard aught but the +hounds baying and the wolves howling. At this he exclaimed, +"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! I was +in fear for my property and came back on its account, but now I +find the gate shut and I am in mortal fear for my life!" Then he +turned back and, looking out for a place where he could sleep +till morning, presently found a Santon's tomb, a square of four +walls with a date-tree in the central court and a granite +gateway. The door was wide open; so he entered and would fain +have slept, but sleep came not to him; and terror and a sense of +desolation oppressed him for that he was alone amidst the tombs. +So he rose to his feet and, opening the door, looked out and lo! +he was ware of a light afar off in the direction of the city +gate; then walking a little way towards it, he saw that it was on +the road whereby he had reached the tomb. This made him fear for +his life, so he hastily shut the door and climbed to the top of +the dale tree where he hid himself in the heart of the fronds. +The light came nearer and nearer till it was close to the tomb; +then it stopped and he saw three slaves, two bearing a chest and +one with a lanthorn, an adze and a basket containing some mortar. +When they reached the tomb, one of those who were carrying the +case said, "What aileth thee O Sawb?"; and said the other, "What +is the matter O Kfr?"[FN#86] Quoth he, "Were we not here at +supper tide and did we not leave the door open?" "Yes," replied +the other, "that is true.'' "See," said Kafur, "now it is shut +and barred." "How weak are your wits!" cried the third who bore +the adze and his name was Bukhayt,[FN#87] "know ye not that the +owners of the gardens use to come out from Baghdad and tend them +and, when evening closes upon them, they enter this place and +shut the door, for fear lest the wicked blackmen, like ourselves, +should catch them and roast 'em and eat 'em."[FN#88] "Thou sayest +sooth," said the two others, "but by Allah, however that may be, +none amongst us is weaker of wits than thou." "If ye do not +believe me," said Bukhayt, "let us enter the tomb and I will +rouse the rat for you; for I doubt not but that, when he saw the +light and us making for the place, he ran up the date tree and +hid there for fear of us." When Ghanim heard this, he said in +himself, "O curstest of slaves! May Allah not have thee in His +holy keeping for this thy craft and keenness of wit! There is no +Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the +Great! How shall I win free of these blackamoors?" Then said the +two who bore the box to him of the adze, "Swarm up the wall and +open the gate for us, O Bukhayt, for we are tired of carrying the +chest on our necks; and when thou hast opened the gate thou shalt +have one of those we catch inside, a fine fat rat which we will +fry for thee after such excellent fashion that not a speck of his +fat shall be lost." But Bukhayt answered, "I am afraid of +somewhat which my weak wits have suggested to me: we should do +better to throw the chest over the gateway; for it is our +treasure." "If we throw it 'twill break," replied they; and he +said, "I fear lest there be robbers within who murder folk and +plunder their goods, for evening is their time of entering such +places and dividing their spoil." "O thou weak o' wits," said +both the bearers of the box, "how could they ever get in +here!"[FN#89] Then they set down the chest and climbing over the +wall dropped inside and opened the gate, whilst the third slave +(he that was called Bukhayt) stood by them holding the adze, the +lanthorn and the hand basket containing the mortar. After this +they locked the gate and sat down; and presently one of them +said, "O my brethren, we are wearied with walking and with +lifting up and setting down the chest, and with unlocking and +locking the gate; and now 'tis midnight, and we have no breath +left to open a tomb and bury the box: so let us rest here two or +three hours, then rise and do the job. Meanwhile each of us shall +tell how he came to be castrated and all that befel him from +first to last, the better to pass away our time while we take our +rest." Thereupon the first, he of the lanthorn and whose name was +Bukhayt, said, "I'll tell you my tale." "Say on," replied they; +so he began as follows the + +Tale of the First Eunuch, Bukhayt. + +Know, O my brothers, that when I was a little one, some five +years old, I was taken home from my native country by a slave +driver who sold me to a certain Apparitor.[FN#90] My purchaser +had a daughter three years old, with whom I was brought up; and +they used to make mock of me, letting me play with her and dance +for her[FN#91] and sing to her, till I reached the age of twelve +and she that of ten; and even then they did not forbid me seeing +her. One day I went in to her and found her sitting in an inner +room, and she looked as if she had just come out of the bath +which was in the house; for she was scented with essences and +reek of aromatic woods, and her face shone like a circle of the +moon on the fourteenth night. She began to sport with me, and I +with her. Now I had just reached the age of puberty; so my +prickle stood at point, as it were a huge key. Then she threw me +on my back and, mounting astraddle on my breast, fell a wriggling +and a bucking upon me till she had uncovered my yard. When she +saw it standing with head erect, she hent it in hand and began +rubbing it upon the lips of her little slit[FN#92] outside her +petticoat trousers. Thereat hot lust stirred in me and I threw my +arms round her, while she wound hers about my neck and hugged me +to her with all her might, till, before I knew what I did, my +pizzle split up her trousers and entered her slit and did away +her maiden head. When I saw this, I ran off and took refuge with +one of my comrades. Presently her mother came in to her; and, +seeing her in this case, fainted clean away. However she managed +the matter advisedly and hid it from the girl's father out of +good will to me; nor did they cease to call to me and coax me, +till they took me from where I was. After two months had passed +by, her mother married her to a young man, a barber who used to +shave her papa, and portioned and fitted her out of her own +monies; whilst the father knew nothing of what had passed. On the +night of consummation they cut the throat of a pigeon poult and +sprinkled the blood on her shift.[FN#93] After a while they +seized me unawares and gelded me; and, when they brought her to +her bridegroom, they made me her Agha,[FN#94] her eunuch, to walk +before her wheresoever she went, whether to the bath or to her +father's house. I abode with her a long time enjoying her beauty +and loveliness by way of kissing and clipping and coupling with +her,[FN#95] till she died, and her husband and mother and father +died also; when they seized me for the Royal Treasury as being +the property of an intestate, and I found my way hither, where I +became your comrade. This, then, O my brethren, is the cause of +my cullions being cut off; and peace be with you! He ceased and +his fellow began in these words the + +Tale of the Second Eunuch, Kafur. + +Know, O my brothers that, when beginning service as a boy of +eight, I used to tell the slave dealers regularly and exactly one +lie every year, so that they fell out with one another, till at +last my master lost patience with me and, carrying me down to the +market, ordered the brokers to cry, "Who will buy this slave, +knowing his blemish and making allowance for it?" He did so and +they asked him, "Pray, what may be his blemish?" and he answered, +"He telleth me one single lie every year." Now a man that was a +merchant came up and said to the broker, "How much do they allow +for him with his blemish?" "They allow six hundred dirhams," he +replied; and said the other, "Thou shalt have twenty dirhams for +thyself." So he arranged between him and the slave dealer who +took the coin from him and the broker carried me to the +merchant's house and departed, after receiving his brokerage. The +trader clothed me with suitable dress, and I stayed in his +service the rest of my twelvemonth, until the new year began +happily. It was a blessed season, plenteous in the produce of the +earth, and the merchants used to feast every day at the house of +some one among them, till it was my master's turn to entertain +them in a flower garden without the city. So he and the other +merchants went to the garden, taking with them all that they +required of provaunt and else beside, and sat eating and +carousing and drinking till mid day, when my master, having need +of some matter from his home, said to me, "O slave, mount the she +mule and hie thee to the house and bring from thy mistress such +and such a thing and return quickly." I obeyed his bidding and +started for the house but, as I drew near it, I began to cry out +and shed tears, whereupon all the people of the quarter +collected, great and small; and my master's wife and daughters, +hearing the noise I was making, opened the door and asked me what +was the matter. Said I, "My master was sitting with his friends +beneath an old wall, and it fell on one and all of them; and when +I saw what had happened to them, I mounted the mule and came +hither in haste to tell you." When my master's daughters and wife +heard this, they screamed and rent their raiment and beat their +faces, whilst the neighbours came around them. Then the wife over +turned the furniture of the house, one thing upon another, and +tore down the shelves and broke the windows and the lattices and +smeared the walls with mud and indigo, saying to me, "Woe to +thee, O Kafur! come help me to tear down these cupboards and +break up these vessels and this china ware,[FN#96] and the rest +of it." So I went to her and aided her to smash all the shelves +in the house with whatever stood upon them, after which I went +round about the terrace roofs and every part of the place, +spoiling all I could and leaving no china in the house unbroken +till I had laid waste the whole, crying out the while "Well away! +my master!" Then my mistress fared forth bare faced wearing a +head kerchief and naught else, and her daughters and the children +sallied out with her, and said to me, "O Kafur, go thou before us +and show us the place where thy master lieth dead, that we may +take him from under the fallen wall and lay him on a bier and +bear him to the house and give him a fine funeral." So I went +forth before them crying out, "Slack, my master!"; and they after +me with faces and heads bare and all shrieking, "Alas! Alas for +the man!" Now there remained none in the quarter, neither man nor +woman, nor epicene, nor youth nor maid, nor child nor old trot, +but went with us smiting their faces and weeping bitterly, and I +led them leisurely through the whole city. The folk asked them +what was the matter, whereupon they told them what they had heard +from me, and all exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is no +Might save in Allah!" Then said one of them, "He was a personage +of consequence; so let us go to the Governor and tell him what +hath befallen him." When they told the Governor,--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Fortieth Night,[FN#97] + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when they +told the Governor, he rose and mounted and, taking with him +labourers, with spades and baskets, went on my track, with many +people behind him; and I ran on before them, howling and casting +dust on my head and beating my face, followed by my mistress and +her children keening for the dead. But I got ahead of them and +entered the garden before them, and when my master saw me in this +state, I smiting my face and saying, "Well away! my mistress! +Alas! Alas! Alas! who is left to take pity on me, now that my +mistress is gone? Would I had been a sacrifice for her!", he +stood aghast and his colour waxed yellow and he said to me, "What +aileth thee O Kafur! What is the matter?" "O my lord," I replied, +"when thou sentest me to the house, I found that the saloon wall +had given way and had fallen like a layer upon my mistress and +her children!" "And did not thy mistress escape?" "No, by Allah, +O my master; not one of them was saved; the first to die was my +mistress, thine elder daughter!" "And did not my younger daughter +escape?"; "No, she did not!" "And what became of the mare mule I +use to ride, is she safe?" "No, by Allah, O my master, the house +walls and the stable walls buried every living thing that was +within doors, even to the sheep and geese and poultry, so that +they all became a heap of flesh and the dogs and cats are eating +them and not one of them is left alive." "And hath not thy +master, my elder son, escaped?" "No, by Allah! not one of them +was saved, and now there is naught left of house or household, +nor even a sign of them: and, as for the sheep and geese and +hens, the cats and dogs have devoured them." When my master heard +this the light became night before his sight; his wits were dazed +and he so lost command of his senses that he could not stand firm +on his feet: he was as one struck with a sudden palsy and his +back was like to break. Then he rent his raiment and plucked out +his beard and, casting his turband from off his head, buffeted +his face till the blood ran down and he cried aloud, "Alas, my +children! Alas, my wife! Alas, my calamity! To whom ever befel +that which hath befallen me?" The merchants, his friends, also +cried aloud at his crying and wept for his weeping and tore their +clothes, being moved to pity of his case; and so my master went +out of the garden, smiting his face with such violence that from +excess of pain he staggered like one drunken with wine. As he and +the merchants came forth from the garden gate, behold, they saw a +great cloud of dust and heard a loud noise of crying and +lamentation; so they looked and lo! it was the Governor with his +attendants and the townsfolk, a world of people, who had come out +to look on, and my master's family following them, all screaming +and crying aloud and weeping exceeding sore weeping. The first to +address my owner were his wife and children; and when he saw them +he was confounded and laughed[FN#98] and said to them, "How is it +with all of you and what befel you in the house and what hath +come to pass to you?" When they saw him they exclaimed, "Praise +be to Allah for thy preservation!" and threw themselves upon him +and his children hung about him crying, "Slack, our father! +Thanks to Allah for thy safety, O our father!" And his wife said +to him, "Art thou indeed well! Laud to Allah who hath shown us +thy face in safety!" And indeed she was confounded and her reason +fled when she saw him, and she asked, "O, my lord, how didst thou +escape, thou and thy friends the merchants?"; and he answered +her, "And how fared it with thee in the house?" Quoth they, "We +were all well, whole and healthy, nor hath aught of evil befallen +us in the house, save that thy slave Kafur came to us, bareheaded +with torn garments and howling, 'Alas, the master! Alas the +master!' So we asked him, 'What tidings, O Kafur?' and he +answered 'A wall of the garden hath fallen on my master and his +friends the merchants, and they are all crushed and dead!''' "By +Allah," said my master, "he came to me but now howling, 'Alas, my +mistress! Alas, the children of the mistress!', and said, 'My +mistress and her children are all dead, every one of them!'" Then +he looked round and seeing me with my turband rent in rags round +my neck, howling and weeping with exceeding weeping and throwing +dust upon my head, he cried out at me. So I came to him and he +said, "Woe to thee, O ill omened slave! O whoreson knave! O thou +damned breed! What mischief thou hast wrought? By Allah! I will +flog thy skin from thy flesh and cut thy flesh from thy bones!" I +rejoined, "By Allah, thou canst do nothing of the kind with me, O +my lord, for thou boughtest me with my blemish; and there are +honest men to bear witness against thee that thou didst so +accepting the condition, and that thou knewest of my fault which +is to tell one lie every year. Now this is only a half lie, but +by the end of the year I will tell the other half, then will the +lie stand whole and complete." "O dog, son of a dog!", cried my +master, "O most accursed of slaves, is this all of it but a half +lie? Verily if it be a half lie 'tis a whole calamity! Get thee +from me, thou art free in the face of Allah!" "By Allah," +rejoined I, if thou free me, I will not free thee till my year is +completed and I have told thee the half lie which is left. When +this is done, go down with me to the slave market and sell me as +thou boughtest me to whoso will buy me with my blemish; but thou +shalt not manumit me, for I have no handicraft whereby to gain my +living;[FN#99] and this my demand is a matter of law which the +doctors have laid down in the Chapter of Emancipation."[FN#100] +While we were at these words, up came the crowd of people, and +the neighbours of the quarter, men, women and children, together +with the Governor and his suite offering condolence. So my master +and the other merchants went up to him and informed him of the +adventure, and how this was but a half lie, at which all +wondered, deeming it a whole lie and a big one. And they cursed +me and reviled me, while I stood laughing and grinning at them, +till at last I asked, "How shall my master slay me when he bought +me with this my blemish?" Then my master returned home and found +his house in ruins, and it was I who had laid waste the greater +part of it,[FN#101] having broken things which were worth much +money, as also had done his wife, who said to him, "'Twas Kafur +who broke the vessels and chinaware." Thereupon his rage +redoubled and he struck hand upon hand exclaiming, "By Allah! in +my life never saw I a whoreson like this slave; and he saith this +is but a half lie! How, then, if he had told me a whole lie? He +would ruin a city, aye or even two." Then in his fury he went to +the Governor, and they gave me a neat thing in the bastinado-line +and made me eat stick till I was lost to the world and a fainting +fit came on me; and, whilst I was yet senseless, they brought the +barber who docked me and gelded me[FN#102] and cauterised the +wound. When I revived I found myself a clean eunuch with nothing +left, and my master said to me, "Even as thou hast burned my +heart for the things I held dearest, so have I burnt thy heart +for that of thy members whereby thou settest most store!" Then he +took me and sold me at a profit, for that I was become an eunuch. +And I ceased not bringing trouble upon all, wherever I was sold, +and was shifted from lord to lord and from notable to notable, +being sold and being bought, till I entered the palace of the +Commander of the Faithful. But now my spirit is broken and my +tricks are gone from me, so alas! are my ballocks. When the two +slaves heard his history, they laughed at him and chaffed him and +said, "Truly thou art skite[FN#103] and skite-son! Thou liedest +an odious lie." Then quoth they to the third slave, "Tell us thy +tale." "O sons of my uncle," quoth he, "all that ye have said is +idle: I will tell you the cause of my losing my testicles, and +indeed I deserved to lose even more, for I futtered both my +mistress and my master's eldest son and heir: but my story is a +long one and this is not the time to tell it; for the dawn, O my +cousins, draweth near and if morning come upon us with this chest +still unburied, we shall get into sore disgrace and our lives +will pay for it. So up with you and open the door and, when we +get back to the palace, I will tell you my story and the cause of +my losing my precious stones." Then he swarmed up and dropped +down from the wall inside and opened the door, so they entered +and, setting down the lantern, dug between four tombs a hole as +long as the chest and of the same breadth. Kafur plied the spade +and Sawab removed the earth by baskets full till they reached the +depth of the stature of a man;[FN#104] when they laid the chest +in the hole and threw back the earth over it: then they went +forth and shutting the door disappeared from Ghanim's eyes. When +all was quiet and he felt sure that he was left alone in the +place, his thought was busied about what the chest contained and +he said to himself, "Would that I knew the contents of that box!" +However, he waited till day broke, when morning shone and showed +her sheen: whereupon he came down from the date tree and scooped +away the earth with his hands, till the box was laid bare and +disengaged from the ground. Then he took a large stone and +hammered at the lock till he broke it and, opening the lid, +behold a young lady, a model of beauty and loveliness, clad in +the richest of garments and jewels of gold and such necklaces of +precious stones that, were the Sultan's country evened with them, +it would not pay their price. She had been drugged with Bhang, +but her bosom, rising and falling, showed that her breath had not +departed. When Ghanim saw her, he knew that some one had played +her false and hocussed her; so he pulled her out of the chest and +laid her on the ground with her face upwards. As soon as she +smelt the breeze and the air entered her nostrils, mouth and +lungs, she sneezed and choked and coughed; when there fell from +out her throat a pill of Cretan Bhang, had an elephant smelt it +he would have slept from night to night. Then she opened her eyes +and glancing around said, in sweet voice and gracious words, "Woe +to thee O wind! there is naught in thee to satisfy the thirsty, +nor aught to gratify one whose thirst is satisfied! Where is Zhar +al-Bostan?" But no one answered her, so she turned her and cried +out, "Ho Sabhah! Shajarat al-Durr! Nr al-Hud! Najmat al-Subh! +be ye awake? Shahwah, Nuzhab, Halw, Zarfah, out on you, +speak![FN#105]'' But no one answered; so she looked all around +and said, "Woe's me! have they entombed me in the tombs? O Thou +who knowest what man's thought enwombs and who givest +compensation on the Day of Doom, who can have brought me from +amid hanging screens and curtains veiling the Harim rooms and set +me down between four tombs?" All this while Ghanim was standing +by: then he said to her, "O my lady, here are neither screened +rooms nor palace Harims nor yet tombs; only the slave henceforth +devoted to thy love, Ghanim bin Ayyub, sent to thee by the +Omniscient One above, that all thy troubles He may remove and win +for thee every wish that cloth behove!" Then he held his peace. +She was reassured by his words and cried, "I testify that there +is no god but the God and I testify that Mohammed is the Apostle +of God!"; then she turned to Ghanim and, placing her hands before +her face, said to him in the sweetest speech, "O blessed youth, +who brought me hither? See, I am now come to myself." "O my +lady," he replied, "three slave eunuchs came here bearing this +chest;" and related to her the whole of what had befallen him, +and how evening having closed upon him had proved the cause of +her preservation, otherwise she had died smothered.[FN#106] Then +he asked her who she was and what was her story, and she +answered, "O youth, thanks be to Allah who hath cast me into the +hands of the like of thee! But now rise and put me back into the +box; then fare forth upon the road and hire the first camel +driver or muleteer thou findest to carry it to thy house. When I +am there, all will be well and I will tell thee my tale and +acquaint thee with my adventures, and great shall be thy gain by +means of me." At this he rejoiced and went outside the tomb. The +day was now dazzling bright and the firmament shone with light +and the folk had begun to circulate; so he hired a man with a +mule and, bringing him to the tomb, lifted the chest wherein he +had put the damsel and set it on the mule. Her love now engrossed +his heart and he fared homeward with her rejoicing, for that she +was a girl worth ten thousand gold pieces and her raiment and +ornaments would fetch a mint of money. As soon as he arrived at +his house he carried in the chest and opening it,--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-first night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ghanim +son of Ayyub arrived with the chest at his house, he opened it +and took out the young lady, who looked about her and, seeing +that the place was handsome, spread with carpets and dight with +cheerful colours and other deckings; and noting the stuffs up +piled and packed bales and other else than that, knew that he was +a substantial merchant and a man of much money. There upon she +uncovered her face and looked at him, and lo! he was a fair +youth; so when she saw him she loved him and said, "O my lord, +bring us something to eat." "On my head and mine eyes!" replied +he; and, going down to the bazar, bought a roasted lamb and a +dish of sweetmeats and with these dry fruits and wax candles, +besides wine and whatsoever was required of drinking materials, +not forgetting perfumes. With all this gear he returned to the +house; and when the damsel saw him she laughed and kissed him and +clasped his neck. Then she began caressing him, which made his +love wax hotter till it got the mastery of his heart. They ate +and drank and each had conceived the fondest affection; for +indeed the two were one in age and one in loveliness; and when +night came on Ghanim bin Ayyub, the Distraught, the Thrall o' +Love, rose and lit the wax candles and lamps till the place +blazed with light;[FN#107] after which he produced the wine +service and spread the table. Then both sat down again, he and +she, and he kept filling and giving her to drink, and she kept +filling and giving him to drink, and they played and toyed and +laughed and recited verses; whilst their joy increased and they +dove in closer love each to each (glory be to the Uniter of +Hearts!). They ceased not to carouse after this fashion till near +upon dawn when drowsiness overcame them and they slept where they +were, apart each from other, till the morning.[FN#108] Then +Ghanim arose and going to the market, bought all they required of +meat and vegetables and wine and what not, and brought them to +the house; whereupon both sat down to eat and ate their +sufficiency, when he set on wine. They drank and each played with +each, till their cheeks flushed red and their eyes took a darker +hue and Ghanim's soul longed to kiss the girl and to lie with her +and he said, "O my lady, grant me one kiss of that dear mouth: +per chance 't will quench the fire of my heart." "O Ghanim," +replied she, "wait till I am drunk and dead to the world; then +steal a kiss of me, secretly and on such wise that I may not know +thou hast kissed me." Then she rose and taking off her upper +dress sat; in a thin shift of fine linen and a silken head +kerchief.[FN#109] At this passion inflamed Ghanim and he said to +her, "O my lady, wilt thou not vouchsafe me what I asked of +thee?" "By Allah," she replied, "that may not be thine, for there +is written upon my trouser string[FN#110] a hard word!" Thereupon +Ghanim's heart sank and desire grew on him as its object offered +difficulties; and he improvised these verses, + +"I asked the author of mine ills * To heal the wound with one + sweet kiss: +No! No! she cried,[FN#111] for ever no! * But I, soft whispering, + urged yes: +Quoth she, Then take it by my leave, * When smiles shall pardon + thine amiss: +By force, cried I? Nay, she replied * With love and gladness eke + I wis. +Now ask me not what next occurred * Seek grace of God and whist + of this! +Deem what thou wilt of us, for love * By calumnies the sweeter is +Nor after this care I one jot * Whether my foe be known or not." + +Then his affection increased and love fires rose hotter in his +heart, while she refused herself to him saying, "Thou canst not +possess me." They ceased not to make love and enjoy their wine +and wassail, whilst Ghanim was drowned in the sea of love and +longing; but she redoubled in coyness and cruelty till the night +brought on the darkness and let fall on them the skirts of sleep. +Thereupon Ghanim rose and lit the lamps and wax candles and +refreshed the room and removed the table; then he took her feet +and kissed them and, finding them like fresh cream, pressed his +face[FN#112] on them and said to her, "O my lady, take pity on +one thy love hath ta'en and thine eyes hath slain; for indeed I +were heart whole but for thy bane!" And he wept somewhat. "O my +lord, and light of my eyes," quoth she, "by Allah, I love thee in +very sooth and I trust to thy truth, but I know that I may not be +thine." "And what is the obstacle?" asked he; when she answered, +"Tonight I will tell thee my tale, that thou mayst accept my +excuse." Then she threw herself upon him and winding her arms +like a necklace about his neck, kissed him and caressed him and +promised him her favours; and they ceased not playing and +laughing till love get the firmest hold upon both their hearts. +And so it continued a whole month, both passing the night on a +single carpet bed, but whenever he would enjoy her, she put him +off; whilst mutual love increased upon them and each could hardly +abstain from other. One night, as he lay by her side, and both +were warm with wine Ghanim passed his hand over her breasts and +stroked them; then he slipped it down to her waist as far as her +navel. She awoke and, sitting up, put her hand to her trousers +and finding them fast tied, once more fell asleep. Presently, he +again felt her and sliding his hand down to her trouser string, +began pulling at it, whereupon she awoke and sat upright. Ghanim +also sat up by her side and she asked him, "What dost thou want?" +"I want to lie with thee," he answered, "and that we may deal +openly and frankly with each other." Quoth she, "I must now +declare to thee my case, that thou mayst know my quality; then +will my secret be disclosed to thee and my excuse become manifest +to thee." Quoth he, "So be it!" Thereat she opened the skirt of +her shift and taking up her trouser string, said to him, "O my +lord, read what is worked on the flat of this string:" so he took +it in hand, and saw these words broidered on it in gold, "I AM +THINE, AND THOU ART MINE, O COUSIN OF THE APOSTLE!''[FN#113] When +he read this, he withdrew his hand and said to her, "Tell me who +thou art!" "So be it," answered she; "know that I am one of the +concubines of the Commander of the Faithful, and my name is Kt +al-Kulb the Food of Hearts. I was brought up in his palace and, +when I grew to woman's estate, he looked on me and, noting what +share of beauty and loveliness the Creator had given me, loved me +with exceeding love, and assigned me a separate apartment, and +gave me ten slave girls to wait on me and all these ornaments +thou seest me wearing. On a certain day he set out for one of his +provinces, and the Lady Zubaydah came to one of the slave girls +in my service and said to her, 'I have something to require of +thee.' 'What is it, O my lady?' asked she and the Caliph's wife +answered, 'When thy mistress Kut al-Kulub is asleep, put this +piece of Bhang into her nostrils or drop it into her drink, and +thou shalt have of me as much money as will satisfy thee.' 'With +love and gladness;' replied the girl and took the Bhang from her, +being a glad woman because of the money and because aforetime she +had been one of Zubaydah's slaves. So she put the Bhang in my +drink, and when it was night drank, and the drug had no sooner +settled in my stomach than I fell to the ground, my head touching +my feet, and knew naught of my life but that I was in another +world. When her device succeeded, she bade put me in this chest, +and secretly brought in the slaves and the doorkeepers and bribed +them; and, on the night when thou wast perched upon the date +tree, she sent the blacks to do with me as thou sawest. So my +delivery was at thy hands, and thou broughtest me to this house +and hast entreated me honourably and with thy kindest. This is my +story, and I wot not what is become of the Caliph during my +absence. Know then my condition and divulge not my case." When +Ghanim heard her words and knew that she was a concubine of the +Caliph, he drew back, for awe of the Caliphate beset him, and sat +apart from her in one of the corners of the place, blaming +himself and brooding over his affair and patiencing his heart +bewildered for love of one he could not possess. Then he wept for +excess of longing, and plained him of Fortune and her injuries, +and the world and its enmities (and praise be to Him who causeth +generous hearts to be troubled with love and the beloved, and who +endoweth not the minds of the mean and miserly with so much of it +as eveneth a grain-weight!). So he began repeating, + +"The lover's heart for his beloved must meet * Sad pain, and from + her charms bear sore defeat: +What is Love's taste? They asked and answered I, * Sweet is the + taste but ah! 'tis bitter sweet." + +Thereupon Kut al-Kulub arose and took him to her bosom and kissed +him; for the love of him was firm fixed in her heart, so that she +disclosed to him her secret and all the affection she felt; and, +throwing her arms round Ghanim's neck like a collar of pearls, +kissed him again and yet again. But he held off from her in awe +of the Caliph. Then they talked together a long while (and indeed +both were drowned in the sea of their mutual love); and, as the +day broke, Ghanim rose and donned his clothes and going to the +bazar, as was his wont, took what the occasion required and +returned home. He found her weeping; but when she saw him she +checked herself and, smiling through her tears, said, "Thou hast +desolated me, O beloved of my heart. By Allah, this hour of +absence hath been to me like a year![FN#114] I have explained to +thee my condition in the excess of my eager love for thee; so +come now near me, and forget the past and have thy will of me." +But he interrupted her crying, "I seek refuge with Allah! This +thing may never be. How shall the dog sit in the lion's stead? +What is the lord's is unlawful to the slave!" So he with-drew +from her, and sat down on a corner of the mat. Her passion for +him increased with his forbearance; so she seated herself by his +side and caroused and played with him, till the two were flushed +with wine, and she was mad for her own dishonour. Then she sang +these verses, + +"The lover's heart is like to break in twain: * Till when these + coy denials ah! till when? +O thou who fliest me sans fault of mine, * Gazelles are wont at + times prove tame to men: +Absence, aversion, distance and disdain, * How shall young lover + all these ills sustain?" + +Thereupon Ghanim wept and she wept at his weeping, and they +ceased not drinking till nightfall, when he rose and spread two +beds, each in its place. "For whom is this second bed?" asked +she, and he answered her, "One is for me and the other is for +thee: from this night forth we must not sleep save thus, for that +which is the lord's is unlawful to the thrall." "O my master!" +cried she, "let us have done with this, for all things come to +pass by Fate and Fortune." But he refused, and the fire was +lighted in her heart and, as her longing waxed fiercer, she clung +to him and cried, "By Allah, we will not sleep save side by +side!" "Allah forefend!" he replied and prevailed against her and +lay apart till the morning, when love and longing redoubled on +her and distraction and eager thirst of passion. They abode after +this fashion three full told months, which were long and longsome +indeed, and every time she made advances to him, he would refuse +himself and say, "Whatever belongeth to the master is unlawful to +the man." Now when time waxed tiresome and tedious to her and +anguish and distress grew on her, she burst out from her +oppressed heart with these verses, + +"How long, rare beauty! wilt do wrong to me? * Who was it bade + thee not belong to me? +With outer charms thou weddest inner grace * Comprising every + point of piquancy: +Passion thou hast infused in every heart, * From eyelids driven + sleep by deputy: +Erst was (I wet) the spray made thin of leaf. * O Cassia spray! + Unlief thy sin I see:[FN#115] +The hart erst hunted I: how is 't I spy * The hunter hunted (fair + my hart!) by thee? +Wondrouser still I tell thee aye that I * Am trapped while never + up to trap thou be! +Ne'er grant my prayer! For if I grudge thyself * To thee, I + grudge my me more jealously +And cry so long as life belong to me, * Rare beauty how, how long + this wrong to me?" + +They abode in this state a long time, and fear kept Ghanim aloof +from her. So far concerning these two; but as regards the Lady +Zubaydah, when, in the Caliph's absence she had done this deed by +Kut al-Kulub she became perplexed, saying to herself, "What shall +I tell my cousin when he comes back and asks for her? What +possible answer can I make to him?" Then she called an old woman, +who was about her and discovered her secret to her saying, "How +shall I act seeing that Kut al-Kulub died by such untimely +death?" "O my lady," quoth the old crone, "the time of the +Caliph's return is near; so do thou send for a carpenter and bid +him make thee a figure of wood in the form of a corpse. We will +dig a grave for it midmost the palace and there bury it: then do +thou build an oratory over it and set therein lighted candles and +lamps, and order each and every in the palace to be clad in +black.[FN#116] Furthermore command thy handmaids and eunuchs as +soon as they know of the Caliph's returning from his journey, to +spread straw over the vestibule floors and, when the Commander of +the Faithful enters and asks what is the matter, let them say:-- +Kut al-Kulub is dead, and may Allah abundantly compensate thee +for the loss of her![FN#117]; and, for the high esteem in which +she was held of our mistress, she hath buried her in her own +palace. When he hears this he will weep and it shall be grievous +to him; then will he cause perfections of the Koran to be made +for her and he will watch by night at her tomb. Should he say to +himself, 'Verily Zubaydah, the daughter of my uncle, hath +compassed in her jealousy the death of Kut al-Kulub'; or, if love +longing overcome him and he bid her be taken out of her tomb, +fear thou not; for when they dig down and come to the image in +human shape he will see it shrouded in costly grave clothes; and, +if he wish to take off the winding sheet that he may look upon +her, do thou forbid him or let some other forbid him, saying, +'The sight of her nakedness is unlawful.' The fear of the world +to come will restrain him and he will believe that she is dead +and will restore the figure to its place and thank thee for thy +doings; and thus thou shalt escape, please Almighty Allah, from +this slough of despond." When the Lady Zubaydah heard her words, +she commended the counsel and gave her a dress of honour and a +large sum of money, ordering her to do all she had said. So the +old woman set about the business forthright and bade the +carpenter make her the afore said image; and, as soon as it was +finished, she brought it to the Lady Zubaydah, who shrouded it +and buried it and built a sepulchre over it, wherein they lighted +candles and lamps, and laid down carpets about the tomb. Moreover +she put on black and she spread abroad in the Harim that Kut +al-Kulub was dead. After a time the Caliph returned from his +journey and went up to the palace, thinking only of Kut al-Kulub. +He saw all the pages and eunuchs and handmaids habited in black, +at which his heart fluttered with extreme fear; and, when he went +in to the Lady Zubaydah, he found her also garbed in black. So he +asked the cause of this and they gave him tidings of the death of +Kut al-Kulub, whereon he fell a swooning. As soon as he came to +himself, he asked for her tomb, and the Lady Zubaydah said to +him, "Know, O Prince of the Faithful, that for especial honour I +have buried her in my own palace." Then he repaired in his +travelling garb[FN#118] to the tomb that he might wail over her, +and found the carpets spread and the candles and lamps lighted. +When he saw this, he thanked Zubaydah for her good deed and abode +perplexed, halting between belief and unbelief till at last +suspicion overcame him and he gave order to open the grave and +take out the body. When he saw the shroud and would have removed +it to look upon her, the fear of Allah Almighty restrained him, +and the old woman (taking advantage of the delay) said, "Restore +her to her place." Then he sent at once for Fakirs and Koran +readers, and caused perfections to be made over her tomb and sat +by the side of the grave, weeping till he fainted; and he +continued to frequent the tomb and sit there for a whole month,-- +And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph +ceased not to frequent the tomb for the period of a whole month, +at the end of which time it so happened one day that he entered +the Serraglio, after dismissing the Emirs and Wazirs, and lay +down and slept awhile; and there sat at his head a slave girl +fanning him, and at his feet a second rubbing and shampooing +them. Presently he awoke and, opening his eyes, shut them again +and heard the handmaid at his head saying to her who was at his +feet, "A nice business this, O Khayzarn!" and the other answered +her "Well, O Kazb al-Bn?"[FN#119] "Verily" said the first, "our +lord knoweth naught of what hath happened and sitteth waking and +watching by a tomb wherein is only a log of wood carved by the +carpenter's art." "And Kut al-Kulub," quoth the other, "what hath +befallen her?" She replied, "Know that the Lady Zubaydah sent a +pellet of Bhang by one of the slave women who was bribed to drug +her; and when sleep overpowered her she let put her in a chest, +and ordered Sawab and Kafur and Bukhayt to throw her amongst the +tombs." "What dost thou say, O Kazib al-Ban;" asked Khayzaran, +"is not the lady Kut al-Kulub dead?" "Nay, by Allah!" she +answered "and long may her youth be saved from death! but I have +heard the Lady Zubaydah say that she is in the house of a young +merchant named Ghanim bin Ayyub of Damascus, highs the +Distraught, the Thrall o' Love; and she hath been with him these +four months, whilst our lord is weeping and watching by night at +a tomb wherein is no corpse." They kept on talking this sort of +talk, and the Caliph gave ear to their words; and, by the time +they had ceased speaking, he knew right well that the tomb was a +feint and a fraud, and that Kut al-Kulub had been in Ghanim's +house for four months. Whereupon he was angered with exceeding +anger and rising up, he summoned the Emirs of his state; and his +Wazir Ja'afar the Barmaki came also and kissed the ground between +his hands. The Caliph said to him in fury, "Go down, O Ja'afar, +with a party of armed men and ask for the house of Ghanim son of +Ayyub: fall upon it and spoil it and bring him to me with my +slave girl, Kut al-Kulub, for there is no help but that I punish +him!" "To hear is to obey," said Ja'afar; and setting out with +the Governor and the guards and a world of people, repaired to +Ghanim's house. Now about that time the youth happened to have +brought back a pot of dressed meat and was about to put forth his +hand to eat of it, he and Kut al-Kulub, when the lady, happening +to look out saw calamity surrounding the house on every side; for +the Wazir and the Governor, the night guard and the Mamelukes +with swords drawn had girt it as the white of the eye girdeth the +black. At this she knew that tidings of her had reached the +Caliph, her lord; and she made sure of ruin, and her colour paled +and her fair features changed and her favour faded. Then she +turned to Ghanim and said to him, "O my love! fly for thy life!" +"What shall I do," asked he, "and whither shall I go, seeing that +my money and means of maintenance are all in this house?"; and +she answered, "Delay not lest thou be slain and lose life as well +as wealth." "O my loved one and light of mine eyes!" he cried, +"how shall I do to get away when they have surrounded the house?" +Quoth she, "Fear not;" and, stripping off his fine clothes, +dressed him in ragged old garments, after which she took the pot +and, putting in it bits of broken bread and a saucer of +meat,[FN#120] placed the whole in a basket and setting it upon +his head said, "Go out in this guise and fear not for me who +wotteth right well what thing is in my hand for the +Caliph."[FN#121] So he went out amongst them, bearing the basket +with its contents, and the Protector vouchsafed him His +protection and he escaped the snares and perils that beset him, +by the blessing of his good conscience and pure conduct. +Meanwhile Ja'afar dismounted and entering the house, saw Kut +al-Kulub who had dressed and decked herself in splendid raiments +and ornaments and filled a chest with gold and jewellery and +precious stones and rarities and what else was light to bear and +of value rare. When she saw Ja'afar come in, she rose and, +kissing the ground before him, said, "O my lord, the Reed hath +written of old the rede which Allah decreed!''[FN#122] "By Allah, +O my lady," answered Ja'afar, "he gave me an order to seize +Ghanim son of Ayyub;" and she rejoined, "O my lord, he made ready +his goods and set out therewith for Damascus and I know nothing +more of him; but I desire thee take charge of this chest and +deliver it to me in the Harim of the Prince of the Faithful." +"Hearing and obedience," said Ja'afar, and bade his men bear it +away to the head quarters of the Caliphate together with Kut +al-Kulub, commanding them to entreat her with honour as one in +high esteem. They did his bidding after they had wrecked and +plundered Ghanim's house. Then Ja'afar went in to the Caliph and +told him all that had happened, and he ordered Kut al-Kulub to be +lodged in a dark chamber and appointed an old women to serve her, +feeling convinced that Ghanim had debauched her and slept with +her. Then he wrote a mandate to the Emir Mohammed bin Sulayman +al-Zayni, his viceroy in Damascus, to this effect: "The instant +thou shalt receive this our letter, seize upon Ghanim bin Ayyub +and send him to us." When the missive came to the viceroy, he +kissed it and laid it on his head; then he let proclaim in the +bazars, "Whoso is desirous to plunder, away with him to the house +of Ghanim son of Ayyub."[FN#123] So they flocked thither, when +they found that Ghanim's mother and sister had built him a +tomb[FN#124] in the midst of the house and sat by it weeping for +him; whereupon they seized the two without telling them the cause +and, after spoiling the house, carried them before the viceroy. +He questioned them concerning Ghanim and both replied, "For a +year or more we have had no news of him." So they restored them +to their place. Thus far concerning them; but as regards Ghanim, +when he saw his wealth spoiled and his ruin utterest he wept over +himself till his heart well nigh brake. Then he fared on at +random till the last of the day, and hunger grew hard on him and +walking wearied him. So coming to a village he entered a +mosque[FN#125] where he sat down upon a mat and propped his back +against the wall; but presently he sank to the ground in his +extremity of famine and fatigue. There he lay till dawn, his +heart fluttering for want of food; and, owing to his sweating, +the lice[FN#126] coursed over his skin; his breath waxed fetid +and his whole condition was changed. When the villagers came to +pray the dawn prayer, they found him prostrate, ailing, hunger +lean, yet showing evident signs of former affluence. As soon as +prayers were over, they drew near him; and, understanding that he +was starved with hunger and cold, they gave him an old robe with +ragged sleeves and said to him, "O stranger, whence art thou and +what sickness is upon thee?" He opened his eyes and wept but +returned no answer; whereupon one of them, who saw that he was +starving, brought him a saucer of honey and two barley scones. He +ate a little and they sat with him till sun rise, when they went +to their work. He abode with them in this state for a month, +whilst sickness and weakliness grew upon him; and they wept for +him and, pitying his condition, took counsel with one another +upon his case and agreed to forward him to the hospital in +Baghdad.[FN#127] Meanwhile behold, two beggar women, who were +none other than Ghanim's mother and sister,[FN#128] came into the +mosque and, when he saw them, he gave them the bread that was at +his head; and they slept by his side that night but he knew them +not. Next day the villagers brought a camel and said to the +cameleer, "Set this sick man on thy beast and carry him to +Baghdad and put him down at the Spital door; so haply he may be +medicined and be healed and thou shalt have thy hire."[FN#129] +"To hear is to comply," said the man. So they brought Ghanim, who +was asleep, out of the mosque and set him, mat and all, on the +camel; and his mother and sister came out among the crowd to gaze +upon him, but they knew him not. However, after looking at him +and considering him carefully they said, "Of a truth he favours +our Ghanim, poor boy!; can this sick man be he?" Presently, he +woke and finding himself bound with ropes on a camel's back, he +began to weep and complain,[FN#130] and the village people saw +his mother and sister weeping over him, albeit they knew him not. +Then they fared forth for Baghdad, but the camel-man forewent +them and, setting Ghanim down at the Spital gate, went away with +his beast. The sick man lay there till dawn and, when the folk +began to go about the streets, they saw him and stood gazing on +him, for he had become as thin as a toothpick, till the Syndic of +the bazar came up and drove them away from him, saying, "I will +gain Paradise through this poor creature; for if they take him +into the Hospital, they will kill him in a single day."[FN#131] +Then he made his young men carry him to his house, where they +spread him a new bed with a new pillow,[FN#132] and he said to +his wife, "Tend him carefully;" and she replied, "Good! on my +head be it!" Thereupon she tucked up her sleeves and warming some +water, washed his hands, feet and body; after which she clothed +him in a robe belonging to one of her slave girls and made him +drink a cup of wine and sprinkled rose wafer over him. So he +revived and complained, and the thought of his beloved Kut +al-Kulub made his grief redouble. Thus far concerning him; but as +regards Kut al-Kulub, when the Caliph was angered against her,-- +And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Caliph was angered against Kut al-Kulub, he ordered her to a dark +chamber where she abode eighty days, at the end of which the +Caliph, happening to pass on a certain day the place where she +was, heard her repeating poetry, and after she ceased reciting +her verse, saying, "O my darling, O my Ghanim! how great is thy +goodness and how chaste is thy nature! thou didst well by one who +did ill by thee and thou guardedst his honour who garred thine +become dishonour, and his Harim thou didst protect who to enslave +thee and shine did elect! But thou shalt surely stand, thou and +the Commander of the Faithful, before the Just Judge, and thou +shalt be justified of him on the Day when the Lord (to whom be +honour and glory!) shall be Kazi and the Angels of Heaven shall +be witnesses!" When the Caliph heard her com plaint, he knew that +she had been wronged and, returning to the palace, sent Masrur +the Eunuch for her. She came before him with bowed head and eyes +tearful and heart sorrowful; and he said to her, "O Kut al-Kulub, +I find thou accuses me of tyranny and oppression, and thou +avouches that I have done ill by one who did well by me. Who is +this who hath guarded my honour while I garred his become +dishonour? Who protected my Harim and whose Harim I wrecked?" "He +is Ghanim son of Ayyub," replied she, "for he never approached me +in wantonness or with lewd intent, I swear by thy munificence, O +Commander of the Faithful!" Then said the Caliph, "There is no +Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! Ask what thou wilt +of me, O Kut al-Kulub." "O Prince of the Faithful!", answered +she, "I require of thee only my beloved Ghanim son of Ayyub." He +did as she desired, whereupon she said, "O Lord of the Moslems, +if I bring him to thy presence, wilt thou bestow me on him?"; and +he replied, "If he come into my presence, I will give thee to him +as the gift of the generous who revoketh not his largesse." "O +Prince of True Believers," quoth she, "suffer me to go and seek +him; haply Allah may unite me with him:" and quoth he, "Do even +as thou wilt." So she rejoiced and, taking with her a thousand +diners in gold, went out and visited the elders of the various +faiths and gave alms in Ghanim's name.[FN#133] Next day she +walked to the merchants' bazar and disclosed her object to the +Syndic and gave him money, saying, "Bestow this in charity to the +stranger!" On the following Friday she fared to the bazar (with +other thousand diners) and, entering the goldsmiths' and +jewellers' market street, called the Chief and presented to him a +thousand diners with these words, "Bestow this in charity to the +stranger!" The Chief looked at her (and he was the Syndic who had +taken in Ghanim) and said, "O my lady, wilt thou come to my house +and look upon a youth, a stranger I have there and see how goodly +and graceful he is?" Now the stranger was Ghanim, son of Ayyub, +but the Chief had no knowledge of him and thought him to be some +wandering pauper, some debtor whose wealth had been taken from +him, or some lover parted from his beloved. When she heard his +words her heart fluttered[FN#134] and her vitals yearned, and she +said to him, "Send with me one who shall guide me to thy house." +So he sent a little lad who brought her to the house wherein was +the head man's stranger guest and she thanked him for this. When +she reached the house, she went in and saluted the Syndic's wife, +who rose and kissed the ground between her hands, for she knew +her. Then quoth Kut al-Kulub, "Where is the sick man who is with +thee?" She wept and replied, "Here is he, O my lady; by Allah, he +is come of good folk and he beareth the signs of gentle breeding: +you see him lying on yonder bed." So she turned and looked at +him: and she saw something like him, but he was worn and wasted +till he had become lean as a toothpick, so his identity was +doubtful to her and she could not be certain that it was he. Yet +pity for him possessed her and she wept saying, "Verily the +stranger is unhappy, even though he be a prince in his own +land!"; and his case was grievous to her and her heart ached for +him, yet she knew him not to be Ghanim. Then she furnished him +with wine and medicines and she sat awhile by his head, after +which she mounted and returned to her palace and continued to +visit every bazar in quest of her lover. Meanwhile Ghanim's +mother and sister Fitnah arrived at Baghdad and met the Syndic, +who carried them to Kut al-Kulub and said to her, "O Princess of +beneficent ladies, there came to our city this day a woman and +her daughter, who are fair of favour and signs of good breeding +and dignity are apparent in them, though they be dressed in hair +cloth and have each one a wallet hanging to her neck; and their +eyes are tearful and their hearts are sorrowful. So I have +brought them to thee that thou mayst give them refuge, and rescue +them from beggary, for they are not of asker folk and, if it +please Allah, we shall enter Paradise through them." "By Allah, O +my master," cried she, "thou makest me long to see them! Where +are they?", adding, "Here with them to me!" So he bade the eunuch +bring them in; and, when she looked on them and saw that they +were both of distinguished beauty, she wept for them and said, +"By Allah, these are people of condition and show plain signs of +former opulence." "O my lady," said the Syndic's wife, "we love +the poor and the destitute, more especially as reward in Heaven +will recompense our love; and, as for these persons, haply the +oppressor hath dealt hardly with them and hath plundered their +property and harried their houses." Then Ghanim's mother and +sister wept with sore weeping, remembering their former +prosperity and contrasting it with their present poverty and +miserable condition; and their thoughts dwelt upon son and +brother, whilst Kut al-Kulub wept for their weeping; and they +said, "We beseech Allah to reunite us with him whom we desire, +and he is none other but my son named Ghanim bin Ayyud!" When Kut +al-Kulub heard this, she knew them to be the mother and sister of +her lover and wept till a swoon came over her. When she revived +she turned to them and said, "Have no fear and sorrow not, for +this day is the first of your prosperity and the last of your +adversity!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Kut +al-Kulub had consoled them she bade the Syndic lead them to his +house and let his wife carry them to the Hammam and dress them in +handsome clothes and take care of them and honour them with all +honour; and she gave him a sufficient sum of money. Next day, she +mounted and, riding to his house, went in to his wife who rose up +and kissed her hands and thanked her for her kindness. There she +saw Ghanim's mother and sister whom the Syndic's wife had taken +to the Hammam and clothed afresh, so that the traces of their +former condition became manifest upon them. She sat talking with +them awhile, after which she asked the wife about the sick youth +who was in her house and she replied, "He is in the same state." +Then said Kut al-Kulub, "Come, let us go and visit him." So she +arose, she and the Chief's wife and Ghanim's mother and sister, +and went in to the room where he lay and sat down near him. +Presently Ghanim bin Ayyub, the Distraught, the Thrall o' Love, +heard them mention the name of Kut al-Kulub; whereupon life +returned to him, emaciated and withered as he was and he raised +his head from the pillow and cried aloud, "O Kut al-Kulub!" She +looked at him and made certain it was he and shrieked rather than +said, "Yes, O my beloved!" "Draw near to me;" said he, and she +replied, "Surely thou art Ghanim bin Ayyub?"; and he rejoined "I +am indeed!" Hereupon a swoon came upon her; and, as soon as +Ghanim's mother and his sister Fitnah heard these words, both +cried out "O our joy'" and fainted clean away. When they all +recovered, Kut al-Kulub exclaimed "Praise be to Allah who hath +brought us together again and who hath reunited thee with thy +mother and thy sister!" And she related to him all that had +befallen her with the Caliph and said "I have made known the +truth to the Commander of the Faithful, who believed my words and +was pleased with thee; and now he desireth to see thee," adding, +"He hath given me to thee." Thereat he rejoiced with extreme joy, +when she said, "Quit not this place till I come back" and, rising +forthwith, betook herself to her palace. There she opened the +chest which she had brought from Ghanim's house and, taking out +some of the diners, gave them to the Syndic saying, "Buy with +this money for each of them four complete suits of the finest +stuffs and twenty kerchiefs, and else beside of whatsoever they +require;" after which she carried all three to the baths and had +them washed and bathed and made ready for them consomms, and +galangale-water and cider against their coming out. When they +left the Hammam, they put on the new clothes, and she abode with +them three days feeding them with chicken meats and bouillis, and +making them drink sherbert of sugar candy. After three days their +spirits returned; and she carried them again to the baths, and +when they came out and had changed their raiment, she led them +back to the Syndic's house and left them there, whilst she +returned to the palace and craved permission to see the Caliph. +When he ordered her to come in, she entered and, kissing the +ground between his hands, told him the whole story and how her +lord, Ghanim bin Ayyub, yclept the Distraught, the Thrall o' +Love, and his mother and sister were now in Baghdad. When the +Caliph heard this, he turned to the eunuchs and said, "Here with +Ghanim to me." So Ja'afar went to fetch him; but Kut al-Kulub +forewent him and told Ghanim, "The Caliph hath sent to fetch thee +before him," and charged him to show readiness of tongue and +firmness of heart and sweetness of speech. Then she robed him in +a sumptuous dress and gave him diners in plenty, saying, "Be +lavish of largesse to the Caliph's household as thou goest in to +him." Presently Ja'afar, mounted on his Nubian mule, came to +fetch him; and Ghanim advanced to welcome the Wazir and, wishing +him long life, kissed the ground before him. Now the star of his +good fortune had risen and shone brightly; and Ja'afar took him; +and they ceased not faring together, he and the Minister, till +they went in to the Commander of the Faithful. When he stood in +the presence, he looked at the Wazirs and Emirs and Chamberlains, +and Viceroys and Grandees and Captains, and then at the Caliph. +Hereupon he sweetened his speech and his eloquence and, bowing +his head to the ground, broke out in these extempore couplets, + +"May that Monarch's life span a mighty span, * Whose lavish of + largesse all Empyrean! lieges scan: +None other but he shall be Kaysar highs, * Lord of lordly hall + and of haught Divan: +Kings lay their gems on his threshold-dust * As they bow and + salam to the mighty man; +And his glances foil them and all recoil, * Bowing beards aground + and with faces wan: +Yet they gain the profit of royal grace, * The rank and station + of high +Earth's plain is scant for thy world of men, * Camp there in Kay + wan's[FN#135] Empyrean! +May the King of Kings ever hold thee dear; * Be counsel shine and + right steadfast plan +Till thy justice spread o'er the wide spread earth * And the near + and the far be of equal worth." + +When he ended his improvisation the Caliph was pleased by it and +marvelled at the eloquence of his tongue and the sweetness of his +speech,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph, +after marvelling at his eloquence of tongue and sweetness of +speech, said to him, "Draw near to me." So he drew near and quoth +the King, "Tell me thy tale and declare to me thy case." So +Ghanim sat down and related to him what had befallen him in +Baghdad, of his sleeping in the tomb and of his opening the chest +after the three slaves had departed, and informed him, in short, +of everything that had happened to him from commencement to +conclusion none of which we will repeat for interest fails in +twice told tales. The Caliph was convinced that he was a true +man; so he invested him with a dress of honour, and placed him +near himself in token of favour, and said to him, "Acquit me of +the responsibility I have incurred.''[FN#136] And Ghanim so did, +saying, "O our lord the Sultan, of a truth thy slave and all +things his two hands own are his master's." The Caliph was +pleased at this and gave orders to set apart a palace for him and +assigned to him pay and allowances, rations and donations, which +amounted to something immense. So he removed thither with sister +and mother; after which the Caliph, hearing that his sister +Fitnah was in beauty a very "fitnah,"[FN#137] a mere seduction, +demanded her in marriage of Ghanim who replied, "She is thy +handmaid as I am thy slave." The Caliph thanked him and gave him +an hundred thousand diners, then summoned the witnesses and the +Kazi, and on one and the same day they wrote out the two +contracts of marriage between the Caliph and Fitnah and between +Ghanim bin Ayyub and Kut al-Kulub; and the two marriages were +consummated on one and the same night. When it was morning, the +Caliph gave orders to record the history of what had befallen +Ghanim from first to last and to deposit it in the royal muniment +rooms, that those who came after him might read it and marvel at +the dealings of Destiny and put their trust in Him who created +the night and the day. Yet, O auspicious King, this story to +which thou hast deigned give ear is on no wise more wondrous than +the + + + + + Tale Of King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons Sharrkan + And Zau Al-Makan, + + + And What Befel Them of Things Seld-Seen and Peregrine.[FN#138] + + + +The King asked her, "And what was their story?" and she answered: +It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that there was in the City +of Safety, Baghdad, before the Caliphate of Abd al-Malik bin +Marwn,[FN#139] a King, Omar bin al-Nu'umn highs, who was of the +mighty giants and had subjected the Chosros of Persia and the +Kaysars of Eastern Rome; for none could warm himself at his +fire;[FN#140] nor could any avail to meet him in the field of +foray and fray; and, when he was angered, there came forth from +his nostrils sparks of flame. He had made himself King over all +quarters, and Allah had subjected to him all His creatures; his +word went forth to all great cities and his hosts had harried the +farthest lands. East and West had come under his command with +whatsoever regions lay interspersed between them, Hind and Sind +and Sin,[FN#141] the Holy Land, Al-Hijaz, the rich mountains of +Al-Yaman and the archipelagos of India and China. Moreover, he +reigned supreme over the north country and Diyr Bakr, or +Mesopotamia, and over Sudn, the Eastern Negro land and the +Islands of the Ocean, and all the far famed rivers of the earth, +Sayhn and Jayhn,[FN#142] Nile and Euphrates. He sent envoys +and ambassadors to capitals the most remote, to provide him with +true report; and they would bring back tidings of justice and +peace, with assurance of loyalty and obedience and of prayers in +the pulpits for King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; for he was, O Ruler of +the Age, a right noble King; and there came to him presents of +rarities and toll and tribute from all lands of his governing. +This mighty monarch had a son yclept Sharrkan,[FN#143] who was +likest of all men to his father and who proved himself one of the +prodigies of his time for subduing the brave and bringing his +contemporaries to bane and ban. For this his father loved him +with love so great none could be greater, and made him heir to +the kingdom after himself. This Prince grew up till he reached +man's estate and was twenty years old, and Allah subjected His +servants to him, by reason of his great might and prowess in +battle. Now his father, King Omar, had four wives legally +married, but Allah had vouchsafed him no son by them, save +Sharrkan, whom he had begotten upon one of them, and the rest +were barren. Moreover he had three hundred and sixty concubines, +after the number of days in the Coptic year, who were of all +nations; and he had furnished for each and every a private +chamber within his own palace. For he had built twelve +pavilions, after the number of the months, each containing thirty +private chambers, which thus numbered three hundred and three +score, wherein he lodged his handmaids: and he appointed +according to law for each one her night, when he lay with her and +came not again to her for a full year;[FN#144] and on this wise +he abode for a length of time. Meanwhile his son Sharrkan was +making himself renowned in all quarters of the world and his +father was proud of him and his might waxed and grew mightier; so +that he passed all bounds and bore himself masterfully and took +by storm castles and cities. Presently, by decree of the +Decreer, a handmaid among the handmaids of Omar bin Nu'uman +became pregnant; and, her pregnancy being announced to the Harim, +the King was informed thereof; whereupon he rejoiced with +exceeding joy and said, "Haply it will be a son, and so all my +offspring will be males!" Then he documented the date of her +conception and entreated her with all manner of kindness. But +when the tidings came to Sharrkan, he was troubled and the matter +seemed to him a sore one and a grievous; and he said, "Verily one +cometh who shall dispute with me the sovereignty:" so quoth he to +himself, "If this concubine bear a male child I will kill it:" +but he kept that intention hidden in his heart. Such was the +case with Sharrkan; but what happened in the matter of the damsel +was as follows. She was a Roumiyah, a Greek girl, by name +Sofiyah or Sophia,[FN#145] whom the King of Roum and Lord of +Csarea had sent to King Omar as a present, together with great +store of gifts and of rarities: she was the fairest of favour and +loveliest of all his handmaids and the most regardful of her +honour; and she was gifted with a wit as penetrating as her +presence was fascinating. Now she had served the King on the +night of his sleeping with her, saying to him, "O King! I desire +of the God of the Heavens that he bless thee this night with a +male child by me, so I may bring him up with the best of rearing, +and enable him to reach man's estate perfect in intelligence, +good manners and prudent bearing"[FN#146]--a speech which much +pleased the King. During her pregnancy she was instant in +prayer, fervently supplicating the Lord to bless her with a +goodly male child and make his birth easy to her; and Allah heard +her petition so that after her months were accomplished she sat +safely upon the birth stool.[FN#147] Now the King had deputed a +eunuch to let him know if the child she should bring forth were +male or female; and in like way his son Sharrkan had sent one to +bring him tidings of the same. In due time Sophia was delivered +of a child, which the midwives examined and found to be a girl +with a face sheenier than the moon. So they announced this to +all present in the room, whereupon the King's messenger carried +the news to him; and Sharrkan's eunuch did the like with his +master who rejoiced with exceeding joy. But, after the two had +departed, quoth Sophia to the midwives, "Wait with me awhile, for +I feel as if there were still somewhat in my womb." Then she +cried out and the pains of child bed again took her; and Allah +made it easy to her and she gave birth to a second child. The +wise women looked at it and found it a boy like the full moon, +with forehead flower white, and cheek ruddy bright with rosy +light; whereupon the mother rejoiced, as did the eunuchs and +attendants and all the company; and Sophia was delivered of the +after birth whilst all in the palace sent forth the trill of +joy.[FN#148] The rest of the concubines heard it and envied her +lot; and the tidings reached Omar son of Al- Nu'uman, who was +glad and rejoiced at the excellent news. Then he rose and went +to her and kissed her head, after which he looked at the boy; +and, bending over him, kissed him, whilst the damsels struck the +tabors and played on instruments of music; and the King gave +order that the boy should be named Zau al-Makn and his sister +Nuzhat al-Zamn.[FN#149] They answered "Hearing and obedience," +and did his bidding; so he appointed wet nurses and dry nurses +and eunuchs and attendants to serve them; and assigned them +rations of sugar and diet drinks and unguents and else beside, +beyond the power of tongue to rehearse. Moreover the people of +Baghdad, hearing that Allah had blessed their King with issue, +decorated the city and made proclamation of the glad tidings with +drum and tom tom; and the Emirs and Wazirs and high dignitaries +came to the palace and wished King Omar bin al-Nu'uman joy of his +son, Zau al-Makan, and of his daughter Nuzhat al-Zaman, wherefore +he thanked them and bestowed on them dresses of honour and +further favoured them with gifts, and dealt largesse to all, +gentle and simple, who were present. After this fashion he did +for four days full told, and he lavished upon Sophia raiment and +ornaments and great store of wealth; and, every few days he would +send a messenger to ask after her and the new-borns. And when +four years had gone by, he provided her with the wherewithal to +rear the two children carefully and educate them with the best of +instructions. All this while his son Sharrkan knew not that a +male child had been born to his father, Omar son of Al-Nu'uman, +having news only that he had been blessed with the birth of +Nuzhat al-Zaman; and they hid the intelligence from him, until +days and years had sped by, whilst he was busied in battling with +the brave and fighting single handed against the knights. One +day, as King Omar was sitting in his palace, his Chamberlains +came in to him and, kissing the ground before him, said, "O King +there be come Ambassadors from the King of Roum, Lord of +Constantinople the Great, and they desire admission to thee and +submission to thy decree: if the King commend us to introduce +them we will so do; and, if not, there is no disputing his +behest." He bade them enter and, when they came in, he turned to +them and, courteously receiving them, asked them of their case, +and what was the cause of their coming. They kissed the ground +before him and said, "O King glorious and strong! O lord of the +arm that is long! know that he who despatched us to thee is King +Afrdn,[FN#150] Lord of Ionia land[FN#151] and of the Nazarene +armies, the sovereign who is firmly established in the empery of +Constantinople, to acquaint thee that he is now waging fierce war +and fell with a tyrant and a rebel, the Prince of Casarea; and +the cause of this war is as follows. One of the Kings of the +Arabs in past time, during certain of his conquests, chanced upon +a hoard of the time of Alexander,[FN#152] whence he removed +wealth past compute; and, amongst other things, three round +jewels, big as ostrich eggs, from a mine of pure white gems whose +like was never seen by man. Upon each were graven characts in +Ionian characters, and they have many virtues and properties, +amongst the rest that if one of these jewels be hung round the +neck of a new-born child, no evil shall befal him and he shall +neither wail, nor shall fever ail him as long as the jewel remain +without fail.[FN#153] When the Arab King laid hands upon them and +learned their secrets, he sent to King Afridun presents of +certain rarities and amongst them the three jewels afore +mentioned; and he equipped for the mission two ships, one bearing +the treasure and the other men of might to guard it from any who +might offer hindrance on the high seas, albeit well assured that +none would dare waylay his vessels, for that he was King of the +Arabs, and more by token that their course lay over waters +subject to the King of Constantinople and they were bound to his +port; nor were there on the shores of that sea any save the +subjects of the Great King, Afridun. The two ships set out and +voyaged till they drew near our city, when there sallied out on +them certain corsairs from that country and amongst them troops +from the Prince of Caesarea, who took all the treasures and +rarities in the ships, together with the three jewels, and slew +the crews. When our King heard of this, he sent an army against +them, but they routed it; then he marched a second and a stronger +but they put this also to flight,--whereupon the King waxed wroth +and swore that he would not go forth[FN#154] against them save in +his own person at the head of his whole army; nor would he turn +back from them till he had left Caesarea, of Armenia[FN#155] in +ruins and had laid waste all the lands and cities over which her +Prince held sway. So he sent us to the Lord of the age and the +time, Sultan Omar bin al-Nu'uman, King of Baghdad and of +Khorasan, desiring that he aid us with an army, so may honour and +glory accrue to him; and he hath also forwarded by us somewhat of +various kinds of presents, and of the King's grace he beggeth +their acceptance and the friendly boon of furtherance." Then the +Ambassadors kissed the ground before him,--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that, after the +Ambassadors and retinue from the Constantinopolitan King had +kissed the ground before Omar and had delivered their embassage, +they brought out the presents, which were fifty damsels of the +choicest from Graecia-land, and fifty Mamelukes in tunics of +brocade, belted with girdles of gold and silver, each wearing in +his ears hoops of gold with pendants of fine pearls costing a +thousand ducats every one. The girls were adorned in like +fashion and were clad in stuffs worth a treasury of money. When +the King saw them, he rejoiced in them and accepted them; then he +bade the Ambassadors be honourably entreated and, summoning his +Wazirs, took counsel with them of what he should do. Herewith +rose up among them a Wazir, an ancient man, Dandan[FN#156] highs, +who kissed the ground before Omar and said, "O King, there is +nothing better to do in this matter than equip an army valiant +and victorious, and set over it thy son Sharrkan with us as his +lieutenants; and this rede commendeth itself to me on two counts; +first, because the King of Roum hath invoked thine assistance and +hath sent thee gifts which thou hast accepted; and, secondly, +because while no enemy dareth attack our country, thine army may +go forth safely and, should it succour the King of Graecia-land +and defeat his foe, the glory will be thine. Moreover, the news +of it will be noised abroad in all cities and countries and +especially, when the tidings shall reach the Islands of the Ocean +and the Kings of Mauritania shall hear it, they will send thee +offerings of rarities and pay thee tribute of money." The King +pleased by the Wazir's words and approving his rede, gave him a +dress of honour and said to him, "Of the like of thee should +Kings ask counsel, and it seemeth fit that thou shouldst conduct +the van of our army and our son Sharrkan command the main +battle." Then he sent for his son who came and kissed ground +before him and sat down; and he expounded to him the matter, +telling him what the Ambassadors and the Wazir Dandan had said, +and he charged him to take arms and equip himself for the +campaign, enjoining him not to gainsay Dandan in aught he should +do. Moreover, he ordered him to pick out of his army ten +thousand horsemen, armed cap--pie and inured to onset and stress +of war. Accordingly, Sharrkan arose on the instant, and chose +out a myriad of horsemen, after which he entered his palace and +mustered his host and distributed largesse to them, saying, "Ye +have delay of three days." They kissed the earth before him in +obedience to his commands and began at once to lay in munitions, +and provide provisions for the occasion; whilst Sharrkan repaired +to the armouries and took therefrom whatsoever he required of +arms and armour, and thence to the stable where he chose horses +of choice blood and others. When the appointed three days were +ended, the army drew out to the suburbs of Baghdad city;[FN#157] +and King Omar came forth to take leave of his son who kissed the +ground before him and received from the King seven parcels of +money.[FN#158] Then he turned to Danden and commended to his care +the army of his son; and the Wazir kissed the ground before him +and answered, "I hear and I obey;" and lastly he charged Sharrkan +that he should consult the Wazir on all occasions, which he +promised to do. After this, the King returned to his city and +Sharrkan ordered the officers to muster their troops in battle +array. So they mustered them and their number was ten thousand +horsemen, besides footmen and camp followers. Then they loaded +their baggage on their beasts and the war drums beat and the +trumpets blared and the bannerols and standards were unfurled, +whilst Sharrkan mounted horse, with the Wazir Dandan by his side, +and the colours fluttering over their heads. So the host fared +forth and stinted not faring, with the ambassadors preceding +them, till day departed and night drew nigh, when they alighted +and encamped for the night. And as soon as Allah caused the morn +tomorrow, they mounted and tried on, guided by the Ambassadors, +for a space of twenty days; and by the night of the twenty first +they came to a fine and spacious Wady well grown with trees and +shrubbery. Here Sharrkan ordered them to alight and commanded a +three days' halt, so they dismounted and pitched their tents, +spreading their camp over the right and the left slopes of the +extensive valley, whilst the Wazir Dandan and the Ambassadors of +King Afridun pitched in the sole of the Wady.[FN#159] As for +Sharrkan, he tarried behind them for awhile till all had +dismounted and had dispersed themselves over the valley sides; he +then slacked the reins of his steed, being minded to explore the +Wady and to mount guard in his own person, because of his +father's charge and owing to the fact that they were on the +frontier of Graecia land and in the enemy's country. So he rode +out alone after ordering his armed slaves and his body guard to +camp near the Wazir Dandan, and he fared on along the side of the +valley till a fourth part of the night was passed, when he felt +tired and drowsiness overcame him, so that he could no longer +urge horse with heel. Now he was accustomed to take rest on +horseback; so when slumber overpowered him, he slept and the +steed ceased not going on with him till half the night was spent +and entered one of the thickets[FN#160] which was dense with +growth; but Sharrkan awoke not until his horse stumbled over +wooded ground. Then he started from sleep and found himself +among the trees, and the moon arose and shone brightly over the +two horizons, Eastern and Western. He was startled when he found +himself alone in this place and said the say which ne'er yet +shamed its sayer, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save +in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" But as he rode on, in fear of +wild beasts, behold, the moon spread her glad light over a meadow +as if it were of the meads of Paradise; and he heard pleasant +voices and a loud noise of talk and laughter captivating the +senses of men. So King Sharrkan alighted and, tying his steed to +one of the trees, went over a little way till he came upon a +stream and heard a woman talking in Arabic and saying, "Now by +the crush of the Messiah, this is not well of you! but whose +utters a word, I will throw her and truss her up with her own +girdle[FN#161]!" He kept walking in the direction of the sound +and when he reached the further side he looked and behold, a +stream was gushing and flowing, and antelopes at large were +frisking and roving, and wild cattle amid the pasture moving, and +birds expressed joy and gladness in their divers tongues, and +that place was purfled with all manner flowers and green herbs, +even as a poet described it in these couplets, + +"Most beautiful is earth in budding bloom, * When lucid waters + course through plain and wood: +No work but His th' All great, th' All glorious, * Giver of all + gifts, Giver of all good!" + +And as Sharrkan considered the place, he saw in it a Christian +Monastery within whose enceinte a castle towered high in air +catching the light of the moon.[FN#162] Through the midst of the +convent passed a stream, the water flowing amongst its gardens; +and upon the bank sat the woman whose voice he had heard, while +before her stood ten handmaids like moons and wearing various +sorts of raiment and ornaments that dazed and dazzled the +beholder, high bosomed virgins, as saith of them the poet in +these couplets, + +"The mead is bright with what is on't * Of merry maidens + debonnair: +Double its beauty and its grace * Those trooping damsels slender- + fair: +Virgins of graceful swimming gait * Ready with eye and lip to + ensnare; +And like the tendril'd vine they loose * The rich profusion of + their hair: +Shooting their shafts and arrows from * Beautiful eyes beyond + compare; +Overpowering and transpiercing * Every froward adversaire." + +Sharrkan gazed upon the ten girls and saw in their midst a lady +like the moon at fullest, with ringleted hair and forehead sheeny +white, and eyes wondrous wide and black and bright, and temple +locks like the scorpion's tail; and she was perfect in essence +and attributes, as the poet said of her in these couplets, + +"She beamed on my sight with a wondrous glance, * And her + straight slender stature enshamed the lance: +She burst on my sight with cheeks rosy red, * Where all manner of + beauties have habitance: +And the locks on her forehead were lowering as night * Whence + issues a dawn tide of happiest chance." + +Then Sharrkan heard her say to the handmaids, "Come ye on, that I +may wrestle with you and gravel you, ere the moon set and the +dawn break!" So each came up to her in turn and she grounded them +forthright, and pinioned them with their girdles, and ceased not +wrestling and pitching them until she had overthrown one and all. +Then there turned to her an old woman who was before her, and the +beldam said as in wrath, "O strumpet, cost thou glory in +grounding these girls? Behold I am an old woman, yet have I +thrown them forty times! So what hast thou to boast of? But if +thou have the strength to wrestle with me, stand up that I may +grip thee and set thy head between thy heels!" The young lady +smiled at her words, but she was filled with inward wrath, and +she jumped up and asked, "O my lady Zat al-Dawahi,[FN#163] by the +truth of the Messiah, wilt thou wrestle with me in very deed, or +dost thou jest with me?"; and she answered, "Yea,"--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +young lady asked Zat al-Dawahi, "By the truth of the Messiah, +wilt wrestle with me or dost jest?", and she answered, "Yea, I +will wrestle with thee in very deed" (Sharrkan looking on the +while), the damsel cried, "Rise up for the fall an thou have +spunk so to do." When the old woman heard this, she raged with +exceeding rage, and her body hair stood on end like the bristles +of a fretful hedgehog.[FN#164] Then she sprang to her feet, +whilst the damsel stood up to her, and said, "Now by the truth of +the Messiah, I will not wrestle with thee unless I be naked, +Mistress whore!"[FN#165] So she loosed her petticoat trousers +and, putting her hand under her clothes, tore them off her body; +then twisted up a silken kerchief into cord shape, girt it round +her middle and became as she were a scald head If ritah or a +spotted snake. With this she inclined towards the damsel and +said, "Do thou as I have done." All this time, Sharrkan was +gazing at the twain, and laughing at the beldam's loathly +semblance. So the damsel leisurely rose and, taking a sash of +Yamani stuff, passed it twice round her waist, then she tucked up +her trousers and displayed two calves of alabaster carrying a +mound of crystal, smooth and rounded, and a stomach which exhaled +musk from its dimples, as it were a bed of Nu'uman's anemones; +and breasts like double pomegranates. Then the old woman leant +towards her, and the two laid hold either of each, while Sharrkan +raised his head Heavenwards and prayed Allah that the belle might +beat the beldam. Presently the young woman get beneath the old +woman; and, gripping her waist cloth with the left and circling +her neck with the right hand, hoisted her off the ground with +both; whereupon the old woman strove to free herself and, in so +doing fell on her back arsiversy, with her legs high in air and +her hairy bush between them showed manifest in the moonshine; +furthermore she let fly two great farts[FN#166] one of which blew +up the dust from the earth's face and the other steamed up to the +gate of Heaven. Sharrkan laughed till he fell back upon the +ground. Then he arose and, baring his brand looked right and +left, but he saw no one save the old woman sprawling on her back, +and said to himself, "He lied not who named thee Lady of +Calamities! Verily thou knewest her prowess by her performance +upon the others." So he drew near them to hear what should pass +between them. Then the young lady went up to the old one and, +throwing a wrapper of thin silk upon her nakedness, helped her to +don her clothes and made excuses saying, "O my lady Zat al- +Dawahi, I intended only to throw thee and not all this, but thou +triedst to twist out of my hands; so laud to Allah for safety!" +She returned her no answer, but rose in her shame and walked away +till out of sight, leaving the handmaids prostrate and pinioned, +with the fair damsel standing amongst them. Quoth Sharrkan to +himself, "Every luck hath its cause. Sleep did not fall upon me +nor the war horse bear me hither save for my good fortune; for +doubtless this maid and what is with her shall become booty to +me." So he made towards his steed and mounted and heeled[FN#167] +him on, when he sped as the shaft speeds from the bow and in his +hand he still hent his brand bare of sheath, which he brandished +shouting the while his war cry, "Allah is All mighty[FN#168]!" +When the damsel saw him she sprang to her feet and, taking firm +stand on the bank of the stream, whose breadth was six ells, the +normal cubits, made one bound and landed clear on the farther +side,[FN#169] where she turned and cried out with a loud voice, +"Who art thou, O thou fellow, that breakest in upon our privacy +and pastime, and that too hanger in hand as if charging a host? +Whence camest thou and whither art thou going? Speak sooth, for +truth will stand thee in good stead, and lie not, for lies come +of villein breed Doubtless thou hast wandered this night from thy +way, that thou chancedst upon this place whence escape were the +greatest of mercies; for thou art now in an open plain and, did +we shout but a single shout, would come to our rescue four +thousand knights.[FN#170] So tell me what thou wantest; and if +thou wouldst only have us set thee on the right road, we will do +so." When Sharrkan heard her words he replied, "I am a stranger +of the Moslems, who fared forth this night single handed, seeking +for spoil; nor could this moonlight show me a fairer booty than +these ten maidens; so I shall seize them and rejoin my comrades +with them." Quoth she, "I would have thee know that as for the +booty thou hast not come at it; and, as for the handmaids, by +Allah, they shall never be thy spoil. Have I not told thee that +to lie is villein vile?" Quoth he, "The wise man is he who taketh +warning by others." Thereupon quoth she, "By the truth of the +Messiah, did I not fear that thy death would be on my hands, I +would shout a shout should fill the mead for thee with war steeds +and with men of might, but I take pity upon the stranger. So, if +thou seek booty, I require of thee that thou alight from thy +steed and swear to me, by thy faith, that thou wilt not advance +against me aught like arms in hand, and we will wrestle, I and +thou. If thou throw me, set me on thy steed and take all of us +to thy booty; but if I throw thee, thou shalt become under my +command. Swear this to me, for I fear thy treachery: indeed it +hath become a common saw, 'Where Perfidy is innate there Trust is +a weakly mate.' Now an thou wilt swear I will return and draw +near to thee and tackle thee." Answered Sharrkan (and indeed he +lusted to seize her and said in his soul, "Truly she knoweth not +that I am a champion of champions"); "Swear me by what oath thou +wilt and by what thou deemest most binding, and I will not +approach thee with aught till thou hast made thy preparation and +sayest, 'Draw near that I wrestle with thee.' If thou throw me, I +have money where withal to ransom myself; and if I throw thee, +'twill be booty and booty enough for me!" Rejoined the damsel, "I +am content herewith!" and Sharrkan was astounded at her words and +said, "And by the truth of the Apostle (whom Allah bless and +keep!) I too am content on the other part!" Then said she, "Swear +to me by Him who sprite in body dight and dealt laws to rule man +kind aright, that thou wilt not offer me aught of violence save +by way of wrestling; else mayst thou die without the pale of Al- +Islam." Sharrkan replied, "By Allah! were a Kazi to swear me, +even though he were a Kazi of the Kazis,[FN#171] he would not +impose upon me such an oath as this!" Then he sware to her by all +she named and tied his steed to a tree; but he was drowned in the +sea of thought, saying in himself, "Praise be to Him who +fashioned her from dirty water!"[FN#172] Then he girt himself and +made ready for wrestling, and said to her, "Cross the stream to +me;" but she replied, "It is not for me to come over to thee: if +thou wilt, pass thou over here to me." "I cannot do that," quoth +he, and quoth she, "O boy, I will come across to thee." So she +tucked up her skirts and, leaping, landed on the other side of +the stream by his side; whereupon he drew near to her and bent +him forwards and clapped palms.[FN#173] But he was confounded by +her beauty and loveliness; for he saw a shape which the Hand of +Power had tanned with the dye leaves of the Jann, which had been +fostered by the Hand of Beneficence and fanned by the Zephyrs of +fair fortune and whose birth a propitious ascendant had greeted. +Then she called out to him, "O Moslem, come on and let us wrestle +ere the break of morning," and tucked up her sleeves from a +forearm like fresh curd, which illumined the whole place with its +whiteness; and Sharrkan was dazzled by it. Then he bent forwards +and clapped his palms by way of challenge, she doing the like, +and caught hold of her, and the two grappled and gripped and +interlocked hands and arms. Presently he shifted his hands to +her slender waist, when his finger tips sank into the soft folds +of her middle, breeding languishment, and he fell a trembling +like the Persian reed in the roaring gale. So she lifted him up +and, throwing him to the ground, sat upon his breast with hips +and hinder cheeks like mounds of sand, for his soul had lost +mastery over his senses. Then she asked him, "O Moslem! the +slaying of Nazarenes is lawful to you folk; what then hast thou +to say about being slain thyself?"; and he answered, "O my lady, +thy speech as regards slaying me is not other than unlawful; for +our prophet Mohammed (whom Allah bless and preserve!) prohibited +the slaying of women and children, old men and monks!" "As it was +thus revealed to your Prophet," she replied, "it behoveth us to +render the equivalent of his mercy; so rise. I give thee thy +life, for generosity is never lost upon the generous." Then she +got off his breast and he rose and stood shaking the dust from +his head against the owners of the curved rib, even women; and +she said to him, "Be not ashamed; but verily one who entereth the +land of Roum in quest of booty, and cometh to assist Kings +against Kings, how happeneth it that he hath not strength enough +to defend himself from one made out of the curved rib?" "'Twas +not for lack of strength in me," he answered; "nor didst thou +throw me by thy force; it was thy loveliness overthrew me; so if +thou wilt grant me another bout, it will be of thy courtesy." She +laughed and said, "I grant thee thy request: but these handmaids +have long been pinioned and their arms and sides are weary, and +it were only right I should loose them, for haply this next +wrestling bout will be long." Then she went to the slave girls +and, unbinding them, said to them in the tongue of Greece, "Get +ye to some safe place, till I foil this Moslem's lust and longing +for you." So they went away, whilst Sharrkan kept gazing at them +and they kept turning to look at the two. Then each approached +the adversary and he set his breast against hers, but when he +felt waist touch waist, his strength failed him; and she, waxing +ware of this, lifted him with her hands swiftlier than the +blinding leven-flash, and threw him to the ground. He fell on +his back,[FN#174] and then she said to him, "Rise: I give thee +thy life a second time. I spared thee in the first count because +of thy Prophet, for that he made unlawful the slaying of women; +and I do so on the second count because of thy weakliness and the +greenness of thine years and thy strangerhood; but I charge thee, +if there be in the Moslem army sent by Omar bin al-Nu'uman to +succour the King of Constantinople, a stronger than thou, send +him hither and tell him of me: for in wrestling there are shifts +and trips, catches and holds, such as the feint or falsing and +the snap or first grip, the hug, the feet-catch, the thigh +Lite,[FN#175] the jostle and the leg-lock." "By Allah, O my +lady," quoth Sharrkan (and indeed he was highly incensed against +her), "had I been Master al-Safd, Master Mohammed Kiml or Ibn +al-Sadd,[FN#176] as they were in their prime, I had kept no note +of these shifts thou mentionest; for O my mistress, by Allah, +thou hast not grassed me by thy strength, but by the +blandishments of thy back parts; for we men of Mesopotamia so +love a full formed thigh that nor sense was left me nor +foresight. But now, an thou wish, thou shalt try a third fall +with me while my wits are about me, and this last match is +allowed me by the laws of the game which sayeth the best of +three: moreover I have regained my presence of mind." When she +heard his words she said to him, "Hast thou not had a belly full +of this wrestling, O vanquished one? However come on, an thou +wilt; but know that this must be the last round." Then she bent +forward and challenged him and Sharrkan did likewise, setting to +it in real earnest and being right cautious about the throw: so +the two strove awhile and the damsel found in him a strength such +as she had not observed before and said to him, "O Moslem, thou +art now on thy mettle." "Yes," he replied, "thou knowest that +there remaineth to me but this one round, after which each of us +will wend a different way." She laughed and he laughed +too;[FN#177] then she overreached at his thigh and caught firm +hold of it unawares, which made him greet the ground and fall +full on his back. She laughed at him and said, "Art thou an +eater of bran? Thou are like a Badawi's bonnet which falleth off +with every touch or else the Father of Winds[FN#178] that +droppeth before a puff of air. Fie upon thee, O thou poor +thing!" adding, "Get thee back to the Moslem army and send us +other than thyself, for thou fairest of thews; and proclaim for +us, among the Arabs and Persians, the Turks and +Daylamites,[FN#179] whoso hath might in him, let him come to us." +Then she made a spring and landed on the other side of the stream +and said to Sharrkan, laughing, "Parting with thee is right +grievous to me, O my lord; but get thee to thy mates before dawn, +lest the Knights come upon thee and pick thee up on their lance +points. Thou hast no strength to defend thee against a woman, so +how couldst thou hold thine own amongst men of might and +Knights?" Sharrkan was confounded and called to her (as she +turned from him making towards the convent), "O my lady, wilt +thou go away and leave the miserable stranger, the broken hearted +slave of love?" So she turned to him laughing and said, "What is +thy want? I will grant thee thy prayer." "Have I set foot in thy +country and tasted the sweetness of thy courtesy," replied he, +"and shall I return without eating of thy victual and tasting thy +hospitality; I who have become one of thy servitors!" "None baulk +kindliness save the base," she rejoined, "honour us in Allah's +name, on my head and eyes be it! Mount thy steed and ride along +the brink of the stream over against me, for now thou art my +guest." At this Sharrkan was glad and, hastening back to his +horse, mounted and walked him abreast of her, and she kept faring +on till they came to a drawbridge[FN#180] built of beams of the +white poplar, hung by pullies and steel chains and made fast with +hooks and padlocks. When Sharrkan looked, he saw awaiting her +upon the bridge the same ten handmaids whom she had thrown in the +wrestling bouts; and, as she came up to them, she said to one in +the Greek tongue, "Arise and take the reins of his horse and +conduct him across into the convent." So she went up to Sharrkan +and led him over, much puzzled and perturbed with what he saw, +and saying to himself, "O would that the Wazir Dandan were here +with me that his eyes might look upon these fairest of favours." +Then he turned to the young lady and said to her, "O marvel of +loveliness, now I have two claims upon thee; first the claim of +good fellowship, and secondly for that thou hast carried me to +thy home and offered me thy hospitality. I am now under thy +commandance and thy guidance; so do me one last favour by +accompanying me to the lands of Al-Islam; where thou shalt look +upon many a lion hearted warrior and thou shalt learn who I am." +When she heard this she was angered and said to him, "By the +truth of the Messiah, thou hast proved thyself with me a man of +keen wit; but now I see what mischief there is in thy heart, and +how thou canst permit thyself a speech which proveth thy +traitorous intent. How should I do as thou sayest, when I wot +that if I came to that King of yours, Omar bin al- Nu'uman, I +should never get free from him? For truly he hath not the like +of me or behind his city walls or within his palace halls, Lord +of Baghdad and of Khorasan though he be, who hath built for +himself twelve pavilions, in number as the months of the year, +and in each a concubine after the number of the days; and if I +come to him he would not prove shy of me, for your folk believe I +am lawful to have and to hold as is said in your writ, 'Or those +women whom your right hand shall possess as slaves.'[FN#181] So +how canst thou speak thus to me? As for thy saying, 'Thou shalt +look upon the braves of the Moslems,' by the truth of the +Messiah, thou sayest that which is not true, for I saw your army +when it reached our land, these two days ago; and I did not see +that your ordinance was the ordinance of Kings, but I beheld only +a rabble of tribesmen gathered together. And as to thy words, +'Thou shalt know who I am,' I did not do thee kindness because of +thy dignity but out of pride in myself; and the like of thee +should not talk thus to the like of me, even wert thou Sharrkan, +Omar bin al- Nu'uman's son, the prowess name in these days!" +"Knowest thou Sharrkan?" asked he; and she answered Yes! and I +know of his coming with an army numbering ten thousand horsemen; +also that he was sent by his sire with this force to gain +prevalence for the King of Constantinople." "O my lady," said +Sharrkan, "I adjure thee by thy religion, tell me the cause of +all this, that sooth may appear to me clear of untruth, and with +whom the fault lies." "Now by the virtue of thy faith," she +replied, "did I not fear lest the news of me be bruited abroad +that I am of the daughters of Roum, I would adventure myself and +sally forth single handed against the ten thousand horsemen and +slay their leader, the Wazir Dandan and vanquish their champion +Sharrkan.[FN#182] Nor would aught of shame accrue to me thereby, +for I have read books and studied the rules of good breeding in +the language of the Arabs. But I have no need to vaunt my own +prowess to thee, more by token as thou hast proved in thy proper +person my skill and strength in wrestling; and thou hast learnt +my superiority over other women. Nor, indeed, had Sharrkan +himself been here this night and it were said to him, 'Clear this +stream,' could he have done it; and I only long and lust that the +Messiah would throw him into my hands in this very convent, that +I might go forth to him in the habit of a man and drag him from +his saddle seat and make him my captive and lay him in bilboes."- +-And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Nazarene damsel said to Sharrkan (and he listening impatiently +enow), "Verily if Sharrkan fell into my hands, I would go forth +to him in the habit of a man and drag him from his saddle seat +and make him my captive and lay him in bilboes," pride and +passion and knightly jealousy took possession of him and he +desired to discover and declare himself and to lay on load; but +her loveliness restrained him and he began repeating, + +"An faulty of one fault the Beauty prove, * Her charms a thousand + advocates shall move." + +So she went up and Sharrkan after her; and, when he saw the +maiden's back and hinder cheeks that clashed against each other, +like rollers in the rolling sea, he extemporised these couplets:- +- + +"For her sins is a pleader that brow, * And all hearts its fair + pleading must bow: +When I saw it I cried, "To night * The moon at its fullest doth + show; +Tho' Balkis' own Ifrit[FN#183] try a bout, * Spite his force she + would deal him a throw." + +The two fared on till they reached a gate over which rose a +marble archway. This she opened and ushered Sharrkan into a long +vestibule, vaulted with ten connected arches, from each of which +hung a crystal lamp glistening like a spark of fire. The +handmaids met her at the further end bearing wax candles of +goodly perfume, and wearing on their heads golden fillets crusted +with all manner bezel gems,[FN#184] and went on before her +(Sharrkan still following), till they reached the inner convent. +There the Moslem saw couches and sofas ranged all around, one +opposite the other and all over hung with curtains flowered in +gold. The monastery floor was paved with every kind of vari +coloured marbles and mosaic work, and in the midst stood a basin +that held four and twenty jetting fountains of gold, whence the +water ran like molten silver; whilst at the upper end stood a +throne spread with silks fit only for Kings. Then said the +damsel, "Ascend, O my lord, this throne." So he went up to it and +sat down and she withdrew to remain absent for some time. +Sharrkan asked of her from one of the servants who answered him, +"She hath gone to her dormitory; but we will serve thee even as +she ordered." So they set before him viands of rare varieties, +and he ate his sufficiency, when they brought him a basin of gold +and an ewer of silver, and he washed his hands. Then his +thoughts reverted to his army, knowing not what had befallen it +in his absence and calling to mind also how he had forgotten his +father's injunctions: so he was troubled about his case, +repenting of what he had done till the dawn broke and the day +appeared; when he lamented and sighed and became drowned in sea +of sadness and repeated, + +"I am not lost to prudence, but indeed * Here I'm bewildered, + what shall be my rede? +Would any aid me in mine ails of love, * By my own might and + sleight would I be free'd: +But ah! my heart is lost and passion-shent: * To none save Allah + can I trust my need!" + +When he ended his verse behold, there came up to him a rare show +and a fair, more than twenty maidens like crescents encompassing +the young lady, who shone in their midst as the full moon among +the constellations guarding and girding her. She was clad in +brocades befitting Kings; her breasts were like twin +pomegranates, a woven zone set with all kinds of jewels tightly +clasped her waist which expanded below into jutting hips; and her +hinder cheeks stood out as a mound of crystal[FN#185] supporting +a silvern shaft. When Sharrkan looked at her his wits went nigh +to fly away from him with delight; and he forgot army and Wazir +as he gazed on her fair head decked and dight with a net work of +pearls set off by divers sorts of gems. Handmaids on her right +and handmaids on her left bore her train, as she paced with +dainty graceful gait in all the pride of seemlihead. He sprang +to his feet seeing such beauty and loveliness, and cried aloud, +"Beware and beware of that zone rarely fair!" and broke out into +these couplets, + +"With heavy back parts, high breasts delicate, * And lissome form + that sways with swimming gait +She deftly hides love longing in her breast; * But I may never + hide its ban and bate +While hosts of followers her steps precede,[FN#186] * Like pearls + now necklaced and now separate." + +She gazed upon him for a long time and considered him till she +was assured of him, when she came up to him and said, "In very +sooth the place is honoured and illumined by thee, O Sharrkan! +How sped thy night, O hero, after we went away and left thee?"; +adding, "Verily lying is a vile thing and a shameful, especially +in great Kings! and thou art Crown Prince Sharrkan, son and heir +of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; so henceforth make no secret of thy +rank and condition, nor let me hear aught from thee but the +truth; for leasing bequeatheth hate and despite. And as thou art +pierced by the shaft of Fate, be resignation thine and abide +content to wait." When he heard her words he saw that artifice +availed him naught and he acknowledged the truth, saying, "I am +Sharrkan, bin Omar bin al-Nu'uman, whom fortune hath afflicted +and cast into this place; so whatso thou willest, do it in my +case!" She hung her head groundwards a long while, then turned to +him and said, "Be of good cheer and let thine eyes be cool and +clear;[FN#187] for thou art the guest of my hospitality, and +bread and salt hath made a tie between me and thee; wherefore +thou art in my ward and under my safeguard. Have no fear for, by +the truth of the Messiah, if all on earth sought to do thee hurt +they should not come at thee, till life had left my body for thy +sake: indeed thou art now under the charge of the Messiah and of +me." Hereat she sat her down by his side and fell to playing with +him, till his alarm subsided and he knew that had she desired to +slay him, she would have done so during the past night. +Presently she bespoke in the Grecian tongue one of her slave +girls, who went away and soon came back bringing a beaker and a +tray of food; but Sharrkan abstained from eating and said to +himself, "Haply she hath put somewhat in this meat." She knew +what was in his thought; so she turned to him and said, "By the +truth of the Messiah, the case is not on such wise, nor is there +aught in this meat of what thou suspectest! Had my mind been set +on slaying thee, I had slain thee ere now." Then she walked up to +the tray and ate of every dish a mouthful; where upon Sharrkan +came forward and ate too. She was pleased at this and both ate +till they were satisfied. They washed their hands and after that +she rose and ordered a handmaid to bring perfumes and herbs of +sweet savour, wines of all colours and kinds and a wine-service +with vessels of gold, silver and crystal. She filled a first +goblet and drank it off before offering it to him, even as she +had done with the food: then she crowned a second and handed it +to him. He drank and she said to him, "O Moslem, see how thou +art here in all solace and delight of life!" And she ceased not +to drink and ply him with drink, till he took leave of his wits,- +-And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the damsel +ceased not to drink and ply Sharrkan with drink till he took +leave of his wits, for the wine and the intoxication of love he +bore her. Presently she said to the slave girl, "O +Marjanah[FN#188]! bring us some instruments of music!" "To hear +is to obey," said the hand maid and going out, returned in the +twinkling of an eye with a Damascus lute,[FN#189] a Persian harp, +a Tartar pipe, and an Egyptian dulcimer. The young lady took the +lute and, after tuning each several string, began in gentle +undersong to sing, softer than zephyr's wing and sweeter than +Tasmin[FN#190] spring, with heart safe and secure from everything +the couplets following, + +"Allah assain those eyne! What streams of blood they shed! * How + many an arrowy glance those lids of thine have sped. +I love all lovers who to lovers show them cure; * 'Twere wrong to + rue the love in wrong head born and bred: +Haply fall hapless eye for thee no sleeping kens! * Heaven help + the hapless heart by force of thee misled! +Thou doomest me to death who art my king, and I * Ransom with + life the deemster who would doom me dead." + +Thereupon each and every of the maidens rose up and taking an +instrument, played and recited couplets in the Roumi tongue; then +their mistress sang also and seeing Sharrkan in ecstasies asked +him, "O Moslem, dost thou understand what I say?"; and he +answered, "Nay, my ecstasy cometh from the beauty of thy finger +sips." She laughed and continued, "If I sing to thee in Arabic +what wouldst thou do?" "I should no longer," quoth he, "be master +of my senses." Then she took an instrument and, changing the +measure, began singing these verses, + +"The smack of parting's myrrh to me, * How, then, bear patience' + alo? +I'm girt by ills in trinity * Severance, distance, + cruelty! +My freedom stole that fairest she, * And parting irks me + bitterly." + +When she ended her verse, she looked at Sharrkan and found him +lost to existence, and he lay for a while stretched at full +length and prone among the maidens.[FN#191] Then he revived and, +remembering the songs, again inclined to mirth and merriment; and +the twain returned to their wine and wassail, and continued their +playing and toying, their pastime and pleasure till day ceased +illuminating and night drooped her wing. Then the damsel went +off to her dormitory and when Sharrkan asked after her they +answered, "She is gone to her sleeping chamber," whereto he +rejoined, "Under Allah's ward and His good guard!" As soon as it +was morning, a handmaid came to him and said to him, "My mistress +biddeth thee to her." So he rose and followed her and, as he drew +near her lodging, the damsels welcomed him with smitten tabrets +and songs of greeting, and led him through a great door of ivory +studded with pearls and jewels. Thence they passed with him into +a tall and spacious hall, at the upper end of which was a wide +dais carpeted with all kinds of silks, and round it open lattices +commanding a view of trees and streams. About the saloon were +figures carved in human form, and fashioned on such wise that the +air passed through them and set in motion musical instruments +within, so that the beholder would fancy they spoke.[FN#192] Here +sat the young lady, looking at the figures; but when she saw +Sharrkan, she sprang to her feet and, taking him by the hand, +made him sit down by her side, and asked him how he had passed +the night. He blessed her and the two sat talking awhile till +she asked him, "Knowest thou aught touching lovers and slaves of +love?"; and he answered "Yes! I wot somewhat in verse on that +matter." "Let me hear it," quoth she, so he began quoting, + +"Pleasure and health, good cheer, good appetite * To Azzah, + freest with our name and fame! +By Allah! would I near her off she flies * At tangent, granting + less the more I claim: +I dote on Azzah, but when clear I off * My rivals, clears me too + that dearest dame; +Like wandering wight that chose for shade a cloud * Which, ere + siesta done, thin air became." + +When she heard this she said, "Verily Al-Kuthayyir[FN#193] was +conspicuous for sweet speech and chaste, and he was superlative +in his praise of Azzah when he sang" (and she began to recite), + +"Did Azzah deal behest to Sun o' noon, * The judge had judged her + beauty's bestest boon; +And girls who come to me and carp at her, * God make their rosy + cheeks her sandal-shoon! + +And indeed," quoth she, "'twas said that Azzah boasted exceeding +beauty and loveliness." Then she asked Sharrkan saying, "O +Prince, cost thou know aught of Jamil's[FN#194] verses to +Buthaynah? if so repeat to us somewhat of them;" and he +answered, "Yes, I know them better than any;" whereupon he began +repeating these couplets, + +"Jamil, in Holy war go fight!" to me they say: * What war save + fight for fair ones would I e'er essay? +To me their every word and work are mere delight, * And martyrs + crepe I all they slay in fight and fray: +An ask I, 'O Buthaynah! what's this love, I pray, * Which eats + my heart?' quoth she ' 'Twill stay for ever and aye!' +And when I cry, 'Of wits return some small display * For daily + use,' quoth she, 'Far, far 'tis fled away! +Thou seekst my death; naught else thy will can satisfy * While I + no goal espy save thee and thee alway.'" + +"Thou hast spoken right well," said she, "O King's son, and Jamil +also spoke excellently well. But what would Buthaynah have done +with him that he saith in his hemistich, + +'Thou seekst my death; naught else thy will can satisfy?'" + +"O my lady," quoth Sharrkan, "she willed to do him what thou +willest to do with me, and even that will not satisfy thee." She +laughed at his opportune reply and they ceased not carousing till +Day put out her light and Night came in darkness dight. Then she +rose and went to her dormitory and slept, while Sharrkan slept in +his place till morning dawned. As soon as he awoke, the hand +maids came to him with tabrets and other instruments of mirth and +merriment, as wont; and, kissing the ground between his hands, +said to him, "Bismillah! in Allah's name be so kind as to +come[FN#195]: our mistress biddeth thee to her presence!" So he +rose and accompanied the slave girls who surrounded him, playing +on tabrets and other instruments of music, till they passed from +that saloon into another and a yet more spacious hall, decorated +with pictured likenesses and figures of birds and beasts, passing +all description. Sharrkan marvelled at the art and artifice of +the place and began reciting, + +"He plucks fruits of her necklace in rivalry, * And her breast- + pearls that bedded in gold mine lie. +Pure water on silvern bars is her brow, * And her cheeks show + roses with rubies vie: +Meseems in her eyne that the violet's hue * Lies purpling set in + the Ithmid's[FN#196] dye." + +When the lady saw Sharrkan, she stood up to him in honour and, +taking his hand, seated him by her side and asked, "O son of King +Omar bin al-Nu'uman, hast thou any cunning in the game of chess?" +"Yes," he answered, "but do not thou with me as said the poet, + +'I speak and longing love upties me and unties me; * Till with + her honey dew of inner lip she plies me: +I brought the chess board and my liefest lover plays me * With + white and black,[FN#197] but black cum white ne'er satisfies + me: +'Twas as if King for Castle I were fain to place me * Till wilful + loss of game atwixt two queens surprise me: +And if I seek to read intent in eyes that eye me * Oh man! that + glance askance with hint of wish defies me.'" + +Then she brought the chessboard and played with him; but +Sharrkan, instead of looking at her moves, kept gazing at her +fair mouth, and putting knight in place of elephant and +elephant[FN#198] instead of knight. She laughed and said to him, +"If thy play be after this fashion, thou knowest naught of the +game." "This is only our first," replied he, "judge not by this +bout." When she beat him he replaced the pieces in position and +played again with her; but she beat him a second time, a third, a +fourth and a fifth. So she turned to him and said, "Thou art +beaten in everything;" and he replied, "O my lady, how should one +playing with the like of thee avoid being beaten?" Then she bade +bring food, and they ate and washed their hands; after which the +wine was set before them and they drank. Presently, she took the +dulcimer, for her hand was cunning in smiting it, and she began +repeating to an accompaniment these couplets, + +"Twixt the close tied and open wide no medium Fortune knoweth, * + Now ebb and flow then flow and ebb this wise her likeness + showeth. +Then drink her wine the syne she's thine and smiling thou dost + find her * Anon she'll fall and fare away when all thy good + forth goeth." + +They ceased not to carouse till nightfall and this day was +pleasanter even than the first. When darkness set in, the lady +betook her to her dormitory, leaving him alone with the hand +maids; so he threw himself on the ground and slept till dawn, +when the damsels came to him with tambourines and other +instruments according to custom. Seeing them he roused him +hastily and sat up; and they carried him to their mistress, who +came to meet him and, taking him by the hand, seated him by her +side. Then she asked him how he had passed his night, whereat he +prayed that her life be prolonged; and she took the lute and sang +to it these verses which she improvised, + +"Ne'er incline thee to part * Which embitters the heart +E'en the sun when he sets * Shall in pallor depart." + +While they were solacing themselves after this fashion, behold, +there arose a great and sudden clamour, and a confused crowd of +knights and men rushed in, holding drawn swords that glittered +and gleamed in their hands, and cried aloud in the Grecian tongue +"Thou hast fallen into our hands, O Sharrkan, so make thee sure +of death!" When he heard this, he said to himself, "By Allah, she +hath entrapped me and held me in play, till her men should come. +These are the Knights with whom she threatened me; but 'tis I who +have thrown myself into this strait." Then he turned towards the +young lady to reproach her, but saw that she had changed colour +and her face was pale; and she sprang to her feet and asked the +crowd, "Who are ye?" "O most gracious Princess and peerless onion +pearl," answered the leading Knight, "dost thou weet who is yon +man by thy side?" "Not I," she replied, "who may he be?" Quoth +the Patrician, "This is of towns the highwayman! This is he who +rideth in the horseman's van! This is Sharrkan, son of King Omar +bin al-Nu'uman! This is he that forceth fortalice and +penetrateth every impregnable place! The news of him reached +King Hardub, thy father, by report of the ancient dame Zat al- +Dawahi; and thy sire, our sovereign, hath made sure that thou +hast rendered good service to the army of the Greeks by taking +captive this ominous lion." When she heard this, she looked at +the Knight and asked him, "What be thy name?" and he answered, "I +am Msrah, son of thy slave Mausrah bin Kshardah, Knight of +Knights." "And how?" quoth she, "durst thou enter my presence +without leave?" Quoth he, "O my lady, when I came to the gate, +none forbade me, neither chamberlain nor porter, but all the door +keepers rose and forewent us as of wont; although, when others +come, they leave them standing at the gate while they ask +permission to admit them. But this is not a time for long +talking, when the King is expecting our return with this Prince, +the scorpion sting[FN#199] of the Islamitic host, that he may +kill him and drive back his men whither they came, without the +bane of battling with them." "These words be ill words," rejoined +the Princess, "and Dame Zat al-Dawahi lied, avouching an idle +thing and a vain, whereof she weeteth not the truth; for by the +virtue of the Messiah, this man who is with me is not Sharrkan, +nor is he a captive, but a stranger who came to us seeking our +hospitality, and I made him my guest. So even were we assured +that this be Sharrkan and were it proved to us that it is he +beyond a doubt, I say it would ill befit mine honour that I +should deliver into your hands one who hath entered under my +protection. So make me not a traitor to my guest and a disgrace +among men; but return to the King, my father, and kiss the ground +before him, and inform him that the case is contrariwise to the +report of the Lady Zat al-Dawahi." "O Abrzah," replied Masurah, +the Knight, "I cannot return to the King's majesty without his +debtor and enemy." Quoth she (and indeed she had waxed very +wroth). "Out on thee! Return to him with my answer, and no +blame shall befal thee!" Quoth Masurah, "I will not return +without him." Thereupon her colour changed and she exclaimed, +"Exceed not in talk and vain words; for verily this man had not +come in to us, were he not assured that he could of himself and +single handed make head against an hundred riders; and if I said +to him, 'Thou art Sharrkan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman,' he +would answer, 'Yes.' But 'tis not of your competence to let or +hinder him; for if you do so, he will not turn back from you till +he hath slain all that are in this place. Behold, here he is by +my side, and I will bring him before you sword and targe in +hand." "Albeit I were safe from thy wrath," answered Masurah the +Knight, "I am not safe from that of thy father, and when I see +him, I shall sign to the Knights to take him captive, and we will +carry him to the King bound and in abject sort." When she heard +this, she said, "The matter shall not pass thus, for 'twould be +blazoning mere folly. This man is but one and ye are an hundred +Knights: so if you would attack him come out against him, one +after one, that it may appear to the King which is the valiant +amongst you."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Fiftieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Princess +Abrizah said to the Knight, "This man is but one, and ye are an +hundred: so if ye would attack him, come out against him, one +after one, that it may appear to the King which is the valiant." +Quoth Masurah, the Knight, "By the truth of the Messiah, thou +sayest sooth, and none but I shall sally out against him first." +Quoth she, "Wait till I go to him and acquaint him with the case +and hear what answer he will make. If he consent, 'tis well; but +if he refuse, ye shall on no wise come to him, for I and my hand +maids and whosoever is in the convent will be his ransom." So she +went to Sharrkan and told him the news, whereat he smiled and +knew that she had not informed any of the Emirs; but that tidings +of him had been bruited and blazed abroad, till the report +reached the King, against her wish and intent. So he again began +reproaching himself and said, "How came I to adventure and play +with my life by coming to the country of the Greeks?" But hearing +the young lady's proposal he said to her, "Indeed their onset, +one after one, would be overburdensome to them. Will they not +come out against me, ten by ten?" "That would be villainy," said +she; "Let one have at one." When he heard this, he sprang to his +feet and made for them with his sword and battle gear; and +Masurah, the Knight, also sprang up and bore down upon him. +Sharrkan met him like a lion and delivered a shoulder cut[FN#200] +which clove him to the middle, and the blade came out gleaming +and glittering from his back and bowels. When the lady beheld +that swashingblow, Sharrkan's might was magnified in her sight +and she knew that when she overthrew him in the wrestle it was +not by her strength but by her beauty and loveliness. So she +turned to the Knights and said, "Take wreak for your chief!" +Thereupon out came the slain man's brother, a fierce and furious +Knight, and rushed upon Sharrkan, who delayed not, but smote him +also with the shoulder cut and the sword came out glittering from +his vitals. Then cried the Princess, "O ye servants of the +Messiah, avenge your comrade!" So they ceased not charging down +upon him, one after one; and Sharrkan also ceased not playing +upon them with the blade, till he had slain fifty Knights, the +lady looking on the while. And Allah cast a panic into the +hearts of the survivors, so that they held back and dared not +meet him in the duello, but fell upon him in a body; and he laid +on load with heart firmer than a rock, and smote them and trod +them down like straw under the threshing sled,[FN#201] till he +had driven sense and soul out of them. Then the Princess called +aloud to her damsels, saying, "Who is left in the convent?"; and +they replied, "None but the gate keepers;" whereupon she went up +to Sharrkan and took him to her bosom, he doing the same, and +they returned to the palace, after he had made an end of the +melee. Now there remained a few of the Knights hiding from him +in the cells of the monastery, and when the Princess saw this she +rose from Sharrkan's side and left him for a while, but presently +came back clad in closely meshed coat of ring mail and holding in +her hand a fine Indian scymitar. And she said, "Now by the truth +of the Messiah, I will not be a niggard of myself for my guest; +nor will I abandon him though for this I abide a reproach and a +by word in the land of the Greeks." Then she took reckoning of +the dead and found that he had slain fourscore of the Knights, +and other twenty had taken to flight.[FN#202] When she saw what +work he had made with them she said to him, "Allah bless thee, O +Sharrkan! The Cavaliers may well glory in the like of thee." +Then he rose and wiping his blade clean of the blood of the slain +began reciting these couplets, + +"How oft in the mellay I've cleft the array, * And given their + bravest to lions a prey: +Ask of me and of them when I proved me prow * O'er creation, on + days of the foray and fray: +When I left in the onslaught their lions to lie * On the sands of + the low lands[FN#203] in fieriest day." + +When he ended his verse, the Princess came up to him with smiles +and kissed his hand; then she doffed her hauberk and he said to +her, "O lady mine, wherefore didst thou don that coat of mail and +bare thy brand?" "To guard thee against these caitiffs,"[FN#204] +she replied. Then she summoned the gate keepers and asked them, +"How came ye to admit the King's Knights into my dwelling without +leave of me?"; and they answered, "O Princess, it is not our +custom to ask leave of thee for the King's messengers, and +especially for the chief of his Knights." Quoth she, "I think ye +were minded only to disgrace me and murder my guest;" and bade +Sharrkan smite their necks. He did so and she cried to the rest +of her servants, "Of a truth, they deserved even more than that!" +Then turning to Sharrkan, she said to him, "Now that there hath +become manifest to thee what was concealed, thou shalt be made +acquainted with my history. Know, then, that I am the daughter +of King Hardub of Roum; my name is Abrizah and the ancient dame, +yclept Zat al-Dawahi, is my grandmother by the sword side. She +it certainly is who told my father of thee, and as surely she +will compass a sleight to slay me, more by token as thou hast +slain my father's chivalry and it is noised abroad that I have +separated myself from the Nazarenes and have become no better +than I should be with the Moslems. Wherefore it were wiser that +I leave this dwelling while Zat al-Dawahi is on my track; but I +require of thee the like kindness and courtesy I have shown thee, +for enmity will presently befal between me and my father on thine +account. So do not thou neglect to do aught that I shall say to +thee, remembering all this betided me not save by reason of +thee." Hearing her words, Sharrkan joyed greatly; his breast +broadened and his wits flew from him for delight, and he said, +"By Allah, none shall come at thee, while life is in my bosom! +But hast thou patience to bear parting from thy parents and thy +people?" "Even so," she answered; and Sharrkan swore to her and +the two plighted their troth. Then said she, "Now is my heart at +ease; but there remaineth one other condition for thee." "What is +it?" asked he and she answered, "It is that thou return with thy +host to thine own country." Quoth he, "O lady mine, my father, +King Omar bin al- Nu'uman, sent me to wage war upon thy sire, on +account of the treasure he plundered from the King of +Constantinople, and amongst the rest three great jewels, noted +givers of good fortune." Quoth she, "Cheer thy heart and clear +thine eyes: I will tell thee the whole of the tale and the cause +of our feud with the King of Constantinople. Know that we have a +yearly festival, highs the Convent Feast, whereat Kings from all +quarters and the noblest women are wont to congregate; thither +also come merchants and traders with their wives and families, +and the visitors abide there seven days. I was wont to be one of +them; but, when there befel enmity between us, my father forbade +me to be present at the festival for the space of seven years. +One year, it chanced that amongst the daughters of the great who +resorted to the patron, as was their custom, came a daughter of +the King of Constantinople, a beautiful girl called Sophia. They +tarried at the monastery six days and on the seventh the folk +went their ways;[FN#205] but Sophia said, 'I will not return to +Constantinople save by water.' So they equipped for her a ship in +which she embarked with her suite; and making sail they put out +to sea; but as they were voyaging behold, a contrary wind caught +them and drove the vessel from her course till, as Fate and +Fortune would have it, she fell in with a Nazarene craft from the +Camphor Island[FN#206] carrying a crew of five hundred armed +Franks, who had been cruising about a long time. When they +sighted the sails of the ship, wherein Sophia and her women were, +they gave chase in all haste and in less than an hour they came +up with her, then they laid the grappling irons aboard her and +captured her. Then taking her in tow they made all sail for +their own island and were but a little distant from it when the +wind veered round and, splitting their sails, drove them on to a +shoal which lies off our coast. Thereupon we sallied forth and, +looking on them as spoil driven to us by Fate,[FN#207] boarded +and took them; and, slaying the men, made prize of the wreck, +wherein we found the treasures and rarities in question and forty +maidens, amongst whom was the King's daughter, Sophia. After the +capture we carried the Princess and her women to my father, not +knowing her to be a daughter of King Afridun of Constantinople; +and he chose out for himself ten including her; and divided the +rest among his dependents. Presently he set apart five damsels, +amongst whom was the King s daughter, and sent them to thy +father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, together with other gifts, such +as broadcloth[FN#208] and woollen stuffs and Grecian silks. Thy +father accepted them and chose out from amongst the five girls +Sophia, daughter of King Afridun; nor did we hear more of her +till the beginning of this year, when her father wrote to my +father in words unfitting for me to repeat, rebuking him with +menaces and saying to him: Two years ago, you plundered a ship of +ours which had been seized by a band of Frankish pirates in which +was my daughter, Sophia, attended by her maidens numbering some +threescore. Yet ye informed me not thereof by messenger or +otherwise; nor could I make the matter public, lest reproach +befal me amongst the Kings, by reason of my daughter's honour. +So I concealed my case till this year, when I wrote to certain +Frankish corsairs and sought news of my daughter from the Kings +of the Isles. They replied, 'By Allah we carried her not forth +of thy realm; but we have heard that King Hardub rescued her from +certain pirates. And they told me the whole tale.' Then he added +in the writing which he writ to my father: 'Except you wish to be +at feud with me and design to disgrace me and dishonour my +daughter, you will, the instant my letter reacheth you, send my +daughter back to me. But if you slight my letter and disobey my +commandment, I will assuredly make you full return for your foul +dealing and the baseness of your practices.'[FN#209] When my +father read this letter and understood the contents,[FN#210] it +vexed him and he regretted not having known that Sophia, King +Afridun's daughter, was among the captured damsels, that he might +have sent her back to her sire; and he was perplexed about the +case because, after so long a time, he could not send to King +Omar bin al-Nu'uman and demand her back from him, especially as +he had lately heard that Heaven had granted him boon of babe by +this Sophia. So when we pondered that truth, we knew that this +letter was none other than a grievous calamity; and my father +found nothing for it but to write an answer to King Afridun, +making his excuses and swearing to him by strong oaths that he +knew not his daughter to be among the bevy of damsels in the ship +and setting forth how he had sent her to King Omar bin al +Nu'uman, who had gotten the blessing of issue by her. When my +father's reply reached King Afridun he rose up and sat +down,[FN#211] and roared and foamed at the mouth crying:--'What! +shall he take captive my daughter and even her with slave girls +and pass her on from hand to hand sending her for a gift to +Kings, and they lie with her without marriage contract? By the +Messiah and the true Faith,' said he, 'I will not desist till I +have taken my blood vengeance for this and have wiped out my +shame; and indeed I will do a deed which the chroniclers shall +chronicle after me!' So he bided his time till he devised a +device and laid notable toils and snares, when he sent an embassy +to thy father, King Omar, to tell him that which thou hast heard: +accordingly thy father equipped thee and an army with thee and +sent thee to King Afridun, whose object is to seize thee and +thine army to boot. As for the three jewels whereof he told thy +father when asking his aid, there was not one soothfast word in +that matter, for they were with Sophia, his daughter; and my +father took them from her, when he got possession of her and of +her maidens, and gave them to me in free gift, and they are now +with me. So go thou to thy host and turn them back ere they be +led deep into, and shut in by, the land of the bevy of damsels in +the ship and setting forth the Franks and the country of the +Greeks; for as soon as you have come far enough into their +interior, they will stop the roads upon you and there will be no +escape for you till the Day of retribution and retaliation. I +know that thy troops are still halting where thou leftest them, +because thou didst order a three days' rest; withal they have +missed thee all this time and they wot not what to do." When +Sharrkan heard her words, he was absent awhile in thought; then +he kissed Princess Abrizah's hand and said, "Praise be to Allah +who hath bestowed thee on me and appointed thee to be the cause +of my salvation and the salvation of whoso is with me! But 'tis +grievous to me to part from thee and I know not what will become +of thee after my departure." "Go now to thine army," she replied, +"and turn them back, while ye are yet near your own country. If +the envoys be still with them, lay hands on them and keep them, +that the case may be made manifest to you; and, after three days, +I will be with you all and we will enter Baghdad together." As he +turned to depart she said, "Forget not the compact which is +between me and thee," then she rose to bid[FN#212] him farewell +and embrace him and quench the fire of desire, so she took leave +of him and, throwing her arms round his neck, wept with exceeding +weeping, and repeated these verses, + +"I bade adieu, my right hand wiped my tears away, * The while my + left hand held her in a close embrace: +'Fearest thou naught,' quoth she, 'of shame?' I answered 'Nay, * + The lover's parting day is lover's worst disgrace.'" + +Then Sharrkan left her and walked down from the convent. They +brought his steed, so he mounted and rode down stream to the +drawbridge which he crossed and presently threaded the woodland +paths and passed into the open meadow. As soon as he was clear +of the trees he was aware of horsemen which made him stand on the +alert, and he bared his brand and rode cautiously, but as they +drew near and exchanged curious looks he recognized them and +behold, it was the Wazir Dandan and two of his Emirs. When they +saw him and knew him, they dismounted and saluting him, asked the +reason of his absence; whereupon he told them all that had passed +between him and Princess Abrizah from first to last. The Wazir +returned thanks to Almighty Allah for his safety and +said,[FN#213] "Let us at once leave these lands; for the envoys +who came with us are gone to inform the King of our approach, and +haply he will hasten to fall on us and take us prisoners." So +Sharrkan cried to his men to saddle and mount, which they did +and, setting out at once, they stinted not faring till they +reached the sole of the valley wherein the host lay. The +Ambassadors meanwhile had reported Sharrkan's approach to their +King, who forthright equipped a host to lay hold of him and those +with him. But Sharrkan, escorted by the Wazir Dandan and the two +Emirs, had no sooner sighted the army, than he raised the cry +"March! March!" They took horse on the instant and fared through +the first day and second and third day, nor did they cease faring +for five days; at the end of which time they alighted in a well +wooded valley, where they rested awhile. Then they again set out +and stayed not riding for five and twenty days which placed them +on the frontiers of their own country. Here, deeming themselves +safe, they halted to rest; and the country people came out to +them with guest gifts for the men and provender and forage for +the beasts. They tarried there two days after which, as all +would be making for their homes, Sharrkan put the Wazir Dandan in +command, bidding him lead the host back to Baghdad. But he +himself remained behind with an hundred riders, till the rest of +the army had made one day's march: then he called "To horse!" and +mounted with his hundred men. They rode on two +parasangs'[FN#214] space till they arrived at a gorge between two +mountains and lo! there arose before them a dark cloud of sand +and dust. So they checked their steeds awhile till the dust +opened and lifted, discovering beneath it an hundred cavaliers, +lion faced and in mail coats cased. As soon as they drew within +earshot of Sharrkan and his meiny they cried out to them, saying, +"By the virtue of John and Mary, we have won to our wish! We +have been following you by forced marches, night and day, till we +forewent you to this place. So dismount and lay down your arms +and yield yourselves, that we may grant you your lives." When +Sharrkan heard this, his eyes stood out from his head and his +cheeks flushed red and he said 'How is it, O. Nazarene dogs, ye +dare enter our country and overmatch our land? And doth not this +suffice you, but ye must adventure yourselves and address us in +such unseemly speech? Do you think to escape out of our hands +and return to your country?" Then he shouted to his hundred +horsemen, "Up and at these hounds, for they even you in number!" +So saying, he bared his sabre and bore down on them, he and his, +but the Franks met them with hearts firmer than rocks, and wight +dashed against wight, and knight dashed upon knight, and hot +waxed the fight, and sore was the affright, and nor parley nor +cries of quarter helped their plight; and they stinted not to +charge and to smite, right hand meeting right, nor to hack and +hew with blades bright white, till day turned to night and gloom +oppressed the sight. Then they drew apart and Sharrkan mustered +his men and found none wounded save four only, who showed hurts +but not death hurts. Said he to them, "By Allah, my life long +have I waded in the clashing sea of fight and I have met many a +gallant sprite, but none so unfrightened of the sword that smites +and the shock of men that affrights like these valiant Knights!" +"Know, O King," said they, that there is among them a Frankish +cavalier who is their leader and, indeed, he is a man of valour +and fatal is his spear thrust: but, by Allah, he spares us great +and small; for whoso falls into his hands he lets him go and +forbears to slay him. By Allah, had he willed he had killed us +all." Sharrkan was astounded when he heard what the Knight had +done and such high report of him, so he said, "When the morn +shall morrow, we will draw out and defy them, for we are an +hundred to their hundred; and we will seek aid against them from +the Lord of the Heavens." So they rested that night in such +intent; whilst the Franks gathered round their Captain and said, +"Verily this day we did not win our will of these;" and he +replied, "At early dawn when the morrow shall morn, we will draw +out and challenge them, one after one." They also rested in that +mind, and both camps kept guard until Almighty Allah sent the +light of day dawn. Thereupon King Sharrkan and his hundred +riders took horse and rode forth to the plain, where they found +the Franks ranged in line of battle; and Sharrkan said to his +followers, "Our foes have determined like ourselves to do their +devoir; so up and at them and lay on load." Then came forth an +Herald of the Franks and cried out, saying, "Let there be no +general engagement betwixt us this day, save by the duello, a +champion of yours against a champion of ours." Whereupon one of +Sharrkan's riders dashed out from the ranks and crave between the +two lines crying, "Ho! who is for smiting? Let no dastard +engage me this day nor niderling!" Hardly had he made an end of +his vaunt, when there sallied forth to him a Frankish cavalier, +armed cap--pie and clad in a surcoat of gold stuff, riding on a +grey white steed,[FN#215] and he had no hair on his cheeks. He +urged his charger on to the midst of the battle plain and the two +fell to derring do of cut and thrust, but it was not long before +the Frank foined the Moslem with the lance point; and, toppling +him from his steed, took him prisoner and led him off +crestfallen. His folk rejoiced in their comrade and, forbidding +him to go out again to the field, sent forth another, to whom +sallied out another Moslem, brother to the captive, and offered +him battle. The two fell to, either against other, and fought +for a little while, till the Frank bore down upon the Moslem and, +falsing him with a feint, tumbled him by a thrust of the lance +heel from his destrier and took him prisoner. After this fashion +the Moslems ceased not dashing forwards, one after one, and the +Franks to unhorse them and take them captive, till day departed +and the night with darkness upstarted. Now they had captured of +the Moslems twenty cavaliers, and when Sharrken saw this, it was +grievous to him and he mustered his men and said to them, "What +is this thing that hath befallen us? To- morrow, I myself will +go forth to the field and offer singular combat to their chief +and learn what is the cause of his entering our land and warn him +against doing battle with our band. If he persist, we will +punish him with death, and if he prove peaceable we will make +peace with him." They righted on this wise till Allah Almighty +caused the morn to dawn, when mounted the twain and drew up for +battle fain; and Sharrkan was going forth to the plain, but +behold, more than one half of the Franks dismounted and remained +on foot before one of them who was mounted, till they reached the +midst of the battle plain. Sharrken looked at that horseman and +lo! he was their chief. He was clad in a surcoat of blue satin +and a close ringed mail shirt; his face was as the moon when it +rises and no hair was upon his cheeks. He hent in hand an Indian +scymitar and he rode a sable steed with a white blaze on brow, +like a dirham; and he smote the horse with heel till he stood +almost in the midst of the field when, signing to the Moslems, he +cried out in fluent Arab speech "Ho, Sharrkan! Ho, son of Omar +bin al- Nu'uman! Ho, thou who forcest fortalice and overthrowest +cities and countries! up and out to battle bout, and blade +single handed wield with one who halves with thee the field! +Thou art Prince of thy people and I am Prince of mine; and whoso +overcometh his adversary, him let the other's men obey and come +under his sway." Hardly had he ended his speech, when out came +Sharrkan with a heart full of fury, and urging his steed into the +midst of the field, closed like a raging lion with the Frank who +encountered him with wariness and steadfastness and met him with +the meeting of warriors. Then they fell to foining and hewing, +and they stinted not of onset and offset, and give and take, as +they were two mountains clashing together or two seas together +dashing; nor did they cease fighting until day darkened and night +starkened. Then they drew apart and each returned to his own +party; but as soon as Sharrkan foregathered with his comrades, he +said, "Never looked I on the like of this cavalier: he hath one +quality I have not yet seen in any and this it is that, when his +foemen uncovereth a place for the death blow, he reverseth his +weapon and smiteth with the lance-heel! In very deed I know not +what will be the issue 'twixt him and me; but 'tis my wish that +we had in our host his like and the like of his men." Then he +went to his rest for the night and, when morning dawned, the +Frank came forth and rode down to the mid field, where Sharrkan +met him; and they fell to fighting and to wheeling, left and +right; and necks were stretched out to see the sight, nor did +they stint from strife and sword play and lunge of lance with +main and might, till the day turned to night and darkness +overwhelmed the light. Then the twain drew asunder and returned +each to his own camp, where both related to their comrades what +had befallen them in the duello; and at last the Frank said to +his men, "Tomorrow shall decide the matter!" So they both passed +that night restfully till dawn; and, as soon as it was day, they +mounted and each bore down on other and ceased not to fight till +half the day was done. Then the Frank bethought him of a ruse; +first urging his steed with heel and then checking him with the +rein, so that he stumbled and fell with his rider; thereupon +Sharrkan threw himself on the foe, and would have smitten him +with the sword fearing lest the strife be prolonged, when the +Frank cried out to him, "O Sharrkan, champions are not wont to do +thus! This is the act of a man accustomed to be beaten by a +woman."[FN#216] When Sharrkan heard this, he raised his eyes to +the Frank's face and gazing steadfastly at him, recognized in him +Princess Abrizah with whom that pleasant adventure had befallen +him in the convent; whereupon he cast brand from hand and, +kissing the earth before her, asked her, "What moved thee to a +deed like this?"; and she answered, "I desired to prove thy +prowess afield and test thy doughtiness in tilting and jousting. +These that are with me are my handmaids, and they are all clean +maids; yet they have vanquished thy horsemen in fair press and +stress of plain; and had not my steed stumbled with me, thou +shouldst have seen my might and prowess in combat." Sharrkan +smiled at her speech and said, "Praise be to Allah for safety and +for my reunion with thee, O Queen of the age!" Then she cried out +to her damsels to loose the twenty captives of Sharrkan's troop +and dismount. They did as she bade and came and kissed the earth +before her and Sharrkan who said to them, "It is the like of you +that Kings keep in store for the need hour." Then he signed to +his comrades to salute the Princess; so all alighted and kissed +the earth before her, for they knew the story. After this, the +whole two hundred took horse, and fared on night and day for six +days' space, till they drew near to Baghdad, when they halted and +Sharrkan bade Abrizah and her handmaids doff the Frankish garb +that was on them,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan +bade Princess Abrizah and her damsels doff the garb that was on +them and don the garments of daughters of Greece; and thus did +they. Then he despatched a company of his companions to Baghdad +to acquaint his father Omar bin al-Nu'uman, with his arrival and +report that he was accompanied by Princess Abrizah, daughter of +King Hardub, Lord of Graecia-land. They halted forthright in the +place they had reached, and Sharrkan also halted and all righted +there; and when Almighty Allah made morning dawn, Sharrkan and +his company and Abrizah and her company took horse and fared on +towards the city; when lo! on the way they met the Wazir Dandan, +who had come out amongst a thousand horse to honour Abrizah and +Sharrkan, by especial commandment of King Omar Son of Al- +Nu'uman. When the two drew near, they turned towards them and +kissed ground before them; then they mounted again and escorted +them into the city and went up with them to the palace. Sharrkan +walked in to his father, who rose and embraced him and questioned +him of his case. So he told him all that Abrizah had told him, +and what had passed between them and said, "She hath parted from +her sire and departed from her reign and hath chosen to take part +with us and make her abode with us; and indeed," he said to his +father, "the King of Constantinople hath plotted to do us a +mischief, because of his daughter Sophia, for that the King of +Greece had made known to him her story and the cause of her being +given to thee; and he (the Grecian King) not knowing her to be +daughter of King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople; and, had he +known that, he would not have bestowed her upon thee, but he +would have restored her to her parent. And of a verity," he +continued, "we were saved from these perils only by the Lady +Abrizah, and never saw we a more valiant than she." And he went +on to tell his father all that had passed from first to last of +the wrestling and the single fighting. When King Omar heard the +story of Sharrkan, Abrizah was exalted in his eyes, and he longed +to see her and question her. Thereupon Sharrkan went out to her +and said, "The King calleth for thee;" she replied, "I hear and I +obey;" and he took her and brought her in to his father, who was +seated on his throne and who, having dismissed his high officers, +was attended only by his eunuchs. The Princess entered and +kissing the ground between his hands, saluted him in choice +terms. He was amazed at her eloquent speech and thanked her for +her dealing with his son Sharrkan and bade her be seated. So she +sat down and unveiled her face;[FN#217] and, when the King saw +her beauty, his reason fled his head and he made her draw near +and showed her favour, appointing her an especial palace for +herself and her damsels, and assigning them solde and allowances. +Then began he to ask her of the three jewels aforesaid, and she +answered, "Here be they with me, O King of the age!" So saying, +she rose and going to her lodging, unpacked her baggage and from +it brought out a box and from the box a casket of gold. She +opened the casket and taking out those three jewels, kissed them +and gave them to the King. Then she went away bearing his heart +with her. After her going the King sent for his son Sharrkan and +gave him one jewel of the three, and when he enquired of the +other two replied, "O my son! I mean to give one to thy brother +Zau al-Makan, and the other to thy sister Nuzhat al- Zaman." But +when Sharrkan heard that he had a brother (for to that time he +knew only of his sister) he turned to his sire and said to him, +"O King, hast thou a son other than myself?" He answered, "Yes, +and he is now six years old;" adding that his name was Zau al- +Makan and that he and Nuzhat al-Zaman were twins, born at a +birth. This news was grievous to Sharrkan, but he kept his +secret and said, "The bless- ing of Allah Most High be upon +them!", and he cast the jewel from his hand and shook the dust +off his clothes. Quoth the King, "How do I see thee change thy +manner when hearing of this, considering that after me thou +becomes" heir of the kingdom. Of a truth the troops have sworn +to thee and the Emirs and Grandees have taken the oath of +succession to thee; and this one of the three jewels is thine." +Sharrkan bowed his head to the ground and was ashamed to bandy +words with his parent so he accepted the jewel and went away, +knowing not what to do for exceeding wrath, and stayed not +walking till he had entered Abrizah's palace. As he approached +she stood up to meet him and thanked him for what he had done and +prayed for blessings on him and his sire. Then she sat down and +seated him by her side; but when he had taken his place she saw +rage in his face and questioned him, whereupon he told her that +Allah had blessed his father with two children by Sophia, a boy +and a girl, and that he had named the boy Zau al-Makan and the +girl Nuzhat al-Zaman; adding, "He hath kept the other two jewels +for them and hath given me one of thine, so I left it behind; I +knew naught of Zau al-Makan's birth till this day, and the twain +are now six years old. So when I learnt this, wrath possessed +me; and I tell thee the reason of my rage and hide nothing from +thee. But now I fear lest my father take thee to wife, for he +loveth thee and I saw in him signs of desire for thee: so what +wilt thou say, if he wish this?" Quoth she, "Know, O Sharrkan, +that thy father hath no dominion over me, nor can he have me +without my consent; and if he prevail over me by force, I will +take my own life. As for the three jewels, it was not my intent +that he should give any of them to either of his children and I +had no thought but that he would lay them up in his treasury with +his things of price; but now I desire of thy favour that thou +make me a present of the jewel which he gave thee, if thou have +accepted it." "Hearkening and obedience," replied Sharrkan, and +gave it to her. Then said she, "Fear nothing," and talked with +him awhile and continued, "I fear lest my father hear that I am +with you and sit not patiently under my loss, but do his +endeavours to find me; and to that end he may ally himself with +King Afridun, on account of his daughter Sophia, and both come on +thee with armies and so there befal great turmoil." When Sharrken +heard these words, he said to her, "O my lady, if it please thee +to sojourn with us, take no thought of them; though there gather +together against us all that be on land and on sea." " 'Tis +well," rejoined she; "if ye entreat me fair, I will tarry with +you, and if ye deal evilly by me, I will depart from you." Then +she bade her slave maidens bring food; so they set the tables, +and Sharrkan ate a little and went away to his own house, +disturbed and perturbed. Such was his case; but regarding the +affairs of his father, Omar bin al-Nu'uman, after dismissing his +son Sharrkan he arose and, taking the other two jewels, betook +himself to the Lady Sophia, who stood up when she saw him and +remained standing till he was seated. Presently, his two +children, Zau al-Makan and Nuzhat al-Zaman, came to him and he +kissed them and hung a jewel round each one's neck, at which they +rejoiced and kissed his hands. Then went they to their mother, +who joyed in their joy and wished the King long life; so he asked +her, "Why hast thou not informed me all this time that thou art +the daughter of King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, that I +might have honoured thee still more and enlarged thee in dignity +and raised thy rank?" "O King," answered Sophia, "and what could +I desire greater or higher than this my standing with thee, +overwhelmed as I am with thy favours and thy benefits? And, +furthermore, Allah hath blessed me with two children by thee, a +son and a daughter." Her reply pleased the King and after leaving +her, he set apart for her and her children a wondrous fine +palace. Moreover, he appointed for them eunuchs and attendants +and doctors of law and doctors of philosophy and astrologers and +physicians and surgeons to do them service; and in every way he +redoubled his favour and entreated them with the best of +treatment. And presently he returned to the palace of his +dominion and to his Court where he distributed justice among the +lieges. So far concerning him and Sophia and her children; but +in the matter of Abrizah the King was greatly occupied with love +of her and burnt with desire of her night and day; and every +night, he would go in to her and converse with her and pay his +court to her, but she gave him no answer, only saying, "O King of +the age! I have no desire for men at this present." When he saw +her withdraw from him, his passion waxed hotter and his longing +and pining increased until, when weary of this, he summoned his +Wazir Dandan and, opening his very heart to him, told him of his +love for Princess Abrizah, daughter of Hardub, and informed him +how she refused to yield to his wishes and how desire for her was +doing him to die, for that he could get no grace of her. The +Wazir, hearing these words, said to the King, "As soon as it is +dark night, take thou a piece of Bhang the measure of a miskal, +about an ounce, and go in to her and drink somewhat of wine with +her. When the hour of ending the carousel shall draw near, fill +her a last cup and dropping therein the Bhang, give it to her to +drink, and she will not reach her sleeping chamber ere the drug +take effect on her. Then do thou go in to her and take thy will +of her; and such is my advice."[FN#218] "Thy rede is aright," +quoth the King, and seeking his treasury, he took thence a piece +of concentrated Bhang, if an elephant smelt it he would sleep +from year to year. This he put in his bosom pocket and waited +till some little of the night went by, when he betook himself to +the palace of Princess Abrizah, who seeing him stood up to +receive him; but he bade her sit down. So she sat down, and he +sat by her, and he began to talk with her of wine and wassail, +whereupon she furnished the carousing table[FN#219] and placed it +before him. Then she set on the drinking vessels and lighted the +candles and ordered to bring dried fruits and sweet meats and all +that pertaineth to drinking. So they fell to tippling and the +King ceased not to pledge her till drunkenness crept into her +head; and seeing this he took out the bit of Bhang from his +pocket and, holding it between his fingers, filled a cup with his +own hand and drank it off. Then filling a second he said, "To +thy companionship!"; and dropped the drug into her cup, she +knowing naught of it. She took it and drank it off; then she +rose and went to her sleeping chamber. He waited for less than +an hour till he was assured that the dose had taken effect on her +and had robbed her of her senses, when he went in to her and +found her thrown on her back: and she had doffed her petticoat +trousers and the air raised the skirt of her shift and discovered +what was between her thighs. When the King saw the state of +things and found a lighted candle at her head and another at her +feet, shining upon what her thighs enshrined he took leave of his +five senses for lust and Satan seduced him and he could not +master himself, but put off his trousers and fell upon her and +abated her maiden head. Then he rose off her and went to one of +her women, by name Marjnah, and said, "Go in to thy lady and +speak with her." So she went in to her mistress and found her +lying on her back insensible, with the blood running down to the +calves of her legs, whereupon she took a kerchief and wiped away +the blood and lay by her that night. As soon as Almighty Allah +brought the dawn, the handmaid Marjanah washed her mistress's +hands and feet and brought rose water and bathed her face and +mouth with it, where upon she sneezed and yawned and cast up from +her inside that bit of Bhang like a bolus.[FN#220] Then she +revived and washed her hands and mouth and said to Marjanah, +"Tell me what hath befallen me." So she told her what had passed +and how she had found her, lying on her back, with the blood +running down, wherefore she knew that King Omar bin al-Nu'uman +had lain with her and had undone her and taken his will of her. +At this she grieved with exceeding grief and retired into +privacy, saying to her damsels, "Deny me to whoso would come in +to me and say to him that I am ill, till I see what Allah will do +with me." Presently the news of her sickness came to the King; so +he sent her sherbets and sugar electuaries. Some months she thus +passed in solitude, during which time the King's flame cooled and +his desire for her was quenched, so that he abstained from her. +Now she had conceived by him, and when the months of child +breeding had gone by, her pregnancy appeared and her belly +swelled, and the world was straitened upon her, so she said to +her handmaid Marjanah, "Know that it is not the folk who have +wronged me, but I who sinned against my own self[FN#221] in that +I left my father and mother and country. Indeed, I abhor life, +for my spirit is broken and neither courage nor strength is left +me. I used, when I mounted my steed, to have the mastery of him, +but now I am unable to ride. If I be brought to bed among them I +shall be dishonoured before my hand women and every one in the +palace will know that he hath taken my maidenhead in the way of +shame; and if I return to my father, with what face shall I meet +him or with what face shall I have recourse to him? How well +quoth the poet, + +'Say, what shall solace one who hath nor home nor stable stead * + Nor cup companion, nor a cup, nor place to house his head?'" + +Marjanah answered her, "It is thine to command; I will obey;" and +Abrizah said, "I desire at once to leave this place secretly, so +that none shall know of me but thou; and return to my father and +my mother, for when flesh stinketh, there is naught for it but +its own folk and Allah shall do with me e'en as He will." "O +Princess," Marjanah replied, "what thou wouldest do is well." +Then she made matters ready and kept her secret and waited for +some days till the King went out to chase and hunt, and his son +Sharrkan betook himself to certain of the fortresses to sojourn +there awhile. Then said she to Marjanah, "I wish to set out this +night, but how shall I do against my destiny? For already I feel +the pangs of labour and child birth, and if I abide other four or +five days, I shall be brought to bed here, and I shall be unable +to travel to my country. But this is what was written on my +forehead." Then she considered awhile, and said to Marjanah, +"Look us out a man who will go with us and serve us by the way, +for I have no strength to bear arms." "By Allah, O my lady," +replied Marjanah, "I know none but a black slave called Al- +Ghazbn,[FN#222] who is one of the slaves of King Omar bin al- +Nu'uman; he is a valiant wight, and he keepeth guard at our +palace gate. The King appointed him to attend us, and indeed we +have overwhelmed him with our favours; so, lookye, I will go out +and speak with him of this matter, and promise him some monies +and tell him that, if he have a mind to tarry with us, I will +marry him to whom he will. He told me before to day that he had +been a highwayman; so if he consent to us we shall win our wish +and reach to our own land." She rejoined, "Call him that I may +talk with him;" whereupon Marjanah fared forth and said to the +slave, 'O Ghazban, Allah prosper thee, so thou fall in with what +my lady saith to thee!" Then she took him by the hand and brought +him to the Princess, whose hands he kissed but as she beheld him, +her heart took fright at him. "How ever," she said to herself, +"of a truth, Need giveth the law;" and she approached to speak +with him, yet her heart started away from him. Presently she +said, "O Ghazban, say me, wilt thou help me against the perfidies +of Fortune and conceal my secret if I discover it to thee?" When +the slave saw her, his heart was taken by storm and he fell in +love with her forthright and could not but reply; "O my mistress, +whatsoever thou biddest me do, I will not depart therefrom." +Quoth she, "I would have thee take me at this hour and take this +my handmaid and saddle us two camels and two of the King's horses +and set on each horse a saddle bag of goods and somewhat of +provaunt, and go with us to our own country; where, if thou +desire to abide with us, I will marry thee to her thou shalt +choose of my handmaidens, or, if thou prefer return to thine own +land, we will marry thee and give thee whatso thou desires" after +thou hast taken of money what shall satisfy thee." When Al +Ghazban, heard this, he rejoiced with great joy and replied, "O +my lady, I will serve both of you with mine eyes and will go at +once and saddle the horses." Then he went away gladsome and +saying to himself, "I shall get my will of them and if they will +not yield to me, I will kill them both and take their riches." +But he kept this his intent to himself, and presently returned +with two camels and three head of horses, one of which he rode, +and Princess Abrizah made Marjanah mount the second she mounting +the third, albeit she was in labour pains and possessed not her +soul for anguish. And the slave ceased not travelling with them +night and day through the passes of the mountains, till there +remained but musingly march between them and their own country; +when the travail pangs came upon Abrizah and she could no longer +resist; so she said to Al-Ghazban, "Set me down, for the pains of +labour are upon me;" and cried to Marjanah, "Do thou alight and +sit by me and deliver me." Then Marjanah dismounted from her +horse, and Al-Ghazban did in like sort, and they made fast the +bridles and helped the Princess to dismount, for she was aswoon +from excess of anguish. When Al-Ghazban saw her on the ground, +Satan entered into him and he drew his falchion and brandishing +it in her face, said "O my lady, vouchsafe me thy favours." +Hearing these words she turned to him and said, "It remaineth for +me only that I yield me to negro slaves, after having refused +Kings and Braves!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Princess +Abrizah said to the black slave Al Ghazban, "It remaineth for me +only that I yield me to negro slaves, after having refused Kings +and Braves!" And she was wroth with him and cried, "Woe to thee! +what words are these thou sayest? Out on thee, and talk not thus +in my presence and know that I will never consent to what thou +sayest, though I drink the cup of death. Wait till I have cast +my burden and am delivered of the after birth, and then, if thou +be able thereto, do with me as thou wilt; but, an thou leave not +lewd talk at this time assuredly I will slay myself with my own +hand and quit the world and be at peace from all this." And she +began reciting extempore,[FN#223] + +"O spare me, thou Ghazban, indeed enow for me * Are heavy strokes + of time, mischance and misery! +Whoredom my Lord forfends to all humanity; * Quoth He, 'Who + breaks my bidding Hell for home shall see!' +And if thou leave not suing me to whoredom's way * Against th' + Almighty's choicest gift, my chastity, +Upon my tribesmen I with might and main will call * And gather + all, however far or near they be; +And with Yamni blade were I in pieces hewn, * Ne'er shall he + sight my face who makes for villeiny, +The face of free born come of noble folk and brave; * What then + can be to me the seed of whoreson slave?" + +When Ghazban heard these lines he was wroth exceedingly; his eyes +reddened with blood and his face became a dusty grey[FN#224]; his +nostrils swelled, his lips protruded and the repulsiveness of his +aspect redoubled. And he repeated these couplets, + +"Ho thou, Abrizah, mercy! leave me not for I * Of thy love and + Yamni[FN#225] glance the victim lie +My heart is cut to pieces by thy cruelty, * My body wasted and my + patience done to die: +From glances ravishing all hearts with witchery * Reason far + flies, the while desire to thee draws nigh; +Though at thy call should armies fill the face of earth * E'en + now I'd win my wish and worlds in arms defy!" + +When Abrizah heard these words, she wept with sore weeping and +said to him, "Woe to thee, O Ghazban! How dareth the like of +thee to address me such demand, O base born and obscene bred? +Dost thou deem all folk are alike?" When the vile slave heard +this from her, he waxt more enraged and his eyes grew redder: and +he came up to her and smiting her with the sword on her neck +wounded her to the death. Then he drove her horse before him +with the treasure and made off with himself to the mountains. +Such was the case with Al-Ghazban; but as regards Abrizah, she +gave birth to a son, like the moon, and Marjanah took the babe +and did him the necessary offices and laid him by his mother's +side; and lo and behold! the child fastened to its mother's +breast and she dying.[FN#226] When Marjanah saw this, she cried +out with a grievous cry and rent her raiment and cast dust on her +head and buffeted her cheeks till blood flowed, saying, "Alas, my +mistress! Alas, the pity of it! Thou art dead by the hand of a +worthless black slave, after all thy knightly prowess!" And she +ceased not weeping when suddenly a great cloud of dust arose and +walled the horizon;[FN#227] but, after awhile, it lifted and +discovered a numerous conquering host. Now this was the army of +King Hardub, Princess Abrizah's father, and the cause of his +coming was that when he heard of his daughter and her handmaids +having fled to Baghdad, and that they were with King Omar bin al- +Nu'uman, he had come forth, leading those with him, to seek +tidings of her from travellers who might have seen her with the +King. When he had gone a single day's march from his capital, he +espied three horse men afar off and made towards them, intending +to ask whence they came and seek news of his daughter. Now these +three whom he saw at a distance were his daughter and Marjanah +and the slave Al- Ghazban; and he made for them to push inquiry. +Seeing this the villain blackamoor feared for himself; so he +killed Abrizah and fled for his life. When they came up, King +Hardub saw his daughter lying dead and Marjanah weeping over her, +and he threw himself from his steed and fell fainting to the +ground. All the riders of his company, the Emirs and Waxirs, +took foot and forth right pitched their tents on the mountain and +set up for the King a great pavilion, domed and circular, without +which stood the grandees of the realm. When Marjanah saw her +master, she at once recognized him and her tears redoubled; and, +when he came to himself, he questioned her and she told him all +that had passed and said, "Of a truth he that hath slain thy +daughter is a black slave belonging to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, +and she informed him how Sharrkan's father had dealt with the +Princess. When King Hardub heard this, the world grew black in +his sight and he wept with sore weeping. Then he called for a +litter and, therein laying his dead daughter, returned to +Caesarea and carried her into the palace, where he went in to his +mother, Zat al-Dawahi, and said to that Lady of Calamities, +"Shall the Moslems deal thus with my girl? Verily King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman despoiled her of her honour by force, and after this, +one of his black slaves slew her. By the truth of the Messiah, I +will assuredly take blood revenge for my daughter and clear away +from mine honour the stain of shame; else will I kill myself with +mine own hand!" And he wept passing sore. Quoth his mother, +"None other than Marjanah killed thy daughter, for she hated her +in secret;" and she continued to her son, "Fret not for taking +the blood wit of thy daughter, for, by the truth of the Messiah, +I will not turn back from King Omar bin al-Nu'uman till I have +slain him and his sons; and of a very truth I will do with him a +deed, passing the power of Sage and Knight, whereof the +chroniclers shall tell chronicles in all countries and in every +place: but needs must thou do my bidding in all I shall direct, +for whoso be firmly set on the object of his desire shall surely +compass his desire." "By the virtue of the Messiah," replied he, +"I will not cross thee in aught thou shalt say." Then quoth she, +"Bring me a number of hand maids, high bosomed virgins, and +summon the wise men of the age and let them teach them philosophy +and the rules of behaviour before Kings, and the art of +conversation and making verses; and let them talk with them of +all manner science and edifying knowledge. And the sages must be +Moslems, that they may teach them the language and traditions of +the Arabs, together with the history of the Caliphs and the +ancient annals of the Kings of Al-Islam; and if we persevere in +this for four years' space, we shall gain our case. So possess +thy soul in patience and wait; for one of the Arabs saith, 'If we +take man bote after years forty the time were short to ye.' When +we have taught the girls these things, we shall be able to work +our will with our foe, for he doteth on women and he hath three +hundred and sixty concubines, whereto are now added an hundred of +the flowers of thy handmaidens who were with thy daughter, she +that hath found mercy.[FN#228] As soon as I have made an end of +their education, as described to thee, I will take them and set +out with them in person." When King Hardub heard his mother's +words, he rejoiced and arose and kissed her head; and at once +despatched messengers and couriers to lands sundry and manifold +to fetch him Moslem sages. They obeyed his commands and fared to +far countries and thence brought him the sages and the doctors he +sought. When these came into presence, he honoured them with +notable honorurs and bestowed dresses on them and appointed to +them stipends and allowances and promised them much money whenas +they should have taught the damsels. Then he committed the +handmaidens to their hands--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-third Night. + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +sages and the doctors stood in presence of King Hardub, he +honoured them with notable honours and committed the hand maidens +to their hands, enjoining that these be instructed in all manner +of knowledge, philosophy and polite accomplishments; and they set +themselves to do his bidding. Such was the case with King +Hardub; but as for King Omar bin al Nu'uman, when he returned +from coursing and hunting and entered his palace, he sought +Princess Abrizah but found her not, nor any one knew of her nor +could any give him news of her. This was grievous to him and he +said, "How could the lady leave the palace unknown of any? Had +my kingdom been at stake in this case, it were in perilous +condition there being none to govern it! I will never again go +to sport and hunt till I have stationed at the gates those who +shall keep good guard over them!" And he was sore vexed and his +breast was straitened for the loss of Princess Abrizah. Hereupon +behold, his son Sharrkan returned from his journey; and the +father told him what had happened, and informed him how the lady +had fled, whilst he was chasing and hunting, whereat he grieved +with exceeding grief. Then King Omar took to visiting his +children every day and making much of them and brought them +learned men and doctors to teach them, appointing for them +stipends. When Sharrkan saw this, he raged with exceeding rage +and envied thereupon his brother and sister till the signs of +chagrin appeared in his face and he ceased not to languish by +reason of this matter: so one day his father said to him, "Why do +I see thee grown weak in body and yellow of face?" "O my father," +replied Sharrkan, "every time I see thee fondle my brother and +sister and make much of them, jealousy seizeth on me, and I fear +lest it grow on me till I slay them and thou slay me in return. +And this is the reason of my weakness of body and change of +complexion. But now I crave of thy favour that thou give me one +of thy castles outlying the rest, that I may abide there the +remnant of my life, for as the sayer of bywords saith, 'Absence +from my friend is better and fitter for me'; and, 'Whatso eye +doth not perceive, that garreth not heart to grieve.'" And he +bowed his head towards the ground. When King Omar bin al-Nu'uman +heard his words and knew the cause of his ailment and of his +being broken down, he soothed his heart and said to him, "O my +son, I grant thee this and I have not in my reign a greater than +the Castle of Damascus, and the government of it is thine from +this time." Thereupon he forthright summoned his secretaries of +state and bade them write Sharrkan's patent of investiture to the +viceroyalty of Damascus of Syria. And when they had written it, +he equipped him and sent with him the Wazir Dandan, and invested +him with the rule and government and gave him instructions as to +policy and regulations; and took leave of him, and the grandees +and officers of state did likewise, and he set out with his host. +When he arrived at Damascus, the townspeople beat the drums and +blew the trumpets and decorated the city and came out to meet him +in great state; whilst all the notables and grandees paced in +procession, and those who stood to the right of the throne walked +on his right flank, and the others to the left. Thus far +concerning Sharrkan; but as regards his father, Omar bin al- +Nu'uman, soon after the departure of his son, the children's +tutors and governors presented themselves before him and said to +him, "O our lord, thy children have now learnt knowledge and they +are completely versed in the rules of manners and the etiquette +of ceremony." The King rejoiced thereat with exceeding joy and +conferred bountiful largesse upon the learned men, seeing Zau al- +Makan grown up and flourishing and skilled in horsemanship. The +Prince had reached the age of fourteen and he occupied himself +with piety and prayers, loving the poor, the Olema and the Koran +students, so that all the people of Baghdad loved him, men and +women. One day, the procession of the Mahmil[FN#229] of Irk +passed round Baghdad before its departure for the pilgrimage to +Meccah and visitation of the tomb of the Prophet (whom Allah +bless and preserve!). When Zau al-Makan the Mahmil procession he +was seized with longing desire to become a pilgrim,[FN#230] so he +went in to his sire and said, "I come to ask thy leave to make +the pilgrimage." But his father forbade him saying, "Wait till +next year and I will go and thou too." When the Prince saw that +the matter was postponed, he betook himself to his sister Nuzhat +al-Zaman, whom he found standing at prayer. As soon as she had +ended her devotions he said to her, "I am dying with desire of +pilgrimage to the Holy House of Allah at Meccah and to visit the +tomb of the Prophet, upon whom be peace! I asked my father's +leave, but he forbade me that, so I mean to take privily somewhat +of money and set out on the pilgrimage without his knowledge." +"Allah upon thee," exclaimed she, "take me with thee and deprive +me not of visitation to the tomb of the Prophet, whom Allah bless +and keep!" And he answered, "As soon as it is dark night, do thou +come forth from this place, without telling any." +Accordingly,When it was the middle of the night she arose and +took somewhat of money and donned a man's habit; and she ceased +not walking to the palace gate, where she found Zau al-Makan with +camels ready for marching. So he mounted and mounted her; and +the two fared on till they were in the midst of the Iraki[FN#231] +pilgrim-party, and they ceased not marching and Allah wrote +safety for them, till they entered Meccah the Holy and stood upon +Araft and performed the pilgrimage rites. Then they made a +visitation to the tomb of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and +assain!) and thought to return with the pilgrims to their native +land. But Zau al-Makan said to his sister, "O my sister, it is +in my mind to visit the Holy House,[FN#232] Jerusalem, and +Abraham the Friend of Allah[FN#233] (on whom be peace!)." "I also +desire so to do," replied she. So they agreed upon this and he +fared forth and took passage for himself and her and they made +ready and set out in the ship with a company of Jerusalem +palmers. That very night the sister fell sick of an aguish +chill, and was grievously ill but presently recovered, after +which the brother also sickened. She tended him during his +malady and they ceased not wayfaring till they arrived at +Jerusalem, but the fever increased on him and he grew weaker and +weaker. They alighted at a Khan and there hired a lodging; but +Zau al- Makan's sickness ceased not to increase on him, till he +was wasted with leanness and became delirious. At this, his +sister was greatly afflicted and exclaimed, "There is no Majesty +and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! +This is the decree of Allah!" They sojourned in that place +awhile, his weakness ever increasing and she attending him and +buying necessaries for him and for herself, till all the money +she had was expended and she became so poor that she had not so +much as a dirham left. Then she sent a servant of the Khan to +the bazar with some of her clothes, and he sold them and she +spent the price upon her brother; then sold she something more +and she ceased not selling all she had, piece by piece, till +nothing was left but an old rug. Whereupon she wept and +exclaimed, "Verily is Allah the Orderer of the past and the +future!" Presently her brother said to her, "O my sister, I feel +recovery drawing near and my heart longeth for a little roast +meat." "By Allah! O my brother," replied she, "I have no face to +beg; but tomorrow I will enter some rich man's house and serve +him and earn somewhat for our living." Then she bethought herself +awhile and said, "Of a truth 'tis hard for me to leave thee and +thou in this state, but I must despite myself!" He rejoined, +"Allah forbid! Thou wilt be put to shame; but there is no +Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah!" And he wept and she +wept too. Then she said, "O my brother, we are strangers who +have dwelt here a full year, but none hath yet knocked at our +door. Shall we then die of hunger? I know no resource but that +I go out and do service and earn somewhat to keep us alive, till +thou recover from thy sickness, when we will travel back to our +native land." She sat weeping awhile and he wept too, propped +upon his elbow. Then Nuzhat al-Zaman arose and, veiling her head +with a bit of camlet,[FN#234] which had been of the cameleer's +clothes and which the owner had forgotten and left with them; she +kissed the head of her brother and embraced him and went forth +from him, weeping and knowing not whither she should wend. And +she stinted not going and her brother Zau al-Makan awaiting her +return till the supper time; but she came not, and he watched for +her till the morning morrowed but still she returned not; and +this endured till two days went by. He was greatly troubled +thereat and his heart fluttered for her, and hunger was sore upon +him. At last he left the chamber and, calling the servant of the +caravanserai, said, "I wish thee to bear me to the bazar." So he +carried him to the market street and laid him down there; and the +people of Jerusalem gathered round him and were moved to tears +seeing his condition. He signed to them begging for somewhat to +eat; so they brought him some money from certain of the merchants +who were in the bazar, and bought food and fed him therewith; +after which they carried him to a shop, where they spread him a +mat of palm leaves and set an ewer of water at his head. When +night fell, all the folk went away, sore concerned for him and, +in the middle of the night, he called to mind his sister and his +sickness redoubled on him, so that he abstained from eating and +drinking and became insensible to the world around him. Then the +bazar people arose and took for him from the merchants thirty +seven dirhams, and hiring a camel, said to the driver, "Carry +this sick man to Damascus and leave him in the hospital; haply he +may be cured and recover health." "On my head be it!" replied the +camel man; but he said to himself, "How shall I take this sick +man to Damascus, and he nigh upon death?" So he carried him away +to a place and hid with him till the night, when he threw him +down on the ash heap near the fire hole of a Hammam and went his +way. When morning dawned the Stoker[FN#235] of the bath came to +his work and, finding Zau al-Makan cast on his back, exclaimed, +"Why did they not throw their dead body anywhere but here?" So +saying, he gave him a kick and he moved; whereupon quoth the +Fireman, "Some one of you who hath eaten a bit of Hashish and +hath thrown himself down in whatso place it be!" Then he looked +at his face and saw his hairless cheeks and his grace and +comeliness; so he took pity on him and knew that he was sick and +a stranger in the land. And he cried, "There is no Majesty and +there is no Might save in Allah! verily, I have sinned against +this youth, for indeed the Prophet (whom Allah bless and keep!) +enjoineth honour to the stranger, more especially when the +stranger is sick." Then he carried him home and went in with him +to his wife and bade her tend him. So she spread him a sleeping +rug and set a cushion under his head, then warmed water for him +and washed therewith his hands and feet and face. Meanwhile, the +Stoker went to the market and bought some rose water and sugar, +and sprinkled Zau al-Makan's face with the water and gave him to +drink of the sherbet. Then he fetched a clean shirt and put it +on him. With this, Zau al-Makan sniffed the zephyr of health and +recovery returned to him; and he sat up and leant against the +pillow. Hereat the Fireman rejoiced and exclaimed, "Praise be to +Allah for the welfare of this youth! O Allah, I beseech Thee by +Thy knowledge of hidden things, that Thou make the salvation of +this youth to be at my hands!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Fireman +exclaimed, "O Allah, I beseech Thee of Thy knowledge of hidden +things, that Thou make this young man's life the work of my +hands!" And he ceased not to nurse him for three days, giving him +to drink of sherbet of sugar and willow flower water and rose +water; and doing him all manner of service and kindness, till +health began to return to his body and Zau al-Makan opened his +eyes. Presently came in the Fireman and, seeing him sitting up +and showing signs of amendment, said to him, "What is now thy +state, O my son?" "Praise be to Allah," replied Zau al-Makan, "I +am well and like to recover, if such be the will of Allah +Almighty at this time." The Stoker praised the Lord of All for +this and, wending fast to the market, bought ten chickens, which +he carried to his wife and said, "Kill two of these for him every +day, one at dawn of day and the other at fall of day." So she +rose up and killed a fowl and brought it to him boiled, and fed +him with the flesh and made him drink its broth. When he had +done eating, she fetched hot water and he washed his hands and +lay back upon the pillow, whereupon she covered him up with the +coverlet, and he slept till the time of the mid afternoon prayer. +Then she arose and killed another fowl and boiled it; after which +she cut it up and, bringing it to Zau al-Makan, said, "Eat, O my +son!" While he was eating; behold, her husband entered and seeing +her feeding him, sat down at his head and said to him, "How is it +with thee now, O my son?" "Thanks be to Allah for recovery!" he +replied: "may the Almighty requite thee thy kindness to me." At +this the Fireman rejoiced and going out, bought sherbet of +violets and rose water and made him drink it. Now the Stoker +used to work at the Hammam all day for a wage of five dirhams, +whereof he spent every day, for Zau al-Makan, one dirham upon +sugar and sherbet of rose water and willow flower water,[FN#236] +and another dirham for fowls; and he ceased not to entreat him +thus kindly during a whole month, till the traces of illness +ceased from him and he was once more sound and whole. Thereupon +the Fireman and his wife rejoiced and asked him, "O my son, wilt +thou go with me to the bath?"; whereto he answered, "Yes!" So the +Stoker went to the bazar and fetched a donkey boy, and he mounted +Zau al-Makan on the ass and supported him in the saddle till they +came to the bath. Then he made him sit down and seated the +donkey boy in the furnace-room and went forth to the market and +bought Iote leaves and lupin-flour,[FN#237] with which he +returned to the bath and said to Zau al-Makan, "O my master, in +Allah's name, walk in and I will wash thy body." So they entered +the inner room of the bath, and the Fireman took to rubbing Zau +al-Makan's legs and began to wash his body with the leaves and +meal, when there came to them a bathman, whom the bath keeper had +sent to Zau al-Makan; and he, seeing the Stoker washing and +rubbing him, said, "This is doing injury to the keeper's rights." +Replied the Fireman, "The master overwhelmeth us with his +favours!" Then the bathman proceeded to shave Zau al-Makan's +head, after which he and the Stoker washed themselves and +returned to the house, where he clad Zau al-Makan in a shirt of +fine stuff and a robe of his own; and gave him a handsome turband +and girdle and a light kerchief which he wound about his neck. +Meanwhile the Fireman's wife had killed and cooked two chickens; +so, as soon as Zau al-Makan entered and seated himself on the +carpet, the husband arose and, dissolving sugar in willow flower +water, made him drink of it. Then he brought the food tray and, +cutting up the chickens, fed him with the flesh and gave him the +broth to drink till he was satisfied; when he washed his hands +and praised Allah for recovery, and said to the Fireman, "Thou +art he whom the Almighty vouchsafed to me and made the cause of +my cure!" "Leave this talk," replied the other, "and tell us the +cause of thy coming to this city and whence thou art. Thy face +showeth signs of gentle breeding." "Tell me first how thou camest +to fall in with me," said Zau al-Makan; "and after I will tell +thee my story." Rejoined the Fireman, "As for that, I found thee +lying on the rubbish heap by the door of the fire house, as I +went to my work near the morning, and knew not who had thrown +thee there. So I carried thee home with me; and this is all my +tale." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "Glory to Him who quickeneth the +bones, though they be rotten! Indeed, O my brother, thou hast +not done good save to one worthy of it, and thou shalt presently +gather its fruitage." And he added, "But where am I now?" "Thou +art in the city of Jerusalem," replied the Stoker; where upon Zau +al-Makan called to mind his strangerhood and remembered his +separation from his sister and wept. Then he discovered his +secret to the Fireman and told him his story and began repeating, + +"In love they bore me further than my force would go, * And for + them made me suffer resurrection throe: +Oh, have compassion, cruel! on this soul of mine * Which, since + ye fared, is pitied by each envious foe; +Nor grudge the tender mercy of one passing glance * My case to + lighten, easing this excess of woe: +Quoth I 'Heart, bear this loss in patience!' Patience cried * + 'Take heed! no patience in such plight I'm wont to show.' " + +Then he redoubled his weeping, and the Fireman said to him, "Weep +not, but rather praise Allah for safety and recovery." Asked Zau +al-Makan, "How far is it hence to Damascus?" Answered the other, +"Six days' journey." Then quoth Zau al-Makan, "Wilt thou send me +thither?" "O my lord," quoth the Stoker, "how can I allow thee to +go alone, and thou a youth and a stranger to boot? If thou would +journey to Damascus, I am one who will go with thee; and if my +wife will listen to and obey me and accompany me, I will take up +my abode there; for it is no light matter to part with thee." +Then said he to his wife, "Wilt thou travel with me to Damascus +of Syria or wilt thou abide here, whilst I lead this my lord +thither and return to thee? For he is bent upon going to +Damascus of Syria and, by Allah, it is hard to me to part with +him, and I fear for him from highway men." Replied she, "I will +go with you both;" and he rejoined, "Praised be Allah for accord, +and we have said the last word!" Then he rose and selling all his +own goods and his wife's gear,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say, + + When it was the Fifty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Fire +man and his wife agreed with Zau al-Makan to travel with him +Damascus wards. Then the Stoker sold his goods and his wife's +gear and bought a camel and hired an ass for Zau al-Makan; and +they set out, and ceased not wayfaring for six days till they +reached Damascus. And they arrived there towards eventide; when +the Fireman went forth and, as was his wont, bought some meat and +drink. They had dwelt but five days in Damascus, when his wife +sickened and, after a short illness, was translated to the mercy +of Almighty Allah. Her death was a heavy matter to Zau al-Makan, +for he was grown used to her as she had tended him assiduously; +and the Fireman grieved for her with excessive grief. Presently +the Prince turned to the Stoker and finding him mourning, said to +him, "Grieve not, for at this gate we must all go in." Replied +he, "Allah make weal thy lot, O my son! Surely He will +compensate us with His favours and cause our mourning to cease. +What sayst thou, O my son, about our walking abroad to view +Damascus and cheer thy spirits?" Replied Zau al-Makan, "Thy will +is mine." So the Fireman arose and placed his hand in that of Zau +al- Makan and the two walked on till they came to the stables of +the Viceroy of Damascus, where they found camels laden with +chests and carpets and brocaded stuffs, and horses ready saddled +and Bactrian dromedaries, while Mamelukes and negro slaves and +folk in a hubbub were running to and fro. Quoth Zau al-Makan, "I +wonder to whom belong all these chattels and camels and stuffs!" +So he asked one of the eunuchs, "Whither this dispatching?'' and +he answered, "These are presents sent by the Emir of Damascus to +King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, with the tribute of Syria." Now when +Zau al-Makan heard his father's name his eyes brimmed over with +tears, and he began repeating, + +"Oh ye gone from the gaze of these ridded eyne, * Ye whose sight + in my spirit shall ever dwell! +Your charms are gone, but this heart of me * Hath no sweet, and + no pleasures its sour dispel; +If Allah's grace make us meet again, * In long drawn love-tale my + love I'll tell." + +And when he had ended his verse, he wept and the Fireman said to +him, "O my son, we hardly believed that thy health had +returned;[FN#238] so take heart and do not weep, for I fear a +relapse for thee." And he ceased not comforting and cheering him, +whilst Zau al-Makan sighed and moaned over his strangerhood and +separation from his sister and his family; and tears streamed +from his eyes and he recited these couplets, + +"Get thee provaunt in this world ere thou wend upon thy way, * + And know how surely Death descends thy life lot to waylay: +All thy worldly goods are pride and the painfullest repine; * All + thy worldly life is vexing, of thy soul in vain display: +Say is not worldly wone like a wanderer's place of rest, * Where + at night he 'nakhs'[FN#239] his camels and moves off at dawn + of day?" + +And he continued to weep and wail over his separation; whilst the +Fireman also bewept the loss of his wife, yet ceased not to +comfort Zau al-Makan till morning dawned. When the sun rose, he +said to him, "Meseemeth thou yearnest for thy native land?" +"Yes," replied Zau al-Makan, "and I can no longer tarry here; so +I will commend thee to Allah's care and set out with these folk +and journey with them, little by little, till I come to my mother +land." Said the Stoker, "And I with thee; for of a truth I cannot +bear to part with thee. I have done thee kindly service and I +mean to complete it by tending thee on thy travel." At this, Zau +al-Makan rejoiced and said, "Allah abundantly requite thee for +me!" and was pleased with the idea of their travelling together. +The Fireman at once went forth and bought another ass, selling +the camel; and laid in his provaunt and said to Zau al-Makan, +"This is for thee to ride by the way; and, when thou art weary of +riding, thou canst dismount and walk." Said Zau al-Makan, "May +Allah bless thee and aid me to requite thee! for verily thou +hast dealt with me more lovingly than one with his brother." Then +he waited till it was dark night, when he laid the provisions and +baggage on that ass and set forth upon their journey. This much +befel Zau al-Makan and the Fireman; but as regards what happened +to his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman, when she left her brother in the +Khan where they abode and, wrapped in the old camlet, went out to +seek service with some one, that she might earn wherewithal to +buy him the roast meat he longed for, she fared on, weeping and +knowing not whither to go, whilst her mind was occupied with +thoughts of her brother and of her family and her native land. +So she implored Allah Almighty to do away with these calamities +from them and began versifying, + +"Dark falls the night and Passion comes sore pains to gar me + dree, * And pine upstirs those ceaseless pangs which work my + tormentry, +And cease not separation flames my vitals to consume, * And + drives me on destruction way this sorrow's ecstacy +And longing breeds me restlessness; desire for ever fires, * And + tears to all proclaim what I would keep in secrecy +No cunning shift is known to me a meeting to secure, * That I may + quit this sickly state, may cure my malady: +The love which blazeth in my heart is fed with fancy fuel, * The + lover from its hell of fire must bear Hell's agony![FN#240] +O thou who blamest me for all befel me, 'tis enough, * Patient I + bear what ever wrote the Reed of Doom for me: +By Love I swear I'll never be consoled, no, never more; * I swear + the oath of Love's own slaves who know no perjury: +O Night, to chroniclers of Love the news of me declare; * That + sleep hath fed mine eyelids of thy knowledge witness bear!" + +Then she walked on, weeping and turning right and left as she +went, when behold, there espied her an old Badawi[FN#241] who had +come into the town from the desert with wild Arabs other five. +The old man took note of her and saw that she was lovely, but she +had nothing on her head save a piece of camlet, and, marvelling +at her beauty, he said to himself, "This charmer dazzleth men's +wits but she is in squalid condition, and whether she be of the +people of this city or she be a stranger, I needs must have her." +So he followed her, little by little, till he met her face to +face and stopped the way before her in a narrow lane, and called +out to her, asking her case, and said, "Tell me, O my little +daughter! art thou a free woman or a slave?" When she heard +this, she said to him, "By thy life, do not add to my sorrows!" +Quoth he, "Allah hath blessed me with six daughters, of whom five +died and only one is left me, the youngest of all; and I came to +ask thee if thou be of the folk of this city or a stranger; that +I might take thee and carry thee to her, to bear her company so +as to divert her from pining for her sisters. If thou have no +kith and kin, I will make thee as one of them and thou and she +shall be as my two children." Nuzhat al-Zaman bowed her head in +bashfulness when she heard what he said and communed with +herself, "Haply I may trust myself to this old man." Then she +said to him, "O nuncle, I am a maiden of the Arabs and a stranger +and I have a sick brother; but I will go with thee to thy +daughter on one condition, which is, that I may spend only the +day with her and at night may return to my brother. If thou +strike this bargain I will fare with thee, for I am a stranger +and I was high in honour among my tribe, and I awoke one morning +to find myself vile and abject. I came with my brother from the +land of Al-Hijaz and I fearless he know not where I am." When the +Badawi heard this, he said to himself, "By Allah, I have got my +desire!" Then he turned to her and replied, "There shall none be +dearer to me than thou; I wish thee only to bear my daughter +company by day and thou shalt go to thy brother at earliest +nightfall. Or, if thou wilt, bring him over to dwell with us." +And the Badawi ceased not to console her heart and coax her, till +she trusted in him and agreed to serve him. Then he walked on +before her and, when she followed him, he winked to his men to go +in advance and harness the dromedaries and load them with their +packs and place upon them water and provisions, ready for setting +out as soon as he should come up with the camels. Now this +Badawi was a base born churl, a highway thief and a traitor to +the friend he held most fief, a rogue in grain, past master of +plots and chicane. He had no daughter and no son and was only +passing through the town when, by the decree of the Decreer, he +fell in with this unhappy one. And he ceased not to hold her in +converse on the highway till they came without the city of +Jerusalem and, when outside, he joined his companions and found +they had made ready the dromedaries. So the Badawi mounted a +camel, having seated Nuzhat al-Zaman behind him and they rode on +all night. Then she knew that the Badawi's proposal was a snare +and that he had tricked her; and she continued weeping and crying +out the whole night long, while they journeyed on making for the +mountains, in fear any should see them. Now when it was near +dawn, they dismounted from their dromedaries and the Badawi came +up to Nuzhat al-Zaman and said to her, "O city strumpet, what is +this weeping? By Allah, an thou hold not thy peace, I will beat +thee to death, O thou town filth!" When she heard this she +loathed life and longed for death; so she turned to him and said, +"O accursed old man, O gray beard of hell, how have I trusted +thee and thou hast played me false, and now thou wouldst torture +me?" When he heard her reply he cried out, "O lazy baggage, dost +thou dare to bandy words with me?" And he stood up to her and +beat her with a whip, saying, "An thou hold not thy peace, I will +kill thee!" So she was silent awhile, then she called to mind her +brother and the happy estate she had been in and she shed tears +secretly. Next day, she turned to the Badawi and said to him, +"How couldst thou play me this trick and lure me into these bald +and stony mountains, and what is thy design with me?" When he +heard her words he hardened his heart and said to her, "O lazy +baggage of ill omen and insolent! wilt thou bandy words with +me?" and he took the whip and came down with it on her back till +she felt faint. Then she bowed down over his feet and +kissed[FN#242] them; and he left beating her and began reviling +her and said, "By the rights of my bonnet,[FN#243] if I see or +hear thee weeping, I will cut out thy tongue and stuff it up thy +coynte, O thou city filth!" So she was silent and made him no +reply, for the beating pained her; but sat down with her arms +round her knees and, bowing her head upon her collar, began to +look into her case and her abasement after her lot of high +honour; and the beating she had endured; and she called to mind +her brother and his sickness and forlorn condition, and how they +were both strangers in a far country, which crave her tears down +her cheeks and she wept silently and began repeating, + +"Time hath for his wont to upraise and debase, * Nor is lasting + condition for human race: +In this world each thing hath appointed turn; * Nor may man + transgress his determined place: +How long these perils and woes? Ah woe * For a life, all woeful + in parlous case! +Allah bless not the days which have laid me low * I' the world, + with disgrace after so much grace! +My wish is baffled, my hopes cast down, * And distance forbids me + to greet his face: +O thou who passeth that dear one's door, * Say for me, these + tears shall flow evermore!" + +When she had finished her verses, the Badawi came up to her and, +taking compassion on her, bespoke her kindly and wiped away her +tears. Then he gave her a barley scone and said, "I love not one +who answereth at times when I am in wrath: so henceforth give me +no more of these impertinent words and I will sell thee to a good +man like myself, who will do well with thee, even as I have +done." "Yes; whatso thou doest is right," answered she; and when +the night was longsome upon her and hunger burnt her, she ate +very little of that barley bread. In the middle of the night the +Badawi gave orders for departure,--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Badawi gave the barley scone to Nuzhat al-Zaman and promised he +would sell her to a good man like himself, she replied, "Whatso +thou doest is right!" and, about midnight when hunger burned +her,[FN#244] she ate a very little of that barley bread and the +Badawi ordered his party to set out; so they loaded their loads +and he mounted a camel setting Nuzhat al-Zaman behind him. Then +they journeyed and ceased not journeying for three days, till +they entered the city of Damascus and alighted at the Sultan's +Khan, hard by the Viceroy's Gate. Now she had lost her colour by +grief and the fatigue of such travelling, and she ceased not to +weep over her misfortunes. So the Badawi came up to her and +said, "O thou city filth, by the right of my bonnet, if thou +leave not this weeping, I will sell thee to none but a Jew!" Then +he arose and took her by the hand and carried her to a chamber, +and walked off to the bazar, and he went round to, the merchants +who dealt in slave girls, and began to parley with them, saying, +"I have brought a slave girl whose brother fell ill, and I sent +him to my people about Jerusalem, that they might tend him till +he is cured. As for her I want to sell her, but after the dog +her brother fell sick, the separation from him was grievous to +her, and since then she doth nothing but weep, and now I wish +that whoso is minded to buy her of me speak softly to her and +say, 'Thy brother is with me in Jerusalem ill'; and I will be +easy with him about her price." Then one of the merchants came up +to him and asked, "How old is she?" He answered "She is a virgin, +just come to marriageable age, and she is endowed with sense and +breeding and wit and beauty and loveliness. But from the day I +sent her brother to Jerusalem, her heart hath been yearning for +him, so that her beauty is fallen away and her value lessened." +Now when the merchant heard this, he set forth with the Badawi +and said, "O Shaykh[FN#245] of the Arabs, I will go with thee and +buy of thee this girl whom thou praisest so highly for wit and +manners and beauty and loveliness; and I will pay thee her price +but it must be upon conditions which if thou accept, I will give +thee ready money, and if thou accept not I will return her to +thee." Quoth the Badawi, "An thou wilt, take her up to the Sultan +Sharrkan, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman lord of Baghdad and of the +land of Khorasan, and condition me any conditions thou likest, +for when thou hast brought her before King Sharrkan, haply she +will please him, and he will pay thee her price and a good profit +for thyself to boot." Rejoined the merchant, "It happens that I +have just now something to ask from him, and it is this that he +write me an order upon the office, exempting me from custom dues +and also that he write me a letter of recommendation to his +father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman. So if he take the girl, I will +weigh[FN#246] thee out her price at once." "I agree with thee to +this condition," answered the Badawi. So they returned together +to the place where Nuzhat al-Zaman was and the wild Arab stood at +the chamber door and called out, saying, "O Njiyah[FN#247]!" +which was the name wherewith he had named her. When she heard +him, she wept and made no answer. Then he turned to the merchant +and said to him, "There she sitteth; go to her and look at her +and speak to her kindly as I enjoined thee." So the trader went +up to her in courteous wise and saw that she was wondrous +beautiful and loveable, especially as she knew the Arabic tongue; +and he said to the Badawi, "If she be even as thou saddest, I +shall get of the Sultan what I will for her." Then he bespake +her, "Peace be on thee, my little maid! How art thou?" She +turned to him and replied, "This also was registered in the Book +of Destiny." Then she looked at him and, seeing him to be a man +of respectable semblance with a handsome face, she said to +herself, "I believe this one cometh to buy me;" and she +continued, "If I hold aloof from him, I shall abide with my +tyrant and he will do me to death with beating. In any case, +this person is handsome of face and maketh me hope for better +treatment from him than from my brute of a Badawi. May be he +cometh only to hear me talk; so I will give him a fair answer." +All this while her eyes were fixed on the ground; then she raised +them to him and said in a sweet voice, "And upon thee be peace, O +my lord, and Allah's mercy and His benediction![FN#248] This is +what is commanded of the Prophet, whom Allah bless and preserve! +As for thine enquiry how I am, if thou wouldst know my case, it +is such as thou wouldst not wish but to thy foe." And she held +her peace. When the merchant heard what she said, his fancy took +wings for delight in her and, turning to the Badawi, he asked +him, "What is her price, for indeed she is noble?" Thereupon the +Badawi waxed angry and answered, "Thou wilt turn me the girl's +head with this talk! Why dost thou say that she is +noble,[FN#249] while she is of the scum of slave girls and of the +refuse of folk? I will not sell her to thee!" When the merchant +heard this, he knew the man to be weak of wits and said to him, +"Calm thyself, for I will buy her of thee with these blemishes +thou mentionest." "And how much wilt thou give me for her?" +enquired the Badawi. Replied the merchant, "Name thy price for +her: none should name the son save his sire." Rejoined the +Badawi, "None shall name it but thou thyself." Quoth the merchant +to himself, "This wildling is a rudesby and a maggotty head. By +Allah, I cannot tell her price, for she hath won my heart with +her fair speech and good looks; and, if she can read and write, +it will be complete fair luck to her and to her purchaser. But +this Badawi does not know her worth." Then he turned and said to +him, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, I will give thee in ready money, +clear of the tax and the Sultan's dues, two hundred gold pieces." +Now when the Badawi heard this, he flew into a violent rage and +cried at the merchant, saying, "Get up and go thy ways! By +Allah, wert thou to offer me two hundred diners for the bit of +camlet she weareth, I would not sell it to thee. And now I will +not sell her, but will keep her by me, to pasture the camels and +grind my grist." And he cried out to her, saying, "Come here, +thou stinkard! I will not sell thee." Then he turned to the +merchant and said to him, "I used to think thee a man of +judgment; but, by the right of my bonnet, if thou begone not from +me, I will let thee hear what shall not please thee!" Quoth the +merchant to himself, "Of a truth this Badawi is mad and knoweth +not her value, and I will say no more to him about her price at +the present time; for by Allah, were he a man of sense, he would +not say, 'By the rights of my bonnet!' By the Almighty, she is +worth the kingdom of the Chosros and I have not her price by me, +but if he ask even more, I will give him what he will, though it +be all my goods." Then he turned and said to him, "O Shaykh of +the Arabs, take patience and calm thyself and tell me what +clothes she hath with thee?" Cried the Badawi, "And what hath the +baggage to do with clothes? By Allah, this camlet in which she +is wrapped is ample for her." "With thy leave," said the +merchant, "I will unveil her face and examine her even as folk +examine slave girls whom they think of buying."[FN#250] Replied +the other, "Up and do what thou wilt and Allah keep thy youth! +Examine her outside and inside and, if thou wilt, strip off her +clothes and look at her when she is naked." Quoth the trader, +"Allah forfend! I will look at naught save her face."[FN#251] +Then he went up to her and was put to shame by her beauty and +loveliness,--And Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +merchant went up to Nuzhat al-Zaman and was put to shame by her +beauty and loveliness, so he sat by her side and asked her, "O my +mistress, what is thy name?" She answered, "Doss thou ask what is +my name this day or what it was before this day?" Thereupon the +merchant enquired, "Hast thou then two names: to day's and +yesterday's?" "Yes," replied she, "my name in the past was Nuzhat +al-Zaman, the Delight of the Age; but my name at this present is +Ghussat[FN#252] al-Zaman, the Despight of the Age." When the +merchant heard this his eyes brimmed over with tears and quoth he +to her, "Hast thou not a sick brother?" "Ay by Allah, O my lord, +I have," quoth she, "but fortune hath parted me and him and he +lieth sick in Jerusalem." The merchant's head was confounded at +the sweetness of her speech and he said to himself, "Verily, the +Badawi spake the truth of her." Then she called to mind her +brother and his sickness and his strangerhood and her separation +from him in his hour of weakness and her not knowing what had +befallen him; and she thought of all that had happened to her +with the Badawi and of her severance from her mother and father +and native land; and the tears coursed down her cheeks and fast +as they started they dropped; and she began reciting, + +"Allah, where'er thou be, His aid impart * To thee, who distant + dwellest in my heart! +Allah be near thee how so far thou fare; * Ward off all shifts of + Time, all dangers thwart! +Mine eyes are desolate for thy vanisht sight, * And start my + tears-ah me, how fast they start! +Would Heaven I kenned what quarter or what land * Homes thee, and + in what house and tribe thou art +An fount of life thou drain in greenth of rose, * While drink I + tear drops for my sole desert? +An thou 'joy slumber in those hours, when I * Peel 'twixt my side + and couch coals' burning smart? +All things were easy save to part from thee, * For my sad heart + this grief is hard to dree." + +When the merchant heard her verses, he wept and put out his hand +to wipe away the tears from her cheeks; but she let down her veil +over her face, saying, "Heaven forbid, O my lord!''[FN#253] Then +the Badawi, who was sitting at a little distance watching them, +saw her cover her face from the merchant while about to wipe the +tears from her cheeks; and he concluded that she would have +hindered him from handling her: so he rose and running to her, +dealt her, with a camel's halter he had in his hand, such a blow +on the shoulders that she fell to the ground on her face. Her +eyebrow struck a stone which cut it open, and the blood streamed +down her cheeks; whereupon she screamed a loud scream and felt +faint and wept bitterly. The merchant was moved to tears for her +and said in himself, "There is no help for it but that I buy this +damsel, though at her weight in gold, and free her from this +tyrant." And he began to revile the Badawi whilst Nazhat al- +Zaman lay in sensible. When she came to herself, she wiped away +the tears and blood from her face; and she bound up her head: +then, raising her glance to heaven, she besought her Lord with a +sorrowful heart and began repeating, + +"And pity one who erst in honour throve, * And now is fallen into + sore disgrace. +She weeps and bathes her cheeks with railing tears, * And asks + 'What cure can meet this fatal case?'" + +When she had ended her verse, she turned to the merchant and said +in an undertone, "By the Almighty, do not leave me with a tyrant +who knoweth not Allah the Most High! If I pass this night in his +place, I shall kill myself with my own hand: save me from him, so +Allah save thee from Gehenna-fire." Then quoth the merchant to +the Badawi, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, this slave is none of thine +affair; so do thou sell her to me for what thou wilt." "Take +her," quoth the Badawi, "and pay me down her price, or I will +carry her back to the camp and there set her to feed the camels +and gather their dung."[FN#254] Said the merchant, "I will give +thee fifty thousand diners for her." "Allah will open!"[FN#255] +replied the Badawi. "Seventy thousand," said the merchant. +"Allah will open!" repeated the Badawi: "this is not the capital +spent upon her, for she hath eaten with me barley bread to the +value of ninety thousand gold pieces." The merchant rejoined, +"Thou and thine and all thy tribe in the length of your lives +have not eaten a thousand ducats' worth of barley; but I will say +thee one word, wherewith if thou be not satisfied, I will set the +Viceroy of Damascus on thee and he will take her from thee by +force." The Badawi continued, "Say on!" "An hundred thousand," +quoth the merchant. "I have sold her to thee at that price," +answered the Badawi; "I shall be able to buy salt with her." The +merchant laughed and, going to his lodgings, brought the money +and put it into the hand of the Badawi, who took it and made off, +saying to himself, "Needs must I go to Jerusalem where, haply, I +shall happen on her brother, and I will bring him here and sell +him also." So he mounted and journeyed till he arrived at +Jerusalem, where he went to the Khan and asked for Zau al-Makan, +but could not find him. Such was the case with him; but for what +regards the merchant and Nazhat al-Zaman, when he took her he +threw some of his clothes over her and carried her to his +lodgings,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +trader saved Nuzhat al-Zaman from the Badawi and bore her to his +lodgings and robed her in the richest raiment, he went down with +her to the bazar, where he bought her what ornaments she chose +and put them in a satin bag, which he set before her, saying, +"All is for thee and I ask nothing of thee in return but that, +when I lead thee to the Sultan, Viceroy of Damascus, thou +acquaint him with the price I paid for thee, albeit it was little +compared with thy value: and, if seeing thee he buy thee of me, +thou tell him how I have dealt with thee and ask of him for me a +royal patent, and a written recommendation wherewith I can repair +to his father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad, to the +intent that he may forbid the tax on my stuffs or any other goods +in which I traffic." When she heard his words, she wept and +sobbed, and the merchant said to her, "O my lady, I observe that, +every time I mention Baghdad, thine eyes are tearful: is there +any one there whom thou lovest? If it be a trader or the like, +tell me; for I know all the merchants and so forth there and, if +thou wouldst send him a message, I will bear it for thee." +Replied she, "By Allah, I have no acquaintance among merchant +folk and the like! I know none there but King Omar bin Nu'uman, +Lord of Baghdad." When the merchant heard her words, he laughed +and rejoiced with exceeding joy and said in himself, "By Allah, I +have won my wish!" Then he said to her, "Hast thou been shown to +him in time past?" She answered, "No, but I was brought up with +his daughter and he holdeth me dear and I have high honour with +him; so if thou wouldst have the King grant thee thy desire, give +me ink case and paper and I will write thee a letter; and when +thou reachest the city of Baghdad, do thou deliver it into the +hand of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and say to him, 'Thy handmaid, +Nuzhat al-Zaman, would have thee to know that the chances and +changes of the nights and days have struck her as with a hammer, +and have smitten her so that she hath been sold from place to +place, and she sendeth thee her salams.' And, if he ask further +of her, say that I am now with the Viceroy at Damascus." The +merchant wondered at her eloquence, and his affection for her +increased and he said to her I cannot but think that men have +played upon thine understanding and sold thee for money. Tell +me, dost thou know the Koran by heart?" "Yes," answered she; "and +I am also acquainted with philosophy and medicine and the +prolegomena of science and the commentaries of Galen, the +physician, on the canons of Hippocrates; and I have commented him +and I have read the Tazkirah and have commented the Burhn; and I +have studied the Simples of Ibn Baytr, and I have something to +say of the canon of Meccah, by Avicenna. I can ree riddles and +can solve ambiguities, and discourse upon geometry and am skilled +in anatomy I have read the books of the Shfi'[FN#256] school +and the Traditions of the Prophet and syntax; and I can argue +with the Olema and discourse of all manner learning. Moreover I +am skilled in logic and rhetoric and arithmetic and the making of +talismans and almanacs, and I know thoroughly the Spiritual +Sciences[FN#257] and the times appointed for religious duties and +I understand all these branches of knowledge." Then quoth she to +the merchant, "Bring me ink case and paper, that I write thee a +letter which shall aid thee on thy journey to Baghdad and enable +thee to do without passports." Now when the merchant heard this, +he cried out "Brava! Brava![FN#258] Then O happy he in whose +palace thou shalt! Thereupon he brought her paper and ink case +and a pen of brass and bussed the earth before her face to do her +honour. She took a sheet and handled the reed and wrote +therewith these verses, + +"I see all power of sleep from eyes of me hath flown; * Say, did + thy parting teach these eyne on wake to wone? +What makes thy memory light such burnings in my heart? * Hath + every lover strength such memories to own? +How sweet the big dropped cloud which rained on summer day; * + 'Tis gone and ere I taste its sweets afar 'tis flown: +I pray the wind with windy breath to bring some news * From thee, + to lover wightwi' love so woe begone +Complains to thee a lover of all hope forlorn, * For parting + pangs can break not only heart but stone." + +And when she had ended writing the verses she continued, "These +words are from her who saith that melancholy destroyeth her and +that watching wasteth her; in the murk of whose night is found no +light and darkness and day are the same in her sight. She +tosseth on the couch of separation and her eyes are blackened +with the pencils of sleeplessness; she watcheth the stars arise +and into the gloom she strains her eyes: verily, sadness and +leanness have consumed her strength and the setting forth of her +case would run to length. No helper hath she but tears and she +reciteth these verses, + +'No ring dove moans from home on branch in morning light, * But + shakes my very frame with sorrow's killing might: +No lover sigheth for his love or gladdeth heart * To meet his + mate, but breeds in me redoubled blight +I bear my plaint to one who has no ruth for me, * Ah me, how Love + can part man's mortal frame and sprite!' " + +Then her eyes welled over with tears, and she wrote also these +two couplets, + +"Love smote my frame so sore on parting day, * That severance + severed sleep and eyes for aye. +I waxt so lean that I am still a man, * But for my speaking, thou + wouldst never say." + +Then she shed tears and wrote at the foot of the sheet, "This +cometh from her who is far from her folk and her native land, the +sorrowful hearted woman Nuzhat al-Zaman." In fine, she folded the +sheet and gave it to the merchant, who took it and kissed it and +understood its contents and exclaimed, "Glory to Him who +fashioned thee!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-ninth Night, + +She said, It reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al-Zaman +wrote the letter and gave it to the merchant; and he took it and +read it and understood the contents and exclaimed, "Glory to Him +who fashioned thee!" Then he redoubled his kindness and made +himself pleasant to her all that day, and when night came he +sallied out to the bazar and bought some food, wherewith he fed +her; after which he carried her to the Hammam and said to the +bath woman, "As soon as thou hast made an end of washing her +head, dress her and send and let me know of it." And she replied +"Hearing is obeying." Meanwhile he fetched food and fruit and wax +candles and set them on the bench in the outer room of the bath; +and when the tire woman had done washing her, she dressed her and +led her out of the bath and seated her on the bench. Then she +sent to tell the merchant, and Nuzhat al-Zaman went forth to the +outer room, where she found the tray spread with food and fruit. +So she ate and the tire woman with her, and gave the rest to the +people and keeper of the bath. Then she slept till the morning, +and the merchant lay the night in a place apart from her. When +he aroused himself from sleep he came to her and waking her, +presented her with a shift of fine stuff and a head kerchief +worth a thousand diners, a suit of Turkish embroidery and walking +boots purfled with red gold and set with pearls and gems. +Moreover, he hung in each of her ears a circlet of gold with a +fine pearl therein, worth a thousand diners, and threw round her +neck a collar of gold with bosses of garnet and a chain of amber +beads that hung down between her breasts over her navel. Now to +this chain were attached ten balls and nine crescents, and each +crescent had in its midst a bezel of ruby, and each ball a bezel +of balass: the value of the chain was three thousand diners and +each of the balls was priced at twenty thousand dirhams, so that +the dress she wore was worth in all a great sum of money. When +she had put these on, the merchant bade her adorn herself, and +she adorned herself to the utmost beauty; then she let fall her +fillet over her eyes and she fared forth with the merchant +preceding her. But when folk saw her, all wondered at her beauty +and exclaimed, "Blessed be Allah, the most excellent Creator! O +lucky the man in whose house the hall be!" And the trader ceased +not walking (and she behind him) till they entered the palace of +Sultan Sharrkan; when he sought an audience and, kissing the +earth between his hands, said, "O auspicious King, I have brought +thee a rare gift, unmatched in this time and richly gifted with +beauty and with good qualities." Quoth the King, "Let me see it." +So the merchant went out and brought her, she following him till +he made her stand before King Sharrkan. When he beheld her, +blood yearned to blood, though she had been parted from him in +childhood and though he had never seen her, having only heard a +long time after her birth that he had a sister called Nuzhat al- +Zaman and a brother Zau al-Makan, he having been jealous of them, +because of the succession. And such was the cause of his knowing +little about them. Then, having placed her before the presence, +the merchant said, "O King of the age, besides being peerless in +her time and beauty and loveliness, she is also versed in all +learning, sacred and profane, including the art of government and +the abstract sciences." Quoth the King to the trader, "Take her +price, according as thou boughtest her, and go thy ways." "I hear +and I obey," replied the merchant; "but first write me a patent, +exempting me for ever from paying tithe on my merchandise." Said +the King, "I will do this, but first tell me what price thou +paidest for her." Said the merchant, "I bought her for an hundred +thousand diners, and her clothes cost me another hundred +thousand." When the Sultan heard these words, he declared, "I +will give thee a higher price than this for her;" and, calling +his treasurer, said to him, "Pay this merchant three hundred and +twenty thousand ducats; so will he have an hundred and twenty +thousand diners profit." Thereupon the Sultan summoned the four +Kazis and paid him the money in their presence and then he said, +"I call you to witness that I free this my slave girl and purpose +to marry her." So the Kazis wrote out the deed of emancipation +and the contract of marriage, when the Sultan scattered much gold +on the heads of those present; and the pages and the eunuchs +picked up this largesse. Then, after paying him his monies, +Sharrkan bade them write for the merchant a perpetual patent, +exempting him from toll, tax or tithe upon his merchandise and +forbidding each and every in all his government to molest him, +and lastly bestowed on him a splendid dress of honour.--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Sixtieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King +Sharrkan bade them write for the merchant a mandate, after paying +him his monies; and they wrote a perpetual patent, exempting him +from the tithe upon his merchandise and forbidding any in his +government to molest him; and lastly bestowed upon him a splendid +dress of honour. Then all about him retired, and none remained +save the Kazis and the merchant, whereupon said he to the judges, +"I wish you to hear such discourse from this damsel as may prove +her knowledge and accomplishments in all aimed for her by this +trader, that we ascertain the truth of his assertions." They +answered, "There is no evil in that!"; and he commanded the +curtain to be let down between him and those with him and the +maiden and those with her; and the women about the damsel behind +the curtains began to wish her joy and kiss her hands and feet, +when they learned that she was become the King's wife. Then they +came round her and took off her dresses easing her of the weight +of her clothes and began to look upon her beauty and loveliness. +Presently the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs heard that King +Sharrkan had bought a hand maiden unmatched for her beauty and +learning and philosophy and account keeping, and versed in all +branches of knowledge, that he had paid for her three hundred and +twenty thousand dinars, and that he had set her free and had +written a marriage contract with her and had summoned the four +Kazis to make trial of her, how she would answer all their +questions and hold disputetion with them. So they asked leave of +their husbands and repaired to the palace wherein was Nuzhat al- +Zaman. When they came in to her, they found the eunuchs standing +before her; and, as soon as she saw the wives of the Emirs and +Wazirs and Grandees of the realm coming to call upon her, she +arose to them on her feet and met them with courtesy, her +handmaidens standing behind her, and she received them saying, +"Ye be welcome!" The while she smiled in their faces so as to win +their hearts; and she promised them all manner of good and seated +them in their proper stations, as if she had been brought up with +them; so all wondered at her beauty and loveliness and said to +one another, "This damsel is none other than a Queen, the +daughter of a King." Then they sat down, magnifying her worth and +said to her, "O our lady, this our city is illumined by thee, and +our country and abode and birth place and reign are honoured by +thy presence. The kingdom indeed is thy kingdom and the palace +is thy palace, and we all are thy handmaids; so, by Allah, do not +shut us out from thy favours and the sight of thy beauty." And +she thanked them for this. All this while the curtains were let +down between Nuzhat al-Zaman and the women with her, on the one +side, and King Sharrkan and the four Kazis and the merchant +seated by him on the other. Presently King Sharrkan called to +her and said, "O Queen, the glory of thine age, this merchant +hath described thee as being learned and accomplished; and he +claimeth that thou art skilled in all branches of knowledge, even +to astrology: so let us hear something of all this he hath +mentioned, and favour us with a short discourse on such +subjects." She replied, saying: "O King, to hear is to +obey.[FN#259] The first subjects whereof I will treat are the art +of government and the duties of Kings and what behoveth governors +of command meets according to religious law, and what is +incumbent on them in respect of satisfactory speech and manners. +Know then, O King, that all men's works tend either to religious +or to laical life, for none attaineth to religion save through +this world, because it is the best road to futurity. Now the +works of this world are not ordered save by the doings of its +people, and men's doings are divided into four divisions, +government, commerce, husbandry and craftsmanship. Now +government requireth perfect administration with just and true +judgment; for government is the pivot of the edifice of the +world, which world is the road to futurity; since Allah Almighty +hath made the world for His servants as viaticum to the traveller +for the attainment of his goal; and it befitteth each man that he +receive of it such measure as shall bring him to Allah, and that +he follow not herein his own mind and his individual lust. If +folk would take of worldly goods with justice and equity, all +cause of contention would be cut off; but they take thereof with +violence ant after their own desires, and their persistence +therein giveth rise to contentions; so they have need of the +Sultan, that he do justice between them and order their affairs; +and, if the King restrain not his folk from one another, the +strong will drive the weak to the wall. Hence Ardeshir[FN#260] +saith, 'Religion and Kingship be twins'; religion is a hidden +treasure and the King is its keeper; and the Divine Ordinances +and men's intelligence point out that it behoveth the people to +adopt a Sultan who shall withhold oppressor from oppressed and do +the weak justice against the strong and restrain the violence of +the proud and the rebels against rule. For know, O King, that +according to the measure of the Sultan's good morals, even so +will be the time; as saith the Apostle of Allah (on whom be peace +and salvation!), 'There be two classes who, if they be good, the +people will be good; and if they be bad, the people will be bad, +even the Olema and the Emirs.' And it is said by a certain sage, +'There be three kinds of Kings, the King of the Faith, the King +who protecteth things to which reverence is due, and the King of +his own lusts.' The King of the Faith obligeth his subjects to +follow their faith, and it behoveth he be the most +faithful,[FN#261] for it is by him that they take pattern in the +things of the Faith; and it becometh the folk to obey him in +whatso he commandeth according to Divine Ordinance; but he shall +hold the discontented in the same esteem as the contented, +because of submission to the decrees of Destiny. As for the King +who protecteth things to be reverenced, he upholdeth the things +of the Faith and of the World and compelleth his folk to follow +the Divine Law and to preserve the rights of humanity; and it +fitteth him to unite Pen and Sword; for whoso declineth from what +Pen hath written his feet slip and the King shall rectify his +error with the sharp Sword and dispread his justice over all +mankind. As for the King of his own lusts, he hath no religion +but the following his desire and, as he feareth not the wrath of +his Lord who set him on the throne, so his Kingdom inclineth to +deposition and the end of his pride is in the house of perdition. +And sages say, 'The King hath need of many people, but the people +have need of but one King' wherefore it beseemeth that he be well +acquainted with their natures, that he reduce their discord to +concord, that with his justice be encompass them all and with his +bounties overwhelm them all. And know, O King, that Ardeshir, +styled Jamr Shadd, or the Live Coal, third of the Kings of +Persia, conquered the whole world and divided it into four +divisions and, for this purpose, get for himself four seal rings, +one for each division. The first seal was that of the sea and +the police of prohibition and on it was written, Alterna lives. +The second was the seal of tribute and of the receipt of monies, +and on it was written, Building up. The third was the seal of +the provisioning department and on it was written, Plenty. The +fourth was the seal of the oppressed, and on it was written, +Justice. And these usages remained valid in Persia until the +revelation of Al-Islam. Chosros also wrote his son, who was +with the army, 'Be not thou too open handed with thy troops, or +they will be too rich to need thee.'--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-first night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Chosros +wrote his son, 'Be not thou too open handed with thy troops, or +they will be too rich to need thee; nor be thou niggardly with +them, or they will murmur against thee. Give thy giving +deliberately and confer thy favours advisedly; open thy hand to +them in time of success and stint them not in time of distress.' +There is a legend that a desert Arab came once to the Caliph Al- +Mansr[FN#262] and said, 'Starve thy dog and he shall follow +thee.' When the Caliph heard his words, he was enraged with the +Arab, but Abu 'l-Abbs of Ts said to him, 'I fear that if some +other than thou should show him a scone, the dog would follow him +and leave thee alone.' Thereupon the Caliph Al-Mansur's wrath +subsided and he knew that the wild Arab had intended no offence +and ordered him a present. And know, O King, that Abd al-Malik +bin Marwn wrote to his brother Abd al-Azz, when he despatched +him to Egypt, as follows, 'Pay heed to thy Secretaries and thy +Chamberlains, for the Secretaries will acquaint thee with estate +fished matters and the Chamberlains with matters of official +ceremony, whilst thine expenditure will make thy troops known to +thee.' Omar bin Al-Khattb[FN#263] (whom Allah accept!) when +engaging a servant was in the habit of conditioning him with four +conditions; the first that he should not ride the baggage beasts, +the second that he should not wear fine clothes, the third that +he should not eat of the spoil and the fourth that he should not +put off praying till after the proper period. It is said that +there is no wealth more profitable than understanding, and there +is no understanding like common sense and prudence, and there is +no prudence like piety; that there is no means of drawing near to +God like good morals, no measure like good breeding, no traffic +like good works and no profit like earning the Divine favour; +that there is no temperance like standing within the limits of +the law, no science like that of meditation, no worship like +obeying the Divine commends, no faith like modesty, no +calculation like self abasement and no honour like knowledge. So +guard the head and what it containeth and the belly and what it +compriseth; and think of death and doom ere it ariseth. Saith +Ali (whose face Allah honour!), 'Beware of the wickedness of +women and be on thy guard against them: consult them not in +aught;[FN#264] but grudge not complaisance to them, lest they +greed for intrigue.' And eke quoth he, 'Whoso leaveth the path of +moderation his wits become perplexed'; and there be rules for +this which we will mention, if it be Allah's will. And Omar +(whom Allah accept!) saith, 'There are three kinds of women, +firstly the true believing, Heaven fearing, love full and fruit +full, who helpeth her mate against fate, not helping fate against +her mate; secondly, she who loveth her children but no more and, +lastly, she who is a shackle Allah setteth on the neck of whom He +will.' Men be also three: the wise when he exerciseth his own +judgement; the wiser who, when befalleth somewhat whereof he +knoweth not the issue, seeketh folk of good counsel and acteth by +their advice; and the unwise irresolute ignoring the right way +nor heeding those who would guide him straight. Justice is +indispensable in all things; even slave girls have need of +justice; and men quote as an instance highway robbers who live by +violenting mankind, for did they not deal equitably among +themselves and observe justice in dividing their booty, their +order would fall to pieces.[FN#265] In short, for the rest, the +Prince of noble qualities is Beneficence cum Benevolence; and how +excellent is the saying of the poet, + +By open hand and ruth the youth rose to his tribe's command; * Go + and do likewise for the same were easy task to thee.' + +And quoth another, + +'In ruth and mildness surety lies and mercy wins respect, * And + Truth is best asylum for the man of soothfast soul: +Whoso for wealth of gold would win and wear the world's good + word, * On glory's course must ever be the first to gain the + goal.'" + +And Nazhat al-Zaman discoursed upon the policy of Kings till the +bystanders said, "Never have we seen one reason of rule and +government like this damsel! Haply she will let us hear some +discourse upon subject other than this." When she heard their +words and understood them she said, "As for the chapter of good +breeding, it is wide of comprehension, being a compend of things +perfect. Now it so happened that one day there came to the +Caliph Mu'wiyah[FN#266] one of his companions, who mentioned the +people of Irak and the goodness of their wit; and the Caliph's +wife Maysn, mother of Yezd, heard his words. So, when he was +gone, she said to the Caliph, 'O Prince of the Faithful, I would +thou let some of the people of Irak come in and talk to thee, +that I may hear their discourse.' Therewith Mu'awiyah said to his +attendants, 'See who is at the door?' And they answered, 'The +Banu Tamim.' 'Let them come in,' said he. So they came in and +with them Al-Ahnf son of Kays.[FN#267] Then quoth Mu'awiyah, +'Enter, O Abu Bahr,' and drew a curtain between himself and +Maysun, that she might hear what they said without being seen +herself; then he said to Al-Ahnaf, 'O Son of the Sea, draw near +and tell me what counsel thou hast for me.' Quoth Al-Ahnaf, 'Part +thy hair and trim thy moustachio and pare thy nails and pluck +thine armpits and shave thy pubes[FN#268] and ever use the +toothstick because therein be two and seventy virtues, and make +the Ghusl or complete ablution on Friday, as an expiation for all +between the Fridays.'--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ahnaf bin +Kays replied to Al-Mu'awiyah's[FN#269] question, 'And ever use +the toothstick, because therein be two end seventy virtues and +make the complete Friday ablution as an expiation for all between +the two Fridays.' Quoth Mu'awiyah, 'What is thy counsel to +thyself?' 'To set my feet firmly on the ground, to move them +deliberately and watch over them with mine eyes!' 'How dost thou +order thyself when thou goest in to one not of the nobles of thy +tribe?' 'I lower mine eyes modestly and I salute first; I avoid +what concerneth me not and I spare my words!' 'And how when thou +goest in to thine equals?' 'I give ear to them when they speak +and I do not assail them when they err!' 'When thou goest in to +thy chiefs?' 'I salute without making any sign and await the +reply: if they bid me draw near, I draw near, and if they draw +off from me I withdraw!' 'How dost thou with thy wife?' Quoth +Ahnaf, 'Excuse me from answering this, O Commander of the +Faithful!'; but Mu'awiyah cried, 'I conjure thee inform me.' He +said, 'I entreat her kindly and show her familiarity and am large +in expenditure, for woman was created of a crooked rib.'[FN#270] +'And how dost thou when thou hast a mind to lie with her?' 'I bid +her perfume herself and kiss her till she is moved to desire; +then, should it be as thou knowest,[FN#271] I throw her on her +back. If the seed abide in her womb I say, 'O Allah make it +blessed and let it not be a wastrel, but fashion it into the best +of fashions!'[FN#272] Then I rise from her to ablution and first +I pour water over my hands and then over my body and lastly, I +praise Allah for the joy He hath given me.' Said Mu'awiyah, 'Thou +hast answered right well and now tell me what be thy +requirements?' Said Ahnaf, 'I would have thee rule thy subjects +in the fear of Allah and do even handed justice between them.' +Thereupon Ahnaf rose to his feet and left the Caliph's presence, +and when he had gone Maysun said, 'Were there but this man in +Irak, he would suffice to it.' Then continued Nuzhat al-Zaman, +"And all this is a section of the chapter of good breeding, and +know O King, that Muaykib was intendant of the public treasury +during the Caliphate of Omar bin al-Khattb,"--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- +Zaman continued, "Know, O King, that Mu'aykib was intendant of +the public treasury during the Caliphate of Omar bin al-Khattab; +and it so befel him that he saw Omar's son and gave him a dirham +out of the treasury. Thereupon, quoth Mu'aykib, 'I returned to +my own house, and while I was sitting there behold, a messenger +came to me from Omar and I was afraid and went to him, and when I +came into his presence, in his hand was the dirham I had given +his son. He said to me, 'Woe to thee Mu'aykib! I have found +somewhat concerning thy soul.' I asked 'And what is that?'; and +he answered, 'It is that thou hast shown thyself a foe to the +followers of Mohammed (on whom be peace and salvation!) in the +matter of this dirham, and thou wilt have to account for it on +Resurrection Day.'[FN#273] And Omar also wrote a letter to Ab +Ms al-Ashri[FN#274] as follows, 'When these presents reach +thee, give the people what is theirs and remit to me the rest.' +And he did so. Now when Othman succeeded to the Caliphate, he +wrote a like letter to Abu Musa, who did his bidding and sent him +the tribute accordingly, and with it came Ziyd.[FN#275] And +when Ziyad laid the tribute before Othman, the Caliph's son came +in and took a dirham, whereupon Ziyad shed tears. Othman asked +'Why weepest thou?'; and Ziyad answered, 'I once brought Omar bin +al-Khattab the like of this and his son took a dirham, where upon +Omar bade snatch it from his hand. Now thy son hath taken of the +tribute, yet I have seen none say aught to him or snatch the +money from him.' Then Othman[FN#276] cried, 'And where wilt thou +find the like of Omar?' Again Zayd bin Aslam relates of his +father that he said, 'I went out one night with Omar till we +approached a blazing fire. Quoth Omar, 'O Aslam, I think these +must be travellers who are suffering from the cold. Come, let us +join them.' So we walked on till we came to them and behold! we +found a woman who had lighted a fire under a cauldron and by her +side were two children, both a wailing. Said Omar, 'Peace be +with you, O folk of light (for it was repugnant to him to say +'folk of fire'),[FN#277] what aileth you?' Said she, 'The cold +and the night trouble us.' He asked, 'What aileth these little +people that they weep?'; and she answered, 'They are hungry.' He +enquired, 'And what is in this cauldron?'; and she replied, 'It +is what I quiet them withal, and Allah will question Omar bin al- +Khattab of them, on the Day of Doom.' He said, 'And what should +Omar know of their case?' 'Why then,' rejoined she, 'should he +manage people's affairs and yet be unmindful of them?' Thereupon +Omar turned to me (continned Aslam) and cried, 'Come with us!' So +we set off running till we reached the pay department of his +treasury, where he took out a sack containing flour and a pot +holding fat and said to me, 'Load these on my back!' Quoth I, 'O +Commander of the Faithful, I will carry them for thee.' He +rejoined, 'Wilt thou bear my load for me on the Day of +Resurrection?' So I put the things on his back, and we set off, +running, till we threw down the sack hard by her. Then he took +out some of the flour and put it in the cauldron; and, saying to +the woman, 'Leave it to me,' he began blowing the fire under the +cauldron. Now he was a long bearded man[FN#278] and I saw the +smoke issuing from between the hairs of his beard till the flour +was cooked, when he took some of the fat and threw it in and said +to the woman, 'Bed them while I cool it for them.' So they fell +to eating till they had eaten their fill, and he left the rest +with her. Then he turned to me and said, 'O Aslam, I see it was +indeed hunger made them weep; and I am glad I did not go away ere +I found out the cause of the light I saw.'--And Shahrazad per +ceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- +Zaman continued, "It is related that Omar passed by a flock of +sheep, kept by a Mameluke, and asked him to sell him a sheep. He +answered, 'They are not mine.' 'Thou art the man I sought,' said +Omar, and bought him and freed him; whereupon the slave +exclaimed, 'O Allah, as thou hast bestowed on me the lesser +emancipation; so vouchsafe me the greater!'[FN#279] It is also +said that Omar bin al- Khattab was wont to give his servants +sweet milk and himself eat coarse fare, and to clothe them softly +and himself wear rough garments. He rendered unto all men their +due, and exceeded in his giving to them. He once gave a man four +thousand dirhams and added thereto a thousand, wherefore it was +said to him, 'Why dost thou not increase to thy son as thou +increasest to this man?' He answered, 'This man's father stood +firm at the battle day of Ohod.'[FN#280] Al-Hasan relates that +Omar once came back from foray with much money, and that +Hafsah[FN#281] approached him and said, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, the due of kinship!' 'O Hafsah!' replied he, 'verily +Allah hath enjoined us to satisfy the dues of kinship, but not +with the monies of the True Believers. Indeed, thou pleasest" +thy family, but thou angerest thy father.' And she went away +trailing her skirts.[FN#282] The son of Omar said, 'I implored +the Lord to show me my father one year after his death, till at +last I saw him wiping the sweat from his brow and asked him, 'How +is it with thee, O my father?' He answered, 'But for my Lord's +mercy thy father surely had perished.' Then said Nuzhat al-Zaman, +"Hear, O auspicious King, the second division of the first +chapter of the instances of the followers of the Apostle and +other holy men. Saith Al Hasan al-Basr,[FN#283] Not a soul of +the sons of Adam goeth forth of the world without regretting +three things,- failure to enjoy what he hath amassed, failure to +compass what he hoped, failure to provide himself with sufficient +viaticum for that hereto he goeth.[FN#284] It was said of +Sufyan,[FN#285] 'Can a man be a religious and yet possess +wealth?' He replied, 'Yes, so he be patient when grieved and be +thankful when he hath received.' Abdullah bin Shaddd, being +about to die, sent for his son Mohammed and admonished him, +saying, 'O my son, I see the Summoner of Death summoning me, and +so I charge thee to fear Allah both in public and private, to +praise Allah and to be soothfastin thy speech, for such praise +bringeth increase of prosperity, and piety in itself is the best +of provision for the next world; even as saith one of the poets, + +'I see not happiness lies in gathering gold; * The man most pious + is man happiest: +In truth the fear of God is best of stores, * And God shall make + the pious choicely blest.' + +Then quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman, "Let the King also give ear to these +notes from the second section of the first chapter." He asked her +'What be they?'; and she answered, "When Omar bin Abd al-Azz[FN# +286] succeeded to the Caliphate, he went to his household and +laying hands on all that was in their hold, put it into the +public treasury. So the Banu Umayyah flew for aid to his +father's sister, Ftimah, daughter of Marwan, and she sent to him +saying, 'I must needs speak to thee.' So she came to him by night +and, when he had made her alight from her beast and sit down, he +said to her, 'O aunt, it is for thee to speak first, since thou +hast some thing to ask: tell me then what thou wouldst with me.' +Replied she, 'O Commander of the Faithful, it is thine to speak +first, for thy judgment perceiveth that which is hidden from the +intelligence of others.' Then said Omar, 'Of a verity Allah +Almighty sent Mohammed as a blessing to some and a bane to +others; and He elected for him those with him, and commissioned +him as His Apostle and took him to Himself,'--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- +Zaman continued thus, "Said Omar, 'Verily Allah commissioned as +His Apostle Mohammed (upon whom be the benediction of Allah and +His salvation!), for a blessing to some and a bane to others; and +He elected for him those with him and took him to Himself, +leaving the people a stream whereof they might drink. After him +Abu Bakr[FN#287] the Truth teller became Caliph and he left the +river as it was, doing what was pleasing to Allah. Then arose +Omar and worked a work and strove in holy war and strife where of +none might do the like. But when Othman arose to power he +diverted a streamlet from the stream, and Mu'awiyah in his turn +diverted from it several streamlets; and without ceasing in like +manner, Yezid and the Banu Marwn such as Abd al-Malik and Wald +and Sulaymn[FN#288] drew away water from the stream, and the +main course dried up, till rule devolved upon me, and now I am +minded to restore the stream to its normal condition.' When +Fatimah heard this, she said, 'I came wishing only to speak and +confer with thee, but if this be thy word, I have nothing to say +to thee.' Then she returned to the Ommiades and said to them, +'Now take ye the consequences of your act when ye allied +yourselves by marriage with Omar bin al-Khattab.'[FN#289] And it +is also said that when Omar was about to die, he gathered his +children round him, and Maslamah[FN#290] bin Abd al-Malik said to +him, 'O Prince of the Faithful, how wilt thou leave thy children +paupers and thou their protector? None can hinder thee in thy +lifetime from giving them what will suffice them out of the +treasury; and this indeed were better than leaving the good work +to him who shall rule after thee.' Omar looked at him with a look +of wrath and wonder and presently replied, 'O Maslamah, I have +defended them from this sin all the days of my life, and shall I +make them miserable after my death? Of a truth my sons are like +other men, either obedient to Almighty Allah who will prosper +them, or disobedient and I will not help them in their +disobedience. Know, O Maslamah, that I was present, even as +thou, when such an one of the sons of Marwanwas buried, and I +fell asleep by him and saw him in a dream given over to one of +the punishments of Allah, to whom belong Honour and Glory! This +terrified me and made me tremble, and I vowed to Allah, that if +ever I came to power, I would not do such deeds as the dead man +had done. I have striven to fulfil this vow all the length of my +life and I hope to die in the mercy of my Lord.' Quoth Maslamah, +'A certain man died and I was present at his burial, and when all +was over I fell asleep and I saw him as a sleeper seeth a dream, +walking in a garden of flowing waters clad in white clothes. He +came up to me and said: 'O Maslamah, it is for the like of this +that rulers should rule.' Many are the instances of this kind, +and quoth one of the men of authority, 'I used to milk the ewes +in the Caliphate of Omar bin Abd al-Aziz, and one day I met a +shepherd, among whose sheep I saw a wolf or wolves. I thought +them to be dogs, for I had never before seen wolves; so I asked, +'What dost thou with these dogs?' 'They are not dogs, but +wolves,' answered the shepherd. Quoth I, 'Can wolves be with +sheep and not hurt them?' Quoth he, 'When the head is whole, the +body is whole.'[FN#291] Omar bin Abd al-Aziz once preached from a +pulpit of clay and, after praising and glorifying Allah Almighty, +said three words as follows, 'O folk, make clean your inmost +hearts, that your outward lives may be dean to your brethren, and +abstain ye from the things of the world. Know that between us +and Adam there is no one man alive among the dead. Dead are Abd +al- Malik and those who forewent him, and Omar also shall die and +those who forewent him.' Asked Maslamah, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, an we set a pillow behind thee, wilt thou lean on it a +little while?' But Omar answered, 'I fear lest it be a fault +about my neck on Resurrection Day.' Then he gasped with the death +rattle and fell back in a faint; whereupon Fatimah cried out, +saying, 'Ho, Maryam! Ho, Muzahim![FN#292] Ho, such an one! Look +to this man!' And she began to pour water on him weeping, till he +revived from his swoon; and, seeing her in tears said to her, +'What causeth thee to weep, O Fatimah?' She replied, 'O Commander +of the Faithful, I saw thee lying prostrate before us and thought +of thy prostration in death before Almighty Allah, of thy +departure from the world and of thy separation from us. This is +what made me weep.' Answered he, 'Enough, O Fatimah, for indeed +thou exceedest.' Then he would have risen, but fell down and +Fatimah strained him to her and said, 'Thou art to me as my +father and my mother, O Commander of the Faithful! We cannot +speak to thee, all of us.' Then quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman to her +brother Sharrkan and the four Kazis, "Here endeth the second +section of the first chapter."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- +Zaman said to her brother Sharrkan and the four Kazis, "Here +endeth the second section of the first chapter. And it so +happened that Omar bin Abd al-Aziz wrote to the people of the +festival at Meccah as follows, 'I call Allah to witness, in the +Holy Month, in the Holy City and on the day of the Greater +Pilgrimage,[FN#293] that I am innocent of your oppression and of +his wrongs that doth wrong you, in that I have neither commanded +this nor purposed it, neither hath any report of aught thereof +hitherto reached me, nor have I compassed any knowledge thereof; +and I trust that a cause for pardon will be found in that none +hath authority from me to oppress any man, for I shall assuredly +be questioned concerning every one oppress. And if any of my +officers swerve from the right and act otherwise than the Holy +Book and the Traditions of the Apostle do authorise, obey him not +so that he may return to the way of righteousness.' He said also +(Allah accept of him!), 'I do not wish to be relieved from death, +because it is the supreme thing for which the True Believer is +rewarded.' Quoth one of authority, 'I went to the Prince of the +Faithful, Omarbin Abd al-Aziz, who was then Caliph, and saw +before him twelve dirhams, which he ordered for deposit in the +public treasury. So I said to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, +thou impoverishest thy children and reducest them to beggary +having nothing whereon to live. An thou wouldst appoint somewhat +by will to them and to those who are poor of the people of thy +house, it were well.' 'Draw near to me,' answered he: so I drew +near to him and he said, 'Now as for thy saying, 'Thou beggarest +thy children; provide for them and for the poor of thy +household,' it is without reason; for Allah of a truth will +replace me to my children and to the poor of my house, and He +will be their guardian. Verily, they are like other men; he who +feareth Allah, right soon will Allah provide for him a happy +issue, and he that is addicted to sins, I will not up hold him in +his sin against Allah.' Then he summoned his sons who numbered +twelve, and when he beheld them his eyes dropped tears and +presently he said to them, 'Your Father is between two things; +either ye will be well to do, and your parent will enter the +fire, or ye will be poor and your parent will enter Paradise; and +your father's entry into Paradise is liefer to him than that ye +should be well to do.[FN#294] So arise and go, Allah be your +helper, for to Him I commit your affairs!' Khlid bin +Safwn[FN#295] said, 'Ysuf bin Omar[FN#296] accompanied me to +Hishm bin Abd al-Malik,[FN#297] and as I met him he was coming +forth with his kinsmen and attendants. He alighted and a tent +was pitched for him. When the people had taken their seats, I +came up to the side of the carpet whereon he sat reclining and +looked at him; and, waiting till my eyes met his eyes, bespoke +him thus, 'May Allah fulfil His bounty to thee, O Commander of +the Faithful, I have an admonition for thee, which hath come down +to us from the history of the Kings preceding thee!' At this, he +sat up whenas he had been reclining and said to me, 'Bring what +thou hast, O son of Safwan!' Quoth I, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, one of the Kings before thee went forth in a time +before this thy time, to this very country and said to his +companions, 'Saw ye ever any state like mine and say me, hath +such case been given to any man even as it hath been given unto +me?' Now there was with him a man of those who survive to bear +testimony to Truth; upholders of the Right and wayfarers in its +highway, and he said to him, 'O King, thou askest of a grave +matter. Wilt thou give me leave to answer?' 'Yes,' replied the +King, and the other said, 'Dost thou judge thy present state to +be short lasting or ever lasting?' 'It is temporary,' replied the +King. 'How then,' rejoined the man, 'do I see thee exulting in +that which thou wilt enjoy but a little while and whereof thou +wilt be questioned for a long while and for the rendering an +account whereof thou shalt be as a pledge which is pawned?' Quoth +the King, 'Whither shall I flee and what must I seek for me?' +'That thou abide in thy kingship,' replied the other, 'or else +robe thee in rags[FN#298] and apply thyself to obey Almighty +Allah thy Lord until thine appointed hour. I will come to thee +again at daybreak.' Khalid bin Safwan further relates that the +man knocked at the door at dawn and behold, the King had put off +his crown and resolved to become an anchorite, for the stress of +his exhortation. When Hishm bin Abd al-Malik heard this, he +wept till his beard was wet, and, bidding his rich apparel be put +off, shut himself up in his palace. Then the grandees and +dependents came to Khalid and said, 'What is this thou hast done +with the Commander of the Faithful? Thou hast troubled his +pleasure and disturbed his life!' Then quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman, +addressing herself to Sharrkan, "How many instances of admonition +are there not in this chapter! Of a truth I cannot report all +appertaining to this head in a single sitting,"--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- +Zaman continued, speaking to Sharrkan, "Know, O King, that in +this chapter be so many instances of admonition that of a truth I +cannot report all appertaining to this head in a single sitting +but, with length of days, O King of the age, all will be well." +There said the Kazis, "O King, of a truth this damsel is the +wonder of the world, and of our age the unique pearl! Never +heard we her like in the length of time or in the length of our +lives." And they called down blessings on the King and went away. +Then Sharrkan turned to his attendants and said, "Begin ye to +prepare the marriage festival and make ready food of all kinds." +So they forthright did his bidding as regards the viands, and he +commanded the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees depart +not until the time of the wedding banquet and of the unveiling of +the bride. Hardly came the period of afternoon prayer when the +tables were spread with whatso heart can desire or eye can +delight in of roast meats and geese and fowls; and the subjects +ate till they were satisfied. Moreover, Sharrkan had sent for +all the singing women of Damascus and they were present, together +with every slave girl of the King and of the notables who knew +how to sing. And they went up to the palace in one body. When +the evening came and darkness starkened they lighted candles, +right and left, from the gate of the citadel to that of the +palace; and the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees marched past before +King Sharrkan, whilst the singers and the tire women took the +damsel to dress and adorn her, but found she needed no adornment. +Meantime King Sharrkan went to the Hammam and coming out, sat +down on his seat of estate, whilst they paraded the bride before +him in seven different dresses: after which they eased her of the +weight of her raiment and ornaments and gave such injunctions as +are enjoined upon virgins on their wedding nights. Then Sharrkan +went in unto her and took her maidenhead;[FN#299] and she at once +conceived by him and, when she announced it, he rejoiced with +exceeding joy and commanded the savants to record the date of her +conception. On the morrow he went forth and seated himself on +his throne, and the high officers came in to him and gave him +joy. Then he called his private secretary and bade him write a +letter to his father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, saying that he +had bought him a damsel, who excels in learning and good breeding +and who is mistress of all kinds of knowledge. Moreover he +wrote, "There is no help but that I send her to Baghdad to visit +my brother Zau al-Makan and my sister Nuzhat al-Zaman. I have +set her free and married her and she hath conceived by me." And +he went on to praise her wit and salute his brother and sister +together with the Wazir Dandan and all the Emirs. Then he sealed +the letter and despatched it to his father by a post courier who +was absent a whole month, after which time he returned with the +answer and presented it in the presence. Sharrkan took it and +read as follows, "After the usual Bismillah, this is from the +afflicted distracted man, from him who hath lost his children and +home by bane and ban, King Omar bin al- Nu'uman, to his son +Sharrkan. Know that, since thy departure from me, the place is +become contracted upon me, so that no longer I have power of +patience nor can I keep my secret: and the cause thereof is as +follows. It chanced that when I went forth to hunt and course +Zau al-Makan sought my leave to fare Hijaz wards, but I, fearing +for him the shifts of fortune, forbade him therefrom until the +next year or the year after. My absence while sporting and +hunting endured for a whole month"--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-eighth night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Omar +bin al-Nu'uman wrote in his letter, "My absence while sporting +and hunting endured for a whole month, and when I returned I +found that thy brother and sister had taken somewhat of money and +had set out with the pilgrim caravan for pilgrimage by stealth. +When I knew this, the wide world narrowed on me, O my son! but I +awaited the return of the caravan, hoping that haply they would +come back with it. Accordingly, when the palmers appeared I +asked concerning the twain, but they could give me no news of +them; so I donned mourning for them, being heavy at heart, and in +sleep I have no part and I am drowned in the tears of my eyes." +Then he wrote in verse, + +"That pair in image quits me not one single hour, * Whom in my + heart's most honourable place I keep: +Sans hope of their return I would not live one hour, * Without my + dreams of them I ne'er would stretch me in sleep." + +The letter went on, "And after the usual salutations to thee and +thine, I command thee neglect no manner of seeking news of them +for indeed this is a shame to us." When Sharrkan read the letter +he felt grief for his father and joy for the loss of his brother +and sister. Then he took the missive and went in with it to +Nuzhat al-Zaman who knew not that he was her brother, nor he that +she was his sister, albeit he often visited her both by night and +by day till the months were accomplished and she sat down on the +stool of delivery. Allah made the child birth easy to her and +she bare a daughter, whereupon she sent for Sharrkan and seeing +him she said to him, "This is thy daughter: name her as thou +wilt." Quoth he, "It is usual to name children on the seventh day +after birth.[FN#300]" Then he bent over the child to kiss it and +he saw, hung about its neck, a jewel, which he knew at once for +one of those which Princess Abrizah had brought from the land of +the Greeks. Now when he saw the jewel hanging from his babe's +neck he recognised it right well, his senses fled and wrath +seized on him; his eyes rolled in rage and he looked at Nuzhat +al- Zaman and said to her, "Whence hadst thou this jewel, O slave +girl?" When she heard this from Sharrkan she replied, "I am thy +lady, and the lady of all in thy palace! Art thou not ashamed to +say to me Slave girl? I am a Queen, daughter of King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman." Hearing this, he was seized with trembling and hung +his head earthwards,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when +Sharrkan heard these words, his heart fluttered and his colour +waxed yellow and he was seized with trembling and he hung his +head earthwards, for he knew that she was his sister by the same +father. Then he lost his senses; and, when he revived, he abode +in amazement, but did not discover his identity to her and asked, +O my lady, say, art thou in sooth the daughter of King Omar bin +al- Nu'uman?" "Yes," answered she; and he continued, "Tell me the +cause of thy leaving thy sire and of thy being sold for a slave." +So she related to him all that had befallen her from beginning to +end, how she had left her brother sick in the Sanctified City, +Jerusalem, and how the Badawi had kidnapped her and had sold her +to the trader. When Sharrkan heard this, he was certified of her +being his sister on the sword side and said to himself, "How can +I have my sister to wife? By Allah, needs must I marry her to +one of my chamberlains; and, if the thing get wind, I will +declare that I divorced her before consummation and married her +to my Chief Chamberlain." Then he raised his head and sighing +said, "O Nuzhat al-Zaman, thou art my very sister and I cry: 'I +take refuge with Allah from this sin whereinto we have fallen,' +for I am Sharrkan, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman." She looked at him +and knew he spoke the truth; and, becoming as one demented, she +wept and buffeted her face, exclaiming, "There is no Majesty and +there is no Might save in Allah! Verily have we fallen into +mortal sin![FN#301] What shall I do and what shall I say to my +father and my mother when they ask me, Whence hadst thou thy +daughter?" Quoth Sharrkan, "It were meetest that I marry thee to +my Chamberlain and let thee bring up my daughter in his house, +that none may know thou be my sister. This hath befallen us from +Almighty Allah for a purpose of his own, and nothing shall cover +us but thy marriage with this Chamberlain, ere any know." Then he +fell to comforting her and kissing her head and she asked him, +"What wilt thou call the girl?" "Call her Kuzia Fakn,"[FN#302] +answered he. Then he gave the mother in marriage to the Chief +Chamberlain, and transferred her to his house with the child, +which they reared on the laps of the slave girls, and fed with +milk and dosed with powders. Now all this occurred whilst the +brother, Zau al-Makan, still tarried with the Fireman at +Damascus. One day there came to King Sharrkan a courier from his +father, with a letter which he took and read and found therein, +"After the Bismillah know, O beloved King, that I am afflicted +with sore affliction for the loss of my children: sleep ever +faileth me and wakefulness ever assaileth me. I send thee this +letter that, as soon as thou receivest it, thou make ready the +monies and the tribute, and send them to us, together with the +damsel whom thou hast bought and taken to wife; for I long to see +her and hear her discourse; more especially because there hath +come to us from Roumland an old woman of saintly bearing and with +her be five damsels high bosomed virgins, endowed with knowledge +and good breeding and all arts and sciences befitting mortals to +know; and indeed tongue faileth me to describe this old woman and +these who with her wend; for of a truth they are compendiums of +perfections in learning and accomplishments. As soon as I saw +them I loved them, and I wished to have them in my palace and in +the compass of my hand; for none of the Kings owneth the like of +them; so I asked the old woman their price and she answered, 'I +will not sell them but for the tribute of Damascus.' And I, by +Allah, did not hold this price exorbitant, indeed it is but +little, for each one of them is worth the whole valuation. So I +agreed to that and took them into my palace, and they remain in +my possession. Wherefore do thou forward the tribute to us that +the woman may return to her own country; and send to us the +damsel to the end that she may dispute with them before the +doctors; and, if she prevail over them, I will return her to thee +accompanied by the tribute of Baghdad."--And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Omar +son of Al-Nu'uman said in his letter, "And send to us the damsel +to the end that she may dispute with them before the doctors and, +if she prevail over them, I will return her to thee accompanied +with the tribute of Baghdad." As soon as Sharrkan knew the +contents, he went in to his brother in law and said to him, +"Bring the damsel to whom I married thee;" and when she came he +showed her the letter and said, "O my sister! what answer +wouldst thou advise me make to this letter?" Replied she, "Seek +advice from thyself!" and presently added (for she yearned after +her people and her native land), "Send me together with my +husband the Chamberlain, to Baghdad, that I may tell my father my +tale and let him know whatso befel me with the Badawi who sold me +to the merchant, and that I also inform him how thou boughtest me +of the trader and gavest me in marriage to the Chamberlain, after +setting me free." "Be it so," replied Sharrkan. Then Sharrkan +took his daughter, Kuzia Fakan, and committed her to the charge +of the wet nurses and the eunuchs, and he made ready the tribute +in haste, bidding the Chamberlain travel with the Princess and +the treasure to Baghdad. He also furnished him two travelling +litters one for himself and the other for his wife. And the +Chamberlain replied, "To hear is to obey." Moreover Sharrkan +collected camels and mules and wrote a letter to his father and +committed it to the Chamberlain; then he bade farewell to his +sister, after he had taken the jewel from her and hung it round +his daughter's neck by a chain of pure gold; and she and her +husband set out for Baghdad the same night. Now it so happened +that Zau al-Makan and his friend the Fireman had come forth from +the hut in which they were, to see the spectacle, and they beheld +camels and Bukhti[FN#303] dromedaries and bt-mules and torches +and lanterns alight; and Zau al-Makan enquired about the loads +and their owner and was told that it was the tribute of Damascus +going to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of the City of Baghdad. +He then asked, "Who be the leader of the caravan?" and they +answered, "The Head Chamberlain who hath married the damsel so +famous for learning and science." Thereupon Zau al-Makan wept +with bitter weeping and was minded of his mother and his father +and his sister and his native land, and he said to the Stoker, "I +will join this caravan and, little by little, will journey +homewards." Quoth the Fireman, "I would not suffer thee to travel +single handed from the Holy City to Damascus, then how shall I be +sure of thy safety when thou farest for Baghdad? But I will go +with thee and care for thee till thou effectest thine object." +"With joy and good will," answered Zau al-Makan. Then the +Fireman get him ready for the journey and hired an ass and threw +saddle bags over it and put therein something of provaunt; and, +when all was prepared, he awaited the passage of the caravan. +And presently the Chamberlain came by on a dromedary and his +footmen about him. Then Zau al-Ma ken mounted the ass and said +to his companion, "Do thou mount with me." But he replied, "Not +so: I will be thy servant." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "There is no help +for it but thou ride awhile." "'Tis well," quoth the Stoker; "I +will ride when I grow tired." Then said Zau al-Makan, "O my +brother, soon shalt thou see how I will deal with thee, when I +come to my own folk." So they fared on till the sun rose and,When +it was the hour of the noonday sleep[FN#304] the Chamberlain +called a halt and they alighted and reposed and watered their +camels. Then he gave the signal for departure and, after five +days, they came to the city of Hamh,[FN#305] where they set down +and made a three days' halt;--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they halted +in the city of Hamah three days; they then fared forwards and +ceased not travelling till they reached another city. Here also +they halted three days and thence they travelled till they +entered the province Diyr Bakr. Here blew on them the breezes +of Baghdad, and Zau al-Makan bethought him of his father and +mother and native land, and how he was returning to his sire +without his sister: so he wept and sighed and complained, and his +regrets grew on him, and he began improvising these couplets, + +"Sweetheart! How long must I await by so long suffering teed? * + Nor cometh messenger to tell me where thou dost abide: +Ah me! in very sooth our meeting time was short enow: * Would + Heaven shorter prove to me the present parting-tide! +Now trend my hand and open my robe and thou within shall sight * + How wasted are the limbs of me and yet the waste I hide: +When say they 'Comfort take for loss of love' I but reply * 'By + Allah, till the Day of Doom no comfort shall betide!' " + +Thereupon said to him the Fireman, "Leave this weeping and +wailing, for we are near the Chamberlain's tent." Quoth Zau al- +Makan, "Needs must I recite somewhat of verse; haply it may +quench the fire of my heart." "Allah upon thee," cried the other, +"cease this lamentation till thou come to shine own country; then +do what thou wilt, and I will be with thee wherever thou art." +Replied Zau al-Makan, "By Allah! I cannot forbear from this!" +Then he turned his face towards Baghdad and the moon was shining +brightly and shedding her light on the place, and Nuzhat al-Zaman +could not sleep that night, but was restless and called to mind +her brother and wept. And while she was in tears, he heard Zau +al-Makan weeping and improvising the following distichs, + +'Al-Yaman's[FN#306] leven-gleam I see, * And sore despair + despaireth me +For friend who erst abode wi' me * Crowning my cup with gladdest + gree: +It minds me o' one who jilted me * To mourn my bitter liberty. +Say sooth, thou fair sheet lightning! shall * We meet once more + in joy and glee? +O blamer! spare to me thy blame * My Lord hath sent this dule to + dree, +Of friend who left me, fain to flee; * Of Time that breeds + calamity: +All bliss hath fled the heart of me * Since Fortune proved mine + enemy. +He[FN#307] brimmed a bowl of merest pine, * And made me drain the + dregs, did he: +I see me, sweetheart, dead and gone * Ere I again shall gaze on + thee. +Time! prithee bring our childhood back, * Restore our happy + infancy, +When joy and safety 'joyed we * From shafts that now they shoot + at me! +Who aids the hapless stranger wight, * That nights in fright and + misery, +That wastes his days in lonely grief, * For 'Time's + Delight'[FN#308] no more must be? +Doomed us despite our will to bear * The hands of base bores cark + and care." + +When he ended his verse he cried out and fell down in a fainting +fit. This is how it fared with him; but as regards Nuzhat al- +Zaman, when she heard that voice in the night, her heart was at +rest and she rose and in her joy she called the Chief Eunuch, who +said to her, "What is thy will?" Quoth she, "Arise and bring me +him who recited verses but now." Replied he, "Of a truth I did +not hear him"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nuzhat +Al-Zaman heard her brother reciting, she called the Chief Eunuch +and said to him, "Go, fetch me the man who is repeating this +poetry!" Replied he, "Of a truth I heard him not and I wot him +not and folks are all sleeping." But she said, "Whomsoever thou +seest awake, he is the reciter." So he went, yet found none on +wake save the Stoker; for Zau al-Makan was still insensible, and +when his companion saw the Eunuch standing by his head he was +afraid of him. Then said the Eunuch, "Art thou he who repeated +poetry but now and my lady heard him?" The Stoker fancied that +the dame was wroth with the reciter; and, being afraid, he +replied, "By Allah, 'twas not I!" Rejoined the Eunuch, "Who then +was the reciter?: point him out to me. Thou must know who it +was, seeing that thou art awake." The Fireman feared for Zau al- +Makan and said in himself, "Haply the Eunuch will do him some +hurt"; so he answered, "By Allah, I know not who it was." Said +the Eunuch, "By Allah, thou liest, for there is none on wake here +but thou! So needs must thou know him." "By Allah," replied the +Fireman, "I tell thee the truth!: some passer by, some wayfarer +must have recited the verses and disturbed me and kept me awake; +Allah requite him!" Quoth the Eunuch, "If thou happen upon him, +point him out to me and I will lay hands on him and bring him to +the door of our lady's litter[FN#309] or do thou take him with +thine own hand." Said the Fireman, "Go thou back and I will bring +him to thee." So the Eunuch left him and went his ways; and, +going in to his mistress, told her all this and said to her, +"None knoweth who it was; it must have been some passer by, some +wayfarer." And she was silent. Meanwhile, Zau al-Makan came to +himself and saw that the moon had reached the middle Heavens; the +breath of the dawn breeze[FN#310] breathed upon him and his heart +was moved to longing and sadness; so he cleared his throat and +was about to recite verses, when the Fire man asked him, "What +wilt thou do?" Answered Zau al-Makan, "I have a mind to repeat +somewhat of poetry, that I may quench therewith the fire of my +heart." Quoth the other, "Thou knowest not what befel me whilst +thou wast a faint, and how I escaped death only by beguiling the +Eunuch." "Tell me what happened," quoth Zau al-Makan. Replied +the Stoker, "Whilst thou wast aswoon there came up to me but now +an Eunuch, with a long staff of almond tree wood in his hand, who +took to looking in all the people's faces, as they lay asleep, +and asked me who it was recited the verses, finding none awake +but myself. I told him in reply it was some passerby, some +wayfarer; so he went away and Allah delivered me from him; else +had he killed me. But first he said to me, 'If thou hear him +again, bring him to us.'" When Zau al-Makan heard this he wept +and said, "Who is it would forbid me to recite? I will surely +recite, befal me what may; for I am near mine own land and care +for none." Rejoined the Fireman, "Thy design is naught save to +lose thy life;" and Zau al-Makan retorted, "Needs must I recite +verses." "Verily," said the Stoker, "needs must there be a +parting between me and thee in this place, albeit;I had intended +not to leave thee, till I had brought thee to thy native city and +reunited thee with thy mother and father. Thou hast now tarried +with me a year and a half and I have never harmed thee in aught. +What ails thee, then, that thou must needs recite verses, seeing +that we are tired out with walking and watching and all the folk +are asleep, for they require sleep to rest them of their +fatigue?" But Zau al-Makan answered, "I will not be turned away +from my purpose."[FN#311] Then grief moved him and he threw off +concealment and began repeating these couplets, + +"Stand thou by the homes and hail the lords of the ruined stead; + * Cry thou for an answer, belike reply to thee shall be + sped: +If the night and absence irk thy spirit kindle a torch * Wi' + repine; and illuminate the gloom with a gleaming greed: +If the snake of the sand dunes hiss, I shall marvel not at all! + * Let him bite so I bite those beauteous lips of the + luscious red: +O Eden, my soul hath fled in despite of the maid I love: * Had I + lost hope of Heaven my heart in despair were dead." + +And he also improvised the two following distichs, + +"We were and were the days enthralled to all our wills, * + Dwelling in union sweet and homed in fairest site: +Who shall restore the home of the beloved, where showed * Light + of the Place for aye conjoined with Time's + Delight?''[FN#312] + +And as he ceased his verses, he shrieked three shrieks and fell +senseless to the ground and the Fireman rose and covered him. +When Nuzhat al-Zaman heard the first improvisation, she called to +mind her father and her mother and her brother and their whilome +home; then she wept and cried at the Eunuch and said to him, "Woe +to thee! He who recited the first time hath recited a second +time and I heard him hard by. By Allah, an thou fetch him not to +me, I will assuredly rouse the Chamberlain on thee, and he shall +beat thee and cast thee out. But take these hundred diners and +give them to the singer and bring him to me gently, and do him no +hurt. If he refuse, hand to him this purse of a thousand diners, +then leave him and return to me and tell me, after thou hast +informed thyself of his place and his calling and what countryman +he is. Return quickly and linger not."--And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- +Zaman sent the Eunuch to make enquiries concerning the singer and +said, "Beware how thou come back to me and report, I could not +find him." So the Eunuch went out and laid about the people and +trod in their tents, but found none awake, all being asleep for +weariness, till he came to the Stoker and saw him sitting up, +with his head uncovered. So he drew near and seizing him by the +hand, said to him, "It was thou didst recite the verses!" The +Fireman was afeard for his life and replied, "No, by Allah, O +chief of the people, it was not I!" But the Eunuch said, "I will +not leave thee till thou show me who it was that recited the +verses, for I dread returning to my lady without him." Now when +the Fireman heard these words he feared for Zau al-Makan and wept +with exceeding weeping and said to the Eunuch, "By Allah, it was +not I, and I know him not. I only heard some passer by, some +wayfarer, recite verses: so do not thou commit sin on me, for I +am a stranger and come from the Holy City of Jerusalem; and +Abraham, the friend of Allah, be with you all." "Rise up and fare +with me," rejoined the Eunuch, "and tell my lady this with thine +own mouth, for I have seen none awake save thyself." Quoth the +Stoker, "Hast thou not come and seen me sitting in the place +where I now am, and dost thou not know my station? Thou wottest +none can stir from his place, except the watchman seize him. So +go thou to thy station and if thou again meet any one after this +hour reciting aught of poetry, whether he be near or far, it will +be I or some one I know, and thou shalt not learn of him but by +me." Then he kissed the Eunuch's head and spake him fair till he +went away; but the Castrato fetched a round and, returning +secretly, came and stood behind the Fireman, fearing to go back +to his mistress without tidings. As soon as he was gone, the +Stoker arose and aroused Zau al-Makan and said to him, "Come, sit +up, that I may tell thee what hath happened." So Zau al-Makan sat +up, and his companion told him what had passed, and he answered, +"Let me alone; I will take no heed of this and I care for none, +for I am mine own country."[FN#313] Quoth the Stoker, "Why wilt +thou obey thy flesh and the devil? If thou fear no one, I fear +for thee and for my life, so Allah upon thee! recite nothing +more of verses till thou come to thine own land. Indeed, I had +not deemed thee so ill conditioned. Dost thou not know that this +lady is the wife; of the Chamberlain and is minded to chastise +thee for disturbing her? Belike, she is ill or restless for +fatigue of the journey and the distance of the place from her +home, and this is the second time she hath sent the Eunuch to +look for thee." However Zau al-Makan paid no heed to the +Fireman's words but cried out a third time and began versifying +with these couplets, + +"I fly the carper's injury,* Whose carping sorely vexeth me: +He chides and taunts me, wotting not * He burns me but more + grievously. +The blamer cries 'He is consoled!' * I say, 'My own dear + land[FN#314] to see:' +They ask, 'Why be that land so dear?' * I say, 'It taught me in + love to be:' +They ask, 'What raised its dignity?' * I say, 'What made my + ignomy:' +Whate'er the bitter cup I drain, * Far be fro' me that land to + flee: +Nor will I bow to those who blame, * And for such love would deal + me shame. + +Hardly had he made an end of his verses and come to a conclusion, +when the Eunuch (who had heard him from his hiding place at his +head) came up to him; whereupon the Fireman flea end stood afar +off to see what passed between them. Then said the Eunuch to Zau +al-Makan, "Peace be with thee, O my lord!" "And on thee be +peace," replied Zau al-Makan, "and the mercy of Allah and His +blessings!" "O my lord," continued the Eunuch---And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say, + + When it was the Seventy-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Eunuch +said to Zau al-Makan, "O my lord, I have sought thee these +several times this night, for my mistress biddeth thee to her." +Quoth Zau al- Makan, "And who be this bitch that seeketh for me? +Allah curse her and curse her husband with her!"[FN#315] And he +began to revile the Eunuch, who could make him no answer, because +his mistress had charged him to do Zau al-Makan no hurt, nor +bring him save of his own especial free will; and, if he would +not accompany him, to give him the thousand diners. So the +Castrato began to speak him fair and say to him, "O my lord, take +this purse and go with me. We will do thee no upright, O my son, +nor wrong thee in aught; but our object is that thou bend thy +gracious steps with me to my mistress, to receive her answer and +return in weal and safety: and thou shalt have a handsome present +as one who bringeth good news." When Zau al- Makan heard this, he +arose and went with the Eunuch and walked among the sleeping +folk, stepping over them; whilst the Fireman followed after them +from afar, and kept his eye upon him and said to himself, "Alas +the pity of his youth! Tomorrow they will hang him." And he +ceased not following them till he approached their +station,[FN#316] without any observing him. Then he stood still +and said, "How base it will be of him, if he say it was I who +bade him recite the verses!" This was the case of the Stoker; but +as regards what befel Zau al-Makan, he ceased not walking with +the Eunuch till he reached his station and the Castrato went in +to Nuzhat al-Zaman and said, "O my lady, I have brought thee him +whom thou soughtest, and he is a youth, fair of face and bearing +the marks of wealth and gentle breeding." When she heard this, +her heart fluttered and she cried, "Let him recite some verses, +that I may hear him near hand, and after ask him his name and his +condition and his native land." Then the Eunuch went out to Zau +al-Makan and said to him, "Recite what verses thou knowest, for +my lady is here hard by, listening to thee, and after I will ask +thee of thy name and thy native country and thy condition." +Replied he, "With love and gladness but, an thou ask my name, it +is erased and my trace is unplaced and my body a waste. I have a +story, the beginning of which is not known nor can the end of it +be shown, and behold, I am even as one who hath exceeded in wine +drinking and who hath not spared himself; one who is afflicted +with distempers and who wandereth from his right mind, being +perplexed about his case and drowned in the sea of thought." When +Nuzhat al-Zaman heard this, she broke out into excessive weeping +and sobbing, and said to the Eunuch, "Ask him if he have parted +from one he loveth even as his mother or father." The Castrato +asked as she bade him, and Zau al-Makan replied, "Yes, I have +parted from every one I loved: but the dearest of all to me was +my sister, from whom Fate hath separated me." When Nuzhat al- +Zaman heard this, she exclaimed, "Allah Almighty reunite him with +what he loveth!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nuzhat +al-Zaman heard his words she said, "Allah reunite him with what +he loveth!" Then quoth she to the Eunuch, "Tell him to let me +hear somewhat anent his separation from his countrymen and his +country." The Eunuch did so, and Zau al-Makan sighed heavily and +began repeating these couplets,[FN#317] + +"Is not her love a pledge by all mankind confest? * The house + that hometh Hinda be forever blest' +Her love all levels; man can reck of naught beside; * Naught or + before or after can for man have zest +'Tis though the vale is paved with musk and ambergris * That day + when Hinda's footstep on its face is prest: +Hail to the beauty of our camp, the pride of folk, * The dearling + who en' Slaves all hearts by her behest: +Allah on 'Time's Delight' send large dropped clouds that teem * + With genial rain but bear no thunder in their breast." + +And also these, + +"I vow to Allah if at home I sight * My sister Nuzhat al-Zamani + highs +I'll pass the days in joyance and delight * Mid bashful minions, + maidens soft and white: +To sound of harps in various modes they smite * Draining the + bowl, while eyes rain lively light +'Neath half closed lids, a sipping lips red bright * By stream + bank flowing through my garden site." + +When he had finished his verse, Nuzhat al-Zaman lifted up a skirt +of the litter curtain and looked at him. As soon as her eyes +fell on his face, she knew him for certain and cried out, "O my +brother! O Zau al-Makan!" He also looked at her and knew her and +cried out, "O my sister! O Nuzhat al-Zaman!" Then she threw +herself upon him and he gathered her to his bosom and the twain +fell down in a fainting fit. When the Eunuch saw this case, he +wondered at them and throwing over them somewhat to cover them, +waited till they should recover. After a while they came to +themselves, and Nuzhat al-Zaman rejoiced with exceeding joy: +oppression and depression left her and gladness took the mastery +of her, and she repeated these verses, + +"Time sware my life should fare in woeful waste; * Forsworn art + Time, expiate thy sin in haste![FN#318] +Comes weal and comes a welcome friend to aid; * To him who brings + good news, rise, gird thy waist +I spurned old world tales of Eden bliss; * Till came I + Kausar[FN#319] on those lips + +When Zau al-Makan heard this, he pressed his sister to his +breast; tears streamed from his eyes for excess of joy and he +repeated these couplets,[FN#320] + +"Long I lamented that we fell apart, * While tears repentant + railed from these eyne; +And sware, if Time unite us twain once more, * 'Severance' shall + never sound from tongue of mine: +Joy hath so overwhelmed me that excess * Of pleasure from mine + eyes draws gouts of brine: +Tears, O mine eyes, have now become your wont * Ye weep for + pleasure and you weep for pine!" + +They sat awhile at the litter door till she said to him, "Come +with me into the litter and tell me all that hath befallen thee, +and I will tell thee what happened to me." So they entered and +Zau al-Maken said, "Do thou begin thy tale." Accordingly she told +him all that had come to her since their separation at the Khan +and what had happened to her with the Badawi; how the merchant +had bought her of him and had taken her to her brother Sharrkan +and had sold her to him; how he had freed her at the time of +buying; how he had made a marriage contract with her and had gone +in to her and how the King, their sire, had sent and asked for +her from Sharrkan. Then quoth she, "Praised be Allah who hath +vouchsafed thee to me and ordained that, even as we left our +father together, so together shall we return to him!" And she +added, "Of a truth my brother Sharrkan gave me in marriage to +this Chamberlain that he might carry me to my father. And this +is what befel me from first to last; so now tell me how it hath +fared with thee since I left thee." Thereupon he told her all +that had happened to him from beginning to end; and how Allah +vouchsafed to send the Fireman to him, and how he had journeyed +with him and spent his money on him and had served him night and +day. She praised the Stoker for this and Zau al-Makan added, "Of +a truth, O my sister, this Fireman hath dealt with me in such +benevolent wise as would not lover with lass nor sire with son, +for that he fasted and gave me to eat, and he walked whilst he +made me ride; and I owe my life to him." Said she, "Allah +willing, we will requite him for all this, according to our +power." Then she called the Eunuch, who came and kissed Zau al- +Makan's hand, and she said, "Take thy reward for glad tidings, O +face of good omen! It was thy hand reunited me with my brother; +so the purse I gave thee and all in it are thine. But now go to +thy master and bring him quickly to me." The Castrato rejoiced +and, going in to the Chamberlain, him to his mistress. +Accordingly, he came in to his wife and finding Zau al-Makan with +her, asked who he was. So she told him all that had befallen +them both, first and last, and added, "Know, O Chamberlain, that +thou hast married no slave girl; far from it, thou hast taken to +wife the daughter of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman for I am Nuzhat al- +Zaman, and this is my brother, Zau al-Makan." When the +Chamberlain heard the story he knew it to be sooth, and its +manifest truth appeared to him and he was certified that he was +become King Omar bin al-Nu'uman's son in law, so he said to +himself, " 'Twill be my fate to be made viceroy of some +province."[FN#321] Then he went up to Zau al-Makan and gave him +joy of his safety and reunion with his sister, and bade his +servants forthwith make him ready a tent and one of the best of +his own horses to ride. Thereupon said Nuzhat al-Zaman, "We are +now near our country and I would be left alone with my brother, +that we may enjoy each other's company and take our fill of it +ere we reach Baghdad; for we have been parted a long, long time." +"Be it as thou biddest," replied the Chamberlain, and, going +forth from them, sent them wax candles and various kinds of +sweetmeats, together with three suits of the costliest for Zau +al-Makan. Then he returned to the litter and related the good he +had done and Nuzhat al-Zaman said to him, "Bid the Eunuch bring +me the Fireman and give him a horse to ride and ration him with a +tray of food morning and evening, and let him be forbidden to +leave us." The Chamberlain called the Castrato and charged him to +do accordingly; so he replied, "I hear and I obey;" and he took +his pages with him and went out in search of the Stoker till he +found him in the rear of the caravan, girthing his ass and +preparing for flight. The tears were running adown his cheeks, +out of fear for his life and grief for his separation from Zau +al-Makan; and he was saying to himself, "Indeed, I warned him for +the love of Allah, but he would not listen to me; Oh would I knew +what is become of him!" Ere he had done speaking the Eunuch was +standing by his head whilst the pages surrounded him The Fireman +turned and seeing the Eunuch and the pages gathered around him +became yellow with fear,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Stoker girthed his ass for flight and bespake himself, saying, +"Oh would I knew what is become of him!"; ere he had done +speaking the Castrato was standing by his head and his side +muscles quivered for fear and he lifted up his voice and cried, +"Verily he knoweth not the value of the good offices I have done +him! I believe he hath denounced me to the Eunuch (hence these +pages et about me) and he hath made me an accomplice in his +crime." Then the effeminated one cried at him, saying, "Who was +it recited the verses? O liar! why didst thou say, 'I never +repeated these couplets, nor do I know who repeated them;' when +it was thy companion? But now I will not leave thee between this +place and Baghdad, and what betideth thy comrade shall betide +thee." Quoth the Fireman, "What I feared hath befallen me." And +he repeated this couplet, + +"'Twas as I feared the coming ills discerning: * But unto Allah + we are all returning." + +Then the Eunuch cried upon the pages, saying, "Take him off the +ass." So they carried him along with the caravan, surrounded by +the pages, as the white contains the black of the eye; and the +Castrato said to them, "If a hair of him be lost, you will be +lost with it." And he bade them privily treat him with honour and +not humiliate him. But when the Stoker saw himself beset by the +pages, he despaired of his life and turning to the Eunuch, said +to him, "O Chief, I am neither this youth's brother nor am I akin +to him, nor is he sib to me; but I was a Fireman in a Hammam and +found him cast out, in his sickness, on the dung heap." Then the +caravan fared on and the Stoker wept and imagined in himself a +thousand things, whilst the Eunuch walked by his side and told +him nothing, but said to him, "Thou disturbedst our mistress by +reciting verses, thou and this youth: but fear nothing for thy +self;" and kept laughing at him the while to himself. Whenever +the caravan halted, they served him with food, and he and the +Castrato ate from one dish.[FN#322] Then the Eunuch bade his lads +bring a gugglet of sugared sherbet and, after drinking himself, +gave it to the Fireman, who drank; but all the while his tears +never dried, out of fear for his life and grief for his +separation from Zau al-Makan and for what had befallen them in +their strangerhood. So they both travelled on with the caravan, +whilst the Chamberlain now rode by the door of his wife's litter, +in attendance on Zau al-Makan and his sister, and now gave an eye +to the Fireman; and Nuzhat al-Zaman and her brother occupied +themselves with converse and mutual condolence; and they ceased +not after this fashion till they came within three days' journey +from Baghdad. Here they alighted at eventide and rested till the +morning morrowed; and as they awoke and they were about to load +the beasts, behold, there appeared afar off a great cloud of dust +that darkened the firmament till it became black as gloomiest +night.[FN#323] Thereupon the Chamberlain cried out to them, +"Stay, and your loading delay!"; then, mounting with his +Mamelukes, rode forward in the direction of the dust cloud. When +they drew near, suddenly appeared under it a numerous conquering +host like the full tide sea, with flags and standards, drums and +kettledrums, horsemen and footmen. The Chamberlain marvelled at +this; and when the troops saw him, there detached itself from +amongst them a plump of five hundred cavaliers, who fell upon him +and his suite and surrounded them, five for one; whereupon said +he to them, "What is the matter and what are these troops, that +ye do this with us?" Asked they, "Who art thou; and whence comest +thou, and whither art thou bound?" and he answered, "I am the +Chamberlain of the Emir of Damascus, King Sharrkan, son of Omar +bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad and of the land of Khorasan, and +I bring tribute and presents from him to his father in Baghdad." +When the horsemen heard his words they let their head kerchiefs +fall over their faces and wept, saying, "In very sooth King Omar +is dead and he died not but of poison. So fare ye forwards; no +harm shall befal you till you join his Grand Wazir, Dandan." Now +when the Chamberlain heard this, he wept sore and exclaimed, "Oh +for our disappointment in this our journey!" Then he and all his +suite wept till they had come up with the host and sought access +to the Wazir Dandan, who granted an interview and called a halt +and, causing his pavilion to be pitched, sat down on a couch +therein and commanded to admit the Chamberlain. Then he bade him +be seated and questioned him; and he replied that he was +Chamberlain to the Emir of Damascus and was bound to King Omar +with presents and the tribute of Syria. The Wazir, hearing the +mention of King Omar's name, wept and said, "King Omar is dead by +poison, and upon his dying the folk fell out amongst themselves +as to who should succeed him, until they were like to slay one +another on this account; but the notables and grandees and the +four Kazis interposed and all the people agreed to refer the +matter to the decision of the four judges and that none should +gainsay them. So it was agreed that we go to Damascus and fetch +thence the King's son, Sharrkan, and make him Sultan over his +father's realm. And amongst them were some who would have chosen +the cadet, Zau Al-Makan, for, quoth they, his name be Light of +the Place, and he hath a sister Nuzhat al-Zaman highs, the +Delight of the Time; but they set out five years ago for Al-Hijaz +and none wotteth what is become of them." When the Chamberlain +heard this, he knew; that his wife had told him the truth of her +adventures; and he grieved with sore grief for the death of King +Omar, albeit he joyed with exceeding joy, especially at the +arrival of Zau al-Makan, for that he would now become Sultan of +Baghdad in his father's stead--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when +Sharrkan's Chamberlain heard of the death of King Omar bin al- +Nu'uman he mourned, but he rejoiced because of his wife and her +brother Zau al-Makan who would become Sultan of Baghdad in his +father's stead. So he turned to the Wazir Dandan and said to +him, "Verily your tale is a wonder of wonders! Know, O Chief +Wazir, that here, where you have encountered me, Allah hath given +you rest from fatigue and bringeth you your desire after the +easiest of fashions, for that His Almighty Will restoreth to you +Zau al-Makan and his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman; whereby we will +settle the matter as we easily can." When the Minister heard +these words he rejoiced with great joy and said, "O Chamberlain, +tell me the tale of the twain and what befel them and the cause +of their long absence." So he repeated to him the whole story and +told him that Nuzhat al-Zaman was his wife and related to him the +adventures of Zau al-Makan from first to last. As soon as he had +ended his tale, the Wazir sent for the Emirs and Wazirs and Chief +Officers and acquainted them with the matter; whereat they +rejoiced with great joy and wondered at the happy chance. Then +they gathered in a body and went in to the Chamberlain and did +their service to him, kissing the ground between his hands; and +the Wazir Dandan also rose and went out to meet him and stood +before him in honour. After this, the Chamberlain held on that +day a Divan council; and he and the Wazir sat upon a throne, +whilst all the Emirs and Grandees and Officers of State took +their places before them, according to their several +ranks.[FN#324] Then they melted sugar in rose water and drank, +after which the Emirs sat down to hold council and permitted the +rest of the host to mount and ride forward leisurely, till they +should make an end of their debate and overtake them. So the +officers kissed the ground between their hands and mounting, rode +onwards, preceded by the standards of war. When the grandees had +finished their conference, they took horse and rejoined the host; +and the Chamberlain approached the Wazir Dandan and said, "I deem +it well to ride on before you, and precede you, that I may get +ready a place for the Sultan and notify him of your coming and of +your choosing him as Sultan over the head of his brother +Sharrkan." "Aright thou reckest," answered the Wazir Then the +Chamberlain rose up in haste and Dandan also stood up to do him +honour and brought him presents, which he conjured him to accept. +In similar guise did all the Emirs and Grandees and Officers of +State, bringing him gifts and calling down blessings on him and +saying to him, "Haply thou wilt mention our case to Sultan Zau +al-Makan and speak to him to continue us in our +dignities."[FN#325] The Chamberlain promised all they required +and bade his pages be ready to march, whereupon the Wazir Dandan +sent with him tents and bade the tent pitchers set them up at a +day's journey from the city. And they did his bidding. Then the +Chamberlain mounted and rode forward, full of joy and saying to +himself, "How blessed is this gurney!", and indeed his wife was +exalted in his eyes, she and her brother Zau al-Makan. They made +all haste over their wayfare, till they reached a place distant a +day's journey from Baghdad, where the Chamberlain called a halt +for rest, and bade his men alight and make ready a sitting place +for the Sultan Zau al-Makan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, +while he rode forward with his Mamelukes and, alighting at a +distance from Nuzhat al-Zaman's litter, commanded the eunuchs to +ask leave of admission to the presence. They did so and she gave +permission; whereupon he went in to her and conversed with her +and her brother; and told them of the death of their father; and +of Zau al-Makan, how the heads of the people had made him King +over them in the stead of his sire; and he gave them joy of the +kingdom. They both wept for their father and asked the manner of +his being killed; but the Chamberlain answered, "The news rests +with the Wazir Dandan who will be here tomorrow leading all the +host; and it only remaineth for thee, O King, to do what they +counsel, since they have unanimously chosen thee Sultan; for if +thou do not this, they will choose some one else and thou canst +not be sure of thy life with another Sultan. Haply he will kill +thee, or discord may befal between you twain and the kingdom pass +out of the hands of both." Zau al-Makan bowed his head awhile and +then said, "I accept this position;" for indeed there was no +refusing; and he was certified that the Chamberlain had +counselled him well and wisely and set him on the right way. +Then he added, "O my uncle, how shall I do with my brother +Sharrkan?" "O my son," replied the Chamberlain, "thy brother will +be Sultan of Damascus and thou Sultan of Baghdad; so take heart +of grace and get ready thy case." Zau al-Makan accepted this and +the Chamberlain presented him with a suit of royal raiment and a +dagger[FN#326] of state, which the Wazir Dandan had brought with +him; then leaving him he bade the tent pitchers choose a spot of +rising ground and set up thereon a spacious pavilion, wherein the +Sultan might sit to receive the Emirs and Grandees. Moreover he +ordered the kitcheners to cook rich viands and serve them and he +commanded the water carriers to dispose the water troughs. They +did as he bade them and presently arose a cloud of dust from the +ground and spread till it walled the horizon round. After +awhile, the dust dispersed and there appeared under it the army +of Baghdad and Khorasan, a conquering host like the full tide +sea.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Chamberlain bade the tent pitchers set up a pavilion spacious +enough to receive the subjects flocking to their Sultan, they +planted a splendid Shhmiynah[FN#327] befitting Kings. And as +they ended their labours behold, a dust cloud spired aloft and +the breeze made it lift and beneath it showed a conquering host; +and presently it appeared that this was the army of Baghdad and +Khorasan preceded by the Wazir Dandan. And in it all rejoiced at +the accession of the "Light of the Place." Now Zau al-Makan had +donned robes of royal estate and girt himself with the sword of +state: so the Chamberlain brought him a steed and he mounted +surrounded by the Mamelukes and all the company from the tents on +foot, to do him service, and he rode on until he came to the +great pavilion, where he sat down and he laid the royal dagger +across his thighs, whilst the Chamberlain stood in attendance on +him and his armed slaves stationed themselves under the entrance +awning of the Shahmiyanah, with drawn swords in their hands. +Presently, up came the troops and the host and craved admission +so the Chamberlain went in to Zau al-Makan and asked his leave +whereupon he bade admit them, ten by ten. The Chamberlain +acquainted them with the King's commands, to which they replied, +"We hear and we obey;" and all drew up before the pavilion +entrance. Then he took ten of them and carried them through the +vestibule into the presence of Sultan Zau al-Makan, whom when +they saw, they were awed; but he received them with most gracious +kindness and promised them all good. So they gave him joy of his +safe return and invoked Allah's blessings upon him after which +they took the oath of fealty never to gainsay him in aught and +they kissed ground before him and withdrew. Then other ten +entered and he entreated them as he had entreated the ethers; and +they ceased not to enter, ten by ten, till none was left but the +Wazir Dandan. Lastly the Minister went in and kissed the ground +before Zau al-Makan, who rose to meet him, saying, "Welcome, O +Wazir and sire sans peer! Verily, thine acts are those of a +counsellor right dear, and judgement and foreseeing clear are in +the hands of the Subtle of Lere." Then bade he the Chamberlain +forthwith go out and cause the tables to be spread and order all +the troops thereto. So they came and ate and drank. Moreover +the Sultan commanded his Wazir Dandan call a ten days' halt of +the army, that he might be private with him and learn from him +how and wherefore his father had been slain. The Wazir obeyed +the commands of the Sultan with submission and wished him +eternity of glory and said, "This needs must be!" He then +repaired to the heart of the encampment and ordered the host to +halt ten days. They did as he bade them and, moreover, he gave +them leave to divert themselves and ordered that none of the +lords in waiting should attend upon the King for service during +the space of three days. Then the Wazir went to the Sultan and +reported all to him, and Zau al-Makan waited until nightfall, +when he went in to his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman and asked her, +"Dost thou know the cause of my father's murder or not?" "I have +no knowledge of the cause," she answered, and drew a silken +curtain before herself, whilst Zau al-Makan seated himself +without the curtain and commanded the Wazir to the presence and, +when he came, said to him, "I desire thou relate to me in detail +the cause of the killing of my sire, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman!" +"Know then, O King," replied Dandan, "that King Omar bin al- +Nu'uman, when he returned to Baghdad from his chasing and hunting +and entered the city, enquired for thee and thy sister, but could +not find you and knew that you twain had gone on the Pilgrimage; +whereat he was greatly grieved and much angered, and his breast +was straitened and he abode thus half a year, seeking news of you +from all who came and went but none could give him any tidings. +Now while we were in attendance upon him one day, after a whole +year had sped since ye were lost to his sight, lo! there came to +us an ancient dame with signs of being a devotee, accompanied by +five damsels, high bosomed virgins like moons, endowed with such +beauty and loveliness as tongue faileth to describe; and, to +crown their perfections of comeliness, they could read the Koran +and were versed in various kinds of learning and in the histories +of bygone peoples. Then that old woman sought audience of the +King, and he bade admit her; whereupon she entered the presence +and kissed the ground between his hands. I was then sitting by +his side and he, seeing in her the signs of asceticism and +devoutness, made her draw near and take seat hard by him. And +when she had sat down she addressed him and said, 'Know, O King, +that with me are five damsels, whose like no King among the Kings +possesseth; for they are endowed with wit and beauty and +loveliness and perfection. They read the Koran--and the +Traditions and are skilled in all manner of learning and in the +history of bygone races. They stand here between thy hands to do +thee service, O King of the Age, and it is by trial that folk are +prized or despised. 'Thy father, who hath found mercy;[FN#328] +looked at the damsels and their favour pleased him; so he said to +them, Let each and every of you make me hear something of what +she knoweth anent the history of the folk of yore and of peoples +long gone before!'--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +Dandan said unto King Zau al-Makan, "Thy father, who hath found +mercy, glanced at the damsels and their favour pleased him and he +said to them, 'Let each and every of you make me hear something +of what she knoweth anent the history of the folk of yore and of +peoples long gone before!' Thereupon one of them came forward +and, kissing the ground before him, spake as follows[FN#329] +'Know, O King, that it behoveth one of good breeding to eschew +impertinence and adorn himself with excellencies, and observe the +Divine injunctions and avoid mortal sins; and to this he should +apply himself with the assiduity of one who, if he stray +therefrom, falleth into perdition; for the foundation of good +breeding is virtuous behaviour. And know that the chief cause +and reason of man's existence is the endeavour after life +everlasting, and the right way thereto is the service of Allah. +Wherefore it behoveth thee to deal beneficently with the people: +and swerve not from this canon, for the mightier men are in +dignity, the more their need of prudence and foresight; and +indeed Monarchs need this more than the many, for the general +cast themselves into affairs, without taking thought to the issue +thereof. Be thou prodigal of thy life and thy good in the way of +Allah, and know that, if an enemy dispute with thee, thou mayst +dispute with him and refute him with proofs and be proof against +him; but as for thy friend, there is none can judge between thee +and him save righteousness and fair dealing. Choose, therefore, +thy friend for thyself, after thou hast proved him. If he be of +the brotherhood of futurity,[FN#330] let him be zealous in +observing the externals of the Holy Law and versed in its inner +meaning, as far as may be; and if he be of the brotherhood of the +world, let him be free born, sincere, neither a fool nor a +perverse, for the fool man is such that even his parents might +well flee from him, and a liar cannot be a true friend. Indeed +the word, Siddk[FN#331] ('friend') deriveth from Sidk ('truth') +that welleth up from the bottom of the heart; and how can this be +the case, when falsehood is manifest upon the tongue? And know, +that the observance of the Law profiteth him who practiseth it: +so love thy brother, if he be of this quality and do not cast him +off, even if thou see in him that which irketh thee, for a friend +is not I like a wife, whom one can divorce and re-marry: nay, his +heart is like glass: once broken, it may not be mended. And +Allah bless him who saith, + +'Ware how thou hurtest man with hurt of heart; * 'Tis hard to win + thee back the heart offended: +For hearts indeed, whence love is alien made, * Like broken glass + may nevermore be mended.' + +The maiden continued and concluded with pointing out to us what +sages say, 'The best of brethren is he who is the most constant +in good counsel; the best of action is that which is fairest in +its consequence, and the best of praise is not that which is in +the mouths of men. It is also said, 'It behoveth not the servant +to neglect thanking Allah especially for two favours, health and +reason.' Again it is said, 'Whoso honoureth himself, his lust is +a light matter to him, and he who maketh much of his small +troubles, Allah afflicteth him with the greater; he who obeyeth +his own inclination neglecteth his duties and he who listeneth to +the slanderer loseth the true friend. He who thinketh well of +thee, do thou fulfill his thought of thee. He who exceedeth in +contention sinneth, and he who against upright standeth not on +ward, is not safe from the sword. Now will I tell thee somewhat +of the duties of Kazis and judges. Know, O King, that no +judgement serveth the cause of justice save it be given after +proof positive, and it behoveth the judge to treat all people on +the same level, to the intent that the great may not hunger for +oppression nor the small despair of justice. Furthermore he +should extract proof from the complainant and impose an oath upon +the defendant; and mediation is admissible between Moslems, +except it be a compromise sanctioning the unlawful or forbidding +the lawful.[FN#332] If thou shalt have done aught during the day, +of which thy reason is doubtful but thy good intention is proved, +thou (O Kazi) shouldst revert to the right, for to do justice is +a religious obligation and to return to that which is right is +better than persistence in wrong. Then (O judge) thou shouldest +study precedents and the law of the case and do equal justice +between the suitors, withal fixing thine eyes upon the truth and +committing thine affair to Allah (be He extolled and exalted!). +And require thou proof of the complainant, and if he adduce +evidence let him have due benefit of it; and if not, put the +defendant to his oath; for this is the ordinance of Allah. +Receive thou the testimony of competent Moslem witnesses, one +against other, for Almighty Allah hath commanded judges to judge +by externals, He Himself taking charge of the inner and secret +things. It behoveth the judge also to avoid giving judge meet, +whilst suffering from stress of pain or hunger,[FN#333] and that +in his decisions between folk he seek the face of Allah Almighty +for he whose intent is pure and who is at peace with himself, +Allah shall guarantee him against what is between him and the +people.' Quoth al-Zuhri,[FN#334] 'There are three things for +which, if they be found in a Kazi, he should be deposed; namely, +if he honour the base, if he love praise and if he fear +dismissal. And Omar bin Abd al-Aziz once deposed a Kazi, who +asked him, 'Why hast thou dismissed me? It hath reached me,' +answered Omar, 'that thy converse is greater than thy condition.' +It is said also that Iskandar[FN#335] said to his Kazi, 'I have +invested thee with this function and committed to thee in it my +soul and mine honour and my manliness; so do thou guard it with +thy sense and thine understanding.' To his Cook he said, 'Thou +art the Sultan of my body; so look thou tender it as thine own +self.' To his Secretary he said, 'Thou art the controller of my +wit: so do thou watch over me in what thou writest for me and +from me.'" Thereupon the first damsel backed out from the +presence and a second damsel came forward.--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Eightieth Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +Wazir Dandan said to Zau al-Makan, "Thereupon the first damsel +backed out from the presence and a second damsel came forward +and, kissing the ground seven times before the King thy father, +spake as follows, 'The sage Lukmn[FN#336] said to his son, +'There be three who are known only in three several cases; the +merciful man is unknown save in time of wrath, the brave only in +battle, and thy friend in time of need.' It is said that the +oppressor shall be depress though by people praised, and that the +oppress is at rest though by people blamed. Quoth Allah +Almighty,[FN#337] 'Assuredly deem not that those who rejoice in +what they have done, and who love to be praised for what they +have not done, shall escape reckoning of punishment: indeed there +is reserved for them a grievous penalty.' And he said[FN#338] (on +whom be salvation and salutation!), 'Works are according to +intention and to each man is attributed that which he intendeth.' +He said also, 'In the body is a part which being sound the rest +is sound, and which being unsound the whole is unsound.' And this +is the heart. Now this heart is the most marvellous of what is +in man, since it is that which ordereth his whole affair: If +covetise stir in it, desire destroyeth him, and if affliction +master it, anguish slayeth him; if anger rage in it, danger is +hard upon him; if it be blest with contentment, he is safe from +discontent; if fear surprise it, he is full of mourning; and if +calamity overtake it, affliction betideth him. If a man gain the +use of wealth, peradventure he is diverted thereby from the +remembrance of his Lord; if poverty choke him his heart is +distracted by woe, or if disquietude waste his heart, weakness +causeth him to fall. Thus, in any case, nothing profiteth him +but that he be mindful of Allah and occupy himself with gaining +his livelihood in this world and securing his place in the next. +It was asked of a certain sage, 'Who is the most ill conditioned +of men?'; and he answered, 'The man whose lusts master his +manhood and whose mind soareth over high, so that his knowledge +dispreadeth and his excuse diminisheth; and how excellently saith +the poet, + +Freest am I of all mankind fro' meddling wight * Who, seeing + others err, self error ne'er can sight: +Riches and talents are but loans to creature lent, * Each wears + the cloak of that he bears in breast and sprite: +If by mistaken door attempt on aught thou make, * Thou shalt go + wrong and if the door be right, go right!' + +Continued the maiden, 'As for anecdotes of devotees, quoth Hisham +bin Bashar, 'I asked Omar bin Ubayd, What is true piety?'; and he +answered, 'The Apostle of Allah (to whom be salutation and +salvation!) hath explained it when he sayeth, The pious is he who +forgetteth not the grave nor calamity and who preferreth that +which endureth to that which passeth away; who counteth not the +morrow as of his days but reckoneth himself among the dead.' And +it is related that Abu Zarr[FN#339] used to say, Want is dearer +to me than wealth, and unheal is dearer to me than health.' Quoth +one of the listeners, 'May Allah have mercy on Abu Zarr!'. For +my part, I say, 'Whoso putteth his trust in the goodness of the +election of Almighty Allah should be content with that condition +which Allah hath chosen for him.' Quoth one of the Companions of +the Prophet, 'Ibn Abi Aufa[FN#340] once prayed with us the dawn +prayer. When he had done, he recited, 'O Thou +Enwrapped!'[FN#341] till he came to where Allah saith, 'When +there shall be a trumping on the trumpet,' and fell down dead. +It is said that Sabit al-Banani wept till he well nigh lost his +eyes. They brought him a man to medicine him who said to him, 'I +will cure thee, provided thou obey my bidding' Asked Sabit, 'In +what matter?' Quoth the leach, 'In that thou leave weeping!' +'What is the worth of mine eyes?', rejoined Sabit, 'if they do +not weep?' Quoth a man to Mohammed bin Abdillah, 'Exhort thou +me!'"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-first Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +Wazir Dandan said to Zau al-Makan, "Thus spake the second hand +maid to the King who hath found mercy, Omar bin al-Nu'uman. +'Quoth a man to Mohammed bin Abdillah, Exhort thou me!' 'I exhort +thee,' replied he, 'to be a self ruler, an abstainer in this +world, and in the next a greedy slave.' 'How so?' asked the other +and Mohammed answered, 'The abstinent man in this world +conquereth both the world that is and the world to come.' And +quoth Ghaus bin Abdillah, 'There were two brothers among the sons +of Israel, one of whom said to the other, 'What be the most +perilous[FN#342] thing thou hast done?' Replied the brother, 'I +once came upon a nest of young birds; so I took out one and threw +it back into the nest; but among the chickens were some which +drew apart from it. This is the most perilous thing I ever did; +now what be the most perilous thing thou hast ever done?' He +rejoined, 'When I arise for prayer I am fearful that it is only +for the sake of the reward.' Now their father heard these words +and exclaimed, 'O Allah, an say they sooth take them to Thyself!' +It was declared by one of the wise men, 'Verily, these were of +the most virtuous of children.' Quoth Sa'd bin Jubayr,[FN#343] +'I was once in company with Fuzalah bin 'Ubaydand said to him, +'Exhort thou me!, Replied he, 'Bear in mind these two +necessaries, Shun syntheism[FN#344] and harm not any of Allah's +creatures.' And he repeated these two couplets, + +'Be as thou wilt, for Allah still is bounteous Lord, * And care + dispeller dread not therefore bane and ban +To two things only never draw thee nigh, nor give * Partner to + Allah trouble to thy brother man.' + +And how well saith the poet, + +'An thou of pious works a store neglect * And after death meet + one who did collect, +Thou shalt repent thou diddest not as he, * Nor madest ready as + he did elect.' + +Then the third damsel came forward, after the second had with +drawn, and said, 'Of a truth, the chapter of piety is exceeding +wide; but I will mention what occurreth to me thereof, concerning +the pious of old. Quoth a certain holy man, 'I congratulate +myself in death, though I am not assured of rest therein, save +that I know death interveneth between a man and his works; so I +hope for the doubling of good works and the docking off of ill +works.' And Ita'a al Salami, when he had made an end of an +exhortation, was wont to tremble and grieve and weep sore; and as +they asked him why he did this he answered, 'I desire to enter +upon a grave matter, and it is the standing up before Almighty +Allah to do in accordance with my exhortation.' In similar guise +Zayn al-Abidn,[FN#345] son of Al-Husayn, was wont to tremble +when he rose to pray. Being asked the cause of this, he replied, +'Know ye not before whom I stand and whom I address?' It is said +that there lived near Sufyn al-Thauri[FN#346] a blind man who, +when the month of Ramazan came, went out with the folk to +pray,[FN#347] but remained silent and hung back. Said Sufyan, +'On the Day of Resurrection he shall come with the people of the +Koran and they will be distinguished by increase of honour from +their fellows.' Quoth Sufyan, 'Were the soul established in the +heart as befitteth, it would fly away for joy and pining for +Paradise, and for grief and fear of hell-fire.' It is related +also of Sufyan Al-Thauri that he said, 'To look upon the face of +a tyrant is a sin.' Then the third damsel retired and came for +ward the fourth, who said, 'Here am I to treat of sundry +traditions of pious men which suggest themselves to me. It is +related that Bishr Barefoot[FN#348] said, 'I once heard Khlid +say, 'Beware of secret polytheism.' I asked, 'What may secret +polytheism be?'; and he answered, 'When one of you in praying +prolong his inclinations and prostrations till a cause of +impurity[FN#349] come upon him.' And one of the sages said, +'Doing works of weal expiateth what is ill.' Quoth +Ibrahim,[FN#350] 'I supplicated Bishr Barefoot to acquaint me +with some theological mysteries; but he said, 'O my son, this +knowledge it behoveth us not to teach to every one; of every +hundred five, even as the legal alms upon money.' Said Ibrahim, +'I thought his reply excellent and approved of it and while I was +praying behold, Bishr was also praying: so I stood behind +him[FN#351] making the prayer bow till the Mu'ezzin called his +call. Then rose a man of tattered appearance and said, O folk, +beware of a truth which bringeth unweal, for there is no harm in +a lie bringing weal,[FN#352] and in time of need no choice we +heed: speech booteth not in the absence of good qualities even as +silence hurteth not in the presence of good. Presently I saw +Bishr drop a danik,[FN#353] so I picked it up and exchanged it +for a dirham which I gave him. Quoth he, 'I will not take it.' +Quoth I, 'It is perfectly lawful change'; but he rejoined 'I +cannot take in exchange the riches of the present world for those +of the future world.' It is related also that Bishr Barefoot's +sister once went to Ahmad bin Hanbal"[FN#354]--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +Dandan continued to bespeak Zau al-Makan on this wise, "And quoth +the maiden to thy father, 'Bishr Barefoot's sister once went to +Ahmad bin Hanbal and said to him, 'O Imam of the Faith, we are a +family that spin thread by night and work for our living by day; +and oftentimes the cressets of the watch of Baghdad pass by and +we on the roof spinning by their light. Is this forbidden to +us?' Asked Ahmad:'Who are thou?' 'I am the sister of Bishr +Barefoot,' answered she. Rejoined the Iman, 'O household of +Bishr, I shall never cease to drink full draughts of piety from +your hearts.' Quoth one of the sages, 'When Allah willeth well to +His servant He openeth upon him the gate of action.' Mlik bin +Dinr,[FN#355] when he passed through the bazar and saw aught he +desired, was wont to say, 'O soul, take patience, for I will not +accord to thee what thou desirest.' He said also (Allah accept +him!), 'The salvation of the soul lies in resistance to it and +its damnation in submission to it.' Quoth Mansr bin +Ammr,[FN#356] 'I made a pilgrimage and was faring Meccahwards by +way of Cufa, and the night was overcast, when I heard a voice +crying out from the deeps of the darkness saying, 'O Allah, I +swear by Thy Greatness and Thy Glory, I meant not through my +disobedience to transgress against Thee; for indeed I am not +ignorant of Thee; but my fault is one Thou didst foreordain to me +from eternity without beginning;[FN#357] so do Thou pardon my +transgression, for indeed I disobeyed Thee of my ignorance!' When +he had made an end of his prayer he recited aloud the verse, 'O +true believers, save your souls and those of your families from +the fire whose fuel is men and stones.'[FN#358] Then I heard a +fall, but not knowing what it was I passed on. When the morning +morrowed, as we went our way, behold, we fell in with a funeral +train, followed by an old woman whose strength had left her. I +asked her of the dead, and she answered, 'This is the funeral of +a man who passed by us yesterday whilst my son was standing at +prayer and after his prayers he recited a verse from the Book of +Allah Almighty when the man's gall bladder burst and he fell +dead.' Therewith the fourth damsel retired and the fifth came +forward and said, 'I here will also repeat what occurreth to me +regarding the acts of devotees in olden time. Maslamah bin Dinr +used to say, 'By making sound the secret thoughts, sins great and +small are covered'; and, 'when the servant of Allah is resolved +to leave sinning, victory cometh to him.' Also quoth he, 'Every +worldly good which doth not draw one nearer to Allah is a +calamity, for a little of this world distracteth from a mickle of +the world to come and a mickle of the present maketh thee forget +the whole of the future.' It was asked of Ab Hzim,[FN#359] 'Who +is the most prosperous of men?'; and he answered, 'Whoso spendeth +his life in submission to Allah.' The other enquired, 'And who is +the most foolish of mankind?' 'Whoso selleth his future for the +worldly goods of others,' replied Abu Hazim. It is reported of +Moses[FN#360] (on whom be peace!) that when he came to the waters +of Midian he exclaimed, 'O Lord, verily I stand in need of the +good which thou shalt send down to me.'[FN#361] And he asked of +his Lord and not of his folk. There came two damsels and he drew +water for them both and allowed not the shepherds to draw first. +When the twain returned, they informed their father Shu'ayb (on +whom be peace!) who said, 'Haply, he is hungry,' adding to one of +them, 'Go back to him and bid him hither.' Now when she came to +Moses, she veiled her face and said, 'My father biddeth thee to +him that he may pay thee thy wage for having drawn water for us.' +Moses was averse to this and was not willing to follow her. Now +she was a woman large in the back parts, and the wind blowing +upon her garment[FN#362] covered the hinder cheeks to Moses; +which when Moses saw, he lowered his eyes and said to her, 'Get +thee behind while I walk in front.' So she followed him till he +entered the house of Shu'ayb where supper was ready."--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +Dandan continued to Zau al-Makan, "Now, quoth the fifth damsel to +thy sire, 'When Moses (on whom be peace!) entered the home of +Shu'ayb where supper was ready, Shu'ayb said to him, 'O Moses, I +desire to pay thee thy wage for having drawn water for these +two.' But Moses answered, 'I am of a household which selleth +nothing of the fashion of the next world[FN#363] for what is on +earth of gold and silver.' Then quoth Shu'ayb, 'O youth! +nevertheless thou art my guest, and it is my wont and that of my +forbears to honour the guest by setting food before him.' So +Moses sat down and ate. Then Shu'ayb hired Moses for eight +pilgrimages, that is to say, eight years, and made his wage +marriage with one of his two daughters, and Moses' service to him +was to stand for her dowry. As saith the Holy Writ of him, +'Verily I will give thee one of these my two daughters in +marriage, on condition that thou serve me for hire eight +pilgrimages: and if thou fulfil ten years, it is in thine own +breast; for I seek not to impose a hardship on thee.'[FN#364] A +certain man once said to one of his friends whom he had not met +for many days, 'Thou hast made me desolate, for that I have not +seen thee this long while.' Quoth the other, 'I have been +distracted from thee by Ibn Shihb: dost thou know him?' Quoth +his friend, 'Yes, he hath been my neighbour these thirty years, +but I have never spoken to him.' He replied, 'Verily thou +forgettest Allah in forgetting--thy neighbour! If thou lovedst +Allah thou wouldst love thy neighbour. Knowest thou not that a +neighbour hath a claim upon his neighbour,[FN#365] even as the +right of kith and kin?' Said Huzayfah, 'We entered Meccah with +Ibrhm bin Adham, and Shakk al-Balkh was also making a +pilgrimage that year. Now we met whilst circumambulating the +Ka'abah and Ibrahim said to Shakik, 'What is your fashion in your +country?' Replied Shakik, 'When we are blest with our daily bread +we eat, and when we hunger we take patience.' 'This wise,' said +Ibrahim, 'do the dogs of Balkh; but we, when blest with plenty, +do honour to Allah and when an hungered we thank Him.' And Shakik +seated himself before Ibrahim and said to him, 'Thou art my +master.' Also said Mohammed bin Imrn, 'A man once asked of Htim +the Deaf[FN#366] 'What maketh thee to trust in Allah?' 'Two +things,' answered he, 'I know that none save myself shall eat my +daily bread, so my heart is at rest as to that; and I know that I +was not created without the knowledge of Allah, and am abashed +before Him.' Then the fifth damsel retired and the ancient dame +came forward and, kissing the ground before thy father nine +times, said, 'Thou hast heard, O King, what these all have spoken +on the subject of piety; and I will follow their example in +relating what hath reached me of the famous men of past times. +It is said that the Imam al-Shfi' departed the night into three +portions, the first for study, the second for sleep and the third +for prayer. The Imam Ab Hanfah[FN#367] was wont also to pass +half the night in prayer. One + +day a man pointed him out to another, as he walked by and +remarked, 'Yonder man watcheth the whole night.' When he heard +this Abu Hanifah said, 'I was abashed before Allah to hear myself +praised for what was not in me'; so after this he used to watch +the whole night. And one of the Sages hath said, + +'Who seeketh for pearl in the Deep dives deep; * Who on high + would hie robs his night of sleep.' + +Al-Rab a relates that Al-Shafi'i used to recite the whole Koran +seventy times during the month of Ramazan, and that in his daily +prayers. Quoth Al-Shafi'i (Allah accept him!), 'During ten years +I never ate my fill of barley bread, for fullness hardeneth the +heart and deadeneth the wit and induceth sleep and enfeebleth one +from standing up to pray.'[FN#368] It is reported of Abdullah bin +Mohammed al-Sakr that he said, 'I was once talking with Omar and +he observed to me, 'Never saw I a more God fearing or eloquent +man than Mohammed bin Idris al-Shafi'i.' It so happened I went +out one day with Al-Hris bin Labb al-Saffr, who was a disciple +of Al-Muzani[FN#369] and had a fine voice and he read the saying +of the Almighty, 'This shall be a day whereon they shall not +speak to any purpose, nor shall they be permitted to excuse +themselves.'[FN#370] I saw Al-Shafi'i's colour change; his skin +shuddered with horripilation, he was violently moved and he fell +down in a fainting fit When he revived he said, 'I take refuge +with Allah from the stead of the liars and the lot of the +negligent! O Allah, before whom the hearts of the wise abase +themselves, O Allah, of Thy bene ficence accord to me the +remission of my sins, adorn me with the curtain of Thy protection +and pardon me my shortcomings, by the magnanimity of Thy Being!' +Then I rose and went away. Quoth one of the pious, 'When I +entered Baghdad, Al-Shafi'i was there. So I sat down on the +river bank to make the ablution before prayer; and behold, there +passed me one who said, 'O youth, make thy Wuzu-ablution well and +Allah will make it well for thee in this world and in the next.' +I turned and lo! there was a man behind whom came a company of +people. So I hastened to finish my ablution and followed him. +Presently, he turned and asked me, 'Say, dost thou want aught?' +'Yes,' answered I, 'I desire that thou teach me somewhat of that +which Allah Almighty hath taught thee.' He said, 'Know then that +whoso believeth in Allah shall be saved, and whoso jealously +loveth his faith shall be delivered from destruction, and whoso +practiseth abstinence in this world, his eyes shall be solaced on +the morrow of death. Shall I tell thee any more?' I replied, +'Assuredly;' and he continued, 'Be thou of the world that is, +heedless; and of the world to come, greediest. Be truthful in +all thy dealings, and thou shalt be saved with the +Salvationists.' Then he went on and I asked about him and was +told that he was the Imam Al-Shafi'i. Al-Shafi'i was wont to +remark, 'I love to see folk profit by this learning of mine, on +condition that nothing of it be attributed to me."--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +Dandan continued to Zau al-Makan, "The old woman bespake thy +sire, saying, 'The Imam Al-Shafi'i was wont to remark, I love to +see folk profit by this learning of mine on condition that +nothing of it be attributed to me.' He also said, 'I never +disputed with any one, but I would that Almighty Allah should +give him the knowledge of the Truth and aid him to dispread it: +nor did I ever dispute with anyone at all but for the showing +forth of the Truth, and I reck not whether Allah manifest it by +my tongue or by His.' He said also (whom Allah accept!), 'If thou +fear to grow conceited of thy lore, then bethink thee Whose grace +thou seekest and for what good thou yearnest and what punishment +thou dreadest.' It was told to Abu Hanfah that the Commander of +the Faithful, Ab Ja'afar al-Mansr, had appointed him Kazi and +ordered him a salary of ten thousand dirhams; but he would not +accept of this; and, when the day came on which the money was to +be paid him, he prayed the dawn prayer, then covered his head +with his robe--and spoke not. When the Caliph's messenger came +with the money, he went in to the Imam and accosted him, but he +would not speak to him. So the messenger said, 'Verily this +money is lawfully thine.' 'I know that it is lawfully mine,' +replied he: 'but I abhor that the love of tyrants get a hold upon +my heart.'[FN#371] Asked the other, 'If thou go in to them canst +thou not guard thyself from loving them?' Answered Abu Hanifah, +'Can I look to enter the sea without my clothes being wet?' +Another of Al-Shafi'i's sayings (Allah accept him!) is, + +'Oh soul of me, an thou accept my rede, * Thou shalt be wealthy + and of grace entire: +Cast off ambitious hopes and vain desires, * How many a death was + done by vain desire!' + +Among the sayings of Sufyn al-Thaur, with which he admonished +Ali bin al-Hasan al-Salami was, 'Be thou a man of truth and 'ware +lies and treachery and hypocrisy and pride. Be not indebted save +to Him who is merciful to His debtors; and let thine associate be +one who shall dissociate thee from the world. Be ever mindful of +death and be constant in craving pardon of Allah and in +beseeching of Allah peace for what remaineth of thy life. +Counsel every True Believer, when he asketh thee concerning the +things of his faith; and beware of betraying a Believer, for +whoso betrayeth a Believer, betrayeth Allah and His Apostle. +Avoid dissensions and litigation; and leave that which causeth +doubt in thee for things which breed no doubt:[FN#372] so shalt +thou be at peace. Enjoin beneficence and forbid malevolence: so +shalt thou be loved of Allah. Adorn thine inner man and Allah +shall adorn thine outer man. Accept the excuse of him who +excuseth self to thee and hate not any one of the Moslems. Draw +near unto those who withdraw from thee and excuse those that +misuse thee: so shalt thou be the friend of the Prophets. Let +thine affairs, both public and private, be in Allah's charge, and +fear Him with the fear of one who knoweth he is dead and who +fareth towards Resurrection and Judgement stead between the hands +of the Lord of Dread; and remember that to one of two houses thou +art sped, either for Heavens eterne or to the Hell fires that +burn.' Thereupon the old woman sat down beside the damsels. Now +when thy father, who hath found mercy, heard their discourse, he +knew that they were the most accomplished of the people of their +time; and, seeing their beauty and loveliness and the extent of +their wisdom and lore, he showed them all favour. Moreover, he +turned to the ancient dame and treated her with honour, and set +apart for her and her damsels the palace which had lodged +Princess Abrizah, daughter of the King of Greece, to which he +bade carry all the luxuries they needed. They abode with him ten +days and the old woman abode with them; and, whenever the King +visited them, he found her absorbed in prayer, watching by night +and fasting by day; whereby love of her took hold upon his heart +and he said to me, 'O Wazir, verily this old woman is of the +pious, and awe of her is strong in my heart.' Now on the eleventh +day, the King visited her, that he might pay her the price of the +damsels; but she said to him, 'O King, know that the price of +these maidens surpasseth the competence of men; indeed I seek not +for them either gold or silver or jewels, be it little or much.' +Now when thy father heard these words he wondered and asked her, +'O my lady and what is their price?'; whereto she answered, 'I +will not sill them to thee save on condition that thou fast, +watching by night a whole month, and abstaining by day, all for +the love of Allah Almighty; and, if thou do this, they are thy +property to use in thy palace as thou please.' So the King +wondered at the perfection of her rectitude and piety and +abnegation; she was magnified in his eyes and he said, 'Allah +make this pious woman to profit us!' Then he agreed with her to +fast for a month as she had stipulated, and she said to him, 'I +will help thee with the prayers I pray for thee and now bring me +a gugglet of water.' They brought one and she took it and recited +over it and muttered spells, and sat for an hour speaking in +speech no one understood or knew aught thereof. Lastly she +covered it with a cloth and, sealing it with her signet ring, +gave it to thy sire, saying, 'When thou hast fasted the first ten +days, break thy fast on the eleventh night with what is in this +gugglet, for it will root out the love of the world from thy +heart and fill it with light and faith. As for me, tomorrow I +will go forth to my brethren, the Invisible[FN#373] Controuls, +for I yearn after them, and I will return to thee when the first +ten days are past. Thy father took the gugglet and arose and set +it apart in a closet of his palace, then locked the door and put +the key in his pocket. Next day the King fasted and the old +woman went her ways."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +Dandan thus continued to Zau al-Makan, "Now when came the day for +the Sultan's fast, the old woman went her ways. And after he had +accomplished the ten days thereof, on the eleventh he opened the +gugglet and drank what was therein and found it cordial to his +stomach. Within the second ten days of the month the old woman +returned, bringing sweetmeats wrapped in a green leaf, like no +leaf of known tree. She went in to thy sire and saluted him; +and, when he saw her, he rose to her saying, 'Welcome, O pious +lady!' 'O King,' quoth she, 'the Invisible Controuls salute thee, +for I told them of thee, and they rejoiced in thee and have sent +thee their Halw,[FN#374] which is of the sweetmeats of the other +world. Do thou break thy fast on it at the end of the day.' The +King rejoiced at this with great joy, and exclaimed, 'Praised be +Allah, who hath given me brethren of the Invisible World!' +Thereupon he thanked the ancient dame and kissed her hands; and +he honoured her and the damsels with exceeding honour. She went +forth for the twenty days of thy father's fast at the end of +which time she came to him and said, 'Know, O King, that I told +the Invisible Controuls of the love which is between me and thee, +and informed them how I had left the maidens with thee, and they +were glad that the damsels should belong to a King like thee; for +they were wont, when they saw them, to be strenuous in offering +on their behalf prayers and petitions ever granted. So I would +fain carry them to the Invisible Controuls that they may benefit +by the breath of their favour, and peradventure, they shall not +return to thee without some treasure of the treasures of the +earth, that thou, after completing thy fast, mayst occupy thyself +with their raiment and help thyself by the money they shall bring +thee, to the extent of thy desires.' When thy sire heard her +words, he thanked her for them and said, 'Except that I fear to +cross thee, I would not accept the treasure or aught else; but +when wilt thou set out with them?' Replied she, 'On the seven and +twentieth night; and I will bring them back to thee at the head +of the month, by which time thou wilt have accomplished thy fast +and they will have had their courses and be free from impurity; +and they shall become thine and be at thy disposal. By Allah, +each damsel of them is worth many times thy kingdom!' He said, 'I +know it, O pious lady!' Then quoth the old woman, 'There is no +help but that thou send with them someone in thy palace who is +dear to thee, that she may find solace and seek a blessing of the +Invisible Controuls.' Quoth he, 'I have a Greek slave called +Sophia, by whom I have been blessed with two children, a girl and +a boy; but they were lost; years ago. Take her with thee that +she may get the blessing'"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-sixth Night, + + She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +Dandan continued to Zau al-Makan, "Quoth thy sire to the ancient +woman when she demanded the handmaids of him, 'I have a Greek +slave called Sophia, by whom I have been blest with two children, +a girl and a boy, but they were lost years ago; so take her with +thee, haply she may get the benediction and, belike, the +Invisible Controuls will sue Allah for her that her two children +may be restored to her.' 'Thou hast said well,' replied she; 'for +that indeed was her grievousest want.' Thy sire gave not over +finishing his fast till the old woman said to him, 'O my son, I +am going to the Invisible Controuls; so bring me Sophia.' +Accordingly, he summoned her and she came forthright, and he +delivered her to the old woman who mixed her up with the other +damsels. Then she went in to her chamber and bringing out a +sealed cup, presented it to the Sultan saying, 'On the thirtieth +day, do thou repair to the Hammam and when thou comest out, enter +one of the closets in thy palace and drink what is in this cup. +Then sleep, and thou shalt attain what thou seekest, and peace be +with thee'! Thereat the King was glad and thanked her and kissed +her hands. Quoth she, 'I commend thee to Allah's care;' whereat +quoth he, 'And when shall I see thee again, O pious lady? In +very sooth I love not to part with thee.' Then she called down +blessings on him and departed with the five damsels and the +Queen; whilst the King fasted after her departure other three +days, till the month ended, when he arose and went to the Hammam +and coming out shut himself up in a closet of his palace, +commanding that none should go in to him. There, after making +fast the door, he drank what was in the cup and lay down to +sleep; and we sat awaiting him till the end of the day, but he +did not come out and we said, 'Perchance he is tired with the +bath and with watching by night and fasting by day; wherefore he +sleepeth.' So we waited till next day; but still he did not come +forth. Then we stood at the closet door and cried aloud so haply +he might awake and ask what was the matter. But nothing came of +that; so at last we lifted up the door;[FN#375] and, going in, +found him dead, with his flesh torn into strips and bits and his +bones broken.[FN#376] When we saw him in this condition it was +grievous to us, and we took up the cup and found within its cover +a piece of paper whereon was inscribed, 'Whoso doeth evil leaveth +no regrets, and this be the reward of him who playeth traitor +with the daughters of Kings and who debaucheth them; and we make +known to all who fall upon this scroll that Sharrkan, when he +came to our country, seduced our Queen Abrizah; nor did that +suffice him but he must needs take her from us and bring her to +you. Then he[FN#377] sent her away in company of a black slave +who slew her, and we found her lying dead on the desert sward and +thrown out to wild beasts. This be no kingly deed, and he who +did this is requited with naught but what he merited. So do ye +suspect none of having killed him, for no one slew him but the +cunning witch, whose name is Zat al-Dawahi. And behold, I have +taken the King's wife, Sophia, and have carried her to her +father, Afridun King of Constantinople. Moreover, there is no +help for it but that we wage war upon you and kill you and take +your country from you, and ye shall be cut off even to the last +man, nor shall a living soul be spared by Death nor one who +bloweth fire with his breath, save he who Cross and Belt[FN#378] +worshippeth.' When we read this paper, we knew that the ancient +woman had beguiled us and carried out her plot against us: +whereupon we cried aloud and buffeted our faces and wept sore +when weeping availed us naught. And the troops fell out as to +whom they should make Sultan; some would have thee, and others +would have thy brother Sharrkan; and we ceased not to dispute +about this for the space of a month, at the end of which certain +of us drew together and agreed to repair to thy brother Sharrkan: +so we set out and journeyed on till we fell in with thee. And +such is the manner of the death of Sultan Omar bin al-Nu'uman!" +Now when the Wazir Dandan had made an end of his story, Zau al- +Makan and his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman wept; and the Chamberlain, +who wept also, said to Zau al-Makan, "O King, weeping will avail +thee naught; nor shall aught profit thee but that thou harden thy +heart and strengthen thy stress and establish thy sovranty; for +verily whoso leaveth the like of thee is not dead." Thereupon Zau +al-Makan gave over his weeping and caused his throne to be set up +without the pavilion, and then commanded the army to pass in +review order before him. And the Chamberlain sat by his side and +all the armour-bearers[FN#379] behind him, whilst the Wazir +Dandan and the rest of the Emirs and Grandees stood each in his +individual stead. Then quoth King Zau al-Makan to the Minister +Dandan, "Inform me concerning my sire's treasures;" and he +replied, "I hear and I obey;" and gave him to know of the late +King's hoards and monies, and what was in the treasury of amassed +wealth and jewels, and acquainted him with other precious things. +So Zau al-Makan opened his hand to the army, and gave a sumptuous +robe of honour to the Wazir Dandan, saying, "Thou continues" in +office. Whereupon Dandan kissed the ground before him and wished +him long life. Then he bestowed dresses on the Emirs, after +which he said to the Chamberlain, "Bring out before me the +tribute of Damascus that is with thee." So he was shown the +chests of money and rarities and jewels, when he took them and +parted them all amongst the troops,--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zau al- +Makan ordered the Chamberlain to bring out before him what he had +brought of the tribute of Damascus; and, when he was shown the +chests of money and rarities and jewels, he took them and parted +them all amongst the troops, till nothing was left. And the +Emirs kissed the ground before him and wished him long life, +saying, "Never saw we a King, who gave the like of these gifts." +Then all went away to their tents and when it was morning he gave +orders for marching. So they marched for three days, till, on +the fourth day, they drew near to Baghdad. When they entered the +city, they found it decorated, and Zau al-Makan, the Sultan, went +up to his father's palace and sat down on the throne, whilst the +Emirs of the army and the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain of +Damascus stood between his hands. Then he bade his private +secretary write a writ to his brother Sharrkan, acquainting him +with all that had passed, from first to last, and he concluded, +"As soon as thou hast read this letter, make ready thine affair +and join us with thine army, that we may turn to Holy War upon +the Infidels and take man bote for our father and wipe out the +stain upon our honour." Then he folded the letter and sealed it +with his seal ring and said to the Minister Dandan, "None shall +carry this letter but thou; and it behoveth thee speak my brother +fair and say to him, 'If thou have a mind to thy father's +kingdom, it is thine, and thy brother shall be Viceroy for thee +in Damascus; for to this effect am I instructed by him.'" So the +Wazir went down from before him and made ready for his march. +Then Zau al-Makan bade set apart a magnificent house for the +Fireman and furnished it with the best of furniture and long is +the tale of that Fireman.[FN#380] Presently Zau al-Makan went +out chasing and hunting and, as he was returning to Baghdad, one +of the Emirs presented him with blood horses and with beauteous +handmaids whose description the tongue evades. One of the +damsels pleased him: so he went in unto her and knew her that +night, and she conceived by him forthright. After a while, the +Wazir Dandan returned from his journey, bringing him news of his +brother Sharrkan and that he was then on his way to him, and +said, "It were fitting thou go forth to meet him." Zau al- Makan +replied, "I hear and I consent;" and riding forth with his +Grandees a day's journey from Baghdad, he pitched his pavilions +there awaiting his brother. Next morning appeared King Sharrkan +amid the army of Syria, a horseman of might, a lion fierce in +fight, a prow and doughty knight. As the squadrons drew nigh and +the dust clouds came hard by and the troops rode up with banners +on high, Zau al-Makan and those with him pushed forward to meet +Sharrkan and his men; and when Zau al-Makan saw his brother, he +desired to dismount, but Sharrkan conjured him not to do on this +wise, and himself footed it, and walked a few paces towards +him.[FN#381] As soon as he reached Zau al-Makan, the new Sultan +threw himself upon him, and Sharrkan embraced him and wept with +great weeping and the twain condoled with each other. Then they +mounted and rode onward, they and their troops, till they reached +Baghdad, where they alighted and went up to the royal palace and +there they passed that night, and when next morning came, Zau al- +Makan went forth and bade summon the troops from all parts, and +proclaimed a Holy War and a Razzia.[FN#382] They then awaited the +coming of the levies from each quarter of the kingdom, and every +one who came they entreated with honour and promised him all +manner of good; till in so doing a full month had sped, and the +fighting men flocked to them in a continuous body. Then Sharrkan +said to Zau al-Makan, "O my brother, tell me thy history." So he +told him all that had befallen him from first to last, including +the benevolent dealing of the Fireman with him. Asked Sharrkan, +'Hast thou requited his kindness?"; and he answered, "O my +brother! I have not rewarded him as yet, but Inshallah! I will +recompense him whenas I return from this raid"--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan +asked his brother Zau al-Makan, "Hast thou requited the Fireman +for his kindness?"; and he answered, "O my brother, I have not +rewarded him as yet, but Inshallah! I will recompense him whenas +I return from this raid and find time so to do." Therewith +Sharrkan was certified that his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman, had told +him the whole truth; but he concealed what had passed between +them and offered his salutation to her by her husband the +Chamberlain. She sent him back her greeting, calling down +blessings on him and enquiring after her daughter Kuzia-Fakan, to +which he replied that the maiden was well and in the best of +health and safety. Where upon she praised Almighty Allah and +gave him thanks. Then Sharrkan went to his brother to take +counsel with him for departure; and Zau al-Makan said, "O my +brother, as soon as the army is complete and the Arabs have come +in from all parts, we will march forth." So he bade make ready +the commissariat and prepare munitions of war and went in to his +wife, who was now five months gone with child; and he put under +her astrologers and mathematicians, to whom he appointed stipends +and allowances. Then he set out three months after the arrival +of the army of Syria, and as soon as the Arabs were come in and +the troops were assembled from all directions; and, as he fared +forth, he was followed by the warriors and the united host. Now +the name of the General of the Daylam army was Rustam and that of +the General of the army of the Turks[FN#383] Bahram. And Zau al- +Makan marched in mid host and on his right was his brother +Sharrkan, and on his left the Chamberlain his brother-in-law. So +the squadrons broke up and pushed forward and the battalions and +companies filed past in battle array, till the whole army was in +motion. They ceased not to fare on for the space of a month, and +each body dismounted at its own ground and there rested every +week three days (for the host was great); and they advanced in +this order till they came to the country of the Greeks. Then the +people of the villages and hamlets and the poorer sort took +fright at them and fled to Constantinople. But when King Afridun +heard the tidings he arose and betook himself to Zat al-Dawahi, +the same who had contrived the stratagem, and had travelled to +Baghdad and had slain King Omar bin Al-Nu'uman; and who after +carrying off her slaves and Queen Sophia, had returned with them +all to her native land. Now when she had been restored to her +son, the King of Greece, and felt herself safe, she said to King +Hardub, "Cool thine eyes; for I have avenged by blood the shame +of thy daughter Abrizah, and have killed Omar bin al-Nu'uman and +have brought back Sophia. So now let us go to the King of +Constantinople and carry to him his daughter and acquaint him +with what hath happened, that all of us be on guard and prepare +our forces; and I will fare with thee to King Afridun, Lord of +Constantinople, for I opine that the Moslems will not await our +attack." Said Hardub, "Tarry thou till they draw near our +country, that we may make us ready meantime and assemble our +power." Accordingly they took to levying their forces and +preparing for war, and, when the news of the Moslems' advance +reached them, they were prepared for defence; and Zat al Dawahi +had preceded them. Now when she and her son arrived at +Constantinople, the King of Kings, Afridun, hearing of the +approach of Hardub, King of the Greeks, came forth to meet him +and asked how it was with him and the cause of his visit. So +Hardub acquainted him with the cunning doings of his mother, Zat +al-Dawahi, how she had slain the Moslem King and recovered from +him Queen Sophia, and had said, "The Moslems have assembled their +forces and are on their way to attack us, wherefore it behoveth +that we two join hands in single band and meet them." Now King +Afridun rejoiced in the return of his daughter and the killing of +King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; and he sent to all countries seeking +succour and acquainting the folk with the cause of slaying the +Moslem King. So the Nazarene troops flocked to him and three +months were not past ere the army of the Greeks was complete, +besides which there joined themselves to him Franks from all +their lands, French, Germans[FN#384] and Ragusans,[FN#385] with +men of Zara,[FN#386] Venetians, Genoese, and all the hosts of the +Yellow Faces[FN#387]; and, when the gathering was at its full, +earth was straitened on them by reason of their multitude. Then +Afridun, the Great King, ordered a march; so they set out and +ceased not to defile through the city for ten days. They fared +on till they reached the Wady highs Al-Nu'uman, a broad sided +vale hard by the Salt Sea, where they halted three days; and on +the fourth they were about to set out again, when news came that +the army of Al-Islam on them press, and the defenders of the +faith of Mohammed, of Men the Best. So they halted in it other +three days, and on the eighth they espied a dust cloud which +towered till it walled the whole land; nor was an hour of the day +past ere that dust began to drift and was torn to shreds in the +lift, and pierced through its shades the starry radiance of lance +and the white levee of blades. Presently there appeared beneath +it the banners Islamitan and the ensigns Mahometan; the horsemen +urged forward, like the letting loose of seas that surged, clad +in mail, as they were mackerel-back clouds which the moon enveil; +whereupon the two hosts clashed, like two torrents on each other +dashed. Eyes fell upon eyes; and the first to seek combat +singular was the Wazir Dandan, he and the army of Syria, +numbering thirty thousand bridles, and with him were the General +of the Turks, and the General of Daylam, Rustam and Bahram, amid +twenty thousand horse, behind whom came the men from the shores +of the Salt Sea, clad in iron mail, as they were full moons that +past through a night o'ercast. Then the Nazarene host called out +on Jesus and Mary, and the defiled[FN#388] Cross and they heaped +themselves upon the Wazir Dandan and those with him of the Syrian +host. Now all this was in pursuance of a stratagem devised by +that ancient woman Zat al-Dawahi; for, before his departure, King +Afridun had gone in to her and asked her, "How shall I do and +what plan shall I pursue?; it is thou hast caused this great +distress to us;" and she had answered, "O great King and mighty +Cohen![FN#389] I will teach thee a trick would baffle Iblis +himself, though he summon to his assistance all his grisly +hosts."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, all this was a +stratagem of the ancient woman, for that the King before his +departure had gone to her and asked, "How shall I do and what +plan shall I pursue? it is thou hast caused this great distress +to us!" And she had answered, "O great King and mighty Cohen, I +will teach thee a trick would baffle the Devil himself though he +summon to his assistance all his grisly hosts. It is that thou +send fifty thousand men going down in ships, and sailing over the +sea to the Mountain of Smoke; and there let them land and stir +not till {he standards of Al-Islam come upon thee, when do thou +up and at them. Then bid the troops from the seaward sally out +upon the Moslems and take them in rear, whilst we confront them +from the landward. So not one of them shall escape, and our +sorrows shall tease and peace abide with us." Now the counsel of +this ancient woman commended itself to King Afridun, and he +replied, "Right is the recking thou reckest, O Princess of wits +and recourse of Kings and Cohens warring for their blood wit!" So +when the army of Al-Islam came upon them in chat valley, before +they knew of it the flames began to burn up the tents and the +swords in men's bodies to make rents. Then hurried up the army +of Baghdad and Khorasan who numbered one hundred and twenty +thousand horse, with Zau al-Makan in the front of war. When the +host of the Infidels that lay by the sea saw them, they sallied +out against them and followed in their tracks; and when Zau al- +Makan espied this he cried out to his men, "Turn back to the +Infidels, O People of the Chosen Apostle, and slay those who deny +and hate the authority of the Compassionating, the +Compassionate!" So they turned and fought with the Christians. +Then Sharrkan marched up with another corps of the Moslem host, +some hundred thousand men, whilst the Infidels numbered nigh upon +a thousand and six hundred thousand men. When the Moslems were +united, their hearts were strengthened and they cried out, +saying, "Verily Allah hath pro mised us victory, and to the +Infidels hath assigned defeat." And they clashed together with +sword and spear. Now Sharrkan tare through rank and row and +raged among the masses of the foe, fighting so fierce a fight as +to make children grey grow; nor did he cease tourneying among the +infidel horde and working havoc among them with the keen edged +sword, shouting "Allaho Akbar!" (Allah is Most Great) till he +drove back the host to the coast. Then failed the force of the +foe and Allah gave victory to the faith of Al-Islam, and folk +fought folk, drunken without strong drink till they slew of the +Infidels in this affair forty and five thousand, while of the +Moslems but three thousand and five hundred fell. Moreover, the +Lion of the Faith, King Sharrkan, and his brother, Zau al-Makan, +slept not that night, but occupied themselves with congratulating +their braves and with looking to the wounded and with assuring +the army of victory and salvation and promise of reward in the +world to come. Thus far concerning the Moslem; but as regards +King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople and Sovran of Roum, and Zat +Al-Dawahi, they assembled the Emirs of the host and said to them, +"Verily, we had worked our will and solaced our hearts, but our +over confidence in our numbers, and that only, defeated us." Then +quoth to them the ancient one, the Lady of Calamities, "In very +sooth nought shall profit you, except ye draw you nigh unto the +Messiah and put your trust in the True Belief, for, by the virtue +of the Messiah, the whole strength of the Moslem host lieth in +that Satan, King Sharrkan." "Tomorrow," said King Afridun, "I +have resolved to draw up in battle array and to send out against +them that redoubtable cavalier, Lk bin Shamlt; for if King +Sharrkan come forth as a champion to fight single handed, our man +will slay him and will slay the other Moslem Knights, till not +one is left. And I purpose this night to sacre you all with the +Holy Incense." When the Emirs heard these words they kissed the +ground before him. Now the incense which he designated was the +excrement of the Chief Patriarch, the denier, the defiler of the +Truth, and they sought for it with such instance, and they so +highly valued it that the high priests of the Greeks used to send +it to all the countries of the Christians in silken wraps after +mixing it with musk and ambergris. Hearing of it Kings would pay +a thousand gold pieces for every dram and they sent for and +sought it to fumigate brides withal; and the Chief Priests and +the great Kings were wont to use a little of it as collyrium for +the eyes and as a remedy in sickness and colic; and the +Patriarchs used to mix their own skite[FN#390] with it, for that +the skite of the Chief Patriarch could not suffice for ten +countries.[FN#391] So, as soon as dawn was seen and the morning +shone with its shine and sheen, the horsemen ran to their spears +full keen, and King Afridun,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninetieth Night, + + She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, as soon as dawn +was seen and the morning shone with its shine and sheen, the +horsemen ran to their spears full keen and King Afridun summoned +his chief Knights and Nobles and invested them with dresses of +honour; and, drawing the sign of the cross on their brows, +incensed them with the incense which as aforesaid was the skite +of the Chief Patriarch, the Cohen, the Heresiarch. This +incensing done, he called for Luka bin Shamlut, surnamed the +Sword of the Messiah; and, after fumigating him and rubbing his +palate with the Holy Merde, caused him to snuff it and smeared +his cheeks and anointed his moustaches with the rest. Now there +was no stouter champion in the land of Roum than this accursed +Luka, nor any better at bending of bow or sway of sword or lunge +with lance on the day of devoir; but he was foul of favour, for +his face was as the face of an ass, his shape that of an ape and +his look as the look of a malignant snake: his presence was +grievouser than parting from the beloved make; and blacker than +night was his blackness and more fetid than the lion was his +breath for foulness; more crooked than a bow was his crookedness +and grimmer than the leopard was his ugliness, and he was branded +with the mark of the Infidels on face.[FN#392] After this he came +up to King Afridun and kissed his feet and stood before him; and +the King said to him, "I desire thou go out against Sharrkan, +King of Damascus, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman, and deliver us from +this affliction." Quoth Luka, "Hearkening and obedience;" and the +King made the sign of the cross on his forehead and felt assured +of help from Heaven being near hand. Then Luka went out from the +presence and the accursed one mounted a sorrel horse; he was clad +in a red robe and a hauberk of gold set with jewels, and he bore +a trident spear, as he were Iblis the damned on the day of +drewing out his hosts war to darraign. Then he rode forward, he +and his horde of Infidels, even as though they were driving to +the Fire, preceded by a herald, crying aloud in the Arabic tongue +and saying, "Ho, sect of Mohammed (upon whom be salutation and +salvation!), let none of you come out but your champion Sharrkan, +the Sword of Al-Islam, Lord of Damascus in Shm[FN#393]!" Nor had +he made an end of speaking, when arose a tumult in the plain; all +the people heard the strain and the whole moving bodies of the +armies twain called to mind the Day of Complain. Then the +cowards trembled and all necks turned towards the sound, and lo! +it was King Sharrkan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman. For when +his brother, Zau al-Makan, saw that accursed one push out on the +plain, and heard the pursuivant, he turned to Sharrkan and said +to him, "Of a surety they seek for thee." Said he, "Should it so +be, 'twere most pleasing to me." So when they made sure of the +matter and heard the herald crying in the plain, "Let none of you +come out against me save Sharrkan," they knew this cursed Luka to +be champion of the land of Roum who had sworn to sweep the earth +clean of Moslems. Now he was one of the greatest of villains, a +wretch who caused hearts to pain; and the DayIamites, Turks and +Kurds dreaded his might and main. Presently Sharrkan crave at +him like a lion angry grim, mounted on a courser like a wild +gazelle flying snell and slim; and coming nigh to him made the +spear he hent to shake as it were a darting snake, and recited +these couplets, + +"I have a sorrel steed, whose pride is fain to bear the rein, * + Shall give thee what thou likest not and make thee feel his + main: +I have a handy limber spear full bright and keen of point, * Upon + whose shaft the dam of Death her throny seat hath ta'en: +I have a trenchant glaive of Hind; and, when I bare its face * Of + scabbard" veil, from out its brow the rays of levee rain." + +Luka understood not the sense of his speech nor did he apprehend +the vehemence of the verse; but he smote his forehead with his +hand, in honour of the Cross drawn thereon and kissed it; then he +couched his throw spear and ran at Sharrkan. But first he tossed +the javelin with one hand in air to such height that it was lost +to the spectators' sight; and, catching it with the other hand as +do the jugglers, hurled it at Sharrkan. It flew from his grasp +like a shooting star and folk clamoured and feared for Sharrkan; +but, as the spear flew near him, he put out his hand and caught +it in full flight to the amazement of all who saw the sight. +Then he shook it with the hand that took it till it was well nigh +broken, and hurled it so high into the welkin that it disappeared +from view. As it descended, he caught it again with the other +hand, in less than the twinkling of an eye, and cried out from +his heart core, saying, "By the truth of Him who created the +sevenfold skies, I will assuredly make this cursed wight a byword +for mankind to despise!" Then threw he the throw spear at Luka, +who thought to do as Sharrkan had done and put forth his hand to +trend it in mid flight; but Sharrkan prevented him, and sped at +him a second throw spear which smote him and the point fell on +his forehead, in the very centre of the sign of the Cross, and +Allah hurried his soul to the Fire and Dwelling place +dire.[FN#394] But when the Infidels saw Luka bin Shamlut fall +slain, they buffeted their faces and they cried, "Alas!" and "Woe +worth the day!" and called for aid upon the Abbots of the +monasteries,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Infidels saw Luka bin Shamlut fall slain, they buffeted their +faces and cried, "Alas!" and "Woe worth the day!" and called upon +the Abbots of the monasteries and cried, "Where be the crosses?" +So the Religious offered up prayers and the Christians all drew +together against Sharrkan; and, brandishing their scymitars and +lances, rushed forward to the attack. Then army met army and +breasts fell under hoof, whilst spear and sword ruled the day and +forearms and wrists grew weak and the coursers seemed created +without legs;[FN#395] nor did the herald of-war cease calling to +fight, till arms were aweary and day took flight and night came +on with darkness dight. So the two hosts drew apart, whilst +every brave staggered like a drunken knave, for that with so much +cut and thrust they strave; and the place was choked with the +slain; fell were the wounds and the hurt knew not by whom they +fell. Then Sharrkan joined his brother, Zau al-Makan, and the +Chamberlain and the Wazir Dandan, and said to them, "Verily Allah +hath opened a door for the Infidels to fall, praised be the Lord +of the Worlds one and all!" Replied Zau al-Makan, "Let us never +cease to praise Allah, for that He hath dispelled trouble from +the Arab and the Ajam. Indeed the folk, generation after +generation, shall tell of thy derring do against the accursed +Luka, the falsifier of the Evangel;[FN#396] of thy catching the +throng spear in mid-flight, and how the enemy of Allah among men +thou didst smite; and thy fame shall endure until the end of +time." Then said Sharrkan, "Harkye, O grand Chamberlain and +doughty Capitayne!" and he answered, "Adsum!"[FN#397] Quoth +Sharrkan, "Take with thee the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand +horse, and lead them seven parasangs towards the sea, and force +the march till ye shall have come near the shore, and there +remain only two parasangs between thee and the foe. Then ambush +ye in the hollows of the ground till ye hear the tumult of the +Infidels disembarking from their ships; and the war cry from +every side strike your ear and ye know that the sabres have begun +labour between us and them; and, whenso ye see our troops falling +back, as if defeated, and all the Infidels following them, as +well those in front as those from the seaward and the tents, do +ye still lie in wait for them: but as soon as ye see the standard +with the words, There is no god but the God, and Mohammed is +God's Apostle (on whom be salutation and salvation!), then up +with the green banner, and do your endeavour and fall on their +rear and shout, 'Alla ho Akbar! Allah is most Great!' and circle +round that they may not interpose between the retreating army and +the sea." He replied, "To hear is to obey!"; and forthright they +agreed upon this matter and they went forth. Now the Chamberlain +took with himself the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand men even +as Sharrkan had commanded. As soon as dawned the morn, the +troops sprung to horse when they had donned their armour gear and +drawn the scymitar and slung the spear. Then the Christians +dispread themselves over hill and dale and the +Ecclesiasts[FN#398] cried out and all heads were bared, and those +in the ships hoisted the Cross at their mast heads and began +making for shore from every side, and landed their horses and get +them ready for fight and fray, whilst the sword blades glittered +bright and the javelins glanced like levee light on mail shirt +white; and all joined fight and the grind mill of Death whirled +round and ground those who fought from horse and aground: heads +from bodies flew end tongues mute grew and eyes no vision knew. +Scymitars strave with utmost strain and heads flew over the +battle plain; gall bladders crave and wrists were shorn in twain; +steeds plashed in pools of gore and beards were gripped right +sore; the host of Al-Islam called out, saying, "On the Prince of +Mankind be blessings and peace, and to the Compassionate glory +and praise, which ne'er shall cease, for His boons which aye +increase;" and the host of the Infidels shouted, "Glory to the +Cross and the Belt and the vine press juice, and the wine presser +and the Priests and the Monks and the Festival of Palms and the +Metropolitan!" Now Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan held back and their +troops gave way and feigned flight from before the enemy, while +the Infidel array pressed hard upon them deeming them in rout, +and made ready to foin and hew. Then the meiny of the Moslems +raised their voices, reciting the first verses of the Chapter of +the Cow,[FN#399] whilst the dead were trampled under hoofs of +steeds, and the heralds of the Greeks cried out, "Ho, servants of +the Messiah! Ho, people of the True Faith! Ho, followers of the +Primate![FN#400] Verily Divine grace upon you opes; for see, the +hosts of Al Islam like birds with broken wings incline to elope! +So turn ye not to them your backs, but let your swords cleave +deep in their necks and hold not your hands from them, else are +ye outcasts from the Messiah, Mary's son, who spoke even when a +cradled one!"[FN#401] Now Afridun, King of Constantinople, deemed +that the Infidels were victorious, knowing not that this was but +a clever stratagem of the Moslems, and sent to King Hardub of +Roum congratulations on success, adding, "Availed us naught but +the Holy Merde of the Arch Patriarch, whose fragrance exhaled +from the beards and mustachios of the slaves of the Cross near +and far; and I swear, by the Miracles of the Messiah; and by thy +daughter Abrizah, the Nazarene, the Mariolater; and by the Waters +of Baptism, that I will not leave upon the earth a single +defender of Al- Islam! And to the bitter end will I carry out +this plan." So the messenger betook himself with the address to +King Hardub, whilst the Infidels called to one another saying, +"Take we vengeance wreak for Luka!"--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +Infidels called to one another, saying, "Take we vengeance wreak +for Luka!" while Hardub King of Greece cried aloud, "Ho, to our +revenge for Abrizah!" Thereupon King Zau al-Makan shouted "Ho, +servants of the Requiting King!: smite the children of denial and +disobedience with the blanch of sword and the brown of spear!" So +the Moslems returned to the Infidels and plied them with the keen +edged scymitar, whilst their herald cried aloud, "Up, and at the +foes of the Faith, all ye who love the Prophet Elect, with hope +of salvation on the Day of Fear, to win favour of the Bountiful, +the Forgiving One; for verily the Garden of Paradise is under the +shadow of swords!" And behold, Sharrkan and his men charged down +upon the Infidels and cut off their retreat and wheeled and +tourneyed among the ranks; when lo! a knight of goodly presence +opened a passage through the army of Unbelievers and circled +hither and thither amongst the Deniers, cutting and thrusting and +covering the ground with heads and trunks, so that the Faithless +feared him and their necks bent under his lunge and hew. He was +girt with two swords, his glances and his brand, and he was armed +with two lances, one of bamboo cane and the other his straight +wand like shape; and his flowing hair stood him in stead of many +warriors, even as saith the poet, + +"Laud not long hair,[FN#402] except it be dispread * In two fold + locks, on day of fight and fray, +O'er youth who bears his lance 'twixt flank and thigh, * From + many a whis kered knight to win the day." + +And as singeth another, + +"I say to him, what while he slings his sword, * 'For sword shall + serve those looks that sword like show!' +Says he, 'My sabre looks for those I love, * My sword for those + who sweets of love unknow!'" + +When Sharrkan saw him, he said to him, "I conjure thee by the +Koran and the attributes of the Compassionate One, O Champion of +the Champions! tell me who thou art: for verily by thy deeds +this day thou hast pleased the Requiting King, whom one thing +distracteth not from other thing; in that thou hast been +discomforting the children of impiety and in rebellion +revelling." Then cried the Cavalier to him saying, "Thou art he +who madest brother covenant with me but yesterday: how quickly +thou hast forgotten me!" Thereupon he withdrew his mouth +veil,[FN#403] so that what was hidden of his beauty was +disclosed, and lo! it was none other than Zau al-Makan. Then +Sharrkan rejoiced in his brother, save that he feared for him the +rush of fighting and the crush of braves a smiting; and this for +two reasons, the first, his tender age and exposure to the evil +eye, and the second, that his safety was to the kingdom the +greater of the two overshadowing wings. So he said to him, "O +King! thou riskest thy life, so join thy steed to mine; in very +sooth I fear for thee from the foe; and better thou stint +hazarding thyself forth of these squadrons, that we may shoot at +the enemy thine unerring shaft." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "I desire to +even thee in fray and I will not be niggard of myself before thee +in the melay." Then the host of Al-Islam, heaping itself upon the +Infidels, girt them on all sides, warred on them a right Holy +War, and brake the power of the children of impiety and pride and +stowre. But King Afridun sighed when he saw the evil wreak that +had fallen on the Greek, and they turned their backs from fight +and addressed themselves to flight, making for the ships, when +lo! there came out upon them from the seacoast another host, led +by the Minister Dandan, the champion who was wont to make +champions bite the dust, and to lay load on them with cut and +thrust. Nor less came forth the Emir Bahram, Lord of the +Provinces of Sham, amid twenty thousand horse doughty of arm; and +the host of Al-Islam pressed them in front and on flank and +wrought them grievous harm. Then a body of the Moslems turned +against those who in the ships remained, and perdition on them +rained, till they threw themselves into the main, and they slew +of them many slain, more than a hundred thousand noblemen, nor +was one of their champions, great or small, saved from bale and +bane. Moreover, they took their ships, with all the money and +treasure and cargo, save a score of keel, and the Moslems got +that loot whose like was never gotten in by gone years; nor was +such cut and thrust ever heard of by men's ears.[FN#404] Now +amongst the booty were fifty thousand horses, besides treasure +and spoil past reckoning and arithmetic, whereat the Moslems +rejoiced with an exceeding joy for that Allah had given them +victory and protection. Such was the case with them; but as +regards the fugitive Infidels they soon reached Constantinople, +whither the tidings preceded them that King Afridun had prevailed +over the Moslems; so quoth the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, "I +know that my son Hardub, King of Roum, is no runagate and that he +feareth not the Islamitic hosts, but will restore the whole world +to the Nazarene faith." Then she bade the Great King, Afridun, +give command that the city be decorated, and the people held +festival high and drank their wines drunkenly and knew not the +decrees of Destiny. Now whilst they were in the midst of their +rejoicings, behold, the raven of dule and downfall croaked over +them, and up came the twenty fugitive ships wherein was the King +of Csarea. So King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, met them on +the sea shore, and they told him all that had befallen them from +the Moslem, and they wept sore and groaned and moaned; and +rejoicing at weal was turned into dismay for unheal; and they +informed him concerning Luka son of Shamlut, how calamity had +betided him and how Death had shot him with his shaft. Thereat +the horrors of Doomday rose upon King Afridun,[FN#405] and he +knew that there was no making straight their crook. Then came up +from them the sound of weeping and wailing; the city was full of +men mourning and the keepers were keening, and sighs and cries +were heard from all sides. And when King Hardub of Greece met +King Afridun he told him the truth of the case and how the flight +of the Moslems was by way of stratagem and deceit, and said to +him, "Look not to see any of the army, save those who have +already reached thee." When King Afridun heard these words he +fell down in a fainting fit, with his nose under his feet; and, +as soon as he revived, he exclaimed, "Surely the Messiah was +wroth with them that he caused the Moslems to prevail over them!" +Then came the Arch Patriarch sadly to the King who said to him, +"O our father, annihilation hath overtaken our army and the +Messiah hath punished us!" Replied the Patriarch, "Grieve not nor +feel concerned, for it cannot be but that one of you have sinned +against the Messiah, and all have been punished for his offence; +but now we will read prayers for you in the churches, that the +Mohammeden hosts may be repelled from you." After which the old +woman, Zat al-Dawahi, came to Afridun and said to him, "O King, +verily the Moslem hosts are many, and we shall never overcome +them save by wile: wherefore I purpose to work upon them by guile +and repair to this army of Al-Islam, haply I may win my wish of +their leader and slay their champion, even as I slew his father. +If my stratagem succeed in his case, not one of the host he leads +shall return to his native land, for all are strong only because +of him; but I desire to have some Christian dwellers of Syria, +such as go out every month and year to sell their goods, that +they may help me (for this they can do) in carrying out my plan." +Replied the King, "Be it so whenever thou wilt." So she bade +fetch an hundred men, natives of Najrn,[FN#406] in Sham, and the +King asked them, "Have ye not heard what hath befallen the +Christians with the Moslems?" "Yes," answered they; and he +rejoined, "Know ye that this woman hath devoted her life to the +Messiah and purposeth to go forth with you, disguised as +Monotheists and Mohammedans, to work out a device which shall +profit us and hinder the Moslem from us: say, then, are ye also +willing to devote yourselves to the Anointed and I will give you +a quintal of gold?[FN#407] He of you who escapeth shall have the +money, and him of you who dieth will the Messiah reward." "O +King," replied they, "we will devote our lives to the Messiah, +and we will be thy sacrifice." Thereupon the old woman took all +she required of aromatic roots and placed them in water which she +boiled over the fire till the black essence of them was +extracted. She waited till the decoction was cold, then dipped +the corner of a long kerchief therein and stained her face +therewith. Moreover, she donned over her clothes a long +gaberdine with an embroidered border and took in her hand a +rosary, and afterwards went in to King Afridun, who knew her not, +nor did any of his companions know her, till she discovered +herself to them: and there was none in the assembly but who +thanked and praised her for her cunning; and her son rejoiced and +said, "May the Messiah never fail thee!" Thereupon she took with +her the Syrian Christians, and set out for the army of Baghdad.-- +And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King +Afridun heard these words, he fell into a fainting fit with his +nose under his feet; and, as soon as he revived, fear fluttered +the scrotum[FN#408] below his belly and he complained to the +ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi. Now this accursed old woman was a +witch of the witches, past mistress in sorcery and deception; +wanton and wily, deboshed and deceptious; with foul breath, red +eyelids, yellow cheeks, dull brown face, eyes bleared, mangy +body, hair grizzled, back humped, skin withered and wan and +nostrils which ever ran. But she had studied the scriptures of +Al-Islam and had made the Pilgrimage to the Holy House of Meccah +and all this that she might come to the knowledge of the +Mohammedan ordinances and the miraculous versets of the Koran; +and she had professed Judaism in the Holy City of +Jerusalem[FN#409] for two years' space, that she might master the +magic of men and demons; so that she was a plague of plagues and +a pest of pests, wrong headed as to belief and to no religion +fief. Now the chief reason of her sojourn with her son, King +Hardub of Greece, was on account of the slave virgins at his +court: for she was given to tribadism[FN#410] and could not exist +without sapphism or she went mad: so if any damsel pleased her, +she was wont to teach her the art of rubbing clitoris against +clitoris and would anoint her with saffron[FN#411] till she +fainted away for excess of volupty. Whoso obeyed her she was +wont to favour and make her son incline towards her; but whoso +repelled her she would contrive to destroy; and so she abode for +a length of time. This was known to Marjanah and Rayhnah and +Utrijah, the handmaids of Abrizah, and their Princess loathed the +old woman and abhorred to lie with her, because of the rank smell +from her armpits, the stench of her fizzles more fetid than +carrion, and the roughness of her hide coarser than palm fibre. +She was wont to bribe those who rubbed parts with her by means of +jewels and instructions; but Abrizah held aloof from her and +sought refuge with the Omnipotent, the Omniscient; for, by Allah, +right well quoth the poet, + +"Ho thou who grovellest low before the great * Nor over fording + lesser men dost blench +Who gildest dross by dirham gathering, * No otter scent disguises + carrion stench! + +And now to return to the story of her stratagem and the woes of +her working. Presently she departed, taking the chief Nazarenes +with their hosts, and turned towards the army of the Moslems. +Whereupon King Hardub went in to King Afridun and said to him, "O +King, we have no need of the Chief Patriarch nor of his prayers, +but will consult my mother's counsel and observe what she will do +with her craft unending against the Moslem hosts; for these are +marching with all their power, they will soon be upon us and they +will encircle us on all sides." When King Afridun heard this, +terror took hold upon his heart and he wrote letters, without +stay or delay, to all the nations of the Nazarenes, saying, "It +behoveth none of the Messiahites or Cross knights to hold back, +especially the folk of the strongholds and forts: but let them +all come to us, foot and horse, women and children, for the +Moslem hosts already tread our soil. So haste! haste ye! ere +what we fear to us here appear." Thus much concerning them; but +regarding the work of the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi; when she went +forth from the city with her suite, she clad them in the clothing +of Moslem merchants, having provided herself with an hundred +mules carrying stuffs of Antioch, such as goldwoven satins and +royal brocades and so forth. And she had taken a letter from +King Afridun to the following effect: "These be merchantmen from +the land of Sham who have been with us: so it besitteth none to +do them harm or hindrance, nor take tax and tithe of them, till +they reach their homes and safe places, for by merchants a +country flourisheth, and these are no men of war nor of ill +faith." Then quoth the accursed Zat al-Dawahi to those with her, +"Verily I wish to work out a plot for the destruction of the +Moslem." Replied they, "O Queen, command us whatso thou wilt; we +are at thy disposal and may the Messiah never disappoint thy +dealings!" Then she donned a gown of fine white wool and rubbed +her forehead, till she made a great mark as of a scar and +anointed it with an ointment of her own fashion, so that it shone +with prodigious sheen. Now the old hag was lean bodied and +hollow eyed, and she bound her legs tightly round with +cords[FN#412] just above her feet, till she drew near the Moslem +camp, when she unwound them, leaving their marks deeply embedded +in her ankles. Then she anointed the wheels with dragon's blood +and bade her companions beat her with a severe beating, and set +her in a chest and, quoth she, "Cry abroad the Refrain of +Unity,[FN#413] nor fear from it aught of damage!" Replied they, +"How can we beat thee, who be our sovereign lady, Zat al-Dawahi, +mother of the King we glory in?" Then said she, "We blame not nor +deal reproach to him who goeth to the jakes, and in need evil +becometh good deed. When ye have set me in the chest, take it +and make it one of the bales and place it on mule back and fare +forth with it and the other goods through the Moslem camp, and +fear ye no blame. And if any of the Moslems hinder you, give up +the mules and their lading and be take yourselves to their King, +Zau al-Makan, and implore his protection saying, 'We were in the +land of the Infidels and they took nothing from us, but wrote us +a passport, that none shall do us hindrance or work our +mischance.' If he ask you, 'What profit had ye of your property +in the land of Roum?' answer him, 'We profited in the deliverance +of a pious man, who had been bound down in an underground cell +nigh fifteen years, crying out for help yet none helped him. +Nay, the Infidels tortured him night and day. We knew not this; +but, after we had tarried in Constantinople for some time, having +sold our goods and bought others in their stead, we determined on +and made ready for a return to our native land. We spent that +night conversing about our journey and when day broke, we saw +figured upon the wall a human form and as we drew nigh it, +behold, it moved and said, 'O Moslems, is there amongst you one +who is minded to woo the favour of the Lord of the three +Worlds?'[FN#414] 'How so?' asked we; and the figure answered, +'Know that Allah hath made me speak to you, to the intent that +your faith be fortified, and that your belief embolden you and +that you may go forth of the country of the Infidels and repair +to the Moslem host; for with them wones the Sword of the Com +passionate One, of our Age the Champion, King Sharrkan, by whom +He shall conquer Constantinople town and destroy the sect of the +Nazarene. And when ye shall have journeyed three days, you will +find an hermitage known as the Hermitage of the ascetic +Matruhina[FN#415] and containing a cell; visit it with pure +intent and contrive to arrive there by force of will, for therein +is a Religious from the Holy City, Jerusalem, by name Abdullah, +and he is one of the devoutest of mankind, endowed with the power +of working saintly miracles[FN#416] such as dispel doubts and +obscurity. Certain of the monks seized him by fraud and shut him +up in a souterrain where he hath lain a long time. By his +deliverance you will please the Lord of Faithful Men, for such +release is better than fighting for the Faith.'" Now when the +ancient dame and those with her had agreed upon such words, she +said, "As soon as that which I impart shall reach the ears of +King Sharrkan, say him further, 'Hearing this from that image we +knew that the holy man'"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, and those with her had agreed upon such +words, she said, "Now as soon as that which I impart shall reach +the ears of King Sharrkan say him further, 'Hearing these words +from that image we knew that the holy man was indeed of the +chiefest devotees and Allah's servants of purest qualities; so we +made three days' march till we came in sight of that hermitage, +and then we went up to it and passed the day in buying and +selling, as is the wont of merchants. As soon as day had +departed our sight and night was come to darken light, we +repaired to the cell wherein was the dungeon, and we heard the +holy man, after chanting some verses of the Koran, repeat the +following couplets, + +'My heart disheartened is, my breast is strait, * And sinks my + soul in sea of bale and bate +Unless escape be near I soon shall die; * And Death were better + than this doleful strait: +O Lightning an thou light my home and folk, * An their still + brighter charms thy shine abate, +Say, what my path to meet them, being barred * By wars, and + barricado'd succour's gate?' + +"When once ye have brought me into the Moslem camp, and I mix +with them you shall see," the old woman continued, "how I will +make shift to beguile them and slay them all, even to the last +man." The Nazarenes hearing whet she said, kissed her hands and +set her in the chest, after they had beaten her with a grievous +beating in obedience to her commands, for they saw it was +incumbent on them to do her bidding in this; then they all made +for the Moslem host as hath erst been said. Such was the case +with the damned hag, Zat al-Dawahi and her companions; but as +regards the Mohammeden army, they indeed, after Allah had given +them victory over their enemies and they had plundered everything +in the ships of money and hoards, all sat down to converse with +one another and Zau al-Makan said to his brother Sharrkan, +"Verily, Allah hath granted us to prevail because of our just +dealing and discipline and concord amongst ourselves; wherefore +continue, O Sharrkan, to obey my commandment, in submission to +Allah (be He exalted and extolled!), for I mean to slay ten Kings +in blood revenge for my sire, to cut the throat of fifty thousand +Greeks and to enter Constantinople." Replied Sharrkan, "My life +be thy ransom against death! Needs must I follow out the Holy +War, though I wone many a year in their country. But I have, O +my brother, in Damascus a daughter, named Kuzia Fakan, whom I +love heartily for she is one of the marvels of the time and she +will soon be of age.' Said Zau al-Makan, "And I also have left my +wife with child and near her time, nor do I know what Allah will +vouchsafe me by her. But promise me, O my brother, that if Allah +bless me with a son, thou wilt grant me thy daughter for wife to +him, and make covenant with me and pledge me thy faith thereon." +"With love and good will, replied Sharrkan; and, stretching out +his hand to his brother, he said, If she bring thee a son, I will +give him my daughter Kuzia Fakan, to wife." At this Zau al-Makan +rejoiced, and they fell to congratulating each other on the +victory over the enemy. And the Wazir Dandan also congratulated +the two brothers and said to them, "Know, O ye Kings, that Allah +hath given us the victory, for that we have devoted our lives to +Him (be He exalted and ex tolled!); and we have left our homes +and households; and it is my counsel that we follow up the foe +and press upon him and harass him, so haply Allah shall enable us +to win our wishes, and we shall destroy our enemies, branch and +root. If it please you, do ye go down in these ships and sail +over the sea, whilst we fare forward by land and bear the brunt +of battle and the thrust of fight." And the Minister Dandan +ceased not to urge them to combat and repeated his words who +said, + +"To slay my foes is chiefest bliss I wist, * And on the courser's + back be borne a list; +Comes promising tryst a messenger from friend * Full oft, when + comes the friend withouten tryst." + +And these words of another, + +"War for my mother (an I live) I'll take; * Spear for my brother; + scymitar for sire +With every shag haired brave who meets his death * Smiling, till + won from Doom his dear desire!" + +And when the Wazir ended his verses, he said, "Praise be to Him +who aided us dear victory to uphold and who hath given us spoil +of silver and fine gold!" Then Zau al-Makan commanded the army to +depart; and they fared on forcing their marches for +Constantinople, till they came to a wide and spacious champaign, +full of all things fair and fain, with wild cattle frisking and +gazelles pacing to and fro across the plain. Now they had +traversed great deserts and drink had been six days cut off from +them, when they drew near this meadow and saw therein waters +founting and ripe fruits daunting and that land as it were +Paradise; for it had donned its adornments and decked +itself.[FN#417] Gently waved the branches of its trees drunken +with the new wine of the dew, and combined with the nectar of +Tasnim the soft breathings of the morning breeze. Mind and gazer +were confounded by its beauty, even as saith the poet, + +"Behold this lovely garden! 'tis as though * Spring o'er its + frame her greeny cloak had spread. +Looking with fleshly eyne, thou shalt but sight * A lake whose + waters balance in their bed, +But look with spirit eyes and lo! shalt see * Glory in every + leaf o'erwaves thy head." + +And as another saith, + +"The stream's a cheek by sunlight rosy dyed, * Whose down[FN#418] + is creeping shade of tamarisk stems +Round legs of tree trunks waveless roll in rings * Silvern, and + blossoms are the diadems." + +When Zau al-Makan saw this champaign, with its trees bowing and +its flowers blooming and its birds warbling, he called to his +brother Sharrkan and said, "O my brother, verily in Damascus is +naught the like of this place. We will not march from it save +after three days, that we may take rest ourselves and that the +army of Al-Islam may regain strength and their souls be fortified +to encounter the blamed Infidels." So they halted therein and +while camping behold, they heard a noise of voices from afar, and +Zau al-Makan asked the cause thereof, and was answered that a +caravan of merchants from the Land of Syria had halted there to +rest and that the Moslem troops had come on them and had haply +seized something of the goods which they had brought from the +country of the Infidels. After a while up came the merchants, +crying out and appealing to the King for aidance. When Zau al- +Makan saw this, he bade them be brought before him and, when in +presence they said to him, "O King, we have been in the country +of the Infidels and they plundered us of nothing: why then do our +brothers the Moslems despoil our goods, and we in their own land? +Of a truth when we saw your troops, we went up to them and they +robbed us of what we had with us and we have now reported to thee +all that hath befallen us." Thereupon they brought out to him the +letter of the King of Constantinople, and Sharrkan read it and +said, "We will presently restore to you what hath been taken from +you; but yet it behoveth you not to carry merchandise to the +country of the Infidels." Replied they, "O our Lord, in very +sooth Allah despatched us thither that we might win what +Ghzi[FN#419] never won the like of, not even thou in all thy +razzias." Asked Sharrkan, "What was it ye won?" "O King," +answered they, "we will not tell thee save in private; for if +this matter be noised among the folk, haply it may come to the +ears of some,[FN#420] and this will be the cause of our ruin and +of the ruin of all Moslems who resort to the land of the Greeks." +Now they had hidden the chest wherein was the damned Zat al- +Dawahi. So Zau al-Makan and his brother brought them to a +private place, where they laid bare to both of them the story of +the devotee, and wept till they made the two Kings weep.--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +Nazarenes who wore merchants' weed, when brought to a private +place by Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan, laid bare to both +of them the story of the devotee and wept till they made the two +Kings weep and repeated to them all which had been taught by the +old witch Zat al-Dawahi. Thereupon Sharrkan's heart yearned to +the devotee and he was moved to ruth for him and was fired with +zeal for the service of Almighty Allah. So quoth he to them, +"Did ye rescue this holy man or is he still in the hermitage?" +Quoth they, "We delivered him and slew the hermit, fearing for +our lives; after which we made haste to fly for dread of death; +but a trusty man told us that in this hermitage are quintals of +gold and silver and stones of price." Then they fetched the chest +and brought out the accursed old woman, as she were a cassia +pod[FN#421] for excess of blackness and leanness, and she was +laden with the same fetters and shackles. When Zau al-Makan and +the bystanders saw her, they took her for a man of the best of +Allah's devotees and surpassing in pious qualities, more +especially because of the shining of her forehead for the +ointment wherewith she had anointed her face. So Zau al-Makan +and Sharrkan wept sore; then they rose up in honour and kissed +her hands and feet, sobbing aloud: but she signed to them and +said, "Cease this weeping and hear my words. Hereat they dried +their tears in obedience to her bidding, and she said, "Know ye +both that I was content to accept what my Lord did unto me, for I +kenned that the affliction which befel me was a trial from Him +(be He exalted and extolled!); and whoso hath not patience under +calamity and tribulation, for him there is no coming to the +delights of Paradise. I had indeed supplicated Him that I might +return to my native land, not as a compensation for the +sufferings decreed to me, but that I might die under the horse +hoofs of warriors fighting for the Faith who, being slain in +fray, live again without suffering death."[FN#422] Then she +repeated the following couplets, + +"Our Fort is Tor,[FN#423] and flames the fire of fight: * Moses + art thou and this is time for aid: +Cast down thy rod, 'twill swallow all they wrought, * Nor dread + for men their ropes be vipers made.[FN#424] +For Chapters read on fight day lines of foes, * And on their + necks 'grave versets[FN#425] wi' thy blade!" + +When the old woman had ended her verse, her eyes overflowed with +tears and her forehead under the unguent shone like gleaming +light, and Sharrkan rose and kissed her hand and caused food be +brought before her: but she refused it, saying, "I have not +broken my fast by day for fifteen years; and how should I break +it at such a time when my Lord hath been bountiful to me in +delivering me from the captivity of the Infidels and removing +from me that which was more grievous to me than torment of fire? +I will wait till sun down." So when it was nightfall, Sharrkan +and Zau al-Makan came and served her with food and said, "Eat, O +ascetic!" But she said, "This is no time for eating; it is the +time for worshipping the Requiting King." Then she stood up in +the prayer niche and remained praying till the night was spent; +and she ceased not to do after this fashion for three days and +nights, sitting not but at the time of the Salm or +salutation[FN#426] ending with several prayers. When Zau al- +Makan saw her on this wise, firm belief in her get hold of his +heart and he said to Sharrkan, "Cause a tent of perfumed leather +to be pitched for this Religious, and appoint a body servant to +wait upon him." On the fourth day she called for food; so they +brought her all kinds of meats that could seduce the sense or +delight the sight; but of all this she would eat only a scone +with salt. Then she again turned to her fast and, as the night +came, she rose anew to pray; when Sharrkan said to Zau al-Makan, +"Verily, this man carrieth renunciation of the world to the +extreme of renouncing, and, were it not for this Holy War, I +would join myself to him and worship Allah in his service, till I +came before His presence. And now I desire to enter his tent and +talk with him for an hour." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "And I also: +tomorrow we sally forth to fight against Constantinople, and we +shall find no time like the present." Said the Wazir Dandan, "And +I no less desire to see this ascetic; haply he will pray for me +that I find death in this Holy War and come to the presence of my +Lord, for I am aweary of the world." So as soon as night had +darkened, they repaired to the tent of that witch, Zat al-Dawahi; +and, seeing her standing to pray, they drew near her and fell a +weeping for pity of her; but she paid no heed to them till +midnight was past, when she ended her orisons by pronouncing the +salutation. Then she turned to them and after wishing them long +life, asked them "Wherefore come ye?", whereto they answered, "O +thou holy man! diddest thou not hear us weep around thee?" She +rejoined, "To him who standeth in the presence of Allah, +remaineth no existence in time, either for hearing any or for +seeing aught about him." Quoth they, "We would have thee recount +to us the cause of thy captivity and pray for us this night, for +that will profit us more than the possession of Constantinople." +Now when she heard their words she said, "By Allah, were ye not +the Emirs of the Moslems, I would not relate to you aught of this +at any time; for I complain not but to Allah alone. However, to +you I will relate the circumstances of my captivity. Know, then, +that I was in the saintly City of Jerusalem with certain +ecstatics and inspired men, and did not magnify myself among +them, for that Allah (be He exalted and extolled!) had endowed me +with humility and abnegation, till I chanced to go down to the +sea one night and walked upon the water. Then entered into me +pride; whence I know not, and I said to myself, 'Who like me can +walk the water?' And my heart from that time hardened and Allah +afflicted me with the love of travel. So I journeyed to Roum +land and visited every part for a whole year, and left no place +but therein I worshiped Allah. When I came to this spot,[FN#427] +I clomb the mountain and saw there an hermitage, inhabited by a +monk called Matrubina, who, when he sighted me, came out and +kissed my hands and feet and said, 'Verily, I have seen thee +since thou enteredst the land of the Greeks, and thou hast filled +me with longing for the land of Al-Islam.' Then he took my hand +and carried me into that hermitage, and brought me to a dark +room; and, when I entered it unawares, he locked the door on me +and left me there forty days, without meat or drink; for it was +his intent to kill me by delay. It chanced one day, that a +Knight called Dakians[FN#428] came to the hermitage, accompanied +by ten squires and his daughter Tamsil, a girl whose beauty was +incom parable. When they entered that hermitage, the monk +Matruhina told them of me, and the Knight said, 'Bring him out, +for surely there is not on him a bird's meal of meat.' So they +opened the door of the dark room and found me standing in the +niche, praying and reciting the Koran and glorifying Allah and +humbling myself before the Almighty. When they saw me in this +state Matrohina exclaimed, 'This man is indeed a sorcerer of the +sorcerers!'; and hearing his words, they all came in on me, +Dakianus and his company withal, and they beat me with a grievous +beating, till I desired death and reproached myself, saying, +'This is his reward who exalteth himself and who prideth himself +on that which Allah hath vouchsafed to him, beyond his own +competence! And thou, O my soul, verily self esteem and +arrogance have crept into thee. Dost thou not know that pride +angereth the Lord and hardeneth the heart and bringeth men to the +Fire?' Then they laid me in fetters and returned me to my place +which was the dungeon under ground. Every three days, they threw +me down a scone of barley bread and a draught of water; and every +month or two the Knight came to the hermitage. Now his daughter +Tamasil had grown up, for she was nine years old when I first saw +her, and fifteen years passed over me in captivity, so that she +had reached her four and twentieth year. There is not in our +land nor in the land of the Greeks a fairer than she, and her +father feared lest the King take her from him; for she had vowed +herself to the Messiah and rode with Dakianus in the habit of a +cavalier, so that albeit none might compare with her in +loveliness, no one who saw her knew her for a woman. And her +father had laid up his monies in this hermitage, every one who +had aught of price or treasured hoard being wont to deposit it +therein; and I saw there all manner of gold and silver and jewels +and precious vessels and rarities, none may keep count of them +save Almighty Allah. Now ye are worthier of these riches than +those Infidels; so lay hands on that which is in the hermitage +and divide it among the Moslems and especially on fighters in the +Holy War. When these merchants came to Constantinople and sold +their merchandise, that image which is on the wall spoke to them, +by grace of a marvel which Allah granted to me; so they made for +that hermitage and slew Matruhina, after torturing him with most +grievous torments, and dragging him by the beard, till he showed +them the place where I was; when they took me and found no path +but flight for dread of death. Now tomorrow night Tamasil will +visit that hermitage as is her habit, and her father and his +squires will come after her, as he feareth for her; so, if ye +would witness these things, take me with you and I will deliver +to you the monies and the riches of the Knight Dakianus which be +in that mountain; for I saw them bring out vessels of gold and +silver to drink therefrom, and I heard a damsel of their company +sing to them in Arabic and well-away! that so sweet a voice +should not be busied in chaunting the Koran. If, then, ye will; +enter into that hermitage and hide there against the coming of +Dakianus and his daughter; and take her, for she is fit only for +the King of the Age, Sharrkan, or King Zau al-Makan." Thereat +they all rejoiced with the exception of the Wazir Dandan, who put +scant faith in her story, for her words took no hold on his +reason, and signs of doubt in her and disbelief showed in his +face.[FN#429] Yet he was confounded at her discourse, but he +feared to speak with her for awe of the King. Then quoth the +ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, "Verily, I fear lest the Knight come +and, seeing these troops encamped in the meadow, be afraid to +enter the hermitage." So Zau al-Makan ordered the army to march +upon Constantinople and said, "I have resolved to take with me an +hundred horse and many mules and make for that mountain, where we +will load the beasts with the monies which be in the hermitage." +Then he sent at once for the Chief Chamberlain whom they brought +into the presence; and he summoned likewise the leaders of the +Turks and Daylamites and said, "As soon as it is dawn, do ye set +forth for Constantinople; and thou, O Chamberlain, shalt take my +place in council and contrivance, while thou, O Rustam, shalt be +my brother's deputy in battle. But let none know that we are not +with you and after three days we will rejoin you." Then he chose +out an hundred of the doughtiest riders, and he and Sharrkan and +the Minister Dandan set out for the hermitage, and the hundred +horsemen led the mules with chests for transporting the +treasure.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan +and his brother, Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan set off with +an hundred horse for the hermitage described to them by that +accursed Zat al-Dawahi, and they took with them mules and chests +for transporting the treasure. Now as soon as dawned the morn, +the Chamberlain signalled to the host an order for departure, and +they set out thinking that the two Kings and the Wazir were with +them; knowing not that the three had made for the monastery. +Such was the case with the host, but as regards the two Kings and +the Minister, they tarried in their place till the end of that +day. Now the Infidels who were with Zat al-Dawahi took their +departure privily, after they had gone in to her and kissed her +hands and feet and obtained her leave to march. So she not only +gave them permission but also taught them all she minded of wile +and guile. And when it was dark night, she arose and went in to +Zau al-Makan and his companions and said to them, "Come, let us +set out for the mountain, and take with you a few men at arms." +They obeyed her and left five horsemen at the foot of the +mountain, whilst the rest rode on before Zat al-Dawahi, who +gained new strength for excess of joy, so that Zau al-Makan said, +"Glory be to Him who sustaineth this holy man, whose like we +never saw!" Now the witch had written a letter to the King of +Constantinople and despatched it on the wings of a bird,[FN#430] +acquainting him with what had passed and ending, "I wish thee to +send me ten thousand horsemen of the bravest of the Greeks and +let them steal along the foot of the mountains with caution, lest +the host of Al-Islam get sight of them; and, when they reach the +hermitage, let them ambush themselves there, till I come to them +with the Moslem King and his brother, for I shall inveigle them +and will bring them thither, together with the Wazir and an +hundred horse and no more, that I may presently deliver to them +the crosses which be in the hermitage. I am resolved to slay the +Monk Matruhina, since my scheme cannot be carried out but by +taking his life. If my plot work well, not one of the Moslems +shall return to his own country; no, not a living wight nor one +who blows the fire alight; and Matruhina shall be a sacrifice for +the followers of the Nazarene faith and the servants of the +Cross, and praise be to the Messiah, first and last." When this +letter reached Constantinople, the keeper of the carrier pigeons +carried it to King Afridun, who read it and forthwith inspected +his host and equipped ten thousand cavaliers with horses and +dromedaries and mules and provaunt and bade them repair to that +hermitage and, after reaching the tower, to hide therein. Thus +far concerning them; but as regards King Zau al-Makan and his +brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan and the escort, when they +reached the hermitage they entered and met the Monk Matruhina, +who came out to see who and what they were; whereupon quoth that +pious man Zat al-Dawahi, "Slay this damned fellow."[FN#431] So +they smote him with their swords and made him drink the cup of +death. Then the accursed old woman carried them to the place of +offerings and ex votos, and brought out to them treasures and +precious things more than she had described to them; and after +gathering the whole together, they set the booty in chests and +loaded the mules therewith. As for Tamasil, she came not, she or +her father, for fear of the Moslems; so Zau al-Makan tarried +there, awaiting her all that day and the next and a third, till +Sharrkan said to him, "By Allah, I am troubled anent the army of +Al-Islam, for I know not what is become of them." His brother +replied, "And I also am concerned for them: we have come by this +great treasure and I do not believe that Tamasil or any one else +will approach the hermitage, after that befel which hath befallen +the host of the Christians. It behoveth us, then, to content +ourselves with what Allah hath given us and depart; so haply He +will help us conquer Constantinople." Accordingly they came down +from the mountain, while Zat al-Dawahi was impotent to oppose +their march for fear of betraying her deceit; and they fared +forwards till they reached the head of a defile, where the old +woman had laid an ambush for them with the ten thousand horse. +As soon as these saw the Moslems they encircled them from all +sides, couching lance and baring the white sabre blade; and the +Infidels shouted the watch word of their faithless Faith and set +the shafts of their mischief astring. When Zau al-Makan and his +brother Sharrkan and the Minister Dandan looked upon this host, +they saw that it was a numerous army and said, "Who can have +given these troops information of us?" Replied Sharrkan, "O my +brother, this be no time for talk; this is the time for smiting +with swords and shooting with shafts) so gird up your courage and +hearten your hearts, for this strait is like a street with two +gates; though, by the virtue of the Lord of Arabs and Ajams, were +not the place so narrow I would bring them to naught, even though +they were an hundred thousand men!" Said Zau al-Makan, "Had we +wotted this we would have brought with us five thousand horse;" +and the Wazir Dandan continued, "If we had ten thousand horse +they had availed us naught in these narrows; but Allah will +succour us against them. I know this defile and its straitness, +and I know there be many places of refuge in it; for I have been +here on razzia with King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, what while we +besieged Constantinople. We abode in this place, and here is +water colder than snow. So come, let us push out of this defile +ere the Infidel host increase on us and get the start of us to +the mountain top, whence they will hurl down rocks upon us, and +we powerless to come at them." So they began hurrying on to get +out of those narrows; but the pious man, Zat al-Dawahi, looked at +them and said, "What is it ye fear, ye who have vowed yourselves +to the Lord, and to working His will? By Allah, I abode +imprisoned underground for fifteen years, yet never gainsaid the +Almighty in aught he did with me! Fight ye in Allah's way; so +whoever of you is slain Paradise shall be his abode, and whoso +slayeth, his striving shall be to his honour." When they heard +from the ascetic these words, their care and anxiety ceased from +them and they stood firm till the Infidels charged down from all +sides, whilst the swords played upon their necks and the cup of +death went round amongst them. The Moslems fought for the +service of Allah a right good fight, and wrought upon His foes +with sway of sword and lunge of lance; whilst Zau al-Makan smote +upon the men and garred the knights bite the dust and their heads +from their bodies take flight, five by five and ten by ten, till +he had done to death a number of them past numbering and an +accompt beyond counting. Now while so doing, he looked at the +accursed old woman who was waving her sword and heartening them, +and all who feared fled to her for shelter; but she was also +signing the Infidels to slay Sharrkan. So troop after troop +rushed on him with design to do him die; but each troop that +charged, he charged and drove back; and when another troop +attacked him he repelled the assault with the sword in their +backs; for he thought it was the devotee's blessing that gave him +the vic tory, and he said in himself, "Verily on this holy men +Allah looketh with eyes of His favour and strengtheneth my +prowess against the Infidels with the purity of his pious intent: +for I see that they fear me and cannot prevail against me, but +every one who assaileth me turneth tail and taketh flight." So +they battled the rest of the day and, when night fell, the +Moslems took refuge in a cave of that defile being weary with +stress of war and cast of stone: and that day were slain of them +five and forty. And when they were gathered together, they +sought the devotee, but could find no trace of him; and this was +grievous to them and they said, "Belike, he hath died a martyr." +Quoth Sharrkan, "I saw him heartening the horsemen with divine +instances and using as talisman verses of Holy Writ." Now while +they were talking, behold, the accursed old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, +stood before them, hending in hand the head of the Chief Captain +of the ten thousand horse, a noble knight, a champion fierce in +fight and a Satan for blight. One of the Turks had slain him +with an arrow, and Allah hurried his soul to the fire; and when +the Infidels saw what that Moslem had done with their leader, +they all fell on him and wrought his bane and hewed him in pieces +with their swords, and Allah hurried his soul to Heaven. Then +the accursed old woman cut off that Knight's head and brought it +and threw it at the feet of Sharrkan and Zau al-Makan and the +Wazir Dandan. Now when Sharrkan sew her, he sprang up hastily +before her and exclaimed, "Praised be Allah for thy safety and +for our sighting thee, O holy man and devout champion of the +Religion!" Replied she, O my son, I have sought martyrdom this +day, and have thrown my life away amid the Infidel array, but +they feared me with dismay. When ye dispersed, I waxed jealous +for your honour; so I rushed on the Chief Knight their leader, +albeit he was a match for a thousand horse, and I smote him till +I severed head from trunk. Not one of the Infidels could near +me; so I brought his head to you,"--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +damned witch, Zat al-Dawahi, took the head of the Knight, the +leader of the twenty thousand Infidels, she brought it and threw +it down before Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan and the +Wazir Dandan, saying, "When I saw your condition, I waxed jealous +for your honour; so I rushed on the Chief Knight and smote him +with the sword till I severed head from trunk. And none could +near me, so I brought his head to you, that you may be +strengthened in Holy War and work out with your swords the will +of the Lord of the Faithful. And now I purpose leaving you to +strive against the Infidels, whilst I go to your army, though +they be at the gates of Constantinople, and return with twenty +thousand horse to destroy these Unfaithfuls." Quoth Sharrkan, +"How wilt thou pass to them, O thou holy man, seeing that the +valley is blocked up on all sides by the Miscreants?" Quoth the +accursed hag, "Allah will veil me from their eyes and they shall +not sight me;[FN#432] nor, if any saw me, would he dare to attack +me at that time, for I shall be as one non existing, absorbed in +Allah, and He will fend off from me His foes." "Thou sayest +sooth, O holy man," rejoined Sharrkan, "for indeed I have been +witness of that; so, if thou can pass out at the first of the +night, 'twill be best for us." Replied she, "I will set out at +this very hour and, if thou desire, thou shalt go with me and +none shall see thee. Furthermore if thy brother also have a mind +to go with us we will take him, but none else; for the shadow of +a saint can cover only twain." Sharrkan said, "As for me I will +not leave my comrades; but, if my brother will, there is no harm +in his going with thee and setting us free of this strait; for he +is the stronghold of the Moslems and the sword of the Lord of the +three Worlds; and if it be his pleasure, let him take with him +the Wazir Dandan, or whom else he may elect and send us ten +thousand horse to succour us against these caitiffs." So after +debate they agreed on this and the old woman said, "Give me +leisure to go before you and consider the condition of the +Infidels, if they be asleep or awake." Quoth they, "We will not +go forth save with thee and trust our affair to Allah." "If I do +your bidding," replied she, "blame me not but blame yourselves; +for it is my rede that you await me till I bring you tidings of +the case." Then said Sharrkan, "Go to them and delay not from us, +for we shall be awaiting thee." Thereupon she fared forth and +Sharrkan turned to his brother addressing him and said, "Were not +this holy man a miracle worker, he had never slain yonder furious +knight. This is proof sufficient of the ascetic's power; and of +a truth the pride of the Infidels is laid low by the slaying of +this cavalier, for he was violent, an evil devil and a stubborn." +Now whilst they were thus devising of the mighty works of the +devotee, behold, the accursed Zat al-Dawahi came upon them and +promised them victory over the Unbelievers; wherefor they thanked +her (not knowing that all this was wile and guile) and the damned +hag asked, "Where be the King of the Age, Zau al-Makan, and the +Minister Dandan?" Answered he, "Here am I!" Take with thee thy +Wazir," said she, "and follow after me, that we may fare forth to +Constantinople." Now she had acquainted the Infidels with the +cheat she had put upon the Moslems, and they rejoiced with +exceeding great joy, and said, Our hearts will not be contented +till we shall have slain their King in return for the Knight's +death; because we had no stouter rider than he;" and they added +(bespeaking the ill omened hag as she told them her plan of +faring to the land of the Moslems), "When thou bringest him to +us, we will bear him to King Afridun." Then she went out and went +out with her Zau al-Makan and the Minister Dandan, and she walked +on before the two saying, "Fare forth with the blessing of +Almighty Allah!" So they did her bidding, for the shaft of Pate +and Fortune of man's lot had shot them, and she ceased not +leading them both through the midst of the Grecian camp, till +they came to the defile, the narrow pass aforesaid, whilst the +Infidel enemy watched them, but did them no hindrance; for the +infernal old woman had enjoined this. Now when Zau al-Makan and +the Wazir Dandan saw that the Infidel host offered them no let +and stay and yet had them in sight, the Wazir exclaimed, "By +Allah, this is one of the holy man's saintly miracles! and +doubtless he be of the elect." Rejoined Zau al-Makan, "By Allah, +I think the Infidels be naught but blind, for we see them and +they see us not." And while they were thus praising the holy man +and recounting his mighty works and his piety and his prayers, +behold, the Infidels charged down on them from all sides and +surrounded them and seized them, saying, "Is there anyone else +with you twain, that we may seize upon him too?" And the Wazir +Dandan replied, "See you not yon other man that is before us? ' +Replied the Unbelievers, "By the truth of the Messiah and the +Monks, and the Primate and the Metropolitan, we see none save you +two!" Then Zau Al-Makan said, "By Allah, this is a chastisement +decreed to us by Almighty Allah!"--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Unfaithful had seized upon King Zau al-Makan and the Wazir +Dandan, they said to the two, "Is there anyone else with you +twain, that we may seize upon him also?" And the Wazir Dandan +replied, "See you not yon other man who be with us?" They +rejoined, "By the truth of the Messiah and the Monks and the +Primate and the Metropolitan, we see none save you two!" Then the +Infidels laid shackles on their feet and set men to guard them +during the night, whilst Zat al-Dawahi fared on and disappeared +from their sight. So they fell to lamenting and saying to each +other, "Verily, the opposing of pious men leadeth to greater +distress than this, and we are punished by the strait which hath +befallen us." So far concerning Zau al-Makan and the Wazir +Dandan; but as regards King Sharrkan, he passed that night in the +cavern with his comrades, and when dawned the day and he had +prayed the morn prayer, he and his men made ready to do battle +with the Infidel and he heartened them and promised them all +good. Then they sallied out till they were hard upon the +Unbelievers and, when these saw them from afar, they cried out to +them, saying, "O Moslems, we have taken captives your Sultan and +your Wazir who hath the ordering of your affairs; and except ye +leave off fighting us, we will slay you to the last man; but an +you yield yourselves we will take you to our King, who will make +peace with you on condition that you quit our country and return +home and harm us in naught, and we will do you no harm in aught. +If ye accept, it will be well for you; but if ye refuse there +remaineth nothing for you but death. So we have told you sooth, +and this is our last word to you." Now when Sharrkan heard this +and was certified of the captivity of his brother and the Wazir +Dandan, he was weighed down with woe and wept; his force failed +him and, making sure of death, he said to himself, "Would I knew +the cause of their capture! Did they fail of respect to the holy +man or disobey him, or what was the matter?" Then they sprang up +to battle with the Unbelievers and slew great numbers of them. +The brave was known that day from craven men, and sword and spear +were dyed with bloody stain; for the Infidels flocked up on them, +as flies flock to drink, from hill and from plain; but Sharrkan +and his men ceased not to wage the fight of those who fear not to +die, nor let death hinder them from the pursuit of victory, till +the valley ran gore and earth was full of the slain she bore. +And when night fell the armies separated each making for his own +place; and the Moslems returned to the cavern where gain and loss +were manifest to them: few remained of them and there was no +dependence for them but on Allah and the scymitar. Now there had +been slain of them that day five and thirty men of the chiefest +Emirs, and they had killed thousands of the Infidels, footmen and +fighters on horse. When Sharrkan saw this, the case was grievous +to him and he asked his comrades "What shall we do?"; whereto all +answered, "That which Almighty Allah willeth shall befal us." On +the morning of the second day, Sharrkan said to the remnant of +his troop, "If ye go forth to fight, not one of you will remain +alive and we have but little left of food and water; so I deem ye +would do better to bare your brands and go forth and stand at the +mouth of this cavern, to hinder any from entering. Haply the +holy man may have reached the Moslem host, and may return with +ten thousand horses to succour us in fight with the Infidels, for +belike the Unfaithful may have failed to see him and those with +him." They said, This were the better course to take, and of its +expediency no doubt we make." So the troop went out and held the +cavern mouth standing by its walls; and every one of the Infidels +who sought to enter in, they slew. Thus did they fend off the +foe from the gape of the cave and they patiently supported all +such assaults, till day was done and night came on dusky and +dun;--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the army of +the Moslems held the cavern mouth and stood by its walls and they +fended off the foe, and every one of the Infidels attempted to +charge them, him they slew; and they patiently supported all such +assaults till day was done and night came on dusky and dun, by +which time King Sharrkan had only five and twenty men and no more +left. Then quoth the Infidels to one another, "When shall these +battle days have an end? We are weary of warring the Moslems." +And quoth one of them, "Up and at them, for there remain of them +but five and twenty men! If we cannot prevail on them to fight, +let us light a fire upon them;[FN#433] and if they submit +themselves and yield to us, we will take them prisoners; but if +they refuse we will leave them for fuel to the fire, so shall +they become to men of foreseeing mind a warning dire. May the +Messiah on their fathers have no grace, and may the sojourn of +the Nazarenes be for them no abiding place!" So they carried fuel +to the jaws of the cavern and set fire to it. Thereupon Sharrkan +and his companions made sure of perdition and yielded themselves +prisoners. And while they were in this condition, lo! the +knight their captain said to those who counselled their +slaughter, "It is not for any save for King Afridun to kill them, +that he may gratify his wrath; therefore it behoveth us to keep +them in durance by us till the morrow, when we will journey with +them to Constantinople and deliver them to our King, who shall +deal with them as he please." Said they, "This is the right +course;" and he commanded to pinion them and set guards over +them. Then, as soon as it was black night, the Infidels busied +themselves with feasting and making festival; and they called for +wine and drank it till all fell upon their backs. Now Sharrkan +and his brother, Zau al-Makan, were in confinement and so also +were his companion knights; whereupon the elder turned to the +younger brother and said to him, "O my brother, how win free?" +"By Allah," replied Zau al Makan, "I know not; for here we be +like birds in cage." Then Sharrkan waxed wroth and sighed for +excess of rage and stretched himself, till his pinion bonds brass +asunder; whereupon being free he arose and went up to the Captain +of the guard, and taking from his pocket the keys of the fetters, +freed Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan and the rest of his men. +Then he turned to the two and said, "I desire to slay three of +these Infidels and take and don their dress, we three; so that we +shall be guised as Greeks and we will pass through them, with out +their knowing us, and fare forth to our own force." Replied Zau +al-Makan, "This is no safe counsel for if we kill them, I fear +some of their comrades may hear their shrieks and the foe be +aroused upon us and kill us. 'Twere the surer way to pass out of +the defile." So they agreed upon this and set out; and, when they +had left the head of the strait a little distance behind, they +saw horses picketed and the riders sleeping: and Sharrkan said to +his brother, "Better we take each one of us a steed." There were +five and twenty horsemen, so they took five and twenty horses, +whilst Allah sent sleep upon the Infidels for a purpose He knew +and the Faithful mounted and fared on till they were out of +reach. Meanwhile Sharrkan set to gathering from the Infidels as +many weapons, swords, and spears, as were wanted. And while they +took saddle and struck forwards none of the Infidels supposed +that anyone could release Zau al-Makan and his brother and their +men; or that their prisoners had power to escape. Now when all +the captives were safe from the Unfaithful, Sharrkan came up with +his comrades, and found them awaiting his arrival, on coals of +flame, expecting him in anxious grame, so he turned to them and +said, "Feel no fear since Allah protecteth us. I have that to +propose which haply shall effect our purpose." "What is it?" +asked they and he answered, "I desire that ye all climb to the +mountain top and cry out with one voice, 'Allaho Akbar!' and ye +add, 'The army of Al Islam is upon you! Allaho Akbar!' This wise +their company will surely be dissolved nor will they find out the +trick for they are drunk, but they will think that the Moslem +troops have encompassed them about on all sides and have mingled +with them; so they will fall on one another brand in hand during +the confusion of drunkenness and sleep, and we will cleave them +asunder with their own swords and the scymitar will go round +amongst them till dawn." Replied Zau al-Makan, "This plan is not +good; we should do better to make our way to our army and speak +not a word; for if we cry out 'Allaho Akbar,' they will wake and +fall on us and not one of us will escape." Rejoined Sharrkan, "By +Allah, though they should awake tis no matter, and I long that ye +fall in with my plan, for naught save good can come of it!" So +they agreed thereon and clomb the mountain and shouted, "Allaho +Akbar!" And hills and trees and rocks reworded their Allaho Akbar +for fear of the Almighty. But when the Kafirs heard this slogan +they cried out to one another,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundredth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan +spake thus, "I long that ye fall in with this my plan, for naught +save good can come of it." So they agreed thereon and clomb the +mountain head and shouted, "Allaho Akbar!"; and hills and trees +and rocks re worded their Allaho Akbar for fear of the Almighty. +The Infidels heard it and cried out one to other and donned their +armour and said, "The foe is upon us, by the truth of the +Messiah!" Then they fell on one another and slew of their own men +more than any knoweth save Almighty Allah. As soon as it was +dawn, they sought for the captives, but found no trace of them, +and their captains said, "They who did this were the prisoners in +our possession; up, then, and after them in all haste till ye +overtake them, when we will make them quaff the cup of requital; +and let not fright nor the panic of sudden awaking possess you." +So they took horse and rode after the fugitives and it wanted but +an eye twinkling before they overtook them and surrounded them. +Now when Zau al-Makan saw this, he was seized with increase of +terror and said to his brother, "What I feared would come, is +come upon us, and now it remaineth only for us to fight for the +Faith." But Sharrkan preferred to hold his peace. Then Zau al- +Makan and his companions rushed down from the hill crest, +shouting, "Allaho Akbar!" and his men repeated the war cry and +addressed themselves to fight and to sell their lives in the +service of the Lord of Faithful Men; and while they were in this +case, behold, they heard many voices voicing, "There is no god +but the God! God is most great! Salutation and salvation upon +the Apostle, the Bringer of glad Tidings, the Bearer of bad +Tidings!''[FN#434] So they turned towards the direction of the +sound and saw a company of Moslems who believed in one God, +pushing towards them, whereat their hearts were heartened and +Sharrkan charged upon the Infidels crying out, "There is no god +but the God! God is most great! he and those with him, so that +earth quaked as with an earthquake and the Unbeliever host brake +asunder and fled into the mountains and the Moslems followed them +with lunge and blow; and Zau al-Makan and his comrades of the +Moslems ceased not to smite the hosts of the Infidel foe, and +parted heads from bodies till day darkened and night coming on +starkened sight. Thereupon the Moslems drew together and passed +the night in congratulations, and, when morning dawned and +daybreak shone with its shine and sheen, they saw Bahram, the +captain of the Daylamites, and Rustam, the captain of the Turks, +advancing to join them, with twenty thousand cavaliers like lions +grim. As soon as they saw Zau al-Makan, the riders dismounted +and saluted him, and kissed ground between his hands when he said +to them, "Rejoice ye in the glad tidings of the victory of the +Moslem and the discomfiture of the tribe of Unbelievers!" Then +they gave one another joy of their deliverance and of the +greatness of their reward after Resurrection Day. Now the cause +of the coming of the succours to that place was this. When the +Emir Bahram and the Emir Rustam and the Chief Chamberlain, with +the Moslem host and flags flaunting high ahead, came in sight of +Constantinople they saw that the Nazarenes had mounted the walls +and manned the towers and the forts, and had set all their +defenders in order of defence, as soon as they learned of the +approach of the host of Al-Islam and the banners Mohammedan, and +they heard the clash of arms and the noise of war voices and +tramp of horse hoofs and from their look outs they beheld the +Moslems, with their standards and ensigns of the Faith of Unity +under the dust clouds and lo! they were like a flight of locusts +or rain clouds raining rain, and the voices of the Moslems +chanting the Koran and glorifying the Compassionate One, struck +their ears. Now the Infidels knew of the approach of this host +through Zat al-Dawahi with her craft and whoredom,[FN#435] +calumny and contrivance. And the armies of Al-Islam drew near, +as it were the swollen sea, for the multitude of footmen and +horsemen and women and children. Then quoth the General of the +Turks to the General of the Daylamites, "O Emir, of a truth, we +are in jeopardy from the multitude of the foe who is on the +walls. Look at yonder bulwarks and at this world of folk like +the seas that clash with dashing billows. Indeed yon Infidel +outnumbereth us an hundredfold and we cannot be safe from spies +who may inform them that we are without a Sultan. In very sooth, +we run danger from these enemies, whose numbers may not be told +and whose resources none can withhold, especially in the absence +of King Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan and the illustrious +Wazir Dandan. If they know of this, they will be emboldened to +attack us in their absence and with the sword they will +annihilate us to the last man; not one of us safety shall see. +So it is my counsel that thou take ten thousand riders of the +allies and the Turks, and march them to the hermitage of +Matruhina and the meadow of Malkhin in quest of our brothers +and comrades. If thou act by my advice, it may be we shall +approve ourselves the cause of their deliverance, in case they be +hard pressed by the Infidels; and if thou act not, blame will not +attach to me. But, an ye go, it behoveth that ye return quickly, +for ill suspicion is part of prudence." The Emir aforesaid fell +in with his counsel; so they chose twenty thousand horse and they +set out covering the roads and making for the monastery above +mentioned. So much for the cause of their coming; but as regards +the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, as soon as she had delivered +Sultan Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan +into the hands of the Infidels, the foul whore mounted a swift +steed, saying to the Faithless, "I design to rejoin the Moslem +army which is at Constantinople and contrive for their +destruction; for I will inform them that their chiefs are dead, +and when they hear that from me, their joining will be disjointed +and the cord of their confederation cut and their host scattered. +Then will I go to King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, and to my +son Hardub, King of Roum, and relate to them their tidings and +they will sally forth on the Moslems with their troops and will +destroy them and will not leave one of them alive." So she +mounted and struck across country on her good steed all the +livelong night; and, when day dawned, appeared the armies of +Bahram and Rustam advancing towards her. So she turned into a +wayside brake and hid her horse among the trees and she walked a +while saying to herself, "Haply the Moslem hosts be returning, +routed, from the assault of Constantinople." However, as she drew +near them she looked narrowly and made sure that their standards +were not reversed,[FN#436] and she knew that they were coming not +as conquered men, but fearing for their King and comrades. When +she was assured of this, she hastened towards them, running at +speed, like a devil of ill rede, till reaching them she cried +out, "Haste ye! haste ye! O soldiers of the Compassionate One, +hasten to the Holy War against the hosts of Satan!" When Bahram +saw her he dismounted and kissed the ground before her and asked +her, "O friend of Allah what is behind thee?" Answered she, +"Question not of sad case and sore condition; for when our +comrades had taken the treasure from the hermitage of Matruhina, +and designed to win their way Constantinople wards, thereupon +came out on them a driving host and a dreadful of the Infidels." +And the damned witch repeated to them the story to fill them with +trouble and terror, adding, "The most of them are dead, and there +are but five and twenty men left." Said Bahram, "O holy man! +when didst thou leave them?" "But this night,"[FN#437] replied +she. He cried, "Glory be to Allah! to Him who hath rolled up +the far distance for thee like a rug, so that thou hast sped thus +walking upon thy feet and props upon a mid-rib of palm-tree! But +thou art one of the saints which fly like birds when inspired and +possessed by His directions."[FN#438] Then he mounted his horse, +and he was perplexed and confounded by what he had heard from the +beldam so strong in lies and ill calumnies, and he said, "There +is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, +the Great! Verily our labour is lost and our hearts are heavy +within us, for our Sultan is a prisoner and those who are with +him." Then they cut across the country, wide and side, night and +day, and when morning dawned they reached the head of the defile +and saw Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan shouting. "There is no god but +the God! Allaho Akbar! and Salutation and Salvation upon the +Congratulator, the Comminator."[FN#439] Whereupon he and his +drove at the Unbelievers and whelmed them, as the rain torrent +whelms the waste; and cried out their war cries, till fear get +hold of the prowess Knights and the mountains were cloven in +affright. And when shone the day and showed its shine and sheen, +the breeze of morning blew upon them sweet and fragrant, and each +recognised other as hath been said before. Then they kissed the +ground before the King and before his brother Sharrkan, who told +them all that had befallen the party in the cave. Now thereat +they marvelled and said to one another, "Hasten we back to +Constantinople, for we left our companions there, and our hearts +are with them." So they hurried departure, commending themselves +to the Subtle, the All-wise, and Zau al-Makan exhorted the +Moslems to steadfast- ness and versified in the following +couplets,[FN#440] + +"Be praises mine to all praiseworthy Thee, * O Lord, who stinted + not mine aid to be! +Though was I lost abroad, Thou west to me * Strongest support + which vouchsafed victory: +Thou gav'st me wealth and reign and goodly gifts, * And slungest + con quering sword of valiancy: +Thou mad'st me blest beneath Thy kingly shade, * Engraced with + generous boons dealt fain and free: +Thou savedst *from every fear I feared, by aid * Of my Wazir, the + Age's noblest he! +Garred us Thy grace in fight to throw the Greek, * Who yet came + back dight in War's cramoisie: +Then made I feint to fly from out the fight; * But like grim lion + turning made them flee, +And left on valley sole my foemen, drunk * Not with old + wine[FN#441] but Death-cup's revelry: +Then came the Saintly Hermit, and he showed * His marvels wrought + for town and wold to see; +When slew they hero-wights who woke to dwell * In Eden bowers + wherein sweet rill-lets well." + +But, when Zau al-Makan had made an end of versifying, his brother +Sharrkan congratulated him on his safety and thanked him for the +deeds he had done; after which both set out forcing their marches +to rejoin their army.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and First Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan +congratulated his brother, Zau al-Makan, on his safety and +thanked him for the deeds he had done; after which both set out +forcing their marches to rejoin their army. Such was their case; +but as regards the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, after she had +foregathered with the hosts of Rustam and Bahram, she returned to +the coppice, where she took her steed and mounted and sped on at +speed, till she drew near the Moslem army that beleaguered +Constantinople, when she lighted down from her destrier and led +it to the pavilion tent of the Chief Chamberlain. And when he +saw her, he stood up to her in honour and signed to her with his +right hand and said, "Welcome O pious recluse!" Then he +questioned her of what had befallen, and she repeated to him her +disquieting lies and deluding calumnies, saying, "In sooth I fear +for the Emir Rustam, and the Emir Bahram, for that I met them and +theirs on the way and sent them and their following to relieve +the King and his companions. Now there are but twenty thousand +horse and the Unbelievers outnumber them; so I would have thee at +this moment send off the rest of thy troops at full speed to +their suc cour, lest they be slain to the last man." And she +cried to them, "Haste! Haste!" When the Chamberlain and the +Moslems heard these words, their spirits fell and they wept; but +Zat al-Dawahi said to them, "Ask aidance of Allah and bear +patiently this triburation; for ye have the example of those who +have been before you of the people of Mohammed; and Paradise with +its palaces is laid out by Allah for those who die martyrs; and +needs must all die, but most praiseworthy is dying while fighting +for the Faith." The Chamberlain, hearing this speech of the +accursed old woman, called for the Emir Bahram's brother, a +knight by name Tarkash; and, choosing out for him ten thousand +horse, riders famed for force, bade him set out at once. So he +fared forth and marched all that day and the whole of the next +night, till he neared the Moslems. When daylight dawned, +Sharrkan saw the dust cloud about them and feared for the men of +Al-Islam and said, "If these troops which are coming upon us be +Moslem men our victory is assured by them; but, if these be +Nazarenes, there is no gainsaying Destiny's decrees." Then he +turned to his brother, Zau al- Makan, and said, Never fear, for +with my life I will ransom thee from death. If these be +Mohammedan troops, then were it an increase of heavenly favours; +but, if they be our foes, there is no help save that we fight +them. Yet do I long to meet the Holy Man ere I die, so I may beg +him to pray that I die not save by death of martyrdom." Whilst +the twain were thus speaking, behold, there appeared the banners +inscribed with the words, "There is no god but the God and +Mohammed is the Apostle of God;" and Sharrkan cried out, "How is +it with the Moslems?" "All are sound and safe," replied they, +"and we came not but out of concern for you." Then the Chief of +the army dismounted and, kissing ground before Sharrkan, asked, +"O my lord, how be the Sultan and the Wazir Dandan and Rustam and +my brother Bahram; are they all in safety?" He answered, "All +well; but who brought thee tidings of us?" Quoth Tarkash; "It was +the Holy Man who told us that he had met my brother Bahram and +Rustam and had sent them both to you and he also assured us that +the Infidels had encompassed you and out numbered you; but I see +not the case save the contrary thereof and that you are +victorious." They questioned him, "And how did the Holy Man reach +you?"; and he replied, "Walking on his feet and he had compassed +in a day and a night, ten days' journey for a well girt +horseman." "There is no doubt but that he is a Saint of Allah," +said Sharrkan, "but where is he now?" They rejoined, "We left him +with our troops, the folk of the Faith, moving them to do battle +with the rebels and the Faithless." Thereat Sharrkan rejoiced and +all thanked Allah for their own deliverance and the safety of the +Holy Man; and commended the dead to His mercy saying, "This was +writ in the Book." Then they set out making for Constantinople by +forced marches, and whilst they were on this enterprise, behold, +a dust cloud arose to such height that it walled the two +horizons, the eastern and the western, from man's sight and the +day was darkened by it to night. But Sharrkan looked at it and +said, "Verily, I fear lest this be the Infidels who have routed +the army of Al-Islam for that this dust walleth the world, east +and west, and hideth the two horizons, north and south." +Presently appeared under the dust a pillar of darkness, blacker +than the blackness of dismal days; nor ceased to come upon them +that column more dreadful than the dread of the Day of Doom. +Horse and foot hastened up to look at it and know the terrors of +the case, when behold, they saw it to be the recluse aforesaid; +so they thronged round him to kiss his hands and he cried out, "O +people of the Best of Mankind,[FN#442] the lamp which shineth in +darkness blind, verily the Infidels have outwitted the Moslems by +guile, for they fell upon the host of the One God whilst they +deemed themselves safe from the Faithless, and attacked them in +their tents and made a sore slaughter of them what while they +looked for no wile; so hasten to the aid of the Believers in the +unity of God, and deliver them from those who deny Him!" Now when +Sharrkan heard these words, his heart flew from his breast with +sore trouble; and, alighting from his steed in amazement, he +kissed the Recluse's hands and feet. On like wise did his +brother, Zau al-Makan, and the rest of the foot and horse troops; +except the Wazir Dandan, who dismounted not but said, "By Allah, +my heart flieth from this devotee, for I never knew show of +devotion to religion that bred not bane. So leave him and rejoin +your comrades the Moslems, for this man is of the outcasts from +the gate of the mercy of the Lord of the Three Worlds! How often +have I here made razzias with King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and +trodden the earth of these lands!" Said Sharrkan, "Put away from +thee such evil thought, hast thou not seen this Holy Man exciting +the Faithful to fight, and holding spears and swords light? So +slander him not, for backbiting is blameable and poisoned is the +flesh of the pious.[FN#443] Look how he inciteth us to fight the +foe; and, did not Almighty Allah love him, He had cast him +aforetime into fearful torment." Then Sharrkan bade bring a +Nubian mule for the ascetic to ride and said, "Mount, O pious +man, devout and virtuous!" But the devotee refused to ride and +feigned self denial, that he might attain his end; and they knew +not that this holy personage was like him of whom the poet saith, + +"He prayeth and he fasteth for an end he doth espy; * When once + his end is safely won then fast and prayer good + bye."[FN#444] + +So the devotee ceased not to walk among the horsemen and the +footmen, like a wily fox meditating guile, and began to uplift +her voice, chanting the Koran and praising the Compassionate One. +And they continued pressing forward till they approached the camp +of Al-Islam, where Sharrkan found the Moslem in conquered plight +and the Chamberlain upon the brink of falling back in flight, +whilst the sword of Greece havoc dight among the Faithful, the +righteous and those who work upright,--And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when +Sharrkan saw the Moslems in conquered plight and the Chamberlain +upon the brink of retreat and flight and the sword havoc dight +among the righteous and the workers of upright, the cause of this +weakness among the Moslems was that the accursed old woman, Zat +al- Dawahi, the foe of the Faith, after seeing that Bahram and +Rustam had set forward with their troops to join Sharrkan and his +brother Zau al-Makan, repaired to the camp of the Mahometans +before Constantinople and caused the mission of the Emir Tarkash, +as hath been before said. In this her purpose was to divide the +Moslem forces the better to weaken them. Then she left them and +entered Constantinople, and called with a loud voice on the +knights of the Greeks, saying, "Let me down a cord that I may tie +thereto this letter, and do ye bear it to your King Afridun, that +he may read it and to my son King Hardub that they both do what +is written therein of bidding and forbidding." So they let down +for her a string and she tied thereto a letter whose purport was +the following: "From the terriblest of tribulations[FN#445] and +the chiefest of all calamities, Zat al-Dawahi, to King Afridun +greeting. But afterwards, of a truth I have contrived a device +for destroying the Moslems; so bide ye quiet and content. I have +cozened and captured their Sultan and the Wazir Dandan; and then +I returned to their camp and acquainted them therewith, whereby +their pride had a fall and their withers were wrung. And I have +so wrought upon the host 'leaguering Constantinople that they +have sent ten thousand men under the Emir Tarkash to succour the +capitves, of whom there be now left but few; it is therefore my +object that ye sally forth against them with all your power while +this day endureth; and that ye fall on them in their tents and +that ye leave them not till ye shall have slain them to the last +man; for, verily the Messiah looketh down upon you and the +Blessed Virgin favoureth you; and I hope of the Messiah that he +forget not what deed I have done." When her letter came to King +Afridun, he rejoiced with great joyance; and, sending at once for +King Hardub of Greece, son of Zat al-Dawahi, read the letter to +him as soon as he came,whereathe was exceeding glad and said, +"See my mother's craft; verily it dispenseth with swords, and her +aspect standeth in stead of the terrors of the Day of Dread." +Rejoined Afridun, "May the Messiah not bereave us of thy +venerable parent nor deprive her of her wile and guile!" Then he +bade the Knights give orders for sallying outside the city, and +the news was noised abroad in Constantinople. So the Nazarenes +and the cohorts of the Cross burst forth and unsheathed their +keen sabres in their numbers, shouting out their professions of +impiety and heresies, and blaspheming the Lord of all Creatures. +When the Chamberlain saw the sally, he said, "Behold, the Greek +is upon us and they surely have learned that our Sultan is far +away; and haply they have attacked us, for that the most part of +our troops have marched to the succour of King Zau al-Makan!" +Therewith he waxed wroth and cried out, "Ho, soldiers of Al-Islam +and favourers of the True Faith, an you flee you are lost, but if +ye stand fast, ye win! Know ye that valiancy lieth in endurance +of outrance and that no case is so strait but that the Almighty +is able to make it straight; Allah assain you and look upon you +with eyes of compassion fain!" Thereupon the Moslems cried out, +"Allaho Akbar!" and the believer in the One God shouted his +slogan, and whirled the mill wheels of fight with cutting and +thrusting in main and might; scymitars and spears played sore and +the plains and valleys were swamped with gore. The priests and +monks priested it, tight girding their girdles and uplifting the +Crucifixes, while the Moslem shouted out the professions of the +Requiting King and verses of the Koran began to sing. The hosts +of the Compassion are One fought against the legions of Satan; +and head flew from body of man, while the good Angels hovered +above the people of the Chosen Prophet, nor did the sword cease +to smite till the day darkened and night came on and starkened. +Now the miscreants had encompassed the Moslems and made sure of +escaping the pains that awaited them; and the Faithless greeded +for victory over the Faithful until day dawned and dazzled. +There upon the Chamberlain mounted, he and his men, trusting thee +Allah would help them to victory; and host was mingled with host +and battle rose a foot and took post. And heads flew from trunks +whilst the brave stood fast in stead; the craven turned tail and +fled; and the Judge of death judged and sentence sped, so that +the champions fell from their saddles slain and corpses cumbered +meadow and plain. Then the Moslem began to give ground and +rearwards bent; and the Greek took possession of some of their +tents; whereupon the Moslems were about to break and retreat and +take flight, when meanwhile behold, up came Sharrkan with the +rest of the host of Al-Islam and the standards of the Believers +in Unity. And having come up with them, he charged the Infidels; +and followed him Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan and the Emirs +Bahram and Rustam with his brother Tarkash. When the foe saw +this, they lost head and their reason fled, and the dust clouds +towered till they covered the country whilst the righteous +Believers joined their pious comrades. Then Sharrkan accosted +the Chamberlain and praised him for his steadfastness; and he in +turn gave the Prince joy of his timely succour and his gaining +the day. Thereat the Moslems were glad and their hearts were +heartened; so they rushed upon their enemies and devoted +themselves to Allah in their Fight for the Faith. But when the +Idolaters beheld the standards Mohammedan and there on the +profession of Faith Islamitan, proclaiming the Unity, they +shrieked "Woe!" and "Ruin!" and besought succour of the +Patriarchs of the Monasteries. Then fell they to calling upon +John and Mary and the Cross abhorrent and stayed their hands from +slaughter, whilst King Afridun went up to consult King Hardub of +Greece, for the two Kings stood one at the head of each wing, +right and left. Now there was with them also a famous cavalier, +Lawiya highs, who commanded the centre; and they drew out in +battle array, but indeed they were full of alarm and affray. +Meanwhile, the Moslems aligned their forces and thereupon +Sharrkan came to his brother, Zau al-Makan, and said, "O King of +the Age, doubtless they mean to champion it, and that is also the +object of our desire; but it is my wish to push forward the +stoutest hearted of our fighters, for by forethought is one half +of life wrought." Replied the Sultan, "As thou wilt, O companion +of good counsel!" "It is my wish," added Sharrkan, "to stand in +mid line opposite the Infidel, with the Wazir Dandan on my left +and thee on my right, whilst the Emir Bahram leads the dexter +wing and the Emir Rustam leads the wing sinistral; and thou, O +mighty King, shalt be under the standards and the ensigns, for +that thou art the pillar of our defence; upon thee, after Allah, +is our dependence and we will all be thy ransom from aught that +can harm thee." Zau al-Makan thanked him therefor, and the +slogan arose and the sabre was drawn; but, as things stood thus, +behold, there came forth a cavalier from the ranks of Roum; and, +as he drew near, they saw that he was mounted on a slow paced she +mule, fleeing with her master from the shock of swords. Her +housings were of white silk covered by a prayer-carpet of Cash +mere stuff, and on her back sat a Shaykh, an old man of comely +presence and reverend aspect, garbed in a gown of white wool. He +stinted not pushing her and hurrying her on till he came near the +Moslem and said, "I am an ambassador to you all, and an +ambassador hath naught to do save to deliver; so give me safe +conduct and permit of speech, that I communicate to you my +message." Replied Sharrkan, "Thou art in safety: fear neither +sway of sword nor lunge of lance." Thereupon the old man +dismounted and, taking the Cross from his neck, placed it before +the Sultan and humbled himself with much humility. Then quoth to +him the Moslems, "What is with thee of news?"; and quoth he, "I +am an ambassador from King Afridun, for I counselled him to avert +the destruction of all these frames of men and temples of the +Compassionate One; and to him it seemed righteous to stay the +shedding of blood and limit it to the encounter of two knights in +shock of fight singular; so he agreed to that and he saith to +you, 'Verily, I will ransom my army with my life; so let the +Moslem King do as I do and with his life ransom his host. And if +he kill me, there will be no stay left in the army of Roum, and +if I kill him, there will be no stability with the Moslems." When +Sharrkan heard this he said, "O monk, I agree to that, for it is +just nor may it be gainsaid; and behold, I will meet him in +duello and do with him derring do, for I am Champion of the +Faithful even as he is Champion of the Faithless; and if he slay +me, he will have won the day and naught will remain for the +Moslems forces save flight. So return to him, O thou monk, and +say that the single combat shall take place to morrow, for this +day we have come off our journey and are aweary; but after rest +neither reproach nor blame fear ye." So the monk returned (and he +rejoicing) to King Afridun and King Hardub, and told them both +what Sharrkan had said, whereat King Afridun was glad with +exceeding gladness and fell from him anxiety and sadness, and he +said to himself, "No doubt but this Sharrkan is their doughtiest +swayer of the sword and the dourest at lunge of lance; and when I +shall have slain him, their hearts will be disheartened and their +strength will be shattered." Now Zat al-Dawahi had written to +King Afridun of that and had told him how Sharrkan was a Knight +of the Braves and the bravest of knights and had warned him +against him; but Afridun was a stalwart cavalier who fought in +many a fashion; he could hurl rocks and throw spears and smite +with the iron mace and he feared not the prowess of the prow. So +when he heard the report of the monk that Sharrkan agreed to the +duello, he was like to fly for exceeding joy because he had self +confidence and he knew that none could with stand him. The +Infidels passed that night in joy and jubilee and wine bibbing; +and, as soon as it was dawn, the two armies drew out with the +swart of spear and the blanch of blade. And behold a cavalier +rode single handed into the plain, mounted on a steed of purest +strain, and for foray and fray full ready and fain. And that +Knight had limbs of might and he was clad in an iron cuirass made +for stress of fight. On his breast he wore a jewelled mirror and +in his hand he bore a keen scymitar and his lance of Khalanj +wood,[FN#446] the curious work of the Frank, weighing a quintal. +Then the rider uncovered his face and cried out, saying, "Whoso +knoweth me verily hath enough of me, and whoso knoweth me not +right soon[FN#447] shall ken who I be. I am Afridun the +overwhelmed by the well omened Shawhi,[FN#448] Zat al-Dawahi." +But he had not ended speaking ere Sharrkan, the Champion of the +Moslems, fared forth to meet him, mounted on a sorrel horse worth +a thousand pieces of red gold with accoutrements purfled in +pearls and precious stone; and he bore in baldrick a blade of +watered Indian steel that through necks shore and made easy the +hard and sore. He crave his charger between the two hosts in +line whilst the horsemen all fixed on him their eyne, and he +cried out to Afridun, "Woe to thee, O accursed! dost thou deem +me one of the horsemen thou hast overta'en who cannot stand +against thee on battle plain?" Then each rushed upon other and +they bashed together like two mountains crashing or two billows +dash ing and clashing: they advanced and retreated; and drew +together and withdrew; and stinted not of fray and fight and +weapon play, and strife and stay, with stroke of sword and lunge +of lance. Of the two armies looking on, some said, "Sharrkan is +victor!" and others, "Afridun will conquer!"; and the two riders +stayed not their hands from the hustle until ceased the clamour +and the bustle; and the dust columns rose and the day waned and +the sun waxed yellow and wan. Then cried out King Afridun to +Sharrkan, saying, "By the truth of the Messiah and the Faith +which is no liar, thou art nought save a doughty rider and a +stalwart fighter; but thou art fraudful and thy nature is not +that of the noble. I ken thy work is other than praiseworthy nor +is thy prowess that of a Prince; for thy people behave to thee as +though thou wert a slave;[FN#449] and see! they bring thee out a +charger which is not thine, that thou mayst mount and return to +the fight. But by the truth of my Faith, thy fighting irketh and +fatigueth me and I am weary of cutting and thrusting with thee; +and if thou purpose to lay on load with me to night, thou wouldst +not change aught of thy harness nor thy horse, till thou approve +to the cavaliers, thy generous blood and skill in brunt." When +Sharrkan heard him say these words concerning his own folk +behaving to him though he were a slave, he waxt wroth and turned +towards his men, meaning to sign to them and bid them not prepare +him change of harness or horse, when lo! Afridun shook his throw +spear high in air and cast it at Sharrkan. Now when the Moslem +turned his back, he found none of the men near him, and he knew +this to be a trick of the accursed Infidel; so he wheeled round +in haste and behold, the javelin came at him, so he swerved from +it, till his head was bent low as his saddle bow. The weapon +grazed his breast, and pierced the skin of his chest, for +Sharrkan was high bosomed: whereupon he gave one cry and swooned +away. Thereat the accursed Afridun was joyful, thinking he had +slain him; and shouted to the Infidels bidding them rejoice, +whereat the Faithless were encouraged and the Faithful wept. +When Zau al-Makan saw his brother reeling in selle so that he +well nigh fell, he despatched cavaliers towards him and the +braves hurried to his aid and came up with him. Thereupon the +Infidels drove at the Moslems; the two hosts joined battle and +the two lines were mingled, whilst the keen scymitar of Al-Yaman +did good work. Now the first to reach Sharrkan was the Wazir +Dandan,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King +Zau al-Makan saw that the accursed Infidel had struck with +javelin his brother Sharrkan, he deemed him dead, and despatched +cavaliers towards him; and the first to reach him were the Wazir +Dandan and the Emir of the Turks, Bahram, and the Emir of the +Daylamites, Rustam. They found him falling from his horse; so +they stayed him in his saddle and returned with him to his +brother, Zau al-Makan; then they gave him in charge to his pages, +and went again to do the work of cut and thrust. So the strife +redoubled and the weapons together clashed and ceased not bate +and debate and naught was to be seen but blood flowing and necks +bowing; nor did the swords cease on the napes of men to make play +nor the strife to rage with more and more affray, till the most +part of the night was past away and the two hosts were aweary of +the mellay. So they called a truce and each army returned to its +tents, whilst all the Infidels repaired to King Afridun and +kissed the ground before him, and the priests and monks wished +him joy of his victory over Sharrkan. Then the King fared for +Constantinople and sat upon the throne of his realm, when King +Hardub came to him and said, "May the Messiah strengthen thy fore +arm and never cease to be thy helper and hearken to what prayers +my pious mother, Zat al-Dawahi, shall pray for thee! Know that +the Moslems can make no stay without Sharrkan." Replied Afridun, +"To morrow shall end the affair when to fight I fare: I will seek +Zau al-Makan and slay him, and their army shall turn tail and of +flight shall avail." Such was the case with the Kafirs; but as +regards the host of Al-Islam, when Zau al-Makan returned to his +tent, he thought of naught but his brother and, going into the +pavilion, found him in evil case and sore condition; whereupon he +summoned for counsel the Wazir Dandan and Rustam and Bahram. +When they entered, they opined to assemble the physicians that +they might medicine Sharrkan, and they wept and said, "The world +will not readily afford his like!" and they watched by him all +that night, and about the later hours came to them the Recluse in +tears. When Zau al-Makan saw him, he rose in honour; and the +Religious stroked Sharrkan's wound with his hand, chanting +somewhat of the Koran and repeating by way of talisman some of +the verses of the Compassionate One. And the pretender ceased +not to watch over him till dawn, when he came to himself and, +opening his eyes, moved his tongue in his mouth and spake. At +this Zau al-Makan rejoiced, saying, "Of a truth the blessing of +the Holy Man hath taken effect on him!" And Sharrkan said, +"Praised be Allah for recovery; indeed, I am well at this hour. +That accursed one played me false; and, but that I swerved aside +lighter than lightening, the throw spear had pierced through my +breast. So praised be Allah for saving me! And how is it with +the Moslems?" Answered Zau al-Makan, "All are weeping for thee." +Quoth Sharrkan, "I am well and in good case; but where is the +Holy Man?" Now he was sitting by him and said, "At thy head." So +the Prince turned to him and kissed his hand when he said, "O my +son! Be of good patience and Allah shall increase thy reward; +for the wage is measured by the work." Sharrkan rejoined, "Pray +for me," and he prayed for him. As soon as morning dawned and +day brake in shine and sheen, the Moslems sallied out to the +plain and the Kafirs made ready to thrust and cut. Then the +Islamite host advanced and offered fight with weapons ready +dight, and King Zau al-Makan and Afridun made to charge one at +other. But when Zau al-Makan fared forth into the field, there +came with him the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain and Bahram, +saying, "We will be thy sacrifice." He replied, "By the Holy +House and Zemzem and the Place![FN#450] I will not be stayed +from going forth against these wild asses." And when he rode out +into the field he played with sword and spear till riders +marvelled and both armies wondered; then he rushed upon the foe's +right wing and of it slew two knights and in like manner he dealt +with the left wing. Presently he stayed his steed in the midst +of the field and cried out, "Where is Afridun, that I may make +him taste the cup of disgrace?" But when King Hardub saw the case +he conjured Afridun not to attack him, saying, "O King, yesterday +it was thy turn to fight: it is mine to day. I care naught for +his prowess." So he rushed out towards Zau al-Makan brand in hand +and under him a stallion like Abjar, which was Antar's charger +and its coat was jet black even as saith the poet, + +"On the glancing racer outracing glance * He speeds, as though he + would collar Doom: +His steed's black coat is of darkest jet, * And likest Night in + her nightliest gloom: +Whose neigh sounds glad to the hearer's ears * Like thunders + rolling in thun d'rous boom: +If he race the wind he will lead the way, * And the lightning + flash will behind him loom.''[FN#451] + +Then each rushed upon the opponent, parrying blows and proving +the marvellous qualities were stored in him; and they fell to +drawing on and withdrawing till the breasts of the bystanders +were straitened and they were weary of waiting for the event. At +last Zau al-Makan cried out his war cry and rushed upon Hardub, +King of Csarea,[FN#452] and struck him a stroke that shore head +from trunk and slew him on the spot. When the Infidels saw this, +they charged in a body, compact and united, upon Zau al-Makan, +who met them amidfield, and they engaged in hewing and foining, +till blood ran in rills. Then the Moslems cried out, "Allaho +Akbar!" (God is most Great) and "There is no god but the God!", +and invoked salvation for the Prophet, the Bringer of Glad +Tidings, the Bearer of Bad Tidings. And there befel a great +fight, but Allah assigned victory to the Faithful and defeat to +the Faithless. The Wazir Dandan shouted, "Take your blood +revenge for King Omar bin al Nu'uman and his son Sharrkan!"; and +bared his head and cried out to the Turks. Now there were by his +side more than twenty thousand horse, and all charged with him as +men, when the Faithless found naught to save their lives but +flight. So they turned tail to fly while the biting sabre +wrought its havoc and the Moslems slew of them that day some +fifty thousand horse and took more than that number: much folk +also were slain while going in at the gates, for the flock was +great. Then the Greeks hove to the doors and swarmed up the +walls to await the assault; and in fine the Moslem hosts returned +to their tents aided to glory and victory, and King Zau al-Makan +went in to his brother whom he found in most joyous case. So he +made a prostration of thanks to the Bountiful and the Exalted; +and then he came forward and gave Sharrkan joy of his recovery. +Answered he, "Verily we are all under the benediction of this +Religious, holy and righteous, nor would you have been +victorious, but for his accepted orisons; indeed all day he +remained at prayer to invoke victory on the Moslems."--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zau +al- Makan went in to his brother Sharrkan, he found him sitting +with the Holy Man by his side; so he rejoiced and drew near him +and gave him joy of his recovery. Answered he, "Verily we are +all under the benediction of this Recluse nor would you have been +victorious but for his prayers, indeed he felt no fear this day +and he ceased not supplication for the Moslems. I found strength +return to me, when I heard your 'Allaho Akbar,' for then I knew +you to be victorious over your enemies. But now recount to me, O +my brother, what befel thee." So he told him all that had passed +between him and the accursed Hardub and related how he had slain +him and sent him to the malediction of Allah; and Sharrkan +praised him and thanked him for his prowess. When Zat al-Dawahi +heard tell of her son's death (and she still drest as a devotee), +her face waxed yellow and her eyes ran over with railing tears: +she kept her counsel, however, and feigned to the Moslems that +she was glad and wept for excess of joy. But she said to +herself, "By the truth of the Messiah, there remaineth no profit +of my life, if I burn not his heart for his brother, Sharrkan, +even as he hath burned my heart for King Hardub, the mainstay of +Christendom and the hosts of Crossdom!" Still she kept her +secret. And the Wazir Dandan and King Zau al-Makan and the +Chamberlain remained sitting with Sharrkan till they had dressed +and salved his wound; after which they gave him medicines and he +began to recover strength; whereat they joyed with exceeding joy +and told the troops who congratulated themselves, saying, "To +morrow he will ride with us and do manly devoir in the siege." +Then said Sharrkan to them, "Ye have fought through all this day +and are aweary of fight; so it behoveth that you return to your +places and sleep and not sit up." They accepted his counsel and +then each went away to his own pavilion, and none remained with +Sharrkan but a few servants and the old woman Zat al-Dawahi. He +talked with her through part of the night, then he stretched +himself to rest: and his servants did likewise and presently +sleep overcame them all and they lay like the dead. Such was the +case with Sharrkan and his men; but as regards the old woman she +alone abode awake while they slumbered in the tent and, looking +at Sharrkan she presently saw that he was drowned in sleep. +Thereupon she sprang to her feet, as she were a scald she bear or +a speckled snake, and drew from her waist cloth a dagger so +poisoned that if laid thereon it would have melted a rock. Then +she unsheathed the poniard and went up to Sharrkan's head and she +drew the knife across his throat and severed his weasand and +hewed off his head from his body. And once more she sprang to +her feet; and, going the round of the sleeping servants, she cut +off their heads also, lest they should awake. Then she left the +tent and made for the Sultan's pavilion, but finding the guards +on the alert, turned to that of the Wazir Dandan. Now she found +him reading the Koran and when his sight fell upon her he said, +"Welcome to the Holy Man!" Hearing this from the Wazir, her heart +trembled and she said, "The reason of my coming hither at this +time is that I heard the voice of a saint amongst Allah's Saints +and am going to him." Then she turned her back, but the Wazir +said to himself, "By Allah, I will follow our Devotee this +night!" So he rose and walked after her; but when the accursed +old woman sensed his footsteps, she knew that he was following +her: wherefore she feared the disgrace of discovery and said in +herself, "Unless I serve some trick upon him he will disgrace +me." So she turned and said to him from afar, "Ho, thou Wazir, I +am going in search of this Saint that I may learn who he is; and, +after learning this much, I will ask his leave for thee to visit +him. Then I will come back and tell thee: for I fear thine +accompanying me, without having his permission, lest he take +umbrage at me seeing thee in my society." Now when the Wazir +heard these words, he was ashamed to answer her; so he left her +and returned to his tent, and would have slept; but sleep was not +favourable to him and the world seemed heaped upon him. +Presently he rose and went forth from the tent saying in himself, +"I will go to Sharrkan and chat with him till morning." But when +he entered into Sharrkan's pavilion, he found the blood running +like an aqueduct and saw the servants lying with their throats +cut like beasts for food. At this he cried a cry which aroused +all who were asleep; the folk hastened to him and, seeing the +blood streaming, set up a clamour of weeping and wailing. Then +the noise awoke the Sultan, who enquired what was the matter, and +it was said to him, "Sharrkan thy brother and his servants are +murthered." So he rose in haste and entered the tent, and found +the Wazir Dandan shrieking aloud and he saw his brother's body +without a head. Thereat he swooned away and all the troops +crowded around him, weeping and crying out, and so remained for a +while, till he came to himself, when he looked at Sharrkan and +wept with sore weeping, while the Wazir and Rustam and Bahram did +the like. But the Chamberlain cried and lamented more than the +rest and asked leave to absent himself, such was his alarm. Then +said Zau al-Makan, "Know ye who did this deed and how is it I see +not the Devotee, him who the things of this world hath put away?" +Quoth the Wazir, "And who should have been the cause of this +affliction, save that Devotee, that Satan? By Allah, my heart +abhorred him from the first, because I know that all who pretend +to be absorbed in practices religious are vile and treacherous!" +And he repeated to the King the tale of how he would have +followed the Religious, but he forbade him, whereupon the folk +broke out into a tumult of weeping and lamentation and humbled +themselves before Him who is ever near, Him who ever answereth +prayer, supplicating that He would cause the false Devotee who +denied Allah's testimony to fall into their hands. Then they +laid Sharrken out and buried him in the mountain aforesaid and +mourned over his far-famed virtues.--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they laid +Sharrkan out and buried him in the mountain aforesaid and mourned +over his far-famed virtues. Then they looked for the opening of +the city gate; but it opened not and no sign of men appeared to +them on the walls; whereat they wondered with exceeding wonder. +But King Zau al-Makan said, "By Allah, I will not turn back from +them, though I sit here for years and years, till I take blood +revenge for my brother Sharrkan and waste Constantinople and kill +the King of the Nazarenes, even if death overcome me and I be at +rest from this woeful world!" Then he bade be brought out the +treasure taken from the Monastery of Matruhina; and mustered the +troops and divided the monies among them, and he left not one of +them but he gave him gifts which contented him. Moreover, he +assembled in the presence three hundred horse of every division +and said to them, "Do ye send supplies to your households, for I +am resolved to abide by this city, year after year, till I have +taken man bote for my brother Sharrkan, even if I die in this +stead." And when the army heard these words and had received his +gifts of money they replied, "To hear is to obey!" Thereupon he +summoned couriers and gave them letters and charged them to +deliver the same, together with the monies, to the soldiers' +families and inform them that all were safe and satisfied, and +acquaint them saying, "We are encamped before Constantinople and +we will either destroy it or die; and, albeit we be obliged to +abide here months and years, we will not depart hence till we +take it." Moreover, he bade the Wazir Dandan write to his sister, +Nuzhat al-Zaman, and said to him, "Acquaint her with what hath +befallen us, and what be our situation and commend my child to +her care since that, when I went out to war, my wife was near her +delivery and by this time she must needs have been brought to +bed; and if she hath given birth to a boy, as I have heard say, +hasten your return and bring me the acceptable news." Then he +gave them somewhat of money, which they pouched and set out at +once; and all the people flocked forth to take leave of them and +entrust them with the monies and the messages. After they had +departed, Zau al-Makan turned to the Wazir Dandan and commanded +him to advance with the army against the city walls. So the +troops pushed forward, but found none on the ramparts, whereat +they marvelled, while Zau al-Makan was troubled at the case, for +he deeply mourned the severance from his brother Sharrkan and he +was sore perturbed about that traitor the Ascetic. In this +condition they abode three days without seeing anyone. So far +concerning the Moslems; but as regards the Greeks and the cause +of their refusing to fight during these three days the case was +this. As soon as Zat al-Dawahi had slain Sharrkan, she hastened +her march and reached the walls of Constantinople, where she +called out in the Greek tongue to the guards to throw her down a +rope. Quoth they, "Who art thou?"; and quoth she, "I am Zat al- +Dawahi." They knew her and let down a cord to which she tied +herself and they drew her up; and, when inside the city, she went +in to the King Afridun and said to him, "What is this I hear from +the Moslems? They say that my son King Hardub is slain." He +answered, "Yes;" and she shrieked out and wept right grievously +and ceased not weeping thus till she made Afridun and all who +were present weep with her. Then she told the King how she had +slain Sharrkan and thirty of his servants, whereat he rejoiced +and thanked her; and, kissing her hands, exhorted her to +resignation for the loss of her son. Said she, "By the truth of +the Messiah, I will not rest content with killing that dog of the +Moslem dogs in blood revenge for my son, a King of the Kings of +the age! Now there is no help for it but that I work some guile +and I contrive a wile whereby to slay the Sultan Zau al-Makan and +the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain and Rustam and Bahram and +ten thousand cavaliers of the army of Al-Islam; for it shall +never be said that my son's head be paid with the bloodwit of +Sharrkan's head; no, never!" Then said she to King Afridun, +"Know, O King of the Age, that it is my wish to set forth +mourning for my son and to cut my Girdle and to break the +Crosses." Replied Afridun, "Do what thou desire; I will not +gainsay thee in aught. And if thou prolong thy mourning for many +days it were a little thing; for though the Moslems resolve to +beleaguer us years and years, they will never win their will of +us nor gain aught of us save trouble and weariness." Then the +Accursed One (when she had ended with the calamity she had +wrought and the ignominies which in herself she had thought) took +ink case and paper and wrote thereon: "From Shawahi, Zat al- +Dawahi, to the host of the Moslems. Know ye that I entered your +country and duped by my cunning your nobles and at first hand I +slew your King Omar bin al-Nu'uman in the midst of his palace. +Moreover, I slew, in the affair of the mountain pass and of the +cave, many of your men; and the last I killed were Sharrkan and +his servants. And if fortune do not stay me and Satan obey me, I +needs must slay me your Sultan and the Wazir Dandan, for I am she +who came to you in disguise of a Recluse and who heaped upon you +my devices and deceits. Wherefore, an you would be in safety +after this, fare ye forth at once; and if you seek your own +destruction cease not abiding for the nonce; and though ye tarry +here years and years, ye shall not do your desire on us. And so +peace be yours!" After writing her writ she devoted three days to +mourning for King Hardub; arid, on the fourth, she called a +Knight and bade him take the letter and make it fast to a shaft +and shoot it into the Moslem camp. When this was done, she +entered the church and gave herself up to weeping and wailing for +the loss of her son, saying to him who took the kingship after +him, "Nothing will serve me but I must kill Zau al-Makan and all +the nobles of Al-Islam." Such was the case with her; but as +regards what occurred to the Moslems, all passed three days in +trouble and anxiety, and on the fourth when gazing at the walls +behold, they saw a knight holding a bow and about to shoot an +arrow along whose side a letter was bound. So they waited till +he had shot it among them and the Sultan bade the Wazir Dandan +take the missive and read it. He perused it accordingly; and, +when Zau al-Makan heard it to end and understood its purport, his +eyes filled with tears and he shrieked for agony at her perfidy; +and the Minister Dandan said, "By Allah, my heart shrank from +her!" Quoth the Sultan, "How could this whore play her tricks +upon us twice? But by the Almighty I will not depart hence till +I fill her cleft with molten lead and jail her with the jailing +of a bird encaged, then bind her with her own hair and crucify +her over the gate of Constantinople." And he called to mind his +brother and wept with excessive weeping. But when Zat al-Dawahi +arrived amongst the Infidels and related to them her adventures +at length, they rejoiced at her safety and at the slaying of +Sharrkan. There upon the Moslems addressed themselves again to +the siege of the city and the Sultan promised his men that, if it +should be taken, he would divide its treasures among them in +equal parts. But he dried not his tears grieving for his brother +till his body was wasted and sick, growing thin as a tooth pick. +Presently the Wazir Dandan came in to him and said, "Be of good +cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear; in very sooth thy +brother died not but because his hour was come, and there is no +profit in this mourning. How well saith the poet, + +"Whatso is not to be no sleight shall bring to pass; * What is to + be without a failure shall become; +Soon the becoming fortune shall be found to be, * And Folly's + brother[FN#453] shall abide forlorn and glum." + +Wherefore do thou leave this weeping and wailing and hearten thy +heart to bear arms." He replied, "O Wazir, my heart is heavy for +the death of my father and my brother and for our absence from +hearth and home; and my mind is concerned for my subjects." +Thereupon the Wazir and the bystanders wept; but they ceased not +from pushing forward the siege of Constantinople for a length of +days. And they being thus, behold, news arrived from Baghdad, by +one of the Emirs to the effect that the King's wife had been +blessed with a boy, and that his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman, had +named him Knmkn.[FN#454] Moreover, that the boy bid fair to be +famous, already showing wondrous signs and marvellous tokens; and +that she had commanded the Olema and the preachers to pray for +mother and child from the pulpits and bless them in all wise; +furthermore that the twain were well, that the land had enjoyed +abundant rains, and that his comrade the Fireman was established +in all prosperity, with eunuchs and slaves to wait upon him; but +that he was still ignorant of what had befallen him. And she +ended with the greeting of peace. Then quoth Zau al- Makan to +the Wazir Dandan, "Now is my back strengthened for that I have +been blest with a son whose name is Kanmakan."--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when they +brought him the news of his wife having borne him a boy child, +Zau al- Makan rejoiced with great joy and cried, "Now is my back +strengthened, for that I have been blessed with a son[FN#455] +whose name is Kanmakan." And he spake to the Wazir Dandan, +saying, "I am minded to leave this mourning and order perfections +of the Koran for my brother and command almsdeeds on his +account." Quoth the Wazir, "Thy design is good." Thereupon he +caused tents to be pitched over his brother's tomb; so they +raised them and gathered together such of the men at arms as +could repeat the Koran; and some began reciting the Holy volume; +whilst others chanted litanies containing the names of Allah, and +thus they did till the morning. Then Zau al-Makan went up to the +grave of his brother Sharrkan and poured forth copious tears, and +improvised these couplets, + +"They bore him bier'd, and all who followed wept * With Moses' + shrieks what day o'erhead shook Tor;[FN#456] +Till reached the grave which Pate had made his home, * Dug in + men's souls who one sole God adore: +Ne'er had I thought before to see my joy * Borne on the bier + which heads of bearers bore: +Ah no! nor ere they homed thee in the dust * That stars of + heaven earth ever covered o'er. +Is the tomb dweller hostage of a stead, * Where light and + splendour o'er thy face shall pour? +Praise to restore his life her word hath pledged: * Cribbed and + confined he shall dispread the more!" + +When Zau al-Makan had made an end of his versifying he wept and +wept with him all the troops; then he came to the grave and threw +himself upon it wild with woe, and the Wazir repeated the words +of the poet, + +"Pain leaving life that fleets thou hast th' eternal won; * Thou + didst as whilom many a doer like thee hath done +Leftest this worldly house without reproach or blame; * Ah, may + th' ex change secure thee every benison! +Thou west from hostile onset shield and firm defence, * For us to + baffle shafts and whistling spears to shun. +I see this world is only cheat and vanity, * Where man naught + else must seek but please the Truthful One: +Th' Empyrean's Lord allow thee bower of heavenly bliss, * And wi' + thy faithful friends The Guide show goodly wone: +I bid thee last good e'en with sigh of bitter grief, * Seeing the + West in woe for lack of Easting Sun." + +When the Wazir Dandan had finished his reciting, he wept with +sore weeping and the tears rained from his eyes like cushioned +pearls. Then came forward one who had been of Sharrkan's boon +companions in his cups and he wept till ran in rills the drops, +and he enumerated the dead man's generous qualities, reciting the +following pentastichs, + +"Where gone is Bounty since thy hand is turned to clay? * And I + in misery lie since thou west ta'en away. +See'st not, O litter guide[FN#457] (Heaven keep thee glad and + gay!), * How tears adorn my cheeks, these furrowed wrinkles + fray? + A sight to joy shine eyes and fill thee with + dismay.[FN#458] +By Allah ne'er this heart within I spoke of thee; * Ah no! nor + dared my sight to see thy brilliancy: +Save that my tear drops sorest wound have garred me dree * Yea! + and if e'er on other rest these eyne of me, + May yearning draw their reins nor suffer sleep to see." + +And when the man stinted reciting, Zau al-Makan and the Minister +Dandan wept and the whole army was moved to tears; after which +all retired to their tents, and the King turning to the Wazir +took counsel with him concerning the conduct of the campaign. On +this wise the two passed days and nights, while Zau al-Makan was +weighed down with grief and mourning till at last he said, "I +long to hear stories and adventures of Kings and tales of lover +folk enslaved by love; haply Allah may make this to solace that +which is on my heart of heavy anxiety, and stint and stay my +weeping and wailing." Quoth the Wazir, "If naught can dispel thy +trouble but hearing curious tales of Kings and people long gone +before and stories of folk enslaved by love of yore, and so +forth, this thing were easy, for I had no other business, in the +lifetime of thy father (who hath found mercy) than to relate +stories and to repeat verses to him. This very night I will tell +thee a tale of a lover and his beloved, so shall thy breast be +broadened." When Zau al-Makan heard these words from the +Minister, his heart was set upon that which had been promised to +him and he did nothing but watch for the coming of the night, +that he might hear what the Wazir Dandan had to tell of the Kings +of yore and distracted lovers long gone before. And hardly would +he believe that night had fallen ere he bade light the wax +candles and the lamps and bring all that was needful of meat and +drink and perfume gear, and what not; and when all was in +presence, he summoned the Wazir Dandan, and the Emirs Rustam and +Bahram and Tarkash and the Grand Chamberlain; then waited till +the whole party was seated before him; whereupon he turned to the +Minister and said, "Know, O Wazir, that night is come and hath +let down over us its veil of gloom, and we desire that thou tell +us those tales which thou promisedst us." Replied the Wazir, +"With joy and good will."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King +Zau Al-Makan summoned the Wazir and the Chamberlain and Rustam +and Bahram, he turned towards the Minister Dandan and said, +"Know, O Wazir, that night is come and hath let down over us its +veil of gloom, and we desire that thou tell us those tales which +thou promisedst us." Replied the Wazir, "With love and gladness! +Know, O auspicious King, that there reached my ears a relation of +a lover and a loved one and of the discourse between them and +what befel them of things rare and fair, a story such as +repelleth care from the heart and dispelleth sorrow like unto +that of the patriarch Jacob[FN#459]; and it is as follows": + +Tale of Taj al-Muluk and the Princess Dunya +(The Lover and the Loved). + +There stood in times long gone by behind the Mountains of +Ispahn, a city highs the Green City, wherein dwelt a King named +Sulyman Shh. Now he was a man of liberality and beneficence, +of justice and integrity, of generosity and sincerity, to whom +travellers repaired from every country, and his name was noised +abroad in all regions and cities and he reigned many a year in +high worship and prosperity, save that he owned neither wives nor +children. He had a Minister who rivalled him in goodness and +generosity and it so happened that one day, he sent for him and +when he came into the presence said to him, "O my Wazir, my heart +is heavy and my patience is past and my force faileth me, for +that I have neither wife nor child. This is not the way of Kings +who rule over all men, princes. and paupers; for they rejoice in +leaving behind them children and successors whereby are doubled +their number and their strength. Quoth the Prophet (whom Allah +bless and keep!); 'Marry ye, increase ye, and multiply ye, that I +may boast me of your superiority over the nations on the Day of +Resurrection.' So what is thy rede, O Wazir? Advise me of what +course and contrivance be advisable!" When the Minister heard +these words, the tears sprang from his eyes in streams, and he +replied, "Far be it from me, O King of the Age, that I debate on +that which appertaineth to the Compassionate One! Wilt thou have +me cast into the fire by the All powerful King's wrath and ire? +Buy thee a concubine." Rejoined the King, "Know, O Wazir, that +when a sovereign buyeth a female slave, he knoweth neither her +rank nor her lineage and thus he cannot tell if she be of simple +origin that he may abstain from her, or of gentle strain that he +may be intimate in her companionship. So, if he have commerce +with her, haply she will conceive by him and her son be a +hypocrite, a man of wrath and a shedder of blood. Indeed the +like of such woman may be instanced by a salt and marshy soil, +which if one till for ever it yieldeth only worthless growth and +no endurance show eth; for it may be that her son will be +obnoxious to his Lord's anger, doing not what He biddeth him or +abstaining from what He for biddeth him. Wherefore will I never +become the cause of this through the purchase of a concubine; and +it is my desire that thou demand for me in marriage the daughter +of some one of the Kings, whose lineage is known and whose +loveliness hath renown. If thou can direct me to some maiden of +birth and piety of the daughters of Moslem Sovranty, I will ask +her in marriage and wed her in presence of witnesses, so may +accrue to me the favour of the Lord of all Creatures." Said the +Wazir, "O King, verily Allah hath fulfilled thy wish and hath +brought thee to thy desire;" presently adding, "Know, O King, it +hath come to my knowledge that King Zahr Shah,[FN#460] Lord of +the White Land, hath a daughter of surpassing loveliness whose +charms talk and tale fail to express: she hath not her equal in +this age, for she is perfect in proportion and symmetry, black +eyed as if Kohl dyed and long locked, wee of waist and heavy of +hip. When she draweth nigh she seduceth and when she turneth her +back[FN#461] she slayeth; she ravisheth heart and view and she +looketh even as saith of her the poet, + +'A thin waist maid who shames the willow wand; * Nor sun nor moon + can like her rising shine: +'Tis as her honey dew of lips were blent * With wine, and pearls + of teeth were bathed in wine: +Her form, like heavenly Houri's, graceful slim; * Fair face; and + ruin dealt by glancing eyne: +How many a dead done man her eyes have slain * Upon her way of + love in ruin li'en: +An live I she's my death! I'll say no more * But dying without + her vain were life of mine.' " + +Now when the Wazir had made an end of describing that maiden, he +said to Sulayman Shah, "It is my counsel, O King, that thou +despatch to her father an ambassador, sagacious, experienced and +trained in the ways of the world, who shall courteously demand +her in marriage for thee of her sire; for in good sooth she hath +not her equal in the far parts of the world nor in the near. So +shalt thou enjoy her lovely face in the way of grace, and the +Lord of Glory be content with thy case; for it is reported of the +Prophet (whom Allah bless and preserve!) that he said, 'There be +no monkery in Al-Islam."' At this the King was transported to +perfect joy; his breast was broadened and lightened; care and +cark ceased from him and he turned to the Wazir and said, "Know +thou, O Minister, that none shall fare about this affair save +thou, by reason of thy consummate intelligence and good breeding; +wherefore hie thee home and do all thou hast to do and get thee +ready by the morrow and depart and demand me in marriage this +maiden, with whom thou hast occupied my heart and thought; and +return not to me but with her." Replied the Wazir, "I hear and I +obey." Then he tried to his own house and bade make ready +presents befitting Kings, of precious stones and things of price +and other matters light of load but weighty of worth, besides +Rabite steeds and coats of mail, such as David made[FN#462] and +chests of treasure for which speech hath no measure. And the +Wazir loaded the whole on camels and mules, and set out attended +by an hundred slave girls with flags and banners flaunting over +his head. The King charged him to return to him after a few +days; and, when he was gone, Sulayman Shah lay on coals of fire, +engrossed night and day with desire; while the envoy fared on +without ceasing through gloom and light, spanning fertile field +and desert site, till but a day's march remained between him and +the city whereto he was bound. Here he sat him down on the banks +of a river and, summoning one of his confidants, bade him wend +his way to King Zahr Shah and announce his approach without +delay. Quoth the messenger, "I hear and I obey!" And he rode on +in haste to that city and, as he was about to enter therein, it +so chanced that the King, who was sitting in one of his +pleasaunces before the city gate, espied him as he was passing +the doors, and knowing him for a stranger, bade bring him before +the presence. So the messenger coming forward informed him of +the approach of the Wazir of the mighty King Sulayman Shah, Lord +of the Green Land and of the Mountains of Ispahan: whereat King +Zahr Shah rejoiced and welcomed him. Then he carried him to his +palace and asked him, "Where leavedst thou the Wazir?"; and he +answered, "I left him in early day on the banks of such a river +and tomorrow he will reach thee, Allah continue his favours to +thee and have mercy upon thy parents!" Thereupon King Zahr Shah +commanded one of his Wazirs to take the better part of his +Grandees and Chamberlains and Lieutenants and Lords of the land, +and go out to meet the ambassador in honour of King Sulayman +Shah; for that his dominion extended over the country. Such was +the case with Zahr Shah; but as regards the Wazir he abode in his +stead till night was half spent[FN#463] and then set out for the +city; but when morning shone and the sun rose upon hill and down, +of a sudden he saw King Zahr Shah's Wazir approaching him, with +his Chamberlains and high Lords and Chief Officers of the +kingdom; and the two parties joined company at some parasangs' +distance from the city.[FN#464] Thereat the Wazir made sure of +the success of his errand and saluted the escort, which ceased +not preceding him till they reached the King's palace and passed +in before him through the gate to the seventh vestibule, a place +where none might enter on horseback, for it was near to where the +King sat. So the Minister alighted and fared on a foot till he +came to a lofty saloon, at whose upper end stood a marble couch, +set with pearls and stones of price, and having for legs four +elephant's tusks. Upon it was a coverlet of green satin purfled +with red gold, and above it hung a canopy adorned with pearls and +gems, whereon sat King Zahr Shah, whilst his officers of state +stood in attendance before him. When the Wazir went in to him, +he composed his mind and, unbinding his tongue, displayed the +oratory of Wazirs and saluted the King in the language of +eloquence.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say, + + When it was the One Hundred and Eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Wazir of King Sulayman Shah entered the presence of King Zahr +Shah he composed his mind and, unbinding his tongue, displayed +the oratory of Wazirs and saluted the King in the language of +eloquence and improvised these couplets, + +"He cometh robed and bending gracefully: * O'er crop and cropper + dews of grace sheds he: +He charms; nor characts, spells nor gramarye * May fend the + glances of those eyne from thee: +Say to the blamer, "Blame me not, for I * From love of him will + never turn to flee": +My heart hath played me false while true to him, * And Sleep, in + love with him, abhorreth me: +O heart! th'art not the sole who loveth him, * So bide with him + while I desertion dree: +There's nought to joy mine ears with joyous sound * Save praise + of King Zahr Shah in jubilee: +A King albeit thou leave thy life to win * One look, that look + were all sufficiency: +And if a pious prayer thou breathe for him, * Shall join all + Faithfuls in such pious gree: +Folk of his realm! If any shirk his right * For other hoping, + gross Unfaith I see." + +When the Wazir had ended his poetry, King Zahr Shah bade him draw +near and honoured him with the highmost honours; then, seating +him by his own side, smiled in his face and favoured him with a +gracious reply. They ceased not on this wise till the time of +the under meal when the attendants brought forward the tables of +food in that saloon and all ate till they were sated; after which +the tables were removed and those who were in the assembly +withdrew, leaving only the chief officers. Now when the Minister +saw this, he rose to his feet and, after complimenting the King a +second time and kissing the ground before him, spake as follows, +"O mighty King and dread Lord! I have travelled hither and have +visited thee upon a matter which shall bring thee peace, profit +and prosperity: and it is this, that I come as ambassador to +thee, seeking in marriage thy daughter, the noble and illustrious +maid, from Sulayman Shah, a Prince famed for justice and +integrity, sincerity and generosity, Lord of the Green Land and +of the Mountains of Ispahan, who sendeth thee of presents a +store, and gifts of price galore, ardently desiring to become thy +son in law. But art thou inclined to him as he to thee?" He then +kept silence, awaiting a reply. When King Zahr Shah heard these +words, he sprang to his feet and kissed the ground respectfully +before the Wazir, while the bystanders were confounded at his +condescension to the ambassador and their minds were amazed. +Then he praised Him who is the Lord of Honour and Glory and +replied (and he still standing), "O mighty Wazir and illustrious +Chief; hear thou what I say! Of a truth we are to King Sulayman +Shah of the number of his subjects, and we shall be ennobled by +his alliance and we covet it ardently; for my daughter is a +handmaid of his handmaidens, and it is my dearest desire that he +may become my stay and my reliable support." Then he summoned the +Kazis and the witnesses, who should bear testimony that King +Sulayman Shah had despatched his Wazir as proxy to conclude the +marriage, and that King Zahr Shah joyfully acted and officiated +for his daughter. So the Kazis concluded the wedding contract +and offered up prayers for the happiness and prosperity of the +wedded feres; after which the Wazir arose and, fetching the gifts +and rarities and precious things, laid them all before the King. +Then Zahr Shah occupied himself anent the fitting out of his +daughter and honourably entertained the Wazir and feasted his +subjects all, great and small; and for two months they held high +festival, omitting naught that could rejoice heart and eye. Now +when all things needful for the bride were ready, the King caused +the tents to be carried out and they pitched the camp within +sight of the city, where they packed the bride's stuffs in chests +and get ready the Greek handmaids and Turkish slave girls, and +provided the Princess with great store of precious treasures and +costly jewels. Then he had made for her a litter of red gold, +inlaid with pearls and stones of price, and set apart two mules +to carry it; a litter which was like one of the chambers of a +palace, and within which she seemed as she were of the loveliest +Houris and it became as one of the pavilions of Paradise. And +after they had made bales of the treasures and monies, and had +loaded them upon the mules and camels, King Zahr Shah went forth +with her for a distance of three parasangs; after which he bade +farewell to her and the Wazir and those with him, and returned to +his home in gladness and safety. Thereupon the Wazir, faring +with the King's daughter, pushed on and ceased not his stages +over desert ways,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +fared on with the King's daughter and ceased not forcing his +stages over desert ways and hastened his best through nights and +days, till there remained between him and his city but three +marches. Thereupon he sent forward to King Sulayman Shah one who +should announce the coming of the bride. The King rejoiced +thereat and bestowed on the messenger a dress of honour; and bade +his troops march forth in grand procession to meet the Princess +and her company for due worship and honour, and don their richest +apparel with banners flying over their heads. And his orders +were obeyed. He also commanded to cry throughout the city that +neither curtained damsel nor honoured lady nor time-ruptured +crone should fail to fare forth and meet the bride. So they all +went out to greet her and the grandest of them vied in doing her +service and they agreed to bring her to the King's palace by +night. More over, the chief officers decided to decorate the +road and to stand in espalier of double line, whilst the bride +should pass by preceded by her eunuchs and serving women and clad +in the gear her father had given her. So when she made her +appearance, the troops surrounded her, these of the right wing +and those of the left, and the litter ceased not advancing with +her till she approached the palace; nor remained any but came +forth to gaze upon the Princess. Drums were beaten and spears +were brandished and horns blared and flags fluttered and steeds +pranced for precedence and scents shed fragrance till they +reached the Palace gate and the pages entered with the litter +through the Harim wicket. The place shone with its splendours +and the walls glittered for the glamour of its gear. Now when +night came, the eunuchs threw open the doors of the bridal +chamber and stood surrounding the chief entrance whereupon the +bride came forward and amid her damsels she was like the moon +among stars or an union shining on a string of lesser pearls, and +she passed into the bridal closet where they had set for her a +couch of alabaster inlaid with unions and jewels. As soon as she +had taken seat there, the King came in to her and Allah filled +his heart with her love so he abated her maidenhead and ceased +from him his trouble and disquiet. He abode with her well nigh a +month but she had conceived by him the first night; and, when the +month was ended, he went forth and sat on his sofa of state, and +dispensed justice to his subjects, till the months of her +pregnancy were accomplished. On the last day of the ninth month, +towards day break, the Queen was seized with the pangs of labour; +so she sat down on the stool of delivery and Allah made the +travail easy to her and she gave birth to a boy child, on whom +appeared auspicious signs. When the King heard of this, he joyed +with exceeding joy and rewarded the bearer of the good tidings +with much treasure; and of his gladness he went in to the child +and kissed him between the eyes and wondered at his brilliant +loveliness; for in him was approved the saying of the poet, + +"In the towering forts Allah throned him King, * A lion, a star + in the skies of reign: +At his rising the spear and the throne rejoiced, * The gazelle, + the ostrich, The men of main:[FN#465] +Mount him not on the paps, for right soon he'll show * That to + throne on the war steed's loins he's fain: +And wean him from sucking of milk, for soon * A sweeter drink, + the foe's blood, he'll drain." + +Then the midwives took the newborn child and cut the navel cord +and darkened his eyelids with Kohl powder[FN#466] and named him +Tj al-Mulk Khrn.[FN#467] He was suckled at the breast of +fond indulgence and was reared in the lap of happy fortune; and +thus his days ceased not running and the years passing by till he +reached the age of seven. Thereupon Sulayman Shah summoned the +doctors and learned men and bade them teach his son writing and +science and belle-lettres. This they continued to do for some +years, till he had learnt what was needful; and, when the King +saw that he was well grounded in whatso he desired, he took him +out of the teachers' and professors' hands and engaged for him a +skilful master, who taught him cavalarice and knightly exercises +till the boy attained the age of fourteen; and when he fared +abroad on any occasion, all who saw him were ravished by his +beauty and made him the subject of verse; and even pious men were +seduced by his brilliant loveliness.--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Tenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, That when Taj +al-Muluk Kharan, son of Sulayman Shah, became perfect in riding +craft and excelled all those of his time, his excessive beauty, +when he fared abroad on any occasion, caused all who saw him to +be ravished and to make him the subject of verse; and even pious +men were seduced by his brilliant loveliness. Quoth the poet of +him, + +"I clipt his form and wax'd drunk with his scent, * Fair branch + to whom Zephyr gave nutriment: +Nor drunken as one who drinks wine, but drunk * With night + draught his lips of the honey dew lent: +All beauty is shown in the all of him, * Hence all human hearts + he in hand hath hens: +My mind, by Allah! shall ne'er unmind * His love, while I wear + life's chains till spent: +If I live, in his love I'll live; if I die * For pine and + longing, 'O blest!' I'll cry + +When he reached the eighteenth year of his age, tender +down[FN#468] sprouted, on his side face fresh with youth, from a +mole upon one rosy cheek and a second beauty spot, like a grain +of ambergris adorned the other; and he won the wits and eyes of +every wight who looked on him, even as saith the poet, + +"He is Caliph of Beauty in Ysufs lieu, * And all lovers fear + when they sight his grace: +Pause and gaze with me; on his cheek thou'lt sight * The + Caliphate's banner of sable hue."[FN#469] + +And as saith another, + +"Thy sight hath never seen a fairer sight, * Of all things men + can in the world espy, +Than yon brown mole, that studs his bonny cheek * Of rosy red + beneath that jet black eye." + +And as saith another, + +"I marvel seeing yon mole that serves his cheeks' bright flame * + Yet burneth not in fire albeit Infidel[FN#470] +I wonder eke to see that apostolic glance, * Miracle working, + though it work by magic spell: +How fresh and bright the down that decks his cheek, and yet * + Bursten gall bladders feed which e'en as waters well." + +And as saith another, + +"I marvel hearing people questioning of * The Fount of Life and + in what land 'tis found: +I see it sprung from lips of dainty fawn, * Sweet rosy mouth with + green mustachio down'd: +And wondrous wonder 'tis when Moses viewed * That Fount, he + rested not from weary round."[FN#471] + +Now having developed such beauty, when he came to man's estate +his loveliness increased, and it won for him many comrades and +intimates; while every one who drew near to him wished that Taj +al-Muluk Kharan might become Sultan after his father's death, and +that he himself might be one of his Emirs. Then took he +passionately to chasing and hunting which he would hardly leave +for a single hour. His father, King Sulayman Shah, would have +forbidden him the pursuit fearing for him the perils of the waste +and the wild beasts; but he paid no heed to his warning voice. +And it so chanced that once upon a time he said to his attendants +"Take ye ten days food and forage;" and, when they obeyed his +bidding, he set out with his suite for sport and disport. They +rode on into the desert and ceased not riding four days, till +they came to a place where the ground was green, and they saw in +it wild beasts grazing and trees with ripe fruit growing and +springs flowing. Quoth Taj al-Muluk to his followers, "Set up +the nets here and peg them in a wide ring and let our trysting +place be at the mouth of the fence, in such a spot." So they +obeyed his words and staked out a wide circle with toils; and +there gathered together a mighty matter of all kinds of wild +beasts and gazelles, which cried out for fear of the men and +threw themselves for fright in the face of the horses. Then they +loosed on to them the hounds and lynxes[FN#472] and +hawks;[FN#473] and they shot the quarry down with shafts which +pierced their vitals; and, by the time they came to the further +end of the net ring, they had taken a great number of the wild +beasts, and the rest fled. Then Taj al-Muluk dismounted by the +water side and bade the game be brought before himself, and +divided it, after he had set apart the best of the beasts for his +father, King Sulayman Shah, and despatched the game to him; and +some he distributed among the officers of his court. He passed +the night in that place, and when morning dawned there came up a +caravan of merchants conveying negro slaves and white servants, +and halted by the water and the green ground. When Taj al-Muluk +saw them, he said to one of his companions, "Bring me news of +yonder men and question them why they have halted in this +place."[FN#474] So the messenger went up to them and addressed +them, "Tell me who ye be, and answer me an answer without delay." +Replied they, "We are merchants and have halted to rest, for that +the next station is distant and we abide here because we have +confidence in King Sulayman Shah and his son, Taj al-Muluk, and +we know that all who alight in his dominions are in peace and +safety; more over we have with us precious stuffs which we have +brought for the Prince." So the messenger returned and told these +news to the King's son who, hearing the state of the case and +what the merchants had replied, said, "If they have brought stuff +on my account I will not enter the city nor depart hence till I +see it shown to me." Then he mounted horse and rode to the +caravan and his Mamelukes followed him till he reached it. +Thereupon the merchants rose to receive him and invoked on him +Divine aid and favour with continuance of glory and virtues; +after which they pitched him a pavilion of red satin, embroidered +with pearls and jewels, wherein they spread him a kingly divan +upon a silken carpet worked at the upper end with emeralds set in +gold. There Taj al-Muluk seated himself whilst his white +servants stood in attendance upon him, and sent to bid the +merchants bring out all that they had with them. Accordingly, +they produced their merchandise, and displayed the whole and he +viewed it and took of it what liked him, paying them the price. +Then he looked about him at the caravan, and remounted and was +about to ride onwards, when his glance fell on a handsome youth +in fair attire, and a comely and shapely make, with flower white +brow and moon like face, save that his beauty was wasted and that +yellow hues had overspread his cheeks by reason of parting from +those he loved;--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Eleventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Taj Al- +Muluk, when he looked about him at the caravan, saw a handsome +youth in neat attire and of shapely make, with flower like +forehead and moon like face, save that his beauty was wasted and +yellow hues had overspread his cheeks by reason of parting from +those he loved; and great was his groaning and moaning, and the +tears streamed from his eyelids as he repeated these couplets, + +"Longsome is Absence; Care and Fear are sore, * And ceaseless + tears, O friend, mine eyes outpour: +Yea, I farewelled my heart on parting day * And heartless, + hopeless, now I bide forlore: +Pause, O my friend, with me farewelling one * Whose words my cure + can work, my health restore!" + +Now when the youth ended his poetry he wept awhile and fell down +in a fainting fit, whilst Taj al-Muluk looked at him and wondered +at his case. Then, coming to himself, he stared with distracted +air, and versified in these couplets, + +"Beware her glance I rede thee, 'tis like wizard wight, * None + can escape unscathed those eye shafts' glancing flight: +In very sooth black eyes, with languorous sleepy look, * Pierce + deeper than white swords however these may bite. +Be not thy senses by her sweets of speech beguiled, * Whose + brooding fever shall ferment in thought and sprite: +Soft sided Fair[FN#475] did silk but press upon her skin, * + 'Twould draw red blood from it, as thou thyself canst sight. +Chary is she of charms twixt neck and anklets dwell, * And ah! + what other scent shall cause me such delight?[FN#476]" + +Then he sobbed a loud sob and swooned away. But when Taj al- +Muluk saw him in this case, he was perplexed about his state and +went up to him; and, as the youth came to his senses and saw the +King's son standing at his head, he sprang to his feet and kissed +the ground between his hands. Taj al-Muluk asked him, 'Why didst +thou not show us thy merchandise?" end he answered, O my lord, +there is naught among my stock worthy of thine august highness." +Quoth the Prince, "Needs must thou show me what thou hast and +acquaint me with thy circumstance; for I see thee weeping eyed +and heavyhearted. If thou have been oppressed, we will end thine +oppression, and if thou be in debt, we will pay thy debt; for of +a truth my heart burneth to see thee, since I first set eyes on +thee."[FN#477] Then Taj al-Muluk bade the seats be set, and they +brought him a chair of ivory and ebony with a net work of gold +and silk, and spread him a silken rug for his feet. So he sat +down on the chair and bidding the youth seat himself on the rug +said to him, "Show me thy stock in trade!" The young merchant +replied, "O my Lord, do not name this to me, for my goods be +unworthy of thee." Rejoined Taj al-Muluk "It needs must be +thus!"; and bade some of the pages fetch the goods. So they +brought them in despite of him; and, when he saw them, the tears +streamed from his eyes and he wept and sighed and lamented: sobs +rose in his throat and he repeated these couplets, + +"By what thine eyelids show of Kohl and coquetry! * By what thy + shape displays of lissome symmetry! +By what thy liplets store of honey dew and wine! * By what thy + mind adorns of gracious kindly gree! +To me thy sight dream-visioned, O my hope! exceeds * The + happiest escape from horriblest injury." + +Then the youth opened his bales and displayed his merchandise to +Taj Al-Muluk in detail, piece by piece, and amongst them he +brought out a gown of satin brocaded with gold, worth two +thousand dinars. When he opened the gown there fell a piece of +linen from its folds. As soon as the young merchant saw this he +caught up the piece of linen in haste and hid it under his thigh; +and his reason wandered, and he began versifying, + +"When shall be healed of thee this heart that ever bides in woe? + * Than thee the Pleiad-stars more chance of happy meeting + show +Parting and banishment and longing pain and lowe of love, * + Procrastinating[FN#478] and delay these ills my life lay + low: +Nor union bids me live in joy, nor parting kills by grief, * Nor + travel draws me nearer thee nor nearer comest thou: +Of thee no justice may be had, in thee dwells naught of rush, * + Nor gain of grace by side of thee, nor flight from thee I + know: +For love of thee all goings forth and comings back are strait * + On me, and I am puzzled sore to know where I shall go." + +Taj al-Muluk wondered with great wonder at his verse, and could +not comprehend the cause. But when the youth snatched up the bit +of linen and placed it under thigh, he asked him, "What is that +piece of linen?" "O my Lord," answered the merchant, "thou hast +no concern with this piece." Quoth the King's son, "Show it me;" +and quoth the merchant, "O my lord, I refused to show thee my +goods on account of this piece of linen; for I cannot let thee +look upon it."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say, + + When it was the One Hundred and Twelfth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant said to Taj al-Muluk, "I did not refuse to show thee my +goods save on this account, for I cannot let thee look upon it." +Whereupon Taj al Muluk retorted, "Perforce I must and will see +it;" and insisted and became angry. So the youth drew it out +from under his thigh, and wept and moaned and redoubled his sighs +and groans, and repeated these verses, + +"Now blame him not; for blame brings only irk and pain! * Indeed, + I spake him sooth but ne'er his ear could gain: +May Allah guard my moon which riseth in the vale * Beside our + camp, from loosed robe like skyey plain:[FN#479] +I left him but had Love vouchsafed to leave for me * Some peace + in life such leave of him I ne'er had ta'en: +How long he pleaded for my sake on parting morn, * While down his + cheeks and mine tears ran in railing rain: +Allah belie me not: the garb of mine excuse * This parting rent, + but I will Mend that garb again! +No couch is easy to my side, nor on such wise * Aught easeth him, + when all alone without me lain: +Time with ill omened hand hath wrought between us two, * And made + my waxing joys to wane and his to wane, +And poured mere grief and woe, what time Time fain had crowned * + The bowl he made me drink and gave for him to drain." + +When he ended his recitation, quoth Taj al-Muluk, "I see thy +conduct without consequence; tell me then why weepest thou at the +sight of this rag!" When the young merchant heard speak of the +piece of linen, he sighed and answered, "O my lord, my story is a +strange and my case out of range, with regard to this piece of +linen and to her from whom I brought it and to her who wrought on +it these figures and emblems." Hereupon, he spread out the piece +of linen, and behold, thereon was the figure of a gazelle wrought +in silk and worked with red gold, and facing it was another +gazelle traced in silver with a neck ring of red gold and three +bugles[FN#480] of chrysolite upon the ring. When Taj al-Muluk +saw the beauty of these figures, he exclaimed, "Glory be to Allah +who teacheth man that which he knoweth not!"[FN#481] And his +heart yearned to hear the youth's story; so he said to him, "Tell +me thy story with her who owned these gazelles." Replied the +young man: "Hear, O my Lord, the + + + + + + Tale of Aziz and Azizah.[FN#482] + + + +My father was a wealthy merchant and Allah had vouchsafed him no +other child than myself; but I had a cousin, Azzah highs, +daughter of my paternal uncle and we twain were brought up in one +house; for her father was dead and before his death, he had +agreed with my father that I should marry her. So when I reached +man's estate and she reached womanhood, they did not separate her +from me or me from her, till at last my father spoke to my mother +and said, "This very year we will draw up the contract of +marriage between Aziz and Azizah." So having agreed upon this he +betook himself to preparing provision for the wedding feast. +Still we ceased not to sleep on the same carpet knowing naught of +the case, albeit she was more thoughtful, more intelligent and +quicker witted than I. Now when my father had made an end of his +preparations, and naught remained for him but to write out the +contract and for me but to consummate the marriage with my +cousin, he appointed the wedding for a certain Friday, after +public prayers; and, going round to his intimates among the mer +chants and others, he acquainted them with that, whilst my mother +went forth and invited her women friends and summoned her kith +and kin. When the Friday came, they cleaned the saloon and +prepared for the guests and washed the marble floor; then they +spread tapestry about our house and set out thereon what was +needful, after they had hung its walls with cloth of gold. Now +the folk had agreed to come to us after the Friday prayers; so my +father went out and bade them make sweetmeats and sugared dishes, +and there remained nothing to do but to draw up the contract. +Then my mother sent me to the bath and sent after me a suit of +new clothes of the richest; and, when I came out of the Hammam, I +donned those habits which were so perfumed that as I went along, +there exhaled from them a delicious fragrance scenting the +wayside. I had designed to repair to the Cathedral mosque when I +bethought me of one of my friends and returned in quest of him +that he might be present at the writing of the contract; and +quoth I to myself, "This matter will occupy me till near the time +of congregational prayer." So I went on and entered a by street +which I had never before entered, perspiring profusely from the +effects of the bath and the new clothes on my body; and the sweat +streamed down whilst the scents of my dress were wafted abroad: I +therefore sat me at the upper end of the street resting on a +stone bench, after spreading under me an embroidered kerchief I +had with me. The heat oppressed me more and more, making my +forehead perspire and the drops trickled along my cheeks; but I +could not wipe my face with my kerchief because it was dispread +under me. I was about to take the skirt of my robe and wipe my +cheeks with it, when unexpectedly there fell on me from above a +white kerchief, softer to the touch than the morning breeze and +pleasanter to the sight than healing to the diseased. I hent it +in hand and raised my head to see whence it had fallen, when my +eyes met the eyes of the lady who owned these gazelles.--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say + + When it was the One Hundred and Thirteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth +continued to Taj al-Muluk: "So I raised my head to see whence +this kerchief had fallen, when my eyes met those of the lady who +owned these gazelles. And lo! she was looking out of a wicket in +a lattice of brass and never saw my eyes a fairer than she, and +in fine my tongue faileth to describe her beauty. When she +caught sight of me looking at her, she put her forefinger into +her mouth, then joined her middle finger and her witness +finger[FN#483] and laid them on her bosom, between her breasts; +after which she drew in her head and closed the wicket shutter +and went her ways. There upon fire broke out in and was heaped +upon my heart, and greater grew my smart; the one sight cost me a +thousand sighs and I abode perplexed, for that I heard no word by +her spoken, nor understood the meaning of her token. I looked at +the window a second time, but found it shut and waited patiently +till sundown, but sensed no sound and saw no one in view. So +when I despaired of seeing her again, I rose from my place and +taking up the handkerchief, opened it, when there breathed from +it a scent of musk which caused me so great delight I became as +one in Paradise.[FN#484] Then I spread it before me and out +dropped from it a delicate little scroll; whereupon I opened the +paper which was perfumed with a delicious perfume, and therein +were writ these couplets, + +"I sent to him a scroll that bore my plaint of love, * Writ in + fine delicate hand; for writing proves man's skill: +Then quoth to me my friend, 'Why is thy writing thus; * So fine, + so thin drawn 'tis to read unsuitable?' +Quoth I, 'for that I'm fine-drawn wasted, waxed thin, * Thus + lovers' writ Should be, for so Love wills his will. + +And after casting my eyes on the beauty of the kerchief,[FN#485] +I saw upon one of its two borders the following couplets worked +in with the needle, + +"His cheek down writeth (O fair fall the goodly scribe!) * Two + lines on table of his face in Rayhn-hand:[FN#486] +O the wild marvel of the Moon when comes he forth! * And when he + bends, O shame to every Willow wand!" + +And on the opposite border these two couplets were traced, + +"His cheek down writeth on his cheek with ambergris on pearl * + Two lines, like jet on apple li'en, the goodliest design: +Slaughter is in those languid eyne whene'er a glance they deal, * + And drunkenness in either cheek and not in any wine." + +When I read the poetry on the handkerchief the flames of love +darted into my heart, and yearning and pining redoubled their +smart. So I took the kerchief and the scroll and went home, +knowing no means to win my wish, for that I was incapable of +conducting love affairs and inexperienced in interpreting hints +and tokens. Nor did I reach my home ere the night was far spent +and I found the daughter of my uncle sitting in tears. But as +soon as she saw me she wiped away the drops and came up to me, +and took off my walking dress and asked me the reason of my +absence, saying, "All the folk, Emirs and notables and merchants +and others, assembled in our house; and the Kazi and the +witnesses were also present at the appointed time. They ate and +tarried awhile sitting to await thine appearance for the writing +of the contract; and, when they despaired of thy presence, they +dispersed and went their ways. And indeed," she added, "thy +father raged with exceeding wrath by reason of this, and swore +that he would not celebrate our marriage save during the coming +year, for that he hath spent on these festivities great store of +money." And she ended by asking, "What hath befallen thee this +day to make thee delay till now?; and why hast thou allowed that +to happen which happened because of thine absence?" Answered I, +"O daughter of mine uncle, question me not concerning what hath +befallen me."[FN#487] Then I told her all that had passed from +beginning to end, and showed her the handkerchief. She took the +scroll and read what was written therein; and tears ran down her +cheeks and she repeated these cinquains, + +"Who saith that Love at first of free will came, * Say him: Thou + liest! Love be grief and grame: +Yet shall such grame and grief entail no shame; * All annals + teach us one thing and the same + Good current coin clips coin we may not crepe! + +An please thou, say there's pleasure in thy pain, * Find + Fortune's playful gambols glad and fain: +Or happy blessings in th' unhappy's bane, * That joy or grieve, + with equal might and main: + Twixt phrase and antiphrase I'm all a heap! + +But he, withal, whose days are summer bright, * Whom maids e'er + greet with smiling lips' delight; +Whom spicey breezes fan in every site * And wins whate'er he + wills, that happy wight + White blooded coward heart should never keep!" + +Then she asked me, "What said she, and what signs made she to +thee?" I answered, "She uttered not a word, but put her fore +finger in her mouth, then joining it to her middle finger, laid +both fingers on her bosom and pointed to the ground. Thereupon +she withdrew her head and shut the wicket; and after that I saw +her no more. However, she took my heart with her, so I sat till +sun down, expecting her again to look out of the window; but she +did it not; and, when I despaired of her, I rose from my seat and +came home. This is my history and I beg thee to help me in this +my sore calamity." Upon this she raised her face to me and said, +"O son of mine uncle, if thou soughtest my eye, I would tear it +for thee from its eyelids, and perforce I cannot but aid thee to +thy desire and aid her also to her desire; for she is whelmed in +passion for thee even as thou for her." Asked I, "And what is the +interpretation of her signs?"; and Azizah answered, "As for the +putting her finger in her mouth,[FN#488] it showed that thou art +to her as her soul to her body and that she would bite into union +with thee with her wisdom teeth. As for the kerchief, it +betokeneth that her breath of life is bound up in thee. As for +the placing her two fingers on her bosom between her breasts, its +explanation is that she saith; 'The sight of thee may dispel my +grief.' For know, O my cousin, that she loveth thee and she +trusteth in thee. This is my interpretation of her signs and, +could I come and go at Will, I would bring thee and her together +in shortest time, and curtain you both with my skirt." Hearing +these words I thanked her (continued the young merchant) for +speaking thus, and said to myself, "I will wait two days." So I +abode two days in the house, neither going out nor coming in; +neither eating nor drinking but I laid my head on my cousin's +lap, whilst she comforted me and said to me, "Be resolute and of +good heart and hope for the best!"--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say, + + When it was the One Hundred and Fourteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth +pursued to Taj al-Muluk:--"And when the two days were past she +said to me, "Be of good cheer and clear thine eyes of tears and +take courage to dress thyself and go to her, according to thy +tryst." Then she rose and changed my clothes and perfumed me with +incense smoke. So I braced myself up and heartened my heart and +went out and walked on till I came to the by-street, where I sat +down on the bench awhile. And behold, the wicket suddenly opened +and I looked up and seeing her, fell down in a swoon. When I +revived, I called up resolution and took courage and gazed again +at her and again became insensible to the world around me. Then +I came to myself and looking at her, saw that she held in hand a +mirror and a red kerchief. Now when she caught my glance, she +bared her forearms and opened her five fingers and smote her +breast with palm and digits; and after this she raised her hands +and, holding the mirror outside the wicket, she took the red +kerchief and retired into the room with it, but presently +returned and putting out her hand with the kerchief, let it down +towards the lane three several times, dipping it and raising it +as often. Then she wrung it out and folded it in her hands, +bending down her head the while; after which she drew it in from +the lattice and, shutting the wicket shutter, went away without a +single word; nay, she left me confounded and knowing not what +signified her signs.[FN#489]. I tarried sitting there till +supper time and did not return home till near midnight; and there +I found the daughter of my uncle with her cheek props in her hand +and her eyelids pouring forth tears; and she was repeating these +couplets, + +"Woe's me! why should the blamer gar thee blaming bow? * How be + consoled for thee that art so tender bough? +Bright being! on my vitals cost thou prey, and drive * My heart + before platonic passion's[FN#490] force to bow. +Thy Turk like[FN#491] glances havoc deal in core of me, * As + furbished sword thin ground at curve could never show: +Thou weigh's" me down with weight of care, while I have not * + Strength e'en to bear my shift, so weakness lays me low: +Indeed I weep blood tears to hear the blamer say; * 'The lashes + of thy lover's eyne shall pierce thee through!' +Thou hast, my prince of loveliness! an Overseer,[FN#492] * Who + wrongs me, and a Groom[FN#493] who beats me down with brow. +He foully lies who says all loveliness belonged * To Joseph, in + thy loveliness is many a Joe: +I force myself to turn from thee, in deadly fright * Of spies; + and what the force that turns away my sight!" + +When I heard her verse, cark increased and care redoubled on me +and I fell down in a corner of our house; whereupon she arose in +haste and, coming to me lifted me up and took off my outer +clothes and wiped my face with her sleeve. Then she asked me +what had befallen me, and I described all that had happened from +her. Quoth she, "O my cousin, as for her sign to thee with her +palm and five fingers its interpretation is, Return after five +days; and the putting forth of her head out of the window, and +her gestures with the mirror and the letting down and raising up +and wringing out of the red kerchief,[FN#494] signify, Sit in the +dyer's shop till my messenger come to thee." When I heard her +words fire flamed up in my heart and I exclaimed, "O daughter of +my uncle, thou sayest sooth in this thine interpretation; for I +saw in the street the shop of a Jew dyer." Then I wept, and she +said, "Be of good cheer and strong heart: of a truth others are +occupied with love for years and endure with constancy the ardour +of passion, whilst thou hast but a week to wait; why then this +impatience?" Thereupon she went on cheering me with comfortable +talk and brought me food: so I took a mouthful and tried to eat +but could not; and I abstained from meat and drink and estranged +myself from the solace of sleep, till my colour waxed yellow and +I lost my good looks; for I had never been in love before nor had +I ever savoured the ardour of passion save this time. So I fell +sick and my cousin also sickened on my account; but she would +relate to me, by way of consolation, stories of love and lovers +every night till I fell asleep; and when ever I awoke, I found +her wakeful for my sake with tears running down her cheeks. This +ceased not till the five days were past, when my cousin rose and +warmed some water and bathed me with it. Then she dressed me in +my best and said to me, "Repair to her and Allah fulfil thy wish +and bring thee to thy desire of thy beloved!" So I went out and +ceased not walking on till I came to the upper end of the by +street. As it was the Sabbath[FN#495] I found the dyer's shop +locked and sat before it, till I heard the call to mid afternoon +prayer. Then the sun yellowed and the Mu'ezzins[FN#496] chanted +the call to sundown prayer and the night came; but I saw no sign +nor heard one word, nor knew any news of her. So I feared for my +life sitting there alone; and at last I arose and walked home +reeling like a drunken man. When I reached the house, I found my +cousin Azizah standing, with one hand grasping a peg driven into +the wall and the other on her breast; and she was sighing and +groaning and repeating these couplets, + +"The longing of an Arab lass forlorn of kith and kin * (Who to + Hijazian willow wand and myrtle[FN#497] cloth incline, +And who, when meeting caravan, shall with love-lowe set light * + To bivouac fire, and bang for conk her tears of pain and + pine) +Exceeds not mine for him nor more devotion shows, but he * Seeing + my heart is wholly his spurns love as sin indign." + +Now when she had finished her verse she turned to me and, seeing +me, wiped away her tears and my tears with her sleeve. Then she +smiled in my face and said, "O my cousin, Allah grant thee +enjoyment of that which He hath given thee! Why didst thou not +pass the night by the side of thy beloved and why hast thou not +fulfilled thy desire of her?" When I heard her words, I gave her +a kick in the breast and she fell down in the saloon and her brow +struck upon the edge of the raised pavement and hit against a +wooden peg therein. I looked at her and saw that her forehead +was cut open and the blood running,--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Fifteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: "Now when I kicked the +daughter of my uncle in the breast she fell on the edge of the +raised pavement in the saloon and her brow struck upon a wooden +peg. Thereby her forehead was cut open and the blood ran down, +but she was silent and did not utter a single sound.[FN#498] +Presently she rose up, and made some tinder of rags, then +staunching with it the bleeding wound, bound her forehead with a +bandage; after which she wiped up the blood that had fallen on +the carpet, and it was as if nothing had been. Presently she +came up to me and smiling in my face, said with gentle voice, "By +Allah, O son of my uncle, I spake not these words to mock at thee +or at her! But I was troubled with an ache in my head and was +minded to be blooded, but now thou hast eased my head and +lightened my brow; so tell me what hath befallen thee to day." +Thereupon I told her all that had passed between me and her that +day; and she wept as she heard my words and said, "O son of my +uncle, rejoice at the good tidings of thy desire being fulfilled +and thine aim being attained. Of a truth this is a sign of +acceptance; for that she stayed away only because she wisheth to +try thee and know if thou be patient or not, and sincere in thy +love for her or otherwise. Tomorrow, repair to her at the old +place and see what sign she maketh to thee; for indeed thy +gladness is near and the end of thy sadness is at hand." And she +went on to comfort me; but my cark and care ceased not to +increase on me. Presently she brought me food which I kicked +away with my foot so that the contents of every saucer were +scattered in all directions, and I said, "Every lover is a +madman; he inclineth not to food neither enjoyeth he sleep." And +my cousin Azizah rejoined, "By Allah, O son of my uncle, these be +in very deed the signs of love!" And the tears streamed down her +cheeks whenas she gathered the fragments of the saucers and wiped +up the food; then she took seat and talked to me, whilst I prayed +Allah to hasten the dawn. At last, when morning arose with its +sheen and shine, I went out to seek her and hastening to her by +street sat down on that bench, when lo! the wicket opened and +she put out her head laughing. Then she disappeared within and +returned with a mirror, a bag; and a pot full of green plants and +she held in hand a lamp. The first thing she did was to take the +mirror and, putting it into the bag, tie it up and throw it back +into the room; then she let down her hair over her face and set +the lamp on the pot of flowers during the twinkling of an eye; +then she took up all the things and went away shutting the window +without saying a word. My heart was riven by this state of the +case, and by her secret signals, her mysterious secrets and her +utter silence; and thereby my longing waxed more violent and my +passion and distraction redoubled on me. So I retraced my steps, +tearful-eyed and heavy hearted, and returned home, where I found +the daughter of my uncle sitting with her face to the wall; for +her heart was burning with grief and galling jealousy; albeit her +affection forbade her to acquaint me with what she suffered of +passion and pining when she saw the excess of my longing and +distraction. Then I looked at her and saw on her head two +bandages, one on account of the accident to her forehead and the +other over her eye in consequence of the pain she endured for +stress of weeping; and she was in miserable plight shedding tears +and repeating these couplets, + +"I number nights; indeed I count night after night; * Yet lived I + long ere learnt so sore accompt to see, ah! +Dear friend, I compass not what Allah pleased to doom * For + Layl, nor what Allah destined for me, ah! +To other giving her and unto me her love, * What loss but Layla's + loss would He I ever dree, ah!" + +And when she had finished her reciting, she looked towards me and +seeing me through her tears, wiped them away and came up to me +hastily, but could not speak for excess of love. So she remained +silent for some while and then said, "O my cousin, tell me what +befel thee with her this time." I told her all that had passed +and she said, "Be patient, for the time of thy union is come and +thou hast attained the object of thy hopes. As for her signal to +thee with the mirror which she put in the bag, it said to thee, +When the sun is set; and the letting down of her hair over her +face signified, When night is near and letteth fall the blackness +of the dark and hath starkened the daylight, come hither. As for +her gesture with the pot of green plants it meant, When thou +comest, enter the flower garden which is behind the street; and +as for her sign with the lamp it denoted, When thou enterest the +flower garden walk down it and make for the place where thou +seest the lamp shining; and seat thyself beneath it and await me; +for the love of thee is killing me." When I heard these words +from my cousin, I cried out from excess of passion and said, "How +long wilt thou promise me and I go to her, but get not my will +nor find any true sense in thine interpreting." Upon this she +laughed and replied, "It remaineth for thee but to have patience +during the rest of this day till the light darken and the night +starker and thou shalt enjoy union and accomplish thy hopes; and +indeed all my words be without leasing." Then she repeated these +two couplets, + +"Let days their folds and plies deploy, * And shun the house that + deals annoy! +Full oft when joy seems farthest far * Thou nighmost art to hour + of joy."' + +Then she drew near to me and began to comfort me with soothing +speech, but dared not bring me aught of food, fearing lest I be +angry with her and hoping I might incline to her; so when coming +to me she only took off my upper garment and said to me, "Sit O +my cousin, that I may divert thee with talk till the end of the +day and, Almighty Allah willing, as soon as it is night thou +shalt be with thy beloved." But I paid no heed to her and ceased +not looking for the approach of darkness, saying, "O Lord, hasten +the coming of the night!" And when night set in, the daughter of +my uncle wept with sore weeping and gave me a crumb of pure musk, +and said to me, "O my cousin, put this crumb in thy mouth, and +when thou hast won union with thy beloved and hast taken thy will +of her and she hath granted thee thy desire, repeat to her this +couplet, + +'Ho, lovers all! by Allah say me sooth * What shall he do when + love sore vexeth youth?'"[FN#499] + +And she kissed me and swore me not to repeat this couplet till I +should be about to leave my lover and I said, "Hearing is +obeying!" And when it was supper-tide I went out and ceased not +walking on till I came to the flower garden whose door I found +open. So I entered and, seeing a light in the distance, made +towards it and reaching it, came to a great pavilion vaulted over +with a dome of ivory and ebony, and the lamp hung from the midst +of the dome. The floor was spread with silken carpets +embroidered in gold and silver, and under the lamp stood a great +candle, burning in a candelabrum of gold. In mid pavilion was a +fountain adorned with all manner of figures;[FN#500] and by its +side stood a table covered with a silken napkin, and on its edge +a great porcelain bottle full of wine, with a cup of crystal +inlaid with gold. Near all these was a large tray of silver +covered over, and when I uncovered it I found therein fruits of +every kind, figs and pomegranates, grapes and oranges, citrons +and shaddocks[FN#501] disposed amongst an infinite variety of +sweet scented flowers, such as rose, jasmine, myrtle, eglantine, +narcissus and all sorts of sweet smelling herbs. I was charmed +with the place and I joyed with exceeding joy, albeit I found not +there a living soul and my grief and anxiety ceased from me.--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Sixteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: "I was charmed with the place +and joyed with great joy albeit there I found not a living soul +of Almighty Allah's creatures, and saw nor slave nor hand maid to +oversee these things or to watch and ward these properties. So I +sat down in the pavilion to await the coming of the beloved of my +heart; but the first hour of the night passed by, and the second +hour, and the third hour, and still she came not. Then hunger +grew sore upon me, for that it was long since I had tasted food +by reason of the violence of my love: but when I found the place +even as my cousin had told me, and saw the truth of her in +terpretation of my beloved's signs, my mind was set at rest and I +felt the pangs of hunger; moreover, the odour of the viands on +the table excited me to eat. So making sure of attaining my +desire, and being famished for food I went up to the table and +raised the cover and found in the middle a china dish containing +four chickens reddened with roasting and seasoned with spices, +round the which were four saucers, one containing sweetmeats, +another conserve of pomegranate seeds, a third almond +pastry[FN#502] and a fourth honey fritters; and the contents of +these saucers were part sweet and part sour. So I ate of the +fritters and a piece of meat, then went on to the almond cakes +and ate what I could; after which I fell upon the sweetmeats, +whereof I swallowed a spoonful or two or three or four, ending +with part of a chicken and a mouthful of something beside. Upon +this my stomach became full and my joints loose and I waxed too +drowsy to keep awake; so I laid my head on a cushion, after +having washed my hands, and sleep over came me; I knew not what +happened to me after this, and I awoke not till the sun's heat +scorched me, for that I had never once tasted sleep for days +past. When I awoke I found on my stomach a piece of salt and a +bit of charcoal; so I stood up and shook my clothes and turned to +look right and left, but could see no one; and discovered that I +had been sleeping on the marble pavement without bedding beneath +me. I was perplexed thereat and afflicted with great affliction; +the tears ran down my cheeks and I mourned for myself. Then I +returned home, and when I entered, I found my cousin beating her +hand on her bosom and weeping tears like rain shedding clouds; +and she versified with these couplets, + +"Blows from my lover's land a Zephyr cooly sweet, * And with its + every breath makes olden love new glow: +O Zephyr of the morning hour, come show to us * Each lover hath + his lot, his share of joy and woe: +Could I but win one dearest wish, we had embraced * With what + embrace and clip of breast fond lovers know. +Allah forbids, while bides unseen my cousin's face, * All joys + the World can give or hand of Time bestow. +Would Heaven I knew his heart were like this heart of me, * + Melted by passion-flame and charged with longing owe." + +When she saw me, she rose in haste and wiped away her tears and +addressed me with her soft speech, saying, "O son of my uncle, +verily Allah hath been gracious to thee in thy love, for that she +whom thou lovest loveth thee, whilst I pass my time in weeping +and bewailing my severance from thee who blamest me and chidest +me; but may Allah not punish thee for my sake!" Thereupon she +smiled in my face a smile of reproach and caressed me; then +taking off my walking clothes, she spread them out and said, "By +Allah, this is not the scent of one who hath enjoyed his lover! +So tell me what hath befallen thee, O my cousin." I told her all +that had passed, and she smiled again a smile of reproach and +said, "Verily, my heart is full of pain; but may he not live who +would hurt thy heart! Indeed, this woman maketh herself +inordinately dear and difficult to thee, and by Allah, O son of +my uncle, I fear for thee from her.[FN#503] Know, O my cousin, +that the meaning of the salt is thou west drowned in sleep like +insipid food, disgustful to the taste; and it is as though she +said to thee; 'It behoveth thou be salted lest the stomach eject +thee; for thou professes to be of the lovers noble and true; but +sleep is unlawful and to a lover undue; therefore is thy love but +a lie.' However, it is her love for thee that lieth; for she saw +thee asleep yet aroused thee not and were her love for thee true, +she had indeed awoken thee. As for the charcoal, it means 'Allah +blacken thy face'[FN#504] for thou makest a lying presence of +love, whereas thou art naught but a child and hast no object in +life other than eating and drinking and sleeping! such is the +interpretation of her signs, and may Allah Almighty deliver thee +from her!" When I heard my cousin's words, I beat my hand upon my +breast and cried out, "By Allah, this is the very truth, for I +slept and lovers sleep not! Indeed I have sinned against myself, +for what could have wrought me more hurt than eating and +sleeping? Now what shall I do?" Then I wept sore and said to the +daughter of my uncle, "Tell me how to act and have pity on me, so +may Allah have pity on thee: else I shall die." As my cousin +loved me with very great love,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Seventeenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued his tale to Taj al-Muluk: "Thereupon quoth I +to the daughter of my uncle, "Tell me what to do and have pity on +me, so may Allah have pity on thee!" As the daughter of my uncle +loved me with great love, she replied, "On my head and eyes! +But, O my cousin, I repeat what I have told thee oftentimes, if I +could go in and out at will, I would at once bring you two +together and cover you both with my skirt: nor would I do this +but hoping to win thy favour. Inshallah, I will do my utmost +endeavour to unite you; but hear my words and do my bidding. Go +thou to the very same place and sit down where thou sattest +before and at supper tide look thou eat not, for eating induceth +sleep; and have a care-thou slumber not, for she will not come to +thee till a fourth part of the night be passed. And the Almighty +avert her mischief from thee!" Now when I heard these words I +rejoiced and besought Allah to hasten the night; and, as soon as +it was dark, I was minded to go, and my cousin said to me, "When +thou shalt have met her, repeat to her the couplet I taught thee +before, at the time of thy leave taking." Replied I, "On my head +and eyes!" and went out and repaired to the garden, where I found +all made ready in the same state as on the previous night, with +every requisite of meat and drink, dried fruits, sweet scented +flowers and so forth. I went up into the pavilion and smelt the +odour of the viands and my spirit lusted after them; but I +possessed my soul in patience for a while, till at last I could +no longer withstand temptation. So I arose from my seat and went +up to the table and, raising its cover, found a dish of fowls, +surrounded by four saucers containing four several meats. I ate +a mouthful of each kind and as much as I would of the sweetmeats +and a piece of meat: then I drank from the saucer a sauce +yellowed with saffron[FN#505] and as it pleased me, I supped it +up by the spoonful till I was satisfied and my stomach was full. +Upon this, my eyelids drooped; so I took a cushion and set it +under my head, saying, "Haply I can recline upon it without going +to sleep." Then I closed my eyes and slept, nor did I wake till +the sun had risen, when I found on my stomach a cube of +bone,[FN#506] a single tip-cat stick,[FN#507] the stone of a +green date[FN#508] and a carob pod. There was no furniture nor +aught else in the place, and it was as if there had been nothing +there yesterday. So I rose and shaking all these things off me, +fared forth in fury; and, going home, found my cousin groaning +and versifying with these couplets, + +"A wasted body, heart enpierced to core, * And tears that down my + poor cheeks pour and pour: +And lover cure of access; but, but still * Naught save what's + fair can come from fairest flow'r: +O cousin mine thou fill'st my soul with pate, * And from these + tears mine eyelids ache full sore!" + +I chid the daughter of my uncle and abused her, whereat she wept; +then, wiping away her tears, she came up to me and kissed me and +began pressing me to her bosom, whilst I held back from her +blaming myself. Then said she to me, "O my cousin, it seemeth +thou sleptest again this night?" Replied I, "Yes; and when I +awoke, I found on my stomach a cube of bone, a single tip-cat +stick, a stone of a green date and a carob pod, and I know not +why she did this." Then I wept and went up to her and said, +"Expound to me her meaning in so doing and tell me how shall I +act and aid me in my sore strait." She answered, "On my head and +eyes! By the single tip cat stick and the cube of bone which she +placed upon thy stomach she saith to thee 'Thy body is present +but thy heart is absent'; and she meaneth, 'Love is not thus: so +do not reckon thyself among lovers.' As for the date stone, it is +as if she said to thee, 'An thou wert in love thy heart would be +burning with passion and thou wouldst not taste the delight of +sleep; for the sweet of love is like a green date[FN#509] which +kindleth a coal of fire in the vitals.' As for the carob +pod[FN#510] it signifieth to thee, 'The lover's heart is +wearied'; and thereby she saith, 'Be patient under our separation +with the patience of Job.' " When I heard this interpretation, +fires darted into my vitals like a dart and grief redoubled upon +my heart and I cried out, saying, "Allah decreed sleep to me for +my ill fortune." Then I said to her, "O my cousin, by my life, +devise me some device whereby I may win my will of her!" She wept +and answered, "O Aziz, O son of my uncle, verily my heart is full +of sad thought which I cannot speak: but go thou again to night +to the same place and beware thou sleep not, and thou shalt +surely attain thy desire. This is my counsel and peace be with +thee!" Quoth I, "If Allah please I will not sleep, but will do as +thou biddest me." Then my cousin rose, and brought me food, +saying, "Eat now what may suffice thee, that nothing may divert +thy heart." So I ate my fill and, when night came, my cousin rose +and bringing me a sumptuous suit of clothes clad me therein. +Then she made me swear I would repeat to my lover the verse +aforesaid and bade me beware of sleeping. So I left her and +repaired to the garden and went up into that same pavilion where +I occupied myself in holding my eyelids open with my fingers and +nodding my head as the night darkened on me."--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Eighteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued to Taj al Muluk: "So I repaired to the garden +and went up into that same pavilion and occupied myself in gazing +upon the flower beds and in holding my eyelids open with my +fingers and nodding my head as the night darkened on me. And +presently I grew hungry with watching and the smell of the meats +being wafted towards me, my appetite increased: so I went up to +the table and took off the cover and ate a mouthful of every dish +and a bit of meat; after which I turned to the flagon of wine, +saying to myself, I will drink one cup. I drank it, and then I +drank a second and a third, till I had drunk full ten, when the +cool air smote me and I fell to the earth like a felled man. I +ceased not to lie thus till day arose, when I awoke and found +myself out side the garden, and on my stomach were a butcher's +knife and a dram-weight of iron.[FN#511] Thereat I trembled and, +taking them with me, went home, where I found my cousin saying, +"Verily, I am in this house wretched and sorrowful, having no +helper but weeping." Now when I entered, I fell down at full +length and throwing the knife and the dram weight from my hand, I +fainted clean away. As soon as I came to myself, I told her what +had befallen me and said, Indeed, I shall never enjoy my desire." +But when she saw my tears and my passion, they redoubled her +distress on my account, and she cried, "Verily, I am helpless! I +warned thee against sleeping; but thou wouldst not hearken to my +warning, nor did my words profit thee aught." I rejoined, "By +Allah, I conjure thee to explain to me the meaning of the knife +and the iron dram-weight." "By the dram weight," replied my +cousin, "she alludeth to her right eye,[FN#512] and she sweareth +by it and saith, 'By the Lord of all creatures and by my right +eye! if thou come here again and sleep, I will cut thy throat +with this very knife.' And indeed I fear for thee, O my cousin, +from her malice; my heart is full of anguish for thee and I +cannot speak. Nevertheless, if thou can be sure of thyself not +to sleep when thou returnest to her, return to her and beware of +sleeping and thou shalt attain thy desire; but if when returning +to her thou wilt sleep, as is thy wont, she will surely slaughter +thee." Asked I, "What shall I do, O daughter of my uncle: I beg +thee, by Allah, to help me in this my calamity." Answered she, +"On my head and eyes! if thou wilt hearken to my words and do my +bidding, thou shalt have thy will." Quoth I, "I will indeed +hearken to thy words and do thy bidding;" and quoth she, "When it +is time for thee to go, I will tell thee." Then she pressed me to +her bosom and laying me on the bed, shampoo'd my feet, till +drowsiness overcame me and I was drowned in sleep, then she took +a fan and seated herself at my head with the fan in her hand and +she was weeping till her clothes were wet with tears. Now when +she saw that I was awake, she wiped away the drops and fetched me +some food and set it before me. I refused it, but she said to +me, "Did I not tell thee that thou must do my bidding? Eat!" So +I ate and thwarted her not and she proceeded to put the food into +my mouth and I to masticate it, till I was full. Then she made +me drink jujube sherbet[FN#513] and sugar and washed my hands and +dried them with a kerchief; after which she sprinkled me with +rose water, and I sat with her awhile in the best of spirits. +When the darkness had closed in, she dressed me and said to me, +"O son of my uncle, watch through the whole night and sleep not; +for she will not come to thee this tide till the last of the dark +hours and, Allah willing, thou shalt be at one with her this +night; but forget not my charge." Then, she wept, and my heart +was pained for her by reason of her over much weeping, and I +asked, "What is the charge thou gayest me?" She answered, "When +thou takest leave of her repeat to her the verse before +mentioned." So, full of joy I left her and repairing to the +garden, went up into the pavilion where, being satiated with +food, I sat down and watched till a fourth part of the dark hours +was past. That night seemed longsome to me as it were a year: +but I remained awake till it was three quarters spent and the +cocks crew and I was famished for long watching. Accordingly I +went up to the table and ate my fill, whereupon my head grew +heavy and I wanted to sleep, when behold, a light appeared making +towards me from afar. I sprang up and washed my hands and mouth +and roused myself; and before long she came with ten damsels, in +whose midst she was like the full moon among the stars. She was +clad in a dress of green satin purfled with red gold, and she was +as saith the poet, + +"She lords it o'er our hearts in grass green gown, * With + buttons[FN#514] loose and locks long flowing down. +Quoth I, 'What is thy name?' Quoth she, 'I'm she, * Who burns the + lover-heart live coals upon:' +I made my plaint to her of loving lowe; * Laughed she, 'To stone + thou moanest useless moan!' +Quoth I, 'An be of hardest stone thy heart, * Allah drew sweetest + spring from hardest stone.' " + +When she saw me she laughed and said, "How is it that thou art +awake and that sleep overcame thee not? Forasmuch as thou hast +watched through the night, I know that thou art a lover; for +night watching is the mark of lovers displaying brave endurance +of their desires." Then she turned to her women and signed to +them and they went away from her, whereupon she came up to me and +strained me to her breast and kissed me, whilst I kissed her, and +she sucked my upper lip whilst I sucked her lower lip. I put my +hand to her waist and pressed it and we came not to the ground +save at the same moment. Then she undid her petticoat trousers +which slipped down to her anklets, and we fell to clasping and +embracing and toying and speaking softly and biting and inter +twining of legs and going round about the Holy House and the +corners thereof,[FN#515] till her joints became relaxed for love +delight and she swooned away. I entered the sanctuary, and +indeed that night was a joy to the sprite and a solace to the +sight even as saith the poet, + +"Sweetest of nights the world can show to me, that night * When + cups went round and round as fed by ceaseless spring: +There utter severance made I 'twixt mine eyes and sleep, * And + joined, re joined mine ear drop with the anklet + ring."[FN#516] + +We lay together in close embrace till the morning when I would +have gone away, but she stopped me and said, "Stay till I tell +thee something"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Nineteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued his recital to Taj al Muluk: "When I would +have gone away, she stopped me and said, "Stay, till I tell thee +something and charge thee with a charge." So I stayed whilst she +unfolded a kerchief and drew out this piece of linen and spread +it open before me. I found worked on it these two figures of +gazelles and admired it with great admiration. Then I took the +piece of linen and went away, joyful, after we had agreed that I +should visit her every night in the garden; but in my joy I +forgot to repeat to her the verse my cousin had taught me. For +when giving me the piece of linen with the gazelles she had said +to me, "Keep this carefully, as it is my sister's handiwork." I +asked her, "What is thy sister's name?"; and she answered, "Her +name is Nr al-Hud." When I went to my cousin, I found her lying +down; but as soon as she saw me, she rose, with the tears running +from her eyes, and came up to me, and kissed me on the breast and +said, "Didst thou do as I enjoined thee? and repeat the verse to +her?" "I forgot it," replied I; "and nothing drove it out of my +mind but these two figured gazelles." And I threw the piece of +linen on the floor before her. She rose and sat down again, but +was unable to contain herself for impatience, and her eyes ran +over with tears, whilst she repeated these two couplets, + +"O thou who seekest parting, softly fare! * Let not the Pair + delude with cunning art: +Pare softly, Fortune's nature is to 'guile, * And end of every + meeting is to part." + +And when she ended her recitation she said, "O my cousin, give me +this piece of linen." So I gave it to her and she took it and +unfolding it, saw what was therein. When the tryst time came for +my going to my lover, the daughter of my uncle said to me, "Go, +and peace attend thee; and when thou art about to leave her, +recite to her the verse I taught thee long ago and which thou +didst forget." Quoth I, "Tell it me again"; and she repeated it. +Then I went to the garden and entered the pavilion, where I found +the young lad, awaiting me. When she saw me, she rose and kissed +me and made me sit in her lap; and we ate and drank and did our +desire as before. In the morning, I repeated to her my cousin's +verse which was this, + +"Ho, lovers all! by Allah say me sooth * What shall he do when + Love sor' vexeth youth?" + +When she heard this, her eyes filled with tears and she answered +and said, + +"Strive he to cure his case, to hide the truth, * Patiently + humble self and sue for rush!" + +I committed it to memory and returned home rejoicing at having +done my cousin's bidding. When I entered the house I found her +lying down and my mother at her head weeping over her case; but +as soon as I went in to her my mother said to me, "A foul plague +on such a cousin! How couldst thou leave the daughter of thy +uncle ailing and not ask what ailed her?" But when my cousin saw +me she raised her head and sat up and asked me, "O Aziz, didst +thou repeat to her the couplet I taught thee?" I answered, "Yes, +and when she heard it she wept and recited in answer another +couplet which I committed to memory." Quoth my cousin, "Tell it +me." I did so; and when she heard it she wept with much weeping +and repeated the following verses, + +'How shall youth cure the care his life undo'th, * And every day + his heart in pieces hew'th? +In sooth he would be patient, but he findeth * Naught save a + heart which love with pains imbu'th." + +Then added my cousin, "When thou goest to her as of wont, repeat +to her also these two couplets which thou hast heard." I replied, +"Hearkening and obedience!" and I went at the wonted time, to the +garden, where there passed between my mistress and myself what +tongue faileth to describe. When I was about to leave her, I +repeated to her those two couplets of my cousin's; whereupon the +tears streamed from her eyes and she replied, + +"If he of patience fail the truth to hide * For him no cure save + Death my vision view'th!" + +I committed them to memory and returned home, and when I went in +to my cousin I found her fallen into a fit and my mother sitting +at her head. When she heard my voice, she opened her eyes and +asked, "O Aziz! didst thou repeat the two couplets to her?" +whereto I answered, "Yes; but she wept on hearing them and she +replied with this couplet beginning, If he of patience fail, to +the end." And I repeated it; whereupon my cousin swooned again, +and when she came to herself, she recited these two couplets, + +"Hearkening, obeying, with my dying mouth * I greet who joy of + union ne'er allow'th: +Pair fall all happy loves, and fair befal * The hapless lover + dying in his drowth!" + +Again when it was night, I repaired to the garden as usual where +I found the young lady awaiting me. We sat down and ate and +drank, after which we did all we wanted and slept till the +morning; and, as I was going away, I repeated to her the saying +of my cousin. When she heard the couplet she cried out with a +loud cry and was greatly moved and exclaimed, "Awh! +Awh![FN#517] By Allah, she who spake these lines is dead!" Then +she wept and said to me, "Woe to thee! How is she who spoke thus +related to thee?" Replied I, "She is the daughter of my father's +brother." "Thou liest," rejoined she; "by Allah, were she thy +cousin, thou hadst borne her the same love as she bore thee! It +is thou who hast slain her and may the Almighty kill thee as thou +killedst her! By Allah, hadst thou told me thou hadst a cousin, +I would not have admitted thee to my favours!" Quoth I, "Verily +it was she who interpreted to me the signs thou madest and it was +she who taught me how to come to thee and how I should deal with +thee; and, but for her, I should never have been united to thee." +She then asked me, "Did thy cousin then know of us?"; and I +answered, "Yes;" whereupon she exclaimed, "Allah give thee sorrow +of thy youth, even as thou hast sorrowed her youth!" Then she +cried to me, "Go now and see after her." So I went away troubled +at heart, and ceased not walking till I reached our street, when +I heard sounds of wailing, and asking about it, was answered, +"Azizah, we found her dead behind the door." I entered the house, +and when my mother saw me, she said, "Her death lieth heavy on +thy neck and may Allah not acquit thee of her blood!"--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Twentieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: "So I entered the house and +when my mother saw me she said, "Her death lieth heavy on thy +neck and may Allah not acquit thee of her blood! A plague on +such a cousin!" Then came my father, and we laid her out and get +ready her bier and buried her; and we had recitations of the +whole Koran over her tomb and we abode by her grave three days, +after which we returned to our home, and I grieving for her +grievously. Then my mother came to me and said, "I would fain +know what thou didst to her, to break her heart[FN#518] for, O my +son, I questioned her at all times of the cause of her complaint, +but she would tell me nothing nor let me know aught of it. So +Allah upon thee, tell me what thou hast been doing to her that +she died." Quoth I, "I did nothing." Quoth my mother, "Allah +avenge her on thee! Verily she told me naught, but kept her +secret till she died of her love longings for thee; but when she +died I was with her and she opened her eyes and said to me; 'O +wife of my uncle may Allah hold thy son guiltless of my blood and +punish him not for what he hath done by me! And now Allah +transporteth me from the house of the world which is perishable +to the house of the other world which is eternal.' Said I, 'O my +daughter, Allah preserve thee and preserve thy youth!' And as I +questioned her of the cause of her illness, she made me no +answer; but she smiled and said, 'O wife of my uncle, bid thy +son, whenever he would go whither he goeth every day, repeat +these two saws at his going away; 'Faith is fair! Unfaith is +foul!' For this is of my tender affection to him, that I am +solicitous concerning him during my lifetime and after my death.' +Then she gave me somewhat for thee and sware me that I would not +give it until I see thee weeping for her and lamenting her death. +The thing is with me; and, when I have seen thy case as I have +said, I will make it over to thee." "Show it me," cried I: but +she would not. Then I gave myself up to love delights and +thought no more of my cousin's death: for my mind was unsettled +and fain would I have been with my lover the livelong day and +night.[FN#519] So hardly had I perceived the darkness fall when +I betook myself to the garden, where I found the young lady +sitting on coals of fire for much impatience. As soon as she was +sure that she saw me, she ran to me and throwing her arms about +my neck, enquired of the daughter of my uncle. I replied, "Sooth +to say she is dead, and we have caused Zikr- litanies and +recitations of the Koran to be performed for her; and it is now +four nights and this be the fifth since she is gone." When she +heard that, she shrieked aloud and wept and said, "Did I not tell +thee that thou hast slain her? Hadst thou let me know of her +before her death, I would have requited her the kindness she did +me, in that she served me and united thee to me; for without her, +we had never foregathered, we twain, and I fear lest some +calamity befal thee because of thy sin against her." Quoth I, +"She acquitted me of offence ere she died;" and I repeated to her +what my mother had told me. Quoth she, "Allah upon thee! when +thou returnest to thy mother, learn what thing she keepeth for +thee." I rejoined, "My mother also said to me; 'Before the +daughter of thy uncle died, she laid a charge upon me, saying, +Whenever thy son would go whither he is wont to go, teach him +these two saws, 'Faith is fair; Unfaith is foul!' " When my lady +heard this she exclaimed, "The mercy of Almighty Allah be upon +her! Indeed, she hath delivered thee from me, for I minded to do +thee a mischief, but now I will not harm thee nor trouble thee." +I wondered at this and asked her, "What then west thou minded to +do with me in time past and we two being in bond of love?" +Answered she, "Thou art infatuated with me; for thou art young in +life and a raw laddie; thy heart is void of guile and thou +weetest not our malice and deceit. Were she yet alive, she would +protect thee; for she is the cause of thy preservation and she +hath delivered thee from destruction. And now I charge thee +speak not with any woman, neither accost one of our sex, be she +young or be she old; and again I say Beware! for thou art simple +and raw and knowest not the wiles of women and their malice, and +she who interpreted the signs to thee is dead. And indeed I fear +for thee, lest thou fall into some disgrace and find none to +deliver thee from it, now that the daughter of thy uncle is no +more."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: "Then the young lady said to +me, "I fear for thee lest thou fall into some disgrace and find +none to deliver thee from it. Alas for thy cousin and ah, the +pity of her! Would I had known her before her death, that I +might have requited by waiting upon her the fair service she did +me. The mercy of Allah Almighty be upon her, for she kept her +secret and revealed not what she suffered, and but for her thou +hadst never foregathered with me; no, never! But there is one +thing I desire of thee." I asked, "What is it?"; and she +answered, "It is that thou bring me to her grave, that I may +visit her in the tomb wherein she is and write some couplets +thereon." I rejoined, "To morrow, if Allah please!"[FN#520] I +slept with her that night, and she ceased not saying after every +hour, "Would thou hadst told me of thy cousin before her death!" +And I asked her, "What is the meaning of the two saws she taught +me? 'Faith is fair! Unfaith is foul!'" But she made no answer. +As soon as it was day she rose and, taking a purse of gold +pieces, said to me, "Come, show me her tomb, that I may visit it +and grave some verses thereon and build a dome over it and +commend her to Allah's mercy and bestow these diners in alms for +her soul." I replied, "To hear is to obey!"; and walked on before +her, whilst she followed me, giving alms as she went and saying +to all upon whom she lavisht bounty, "This is an alms for the +soul of Azizah, who kept her counsel till she drank the cup of +death and never told the secret of her love." And she stinted not +thus to give alms and say, "for Azizah's soul," till the purse +was empty and we came to the grave. And when she looked at the +tomb, she wept and threw herself on it; then, pulling out a +chisel of steel and a light hammer, she graved therewith upon the +head stone in fine small characters these couplets, + +"I past by a broken tomb amid a garth right sheen, * Whereon + seven blooms of Nu'uman[FN#521] glowed with cramoisie; +Quoth I, 'Who sleepeth in this tomb?' Quoth answering Earth * + 'Before a lover Hades-tombed[FN#522] bend reverently!' +Quoth I, 'May Allah help thee, O thou slain of Love, * And grant + thee home in Heaven and Paradise height to see!' +Hapless are lovers all e'en tombed in their tombs, * Where amid + living folk the dust weighs heavily! +Pain would I plant a garden blooming round thy grave, * And water + every flower with tear drops flowing free!" + +Then she turned away in tears and I with her and returned to the +garden where she said to me, "By Allah! I conjure thee never +leave me!" "To hear is to obey," replied I. Then I gave myself +wholly up to her and paid her frequent visits: she was good and +generous to me; and as often as I passed the night with her, she +would make much of me and would ask me of the two saws my cousin +Azizah told my mother and I would repeat them to her. And +matters ceased not to be on this wise and I continued for a whole +year eating and drinking and enjoying dalliance and wearing +change of rich raiment until I waxed gross and fat, so that I +lost all thought of sorrowing and mourning, and I clean forgot my +cousin Azizah. And on New Year's day I went to the bath, where I +refreshed myself and put on a suit of sumptuous clothes; then +coming out I drank a cup of wine and smelt the scent of my new +gear which was perfumed with various essences; and my breast was +broadened thereby, for I knew not the tricks of Pate nor the +changing ways of Time. When the hour of night prayer came, I was +minded to repair to my lover; but, being the worse for wine, I +knew not when going to her whither I went, so my drunkenness +turned me into a by street called Syndic Street;[FN#523] and the +while I walked up that street behold, I caught sight of an old +woman faring with a lighted taper in one hand, and in the other a +folded letter.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant, whose name was Aziz, continued to Taj al-Muluk:--And +when I entered the street called Syndic Street behold, I caught +sight of an old woman walking with a lighted taper in one hand +and in the other a folded letter and I drew near her and lo! she +was weeping and repeating these couplets, + +"O glad news bearer well come! Welcome! Hail! * How sweet thy + speech to me, what treat thy tale: +O messenger from him whose weal I love, * God bless thee long as + breathes soft morning-gale!" + +Now when she saw me she asked, "O my son! canst thou read?"; and +I answered, of my officiousness, "Yes, old naunty!" Rejoined she, +"Then take this letter and read it to me." And when she handed it +to me, I took it and unfolding it read it to her and behold it +was from an absent man to his friends and lovers whom he greeted; +and, when she heard its purport, she rejoiced at the good tidings +and blessed me, saying, "Allah dispel thine anxiety, even as thou +hast dispelled mine!" Then she took the letter and walked on. +Meanwhile, I was urged by a call of nature and sat down on my +heels to make water.[FN#524] When I had ended I stood up and +wiped the orifice with a pebble and then, letting down my +clothes, I was about to wend my way, when suddenly the old woman +came up to me again and, bending down over my hand, kissed it and +said, "O my master! the Lord give thee joy of thy youth! I +entreat thee to walk with me a few steps as far as yonder door, +for I told them what thou didst read to me of the letter, and +they believe me not, so come with me two steps and read them the +letter from behind the door and accept the prayers of a righteous +woman." I enquired, "What is the history of this letter?", and +she replied, "O my son, this letter is from my son, who hath been +absent for a term of ten years. He set out with a stock of +merchandise and tarried long in foreign parts, till we lost hope +of him and supposed him to be dead. Now after all that delay +cometh this letter from him, and he hath a sister who weepeth for +him night and day; so I said to her, 'He is well and all right.' +But she will not believe me and declares, 'There is no help but +thou bring me one who will read this letter in my presence, that +my heart may be at rest and my mind at ease.' Thou knowest, O my +son, that all who love are wont to think evil: so be good enough +to go with me and read to her this letter, standing behind the +curtain, whilst I call his sister to listen within the door, so +shalt thou dispel our heed and fulfil our need. Verily quoth the +Apostle of Allah (whom Allah bless and preserve!), 'Whoso easeth +the troubled of one of the troubles of this troublous world, +Allah will ease him of an hundred troubles'; and according to +another tradition, 'Whoso easeth his brother of one of the +troubles of this troublous world, Allah shall relieve him of +seventy and two troubles on the Day of Resurrection.' And I have +betaken myself to thee; so disappoint me not." Replied I, "To +hear is to obey: do thou go before me!" So she walked on +devancing me and I followed her a little way, till she came to +the gate of a large and handsome mansion whose door was plated +with copper.[FN#525] I stood behind the door, whilst the old +woman cried out in Persian, and ere I knew it a damsel ran up +with light and nimble step. She had tucked up her trousers to +her knees, so that I saw a pair of calves that confounded thinker +and lighter, and the maid herself was as saith the poet +describing her, + +"O thou who barest leg calf, better to suggest * For passion + madded amourist better things above! +Towards its lover cloth the bowl go round and run; * Cup[FN#526] + and cup bearer only drive us daft with love."[FN#527] + +Now these legs were like two pillars of alabaster adorned with +anklets of gold, wherein were set stones of price. And the +damsel had tucked up the end of her gown under her arm pit and +had rolled up her sleeves to the elbow, so that I could see her +white wrists whereon were two pairs of bracelets with clasps of +great pearls; and round her neck was a collar of costly gems. +Her ears were adorned with pendants of pearls and on her head she +wore a kerchief[FN#528] of brocade, brand new and broidered with +jewels of price. And she had thrust the skirt of her shift into +her trousers string being busy with some household business. So +when I saw her in this undress, I was confounded at her beauty, +for she was like a shining sun. Then she said, with soft, choice +speech, never heard I sweeter, "O my mother! is this he who +cometh to read the letter?" "It is," replied the old woman; and +she put out her hand to me with the letter. Now between her and +the door was a distance of about half a rod[FN#529]; so I +stretched forth my hand to take the letter from her and thrust +head and shoulders within the door, thinking to draw near her and +read the letter when, before I knew what her design was, the old +woman butted her head against my back and pushed me forwards with +the letter in my hand, so that ere I could take thought I found +myself in the middle of the hall far beyond the vestibule. Then +she entered, faster than a flash of blinding leven, and had +naught to do but to shut the door. And Shahrazed perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth +Aziz pursued to Taj al Muluk: "When the old woman pushed me +forwards I found myself, ere I could think, inside the vestibule; +and the old woman entered faster than a flash of blinding levee +and had naught to do but to shut the door. When the girl saw me +in the vestibule, she came up to me and strained me to her bosom, +and threw me to the floor; then she sat astraddle upon my breast +and kneaded my belly with her fingers, till I well nigh lost my +senses. Thereupon she took me by the hand and led me, unable to +resist for the violence of her pressure, through seven +vestibules, whilst the old woman forewent us with the lighted +candle, till we came to a great saloon with four estrades whereon +a horseman might play Polo.[FN#530] Here she released me, saying, +"Open thine eyes." So I opened them still giddy for the excess of +her embracing and pressing, and saw that the whole saloon was +built of the finest marbles and alabasters, and all its furniture +was of silk and brocade even to the cushions and mattresses. +Therein also were two benches of yellow brass and a couch of red +gold, set with pearls and precious stones, befitting none save +Kings like thyself. And off the saloon were smaller sitting +rooms; and the whole place was redolent of wealth. Then she +asked, "O Aziz, which is liefer to thee life or death?" "Life," +answered I; and she said, "If life be liefer to thee, marry me." +Quoth I, "Indeed I should hate to marry the like of thee." Quoth +she, "If thou marry me thou wilt at least be safe from the +daughter of Dallah the Wily One."[FN#531] I asked, "And who be +that daughter of the Wily One?" Whereupon she laughed and +replied, " 'Tis she who hath companied with thee this day for a +year and four months (may the Almighty destroy and afflict her +with one worse than herself!) By Allah, there liveth not a more +perfidious than she. How many men hath she not slain before thee +and what deeds hath she not done. Nor can I understand how thou +hast been all the time in her company, yet she hath not killed +thee nor done thee a mischief." When I heard her words, I +marvelled with exceeding marvel and said, "O my lady, who made +thee to know her?" Said she, "I know her as the age knoweth its +calamities; but now I would fain have thee tell me all that hath +passed between you two, that I may ken the cause of thy +deliverance from her." So I told her all that had happened +between us, including the story of my cousin Azizah. She +expressed her pity when she heard of the death, and her eyes ran +over with tears and she claps hand on hand and cried out, Her +youth was lost on Allah's way,[FN#532] and may the Lord bless +thee for her good works! By Allah, O Aziz, she who died for thee +was the cause of thy preservation from the daughter of Dalia the +Wily; and, but for her, thou hadst been lost. And now she is +dead I fear for thee from the Crafty One's perfidy and mischief; +but my throat is choking and I cannot speak." Quoth I Ay, by +Allah: all this happened even as thou sayest." And she shook her +head and cried, "There liveth not this day the like of Azizah. I +continued, "And on her death bed she bade me repeat to my lover +these two saws, 'Faith is fair! Unfaith is foul'" When she heard +me say this, she exclaimed, "O Aziz, by Allah those same words +saved thee from dying by her hand; and now my heart is at ease +for thee from her, for she will never kill thee and the daughter +of thy uncle preserved thee during her lifetime and after her +death. By Allah, I have desired thee day after day but could not +get at thee till this time when I tricked thee and outwitted +thee; for thou art a raw youth[FN#533] and knowest not the wiles +of young women nor the deadly guile of old women." Rejoined I, +No, by Allah!" Then said she to me, "Be of good cheer and eyes +clear; the dead hath found Allah's grace, and the live shall be +in good case. Thou art a handsome youth and I do not desire thee +but according to the ordinance of Allah and His Apostle (on whom +be salutation and salvation!). Whatever thou requirest of money +and stuff, thou shalt have forthright without stint, and I will +not impose any toil on thee, no, never!, for there is with me +always bread baked hot and water in pot. All I need of thee is +that thou do with me even as the cock doth." I asked "And what +doth the cock?" Upon this she laughed and clapped her hands and +fell over on her back for excess of merriment then she sat up and +smiled and said, "O light of my eyes, really dost thou not know +what cock's duty is?" "No, by Allah!" replied I, and she, "The +cock's duty is to eat and drink and tread.' I was abashed at her +words and asked, "Is that the cock's duty? Yes, answered she; +"and all I ask of thee now is to gird thy loins and strengthen +thy will and futter thy best." Then she clapped her hands and +cried out, saying, "O my mother, bring forward those who are with +thee." And behold, in came the old woman accompanied by four +lawful witnesses, and carrying a veil of silk. Then she lighted +four candles, whilst the witnesses saluted me and sat down; and +the girl veiled herself with the veil and deputed one of them to +execute the contract on her behalf. So they wrote out the +marriage bond and she testified to have received the whole sum +settled upon her, both the half in advance and the half in +arrears; and that she was indebted to me in the sum of ten +thousand dirhams.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: When they wrote out the +marriage contract, she testified to having received the whole sum +settled upon her, the half in advance and the half in arrears and +that she was indebted to me in the sum of ten thousand dirhams. +She paid the witnesses their wage and they withdrew whence they +came. Thereupon she arose and cast off her clothes and stood in +a chemise of fine silk edged with gold lace, after which she took +off her trousers and seized my hand and led me up to the couch, +saying, "There is no sin in a lawful put in." She lay down on the +couch outspread upon her back; and, drawing me on to her breast, +heaved a sigh and followed it up with a wriggle by way of being +coy. Then she pulled up the shift above her breasts, and when I +saw her in this pose, I could not withhold myself from thrusting +it into her, after I had sucked her lips, whilst she whimpered +and shammed shame and wept when no tears came, and then said she, +"O my beloved, do it, and do thy best!" Indeed the case reminded +me of his saying, who said, + +"When I drew up her shift from the roof of her coynte, * I found + it as strait* as my mind and my money: +So I drove it half-way, and she sighed a loud sigh * Quoth I, + 'Why this sigh?': 'For the rest of it, honey!'" + +And she repeated, "O my beloved, let the finish be made for I am +thine handmaid. My life on thee, up with it! give it me, all of +it! that I may take it in my hand and thrust it into my very +vitals!" And she ceased not to excite me with sobs and sighs and +amorous cries in the intervals of kissing and clasping until amid +our murmurs of pleasure we attained the supreme delight and the +term we had in sight. We slept together till the morning, when I +would have gone out; but lo! she came up to me, laughing, and +said, "So! So! thinkest thou that going into the Hammam is the +same as going out?[FN#534] Dost thou deem me to be the like of +the daughter of Dalilah the Wily One? Beware of such a thought, +for thou art my husband by contract and according to law. If +thou be drunken return to thy right mind, and know that the house +wherein thou art openeth but one day in every year. Go down and +look at the great door." So I arose and went down and found the +door locked and nailed up and returned and told her of the +locking and nailing. "O Aziz," said she, "We have in this house +flour, grain, fruits and pomegranates; sugar, meat, sheep, +poultry and so forth enough for many years; and the door will not +be opened till after the lapse of a whole twelvemonth and well I +weet thou shalt not find thyself without this house till then." +Quoth I "There is no Majesty, and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" "And how can this harm thee," +rejoined she; "seeing thou knowest cock's duty, whereof I told +thee?" Then she laughed and I laughed too, and I conformed to +what she said and abode with her, doing cock's duty and eating +and drinking and futtering for a year of full twelve months, +during which time she conceived by me, and I was blessed with a +babe by her. On the New Year's day I heard the door opened and +behold, men came in with cakes and flour and sugar. Upon this, I +would have gone out but my wife said, "Wait till supper tide and +go out even as thou camest in." So I waited till the hour of +night prayer and was about to go forth in fear and trembling, +when she stopped me, saying, "By Allah, I will not let thee go +until thou swear to come back this night before the closing of +the door." I agreed to this, and she swore me a solemn oath on +Blade and Book,[FN#535] and the oath of divorce to boot, that I +would return to her. Then I left her and going straight to the +garden, found the door open as usual; where at I was angry and +said to myself, "I have been absent this whole year and come here +unawares and find the place open as of wont! I wonder is the +damsel still here as before? I needs must enter and see before I +go to my mother, more by reason that it is now nightfall." So I +entered the flower garden,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + + + +End of Vol. 2. + + Volume 2 Footnotes + +[FN#1] Supplementarily to note 2, p. 2, [FN#2 Vol 1]and note 2, +p. 14, [FN#21 Vol 1] vol. i., I may add that "Shahrzd," in the +Shams al-Loghat, is the P.N. of a King. L. Langls (Les Voyages +de Sindibd Le Marin et La Ruse des Femmes, first appended to +Savary's Grammar and reprinted 12 mot pp. 161 + 113, Imprimerie +Royale, Paris, M.D.CCC.XIV) explains it by Le cyprs, la beaut +de la ville; and he is followed by (A. de Biberstein) Kazimirski +(Ends el-Djelis Paris, Barrois, 1847). Ouseley (Orient. Collect.) +makes Shahrzd=town-born; and others an Arabisation of Chehr-zd +(free of face, ingenuous of countenance) the petit nom of Queen +Humay, for whom see the Terminal Essay. The name of the sister, +whom the Fihrist converts into a Kahramnah, or nurse, vulgarly +written Dnr-zd, would= child of gold pieces, freed by gold +pieces, or one who has no need of gold pieces: Dnzd=child of +faith and Daynzd, proposed by Langls, "free from debt (!)" I +have adopted Macnaghten's Dunyazad. "Shahryar," which Scott +hideously writes "Shier ear," is translated by the Shams, King of +the world, absolute monarch and the court of Anushir wan while +the Burhn-i-Kti'a renders it a King of Kings, and P.N. of a +town. Shahr-bz is also the P.N. of a town in Samarcand. + +[FN#2] Arab. "Malik," here used as in our story-books: "Pompey +was a wise and powerful King" says the Gesta Romanorum. This King +is, as will appear, a Regent or Governor under Harun al-Rashid. +In the next tale he is Viceroy of Damascus, where he is also +called "Sultan." + +[FN#3] The Bull Edit. gives the lines as follows:--- + + The lance was his pen, and the hearts of his foes * + His paper, and dipped he in blood for ink; + Hence our sires entitled the spear Khattyah, * + Meaning that withal man shall write, I think. + +The pun is in "Khattyah" which may mean a writer (feminine) and +also a spear, from Khatt Hajar, a tract in the province +Al-Bahrayn (Persian Gulf), and Oman, where the best Indian +bamboos were landed and fashioned into lances. Imr al-Keys +(Mu'allakah v. 4.) sings of "our dark spears firmly wrought of +Khattiyan cane;" Al-Busr of "the brown lances of Khatt;" also +see Lebid v. 50 and Hamsah pp. 26, 231, Antar notes the "Spears +of Khatt" and "Rudaynian lances." Rudaynah is said to have been +the wife of one Samhr, the Ferrara of lances; others make her +the wife of Al-Ka'azab and hold Sambr to be a town in Abyssinia +where the best weapons were manufactured The pen is the Calamus +or Kalam (reed cut for pen) of which the finest and hardest are +brought from Java: they require the least ribbing. The rhetorical +figure in the text is called Husn al-Ta'all, our aetiology; and +is as admirable to the Arabs as it appears silly to us. + +[FN#4] "He loves folk" is high praise, meaning something more +than benevolence and beneficence.. Like charity it covers a host +of sins. + +[FN#5] The sentence is euphuistic. + +[FN#6] Arab. "Rubb"=syrup a word Europeanised by the "Rob +Laffecteur." + +[FN#7] The Septentriones or four oxen and their wain. + +[FN#8] The list fatally reminds us of "astronomy and the use of +the globes" . . . "Shakespeare and the musical glasses." + +[FN#9] The octave occurs in Night xv. I quote Torrens (p. 360) by +way of variety. + +[FN#10] A courteous formula of closing with the offer. + +[FN#11] To express our "change of climate" Easterns say, "change +of water and air," water coming first. + +[FN#12] "The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by +night" (Psalm cxxi. 6). Easterns still believe in the blighting +effect of the moon's rays, which the Northerners of Europe, who +view it under different conditions, are pleased to deny. I have +seen a hale and hearty Arab, after sitting an hour in the +moonlight, look like a man fresh from a sick bed; and I knew an +Englishman in India whose face was temporarily paralysed by +sleeping with it exposed to the moon. + +[FN#13] The negroids and negroes of Zanzibar. + +[FN#14] i.e. Why not make thy heart as soft as thy sides! The +converse of this was reported at Paris during the Empire, when a +man had by mistake pinched a very high personage: "Ah, Madame! if +your heart be as hard as (what he had pinched) I am a lost man." + +[FN#15] "Na'man" is said to one after bathing or head-shaving: +the proper reply, for in the East every sign of ceremony has its +countersign, is "Allah benefit thee!" (Pilgrimage i. 11, iii. +285; Lane M. E. chaps. viii.; Caussin de Perceval's Arabic +Grammar, etc., etc.) I have given a specimen (Pilgrimage i., 122) +not only of sign and countersign, but also of the rhyming +repartee which rakes love. Hanien ! (pleasant to thee! said when +a man drinks). Allah pleasure thee (Allah yuhannk which Arnauts +and other ruffians perverted to Allah yank, Allah copulate with +thee); thou drinkest for ten! I am the cock and thou art the hen! +(i.e. a passive catamite) Nay, I am the thick one (the penis +which gives pleasure) and thou art the thin! And so forth with +most unpleasant pleasantries. + +[FN#16] In the old version she is called "The Fair Persian," +probably from the owner: her name means "The Cheerer of the +Companion." + +[FN#17] Pronounce "Nooraddeen." I give the name written in +Arabic. + +[FN#18] Amongst Moslems, I have said, it is held highly +disgraceful when the sound of women's cries can be heard by +outsiders. + +[FN#19] In a case like this, the father would be justified by +Rasm (or usage) not by Koranic law, in playing Brutus with his +son. The same would be the case in a detected intrigue with a +paternal concubine and, in very strict houses, with a slave-girl. + +[FN#20] Orientals fear the "Zug" or draught as much as Germans; +and with even a better reason. Draughts are most dangerous in hot +climates. + +[FN#21] The Unity of the Godhead and the Apostleship of Mohammed. + +[FN#22] This would be done only in the case of the very poor. + +[FN#23] Prayers over the dead are not universal in Al-Islam; but +when they are recited they lack the "sijdah" or prostration. + +[FN#24] Or, "Of the first and the last," i.e. Mohammed, who +claimed (and claimed justly) to be the "Seal" or head and end of +all Prophets and Prophecy. For note that whether the Arab be held +inspired or a mere imposter, no man making the same pretension +has moved the world since him. Mr. J. Smith the Mormon (to +mention one in a myriad) made a bold attempt and failed. + +[FN#25] i.e. flatterers. + +[FN#26] In one matter Moslems contrast strongly with Christians, +by most scrupulously following the example of their law-giver: +hence they are the model Conservatives. But (European) +Christendom is here, as in other things, curiously contradictory: +for instance, it still keeps a "Feast of the Circumcision," and +practically holds circumcision in horror. Eastern Christians, +however, have not wholly abolished it, and the Abyssinians, who +find it a useful hygenic precaution, still practise it. For +ulcers, syphilis and other venereals which are readily cured in +Egypt become dangerous in the Highlands of Ethiopia. + +[FN#27] Arab. "Sabab," the orig. and material sense of the word; +hence "a cause," etc. + +[FN#28] Thus he broke his promise to his father, and it is +insinuated that retribution came upon him. + +[FN#29] "O Pilgrim" (Ya Hjj) is a polite address even to those +who have not pilgrimaged. The feminine "Hjjah" (in Egypt +pronounced "Hggeh") is similarly used. + +[FN#30] Arab. "usl"=roots, i.e. I have not forgotten my +business. + +[FN#31] Moslems from Central and Western North Africa. +(Pilgrimage i. 261; iii. 7, etc); the "Jabarti" is the Moslem +Abyssinian. + +[FN#32] This is a favourite bit of chaff and is to be lengthened +out almost indefinitely e.g. every brown thing is not civet nor +every shining thing a diamond; every black thing is not charcoal +nor every white chalk; every red thing is not a ruby nor every +yellow a topaz; every long-necked thing is not a camel, etc., +etc., etc. + +[FN#33] He gives him the name of his grandfather; a familiar +usage. + +[FN#34] Arab. "Ma'janah," a place for making unbaked bricks +(Tob=Span. Adobe) with chaff and bruised or charred straw. The +use of this article in rainless lands dates from ages immemorial, +and formed the outer walls of the Egyptian temple. + +[FN#35] Arab. "Barsh," a bit of round matting used by the poor as +a seat. The Wazir thus showed that he had been degraded to the +condition of a mat-maker. + +[FN#36] The growth (a Poa of two species) which named Wady Half +(vulg. "Halfah"), of which the home public has of late heard +perhaps a trifle too much. Burckhardt (Prov. 226) renders it "dry +reeds"-incorrectly enough. + +[FN#37] This "Hshimi" vein, as they call it, was an abnormal +development between the eyes of the house of Abbas, inherited +from the great- grandfather of the Prophet; and the latter had it +remarkably large, swelling in answer and battle-rage. The text, +however, may read "The sweat of wrath," etc. + +[FN#38] Torrens and Payne prefer "Ilm"=knowledge. Lane has more +correctly "Alam"=a sign, a flag. + +[FN#39] The lines were in Night xi.: I have quoted Torrens (p. +379) for a change. + +[FN#40] Still customary in Tigris-Euphrates land, where sea-craft +has not changed since the days of Xisisthrus-Noah, and long +before. + +[FN#41] To cool the contents. + +[FN#42] Hence the Khedivial Palace near Cairo "Kasr al-Nuzhah;" +literally, "of Delights;" one of those flimsy new-Cairo buildings +which contrast so marvellously with the architecture of ancient +and even of medival Egypt, and which are covering the land with +modern ruins. Compare Mohammed Ali's mosque in the citadel with +the older Sultan Hasan. A popular tale is told that, when the +conquering Turk, Ywz Sultan Selim, first visited Cairo, they +led him to Mosque Al-Ghr. "This is a splendid K'ah (saloon)!" +quoth he. When he entered Sultan Hasan, he exclaimed, "This is a +citadel!"; but after inspecting the Mosque Al-Mu'ayyad he cried, +"'Tis a veritable place of prayer, a fit stead for the Faithful +to adore the Eternal!" + +[FN#43] Arab. gardeners are very touchy on this point. A friend +of mine was on a similar occasion addressed, in true Egyptian +lingo, by an old Adam-son, "Ya ibn al-Kalb! beta'mil ay?" (O dog- +son, what art thou up to?). + +[FN#44] "The green palm-stick is of the trees of Paradise;" say +the Arabs in Solomonic style but not Solomonic words: so our +"Spare the rod," etc. + +[FN#45] Wayfarers, travellers who have a claim on the kindness of +those at home: hence Abd al-Rahman al-Burai sings in his famous +Ode:-- + + He hath claim on the dwellers in the places of their birth, * +Whoso wandereth the world, for he lacketh him a home. + +It is given in my "First Footsteps in East Africa" (pp. 53-55). + +[FN#46] The good old man treated the youth like a tired child. + +[FN#47] In Moslem writings the dove and turtle-dove are mostly +feminine, whereas the female bird is always mute and only the +male sings to summon or to amuse his mate. + +[FN#48] An unsavoury comparison of the classical Narcissus with +the yellow white of a nigger's eyes. + +[FN#49] A tree whose coals burn with fierce heat: Al-Hariri (Vth +Seance). This Artemisia is like the tamarisk but a smaller growth +and is held to be a characteristic of the Arabian Desert. A +Badawi always hails with pleasure the first sight of the Ghaz, +after he has sojourned for a time away from his wilds. Mr. +Palgrave (i. 38) describes the "Ghad" as an Euphorbia with a +woody stem often 5-6 feet high and slender, flexible green twigs +(?), "forming a feathery tuft, not ungraceful to the eye, while +it affords some shelter to the traveller, and food to his +camels." + +[FN#50] Arab. "Sal'am"=S(alla) A(llah) a(layhi) was S(allam); +A(llah) b(less) h(im) a(nd) k(eep)=Allah keep him and assain! + +[FN#51] The ass is held to be ill-omened. I have noticed the +braying elsewhere. According to Mandeville the Devil did not +enter the Ark with the Ass, but he left it when Noah said +"Benedicite." In his day (A.D. 1322) and in that of Benjamin of +Tudela, people had seen and touched the ship on Ararat, the Judi +(Gordii) mountains; and this dates from Berosus (S.C. 250) who, +of course, refers to the Ark of Xisisthrus. See Josephus Ant. i. +3, 6; and Rodwell (Koran, pp. 65, 530). + +[FN#52] As would happen at a "Zikr," rogation or litany. Those +who wish to see how much can be made of the subject will read +"Pearls of the Faith, or Islam's Rosary, being the ninety-nine +beautiful names of Allah" (Asm-el-Husna) etc. by Edwin Arnold: +London, Trbner, 1883. + +[FN#53] i.e. the Ski, cup-boy or cup-bearer. "Moon-faced," as I +have shown elsewhere, is no compliment in English, but it is in +Persian and Arabic. + +[FN#54] He means we are "Zhir," plain honest Moslems, not +"Btin," gnostics (ergo reprobates) and so forth, who disregard +all appearances and external ordinances. This suggests his +opinion of Shaykh Ibrahim and possibly refers to Ja'afar's +suspected heresy. + +[FN#55] This worthy will be noticed in a subsequent page. + +[FN#56] Arab. "Lism," the end of the "Kufiyah," or head-kerchief +passed over the face under the eyes and made fast on the other +side. This mouth-veil serves as a mask (eyes not being +recognisable) and defends from heat, cold and thirst. I also +believe that hooding the eyes with this article, Badawi-fashion, +produces a sensation of coolness, at any rate a marked difference +of apparent temperature; somewhat like a pair of dark spectacles +or looking at the sea from a sandy shore. (Pilgrimage i., 210 and +346.) The woman's "Lism" (chin-veil) or Yashmak is noticed in +i., 337. + +[FN#57] Most characteristic is this familiarity between the +greatest man then in the world and his pauper subject. The +fisherman alludes to a practise of Al-Islman, instituted by +Caliph Omar, that all rulers should work at some handicraft in +order to spare the public treasure. Hence Sultan Mu'ayyad of +Cairo was a calligrapher who sold his handwriting, and his +example was followed by the Turkish Sultans Mahmd, Abd al-Majd +and Abd al-Azz. German royalties prefer carpentering and Louis +XVI, watch-making. + +[FN#58] There would be nothing singular in this request. The +democracy of despotism levels all men outside the pale of +politics and religion. + +[FN#59] "Wa'llhi tayyib!" an exclamation characteristic of the +Egyptian Moslem. + +[FN#60] The pretended fisherman's name Karm=the Generous. + +[FN#61] Such an act of generosity would appear to Europeans well- +nigh insanity, but it is quite in Arab manners. Witness the oft- +quoted tale of Hatim and his horse. As a rule the Arab is the +reverse of generous, contrasting badly, in this point, with his +cousin the Jew: hence his ideal of generosity is of the very +highest. "The generous (i.e. liberal) is Allah's friend, aye, +though he be a sinner; and the miser is Allah's foe, aye, though +he be a saint!" Indian Moslems call a skin-flint Makhi-chs = +fly-sucker. (Pilgrimage i. 242.) + +[FN#62] Arab. "Amm ba'ad" or (Wa ba'ad), an initiatory formula +attributed to Koss ibn Sa'idat al-Iyadi, bishop of Najrn (the +town in Al-Yaman which D'Herbelot calls Negiran) and a famous +preacher in Mohammed's day, hence "more eloquent than Koss" +(Maydn, Arab. Prov., 189). He was the first who addressed +letters with the incept, "from A. to B."; and the first who +preached from a pulpit and who leant on a sword or a staff when +discoursing. Many Moslems date Amm ba'ad from the Prophet David, +relying upon a passage of the Koran (xxxviii. 19). + +[FN#63] Arab. "Nusf"=half (a dirham): vulgarly pronounced "nuss," +and synonymous with the Egypt. "Faddah" (=silver), the Greek +"Asper," and the Turkish "parh." It is the smallest Egyptian +coin, made of very base metal and, there being forty to the +piastre, it is worth nearly a quarter of a farthing. + +[FN#64] The too literal Torrens and Lane make the Caliph give the +gardener-lad the clothes in which he was then clad, forgetting, +like the author or copier, that he wore the fisherman's lousy +suit. + +[FN#65] In sign of confusion, disappointment and so forth: not +"biting his nails," which is European and utterly un-Asiatic. + +[FN#66] See lines like these in Night xiii. (i. 136); the +sentiment is trite. + +[FN#67] The Arab will still stand under his ruler's palace and +shout aloud to attract his attention. Sayyid Sa'd known as the +"Imn of Muskat" used to encourage the patriarchal practice. +Mohammed repeatedly protested against such unceremonious conduct +(Koran xciv. 11, etc.). The "three times of privacy" (Koran cv. +57) are before the dawn prayer, during the Siesta (noon) and +after the even-prayer. + +[FN#68] The Judges of the four orthodox schools. + +[FN#69] That none might see it or find it ever after. + +[FN#70] Arab. "Khatt Sharf"=a royal autographical letter: the +term is still preserved in Turkey, but Europeans will write +"Hatt." + +[FN#71] Meaning "Little tom-cat;" a dim. of "Kitt" vulg. Kutt or +Gutt. + +[FN#72] Arab. "Matmrah"-the Algerine "Matamor"-a "silo," made +familiar to England by the invention of "Ensilage." + +[FN#73] The older "Mustapha"=Mohammed. This Intercession-doctrine +is fiercely disputed. (Pilgrimage ii. 77.) The Apostle of Al- +Islam seems to have been unable to make up his mind upon the +subject: and modern opinion amongst Moslems is apparently +borrowed from the Christians. + +[FN#74] Lane (i. 486) curiously says, "The place of the +stagnation of blood:" yet he had translated the word aright in +the Introduction (i. 41). I have noticed that the Nat'a is made +like the "Sufrah," of well-tanned leather, with rings in the +periphery, so that a thong passed through turns it into a bag. +The Sufrah used for provisions is usually yellow, with a black +border and small pouches for knives or spoons. (Pilgrimage i. +111.) + +[FN#75] This improbable detail shows the Caliph's greatness. + +[FN#76] "Cousin" is here a term of familiarity, our "coz." + +[FN#77] i.e. without allowing them a moment's delay to change +clothes. + +[FN#78] i.e. according to my nature, birth, blood, de race. + +[FN#79] Our "Job." The English translators of the Bible, who +borrowed Luther's system of transliteration (of A.D. 1522), +transferred into English the German "j" which has the sound of +"i" or "y"; intending us to pronounce Yacob (or Yakob), Yericho, +Yimnites, Yob (or Hiob) and Yudah. Tyndall, who copied Luther +(A.D. 1525-26), preserved the true sound by writing lacob, Ben +Iamin and Iudas. But his successors unfortunately returned to the +German; the initial I, having from the xiii century been +ornamentally lengthened and bent leftwards, became a consonant. +The public adopted the vernacular sound of "j" (da) and hence our +language and our literature are disgraced by such barbarisms as +"Jehovah" and "Jesus"; Dgehovah and Dgeesus for Yehovah and +Yesus. Future generations of school-teachers may remedy the evil; +meanwhile we are doomed for the rest of our days to hear + + Gee-rusalem! Gee-rusalem! etc. + +Nor is there one word to be said in favour of the corruption +except that, like the Protestant mispronunciation of Latin and +the Erasmian ill-articulation of Greek, it has become English, +and has lent its little aid in dividing the Britons from the rest +of the civilised world. + +[FN#80] The moon, I repeat, is masculine in the so-called +"Semitic" tongues. + +[FN#81] i.e. camel loads, about lbs. 300; and for long journeys +lbs. 250. + +[FN#82] Arab. "Janzah," so called only when carrying a corpse; +else Na'ash, Sarr or Tbt: Irn being the large hearse on which +chiefs are borne. It is made of plank or stick work; but there +are several varieties. (Lane, M. E. chaps. xxviii.) + +[FN#83] It is meritorious to accompany the funeral cortge of a +Moslem even for a few paces. + +[FN#84] Otherwise he could not have joined in the prayers. + +[FN#85] Arab. "Halw" made of sugar, cream, almonds, etc. That of +Maskat is famous throughout the East. + +[FN#86] i.e. "Camphor" to a negro, as we say "Snowball," by the +figure antiphrase. + +[FN#87] "Little Good Luck," a dim. form of "bakht"=luck, a +Persian word naturalized in Egypt. + +[FN#88] There are, as I have shown, not a few cannibal tribes in +Central Africa and these at times find their way into the slave +market. + +[FN#89] i.e. After we bar the door. + +[FN#90] Arab. "Jwsh" from Turk. Chwsh, Chiaoosh, a sergeant, +poursuivant, royal messenger. I would suggest that this is the +word "Shlish" or "Jlish" in Al-Siynti's History of the Caliphs +(p. 501) translated by Carlyle "milites," by Schultens +"Sagittarius" and by Jarett "picked troops." + +[FN#91] This familiarity with blackamoor slave-boys is common in +Egypt and often ends as in the story: Egyptian blood is +sufficiently mixed with negro to breed inclination for +miscegenation. But here the girl was wickedly neglected by her +mother at such an age as ten. + +[FN#92] Arab. "Farj"; hence a facetious designation of the other +sex is "Zawi'l-furuj" (grammatically Zawtu'l- furj)=habentes +rimam, slit ones. + +[FN#93] This ancient and venerable practice of inspecting the +marriage-sheet is still religiously preserved in most parts of +the East, and in old-fashioned Moslem families. It is publicly +exposed in the Harem to prove that the "domestic calamity" (the +daughter) went to her husband a clean maid. Also the general idea +is that no blood will impose upon the exerts, or jury of matrons, +except that of a pigeon-poult which exactly resembles hymeneal +blood-- when not subjected to the microscope. This belief is +universal in Southern Europe and I have heard of it in England. +Further details will be given in Night ccxi. + +[FN#94] "Agha" Turk.=sir, gentleman, is, I have said, politely +addressed to a eunuch. + +[FN#95] As Bukhayt tells us he lost only his testes, consequently +his erectio et distensio penis was as that of a boy before +puberty and it would last as long as his heart and circulation +kept sound. Hence the eunuch who preserves his penis is much +prized in the Zenanah where some women prefer him to the entire +man, on account of his long performance of the deed of kind. Of +this more in a future page. + +[FN#96] It is or rather was the custom in Egypt and Syria to +range long rows of fine China bowls along the shelves running +round the rooms at the height of six or seven feet, and they +formed a magnificent cornice. I bought many of them at Damascus +till the people, learning their value, asked prohibitive prices. + +[FN#97] The tale is interesting as well as amusing, excellently +describing the extravagance still practiced in middle-class +Moslem families on the death of the pater familias. I must again +note that Arab women are much more unwilling to expose the back +of the head covered by the "Tarhah" (head-veil) than the face, +which is hidden by the "Burke" or nose bag. + +[FN#98] The usual hysterical laughter of this nervous race. + +[FN#99] Here the slave refuses to be set free and starve. For a +master so to do without ample reasons is held disgraceful. I well +remember the weeping and wailing throughout Sind when an order +from Sir Charles Napier set free the negroes whom British +philanthropy thus doomed to endure if not to die of hunger. + +[FN#100] Manumission, which is founded upon Roman law, is an +extensive subject discussed in the Hidyah and other canonical +works. The slave here lays down the law incorrectly but his claim +shows his truly "nigger" impudence. + +[FN#101] This is quite true to nature. The most remarkable thing +in the wild central African is his enormous development of +"destructiveness." At Zanzibar I never saw a slave break a glass +or plate without a grin or a chuckle of satisfaction. + +[FN#102] Arab. "Khass-ni"; Khusyatni (vulg.) being the +testicles, also called "bayzatn" the two eggs) a double entendre +which has given rise to many tales. For instance in the witty +Persian book "Dozd o Kazi" (The Thief and the Judge) a footpad +strips the man of learning and offers to return his clothes if he +can ask him a puzzle in law or religion. The Kazi (in folk-lore +mostly a fool) fails, and his wife bids him ask the man to supper +for a trial of wits on the same condition. She begins with +compliments and ends by producing five eggs which she would have +him distribute equally amongst the three; and, when he is +perplexed, she gives one to each of the men taking three for +herself. Whereupon the "Dozd" wends his way, having lost his +booty as his extreme stupidity deserved. In the text the eunuch, +Kafur, is made a "Sandal" or smooth-shaven, so that he was of no +use to women. + +[FN#103] Arab. "Khara," the lowest possible word: Y Khara! is +the commonest of insults, used also by modest women. I have heard +one say it to her son. + +[FN#104] Arab. "Kmah," a measure of length, a fathom, also +called "B'a." Both are omitted in that sadly superficial book, +Lane's Modern Egyptians, App. B. + +[FN#105] Names of her slave-girls which mean (in order), +Garden-bloom, Dawn (or Beautiful), Tree o' Pearl (P. N. of +Saladin's wife), Light of (right) Direction, Star o' the Morn +Lewdness (= Shahwah, I suppose this is a chaff), Delight, +Sweetmeat and Miss Pretty. + +[FN#106] This mode of disposing of a rival was very common in +Harems. But it had its difficulties and on the whole the river +was (and is) preferred. + +[FN#107] An Eastern dislikes nothing more than drinking in a dim +dingy place: the brightest lights seem to add to his +"drinkitite." + +[FN#108] He did not sleep with her because he suspected some +palace-mystery which suggested prudence, she also had her +reasons. + +[FN#109] This as called in Egypt "Allah." (Lane M. E. chaps. i.) + +[FN#110] It would be a broad ribbon-like band upon which the +letters could be worked. + +[FN#111] In the Arab. "he cried." These "Yes, Yes!" and "No! No!" +trifles are very common amongst the Arabs. + +[FN#112] Arab. "Maragha" lit. rubbed his face on them like a +fawning dog. Ghanim is another "softy" lover, a favourite +character in Arab tales; and by way of contrast, the girl is +masterful enough. + +[FN#113] Because the Abbaside Caliphs descend from Al-Abbas, +paternal uncle of Mohammed, text means more explicitly, "O +descendant of the Prophet's uncle!" + +[FN#114] The most terrible part of a belle passion in the East is +that the beloved will not allow her lover leave of absence for an +hour. + +[FN#115] It is hard to preserve these wretched puns. In the +original we have "O spray (or branch) of capparis-shrub (arki) +which has been thinned of leaf and fruit (tujna, i.e., whose +fruit, the hymen, has been plucked before and not by me) I see +thee (arka) against me sinning (tajn). + +[FN#116] Apparently the writer forgets that the Abbaside banners +and dress were black, originally a badge of mourning for the Imm +Ibrahim bin Mohammed put to death by the Ommiade Caliph +Al-Marwan. The modern Egyptian mourning, like the old Persian, is +indigo-blue of the darkest; but, as before noted, the custom is +by no means universal. + +[FN#117] Koran, chaps. iv. In the East as elsewhere the Devil +quotes Scripture. + +[FN#118] A servant returning from a journey shows his master due +honour by appearing before him in travelling suit and uncleaned. + +[FN#119] The first name means "Rattan", the second "Willow wand," +from the "Bn" or "Khilf" the Egyptian willow (Salix gyptiaca +Linn.) vulgarly called "Safsf." Forskal holds the "Bn" to be a +different variety. + +[FN#120] Arab. "Ta'm," which has many meanings: in mod. parlance +it would signify millet holcus seed. + +[FN#121] i.e. "I well know how to deal with him." + +[FN#122] The Pen (title of the Koranic chaps. Ixviii.) and the +Preserved Tablet (before explained). + +[FN#123] These plunderings were sanctioned by custom. But a few +years ago, when the Turkish soldiers mutinied about arrears of +pay (often delayed for years) the governing Pasha would set fire +to the town and allow the men to loot what they pleased during a +stated time. Rochet (soi-disant D'Hericourt) amusingly describes +this manoeuvre of the Turkish Governor of Al-Hodaydah in the last +generation. (Pilgrimage iii. 381.) + +[FN#124] Another cenotaph whose use was to enable women to +indulge in their pet pastime of weeping and wailing in company. + +[FN#125] The lodging of pauper travellers, as the chapel in +Iceland is of the wealthy. I have often taken benefit of the +mosque, but as a rule it is unpleasant, the matting being not +only torn but over-populous. Juvenal seems to allude to the +Jewish Synagogue similarly used: "in qu te quro proseuch"? +(iii. 296) and in Acts iii. we find the lame, blind and impotent +in the Temple-porch. + +[FN#126] This foul sort of vermin is supposed to be bred by +perspiration. It is an epoch in the civilised traveller's life +when he catches his first louse. + +[FN#127] The Moslem peasant is a kind hearted man and will make +many sacrifices for a sick stranger even of another creed. It is +a manner of "pundonor" with the village. + +[FN#128] Such treatment of innocent women was only too common +under the Caliphate and in contemporary Europe. + +[FN#129] This may also mean, "And Heaven will reward thee," but +camel-men do not usually accept any drafts upon futurity. + +[FN#130] He felt that he was being treated like a corpse. + +[FN#131] This hatred of the Hospital extends throughout Southern +Europe, even in places where it is not justified. + +[FN#132] The importance of the pillow (wisdah or makhaddah) to +the sick man is often recognised in The Nights. "He took to his +pillow" is = took to his bed. + +[FN#133] i.e in order that the reverend men, who do not render +such suit and service gratis, might pray for him. + +[FN#134] The reader will notice in The Nights the frequent +mention of these physical prognostications, with which mesmerists +are familiar. + +[FN#135] The Pers. name of the planet Saturn in the Seventh +Heaven. Arab. "Zuhal"; the Kiun or Chiun of Amos vi. 26. + +[FN#136] i.e. "Pardon me if I injured thee"-- a popular phrase. + +[FN#137] A "seduction," a charmer. The double-entendre has before +been noticed. + +[FN#138] This knightly tale, the longest in the Nights (xliv.-- +cxlv.), about one-eighth of the whole, does not appear in the +Bres. Edit. Lane, who finds it "objectionable," reduces it to two +of its episodes, Azz-cum-Azzah and Tj al-Mulk. On the other +hand it has been converted into a volume (8vo, pp. 240) +"Scharkan, Conte Arabe," etc. Traduit par M. Asselan Riche, etc. +Paris: Dondey-Dupr. 1829. It has its longueurs and at times is +longsome enough; but it is interesting as a comparison between +the chivalry of Al-Islam and European knight-errantry. Although +all the characters are fictitious the period is evidently in the +early crusading days. Csarea, the second capital of Palestine, +taken during the Caliphate of Omar (A.H. 19) and afterwards +recovered, was fortified in A.H. 353 = 963 as a base against the +Arabs by the Emperor Phocas, the Arab. "Nakfr" i.e. Nicephorus. +In A.H. 498=1104, crusading craft did much injury by plundering +merchantmen between Egypt and Syria, to which allusion is found +in the romance. But the story teller has not quite made up his +mind about which Csarea he is talking, and M. Riche tells us +that Csare is a "ville de la Mauritanie, en Afrique" (p. 20). + +[FN#139] The fifth Ommiade Caliph reign. A.H. 65-86 = 685-704. + +[FN#140] This does not merely mean that no one was safe from his +wrath: or, could approach him in the heat of fight: it is a +reminiscence of the masterful "King Kulayb," who established +game-laws in his dominions and would allow no man to approach his +camp-fire. Moreover the Jinn lights a fire to decoy travellers, +but if his victim be bold enough to brave him, he invites him to +take advantage of the heat. + +[FN#141] China. + +[FN#142] The Jaxartes and the Bactrus (names very loosely +applied). + +[FN#143] In full "Sharrun kna" i.e. an evil (Sharr) has come to +being (kna) that is, "bane to the foe" a pagan and knightly +name. The hero of the Romance "Al-Dalhamah" is described as a +bitter gourd (colocynth), a viper, a calamity. + +[FN#144] This is a Moslem law (Koran chaps. iv. bodily borrowed +from the Talmud) which does not allow a man to marry one wife +unless he can carnally satisfy her. Moreover he must distribute his +honours equally and each wife has a right to her night unless she +herself give it up. This was the case even with the spouses of the +Prophet; and his biography notices several occasions when his wives +waived their rights in favour of one another M. Riche kindly +provides the King with la piquante francaise (p. 15). + +[FN#145] So the celebrated mosque in Stambul, famed for being the +largest church in the world is known to the Greeks as "Agia (pron. +Aya) Sophia" and to Moslems as "Aye Sofyeh" (Holy Wisdom) i.e. the +Logos or Second Person of the Trinity (not a Saintess). The sending +a Christian girl as a present to a Moslem would, in these days, be +considered highly scandalous. But it was done by the Mukaukis or +Coptic Governor of Egypt (under Heraclius) who of course hated the +Greeks. This worthy gave two damsels to Mohammed; one called Srn +and the other Mriyah (Maria) whom the Prophet reserved for his +especial use and whose abode is still shown at Al-Medinah. The Rev. +Doctor Badger (loc. cit. p. 972) gives the translation of an +epistle by Mohammed to this Mukaukis, written in the Cufic +character ( ? ?) and sealed "Mohammed, The Apostle of Allah." My +friend seems to believe that it is an original, but upon this +subject opinions will differ. It is, however, exceedingly +interesting, beginning with "Bismillah," etc., and ending (before +the signature) with a quotation from the Koran (iii. 57); and it +may be assumed as a formula addressee to foreign potentates by a +Prophet who had become virtually "King of Arabia." + +[FN#146] This prayer before "doing the deed of kind" is, I have +said, Moslem as well Christian. + +[FN#147] Exodus i. 16, quoted by Lane (M. E., chaps. xxvii.). +Torrens in his Notes cites Drayton's "Moon-calf':-- + + Bring forth the birth-stool--no, let it alone; + She is so far beyond all compass grown, + Some other new device us needs must stead, + Or else she never can be brought to bed. + +It is the "groaning-chair" of Poor Robin's Almanac (1676) and we +find it alluded to in Boccaccio, the classical sedile which +according to scoffers has formed the papal chair (a curule seat) +ever since the days of Pope Joan, when it has been held advisable +for one of the Cardinals to ascertain that His Holiness possesses +all the instruments of virility. This "Kurs al-wildah" is of +peculiar form on which the patient is seated. A most interesting +essay might be written upon the various positions preferred during +delivery, e.g. the wild Irish still stand on all fours, like the +so-called "lower animals." Amongst the Moslems of Waday, etc., a +cord is hung from the top of the hut, and the woman in labour holds +on to it standing with her legs apart, till the midwife receives +the child. + +[FN#148] Some Orientalists call "lullilooing" the trilling cry, +which is made by raising the voice to its highest pitch and +breaking it by a rapid succession of touches on the palate with the +tongue-tip, others "Ziraleet" and Zagaleet, and one traveller tells +us that it began at the marriage-festival of Isaac and Rebecca (!). +Arabs term it classically "Tahll" and vulgarly "Zaghrutah" (Plur. +Zaghrit) and Persians "Kil." Finally in Don Quixote we have +"Lelilies," the battle-cry of the Moors (Duffield iii. 289). Dr. +Buchanan likens it to a serpent uttering human sounds, but the good +missionary heard it at the festival of Jagannath. (Pilgrimage iii. +197 ) + +[FN#149] i.e. "Light of the Place" (or kingdom) and "Delight of the +Age." + +[FN#150] It is utterly absurd to give the old heroic Persian name +Afridun or Furaydun, the destroyer of Zohk or Zahhk to a Greek, +but such anachronisms are characteristic of The Nights and are +evidently introduced on purpose. See Boccaccio, ix. 9. + +[FN#151] Arab. "Yunn" lit. Ionia, which applies to all Greece, +insular and continental, especially to ancient Greece. + +[FN#152] In 1870 I saw at Sidon a find of some hundreds of gold +"Philippi" and "Alexanders." + +[FN#153] M. Riche has (p. 21), "Ces talismans travaills par le +ciseau du clbre Califaziri," adding in a note, "Je pense que +c'est un sculpteur Arabe." + +[FN#154] This periphrase, containing what seems to us a useless +negative, adds emphasis in Arabic. + +[FN#155] This bit of geographical information is not in the Bull +Edit. + +[FN#156] In Pers. = a tooth, the popular word. + +[FN#157] This preliminary move, called in Persian Nakl-i Safar, is +generally mentioned. So the Franciscan monks in California, when +setting out for a long journey through the desert, marched three +times round the convent and pitched tents for the night under its +walls. + +[FN#158] In Arab. "Khazinah" or "Khaznah" lit. a treasure, +representing 1,000 "Ks" or purses (each=5). The sum in the text +is 7,000 purses X 5=35,000. + +[FN#159] Travellers often prefer such sites because they are +sheltered from the wind, and the ground is soft for pitching tents; +but many have come to grief from sudden torrents following rain. + +[FN#160] Arab "Ghbah" not a forest in our sense of the word, but +a place where water sinks and the trees (mostly Mimosas), which +elsewhere are widely scattered, form a comparatively dense growth +and collect in thickets. These are favourite places for wild beasts +during noon-heats. + +[FN#161] At various times in the East Jews and Christians were +ordered to wear characteristic garments, especially the Zunnr or +girdle. + +[FN#162] The description is borrowed from the Coptic Convent, which +invariably has an inner donjon or keep. The oldest monastery in the +world is Mar Antonios (St. Anthony the Hermit) not far from Suez. +(Gold Mines of Midian, p. 85.) + +[FN#163] "Dawh," plur. of Dhiyah = a mishap. The title means +"Mistress of Misfortunes" or Queen of Calamities (to the enemy); +and the venerable lady, as will be seen, amply deserved her name, +which is pronounced Zt al-Dawh. + +[FN#164] Arab. "Kunfuz"=hedgehog or porcupine. + +[FN#165] These flowers of speech are mere familiarities, not +insults. In societies where the sexes are separated speech becomes +exceedingly free. "tourdie que vous tes," says M. Riche, toning +down the text. + +[FN#166] Arab. "Zirt," a low word. The superlative "Zarrt" +(fartermost) or, "Abu Zirt" (Father of farts) is a facetious term +among the bean-eating Fellahs and a deadly insult amongst the +Badawin (Night ccccx.). The latter prefer the word Tagga +(Pilgrimage iii. 84). We did not disdain the word in +farthingale=pet en air. + +[FN#167] Arab. "kicked" him, i.e. with the sharp corner of the +shovel-stirrup. I avoid such expressions as "spurring" and +"pricking over the plain," because apt to give a wrong idea. + +[FN#168] Arab. "Allaho Akbar!" the classical Moslem slogan. + +[FN#169] Arab horses are never taught to leap, so she was quite +safe on the other side of a brook nine feet broad. + +[FN#170] "Batrk" (vulg. Bitrk)=patricius, a title given to +Christian knights who commanded ten thousand men; the Tarkhan (or +Nobb) heading four thousand, and the Kaumas (Arab. Kid) two +hundred. It must not be confounded with Batrak (or +Batrik)=patriarcha. (Lane's Lex.) + +[FN#171] Arab. "Kzi al-Kuzt," a kind of Chief Justice or +Chancellor. The office wag established under the rule of Harun al +Rashid, who so entitled Ab Ysuf Ya'akab al-Ansri: therefore the +allusion is anachronistic. The same Caliph also caused the Olema to +dress as they do still. + +[FN#172] The allusion is Koranic: "O men, if ye be in doubt +concerning the resurrection, consider that He first created you of +the dust of the ground (Adam), afterwards of seed" (chaps. xxii.). +But the physiological ideas of the Koran are curious. It supposes +that the Mani or male semen is in the loins and that of women in +the breast bone (chaps Ixxxvi.); that the mingled seed of the two +(chaps. Ixxvi.) fructifies the ovary and that the child is fed +through the navel with menstruous blood, hence the cessation of the +catamenia. Barzoi (Kalilah and Dmnah) says:-- "Man's seed, falling +into the woman's womb, is mixed with her seed and her blood: when +it thickens and curdles the Spirit moves it and it turns about like +liquid cheese; then it solidifies, its arteries are formed, its +limbs constructed and its joints distinguished. If the babe is a +male, his face is placed towards his mother's back; if a female, +towards her belly." (P. 262, Mr. L G.N. Keith- Falconer's +translation.) But there is a curious prolepsis of the +spermatozoa-theory. We read (Koran chaps. vii.), "Thy Lord drew +forth their posterity from the loins of the sons of Adam;" and the +commentators say that Allah stroked Adam's back and extracted from +his loins all his posterity, which shall ever be, in the shape of +small ants; these confessed their dependence on God and were +dismissed to return whence they came." From this fiction it appears +(says Sale) that the doctrine of pre-existence is not unknown to +the Mohammedans, and there is some little conformity between it and +the modern theory of generatio ex animalculis in semine marium. The +poets call this Yaum-i-Alast = the Day of Am-I-not (-your Lord)? +which Sir William Jones most unhappily translated "Art thou not +with thy Lord ?" (Alasta bi Rabbi- kum); fand they produce a grand +vision of unembodied spirits appearing in countless millions before +their Creator. + +[FN#173] The usual preliminary of a wrestling bout. + +[FN#174] In Eastern wrestling this counts as a fair fail. So Ajax +fell on his back with Ulysses on his breast. (Iliad xxxii., 700, +etc.) + +[FN#175] So biting was allowed amongst the Greeks in the + , the final struggle on the ground. + +[FN#176] Supposed to be names of noted wrestlers. "Kayim" (not +El-Kim as Torrens has it) is a term now applied to a juggler or +"professor" of legerdemain who amuses people in the streets with +easy tricks. (Lane, M. E., chaps. xx.) + +[FN#177] Lit. "laughed in his face" which has not the unpleasant +meaning it bears in English. + +[FN#178] Arab. "Abu riyh"=a kind of child's toy. It is our +"bull-roarer" well known in Australia and parts of Africa. + +[FN#179] The people of the region south of the Caspian which is +called "Sea of Daylam." It has a long history; for which see +D'Herbelot, s.v. "Dilem." + +[FN#180] Coptic convents in Egypt still affect these drawbridges +over the keep-moat. + +[FN#181] Koran iv., xxii. etc., meaning it is lawful to marry women +taken in war after the necessary purification although their +husbands be still living. This is not permitted with a free woman +who is a True Believer. I have noted that the only concubine +slave-girl mentioned in the Koran are these "captives possessed by +the right hand." + +[FN#182] The Amazonian dame is a favourite in folk-lore and is an +ornament to poetry from the Iliad to our modern day. Such heroines, +apparently unknown to the Pagan Arabs, were common in the early +ages of Al-Islam as Ockley and Gibbon prove, and that the race is +not extinct may be seen in my Pilgrimage (iii. 55) where the sister +of Ibn Rumi resolved to take blood revenge for her brother. + +[FN#183] And Solomon said, "O nobles, which of you will bring me +her throne ?" A terrible genius (i.e. an If rit of the Jinn named +Dhakwan or the notorious Sakhr) said, " I will bring it unto thee +before thou arise from thy seat (of justice); for I am able to +perform it, and may be trusted" (Koran, xxvii. 38-39). Balks or +Bilks (says the Durrat al-Ghawws) daughter of Hozd bin +Sharhabl, twenty-second in the list of the rulers of Al- Yaman, +according to some murdered her husband, and became, by Moslem +ignorance, the Biblical " Queen of Sheba." The Abyssinians transfer +her from Arabian Saba to Ethiopia and make her the mother by +Solomon of Menelek, their proto-monarch; thus claiming for their +royalties an antiquity compared with which all reigning houses in +the world are of yesterday. The dates of the Tabbi'ah or Tobbas +prove that the Bilkis of history ruled Al-Yaman in the early +Christian era. + +[FN#184] Arab. "Fass," fiss or fuss; the gem set in a ring; also +applied to a hillock rounded en cabochon. In The Nights it is used +to signify "a fine gem." + +[FN#185] This prominence of the gluti muscles is always insisted +upon, because it is supposed to promise well in a bed-fellow. In +Somali land where the people are sub- steatopygous, a rich young +man, who can afford such luxury, will have the girls drawn up in +line and choose her to wife who projects furthest behind + +[FN#186] The "bull" is only half mine. + +[FN#187] A favourite Arab phrase, the "hot eye" is one full of +tears. + +[FN#188] i.e., "Coral," coral branch, a favourite name for a +slave-girl, especially a negress. It is the older "Morgiana." I do +not see why Preston in Al-Harni's "Makamah (Sance) of Singar" +renders it pearls, because Golius gives "small pearls," when it is +evidently "coral." Richardson (Dissert. xlviii.) seems to me +justified in finding the Pari (fairy) Marjan of heroic Persian +history reflected in the Fairy Morgain who earned off King Arthur +after the battle of Camelon. + +[FN#189] Arab. "'Ud Jalaki"=Jalak or Jalik being a poetical and +almost obsolete name of Damascus. + +[FN#190] The fountain in Paradise whose water shall be drunk with +"pure" wine mixed and sealed with musk (for clay). It is so called +because it comes from the "Sanam" (Sanima, to be high) boss or +highest ridge of the Moslem Heaven (Koran lv. 78 and lxxxiii. 27). +Mr. Rodwell says "it is conveyed to the highest apartments in the +Pavilions of Paradise." (?) + +[FN#191] This "hysterical" temperament is not rare even amongst the +bravest Arabs. + +[FN#192] An idea evidently derived from the olipyla (olla +animatoria) the invention of Hero Alexandrinus, which showed that +the ancient Egyptians could apply the motive force of steam. + +[FN#193] Kuthayyir ibn Abi Jumah, a poet and far-famed Rw or +Tale-reciter, mentioned by Ibn Khallikan he lived at Al-Medinah and +sang the attractions of one Azzah, hence his soubriquet Shib +(lover of) Azzah. As he died in A. H. 105 (=726), his presence here +is a gross anachronism the imaginary Sharrkan flourished before the +Caliphate of Abd al-Malik bin Marwn A. H. 65-86. + +[FN#194] Jaml bin Ma'amar, a poet and lover contemporary with +Al-Kuthayrir. + +[FN#195] Arab. "Tafazzal," a word of frequent use in +conversation="favour me," etc. + +[FN#196] The word has a long history. From the Gr. or +is the Lat. stibium; while the Low Latin "antimonium" and the Span. +Althimod are by metathesis for Al-Ithmid. The dictionaries define +the substance as a stone from which antimony is prepared, but the +Arabs understand a semi-mythical mineral of yellow colour which +enters into the veins of the eyes and gives them Iynx-like vision. +The famous Anz nicknamed Zark (the blue eyed) of Yammah +(Province) used it; and, according to some, invented Kohl. When her +(protohistoric) tribe Jadis had destroyed all the rival race of +Tasm, except Ribh ibn Murrah; the sole survivor fled to the Tobba +of Al-Yaman, who sent a host to avenge him. The king commanded his +Himyarites to cut tree-boughs and use them as screens (again Birnam +wood). Zark from her Utum, or peel-tower, saw the army three +marches off and cried, "O folk, either trees or Himyar are coming +upon you!" adding, in Rajaz verse:-- + +I swear by Allah that trees creep onward, or that Himyar beareth +somewhat which he draweth along! + +She then saw a man mending his sandal. But Jadis disbelieved; +Cassandra was slain and, when her eyes were cut out the vessels +were found full of Ithmid. Hence Al-Mutanabbi sang: + + "Sharper-sighted than Zark of Jau" (Yammah). + +See C. de Perceval i. 101; Arab. Prov. i. 192; and Chenery p. 381. +(The Assemblies of Al-Hariri; London, Williams and Norgate, 1867). +I have made many enquiries into the true nature of Ithmid and +failed to learn anything: on the Upper Nile the word is=Kohl. + +[FN#197] The general colour of chessmen in the East, where the game +is played on a cloth more often than a board. + +[FN#198] Arab. "Al-fil," the elephant=the French fol or fou and our +bishop. I have derived "elephant" from Pl (old Persian, Sansk. +Pilu) and Arab. Fil, with the article Al-Fil, whence the Greek + the suffix--as being devoted to barbarous words as Obod-as +(Al Ubayd), Aretas (Al-Hris), etc. Mr. Isaac Taylor (The Alphabet +i. 169), preserves the old absurdity of "eleph-ant or ox-like (!) +beast of Africa." Prof. Sayce finds the word al-ab (two distinct +characters) in line 3, above the figure of an (Indian) elephant, on +the black obelisk of Nimrod Mound, and suggests an Assyrian +derivation. + +[FN#199] Arab. "Shaukat" which may also mean the "pride" or +"mainstay" (of the army). + +[FN#200] Lit. "smote him on the tendons of his neck." This is the +famous shoulder-cut (Tawash shuh) which, with the leg-cut (Kalam), +formed, and still forms, the staple of Eastern attack with the +sword. + +[FN#201] Arab. "Dirs." Easterns do not thresh with flails. The +material is strewed over a round and smoothed floor of dried mud in +the open air and threshed by different connivances. In Egypt the +favourite is a chair-like machine called "Norag," running on iron +plates and drawn by bulls or cows over the corn. Generally, +however, Moslems prefer the old classical , the Tribulum of +Virgil and Varro, a slipper-shaped sled of wood garnished on the +sole with large-headed iron nails, or sharp fragments of flint or +basalt. Thus is made the "Tibn" or straw, the universal hay of the +East, which our machines cannot imitate. + +[FN#202] These numbers appear to be grossly exaggerated, but they +were possible in the days of sword and armour: at the battle of +Saffayn the Caliph Ali is said to have cut down five hundred and +twenty-three men in a single night. + +[FN#203] Arab. "Bika'": hence the "Buka'ah" or Clesyria. + +[FN#204] Richardson in his excellent dictionary (note 103) which +modern priggism finds "unscientific " wonderfully derives this word +from Arab. "Khattf," a snatcher (i.e. of women), a ravisher. It is +an evident corruption of "captivus" through Italian and French + +[FN#205] These periodical and fair-like visitations to convents are +still customary; especially amongst the Christians of Damascus. + +[FN#206] Camphor being then unknown. + +[FN#207] The "wrecker" is known all over the world; and not only +barbarians hold that ships driven ashore become the property of the +shore + +[FN#208] Arab. "Jokh": it is not a dictionary word, but the only +term in popular use for European broadcloth. + +[FN#209] The second person plural is used because the writer would +involve the subjects of his correspondent in the matter. + +[FN#210] This part of the phrase, which may seem unnecessary to the +European, is perfectly intelligible to all Orientalists. You may +read many an Eastern letter and not understand it. Compare Boccacoo +iv. 1. + +[FN#211] i.e. he was greatly agitated + +[FN#212] In text "Li-ajal a al-Taudi'a," for the purpose of +farewelling, a low Egyptianism; emphatically a "Kalm wti." +(Pilgrimage thee iii. 330.) + +[FN#213] In the Mac. Edit. Sharrkan speaks, a clerical error. + +[FN#214] The Farsakh (Germ. Stunde) a measure of time rather than +distance, is an hour's travel or its equivalent, a league, a +meile=three English stat. miles. The word is still used in Persia +its true home, but not elsewhere. It is very old, having been +determined as a lineal measure of distance by Herodotus (ii. 5 and +6 ; v. 53), who computes it at 30 furlongs (=furrow-lengths, 8 to +the stat. mile). Strabo (xi.) makes it range from 40 to 60 stades +(each=606 feet 9 inches), and even now it varies between 1,500 to +6,000 yards. Captain Francklin (Tour to Persia) estimates it = +about four miles. (Pilgrimage ii. 113.) + +[FN#215] Arab. "Ashhab." Names of colours are few amongst semi +civilised peoples, but in Arabia there is a distinct word for every +shade of horseflesh. + +[FN#216] She had already said to him "Thou art beaten in +everything!" + +[FN#217] Showing that she was still a Christian. + +[FN#218] This is not Badawi sentiment: the honoratioren amongst +wild people would scorn such foul play; but amongst the settled +Arabs honour between men and women is unknown and such "hocussing" +would be held quite fair. + +[FN#219] The table of wine, in our day, is mostly a japanned tray +with glasses and bottles, saucers of pickles and fruits and, +perhaps, a bunch of flowers and aromatic herbs. During the +Caliphate the "wine-service" was on a larger scale. + +[FN#220] Here the "Bhang" (almost a generic term applied to +hellebore, etc.) may be hyoscyamus or henbane. Yet there are +varieties of Cannabis, such as the Dakha of South Africa capable of +most violent effect. I found the use of the drug well known to the +negroes of the Southern United States and of the Brazil, although +few of their owners had ever heard of it. + +[FN#221] Amongst Moslems this is a reference to Adam who first +"sinned against himself,' and who therefore is called " +Safyu'llah," the Pure of Allah. (Pilgrimage iii. 333.) + +[FN#222] Meaning, an angry, violent man. + +[FN#223] Arab. "Inshd," which may mean reciting the verse of +another or improvising one's own. In Modern Egypt "Munshid" is the +singer or reciter of poetry at Zikrs (Lane M. E. chaps. xxiv.). +Here the verses are quite bad enough to be improvised by the +hapless Princess. + +[FN#224] The negro skin assumes this dust colour in cold, fear, +concupiscence and other mental emotions. + +[FN#225] He compares her glance with the blade of a Yamani sword, +a lieu commun of Eastern poetry. The weapons are famous in The +Nights; but the best sword-cutlery came from Persia as the +porcelain from China to Sana'. Here, however, is especial allusion +as to the sword "Samsam" or "Samsamah." It belonged to the +Himyarite Tobba, Amru bin Ma'ad Kurb, and came into the hands of +Harun al-Rashid. When the Emperor of the Greeks sent a present of +superior sword-blades to him by way of a brave, the Caliph, in the +presence of the Envoys, took "Samsam" in hand and cut the others in +twain as if they were cabbages without the least prejudice to the +edge of "Samsam." + +[FN#226] This touch of pathos is truly Arab. So in the "Romance of +Dalhamah" (Lane, M. E. xxiii.) the infant Gundubah sucks the breast +of its dead mother and the King exclaims, "If she had committed +this crime she would not be affording the child her milk after she +was dead." + +[FN#227] Arab. "Sadda'l-Aktr," a term picturesque enough to be +preserved in English. "Sadd," I have said, is a wall or dyke, the +term applied to the great dam of water- plants which obstructs the +navigation of the Upper Nile, the lilies and other growths floating +with the current from the (Victoria) Nyanza Lake. I may note that +we need no longer derive from India the lotus-llily so extensively +used by the Ancient Egyptians and so neglected by the moderns that +it has well nigh disappeared. All the Central African basins abound +in the Nympha and thence it found its way down the Nile Valley. + +[FN#228] Arab. "Al Marhmah": equivalent to our "late lamented." + +[FN#229] Vulgarly pronounced "Mahmal," and by Egyptians and Turks +"Mehmel." Lane (M. E. xxiv.) has figured this queenly litter and I +have sketched and described it in my Pilgrimage (iii. 12). + +[FN#230] For such fits of religious enthusiasm see my Pilgrimage +(iii. 254). + +[FN#231] "Irk" (Mesopotamia) means "a level country beside the +banks of a ever." + +[FN#232] "Al Kuds," or "Bays al-Mukaddas," is still the popular +name of Jerusalem, from the Heb. Yerushalaim ha-Kadushah (legend on +shekel of Simon Maccabeus). + +[FN#233] "Follow the religion of Abraham" says the Koran (chaps. +iii. 89). Abraham, titled "Khallu'llah," ranks next in dignity to +Mohammed, preceding Isa, I need hardly say that his tomb is not in +Jerusalem nor is the tomb itself at Hebron ever visited. Here +Moslems (soi disant) are allowed by the jealousies of Europe to +close and conceal a place which belongs to the world, especially to +Jews and Christians. The tombs, if they exist, lie in a vault or +cave under the Mosque. + +[FN#234] Ab, or Abyah, vulg. Abayah, is a cloak of hair, goat's +or camel's; too well known to require description. + +[FN#235] Arab. "Al-Wakkd," the man who lights and keeps up the +bath-fires. + +[FN#236] Arab. "M al-Khalf" (or "Khilf") a sickly perfume but +much prized, made from the flowers of the Salix gyptiaca. + +[FN#237] Used by way of soap; like glasswort and other plants. + +[FN#238] i.e., "Thou art only just recovered." + +[FN#239] To "Nakh" is to gurgle "Ikh! Ikh!" till the camel kneels. +Hence the space called "Barr al-Mankhah" in Al-Medinah (Pilgrimage +i. 222, ii. 91). There is a regular camel vocabulary amongst the +Arabs, made up like our "Gee" (go ye!), etc. of significant words +worn down. + +[FN#240] Arab. "Laza," the Second Hell provided for Jews. + +[FN#241] The word has been explained (vol. i. 112).[see Volume 1, +note 199] It is trivial, not occurring in the Koran which uses +"Arabs of the Desert ;" "Arabs who dwell in tents," etc. (chaps. +ix. and xxxiii.). "A'arbi" is the classical word and the origin of +"Arab" is disputed. According to Pocock (Not Spec. Hist. Arab.): +"Diverse are the opinions concerning the denomination of the Arabs; +but the most certain of all is that which draws it from Arabah, +which is part of the region of Tehama (belonging to Al-Medinah +Pilgrimage ii. 118), which their father Ismail afterwards +inhabited." Tehamah (sierra caliente) is the maritime region of Al +Hijaz, the Moslems Holy Land; and its "Arabah," a very small tract +which named a very large tract, must not be confounded, as some +have done, with the Wady Arabah, the ancient outlet of the Dead +Sea. The derivation of "Arab" from "Ya'arab" a fancied son of +Joktan is mythological. In Heb. Arabia may be called "Eretz Ereb" +(or "Arab")=land of the West; but in Arabic "Gharb" (not Ereb) is +the Occident and the Arab dates long before the Hebrew. + +[FN#242] "When thine enemy extends his hand to thee, cut it off if +thou can, or kiss it," wisely said Caliph al-Mansur. + +[FN#243] The Tartur was a peculiar turban worn by the Northern +Arabs and shown in old prints. In modern Egypt the term is applied +to the tall sugar-loaf caps of felt affected mostly by regular +Dervishes. Burckhardt (Proverbs 194 and 398) makes it the high cap +of felt or fur proper to the irregular cavalry called Dely or +Delaty. In Dar For (Darfour) "Tartur" is a conical cap adorned with +beads and cowries worn by the Manghwah or buffoon who corresponds +with the Egyptian "Khalbs" or "Maskharah" and the Turkish +"Sutari." For an illustration see Plate iv. fig. 10 of Voyage au +Darfour par Mohammed El Tounsy (The Tunisian), Paris, Duprat, 1845. + +[FN#244] The term is picturesque and true; we say "gnaw," which is +not so good. + +[FN#245] Here, meaning an Elder, a Chief, etc.; the word has been +almost naturalised in English. I have noted that Abraham was the +first "Shaykh." + +[FN#246] This mention of weighing suggests the dust of Dean Swift +and the money of the Gold Coast It was done, I have said, because +the gold coin, besides being "sweated" was soft and was soon worn +down. + +[FN#247] Fem. of Nj (a deliverer, a saviour)=Salvadora. + +[FN#248] This, I have noted, is according to Koranic command +(chaps. iv. 88). "When you are saluted with a salutation, salute +the person with a better salutation." The longer answer to "Peace +be with (or upon) thee! " is still universally the custom. The +"Salem" is so differently pronounced by every Eastern nation that +the observant traveller will easily make of it a Shibboleth. + +[FN#249] The Badawi, who was fool as well as rogue, begins to fear +that he has kidnapped a girl of family. + +[FN#250] These examinations being very indecent are usually done in +strictest privacy. The great point is to make sure of virginity. + +[FN#251] This is according to strict Moslem law: the purchaser may +not look at the girl's nakedness till she is his, and he ought to +manage matters through an old woman. + +[FN#252] Lit. wrath; affliction which chokes; in Hindustani it +means simply anger. + +[FN#253] i.e. Heaven forbid I be touched by a strange man. + +[FN#254] Used for fuel and other purposes, such as making "doss +stick." + +[FN#255] Arab "Yaftah'Allah" the offer being insufficient. The +rascal is greedy as a Badaw and moreover he is a liar, which the +Badawi is not. + +[FN#256] The third of the four great Moslem schools of Theology, +taking its name from the Imam al-Shfi' (Mohammed ibn Idrs) who +died in Egypt A.H. 204, and lies buried near Cairo. (Sale's Prel. +Disc. sect. viii.) + +[FN#257] The Moslem form of Cabbala, or transcendental philosophy +of the Hebrews. + +[FN#258] Arab. "Bakh" the word used by the Apostle to Ali his +son-in-law. It is the Latin "Euge." + +[FN#259] Readers, who read for amusement, will do well to "skip" +the fadaises of this highly educated young woman. + +[FN#260] There are three Persian Kings of this name (Artaxerxes) +which means "Flour and milk," or "high lion." The text alludes to +Ardeshir Babegan, so called because he married the daughter of +Babak the shepherd, founder of the Sassanides in A.D. 202. See +D,Herberot, and the Dabistan. + +[FN#261] Alluding to the proverb, "Folk follow their King's faith," +"Cujus regio ejus religio" etc. + +[FN#262] Second Abbaside, A.H. 136-158 (=754-775). + +[FN#263] The celebrated companion of Mohammed who succeeded Abu +Bakr in the Caliphate (A.H. 13-23=634-644). The Sunnis know him as +Al-Adil the Just, and the Shiahs detest him for his usurpation, his +austerity and harshness. It is said that he laughed once and wept +once. The laugh was caused by recollecting how he ate his +dough-gods (the idols of the Hanifah tribe) in The Ignorance. The +tears were drawn by remembering how he buried alive his baby +daughter who, while the grave was being dug, patted away the dust +from his hair and beard. Omar was doubtless a great man, but he is +one of the most ungenial figures in Moslem history which does not +abound in genialities. To me he suggests a Puritan, a Covenanter of +the sourest and narrowest type; and I cannot wonder that the +Persians abhor him, and abuse him on all occasions. + +[FN#264] The austere Caliph Omar whose scourge was more feared than +the sword was the - author of the celebrated saying "Consult them +(feminines) and do clear contrary-wise." + +[FN#265] Our "honour amongst thieves." + +[FN#266] The sixth successor of Mohammed and founder of the Banu +Umayyah or Ommiades, called the "sons of the little mother" from +their eponymus (A.H. 41-60=661-680). For his Badawi wife Maysun, +and her abuse of her husband, see Pilgrimage iii. 262. + +[FN#267] Shaykh of the noble tribe, or rather nation, Banu Tamm +and a notable of the day, surnamed, no one knows why, "Sire of the +Sea." + +[FN#268] This is essential for cleanliness in hot lands: however +much the bath may be used, the body-pile and lower hair, if +submitted to a microscope, will show more or less sordes adherent. +The axilla-hair is plucked because if shaved the growing pile +causes itching and the depilatories are held deleterious. At first +vellication is painful but the skin becomes used to it. The pecten +is shaved either without or after using depilatories, of which more +presently. The body-pile is removed by "Takhff"; the Libn Shmi +(Syrian incense), a fir- gum imported from Scio, is melted and +allowed to cool in the form of a pledget. This is passed over the +face and all the down adhering to it is pulled up by the roots +(Burckhardt No. 420). Not a few Anglo-Indians have adopted these +precautions + +[FN#269] This Caliph was a tall, fair, handsome man of +awe-inspiring aspect. Omar used to look at him and say, "This is +the Csar of the Arabs," while his wife called him a "fatted ass." + +[FN#270] The saying is attributed to Abraham when "exercised" by +the unkindly temper of Sarah; "woman is made hard and crooked like +a rib;" and the modern addition is, "whoso would straighten her, +breaketh her." + +[FN#271] i.e. "When ready and in erection." + +[FN#272] "And do first (before going in to your wives) some act +which may be profitable unto your souls" or, for you: soul's good. +(Koran, chaps. ii. 223.) Hence Ahnaf makes this prayer. + +[FN#273] It was popularly said that "Truth-speaking left Omar +without a friend." Entitled "The Just" he was murdered by Abu +Llah, alias Frz, a (Magian ?) slave of Al-Maghrah for denying +him justice. + +[FN#274] Governor of Bassorah under the first four Caliphs. See +D'Herbelot s.v. "Aschri." + +[FN#275] Ziyad bin Abi Sufyan, illegitimate brother of the Caliph +Mu'awiyah afterwards governor of Bassorah, Cufa and Al-Hijaz. + +[FN#276] The seditions in Kufah were mainly caused by the wilful +nepotism of Caliph Othman bin Askir which at last brought about +his death. His main quality seems to have been personal beauty: +"never was seen man or woman of fairer face than he and he was the +most comely of men:" he was especially famed for beautiful teeth +which in old age he bound about with gold wire. He is described as +of middling stature, large- limbed, broad shouldered, fleshy of +thigh and long in the fore-arm which was hairy. His face inclined +to yellow and was pock-marked; his beard was full and his curly +hair, which he dyed yellow, fell below his ears. He is called +"writer of the Koran" from his edition of the M.S., and "Lord of +the two Lights" because he married two of the Prophet's daughters, +Rukayyah and Umm Kulthum; and, according to the Shi'ahs who call +him Othman-i-Lang or" limping Othman," he vilely maltreated them. +They justify his death as the act of an Ijm' al-Muslimn, the +general consensus of Moslems which ratifies "Lynch law." Altogether +Othman is a mean figure in history. + +[FN#277] "Nr" (fire) is a word to be used delicately from its +connection with Gehenna. You say, e.g. "bring me a light, a coal +(bassah)" etc.; but if you say "bring me fire! " the enemy will +probably remark "He wanteth fire even before his time!" The slang +expression would be "bring the sweet." (Pilgrimage i. 121.) + +[FN#278] Omar is described as a man of fair complexion, and very +ruddy, but he waxed tawny with age, when he also became bald and +grey. He had little hair on the cheeks but a long mustachio with +reddish ends. In stature he overtopped the people and was stout as +he was tall. A popular saying of Mohammed's is, "All (very) long +men are fools save Omar, and all (very) short men are knaves save +Ali." The Persians, who abhor Omar, compare every lengthy, +ungainly, longsome thing with him; they will say, "This road never +ends, like the entrails of Omar." We know little about Ali's +appearance except that he was very short and stout, broad and +full-bellied with a tawny complexion and exceedingly hairy, his +long beard, white as cotton, filling all the space between his +shoulders. He was a "pocket. Hercules," and incredible tales, like +that about the gates of Khaybar, are told of his strength. Lastly, +he was the only Caliph who bequeathed anything to literature: his +"Cantiloquium" is famous and he has left more than one mystical and +prophetic work. See Ockley for his "Sentences" and D'Herbelot s. D. +"Ali" and "Gebr." Ali is a noble figure in Moslem history. + +[FN#279] The emancipation from the consequences of his sins; or it +may mean a holy death. + +[FN#280] Battle fought near Al-Medinah A.D. 625. The word is +derived from "shad" (one). I have described the site in my +Pilgrimage, (vol. ii. 227). + +[FN#281] "Haphsa" in older writers; Omar's daughter and one of +Mohammed's wives, famous for her connection with the manuscripts of +the Koran. From her were (or claimed to be) descended the Hafsites +who reigned in Tunis and extended their power far and wide over the +Maghrib (Mauritania), till dispossessed by the Turks. + +[FN#282] i.e. humbly without the usual strut or swim: it +corresponds with the biblical walking or going softly. (I Kings +xxi. 27; Isaiah xxxviii. 15, etc.) + +[FN#283] A theologian of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#284] i.e. to prepare himself by good works, especially +alms-giving, for the next world. + +[FN#285] A theologian of the eighth century. + +[FN#286] Abd al-Aziz was eighth Ommiade (regn. A.H. 99=717) and the +fifth of the orthodox, famed for a piety little known to his house. +His most celebrated saying was, " Be constant in meditation on +death: if thou bein straitened case 'twill enlarge it, and if in +affluence 'twill straiten it upon thee." He died. poisoned, it is +said, in A.H 101, + +[FN#287] Abu Bakr originally called Abd al-Ka'abah (slave of the +Ka'abah) took the name of Abdullah and was surnamed Abu Bakr +(father of the virgin) when Mohammed, who before had married only +widows, took to wife his daughter, the famous or infamous Ayishah. +"Bikr" is the usual form, but "Bakr," primarily meaning a young +camel, is metaphorically applied to human youth (Lane's Lex. s. +c.). The first Caliph was a cloth-merchant, like many of the Meccan +chiefs. He is described as very fair with bulging brow, deep set +eyes and thin-checked, of slender build and lean loined, stooping +and with the backs of his hands fleshless. He used tinctures of +Henna and Katam for his beard. The Persians who hate him, call him +"Pir-i-Kaftr," the old she-hyaena, and believe that he wanders +about the deserts of Arabia in perpetual rut which the males must +satisfy. + +[FN#288] The second, fifth, sixth and seventh Ommiades. + +[FN#289] The mother of Omar bin Abd al-Aziz was a granddaughter of +Omar bin al-Khattab. + +[FN#290] Brother of this Omar's successor, Yezid II. + +[FN#291] So the Turkish proverb "The fish begins to stink at the +head." + +[FN#292] Calling to the slaves. + +[FN#293] When the "Day of Arafat" (9th of Z'l-Hijjah) falls upon +a Friday. For this Hajj al- Akbar see my Pilgrimage iii. 226. It is +often confounded by writers (even by the learned M. Caussin de +Perceval) with the common Pilgrimage as opposed to the Umrah, or " +Lesser Pilgrimage" (ibid. iii. 342, etc.). The latter means +etymologically cohabiting with a woman in her father's house as +opposed to 'Ars or leading her to the husband's home: it is applied +to visiting Meccah and going through all the pilgrim-rites but not +at the Pilgrimage-season. Hence its title "Hajj al-Asghar" the +"Lesser Hajj." But "Umrah" is also applied to a certain ceremony +between the hills Saf (a large hard rock) and Marwah (stone full +of flints), which accompanies the Hajj and which I have described +(ibid. iii. 344). At Meccah I also heard of two places called +Al-Umrah, the Greater in the Wady Ftimah and the Lesser half way +nearer the city (ibid. iii. 344). + +[FN#294] A fair specimen of the unworthy egoism which all religious +systems virtually inculcate Here a pious father leaves his children +miserable to save his own dirty soul. + +[FN#295] Chief of the Ban Tamn, one of the noblest of tribes, +derived from Tamm, the uncle of Kuraysh (Koreish); hence the poets +sang:-- + + There cannot be a son nobler than Kuraysh, + Nor an uncle nobler than Tamm. + +The high minded Tamn is contrasted with the mean-spirited Kays, +who also gave rise to a tribe; and hence the saying concerning one +absolutely inconsistent, "Art thou now Tamn and then Kays?" + +[FN#296] Surnamed Al-Sakafi, Governor of Al-Yaman and Irak. + +[FN#297] Tenth Ommiade (regn. A H. 105-125 = 724-743). + +[FN#298] Or "clothe thee in worn-out clothes" i.e. "Become a Fakir" +or religious mendicant. + +[FN#299] This gratuitous incest in ignorance injures the tale and +is as repugnant to Moslem as to Christian taste. + +[FN#300] The child is named either on the day of its birth or on +that day week. The father whispers it in the right ear, often +adding the Azn or prayer-call, and repeating in the left ear the +"Ikmah" or Friday sentence. There are many rules for choosing +names according to the week-day, the ascendant planet, the "Sortes +Coranic," etc. + +[FN#301] Amongst Moslems as amongst Christians there are seven +deadly sins: idolatry, murder, falsely charging modest women with +unchastity, robbing orphans, usury, desertion in Holy War and +disobedience to parents. The difference between the two creeds is +noteworthy. And the sage knows only three, intemperance, ignorance +and egoism. + +[FN#302] Meaning, "It was decreed by Destiny; so it came to pass," +appropriate if not neat. + +[FN#303] The short, stout, dark, long-haired and two-bunched camel +from "Bukhtar" (Bactria), the "Eastern" (Bakhtar) region on the Amu +or Jayhun (Oxus) River; afterwards called Khorasan. The two-humped +camel is never seen in Arabia except with northern caravans, and to +speak of it would be a sore test of Badawi credulity. + +[FN#304] "Kayllah" is the "forty-winks" about noon: it is a Sunnat +or Practice of the Prophet who said, "Make the mid-day siesta, for +verily at this hour the devils sleep not." "Ayllain" is slumbering +after morning prayers (our "beauty-sleep"), causing heaviness andid +leness: "Ghayllah" is dozing about 9 a.m. engendering poverty and +wretchedness: "Kayllah" (with the guttural Kaf) is sleeping before +evening prayers and "Fayllah" is slumbering after sunset--both +held to be highly detrimental. (Pilgrimage ii 49.) + +[FN#305] The Biblical "Hamath" (Hightown) too well known to require +description. It is still famous for the water-wheels mentioned by +al-Hariri (assembly of the Banu Harm). + +[FN#306] When they say, "The levee flashes bright on the hills of +Al-Yaman," the allusion is to the south quarter, where +summer-lightning is seen. Al-Yaman (always with the article) means, +I have said, the right-hand region to one facing the rising sun and +Al-Sham (Syria) the left-hand region. + +[FN#307] Again "he" for "she," in delicacy and jealousy of making +public the beauty or conditions of the "veiled sex." Even public +singers would hesitate to use a feminine pronoun. As will be seen +however, the rule is not invariably kept and hardly ever in Badawi +poetry. + +[FN#308] The normal pun on "Nuzhat al-Zaman" = Delight of the Age +or Time. + +[FN#309] The reader will find in my Pilgrimage (i. 305) a sketch of +the Takht-rawan or travelling-litter, in which pilgrimesses are +wont to sleep. + +[FN#310] In poetry it holds the place of our Zephyr; end the "Bd- +i-Sab"=Breeze o' the morn, Is much addressed by Persian poets. + +[FN#311] Here appears the nervous, excitable, hysterical Arab +temperament which is almost phrensied by the neighbourhood of a +home from which he had run away. + +[FN#312] Zau al-Makan and Nuzhat al-Zaman. + +[FN#313] The idea is essentially Eastern, "A lion at home and a +lamb abroad" is the popular saying. + +[FN#314] Arab. "Hubb al-Watan" (= love of birthplace, patriotism) +of which the Tradition says "Min al-Imn" (=is part of man's +religion). + +[FN#315] He is supposed to speak en prince; and he yields to a +prayer when he spurns a command. + +[FN#316] In such caravans each party must keep its own place under +pain of getting into trouble with the watchmen and guards. + +[FN#317] Mr. Payne (ii. 109) borrows this and the next quotation +from the Bull Edit. i. 386. + +[FN#318] For the expiation of inconsiderate oaths see Koran (chaps. +v.). I cannot but think that Al-Islam treats perjury too lightly: +all we can say is-that it improves upon Hinduism which practically +seems to leave the punishment to the gods. + +[FN#319] "Kausar," as has been said, represents the classical +nectar, the Amrita of the Hindus. + +[FN#320] From Bull Edit. i. 186. The couplet in the Mac. Edit. i. +457 is very wildly applied. + +[FN#321] The "insula" of Sancho Panza. + +[FN#322] This should have assured him that he stood in no danger. + +[FN#323] Here ends the wearisome tale of the brother and sister, +and the romance of chivalry begins once more with the usual Arab +digressions. + +[FN#324] I have derived this word from the Persian "rang"=colour, +hue, kind. + +[FN#325] Otherwise all would be superseded, like U. S. officials +under a new President. + +[FN#326] Arab. "Nmshah" from the Pers. Nmchah, a "half-sword," a +long dagger worn in the belt. Richardson derives it from Namsh, +being freckled (damasked). + +[FN#327] The Indian term for a tent large enough to cover a troop +of cavalry. + +[FN#328] Arab. "Marhm" a formula before noticed. It is borrowed +from the Jewish, "of blessed memory" (after the name of the +honoured dead, Prov. x. 17.); with the addition of "upon whom be +peace," as opposed to the imprecation, "May the name of the wicked +rot!" + +[FN#329] The speeches of the five damsels should be read only by +students. + +[FN#330] i.e. Those who look for "another and a better." + +[FN#331] The title of Caliph Abu Bakr because he bore truthful +witness to the Apostle's mission or, others say, he confirmed the +"Mi'rj" or nocturnal journey to Heaven. + +[FN#332] All this is Koranic (chaps. ii., etc.). + +[FN#333] This may have applied more than once to "hanging judges" +in the Far West. + +[FN#334] A traditionist and jurisconsult of Al-Medinah in the +seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#335] The Alexander of the Koran and Eastern legends, not to be +confounded with the Alexander of Macedon. He will be noticed in a +future Night. + +[FN#336] sop, according to the Arabs: of him or rather of the two +Lukmans, more presently. + +[FN#337] Koran ii. 185. + +[FN#338] Mohammed. + +[FN#339] One of the Ashb or Companions of Mohammed. + +[FN#340] A noted traditionist at Cufa in the seventh century. + +[FN#341] Koran, chaps. lxxiv. I (and verse 8 follows). The +Archangel Gabriel is supposed to address Mohammed and not a few +divines believe this Surah (chapter) to have been first revealed. +Mr. Rodwell makes it No. ii. following the Fatrah or silent +interval which succeeded No. xcvi. "Clots of Blood." See his 2nd +Edit. p. 3 for further details. + +[FN#342] i.e. dangerous to soul-health. + +[FN#343] In the Mac. Edit. "Abd" for "Sa'id." The latter was a +black and a native of Cufa during the first century (A.H ) and is +still famous as a traditionist. + +[FN#344] Arab. "Shirk," giving a partner to Allah, attending +chiefly to Christians and idolaters and in a minor degree to Jews +and Guebres. We usually English it by "polytheism," which is clumsy +and conveys a wrong idea + +[FN#345] Grandson of the Caliph Ali. He is one of the Imams +(High-priests) of the Shi'ah school. + +[FN#346] An eminent traditionist of the eighth century (A.D.). + +[FN#347] The prayers of the Fast-month and Pilgrimage-month are +often said in especial places outside the towns and cities; these +are the Indian Id(Eed-)gh. They have a screen of wall about a +hundred yards long with a central prayer-niche and the normal three +steps for the preacher; and each extremity is garnished with an +imitation minaret. They are also called Namz-gah and one is +sketched by Herklots (Plate iii. fig. 2). The object of the trips +thither in Zu'l-Ka'adah and Zu'l-Hijjah is to remind Moslems of the +"Ta'arf," or going forth from Meccah to Mount Arafat. + +[FN#348] Arab. "Al-Hfi," which in Egyptian means sore-footed as +well. He was an ascetic of the eighth and ninth centuries (A.D.). +He relates a tradition of the famous soldier saint Khlid bin Wald +who lies buried like the poet Ka'ab al-Ahbr near Hums (Emessa) +once the Botia, Phrygia, Abdera, Suabia of Syria now Halbun +(pronounced Halbun) near Damascus. I cannot explain how this +Kuraysh noble (a glorious figure in Moslem history) is claimed by +the Afghans as one of their countrymen and made to speak Pukhtu or +Pushtu, their rough old dialect of Persian. The curious reader will +consult my Pilgrimage iii. 322 for the dialogue between Mohammed +and Khalid. Again there is general belief in Arabia that the +English sent a mission to the Prophet, praying that Khalid might be +despatched to proselytise them: unfortunately Mohammed was dead and +the "Ingrz" ratted. It is popularly held that no armed man can +approach Khalid's grave; but I suppose my revolver did not count. + +[FN#349] When he must again wash before continuing prayer. + +[FN#350] Bin Adham; another noted ascetic of the eighth century. +Those curious about these unimportant names will consult the great +Biographical Dictionary of Ibn Khallikan, translated by Baron +MacGuckin de Slane (1842-45). + +[FN#351] Thus making Bishr the "Imm" (artistes) lit. one who +stands in front. In Koran xvii. 74 it means "leader": in ii. 118 +Allah makes Abraham an "Imam to mankind." + +[FN#352] A favourite sentiment in the East: we find it at the very +beginning of Sa'di's Gulistan: better a weal-bringing lie than a +harm-dealing truth. + +[FN#353] A penny, one sixth of the drachma. + +[FN#354] Founder of the Hanbali, fourth (in date) of the four +orthodox Moslem schools. The Caliph al-Mu'atasim bi'llah, son of +Harun al-Rashid, who believed the Koran to have been created and +not a Logos (whatever that may be), co-eternal with Allah, scourged +this Imam severely for "differing in opinion" (A.H. 220=833). In +fact few of the notable reverends of that day escaped without a +caress of the scourge or the sword. + +[FN#355] A learned man of the eighth century at Bassorah (A.D.). + +[FN#356] A traditionist of Khorasan in the ninth century (A.D.). + +[FN#357] "Azal," opp. to "Abad," eternity without end, infinity. + +[FN#358] Koran lxvi. 6. + +[FN#359] A traditionist of Al-Medinah, eighth century (A.D.). + +[FN#360] Arab. "Ms": the Egyptian word was "Mesu," the "child" or +the "boy" (brought up in the palace?), and the Hebrews made it +"Mosheh" or "one drawn out of the water;" "Mu" in Egypt being +water, the Arab "Ma"; whence probably the moderns have derived the +dim. "Moyeh ," vulg. Egyptian for water. + +[FN#361] Koran, chaps. xxviii.: Shu'ayb is our Jethro: Koran, +chaps. vii. and xi. Mr. Rodwell suggests (p. 101) that the name has +been altered from Hobab (Numb. x. 29). + +[FN#362] Arab. "Taub" (Saub), the long shirt popularly written in +English Tobe and pronounced so by Egyptians. It is worn by both +sexes (Lane, M. E. chaps. i. "Tob") in Egypt, and extends into the +heart of Moslem Africa: I can compare it with nothing but a long +nightgown dyed a dirty yellow by safflower and about as picturesque +as a carter's smock-frock. + +[FN#363] There is nothing of this in the Koran; and it is a most +unhappy addition, as Moses utterly and pretentiously ignored a +"next world." + +[FN#364] Koran xxviii. 22-27. Mohammed evidently confounded the +contract between Laban and Jacob. (Gen. xxix. 15-39.) + +[FN#365] So says Al-Hariri (Ass. of Sasan), "The neighbour before +the house and the traveller before the journey." In certain cities +the neighbourhood is the real detective police, noting every action +and abating scandals (such as orgies, etc.) with a strong hand and +with the full consent of public opinion and of the authorities. +This loving the neighbour shows evident signs of being borrowed +from Christianity. + +[FN#366] Al-Asamm a theologian of Balkh, ninth century (A.D.). + +[FN#367] The founder of the Senior School, for which see Sale Prel. +Disc. sect. viii. + +[FN#368] Thus serving the Lord by sinning against his own body. + +[FN#369] An Egyptian doctor of the law (ninth century). + +[FN#370] Koran lxxvii. 35, 36. This is one of the earliest and most +poetical chapters of the book. + +[FN#371] Abu Hanifah was scourged for refusing to take office and +was put to death in prison, it is said by poison (A.H. 150=A.D. +767), for a judicial sentence authorising rebellion against the +second Abbaside, Al-Mansur, surnamed Abu'l-Dawnik (Father of +Pence) for his exceeding avarice. + +[FN#372] "L rayba f-hi" says the Koran (ii. 1) of itself; and the +saying is popularly applied to all things of the Faith. + +[FN#373] Arab. "Rivl al-Ghayb," somewhat like the "Himalayan +Brothers" of modern superstition. See Herklots (Qanoon-e-Islam) for +a long and careful description of these "Mardn-i-Ghayb" (Pers.), +a "class of people mounted on clouds," invisible, but moving in a +circular orbit round the world, and suggesting the Hindu +"Lokaplas." They should not be in front of the traveller nor on +his right, but either behind or on his left hand. Hence tables, +memorial couplets and hemistichs are required to ascertain the +station, without which precaution journeys are apt to end badly. + +[FN#374] A sweetmeat before noticed. + +[FN#375] Door hinges in the east are two projections for the top +and bottom of the leaf playing in hollows of the lintel and +threshold. It appears to be the primitive form, for we find it in +the very heart of Africa. In the basaltic cities of the Hauran, +where the doors are of thick stone, they move easily on these pins. +I found them also in the official (not the temple)City of Palmyra, +but all broken. + +[FN#376] The effect of the poison and of the incantation which +accompanied it. + +[FN#377] King Omar who had raped her. My sympathies are all with +the old woman who nightly punished the royal lecher. + +[FN#378] Arab. "Zunnr," the Gr. . Christians and Jews were +compelled by the fanatical sumptuary laws of the Caliph Al- +Mutawakkil (AD. 856) to wear a broad leather belt in public, hence +it became a badge of the Faith. Probably it was confounded with the +"Janeo" (Brahmanical thread) and the Parsi sacred girdle called +Kashti. (Dabistan i, 297, etc.). Both Mandeville and La Brocquire +speak of "Christians of the Girdle, because they are all girt +above," intending Jacobites or Nestorians. + +[FN#379] "Silh dr" (Arab. and Pers.)=a military officer of high +rank; literally an "armour-bearer," chosen for velour and +trustworthiness. So Jonathan had a "young man" (brave) who bare his +armour (I Sam. xiv. 1, 6 and 7); and Goliath had a man that bare +the shield before him (ibid. xvii. 7, 41). Men will not readily +forget the name of Sulayman Agha, called the Silahdar, in Egypt. +(Lane M. E. chaps. iv.) + +[FN#380] It will be told afterwards. + +[FN#381] The elder brother thus showed himself a vassal and proved +himself a good Moslem by not having recourse to civil war. + +[FN#382] Arab. "Ghazwah," the corrupt Gallicism, now +Europeanised=raid, foray. + +[FN#383] Turk in modern parlance means a Turkoman, a pomade: the +settled people call themselves Osmanli or Othmanli. Turkoman=Turk- +like. + +[FN#384] Arab. "Nims;" southern Germans, Austrians; from the Slav. +"Nemica" (any Germans), literally meaning "The dumb" (nemac), +because they cannot speak Slav. + +[FN#385] Arab. "Dubr" from the Slav. "Dubrovnik," from "Dub" (an +oak) and "Dubrava" (an oak forest). Ragusa, once a rival of Venice, +gave rise to the word "Argosy." D'Herbelot calls it "Dobravenedik" +or "Good Venice," the Turkish name, because it paid tribute when +Venice would not (?). + +[FN#386] Arab. "Jawarnah," or, "Jrnah" evidently Zara, a place of +many names, Jadera (Hirtius de Bell. Alex. cap. 13), Jadra, Zadra +(whence the modern term), Diadora, Diadosca and Jadrossa. This +important Liburnian city sent forth many cruisers in crusading +days; hence the Arabs came to know its name. + +[FN#387] Arab. "Banu'l-Asfar;" which may mean "Pale faces," in the +sense of "yeller girls" (New Orleans) and that intended by North +American Indians, or, possibly, the peoples with yellow (or rather +tow-coloured) hair we now call Russians. The races of Hindostan +term the English not "white men," but "red men;" and the reason +will at once be seen by comparing a Britisher with a high-caste +Ngar Brahman whose face is of parchment colour as if he had drunk +exsangue cuminum. The Yellow-faces of the text correspond with the +Sansk. "Svetadvipa"--Whiteman's Land. + +[FN#388] Arab. "Al-Musakhkham." No Moslem believes that Isa was +crucified and a favourite fancy is that Judas, changed to the +likeness of Jesus, thus paid for his treason. (Evangel. Barnab.) +Hence the resurrection is called not "Kiymah" but +"Kummah"=rubbish. This heresy about the Cross they share with the +Docetes, "certain beasts in the shape of men" (says Ignatius), who +held that a phantom was crucified. So far the Moslems are logical, +for "Isa," being angelically, miraculously and immaculately +conceived, could not be; but they contradict themselves when they +hold a vacant place near Mohammed's tomb for the body of Isa after +his second coming as a forerunner to Mohammed and Doomday. +(Pilgrimage ii. 89.) + +[FN#389] A diviner, priest, esp. Jewish, and not belonging to the +tribe of Levi. + +[FN#390] Again the coarsest word "Khara." The allusion is to the +vulgar saying, "Thou eatest skite!" (i.e. thou talkest nonsense). +Decent English writers modify this to, "Thou eatest dirt:" and Lord +Beaconsfield made it ridiculous by turning it into "eating sand." + +[FN#391] These silly scandals, which cause us only to smile, excite +Easterns to fury. I have seen a Moslem wild with rage on hearing a +Christian parody the opening words of the Koran, "Bismillahi 'l- +Rahmni 'l-Rahm, Mismish wa Kamar al-din," roughly translated, + + "In the name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate! +Apricots and marmalede." The idea of the Holy Merde might have been +suggested by the Hindus: see Mandeville, of the archiprotopapaton +(prelate) carrying ox-dung and urine to the King, who therewith +anoints his brow and breast, &c. And, incredible to relate, this is +still practiced after a fashion by the Parsis, one of the most +progressive and the sharpest witted of Asiatic races. + +[FN#392] Meaning that he had marked his brow with a cross (of +ashes?) as certain do on Ash Wednesday. + +[FN#393] Syria, the "left-hand land" as has before been explained. +The popular saying about its people is "Shmi shmi!"--the Syrian +is small potatoes (to render the sense Americanic). Nor did Syrus, +the slave in Roman days, bear the best of names. In Al-Hijaz the +Syrian is addressed "Ab Shm" (Father of Syria) and insulted as +"Abuser of the Salt" (a traitor). Yet many sayings of Mohammed are +recorded in honour of Syria, and he sometimes used Syriac words. +Such were "Bakh, bakh" (=euge, before noticed), and "Kakh," a +congener of the Latin Cacus and Caca which our day has docked to +"cack." (Pilgrimage iii. 115) + +[FN#394] Koran xiv. 34. "They (Unbelievers) shall be thrown therein +(i.e., the House of Perdition=Hell); and an unhappy dwelling shall +it be." + +[FN#395] The leg-cut is a prime favourite with the Eastern Sworder, +and a heavy two-handed blade easily severs a horse's leg. + +[FN#396] Mohammed repeatedly declared (Koran lxi.) that the +Christians had falsified the passage ("I go to my Father and the +Paraclete shall come," John xvi. 7) promising the advent of the +Comforter, (ibid. xiv. 20; xv. 26) by substituting the +latter word for glorious, renowned, i.e., Ahmed or +Mohammed=the praised one. This may have been found in the Arabic +translation of the Gospels made by Warakah, cousin to Mohammed's +first wife; and hence in Koran lxi. we find Jesus prophesying of an +Apostle "whose name shall be Ahmad." The word has consequently been +inserted into the Arabic Gospel of Saint Barnabas (Dabistan iii. +67). Moslems accept the Pentateuch, the Psalter and the Gospel; but +assert (Koran, passim.) that all extant copies have been hopelessly +corrupted, and they are right. Moses, to whom the Pentateuch is +attributed, notices his own death and burial--"the mair the +miracle," said the old Scotch lady. The "Psalms of David" range +over a period of some five hundred years, and there are three +Isaiahs who pass with the vulgar for one. The many apocryphal +Gospels, all of which have been held genuine and canonical at +different times and in different places, prove that the four, which +are still in use, were retained because they lack the manifest +absurdities of their discarded rivals. + +[FN#397] Arab. " Labbayka; " the Pilgrimage-cry (Night xxii.) which +in Arabic is, + + Labbayk' Allahumma, Labbayk'! + L Sharka lake, Labbayk'! + Inna 'l-hamda w'al ni'amata lake wa'l mulk! + Labbayk' Allahumma, Labbayk'! + +Some add "Here am I, and I honour Thee, the son of Thy two slaves; +beneficence and good are all between Thy hands."With the "Talbiyah" +the pilgrims should bless the Prophet, pray Allah to grant Heaven +and exclaim, "By Thy mercy spare us from the pains of Hell-fire!" +(Pilgrimage iii. 232.) Labbayka occurs in the verses attributed to +Caliph Ali; so labba=he faced, and yalubbu=it faces (as one house +faces another); lastly, he professed submission to Allah; in which +sense, together with the verbal noun "Talbiyah," it is used by Al- +Hanri (Pref. and Ass. of Su'adah). + +[FN#398] Arab. "Kisss" (plur. Kuss) from . + +[FN#399] Koran ii. The "red cow" is evidently the "red heifer" of +Barnabas, chaps. vii. + +[FN#400] Arab. "Al-Jsalk"= . + +[FN#401] This is from the first "Gospel of Infancy," wherein Jesus +said to his mother, "Verily I am Jesus, the Son of God, the Word +which thou hast brought forth, as the Angel Gabriel did declare +unto thee; and my Father hath sent me to save the world" (chaps. i. +2.). The passage is virtually quoted in the Koran (chaps. iii. +141), of course omitting " the Son of God" + +[FN#402] Mohammed allowed his locks to grow down to his ear-lobes +but never lower. + +[FN#403] Arab. "Lism" I have explained as a covering for the lower +face, made by drawing over it the corner of the head-kerchief +(Pilgrimage i. 346). The Lism of the African Tawrik hoods the +eyes so that a man must turn up his face to see, and swathes all +the lower half, leaving only the nose exposed. And this is worn by +many men by night as well as by day, doubtless to avoid the evil +eye. The native Sultans of Darfur, like those of Bornu and others +further west, used white muslin as a face-wrap: hence, too, the +ceremonies when spitting, etc., etc. The Kfiyah or head-kerchief +of the Arabs soon reached Europe and became in Low Latin Cuphia; in +Spanish Escofia; in Ital. Cuffia or Scuffia; in French Escoffion, +Scofion (Reine Marguerite) Coffe (une pellicule, marque de +bonheur) Coiffe and Coife, &c.; the Scotch Curch or Coif, opposed +to the maiden snood, and, lastly our Sergeant-at-Law's Coif. +Littr, the Learned, who in erudition was n coiff, has missed +this obvious derivation. + +[FN#404] "Cutting," throughout the book, alludes to the scymitar +with which Arabs never give point; and "thrusting" to the footman's +spear and the horseman's lance. + +[FN#405] A popular phrase, I repeat, for extreme tenor and +consternation. + +[FN#406] The name usually applies to a well-known district and city +of Al Yaman, where "Koss the eloquent" was bishop in Mohammed's +day: the Negiran of D'Herbelot. Here, however, it is the Syrian +Najrn (Nejrn of Missionary Porter's miserable Handbook), now a +wretched village near the volcanic Lajj, about one hundred and +twenty miles direct south of Damascus and held by Druzes and +Christians. + +[FN#407] The Kantr (quintal) of 100 ratls (Ibs.) =98-99 Ibs. +avoir. + +[FN#408] Arab. "Jurb (bag) mi'adat- ih (of his belly)," the +"curdling of the testicles" in fear is often mentioned. + +[FN#409] Clearly alluding to the magic so deeply studied by +medival Jews. + +[FN#410] Arab. "Sahkah," lit. rubbing. The Moslem Harem is a great +school for this "Lesbian (which I would call Atossan) love "; but +the motive of the practice lies deeper. As amongst men the mixture +of the feminine with the masculine temperament leads to sodomy, so +the reverse makes women prefer their own sex. These tribades are +mostly known by peculiarities of form and features, hairy cheeks +and upper lips, gruff voices, hircine odour and the large +projecting clitoris with erectile powers known to the Arabs as +"bazar" hence Tabzr=circumcision or amputation of such clitoris. +Burckhardt (Prov. 436) translates " Bazarah" by slut or wench. He +adds " it originally signifies the labia which the Cairenes also +entice Zambr and which are cut off in girlhood." See also Lane, +Lex. s.v.; Tabzr. Both writers confuse excision of the nymph with +circumcision of the clitoris (Zambr) Al-Siyti (Kitab al-Iz' +fi'Ilm al-Nikah) has a very interesting chapter on Sapphic venery, +which is well known to Europe as proved by such works as "Gamiani," +and "Anandria ou Confessions de Mademoiselle Sappho, avec la Clef," +Lesbos, 1718. Onanism is fatally prevalent: in many Harems and +girls' schools tallow candles and similar succedanea are vainly +forbidden and bananas when detected are cut into four so as to be +useless; of late years, however, China has sent some marvellous +artificial phalli of stuffed bladder, horn and even caoutchouc, the +latter material of course borrowed from Europe. + +[FN#411] This is considered a powerful aphrodisiac in the East. +Hence male devotees are advised to avoid tile "two reds," i.e. meat +and wine; while the "two reds," which corrupt women, are gold and +saffron, that is perfumery. Hence also the saying of Mohammed:-- +"Perfumes for men should have scent and not colour; for women +should have colour and not scent." (Mishkt al-Masbh ii. 361.) + +[FN#412] These are the "Hibs" or thin cords of wool which the +Badawi binds round his legs, I believe to keep off cramp. +(Pilgrimage iii. 78). + +[FN#413] Crying out "La ilha illa 'llah." (There is no god but the +God.); technically called "Tahll." + +[FN#414] i.e. Men, angels and devils, the "Triloka" (triple people) +of the Hindus. Alamn (plur.), never Alamayn (dual), is the +Triregno denoted by the papal Tiara, the three Christian kingdoms +being Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. + +[FN#415] Matrahinna or Mit-Rahinah is a well-known village near +Memphis, the name being derived from the old Egyptian Minat-ro- +hinnu, the port at the mouth of the canal. Let me remark that two +of these three words, "Minat" and "Ru," are still common in " +Aryan" Persian. + +[FN#416] Kirmat, a sign, a prodigy, opposed to Mu'ujizah, a +miracle wrought by a prophet. The Sufis explain this thaumaturgy by +Allah changing something of Nature's ordinary course in favour of +an especial worshipper, and, after a fashion, this is Catholic +doctrine (See Dabistan, iii. 173). + +[FN#417] Koran, x. 25, "until the earth receive its vesture and be +adorned with various plants." + +[FN#418] i.e. the young hair sprouting on the boy's cheek. + +[FN#419] A fighter for the faith and now a title which follows the +name, e.g. Osmn Psh Ghz, whom the English press dubbed "Ghazi +Osman." + +[FN#420] That is the King of Constantinople. + +[FN#421] Cassia fistularis, a kind of carob: " Shambar" is the +Arab. form of the Persian " Chambar." + +[FN#422] Koran, ii. 149. Hence the vulgar idea that Martyrs are +still alive in the flesh. See my Pilgrimage (ii. 110 and elsewhere) +for the romantic and picturesque consequences of that belief. The +Commentators (Jall al-Dn, etc.) play tricks with the Koranic +words, " they (martyrs) are not dead but living" (iii. 179) by +placing the happy souls in the crops of green birds which eat of +the fruits and drink of the waters of Paradise; whereas the +reprobates and the (very) wicked are deposited in black birds which +drain the sanies and the boiling waters of Hell. Amongst the Greeks +a body remaining entire long after death suggests Anathema +Maranatha: it is the contrary with Catholic Christians (Boccaccio +iv. 5, of the Pot of Basil). Concerning this creed see Maundrell, +Letter of 1698. + +[FN#423] Tor is "Mount Sinai" in the Koran (xcv. 1). I have only to +repeat my opinion concerning the present site so called: "It is +evident that Jebel Serbal dates only from the early days of Coptic +Christianity; that Jebel Musa, its Greek rival, rose after the +visions of Helena in the fourth century; whilst the building of the +Convent by Justinian belongs to A.D 527. Ras Safsfah, its rival to +the north, is an affair of yesterday, and may be called the +invention of Robinson; and Jebel Katerina, to the south is the +property of Rppell" (Midian Revisited i., 237). I would therefore +call the "Sinaitic" Peninsula, Peninsula of Paran in old days and +Peninsula of Tor (from its chief port) in our time. It is still my +conviction that the true Mount Sinai will be found in Jabal Arif, +or some such unimportant height to the north of the modern Hajj- +road from Suez to Akabah. Even about the name (which the Koran +writes "Sain" and "Snn") there is a dispute: It is usually +derived from the root "Sanah"=sentis, a bush; but this is not +satisfactory. Our eminent Assyriologist, Professor Sayce, would +connect it with "Sin," the Assyrian Moon- god as Mount Nebo with +the Sun-god and he expects to find there the ruins of a Lunar +temple as a Solar fane stands on Ba'al Zapuna (Baal Zephon) or the +classical Mount Casius. + +[FN#424] Alluding to the miracle of Aaron's rod (the gift of +Jethro) as related in the Koran (chapts. vii. 1., xx., etc.), where +the Egyptian sorcerers threw down thick ropes which by their magic +twisted and coiled like serpents. + +[FN#425] Arab. "Ayt" lit. "signs," here "miracles of the truth," +1. c. Koranic versets as opposed to chapters. The ranks of the +enemy represent the latter, sword-cuts the former--a very +persuasive mode of preaching. + +[FN#426] Lane (M. E. chapt.. iii.) shows by a sketch the position +of the worshipper during this "Salm" which is addressed, some say, +to the guardian angels, others suppose to all brother-believers and +angels. + +[FN#427] i.e., where the Syrians found him. + +[FN#428] i.e., Dedianus Arabised; a name knightly and plebian. + +[FN#429] In such tales the Wazir is usually the sharp-witted man, +contrasting with the "dummy," or master. + +[FN#430] Carrier-pigeons were extensively used at this time. The +Caliph Al-Nsir li-Dni llh (regn. A.H. 575=1180) was, according +to Ibn Khaldn, very fond of them. The moderns of Damascus still +affect them. My successor, Mr. Consul Kirby Green, wrote an +excellent report on pigeon-fancying at Damascus. The so-called +Maundeville or Mandeville in A. D. 1322 speaks of carrier-pigeons +in Syria as a well-known mode Of intercourse between lord and lord. + +[FN#431] Mohammed who declared "There is no monkery in Al-Islam," +and who virtually abolished the priest, had an especial aversion to +the shaveling (Ruhbn). But the "Gens terna in qu nemo nascitur" +(Pliny v. 17) managed to appear even in Al-lslam, as Fakirs,, +Dervishes, Sfis, etc. Of this more hereafter. + +[FN#432] i.e. her holiness would act like a fascinating talisman. + +[FN#433] The "smoking out" practice is common amongst the Arabs: +hence Marshal Pelissier's so- called " barbarity." The Public is +apt to forget that on a campaign the general's first duty is to +save his own men by any practice which the laws of fair warfare do +not absolutely forbid. + +[FN#434] i.e. Mohammed, who promised Heaven and threatened Hell. + +[FN#435] Arab. "Ahr" or "ihr," fornication or adultery, i.e., +irreligion, infidelity as amongst the Hebrews (Isaiah xxiii.17). + +[FN#436] A sign of defeat. + +[FN#437] In English "last night": I have already noted that the +Moslem day, like the Jewish and the Scandinavian, begins at +sundown; and "layl " a night, is often used to denote the twenty- +four hours between sunset and sunset, whilst "yaum," a day, would +by us be translated in many cases "battle-day." + +[FN#438] Iterum the "Himalayan Brothers." + +[FN#439] Again, Mohammed who promised Good to the Good, and vice +vers. + +[FN#440] They are sad doggrel like most of the pices d'occasion +inserted in The Nights. + +[FN#441] Here "Kahwah" (coffee) is used in its original sense of +strong old wine. The derivation is "Akh"=fastidire fecit, causing +disinclination for food, the Matambre (kill- hunger) of the +Iberians. In old days the scrupulous called coffee "Kihwah" in +order to distinguish it from 'Kakwah," wine. + +[FN#442] i.e. Mohammed, a common title. + +[FN#443] That is, fatal to the scoffer and the impious. + +[FN#444] Equivalent to our "The Devil was sick," etc. + +[FN#445] i.e. to the enemy: the North American Indians (so called) +use similar forms of "inverted speech"; and the Australian +aborigines are in no way behind them. + +[FN#446] See Vol. i., p. 154 (Night xvi.). + +[FN#447] Arab. "Sauf," a particle denoting a near future whereas +"Sa-" points to one which may be very remote. + +[FN#448] From the root "Shanh"=having a fascinating eye, +terrifying. The Irish call the fascinater "eybitter" and the victim +(who is also rhymed to death) "eybitten." + +[FN#449] i.e., not like the noble-born, strong in enduring the +stress of fight. + +[FN#450] i.e., of Abraham. For the Well Zemzem and the Place of +Abraham see my Pilgrimage (iii. 171-175, etc.), where I described +the water as of salt-bitter taste, like that of Epsom (iii. 203). +Sir William Muir (in his excellent life of Mahomet, I. cclviii.) +remarks that "the flavour of stale water bottled up for months +would not be a criterion of the same water freshly drawn;" but +soldered tins-full of water drawn a fortnight before are to be had +in Calcutta and elsewhere after Pilgrimage time; and analysis would +at once detect the salt. + +[FN#451] Racing was and is a favourite pastime with those +hippomanists, the Arabs; but it contrasts strongly with our +civilised form being a trial of endurance rather than of speed. The +Prophet is said to have limited betting in these words, "There +shall be no wagering save on the Kuff (camel's foot), the Hafir +(hoof of horse, ass, etc.) or the Nasal (arrow-pile or lance +head)." + +[FN#452] In the Mac. Edit. "Arman"=Armenia, which has before +occurred. The author or scribe here understands by "Csarea" not +the old Turris Stratonis, Herod's city called after Augustus, but +Csareia the capital of Cappadocia (Pliny, vi. 3), the royal +residence before called Mazaca (Strabo). + +[FN#453] An idiom meaning "a very fool." + +[FN#454] i.e. Kna (was) m (that which) was (kna). + +[FN#455] A son being "the lamp of a dark house." + +[FN#456] When the Israelites refused to receive the Law (the souls +of all the Prophets even those unborn being present at the +Covenant), Allah tore up the mountain (Sinai which is not +mentioned) by the roots and shook it over their heads to terrify +them, saying, "Receive the Law which we have given you with a +resolution to keep it" (Koran chaps. xlx. 170). Much of this story +is from the Talmud (Abodah Sar. 2, 2, Tract Sabbath, etc.) whence +Al-Islam borrowed so much of its Judaism, as it took Christianity +from the Apocryphal New Testament. This tradition is still held by +the Israelites, says Mr. Rodwell (p. 333) who refers it to a +misunderstanding of Exod. xix. 17, rightly rendered in the E. +version "at the nether part of the mountain." + +[FN#457] Arab. "Azghn" = the camel-litters in which women travel. + +[FN#458] i.e. to joy foes and dismay friends. + +[FN#459] Whose eyes became white (i.e. went blind) with mourning +for his son Joseph (Koran, chaps. xii. 84). He recovered his sight +when his face was covered with the shirt which Gabriel had given to +the youth after his brethren had thrown him into the well. + +[FN#460] "Poison King" (Persian); or "Flower-King" (Arabic). + +[FN#461] A delicate allusion to the size of her hips and back +parts, in which volume is, I have said, greatly admired for the +best of reasons. + +[FN#462] All Prophets had some manual trade and that of David was +making coats of mail, which he invented, for before his day men +used plate-armour. So "Allah softened the iron for him" and in his +hands it became like wax (Koran xxi. xxxiv., etc.). Hence a good +coat of mail is called "Davidean." I have noticed (First Footsteps, +p. 33 and elsewhere) the homage paid to the blacksmith on the +principle which made Mulciber (Malik Kabir) a god. The myth of +David inventing mail possibly arose from his peculiarly fighting +career. Moslems venerate Dd on account of his extraordinary +devotion, nor has this view of his character ceased : a modern +divine preferred him to "all characters in history." + +[FN#463] "Travel by night," said the Prophet, "when the plagues of +earth (scorpions, serpents, etc.) afflict ye not." Yet the night- +march in Arabia is detestable (Pilgrimage iii.). + +[FN#464] This form of ceremony is called "Istikbl" (coming forth +to greet) and is regulated by the severest laws of etiquette. As a +rule the greater the distance (which may be a minimum of one step) +the higher the honour. Easterns infinitely despise strangers who +ignore these vitals of politeness. + +[FN#465] i.e. he will be a desert Nimrod and the game will delight +to be killed by him. + +[FN#466] This serves to keep the babe's eyes free from +inflammation. + +[FN#467] i.e. Crown of the Kings of amorous Blandishment. + +[FN#468] Lane (i. 531) translates "the grey down." The Arabs use +"Akhzar" (prop. "green") in many senses, fresh, gray-hued, etc. + +[FN#469] Allusion to the well-known black banners of the house of +Abbas. The Persians describe the growth of hair on a fair young +face by, "His cheeks went into mourning for the loss of their +charms." + +[FN#470] Arab. "Kfir" a Koranic word meaning Infidel, the active +participle of Kufr= Infidelity i.e. rejecting the mission of +Mohammed. It is insulting and in Turkish has been degraded to +"Giaour." Here it means black, as Hafiz of Shiraz terms a cheek +mole "Hindu" i.e. dark-skinned and idolatrous. + +[FN#471] Alluding to the travel of Moses (Koran chaps. xviii.) with +Al-Khizr (the "evergreen Prophet") who had drunk of the Fountain of +Life and enjoyed flourishing and continual youth. Moses is +represented as the external and superficial religionist; the man of +outsight; Al-Khizr as the spiritual and illuminated man of insight. + +[FM#472] The lynx was used like the lion in Ancient Egypt and the +Chita-leopard in India: I have never seen or heard of it in these +days. + +[FN#473] Arab. "Sukr," whence our "Saker" the falcon, not to be +confounded with the old Falco Sacer, the Gr. . Falconry which, +like all arts, began in Egypt, is an extensive subject throughout +Moslem lands. I must refer my readers to "Falconry in the Valley of +the Indus" (Van Voorst, 1852) and a long note in Pilgrimage iii. +71. + +[FN#474] It was not respectful to pitch their camp within dog-bark. + +[FN#475] Easterns attach great importance to softness and +smoothness of skin and they are right: a harsh rough epidermis +spoils sport with the handsomest woman. + +[FN#476] Canticles vii. 8: Hosea xiv. 6. + +[FN#477] The mesmeric attraction of like to like. + +[FN#478] Arab. "Taswif"=saying "Sauf," I will do it soon. It is a +beautiful wordetymologically. + +[FN#479] A very far fetched allusion. The face of the beloved +springing from an unbuttoned robe is the moon rising over the camp +in the hollow (bat'h). + +[FN#480] Arab. "Kasabt" = "canes," long beads, bugles. + +[FN#481] Koran, xcvi. 5. + +[FN#482] Both words (masc. and fem.) mean "dear, excellent, highly- +prized." The tale is the Arab form of the European "Patient +Griselda" and shows a higher conception of womanly devotion, +because Azizah, despite her wearisome weeping, is a girl of high +intelligence and Aziz is a vicious zany, weak as water and wilful +as wind. The phenomenon (not rare in life) is explained by the +couplet:-- + + I love my love with an S + Because he is stupid and not intellectual. + +This fond affection of clever women for fools can be explained only +by the law of unlikeness which mostly governs sexual unions in +physical matters; and its appearance in the story gives novelty and +point. Aziz can plead only the violence of his passion which +distinguished him as a lover among the mob of men who cannot love +anything beyond themselves. And none can pity him for losing a +member which he so much abused. + +[FN#483] Arab. "Shhid," the index, the pointer raised in +testimony: the comparison of the Eastern and the Western names is +curious. + +[FN#484] Musk is one of the perfumes of the Moslem Heaven; and +"musky" is much used in verse to signify scented and dark-brown. + +[FN#485] Arab. "Mandl": these kerchiefs are mostly oblong, the +shore sides being worked with gold and coloured silk, and often +fringed, while the two others are plain. + +[FN#486] Arab. "Rayhn," of the Ocymum Basilicum or sweet basil: +a delicate handwriting, so called from the pen resembling a leaf +(?) See vol. i. p. 128. [Volume 1, note 229 & 230] + +[FN#487] All idiom meaning "something unusual happened." + +[FN#488] An action common in grief and regret: here the lady would +show that she sighs for union with her beloved. + +[FN#489] Lane (i. 608) has a valuable note on the language of +signs, from M. du Vigneau's "Secretaire Turc," etc. (Paris, 1688), +Baron von Hammer-Purgstall ("Mines de ['Orient," No. 1, Vienna, +1809) and Marcel's "Comes du Cheykh El-Mohdy" (Paris, 1833). It is +practiced in Africa as well as in Asia. At Abeokuta in Yoruba a man +will send a symbolical letter in the shape of cowries, palm-nuts +and other kernels strung on rice- straw, and sharp wits readily +interpret the meaning. A specimen is given in p. 262 of Miss +Tucker's "Abbeokuta; or Sunrise within the Tropics." + +[FN#490] Mr. Payne (ii. 227) translates "Haw al-'Urz" by "the +love of the Beni Udhra, an Arabian tribe famous for the passion and +devotion with which love was practiced among them." See Night +dclxxxiii. I understand it as "excusable love" which, for want of +a better term, is here translated "platonic." It is, however, more +like the old "bundling" of Wales and Northern England; and allows +all the pleasures but one, the toyings which the French call les +plaisirs de la petite ode; a term my dear old friend Fred. Hankey +derived from la petite voie. The Afghans know it as "Nmzad-bz" +or betrothed play (Pilgrimage, ii. 56); the Abyssinians as eye- +love; and the Kafirs as Slambuka a Shlabonka, for which see The +traveller Delegorgue. + +[FN#491] "Turk" in Arabic and Persian poetry means a plunderer, a +robber. Thus Hafiz: "Agar n Turk-i-Shirzi ba-dast rad dil-i- +mr," If that Shirazi (ah, the Turk!) would deign to take my heart +in hand, etc. + +[FN#492] Arab. "Nzir," a steward or an eye (a "looker"). The idea +is borrowed from Al-Hariri (Assemblies, xiii.), and,-- + +[FN#493] Arab. "Hjib," a groom of the chambers, a chamberlain; +also an eyebrow. See Al-Hariri, ibid. xiii. and xxii. + +[FN#494] This gesture speaks for itself: it is that of a dyer +staining a cloth. The "Sabbgh's" shop is the usual small recess, +open to the street and showing pans of various dyes sunk like "dog- +laps" in the floor. + +[FN#495] The Arab. "Sabt" (from sabata, he kept Sabt) and the Heb. +"Sabbath" both mean Saturn's day, Saturday, transferred by some +unknown process throughout Christendom to Sunday. The change is one +of the most curious in the history of religions. If there be a +single command stronger than all others it is "Keep the Saturday +holy." It was so kept by the Founder of Christianity; the order was +never abrogated and yet most Christians are not aware that Sabbath, +or "Sawbath," means Saturn's day, the "Shiyr" of the older Arabs. +And to complete its degradation "Sabbat" in French and German means +a criaillerie, a "row," a disorder, an abominable festival of Hexen +(witches). This monstrous absurdity can be explained only by +aberrations of sectarian zeal, of party spirit in religion. + +[FN#496] The men who cry to prayer. The first was Bill, the +Abyssinian slave bought and manumitted by Abu Bakr. His simple cry +was "I testify there is no Ilh (god) but Allah (God)! Come ye to +prayers!" Caliph Omar, with the Prophet's permission, added, "I +testify that Mohammed is the Apostle of Allah." The prayer-cry +which is beautiful and human, contrasting pleasantly with the +brazen clang of the bell. now is + + Allah is Almighty (bis). + I declare no god is there but Allah (bis). + Hie ye to Rogation (Hayya=halumma). + Hie ye to Salvation (Falh=prosperity, Paradise). + ("Hie ye to Edification," a Shi'ah adjunct). + Prayer is better than sleep (in the morning, also bis). + No god is there but Allah + +This prayer call is similarly worded and differently pronounced and +intoned throughout Al-Islam. + +[FN#497] i.e. a graceful youth of Al-Hijaz, the Moslem Holy Land, +whose "sons" claim especial privileges. + +[FN#498] Arab. "harf'= a letter, as we should say a syllable. + +[FN#499] She uses the masculine "fat," in order to make the +question more mysterious. + +[FN#500] The fountain-bowl is often ornamented by a rude mosaic of +black and white marble with enlivenments of red stone or tile in +complicated patterns. + +[FN#501] Arab. "Kubd" = shaddock (citrus decumana): the huge +orange which Captain Shaddock brought from the West Indies; it is +the Anglo-Indian pompelmoose, vulg. pummelo. An excellent bitter is +made out of the rind steeped in spirits. Citronworts came from +India whence they spread throughout the tropics: they were first +introduced into Europe by the heroic Joam de Castro and planted in +his garden at Cintra where their descendants are still seen. + +[FN#502] Arab. "Baklwah," Turk. "Baklv," a kind of pastry with +blanched almonds bruised small between layers of dough, baked in +the oven and cut into lozenges. It is still common + +[FN#503] Her just fear was that the young woman might prove "too +clever by half" for her simpleton cousin. + +[FN#504] The curse is pregnant with meaning. On Judgment-day the +righteous shall arise with their faces shining gloriously: hence +the blessing, "Bayyaz' Allaho wajh-ak" (=Allah whiten thy +countenance!). But the wicked shall appear with faces scorched +black and deformed by horror (Koran xxiv.): hence "God blacken thy +brow!" I may observe that Easterns curse, the curse being +everywhere the language of excited destructiveness; but only +Westerns, and these chiefly English, swear, a practice utterly +meaningless. "Damn it" without specifying what the "it" is, sounds +like the speech of a naughty child anxious only to use a "wicked +word." "Damn you!" is intelligible all the world over. It has given +rise to "les goddams" in France, "Godmes" in the Brazil and +"Gotma" amongst the Somal of Eastern Africa, who learn it in Aden, + +[FN#505] Arab. "Zardah," usually rice dressed with saffron and +honey, from Pers. "Zard," saffron, yellow. See Night dcxii. + +[FN#506] Vulgarly called "knuckle-bone," concerning which I shall +have something to say. + +[FN#507] A bit of wood used in the children's game called "Tb" +which resembles our tip-cat (Lane M. E. chaps. xvii.). + +[FN#508] Arab. "Balah," the unripened date, which is considered a +laxative and eaten in hot weather. + +[FN#509] Lane (i. 611), quoting Al-Kazwn, notes that the date- +stone is called "Naw" (dim. "Nawyah") which also means distance, +absence, severance. Thus the lady threatens to cast off her greedy +and sleepy lover. + +[FN#510] The pad of the carob-bean which changes little after being +plucked is an emblem of constancy. + +[FN#511] This dirham=48 grains avoir. + +[FN#512] The weight would be round: also "Hadd" (=iron) means +sharp or piercing (Koran chaps. Vi]. 21). The double "swear" is +intended to be very serious. Moreover iron conjures away fiends: +when a water-spout or a sand-devil (called Shaytn also in Arabia) +approaches, you point the index at the Jinn and say, "Iron, O thou +ill-omened one!" Amongst the Ancient Egyptians the metal was ill- +omened being the bones of Typhon, 80 here, possibly, we have an +instance of early homopathy--similia similibus. + +[FN#513] Probably fermented to a kind of wine. The insipid fruit +(Unnb) which looks like an apple in miniature, is much used in +stews, etc. It is the fruit (Nabak classically Nabik) of Rhamnus +Nabeca (or Sidrat) also termed Zizyphus Jujuba, seu Spina Christi +because fabled to have formed the crown of thorns: in the English +market this plum is called Chinese Japonica. I have described it in +Pilgrimage ii. 205, and have noticed the infusion of the leaves for +washing the dead (ibid. ii. 105): this is especially the use of the +"Ber" in India, where the leaves are superstitiously held +peculiarly pure. Our dictionaries translate "Sidr" by "Lote-tree"; +and no wonder that believers in Homeric writ feel their bile +aroused by so poor a realisation of the glorious myth. The Homerids +probably alluded to Hashish or Bhang. + +[FN#514] Arab. "Azrr": the open collar of the Saub ("Tobe") or +long loose dress is symptomatic. The Eastern button is on the same +principle as ours (both having taken the place of the classical +fibula); but the Moslem affects a loop (like those to which we +attach our "frogs") and utterly ignores a button-hole. + +[FN#515] Alluding to the ceremonious circumambulation of the Holy +House at Meccah: a notable irreverence worthy of Kneph-town +(Canopus). + +[FN#516] The ear-drop is the penis and the anklet its crown of +glory. + +[FN#517] Equivalent to our "Alas! Alas!" which, by the by, no one +ever says. "Awah," like "Yauh," is now a woman's word although used +by Al-Hariri (Assembly of Basrah) and so Al-awwh=one who cries +from grief "Awh." A favourite conversational form is "Yehh" with +the aspirate exasperated, but it is an expression of astonishment +rather than sorrow. It enters into Europe travel-books. + +[FN#518] In the text "burst her gall-bladder." + +[FN#519] The death of Azizah is told with true Arab pathos and +simplicity: it still draws tear. *from the eyes of the Badawi, and +I never read it without a "lump in the throat." + +[FN#520] Arab. "Inshallah bukra!" a universal saying which is the +horror of travellers. + +[FN#521] I have explained "Nu'uman's flower" as the anemone which +in Grecised Arabic is "Anmiy." Here they are strewed over the +tomb; often the flowers are planted in a small bed of mould sunk in +the upper surface. + +[FN#522] Arab. "Barzakh" lit. a bar, a partition: in the Koran +(chapts. xxiii. and xxxv.) the space or the place between death and +resurrection where souls are stowed away. It corresponds after a +fashion with the classical Hades and the Limbus (Limbo) of +Christendom, e.g.. Limbus patrum, infantum, fatuorum. But it must +not be confounded with Al-A'arf, The Moslem purgatory. + +[FN#523] Arab. "Zukk al-Nakb," the latter word has been explained +as a chief, leader, head man. + +[FN#524] Moslems never stand up at such times, for a spray of urine +would make their clothes ceremonially impure: hence the scrupulous +will break up with stick or knife the hard ground in front of them. +A certain pilgrim was reported to have made this blunder which is +hardly possible in Moslem dress. A high personage once asked me if +it was true that he killed a man who caught him in a standing +position; and I found to my surprise that the absurd scandal was +already twenty years old. After urinating the Moslem wipes the os +penis with one to three bits of stone, clay or handfuls of earth, +and he must perform Wuzu before he can pray. Tournefort (Voyage au +Levant iii. 335) tells a pleasant story of certain Christians at +Constantinople who powdered with "Poivre-d'Inde" the stones in a +wall where the Moslems were in the habit of rubbing the os penis by +way of wiping The same author (ii. 336) strongly recommends a +translation of Rabelais' Torcheculative chapter (Lib i., chaps. 13) +for the benefit of Mohammedans. + +[FN#525] Arab. "Nuhs ahmar," lit. red brass. + +[FN#526] The cup is that between the lady's legs. + +[FN#527] A play upon "Sk" = calf, or leg, and "Sk," a cup- +bearer. The going round (Tawf) and the running (Sa'i) allude to +the circumambulation of the Ka'abah, and the running between Mount +Saf and Marwah (Pilgrimage ii. 58, and iii. 343). A religious +Moslem would hold the allusion highly irreverent. + +[FN#528] Lane (i. 614) never saw a woman wearing such kerchief +which is deshabille. It is either spread over the head or twisted +turband-wise. + +[FN#529] The "Kasabah" was about two fathoms of long measure, and +sometimes 12 feet; but the length has been reduced. + +[FN#530] "Bat and ball," or hockey on horseback (Polo) is one of +the earliest Persian games as shown by every illustrated copy of +Firdausi's "Shahnmeh." This game was played with a Kurrah or small +hand-ball and a long thin bat crooked at the end called in Persian +Chaugn and in Arabic Saulajn. Another sense of the word is given +in the Burhn-i-Kti translated by Vullers (Lex. Persico-Latinum), +a large bandy with bent head to which is hung an iron ball, also +called Kaukabah (our "morning-star") and like the umbrella it +denotes the grandees of the court. The same Kaukabah particularly +distinguished one of the Marquesses of Waterford. This Polo +corresponds with the folliculus, the pallone, the baloun-game +(moyen ge) of Europe, where the horse is not such a companion of +man; and whereof the classics sang:-- + + Folle decet pueros ludere, folle senes. + +In these days we should spell otherwise the "folle" of seniors +playing at the ball or lawn-tennis. + +[FN#531] "Dall" means a guide; `'Dallah," a woman who misguides, +a bawd. See the Tale of Dallah the Crafty, Night dcxcviii. + +[FN#532] i.e. she was a martyr. + +[FN#533] Arab. "Ghashm" a popular and insulting term, our "Johnny +Raw." Its use is shown in Pilgrimage i. 110. + +[FN#534] Bathers pay on leaving the Hammam; all enter without +paying. + +[FN#535] i.e. she swore him upon his sword and upon the Koran: a +loaf of bread is sometimes added. See Lane (i. 615). + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, V2 + diff --git a/old/3436-8.txt b/old/3436-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5c64b8c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/3436-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15320 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, V2 +#2 in our series by Richard F. Burton + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.12.12.00*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by J.C. Byers at jcbyers@capitalnet.com. +Proofreaders were: J.C. Byers, Laura Shaffer, Lan Wang, Doris +Ringbloom + + + + + + + + THE BOOK OF THE + THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT + A Plain and Literal Translation + of the Arabian Nights Entertainments + + Translated and Annotated by + Richard F. Burton + + VOLUME TWO + Privately Printed By The Burton Club + + + + To John Payne, Esq. + +My Dear Sir, + + Allow me thus publicly to express my admiration of your +magnum opus, "The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night;" and +to offer you my cordial thanks for honouring me with the +dedication of that scholar-like and admirable version. + + Ever yours sincerely, + + Richard F. Burton. + +Queen's College, Oxford, + August 1, 1885. + + + Contents of the Second Volume + + +7. Nur Al-Din Ali and the Damsel Anis Al-Jalis +8. Tale of Ghanim Bin Ayyub, The Distraught, The Thrall O' Love + a. Tale of the First Eunuch, Bukhayt + b. Tale of the Second Eunuch, Kafur +9. Tale of King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and His Sons Sharrkan and + Zau Al-Makan + a. Tale of Taj Al-Muluk and the Princess Dunya + aa. Tale of Aziz and Azizah + + + + The Book Of The + THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT + + + + Nur Al-Din Ali and the Damsel Anis Al-Jalis + +Quoth Shahrazad [FN#1]:--It hath reached me, O auspicious King of +intelligence penetrating, that there was, amongst the Kings of +Bassorah[FN#2], a King who loved the poor and needy and cherished +his lieges, and gave of his wealth to all who believed in +Mohammed (whom Allah bless and assain!), and he was even as one +of the poets described him, + +"A King who when hosts of the foe invade, * Receives them with + lance-lunge and sabre-sway; +Writes his name on bosoms in thin red lines, * And scatters the + horsemen in wild dismay."[FN#3] + +His name was King Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, and he had two +Wazirs, one called Al-Mu'n, son of Sw and the other Al-Fazl +son of Khkn. Now Al-Fazl was the most generous of the people of +his age, upright of life, so that all hearts united in loving him +and the wise flocked to him for counsel; whilst the subjects used +to pray for his long life, because he was a compendium of the +best qualities, encouraging the good and lief, and preventing +evil and mischief. But the Wazir Mu'n bin Sw on the contrary +hated folk [FN#4] and loved not the good and was a mere compound +of ill; even as was said of him, + +"Hold to nobles, sons of nobles! 'tis ever Nature's test * That + nobles born of nobles shall excel in noble deed: +And shun the mean of soul, meanly bred, for 'tis the law, * Mean + deeds come of men who are mean of blood and breed." + +And as much as the people loved and fondly loved Al-Fazl bin +Khkn, so they hated and thoroughly hated the mean and miserly +Mu'n bin Sw. It befel one day by the decree of the Decreer, +that King Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, being seated on his +throne with his officers of state about him, summoned his Wazir +Al-Fazl and said to him, "I wish to have a slave-girl of passing +beauty, perfect in loveliness, exquisite in symmetry and endowed +with all praiseworthy gifts." Said the courtiers, "Such a girl +is not to be bought for less than ten thousand gold pieces:" +whereupon the Sultan called out to his treasurer and said, "Carry +ten thousand dinars to the house of Al-Fazl bin Khkn." The +treasurer did the King's bidding; and the Minister went away, +after receiving the royal charge to repair to the slave-bazar +every day, and entrust to brokers the matter aforesaid. Moreover +the King issued orders that girls worth above a thousand gold +pieces should not be bought or sold without being first displayed +to the Wazir. Accordingly no broker purchased a slave-girl ere +she had been paraded before the minister; but none pleased him, +till one day a dealer came to the house and found him taking +horse and intending for the palace. So he caught hold of his +stirrup saying, + +"O thou, who givest to royal state sweet savour, * Thou'rt a + Wazir shalt never fail of favour! +Dead Bounty thou hast raised to life for men; * Ne'er fail of + Allah's grace such high endeavour!" + +Then quoth he, "O my lord, that surpassing object for whom the +gracious mandate was issued is at last found; [FN#5]" and quoth +the Wazir, "Here with her to me!" So he went away and returned +after a little, bringing a damsel in richest raiment robed, a +maid spear-straight of stature and five feet tall; budding of +bosom with eyes large and black as by Kohl traced, and dewy lips +sweeter than syrup or the sherbet one sips, a virginette smooth +cheeked and shapely faced, whose slender waist with massive hips +was engraced; a form more pleasing than branchlet waving upon the +top-most trees, and a voice softer and gentler than the morning +breeze, even as saith one of those who have described her, + +"Strange is the charm which dights her brows like Luna's disk + that shine; * O sweeter taste than sweetest Robb[FN#6] or + raisins of the vine. +A throne th'Empyrean keeps for her in high and glorious state, * + For wit and wisdom, wandlike form and graceful bending line: +She in the Heaven of her face[FN#7] the seven-fold stars + displays, * That guard her cheeks as satellites against + the spy's design: +If man should cast a furtive glance or steal far look at her, * + His heart is burnt by devil-bolts shot by those piercing + eyne." + +When the Wazir saw her she made him marvel with excess of +admiration, so he turned, perfectly pleased, to the broker and +asked, "What is the price of this girl?"; whereto he answered, +"Her market-value stands at ten thousand dinars, but her owner +swears that this sum will not cover the cost of the chickens she +hath eaten, the wine she hath drunken and the dresses of honour +bestowed upon her instructor: for she hath learned calligraphy +and syntax and etymology; the commentaries of the Koran; the +principles of law and religion; the canons of medicine, and the +calendar and the art of playing on musical instruments."[FN#8] +Said the Wazir, "Bring me her master." So the broker brought him +at once and, behold, he was a Persian of whom there was left only +what the days had left; for he was as a vulture bald and scald +and a wall trembling to its fall. Time had buffetted him with +sore smart, yet was he not willing this world to depart; even as +said the poet, + +"Time hath shattered all my frame, * Oh! how time hath + shattered me. +Time with lordly might can tame * Manly strength and vigour + free. +Time was in my youth, that none * Sped their way more fleet + and fast: +Time is and my strength is gone, * Youth is sped, and speed + is past.[FN#9]" + +The Wazir asked him, "Art thou content to sell this slave-girl to +the Sultan for ten thousand dinars?"; and the Persian answered, +"By Allah, if I offer her to the King for naught, it were but my +devoir."[FN#10] So the Minister bade bring the monies and saw +them weighed out to the Persian, who stood up before him and +said, "By the leave of our lord the Wazir, I have somewhat to +say;" and the Wazir replied, "Out with all thou hast!" "It is my +opinion," continued the slave-dealer, "that thou shouldst not +carry the maid to the King this day; for she is newly off a +journey; the change of air[FN#11] hath affected her and the toils +of trouble have fretted her. But keep her quiet in thy palace +some ten days, that she may recover her looks and become again as +she was. Then send her to the Hammam and clothe her in the +richest of clothes and go up with her to the Sultan: this will be +more to thy profit." The Wazir pondered the Persian's words and +approved of their wisdom; so he carried her to his palace, where +he appointed her private rooms, and allowed her every day +whatever she wanted of meat and drink and so forth. And on this +wise she abode a while. Now the Wazir Al-Fazl had a son like the +full moon when sheeniest dight, with face radiant in light, +cheeks ruddy bright, and a mole like a dot of ambergris on a +downy site; as said of him the poet and said full right, + +"A moon which blights you[FN#12] if you dare behold; * A branch + which folds you in its waving fold: +Locks of the Zanj[FN#13] and golden glint of hair; * Sweet gait + and form a spear to have and hold: +Ah! hard of heart with softest slenderest waist, * That evil to + this weal why not remould?[FN#14] +Were thy form's softness placed in thy heart, * Ne'er would thy + lover find thee harsh and cold: +Oh thou accuser! be my love's excuser, * Nor chide if love-pangs + deal me woes untold! +I bear no blame: 'tis all my hear and eyne; * So leave thy + blaming, let me yearn and pine." + +Now the handsome youth knew not the affair of the damsel; and his +father had enjoined her closely, saying, "Know, O my daughter, +that I have bought thee as a bedfellow for our King, Mohammed bin +Sulayman al-Zayni; and I have a son who is a Satan for girls and +leaves no maid in the neighbourhood without taking her +maidenhead; so be on thy guard against him and beware of letting +him see thy face or hear they voice." "Hearkening and obedience," +said the girl; and he left her and fared forth. Some days after +this it happened by decree of Destiny, that the damsel repaired +to the baths in the house, where some of the slave women bathed +her; after which she arrayed herself in sumptuous raiment; and +her beauty and loveliness were thereby redoubled. Then she went +in to the Wazir's wife and kissed her hand; and the dame said to +her, "Naiman! May it benefit thee,[FN#15] O Anis al- +Jalis![FN#16] Are not our baths handsome?" "O my mistress," she +replied, "I lacked naught there save thy gracious presence." +Thereupon the lady said to her slave-women, "Come with us to the +Hammam, for it is some days since we went there:" they answered, +"To hear is to obey!" and rose and all accompanied her. Now she +had set two little slave-girls to keep the door of the private +chamber wherein was Anis al-Jalis and had said to them, "Suffer +none go in to the damsel." Presently, as the beautiful maiden +sat resting in her rooms, suddenly came in the Wazir's son whose +name was Nur al-Din Ali,[FN#17] and asked after his mother and +her women, to which the two little slave-girls replied, "They are +in the Hammam." But the damsel, Anis al-Jalis, had heard from +within Nur al-Din Ali's voice and had said to herself, "O would +Heaven I saw what like is this youth against whom the Wazir +warned me, saying that he hath not left a virgin in the +neighbourhood without taking her virginity: by Allah, I do long +to have sight of him!" So she sprang to her feet with the +freshness of the bath on her and, stepping to the door, looked at +Nur al-Din Ali and saw a youth like the moon in its full and the +sight bequeathed her a thousand sighs. The young man also glanced +at her and the look make him heir to a thousand thoughts of care; +and each fell into Love's ready snare. Then he stepped up to the +two little slave-girls and cried aloud at them; whereupon both +fled before him and stood afar off to see what he would do. And +behold, he walked to the door of the damsel's chamber and, +opening it, went in and asked her "Art thou she my father bought +for me?" and she answered "Yes." Thereupon the youth, who was +warm with wine, came up to her and embraced her; then he took her +legs and passed them round his waist and she wound her arms about +his neck, and met him with kisses and murmurs of pleasure and +amorous toyings. Next he sucked her tongue and she sucked his, +and lastly, he loosed the strings of her petticoat-trousers and +abated her maidenhead. When the two little slave-girls saw their +young master get in unto the damsel, Anis al-Jalis, they cried +out and shrieked; so as soon as the youth had had his wicked will +of her, he rose and fled forth fearing the consequences of his +ill-doing. When the Wazir's wife heard the slave-girls' cries, +she sprang up and came out of the baths with the perspiration +pouring from her face, saying, "What is this unseemly clamour in +the house[FN#18]?" Then she came up to the two little slave- +girls and asked them saying, "Fie upon you! what is the matter?"; +and both answered, "Verily our lord Nur al-Din came in and beat +us, so we fled; then he went up to Anis al-Jalis and threw his +arms round her and we know not what he did after that; but when +we cried out to thee he ran away." Upon this the lady went to +Anis al-Jalis and said to her, "What tidings?" "O my lady," she +answered, "as I was sitting here lo! a handsome young man came in +and said to me:--Art thou she my father bought for me?; and I +answered Yes; for, by Allah, O mistress mine, I believed that his +words were true; and he instantly came in and embraced me." "Did +he nought else with thee but this?" quoth the lady, and quoth +she, "Indeed he did! But he did it only three times." "He did +not leave thee without dishonouring thee!" cried the Wazir's wife +and fell to weeping and buffetting her face, she and the girl and +all the handmaidens, fearing lest Nur al-Din's father should kill +him.[FN#19] Whilst they were thus, in came the Wazir and asked +what was the matter, and his wife said to him, "Swear that whatso +I tell thee thou wilt attend to it." "I will," answered he. So +she related to him what his son had done, whereat he was much +concerned and rent his raiment and smote his face till his nose +bled, and plucked out his beard by the handful. "Do not kill +thyself," said his wife, "I will give thee ten thousand dinars, +her price, of my own money." But he raised his head and cried, +"Out upon thee! I have no need of her purchase-money: my fear is +lest life as well as money go." "O my lord, and how is that?" +"Wottest thou not that yonder standeth our enemy Al Mu'n bin +Sw who, as soon as he shall hear of this matter, will go up to +the Sultan"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Thirty-fifth Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +Wazir said to his wife, "Wottest thou not that yonder standeth +our enemy Al-Mu'n bin Sw who, as soon as he hears of this +matter will go up to the Sultan and say to him, 'Thy Wazir who, +thou wilt have it loveth thee, took from thee ten thousand ducats +and bought therewith a slave-girl whose like none ever beheld; +but when he saw her, she pleased him and he said to his son, +'Take her: thou art worthier of her than the Sultan.' So he took +her and did away with her virginity and she is now in his house.' +The King will say, 'Thou liest!' to which he will reply, 'With +thy leave I will fall upon him unawares and bring her to thee.' +The King will give him warranty for this and he will come down +upon the house and will take the girl and present her to the +Sultan, who will question her and she will not be able to deny +the past. Then mine enemy will say, 'O my lord, thou wottest +that I give thee the best of counsel; but I have not found favour +in thine eyes.' Thereupon the Sultan will make an example of me, +and I shall be a gazing-stock to all the people and my life will +be lost." Quoth his wife, "Let none know of this thing which +hath happened privily, and commit thy case to Allah and trust in +Him to save thee from such strait; for He who knoweth the future +shall provide for the future." With this she brought the Wazir a +cup of wine and his heart was quieted, and he ceased to feel +wrath and fear. Thus far concerning him; but as regards his son +Nur al-Din Ali, fearing the consequence of his misdeed he abode +his day long in the flower garden and came back only at night to +his mother's apartment where he slept; and, rising before dawn, +returned to the gardens. He ceased not to do thus for two whole +months without showing his face to his parent, till at last his +mother said to his father, "O my lord, shall we lose our boy as +well as the girl? If matters continue long in this way he will +flee from us." "And what to do?" asked he; and she answered, "Do +thou watch this night; and, when he cometh, seize on him and +frighten him: I will rescue him from thee and do thou make peace +with him and give him the damsel to wife, for she loveth him as +he loveth her. And I will pay thee her price." So the Minister +say up that night and, when his son came, he seized him and +throwing him down knelt on his breast and showed as thou he would +cut his throat; but his mother ran to the youth's succour and +asked her husband, "What wouldest thou do with him?" He answered +her, "I will split his weasand." Said the son to the father, "Is +my death, then, so light a matter to thee?"; and his father's +eyes welled with tears, for natural affection moved him, and he +rejoined, "O my son, how light was to thee the loss of my good +and my life!" Quoth Nur al-Din, "Hear, O my father, what the +poet hath said, + +Forgive me! thee-ward sinned I, but the wise * Ne'er to the + sinner shall deny his grace: +Thy foe may pardon sue when lieth he * In lowest, and thou + holdest highest place!'" + +Thereupon the Wazir rose from off his son's breast saying, "I +forgive thee!"; for his heart yearned to him; and the youth +kissed the hand of his sire who said, "O my son, were I sure that +thou wouldest deal justly by Anis al-Jalis, I would give her to +thee." "O my father, what justice am I to do to her?" "I enjoin +thee, O my son, not to take another wife or concubine to share +with her, nor sell her." "O my father! I swear to thee that +verily I will not do her injustice in either way." Having sworn +to that effect Nur al-Din went in to the damsel and abode with +her a whole year, whilst Allah Almighty caused the King to forget +the matter of the maiden; and Al-Mu'n, though the affair came to +his ears, dared not divulge it by reason of the high favour in +which his rival stood with the Sultan. At the end of the year +Al-Fazl went one day to the public baths; and, as he came out +whilst he was still sweating, the air struck him[FN#20] and he +caught a cold which turned to a fever; then he took to his bed. +His malady gained ground and restlessness was longsome upon him +and weakness bound him like a chain; so he called out, "Hither +with my son;" and when Nur al-Din Ali came he said to him, "O my +son, know that man's lot and means are distributed and decreed; +and the end of days by all must be dree'd; and that every soul +drain the cup of death is nature's need." The he repeated these +lines, + +"I die my death, but He alone is great who dieth not! * And well + I wot, soon shall I die, for death was made my lot: +A King there's not that dies and holds his kingdom in his hand, * + For Sovranty the Kingdom is of Him who dieth not." + +Then he continued, "O my son, I have no charge to leave thee save +that thou fear Allah and look to the issues of thine acts and +bear in mind my injunctions anent Anis al-Jalis." "O my father!" +said Nur al-Din, "who is like unto thee? Indeed thou art famed +for well doing and preachers offer prayers for thee in their +pulpits!" Quoth Al-Fazl, "O my son, I hope that Allah Almighty +may grant me acceptance!" Then he pronounced the Two +Testimonies,[FN#21] or Professions of the Faith, and was recorded +among the blessed. The palace was filled with crying and +lamentation and the news of his death reached the King, and the +city-people wept, even those at their prayers and women at +household cares and the school-children shed tears for Bin- +Khkn. Then his son Nur al-Din Ali arose and made ready his +funeral, and the Emirs and Wazirs and high Officers of State and +city-notables were present, amongst them the Wazir al-Mu'n bin +Sw. And as the bier went forth from the house some one in the +crowd of mourners began to chant these lines, + +"On the fifth day I quitted al my friends for evermore, * And + they laid me out and washed me on a slab without my + door:[FN#22] +They stripped me of the clothes I was ever wont to wear, * And + they clothed me in the clothes which till then I never wore. +On four men's necks they bore me and carried me from home * To + chapel; and some prayed for him on neck they bore: +They prayed for me a prayer that no prostration knows;[FN#23] * + They prayed for me who praised me and were my friends of + yore; +And they laid me in a house with a ceiling vaulted o'er, * And + Time shall be no more ere it ope to me its door." + +When they had shovelled in the dust over him and the crowd had +dispersed, Nur al-Din returned home and he lamented with sobs and +tears; and the tongue of the case repeated these couplets, + +"On the fifth day at even-tide they went away from me: * + farewelled them as faring they made farewell my lot: +But my spirit as they went, with them went and so I cried, * 'Ah + return ye!' but replied she, 'Alas! return is not +To a framework lere and lorn that lacketh blood and life, * A + frame whereof remaineth naught but bones that rattle and + rot: +Mine eyes are blind and cannot see quencht by the flowing tear! * + Mine ears are dull and lost to sense: they have no power to + hear!'" + +He abode a long time sorrowing for his father till, one day, as +he was sitting at home, there came a knocking at the door; so he +rose in haste and opening let in a man, one of his father's +intimates and who had been the Wazir's boon-companion. The +visitor kissed Nur al-Din's hand and said to him, "O my lord, he +who hath left the like of thee is not dead; and this way went +also the Chief of the Ancients and the Moderns. [FN#24] O my lord +Ali, be comforted and leave sorrowing." Thereupon Nur al-Din +rose and going to the guest-saloon transported thither all he +needed. Then he assembled his companions and took his handmaid +again; and, collecting round him ten of the sons of the +merchants, began to eat meat and drink wine, giving entertainment +after entertainment and lavishing his presents and his favours. +One day his Steward came to him and said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, +hast thou not heard the saying, Whoso spendeth and reckoneth not, +to poverty wendeth and recketh not?" And he repeated what the +poet wrote, + +"I look to my money and keep it with care, * For right well I wot + 'tis my buckler and brand: +Did I lavish my dirhams on hostilest foes,[FN#25] * I should + truck my good luck by mine ill luck trepanned: +So I'll eat it and drink it and joy in my wealth; * And no + spending my pennies on others I'll stand: +I will keep my purse close 'gainst whoever he be; * And a niggard + in grain a true friend ne'er I fand: +Far better deny him than come to say:--Lend, * And five-fold the + loan shall return to thy hand! +And he turns face aside and he sidles away, * While I stand like + a dog disappointed, unmanned, +Oh, the sorry lot his who hath yellow-boys none, * Though his + genius and virtues shine bright as the sun! + +O my master," continued the Steward, "this lavish outlay and +these magnificent gifts waste away wealth." When Nur al-Din Ali +heard these words he looked at his servant and cried, "Of all +thou hast spoken I will not heed one single word, for I have +heard the saying of the poet who saith, + +'An my palm be full of wealth and my wealth I ne'er bestow, * A + palsy take my hand and my foot ne'er rise again! +Show my niggard who by niggardise e'er rose to high degree, * Or + the generous gifts generally hath slain.'" + +And he pursued, "Know, O Steward, it is my desire that so long as +thou hast money enough for my breakfast, thou trouble me not with +taking thought about my supper." Thereupon the Steward asked, +"Must it be so?"; and he answered, "It must." So the honest man +went his way and Nur al-Din Ali devoted himself to extravagance; +and, if any of his cup-companions chanced to say, "This is a +pretty thing;" he would reply, "'Tis a gift to thee!"; or if +another said, "O my lord, such a house is handsome;" he would +answer, "Take it: it is thine!" After this reckless fashion he +continued to live for a whole year, giving his friends a banquet +in the morning and a banquet in the evening and a banquet at +midnight, till one day, as the company was sitting together, the +damsel Anis al-Jalis repeated these lines, + +"Thou deemedst well of Time when days went well, * And feardest + not what ills might deal thee Fate: +Thy nights so fair and restful cozened thee, * For peaceful + nights bring woes of heavy weight." + +When she had ended her verse behold, somebody knocked at the +door. So Nur al-Din rose to open it and one of his boon- +companions followed him without being perceived. At the door he +found his Steward and asked him, "What is the matter?"; and he +answered, "O my lord, what I dreaded for thee hath come to pass!" +"How so?" "Know that there remains not a dirham's worth, less or +more in my hands. Here are my Daftars and account books showing +both income and outlay and the registers of thine original +property." When Nur al-Din heard these words he bowed his head +and said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah!" When the man who had followed him privily to spy on him +heard the Steward's words, he returned to his friends and warned +them saying, "Look ye well to what ye do: Nur al-Din is +penniless;" and, as the young host came back to his guests, +vexation showed itself in his face. Thereupon one of the +intimates rose; and, looking at the entertainer, said to him, "O +my lord, may be thou wilt give me leave to retire?" "And why so +early retirement this day?"; asked he and the other answered him, +"My wife is in childbirth and I may not be absent from her: +indeed I must return and see how she does." So he gave him +leave, whereupon another rose and said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, I +wish now to go to my brother's for he circumciseth his son to- +day."[FN#26] In short each and every asked permission to retire +on some pretence or other, till all the ten were gone leaving Nur +al-Din alone. Then he called his slave-girl and said to her, "O +Anis al-Jalis, hast thou seen what case is mine?" And he related +to her what the Steward had told him. Then quoth she, "O my +lord, for many nights I had it in my mind to speak with thee of +this matter, but I heard thee repeating, + +'When the World heaps favours on thee, pass on * Thy favours to + friends ere her hand she stay: +Largesse never let her when fain she comes, * Nor niggardise kept + her from turning away!' + +When I heard these verses I held my peace and cared not to +exchange a word with thee." "O Anis al-Jalis," said Nur al-Din, +"thou knowest that I have not wasted my wealth save on my +friends, especially these ten who have now left me a pauper, and +I think they will not abandon and desert me without relief." "By +Allah," replied she, "they will not profit thee with aught of +aid." Said he, "I will rise at once and go to them and knock at +their doors; it may be I shall get from them somewhat wherewith I +may trade and leave pastime and pleasuring." So he rose without +stay or delay, and repaired to a street wherein all his ten +friends lived. He went up to the nearest door and knocked; +whereupon a handmaid came out and asked him, "Who art thou?"; and +he answered, "Tell thy master that Nur al-Din Ali standeth at the +door and saith to him, 'Thy slave kisseth thy hand and awaiteth +thy bounty.'" The girl went in and told her master, who cried at +her, "Go back and say, 'My master is not at home.'" So she +returned to Nur al-Din, and said to him, "O my lord, my master is +out." Thereupon he turned away and said to himself, "If this one +be a whoreson knave and deny himself, another may not prove +himself such knave and whoreson." Then he went up to the next +door and sent in a like message to the house-master, who denied +himself as the first had done, whereupon he began repeating, + +"He is gone who when to his gate thou go'st, * Fed thy famisht + maw with his boiled and roast." + +When he had ended his verse he said, "By Allah, there is no help +but that I make trial of them all: perchance there be one amongst +them who will stand me in the stead of all the rest." So he went +the round of the ten, but not one of them would open his door to +him or show himself or even break a bit of bread before him; +whereupon he recited, + +"Like a tree is he who in wealth doth wone, * And while fruits he + the folk to his fruit shall run: +But when bared the tree of what fruit it bare, * They leave it to + suffer from dust and sun. +Perdition to all of this age! I find * Ten rogues for every + righteous one." + +Then he returned to his slave-girl and his grief had grown more +grievous and she said to him, "O my lord, did I not tell thee, +none would profit thee with aught of aid?" And he replied, "By +Allah, not one of them would show me his face or know me!" "O my +lord," quoth she, "sell some of the moveables and household +stuff, such as pots and pans, little by little; and expend the +proceeds until Allah Almighty shall provide." So he sold all of +that was in the house till nothing remained when he turned to +Anis al-Jalis and asked her "What shall we do now?"; and she +answered, "O my lord, it is my advice that thou rise forthwith +and take me down to the bazar and sell me. Thou knowest that +they father bought me for ten thousand dinars: haply Allah may +open thee a way to get the same price, and if it be His will to +bring us once more together, we shall meet again." "O Anis al- +Jalis," cried he, "by Allah it is no light matter for me to be +parted from thee for a single hour!" "By Allah, O my lord," she +replied, "nor is it easy to me either, but Need hath its own law, +as the poet said, + +'Need drives a man into devious roads, * And pathways doubtful of + trend and scope: +No man to a rope[FN#27] will entrust his weight, * Save for cause + that calleth for case of rope.'" + +Thereupon he rose to his feet and took her,[FN#28] whilst the +tears rolled down his cheek like rain; and he recited with the +tongue of the case these lines, + +"Stay! grant one parting look before we part, * Nerving my heart + this severance to sustain: +But, an this parting deal thee pain and bane, * Leave me to die + of love and spare thee pain!" + +Then he went down with her to the bazar and delivered her to the +broker and said to him, "O Hajj Hasan,[FN#29] I pray thee note +the value of her thou hast to cry for sale." "O my lord Nur al- +Din," quoth the broker, "the fundamentals are remembered;"[FN#30] +adding, "Is not this the Anis al-Jalis whom thy father bought of +me for ten thousand dinars?" "Yes," said Nur al-Din. Thereupon +the broker went round to the merchants, but found that all had +not yet assembled. So he waited till the rest had arrived and +the market was crowded with slave-girls of all nations, Turks, +Franks and Circassians; Abyssinians, Nubians and Takruris;[FN#31] +Tartars, Georgians and others; when he came forward and standing +cried aloud, "O merchants! O men of money! every round thing is +not a walnut and every long thing a banana is not; all reds are +not meat nor all whites fat, nor is every brown thing a +date![FN#32] O merchants, I have here this union-pearl that hath +no price: at what sum shall I cry her?" "Cry her at four thousand +five hundred dinars," quoth one of the traders. The broker opened +the door of sale at the sum named and, as he was yet calling, lo! +the Wazir Al-Mu'n bin Sw passed through the bazar and, seeing +Nur al-Din Ali waiting at one side, said to himself, "Why is +Khkn's son[FN#33] standing about here? Hath this gallows-bird +aught remaining wherewith to buy slave-girls?" Then he looked +round and, seeing the broker calling out in the market with all +the merchants around him, said to himself, "I am sure that he is +penniless and hath brought hither the damsel Anis al-Jalis for +sale;" adding, "O how cooling and grateful is this to my heart!" +Then he called the crier, who came up and kissed the ground +before him; and he said to him, "I want this slave-girl whom thou +art calling for sale." The broker dared not cross him, so he +answered, "O my lord, Bismillah! in Allah's name so be it;" and +led forward the damsel and showed her to him. She pleased him +much whereat he asked, "O Hasan, what is bidden for this girl?" +and he answered, "Four thousand five hundred dinars to open the +door of sale." Quoth Al-Mu'n, "Four thousand five hundred is MY +bid." When the merchants heard this, they held back and dared +not bid another dirham, wotting what they did of the Wazir's +tyranny, violence and treachery. So Al-Mu'n looked at the broker +and said to him, "Why stand still? Go and offer four thousand +dinars for me and the five hundred shall be for thyself." +Thereupon the broker went to Nur al-Din and said, "O my lord, thy +slave is going for nothing!" "And how so?" asked he. The broker +answered, "We had opened the biddings for her at four thousand +five hundred dinars; when that tyrant, Al-Mu'n bin Sw, passed +through the bazar and, as he saw the damsel she pleased him, so +he cried to me, 'Call me the buyer at four thousand dinars and +thou shalt have five hundred for thyself.' I doubt not but that +he knoweth that the damsel if thine, and if he would pay thee +down her price at once it were well; but I know his injustice and +violence; he will give thee a written order upon some of his +agents and will send after thee to say to them, 'Pay him +nothing.' So as often as though shalt go in quest of the coin +they will say, 'We'll pay thee presently!' and they will put thee +off day after day, and thou art proud of spirit; till at last, +when they are wearied with thine importunity, they will say, +'Show us the cheque.' Then, as soon as they have got hold of it +they will tear it up and so thou wilt lose the girl's price." +When Nur al-Din heard this he looked at the broker and asked him, +"How shall this matter be managed?"; and he answered, "I will +give thee a counsel which, if thou follow, it shall bring thee +complete satisfaction." "And what is that?" quoth Nur al-Din. +Quoth the broker, "Come thou to me anon when I am standing in the +middle of the market and, taking the girl from my hand, give her +a sound cuffing and say to her, 'Thou baggage, I have kept my vow +and brought thee down to the slave-market, because I swore an +oath that I would carry thee from home to the bazar, and make +brokers cry thee for sale.' If thou do this, perhaps the device +will impose upon the Wazir and the people, and they will believe +that thou broughtest her not to the bazar, but for the quittance +of thine oath." He replied, "Such were the best way." Then the +broker left him and, returning into the midst of the market, took +the damsel by the hand, and signed to the Wazir and said, "O my +lord, here is her owner." With this up came Nur al-Din Ali and, +snatching the girl from the broker's hand, cuffed her soundly and +said to her, "Shame on thee, O thou baggage! I have brought thee +to the bazar for quittance of mine oath; now get thee home and +thwart me no more as is thy wont. Woe to thee! do I need thy +price, that I should sell thee? The furniture of my house would +fetch thy value many times over!" When Al-Mu'n saw this he said +to Nur al-Din, "Out on thee! Hast thou anything left for selling +or buying?" And he would have laid violent hands upon him, but +the merchants interposed (for they all loved Nur al-Din), and the +young man said to them, "Here am I in your hands and ye all know +his tyranny." "By Allah," cried the Wazir, "but for you I had +slain him!" Then all signed with significant eyes to Nur al-Din +as much as to say, "Take thy wreak of him; not one of us will +come between thee and him." Thereupon Nur al-Din, who was stout +of heart as he was stalwart of limb, went up to the Wazir and, +dragging him over the pommel of his saddle, threw him to the +ground. Now there was in that place a puddling- pit for brick- +clay,[FN#34] into the midst of which he fell, and Nur al-Din kept +pummelling and fisti-cuffing him, and one of the blows fell full +on his teeth, and his beard was dyed with his blood. Also there +were with the minister ten armed slaves who, seeing their master +entreated after this fashion, laid hand on sword-hilt and would +have bared blades and fallen on Nur al-Din to cut him down; but +the merchants and bystanders said to them, "This is a Wazir and +that is the son of a Wazir; haply they will make friends some +time or other, in which case you will forfeit the favour of both. +Or perchance a blow may befal your lord, and you will all die the +vilest of deaths; so it were better for you not to interfere." +Accordingly they held aloof and, when Nur al-Din had made an end +of thrashing the Wazir, he took his handmaid and fared homewards. +Al-Mu'n also went his ways at once, with his raiment dyed of +three colours, black with mud, red with blood and ash coloured +with brick-clay. When he saw himself in this state, he bound a +bit of matting[FN#35] round his neck and, taking in hand two +bundles of coarse Halfah-grass,[FN#36] went up to the palace and +standing under the Sultan's windows cried aloud, "O King of the +age, I am a wronged man! I am foully wronged!" So they brought +him before the King who looked at him; and behold, it was the +chief Minister; whereupon he said, "O Wazir who did this deed by +thee?" Al-Mu'n wept and sobbed and repeated these lines, + +"Shall the World oppress me when thou art in't? * In the lion's + presence shall wolves devour? +Shall the dry all drink of thy tanks and I * Under rain-cloud + thirst for the cooling shower?" + +"O my lord," cried he, "the like will befal every one who loveth +and serveth thee well." "Be quick with thee," quoth the Sultan, +"and tell me how this came to pass and who did this deed by one +whose honour is part of my honour." Quoth the Wazir, "Know, O my +lord, that I went out this day to the slave-market to buy me a +cookmaid, when I saw there a damsel, never in my life long saw I +a fairer; and I designed to buy her for our lord the Sultan; so I +asked the broker of her and of her owner, and he answered, "She +belongeth to Ali son of Al-Fazl bin Khkn. Some time ago our +lord the Sultan gave his father ten thousand dinars wherewith to +buy him a handsome slave-girl, and he bought this maiden who +pleased him; so he grudged her to our lord the Sultan and gave +her to his own son. When the father died, the son sold all he had +of houses and gardens and household gear, and squandered the +price till he was penniless. Then he brought the girl to the +market that he might sell her, and he handed her over to the +broker to cry and the merchants bid higher and higher on her, +until the price reached four thousand dinars; whereupon quoth I +to myself, 'I will buy this damsel for our lord the Sultan, whose +money was paid for her.' So I said to Nur al-Din, 'O my son, +sell her to me for four thousand dinars.' When he heard my words +he looked at me and cried, 'O ill-omened oldster, I will sell her +to a Jew or to a Nazarene, but I will not sell her to thee!' 'I +do not buy her for myself,' said I, 'I buy her for our lord and +benefactor the Sultan.' Hearing my words he was filled with +rage; and, dragging me off my horse (and I a very old man), beat +me unmercifully with his fists and buffeted me with his palms +till he left me as thou seest, and all this hath befallen me only +because I thought to buy this damsel for thee!" Then the Wazir +threw himself on the ground and lay there weeping and shivering. +When the Sultan saw his condition and heard his story, the vein +of rage started out between his eyes[FN#37] and he turned to his +body-guard who stood before him, forty white slaves, smiters with +the sword, and said to them, "Go down forthright to the house +built by the son of Khkn and sack it and raze it and bring to +me his son Nur al-Din with the damsel; and drag them both on +their faces with their arms pinioned behind them." They replied, +"To hear is to obey;" and, arming themselves, they set out for +the house of Nur al-Din Ali. Now about the Sultan was a +Chamerlain, Alam[FN#38] al-Din Sanjar hight, who had aforetime +been Mameluke to Al-Fazl; but he had risen in the world and the +Sultan had advanced him to be one of his Chamberlains. When he +heard the King's command and saw the enemies make them ready to +slay his old master's son, it was grievous to him: so he went out +from before the Sultan and, mounting his beast, rode to Nur al- +Din's house and knocked at the door. Nur al-Din came out and +knowing him would have saluted him: but he said, "O my master +this is no time for greeting or treating. Listen to what the +poet said, + + 'Fly, fly with thy life if by ill overtaken! + Let thy house speak thy death by its builder forsaken! + For a land else than this land thou may'st reach, my brother, + But thy life tho'lt ne'er find in this world another.'"[FN#39] + +"O Alam al-Din what cheer?" asked Nur al-Din, and he answered, +"Rise quickly and fly for thy life, thou and the damsel; for Al- +Mu'n hath set a snare for you both; and, if you fall into his +hands, he will slay you. The Sultan hath despatched forty +sworders against you and I counsel you to flee ere harm can hurt +you." Then Sanjar put his hand to his purse and finding there +forty gold pieces took them and gave them to Nur al-Din, saying, +"O my lord receive these and journey with them. Had I more I +would give them to thee, but this is not the time to take +exception." Thereupon Nur al-Din went in to the damsel and told +her what had happened, at which she wrung her hands. Then they +fared forth at once from the city, and Allah spread over them His +veil of protection, so that they reached the river-bank where +they found a vessel ready for sea. Her skipper was standing +amidships and crying, "Whoso hath aught to do, whether in the way +of provisioning or taking leave of his people; or whoso hath +forgotten any needful thing, let him do it at once and return, +for we are about to sail"; and all of them saying, "There is +naught left to be done by us, O captain!", he cried to his crew, +"Hallo there! cast off the cable and pull up the mooring- +pole!"[FN#40] Quoth Nur al-Din, "Whither bound, O captain?" and +quoth he, "To the House of Peace, Baghdad,"-And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Thirty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +skipper answered, "To the House of Peace, Baghdad," Nur al-Din +Ali and the damsel went on board, and they launched the craft and +shook out the sails, and the ship sped forth as though she were a +bird on wing; even as said one of them and said right well, + +"Watch some tall ship, she'll joy the sight of thee, * The breeze + outstripping in her haste to flee; +As when a bird, with widely-spreading wings, * Leaveth the sky to + settle on the sea." + +So the vessel sailed on her fastest and the wind to her was +fairest. Thus far concerning them; but as regards the Mamelukes, +they went to Nur al-Din's mansion and, breaking open the doors, +entered and searched the whole place, but could find no trace of +him and the damsel; so they demolished the house and, returning +to the Sultan, reported their proceedings; whereupon quoth he, +"Make search for them both, wherever they may be;" and they +answered, "Hearing is obeying." The Wazir Al-Mu'n had also gone +home after the Sultan had bestowed upon him a robe of honour, and +had set his heart at rest by saying, "None shall take blood-wreak +for thee save I;" and he had blessed the King and prayed for his +long life and prosperity. Then the Sultan bade proclaim about +the city, "Oyez, O ye lieges one and all! It is the will of our +lord the Sultan that whoso happeneth on Nur al-Din Ali son of Al- +Fazl bin Khkn, and bringeth him to the Sultan, shall receive a +robe of honour and one thousand gold pieces; and he who hideth +him or knoweth his abiding place and informeth not, deserveth +whatsoever pains and penalties shall befal him." So all began to +search for Nur al-Din Ali, but they could find neither trace nor +tidings of him. Meanwhile he and his handmaid sailed on with the +wind right aft, till they arrived in safety at Baghdad, and the +captain said to them, "This is Baghdad and 'tis the city where +security is to be had: Winter with his frosts hath turned away +and Prime hath come his roses to display; and the flowers are a- +glowing and the trees are blowing and the streams are flowing." +So Nur al-Din landed, he and his handmaid and, giving the captain +five dinars, walked on a little way till the decrees of Destiny +brought them among the gardens, and they came to a place swept +and sprinkled, with benches along the walls and hanging jars +filled with water.[FN#41] Overhead was a trellis of reed-work +and canes shading the whole length of the avenue, and at the +upper end was a garden gate, but this was locked. "By Allah," +quoth Nur al-Din to the damsel, "right pleasant is this place!"; +and she replied, "O my lord sit with me a while on this bench and +let us take our ease." So they mounted and sat them down on the +bench, after which they washed their faces and hands; and the +breeze blew cool on them and they fell asleep and glory be to Him +who never sleepeth! Not this garden was named the Garden of +Gladness[FN#42] and therein stood a belvedere hight the Palace of +Pleasure and the Pavilion of Pictures, the whole belonging to the +Caliph Harun al-Rashid who was wont, when his breast was +straitened with care, to frequent garden and palace and there to +sit. The palace had eighty latticed windows and fourscore lamps +hanging round a great candelabrum of gold furnished with wax- +candles; and, when the Caliph used to enter, he would order the +handmaids to throw open the lattices and light up the rooms; and +he would bid Ishak bin Ibrahim the cup-companion and the slave- +girls to sing till his breast was broadened and his ailments were +allayed. Now the keeper of the garden, Shaykh Ibrahim, was a +very old man, and he had found from time to time, when he went +out on any business, people pleasuring about the garden gate with +their bona robas; at which he was angered with exceeding +anger.[FN#43] But he took patience till one day when the Caliph +came to his garden; and he complained of this to Harun al-Rashid +who said, "Whomsoever thou surprisest about the door of the +garden, deal with him as thou wilt." Now on this day the +Gardener chanced to be abroad on some occasion and returning +found these two sleeping at the gate covered with a single +mantilla; whereupon said he, "By Allah, good! These twain know +not that the Caliph hath given me leave to slay anyone I may +catch at the door; but I will give this couple a shrewd whipping, +that none may come near the gate in future." So he cut a green +palm-frond[FN#44] and went up to them and, raising his arm till +the white of his arm-pit appeared, was about to strike them, when +he bethought himself and said, "O Ibrahim, wilt thou beat them +unknowing their case? Haply they are strangers or of the Sons of +the Road,[FN#45] and the decrees of Destiny have thrown them +here. I will uncover their faces and look at them." So he +lifted up the mantilla from their heads and said, "They are a +handsome couple; it were not fitting that I should beat them." +Then he covered their faces again and, going to Nur al-Din's +feet, began to rub and shampoo them,[FN#46] whereupon the youth +opened his eyes and, seeing an old man of grave and reverend +aspect rubbing his feet, he was ashamed and drawing them in, sat +up. Then he took Shaykh Ibrahim's hand and kissed it. Quoth the +old man, "O my son, whence art thou?"; and quoth he, "O my lord, +we two are strangers," and the tears started from his eyes. "O +my son," said Shaykh Ibrahim, "know that the Prophet (whom Allah +bless and preserve!) hath enjoined honour to the stranger;" and +added, "Wilt not thou arise, O my son, and pass into the garden +and solace thyself by looking at it and gladden thy heart?" "O +my lord," said Nur al-Din, "to whom doth this garden belong?;" +and the other replied, "O my son, I have inherited it from my +folk." Now his object in saying this was to set them at their +ease and induce them to enter the garden. So Nur al-Din thanked +him and rose, he and the damsel, and followed him into the +garden; and lo! it was a garden, and what a garden! The gate was +arched like a great hall and over walls and roof ramped vines +with grapes of many colours; the red like rubies and the black +like ebonies; and beyond it lay a bower of trelliced boughs +growing fruits single and composite, and small birds on branches +sang with melodious recite, and the thousand-noted nightingale +shrilled with her varied shright; the turtle with her cooing +filled the site; the blackbird whistled like human wight[FN#47] +and the ring-dove moaned like a drinker in grievous plight. The +trees grew in perfection all edible growths and fruited all +manner fruits which in pairs were bipartite; with the camphor- +apricot, the almond-apricot and the apricot "Khorasani" hight; +the plum, like the face of beauty, smooth and bright; the cherry +that makes teeth shine clear by her sleight, and the fig of three +colours, green, purple and white. There also blossomed the +violet as it were sulphur on fire by night; the orange with buds +like pink coral and marguerite; the rose whose redness gars the +loveliest cheeks blush with despight; and myrtle and gilliflower +and lavender with the blood-red anemone from Nu'uman hight. The +leaves were all gemmed with tears the clouds had dight; the +chamomile smiled showing teeth that bite, and Narcissus with his +negro[FN#48] eyes fixed on Rose his sight; the citrons shone with +fruits embowled and the lemons like balls of gold; earth was +carpeted with flowers tinctured infinite; for Spring was come +brightening the place with joy and delight; and the streams ran +ringing, to the birds' gay singing, while the rustling breeze +upspringing attempered the air to temperance exquisite. Shaykh +Ibrahim carried them up into the pavilion, and they gazed on its +beauty, and on the lamps aforementioned in the latticed windows; +and Nur al-Din, remembering his entertainments of time past, +cried, "By Allah, this is a pleasant place; it hath quenched in +me anguish which burned as a fire of Ghaza-wood.[FN#49]" Then +they sat down and Shaykh Ibrahim set food before them; and they +ate till they were satisfied and washed their hands: after which +Nur al-Din went up to one of the latticed windows, and, calling +to his handmaid fell to gazing on the trees laden with all manner +fruits. Presently he turned to the Gardener and said to him, "O +Shaykh Ibrahim hast thou no drink here, for folk are wont to +drink after eating?" The Shaykh brought him sweet water, cool +and pleasant, but he said, "This is not the kind of drink I +wanted." "Perchance thou wishest for wine?" "Indeed I do, O +Shaykh!" "I seek refuge from it with Allah: it is thirteen years +since I did this thing, for the Prophet (Abhak[FN#50]) cursed its +drinker, presser, seller and carrier!" "Hear two words of me." +"Say on." "If yon cursed ass[FN#51] which standeth there be +cursed, will aught of his curse alight upon thee?" "By no means!" +"Then take this dinar and these two dirhams and mount yonder ass +and, halting afar from the wine-shop, call the first man thou +seest buying liquor and say to him, 'Take these two dirhams for +thyself, and with this dinar buy me some wine and set it on the +ass.' So shalt thou be neither the presser, nor the buyer, nor +the carrier; and no part of the curse will fall upon thee." At +this Shaykh Ibrahim laughed and said, "By Allah, O my son, I +never saw one wilier of wit than thou art, nor heard aught +sweeter than thy speech." So he did as he was bidden by Nur al- +Din who thanked him and said, "We two are now dependent on thee, +and it is only meet that thou comply with our wishes; so bring us +here what we require." "O my son," replied he, "this is my +buttery before thee" (and it was the store-room provided for the +Commander of the Faithful); "so go in, and take whatso thou wilt, +for there is over and above what thou wantest." Nur al-Din then +entered the pantry and found therein vessels of gold and silver +and crystal set with all kinds of gems, and was amazed and +delighted with what he saw. Then he took out what he needed and +set it on and poured the wine into flagons and glass ewers, +whilst Shaykh Ibrahim brought them fruit and flowers and aromatic +herbs. Then the old man withdrew and sat down at a distance from +them, whilst they drank and made merry, till the wine got the +better of them, so that their cheeks reddened and their eyes +wantoned like the gazelle's; and their locks became dishevelled +and their brightness became yet more beautiful. Then said Shaykh +Ibrahim to himself, "What aileth me to sit apart from them? Why +should I not sit with them? When shall I ever find myself in +company with the like of these two that favour two moons?" So he +stepped forward and sat down on the edge of the dais, and Nur al- +Din said to him, "O my lord, my life on thee, come nearer to us!" +He came and sat by them, when Nur al-Din filled a cup and looked +towards the Shaykh and said to him, "Drink, that thou mayest try +the taste of it!" "I take refuge from it with Allah!" replied he; +"for thirteen years I have not done a thing of the kind." Nur +al-Din feigned to forget he was there and, drinking off the cup, +threw himself on the ground as if the drink had overcome him; +whereupon Anis al-Jalis glanced at him and said, "O Shaykh +Ibrahim see how this husband of mine treateth me;" and he +answered, "O my lady, what aileth him?" "This is how he always +serveth me," cried she, "he drinketh awhile, then falleth asleep +and leaveth me alone with none to bear me company over my cup nor +any to whom I may sing when the bowl goeth round." Quoth the +Shaykh (and his mien unstiffened for that his soul inclined +towards her), "By Allah, this is not well!" Then she crowned a +cup and looking towards him said, "By my life thou must take and +drink it, and not refuse to heal my sick heart!" So he put forth +his hand and took it and drank it off and she filled a second and +set it on the chandelier and said, "O master mine, there is still +this one left for thee." "By Allah, I cannot drink it;" cried +he, "what I have already drunk is enough for me;" but she +rejoined, "By Allah, there is no help for it." So he took the +cup and drank; and she filled him a third which he took and was +about to drink when behold, Nur al-Din rolled round and sat +upright,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Thirty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din +sat upright and said, "Ho, Shaykh Ibrahim, what is this? Did I +not adjure thee a while ago and thou refusedst, saying, 'What I! +'tis thirteen years ago since I have done such a thing!'" "By +Allah," quoth the Shaykh (and indeed he was abashed), "no sin of +mine this, she forced me to do it." Nur al-Din laughed and they +sat down again to wine and wassail, but the damsel turned to her +master and said in a whisper, "O my lord, drink and do not press +him, that I may show thee some sport with him." Then she began +to fill her master's cup and he hers and so they did time after +time, till at last Shaykh Ibrahim looked at them and said, "What +fashion of good fellowship is this? Allah curse the glutton who +keepeth the cup to himself! Why dost thou not give me to drink, +O my brother? What manners are these, O blessed one?" At this +the two laughed until they fell on their backs; then they drank +and gave him to drink and ceased not their carousal till a third +part of the night was past. Then said the damsel, "O Shaykh +Ibrahim, with thy leave I will get up and light one of these +candles." "Do so," he replied, "but light no more than one." So +she sprang to her feet and, beginning with one candle, lighted +all the eighty and sat down again. Presently Nur al-Din said, "O +Shaykh Ibrahim, in what favour am I with thee? May I not light +one of these lamps?" "Light one," replied he, "and bother me no +more in thy turn!" So he rose and lighted one lamp after +another, till he had lighted the whole eight and the palace +seemed to dance with brilliancy. Quoth the Shaykh (and indeed +intoxication had overcome him), "Ye two are bolder than I am." +Then he rose to his feet and opened all the lattices and sat down +again; and they fell to carousing and reciting verses till the +place rang with their noisy mirth. Now Allah, the Decreer who +decreeth all things and who for every effect appointeth a cause, +had so disposed that the Caliph was at that moment sitting in the +light of the moon at one of the windows of his palace overlooking +the Tigris. He saw the blaze of the lamps and wax candles +reflected in the river and, lifting his eyes, perceived that it +came from the Garden Palace which was all ablaze with brilliancy. +So he cried, "Here to me with Ja'afar the Barmaki!"; and the last +word was hardly spoken ere the Wazir was present before the +Commander of the Faithful, who cried at him, "O dog of a +Minister, hast thou taken from me this city of Baghdad without +saying aught to me?" "What words are these words?" asked +Ja'afar; and the Caliph answered, "If Baghdad city were not taken +from me, the Palace of Pictures would not be illuminated with +lamps and candles, nor would its windows be thrown open. Woe to +thee! who durst do a deed like this except the Caliphate had been +taken from me?" Quoth Ja'afar (and indeed his side-muscles +trembled as he spoke), "Who told thee that the Palace of Pictures +was illuminated and the windows thrown open?" "Come hither and +see," replied the Caliph. Then Ja'afar came close to the Caliph +and, looking towards the garden, saw the palace blazing with +illumination that rayed through the gloom of the night; and, +thinking that this might have been permitted by the keeper for +some reason of his own, he wished to make an excuse for him; so +quoth he, "O Commander of the Faithful, Shaykh Ibrahim said to me +last week, 'O my lord Ja'afar, I much wish to circumcise my sons +during the life of the Commander of the Faithful and thy life.' +I asked, 'What dost thou want?'; and he answered, 'Get me leave +from the Caliph to hold the festival in the Garden Palace.' So +said I to him, 'Go circumcise them and I will see the Caliph and +tell him.' Thereupon he went away and I forgot to let thee +know." "O Ja'afar," said the Caliph, "thou hast committed two +offences against me; first in that thou didst no report to me, +secondly, thou didst not give him what he sought; for he came and +told thee this only as excuse to ask for some small matter of +money, to help him with the outlay; and thou gavest him nothing +nor toldest me." "O Commander of the Faithful," said Ja'afar, "I +forgot." "Now by the rights of my forefathers and the tombs of +my forbears," quoth the Caliph, "I will not pass the rest of this +night save in company with him; for truly he is a pious man who +frequenteth the Elders of the Faith and the Fakirs and other +religious mendicants and entertaineth them; doubtless they are +not assembled together and it may be that the prayer of one of +them will work us weal both in this world and in the next. +Besides, my presence may profit and at any rate be pleasing to +Shaykh Ibrahim." "O Commander of the Faithful," quoth Ja'afar, +"the greater part of the night is passed, and at this time they +will be breaking up." Quoth the Caliph, "It matters not: I needs +must go to them." So Ja'afar held his peace, being bewildered +and knowing not what to do. Then the Caliph rose to his feet +and, taking with him Ja'afar and Masrur the eunuch sworder, the +three disguised themselves in merchants' gear and leaving the +City-palace, kept threading the streets till they reached the +garden. The Caliph went up to the gate and finding it wide open, +was surprised and said, "See, O Ja'afar, how Shaykh Ibrahim hath +left the gate open at this hour contrary to his custom!" They +went in and walked on till they came under the pavilion, when the +Caliph said, "O Ja'afar, I wish to look in upon them unawares +before I show myself, that I may see what they are about and get +sight of the elders; for hitherto I have heard no sound from +them, nor even a Fakir calling upon the name of Allah.[FN#52]" +Then he looked about and, seeing a tall walnut-tree, said to +Ja'afar, "I will climb this tree, for its branches are near the +lattices and so look in upon them." Thereupon he mounted the +tree and ceased not climbing from branch to branch, till he +reached a bough which was right opposite one of the windows, and +here he took seat and looked inside the palace. He saw a damsel +and a youth as they were two moons (glory be to Him who created +them and fashioned them!), and by them Shaykh Ibrahim seated cup +in hand and saying, "O Princess of fair ones, drinking without +music is nothing worth; indeed I have heard a poet say, + +'Round with bit and little, the bowl and cup, * Take either than + moon[FN#53] in his sheen hath crowned: +Nor drink without music, for oft I've seen, * The horse drink + best to the whistle's sound!'" + +When the Caliph saw this, the vein of wrath started up between +his eyes and he came down and said to the Wazir, "O Ja'afar, +never beheld I yet men of piety in such case; so do thou mount +this tree and look upon them, lest the blessings of the blest be +lost to thee." Ja'afar, hearing the words of the Commander of +the Faithful and being confounded by them, climbed to the tree- +top and looking in, saw Nur al-Din and the damsel, and Shaykh +Ibrahim holding in his hand a brimming bowl. At this sight he +made sure of death and, descending, stood before the Commander of +the Faithful, who said to him, "O Ja'afar, praise be to Allah who +hath made us of those that observe external ordinances of Holy +Law and hath averted from us the sin of disguising ourselves +after the manner of hypocrites!"[FN#54] But Ja'afar could not +speak a word for excess of confusion; so the Caliph looked at him +and said, "I wonder how they came hither, and who admitted them +into my pavilion! But aught like the beauty of this youth and +this damsel my eyes never yet saw!" "Thou sayest sooth, O our +Lord the Sultan!" replied Ja'afar (and he hoped to propitiate the +Caliph Harun al-Rashid). Then quoth the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, let +us both mount the branch opposite the window, that we may amuse +ourselves with looking at them." So the two climbed the tree +and, peering in, heard Shaykh Ibrahim say, "O my lady, I have +cast away all gravity mine by the drinking of wine, but 'tis not +sweet save with the soft sounds of the lute-strings it combine." +"By Allah," replied Anis al-Jalis, "O Shaykh Ibrahim, an we had +but some instrument of music our joyance were complete." Hearing +this he rose to his feet and the Caliph said to Ja'afar, "I +wonder what he is about to do!" and Ja'afar answered, "I know +not." The Shaykh disappeared and presently reappeared bringing a +lute; and the Caliph took not of it and knew it for that of Abu +Ishak the Cup-companion.[FN#55] "By Allah," said the Caliph, "if +this damsel sing ill I will crucify all of you; but if she sing +well I will forgive them and only gibbet thee." "O Allah cause +her to sing vilely!" quoth Ja'afar. Asked the Caliph, "Why so?"; +and he answered, "If thou crucify us all together, we shall keep +one another company." The Caliph laughed at his speech. +Presently the damsel took the lute and, after looking at it and +tuning it, she played a measure which made all hearts yearn to +her; then she sang these lines, + +"O ye that can aid me, a wretched lover, * Whom longing burns nor + can rest restore me! +Though all you have done I have well deserved, * I take refuge + with you, so exult not o'er me: +True, I am weak and low and vile, * But I'll bear your will and + whatso you bore me: +My death at your hands what brings it of glory? * I fear but your + sin which of life forlore me!" + +Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, good! O Ja'afar, never in my life +have I heard a voice so enchanting as this." "Then haply the +Caliph's wrath hath passed away," said Ja'afar, and he replied, +"Yes, 'tis gone." Thereupon they descended from the tree, and +the Caliph said to Ja'afar, "I wish to go in and sit with them +and hear the damsel sing before me." "O Commander of the +Faithful," replied Ja'afar, "if thou go in to them they will be +terribly troubled, and Shaykh Ibrahim will assuredly die of +fright." But the Caliph answered, "O Ja'afar, thou must teach me +some device wherewith to delude them and whereby I can foregather +with them without their knowing me." So they walked towards the +Tigris pondering the matter, and presently came upon a fisherman +who stood fishing under the pavilion windows. Now some time +before this, the Caliph (being in the pavilion) had called to +Shaykh Ibrahim and asked him, "What noise is this I hear under +the windows?" and he had answered, "It is voices of fisher folk +catching fish:" so quoth the Caliph, "Go down and forbid them +this place;" and he forbade them accordingly. However that night +a fisherman named Karim, happening to pass by and seeing the +garden gate open, said to himself, "This is a time of negligence; +and I will take advantage of it to do a bit of fishing." So he +took his net and cast it, but he had hardly done so when behold, +the Caliph come up single-handed and, standing hard by, knew him +and called aloud to him, "Ho, Karim!" The fisherman, hearing +himself named, turned round, and seeing the Caliph, trembled and +his side-muscles quivered, as he cried, "By Allah, O Commander of +the Faithful, I did it not in mockery of the mandate; but poverty +and a large family drove me to what thou seest!" Quoth the +Caliph, "Make a cast in my name." At this the fisherman was glad +and going to the bank threw his net, then waiting till it had +spread out at full stretch and settled down, hauled it up and +found in it various kinds of fish. The Caliph was pleased and +said, "O Karim, doff thy habit." So he put off a gaberdine of +coarse woollen stuff patched in an hundred places whereon the +lice were rampant, and a turband which had never been untwisted +for three years but to which he had sown every rag he came upon. +The Caliph also pulled off his person two vests of Alexandrian +and Ba'lbak silk, a loose inner robe and a long-sleeved outer +coat, and said to the fisherman, "Take them and put them on," +while he assumed the foul gaberdine and filthy turband and drew a +corner of the head-cloth as a mouth-veil[FN#56] before his face. +Then said he to the fisherman, "Get thee about thy business!; and +the man kissed the Caliph's feet and thanked him and improvised +the following couplets, + +"Thou hast granted more favours than ever I craved; * Thou hast + satisfied needs which my heart enslaved: +I will thank thee and thank whileas life shall last, * And my + bones will praise thee in grave engraved!" + +Hardly had the fisherman ended his verse, when the lice began to +crawl over the Caliph's skin, and he fell to catching them on his +neck with his right and left and throwing them from him, while he +cried, "O fisherman, woe to thee! what be this abundance of lice +on thy gaberdine." "O my lord," replied he, "they may annoy thee +just at first, but before a week is past thou wilt not feel them +nor think of them." The Caliph laughed and said to him, "Out on +thee! Shall I leave this gaberdine of thine so long on my body?" +Quoth the fisherman, "I would say a word to thee but I am ashamed +in presence of the Caliph!"; and quoth he, "Say what thou hast to +say." "It passed through my thought, O Commander of the +Faithful," said the fisherman, "that, since thou wishest to learn +fishing so thou mayest have in hand an honest trade whereby to +gain thy livelihood, this my gaberdine besitteth thee right +well."[FN#57] The Commander of the Faithful laughed at this +speech, and the fisherman went his way. Then the Caliph took up +the basket of fish and, strewing a little green grass over it, +carried it to Ja'afar and stood before him. Ja'afar thinking him +to be Karim the fisherman feared for him and said, "O Karim, what +brought thee hither? Flee for thy life, for the Caliph is in the +garden to-night and, if he see thee, thy neck is gone." At this +the Caliph laughed and Ja'afar recognized him and asked, "Can it +be thou, our lord the Sultan?"; and he answered, "Yes, O Ja'afar, +and thou art my Wazir and I and thou came hither together; yet +thou knowest me not; so how should Shaykh Ibrahim know me, and he +drunk? Stay here, till I came back to thee." "To hear is to +obey," said Ja'afar. Then the Caliph went up to the door of the +pavilion and knocked a gentle knock, whereupon said Nur al-Din," +O Shaykh Ibrahim, some one taps at the door." "Who goes there?" +cried the Shaykh and the Caliph replied, "It is I, O Shaykh +Ibrahim!" "Who art thou," quoth he, and quoth the other, "I am +Karim the fisherman: I hear thou hast a feast, so I have brought +thee some fish, and of a truth 'tis good fish." When Nur al-Din +heard the mention of fish, he was glad, he and the damsel, and +they both said to the Shaykh, "O our lord, open the door and let +him bring us his fish." So Shaykh Ibrahim opened and the Caliph +came in (and he in fisherman guise), and began by saluting them. +Said Shaykh Ibrahim, "Welcome to the blackguard, the robber, the +dicer! Let us see thy fish." So the Caliph showed them his +catch and behold, the fishes were still alive and jumping, +whereupon the damsel exclaimed, "By Allah! O my lord, these are +indeed fine fish: would they were fried!" and Shaykh Ibrahim +rejoined, "By Allah, O my lady, thou art right." Then said he to +the Caliph, "O fisherman, why didst thou not bring us the fish +ready fried? Up now and cook them and bring them back to us." +"On my head be thy commands!" said the Caliph, "I will fry thee a +dish and bring it." Said they, "Look sharp." Thereupon he went +and ran till he came up to Ja'afar when he called to him, "Hallo, +Ja'afar!"; and he replied, "Here am I, O Commander of the +Faithful, is all well?" "They want the fish fried," said the +Caliph, and Ja'afar answered, "O Commander of the Faithful, give +it to me and I'll fry it for them." "By the tombs of my +forbears," quoth the Caliph, "none shall fry it but I, with mine +own hand!" So he went to the gardener's hut, where he searched +and found all that he required, even to salt and saffron and wild +marjoram and else besides. Then he turned to the brasier and, +setting on the frying-pan, fried a right good fry. When it was +done, he laid it on a banana-leaf, and gathering from the garden +wind-fallen fruits, limes and lemons, carried the fish to the +pavilion and set the dish before them. So the youth and the +damsel and Shaykh Ibrahim came forward and ate; after which they +washed their hands and Nur al-Din said to the Caliph, "By Allah, +O fisherman, thou hast done us a right good deed this night." +Then he put hand in pouch and, taking out three of the dinars +which Sanjar had given him, said, "O fisherman, excuse me. By +Allah had I known thee before that which hath lately befallen me, +I had done away the bitterness of poverty from thy heart; but +take thou this as the best I can do for thee." Then he threw the +gold pieces to the Caliph, who took them and kissed them and put +them in pouch. Now his sole object in doing all this was to hear +the damsel sing; so he said to Nur al-Din, "Thou hast rewarded me +most liberally, but I beg of thy boundless bounty that thou let +this damsel sing an air, that I may hear her."[FN#58] So Nur al- +Din said, "O Anis al-Jalis!" and she answered "Yes!" and he +continued, "By my life, sing us something for the sake of this +fisherman who wisheth so much to hear thee." Thereupon she took +the lute and struck the strings, after she had screwed them tight +and tuned them, and sang these improvised verses, + +"The fawn of a maid hent her lute in hand * And her music made us + right mettlesome: +For her song gave hearing to ears stone-deaf, * While Brava! + Brava! exclaimed the dumb." + +Then she played again and played so ravishingly, that she charmed +their wits and burst out improvising and singing these couplets, + +"You have honoured us visiting this our land, * And your + splendour illumined the glooms that blent: +So 'tis due that for you I perfume my place * With rose-water, + musk and the camphor-scent!" + +Hereupon the Caliph was agitated, and emotion so overpowered him +that he could not command himself for excess of pleasure, and he +exclaimed, "By Allah, good! by Allah, good! by Allah, +good!"[FN#59] Asked Nur al-Din, "O fisherman, doth this damsel +please thee?" and the Caliph answered, "Ay, by Allah!" Whereupon +said Nur al-Din, "She is a gift to thee, a gift of the generous +who repenteth him not of his givings and who will never revoke +his gift!" Then he sprang to his feet and, taking a loose robe, +threw it over the fisherman and bade him receive the damsel and +be gone. But she looked at him and said, "O my lord, art thou +faring forth without farewell? If it must be so, at least stay +till I bid thee good-bye and make known my case." And she began +versifying in these verses, + +"When love and longing and regret are mine, * Must not this body + show of ills a sign? +My love! say not, 'Thou soon shalt be consoled'; * When state + speaks state none shall allay my pine. +If living man could swim upon his tears, * I first should float + on waters of these eyne: +O thou, who in my heart infusedst thy love, * As water mingles in + the cup with wine, +This was the fear I feared, this parting blow. * O thou whose + love my heart-core ne'er shall tyne! +O Bin Khkn! my sought, my hope, my will, * O thou whose love + this breast make wholly thine! +Against thy lord the King thou sinn'dst for me, * And winnedst + exile in lands peregrine: +Allah ne'er make my lord repent my loss * To cream[FN#60] o' men + thou gavest me, one right digne." + +When she had ended her verses, Nur al-Din answered her with these +lines, + +"She bade me farewell on our parting day, * And she wept in the + fire of our bane and pains: +'What wilt thou do when fro' thee I'm gone?' * Quoth I, 'say this + to whom life remains!'" + +When the Caliph heard her saying in her verse, + + "To Karim, the cream of men thou gavest me;" + +his inclination for her redoubled and it seemed a hard matter and +a grievous to part them; so quoth he to the youth, "O my lord, +truly the damsel said in her verses that thou didst transgress +against her master and him who owned her; so tell me, against +whom didst thou transgress and who is it hath a claim on thee?" +"By Allah, O fisherman," replied Nur al-Din, "there befel me and +this damsel a wondrous tale and a marvellous matter: an 't were +graven with needle-gravers on the eye-corners it would be a +warner to whoso would be warned." Cried the Caliph, "Wilt thou +not tell me thy story and acquaint me with thy case? Haply it may +bring thee relief, for Allah's aid is ever nearhand." "O +fisherman," said Nur al-Din, "Wilt thou hear our history in verse +or in prose?" "Prose is a wordy thing, but verses," rejoined the +Caliph, "are pearls on string." Then Nur al-Din bowed his head, +and made these couplets, + +"O my friend! reft of rest no repose I command, * And my grief is + redoubled in this far land: +Erst I had a father, a kinder ne'er was; * But he died and to + Death paid the deodand: +When he went from me, every matter went wrong * Till my heart was + nigh-broken, my nature unmanned: +He bought me a handmaid, a sweeting who shamed * A wand of the + willow by Zephyr befanned: +I lavisht upon her mine heritage, * And spent like a nobleman + puissant and grand: +Then to sell her compelled, my sorrow increased; * The parting + was sore but I mote not gainstand: +Now as soon as the crier had called her, there bid * A wicked old + fellow, a fiery brand: +So I raged with a rage that I could not restrain, * And snatched + her from out of his hireling's hand; +When the angry curmudgeon made ready for blows, * And the fire of + a fight kindled he and his band, +I smote him in fury with right and with left, * And his hide, + till well satisfied, curried and tanned: +Then in fear I fled forth and lay hid in my house, * To escape + from the snares which my foeman had spanned: +So the King of the country proclaimed my arrest; * When access to + me a good Chamberlain fand: +And warned me to flee from the city afar, * Disappear, disappoint + what my enemies planned: +Then we fled from our home 'neath the wing of the night, * And + sought us a refuge by Baghdad strand: +Of my riches I've nothing on thee to bestow, * O Fisher, except + the fair gift thou hast scanned: +The loved of my soul, and when I from her part, * Know for sure + that I give thee the blood of my heart."[FN#61] + +When he had ended his verse, the Caliph said to him, "O my lord +Nur al-Din, explain to me thy case more fully," So he told him +the whole story from beginning to end, and the Caliph said to +him, "Whither dost thou now intend?" "Allah's world is wide," +replied he. Quoth the Caliph, "I will write thee a letter to +carry to the Sultan Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, which when he +readeth, he will not hurt nor harm thee in aught."-And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Thirty-eighth Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when +the Caliph said to Nur al-Din Ali, "I will write thee a letter to +carry to the Sultan Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, which when he +readeth, he will not hurt nor harm thee in aught," Nur al-Din +asked "What! is there in the world a fisherman who writeth to +Kings? Such a thing can never be!"; and the Caliph answered, +"Thou sayest sooth, but I will tell thee the reason. Know that I +and he learnt in the same school under one schoolmaster, and that +I was his monitor. Since that time Fortune befriended him and he +is become a Sultan, while Allah hath abased me and made me a +fisherman; yet I never send to him to ask aught but he doeth my +desire; nay, though I should ask of him a thousand favours every +day, he would comply." When Nur al-Din heard this he said, "Good! +write that I may see." So the Caliph took ink-case and reed-pen +and wrote as follows,--"In the name of Allah, the +Compassionating, the Compassionate! But after.[FN#62] This +letter is written by Harun al-Rashid, son of Al-Mahdi, to his +highness Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, whom I have encompassed +about with my favour and made my viceroy in certain of my +dominions. The bearer of these presents is Nur al-Din Ali, son +of Fazl bin Khkn the Wazir. As soon as they come to thy hand +divest thyself forthright of the kingly dignity and invest him +therewith; so oppose not my commandment and peace be with thee." +He gave the letter to Nur al-Din, who took it and kissed it, then +put it in his turband and set out at once on his journey. So far +concerning him; but as regards the Caliph, Shaykh Ibrahim stared +to him (and he still in fisher garb) and said, "O vilest of +fishermen, thou hast brought us a couple of fish worth a score of +half-dirhams,[FN#63] and hast gotten three dinars for them; and +thinkest thou to take the damsel to boot?" When the Caliph heard +this, he cried out at him, and signed to Masrur who discovered +himself and rushed in upon him. Now Ja'afar had sent one of the +gardener-lads to the doorkeeper of the palace to fetch a suit of +royal raiment for the Prince of the Faithful; so the man went +and, returning with the suit, kissed the ground before the Caliph +and gave it him. Then he threw of the clothes he had on[FN#64] +and donned kingly apparel. Shaykh Ibrahim was still sitting upon +his chair and the Caliph tarried to behold what would come next. +But seeing the Fisherman become the Caliph, Shaykh Ibrahim was +utterly confounded and he could do nothing but bite his finger- +ends[FN#65] and say, "Would I knew whether am I asleep or am I +awake!" At last the Caliph looked at him and cried, "O Shaykh +Ibrahim, what state is this in which I see thee?" Thereupon he +recovered from his drunkenness and, throwing himself upon the +ground, repeated these verses, + +"Pardon the sinful ways I did pursue; * Ruth from his lord to + every slave is due: +Confession pays the fine that sin demands; * Where, then, is that + which grace and mercy sue?"[FN#66] + +The Caliph forgave him and bade carry the damsel to the city- +palace, where he set apart for her an apartment and appointed +slaves to serve her, saying to her, "Know that we have sent thy +lord to be Sultan in Bassorah and, Almighty Allah willing, we +will dispatch him the dress of investiture and thee with it." +Meanwhile, Nur al-Din Ali ceased not travelling till he reached +Bassorah, where he repaired to the Sultan's palace and he shouted +a long shout.[FN#67] The Sultan heard him and sent for him; and +when he came into his presence, he kissed the ground between his +hands and, producing the letter, presented it to him. Seeing the +superscription in the writing of the Commander of the Faithful, +the Sultan rose to his feet and kissed it three times; and after +reading it said, "I hear and I obey Allah Almighty and the +Commander of the Faithful!" Then he summoned the four +Kazis[FN#68] and the Emirs and was about to divest himself of the +rule royal, when behold, in came Al Mu'n bin Sw. The Sultan +gave him the Caliph's letter and he read it, then tore it to +pieces and putting it into his mouth, chewed it[FN#69] and spat +it out. "Woe to thee," quoth the Sultan (and indeed he was sore +angered); "what induced thee to do this deed?" "Now by thy life! +O our lord the Sultan," replied Mu'n, "this man hath never +foregathered with the Caliph nor with his Wazir; but he is a +gallows-bird, a limb of Satan, a knave who, having come upon a +written paper in the Caliph's hand, some idle scroll, hath made +it serve his own end. The Caliph would surely not send him to +take the Sultanate from thee without the imperial +autograph[FN#70] and the diploma of investiture, and he certainly +would have despatched with him a Chamberlain or a Minister. But +he hath come alone and he never came from the Caliph, no, never! +never! never!" "What is to be done?" asked the Sultan, and the +Minister answered, "Leave him to me and I will take him and keep +him away from thee, and send him in charge of a Chamberlain to +Baghdad-city. Then, if what he says be sooth, they will bring us +back autograph and investiture; and if not, I will take my due +out of this debtor." When the Sultan heard the Minister's words +he said, "Hence with thee and him too." Al Mu'n took trust of +him from the King and, carrying him to his own house, cried out +to his pages who laid him flat and beat him till he fainted. +Then he let put upon his feet heavy shackles and carried him to +the jail, where he called the jailor, one Kutayt,[FN#71] who came +and kissed the ground before him. Quoth the Wazir, "O Kutayt, I +wish thee to take this fellow and throw him into one of the +underground cells[FN#72] in the prison and torture him night and +day." "To hear is to obey," replied the jailor and, taking Nur +al-Din into the prison, locked the door upon him. Then he gave +orders to sweep a bench behind the door and, spreading on it a +sitting-rug and a leather-cloth, seated Nur al-Din thereon and +loosed his shackles and entreated him kindly. The Wazir sent +every day enjoining the jailor to beat him, but he abstained from +this, and so continued to do for forty days. On the forty-first +day there came a present from the Caliph; which when the Sultan +saw, it pleased him and he consulted his Ministers on the matter, +when one of them said, "Perchance this present was for the new +Sultan." Cried Al-Mu'n, "We should have done well had we put +him to death at his first coming;" and the Sultan cried "By +Allah, thou hast reminded me of him! Go down to the prison and +fetch him, and I will strike off his head." "To hear is to +obey," replied Al-Mu'n: then he stood up and said, "I will make +proclamation in the city:--Whoso would solace himself with seeing +the beheading of Nur al-Din bin al-Fazl bin Khkn, let him +repair to the palace! So follower and followed, great and small +will flock to the spectacle, and I shall heal my heart and harm +my foe." "Do as thou wilt," said the Sultan. The Wazir went off +(and he was glad and gay), and ordered the Chief of Police to +make the afore-mentioned proclamation. When the people heard the +crier, they all sorrowed and wept, even the little ones at school +and the traders in their shops; and some strove to get places for +seeing the sight, whilst others went to the prison with the +object of escorting him thence. Presently, the Wazir came with +ten Mamelukes to the jail and Kutayt the jailor asked him, "Whom +seekest thou, O our lord the Wazir?"; whereto he answered, "Bring +me out that gallows- bird." But the jailor said, "He is in the +sorriest of plights for the much beating I have given him." Then +he went into the prison and found Nur al-Din repeating these +verses, + +"Who shall support me in calamities, * When fail all cures and + greater cares arise? +Exile hath worm my heart, my vitals torn; The World to foes + hath turned my firm allies. +O folk, will not one friend amidst you all * Wail o'er my woes, + and cry to hear my cries? +Death and it agonies seem light to me, * Since life has lost all + joys and jollities: +O Lord of Mustafa,[FN#73] that Science-sea, * Sole Intercessor, + Guide all-ware, all-wise! +I pray thee free me and my fault forego, * And from me drive mine + evil and my woe." + +The jailor stripped off his clean clothes and, dressing him in +two filthy vests, carried him to the Wazir. Nur al-Din looked at +him and saw it was his foe that sought to compass his death; so +he wept and said, "Art thou, then, so secure against the World? +Hast thou not heard the saying of the poet, + +'Kisras and Caesars in a bygone day * Stored wealth; where it is, + and ah! where are they?' + +O Wazir," he continued, "know that Allah (be He extolled and +exalted!) will do whatso He will!" "O Ali," replied he, +"thinkest thou to frighten me with such talk? I mean this very +day to smite thy neck despite the noses of the Bassorah folk and +I care not; let the days do as they please; nor will I turn me to +thy counsel but rather to what the poet saith, + +'Leave thou the days to breed their ban and bate, * And make thee + strong t' upbear the weight of Fate.' + +And also how excellently saith another, + +'Whoso shall see the death-day of his foe, * One day surviving, + wins his bestest wish.'" + +Then he ordered his attendants to mount Nur al-Din upon the bare +back of a mule; and they said to the youth (for truly it was +irksome to them), "Let us stone him and cut him down thou our +lives go for it." But Nur al-Din said to them, "Do not so: have +ye not heard the saying of the poet, + +'Needs must I bear the term by Fate decreed, * And when that day + be dead needs must I die: +If lions dragged me to their forest-lair, * Safe should I live + till draw my death-day nigh.'" + +Then they proceeded to proclaim before Nur al-Din, "This is the +least of the retribution for him who imposeth upon Kings with +forgeries." And they ceased not parading him round about +Bassorah, till they made him stand beneath the palace-windows and +set him upon the leather of blood,[FN#74] and the sworder came up +to him and said, "O my lord, I am but a slave commanded in this +matter: an thou have any desire, tell it me that I may fulfil it, +for now there remaineth of they life only so much as may be till +the Sultan shall put his face out of the lattice." Thereupon Nur +al-Din looked to the right and to the left, and before him and +behind him and began improvising, + +"The sword, the sworder and the blood-skin waiting me I sight, * + And cry, Alack, mine evil fate! ah, my calamity! +How is't I see no loving friend with eye of sense or soul? * + What! no one here? I cry to all: will none reply to me? +The time is past that formed my life, my death term draweth nigh, + * Will no man win the grace of God showing me clemency; +And look with pity on my state, and clear my dark despair, * E'en + with a draught of water dealt to cool death's agony?" + +The people fell to weeping over him; and the headsman rose and +brought him a draught of water; but the Wazir sprang up from his +place and smote the gugglet with his hand and broke it: then he +cried out at the executioner and bade him strike off Nur al-Din's +head. So he bound the eyes of the doomed man and folk clamoured +at the Wazir and loud wailings were heard and much questioning of +man and man. At this moment behold, rose a dense dust-cloud +filling sky and wold; and when the Sultan, who was sitting in the +palace, descried this, he said to his suite, "Go and see what yon +cloud bringeth:" Replied Al Mu'n, "Not till we have smitten +this fellow's neck;" but the Sultan said, "Wait ye till we see +what this meaneth." Now the dust-cloud was the dust of J'afar +the Barmecide, Wazir to the Caliph, and his host; and the cause +of his coming was as follows. The Caliph passed thirty days +without calling to mind the matter of Nur al-Din Ali,[FN#75] and +none reminded him of it, till one night, as he passed by the +chamber of Anis al-Jalis, he heard her weeping and singing with a +soft sweet voice these lines of the poet, + +"In thought I see thy form when farthest far or nearest near; * + And on my tongue there dwells a name which man shall ne'er + unhear." + +Then her weeping redoubled; when lo! the Caliph opened the door +and, entering the chamber, found Anis al-Jalis in tears. When +she saw him she fell to the ground and kissing his feet three +times repeated these lines, + +"O fertile root and noble growth of trunk; * Ripe-fruitful branch + of never sullied race; +I mind thee of what pact thy bounty made; * Far be 't from thee + thou should'st forget my case!" + +Quoth the Caliph, "Who art thou?" and she replied, "I am she whom +Ali bin Khkn gave thee in gift, and I wish the fulfilment of +thy promise to send me to him with the robe of honour; for I have +now been thirty days without tasting the food of sleep." +Thereupon the Caliph sent for Ja'afar and said to him, "O +Ja'afar, 'tis thirty days since we have had news of Nur al-Din +bin Khkn, and I cannot suppose that the Sultan hath slain him; +but, by the life of my head and by the sepulchres of my +forefathers, if aught of foul play hath befallen him, I will +surely make an end of him who was the cause of it, though he be +the dearest of all men to myself! So I desire that thou set out +for Bassorah within this hour and bring me tidings of my cousin, +King Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, and how he had dealt with +Nur al-Din Ali bin Khkn;" adding, "If thou tarry longer on the +road than shall suffice for the journey, I will strike off they +head. Furthermore, do thou tell the son of my uncle the whole +story of Nur al-Din, and how I sent him with my written orders; +and if thou find, O my cousin,[FN#76] that the King hath done +otherwise than as I commanded, bring him and the Wazir Al-Mu'n +bin Sw to us in whatsoever guise thou shalt find them."[FN#77] +"Hearing and obedience," replied Ja'afar and, making ready on the +instant, he set out for Bassorah where the news of his coming had +foregone him and had reached to the ears of King Mohammed. When +Ja'afar arrived and saw the crushing and crowding of the lieges, +he asked, "What means all this gathering?" so they told him what +was doing in the matter of Nur al-Din; whereupon he hastened to +go to the Sultan and saluting him, acquainted him with the cause +why he came and the Caliph's resolve, in case of any foul play +having befallen the youth, to put to death whoso should have +brought it about. Then he took into custody the King and the +Wazir and laid them in ward and, giving order for the release of +Nur al-Din Ali, enthroned him as Sultan in the stead of Mohammed +bin Sulayman. After this Ja'afar abode three days in Bassorah, +the usual guest-time, and on the morning of the fourth day, Nur +al-Din Ali turned to him and said, "I long for the sight of the +Commander of the Faithful." Then said Ja'afar to Mohammed bin +Sulayman, "Make ready to travel, for we will say the dawn-prayer +and mount Baghdad-wards;" and he replied, "To hear is to obey." +Then they prayed and they took horse and set out, all of them, +carrying with them the Wazir, Al-Mu'n bin Sw, who began to +repent him of what he had done. Nur al-Din rode by Ja'afar's +side and they stinted not faring on till they arrived at Baghdad, +the House of Peace, and going in to the Caliph told him how they +had found Nur al-Din nigh upon death. Thereupon the Caliph said +to the youth, "Take this sword and smite with it the neck of +thine enemy." So he took the sword from his hand and stepped up +to Al-Mu'n who looked at him and said, "I did according to my +mother's milk, do thou according to thine."[FN#78] Upon this Nur +al-Din cast the sword from his hand and said to the Caliph, "O +Commander of the Faithful, he hath beguiled me with his words;" +and he repeated this couplet, + +"By craft and sleight I snared him when he came; * A few fair + words aye trap the noble-game!" + +"Leave him then," cried the Caliph and, turning to Masrur said, +"Rise thou and smite his neck." So Masrur drew his sword and +struck off his head. Then quoth the Caliph to Nur al-Din Ali, +"Ask a boon of me." "O my lord," answered he, "I have no need of +the Kingship of Bassorah; my sole desire is to be honoured by +serving thee and by seeing the countenance." "With love and +gladness," said the Caliph. Then he sent for the damsel, Anis +al-Jalis, and bestowed plentiful favours upon them both and gave +them one of his palaces in Baghdad, and assigned stipends and +allowances, and made Nur al-Din Ali bin Fazl bin Khkn, one of +his cup-companions; and he abode with the Commander of the +Faithful enjoying the pleasantest of lives till death overtook +him. "Yet (continued Shahrazad) is not his story in any wise +more wondrous than the history of the merchant and his children." +The King asked "And what was that?" and Shahrazad began to relate +the + + + + +Tale of Ghanim bin Ayyub[FN#79], the Distraught, the Thrall o' +Love. + + +It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that in times of yore and +in years and ages long gone before, there lived in Damascus a +merchant among the merchants, a wealthy man who had a son like +the moon on the night of his fulness[FN#80] and withal sweet of +speech, who was named Ghnim bin Ayyb, surnamed the Distraught, +the Thrall o' Love. He had also a daughter, own sister to Ghanim, +who was called Fitnah, a damsel unique in beauty and loveliness. +Their father died and left them abundant wealth.--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Thirty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +merchant left his two children abundant wealth and amongst other +things an hundred loads[FN#81] of silks and brocades, musk pods +and mother o' pearl; and there was written on every bale, "This +is of the packages intended for Baghdad," it having been his +purpose to make the journey thither, when Almighty Allah took him +to Himself, which was in the time of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid. +After a while his son took the loads and, bidding farewell to his +mother and kindred and townsfolk, went forth with a company of +merchants, putting his trust in Allah Almighty, who decreed him +safety, so that he arrived without let or stay at Baghdad. There +he hired for himself a fair dwelling house which he furnished +with carpets and cushions, curtains and hangings; and therein +stored his bales and stabled his mules and camels, after which he +abode a while resting. Presently the merchants and notables of +Baghdad came and saluted him, after which he took a bundle +containing ten pieces of costly stuffs, with the prices written +on them, and carried it to the merchants' bazar, where they +welcomed and saluted him and showed him all honour; and, making +him dismount from his beast, seated him in the shop of the Syndic +of the market, to whom he delivered the package. He opened it +and, drawing out the pieces of stuff, sold them for him at a +profit of two diners on every diner of prime cost. At this Ghanim +rejoiced and kept selling his silks and stuffs one after another, +and ceased not to do on this wise for a full year. On the first +day of the following year he went, as was his wont, to the +Exchange which was in the bazar, but found the gate shut; and +enquiring the reason was told, "One of the merchants is dead and +all the others have gone to follow his bier,[FN#82] and why +shouldst thou not win the meed of good deeds by walking with +them?"[FN#83] He replied "Yes," and asked for the quarter where +the funeral was taking place, and one directed him thereto. So he +purified himself by the Wuzu-ablution[FN#84] and repaired with +the other merchants to the oratory, where they prayed over the +dead, then walked before the bier to the burial place, and +Ghanim, who was a bashful man, followed them being ashamed to +leave them. They presently issued from the city, and passed +through the tombs until they reached the grave where they found +that the deceased's kith and kin had pitched a tent over the tomb +and had brought thither lamps and wax candles. So they buried the +body and sat down while the readers read out and recited the +Koran over the grave; and Ghanim sat with them, being overcome +with bashfulness and saying to himself "I cannot well go away +till they do." They tarried listening to the Koranic perfection +till nightfall, when the servants set supper and +sweetmeats[FN#85] before them and they ate till they were +satisfied; then they washed their hands and again took their +places. But Ghanim's mind was preoccupied with his house and +goods, being in fear of robbers, and he said to himself, "I am a +stranger here and supposed to have money; if I pass the night +abroad the thieves will steal my money bags and my bales to +boot." So when he could no longer control his fear he arose and +left the assembly, having first asked leave to go about some +urgent business; and following the signs of the road he soon came +to the city gate. But it was midnight and he found the doors +locked and saw none going or coming nor heard aught but the +hounds baying and the wolves howling. At this he exclaimed, +"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! I was +in fear for my property and came back on its account, but now I +find the gate shut and I am in mortal fear for my life!" Then he +turned back and, looking out for a place where he could sleep +till morning, presently found a Santon's tomb, a square of four +walls with a date-tree in the central court and a granite +gateway. The door was wide open; so he entered and would fain +have slept, but sleep came not to him; and terror and a sense of +desolation oppressed him for that he was alone amidst the tombs. +So he rose to his feet and, opening the door, looked out and lo! +he was ware of a light afar off in the direction of the city +gate; then walking a little way towards it, he saw that it was on +the road whereby he had reached the tomb. This made him fear for +his life, so he hastily shut the door and climbed to the top of +the dale tree where he hid himself in the heart of the fronds. +The light came nearer and nearer till it was close to the tomb; +then it stopped and he saw three slaves, two bearing a chest and +one with a lanthorn, an adze and a basket containing some mortar. +When they reached the tomb, one of those who were carrying the +case said, "What aileth thee O Sawb?"; and said the other, "What +is the matter O Kfr?"[FN#86] Quoth he, "Were we not here at +supper tide and did we not leave the door open?" "Yes," replied +the other, "that is true.'' "See," said Kafur, "now it is shut +and barred." "How weak are your wits!" cried the third who bore +the adze and his name was Bukhayt,[FN#87] "know ye not that the +owners of the gardens use to come out from Baghdad and tend them +and, when evening closes upon them, they enter this place and +shut the door, for fear lest the wicked blackmen, like ourselves, +should catch them and roast 'em and eat 'em."[FN#88] "Thou sayest +sooth," said the two others, "but by Allah, however that may be, +none amongst us is weaker of wits than thou." "If ye do not +believe me," said Bukhayt, "let us enter the tomb and I will +rouse the rat for you; for I doubt not but that, when he saw the +light and us making for the place, he ran up the date tree and +hid there for fear of us." When Ghanim heard this, he said in +himself, "O curstest of slaves! May Allah not have thee in His +holy keeping for this thy craft and keenness of wit! There is no +Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the +Great! How shall I win free of these blackamoors?" Then said the +two who bore the box to him of the adze, "Swarm up the wall and +open the gate for us, O Bukhayt, for we are tired of carrying the +chest on our necks; and when thou hast opened the gate thou shalt +have one of those we catch inside, a fine fat rat which we will +fry for thee after such excellent fashion that not a speck of his +fat shall be lost." But Bukhayt answered, "I am afraid of +somewhat which my weak wits have suggested to me: we should do +better to throw the chest over the gateway; for it is our +treasure." "If we throw it 'twill break," replied they; and he +said, "I fear lest there be robbers within who murder folk and +plunder their goods, for evening is their time of entering such +places and dividing their spoil." "O thou weak o' wits," said +both the bearers of the box, "how could they ever get in +here!"[FN#89] Then they set down the chest and climbing over the +wall dropped inside and opened the gate, whilst the third slave +(he that was called Bukhayt) stood by them holding the adze, the +lanthorn and the hand basket containing the mortar. After this +they locked the gate and sat down; and presently one of them +said, "O my brethren, we are wearied with walking and with +lifting up and setting down the chest, and with unlocking and +locking the gate; and now 'tis midnight, and we have no breath +left to open a tomb and bury the box: so let us rest here two or +three hours, then rise and do the job. Meanwhile each of us shall +tell how he came to be castrated and all that befel him from +first to last, the better to pass away our time while we take our +rest." Thereupon the first, he of the lanthorn and whose name was +Bukhayt, said, "I'll tell you my tale." "Say on," replied they; +so he began as follows the + +Tale of the First Eunuch, Bukhayt. + +Know, O my brothers, that when I was a little one, some five +years old, I was taken home from my native country by a slave +driver who sold me to a certain Apparitor.[FN#90] My purchaser +had a daughter three years old, with whom I was brought up; and +they used to make mock of me, letting me play with her and dance +for her[FN#91] and sing to her, till I reached the age of twelve +and she that of ten; and even then they did not forbid me seeing +her. One day I went in to her and found her sitting in an inner +room, and she looked as if she had just come out of the bath +which was in the house; for she was scented with essences and +reek of aromatic woods, and her face shone like a circle of the +moon on the fourteenth night. She began to sport with me, and I +with her. Now I had just reached the age of puberty; so my +prickle stood at point, as it were a huge key. Then she threw me +on my back and, mounting astraddle on my breast, fell a wriggling +and a bucking upon me till she had uncovered my yard. When she +saw it standing with head erect, she hent it in hand and began +rubbing it upon the lips of her little slit[FN#92] outside her +petticoat trousers. Thereat hot lust stirred in me and I threw my +arms round her, while she wound hers about my neck and hugged me +to her with all her might, till, before I knew what I did, my +pizzle split up her trousers and entered her slit and did away +her maiden head. When I saw this, I ran off and took refuge with +one of my comrades. Presently her mother came in to her; and, +seeing her in this case, fainted clean away. However she managed +the matter advisedly and hid it from the girl's father out of +good will to me; nor did they cease to call to me and coax me, +till they took me from where I was. After two months had passed +by, her mother married her to a young man, a barber who used to +shave her papa, and portioned and fitted her out of her own +monies; whilst the father knew nothing of what had passed. On the +night of consummation they cut the throat of a pigeon poult and +sprinkled the blood on her shift.[FN#93] After a while they +seized me unawares and gelded me; and, when they brought her to +her bridegroom, they made me her Agha,[FN#94] her eunuch, to walk +before her wheresoever she went, whether to the bath or to her +father's house. I abode with her a long time enjoying her beauty +and loveliness by way of kissing and clipping and coupling with +her,[FN#95] till she died, and her husband and mother and father +died also; when they seized me for the Royal Treasury as being +the property of an intestate, and I found my way hither, where I +became your comrade. This, then, O my brethren, is the cause of +my cullions being cut off; and peace be with you! He ceased and +his fellow began in these words the + +Tale of the Second Eunuch, Kafur. + +Know, O my brothers that, when beginning service as a boy of +eight, I used to tell the slave dealers regularly and exactly one +lie every year, so that they fell out with one another, till at +last my master lost patience with me and, carrying me down to the +market, ordered the brokers to cry, "Who will buy this slave, +knowing his blemish and making allowance for it?" He did so and +they asked him, "Pray, what may be his blemish?" and he answered, +"He telleth me one single lie every year." Now a man that was a +merchant came up and said to the broker, "How much do they allow +for him with his blemish?" "They allow six hundred dirhams," he +replied; and said the other, "Thou shalt have twenty dirhams for +thyself." So he arranged between him and the slave dealer who +took the coin from him and the broker carried me to the +merchant's house and departed, after receiving his brokerage. The +trader clothed me with suitable dress, and I stayed in his +service the rest of my twelvemonth, until the new year began +happily. It was a blessed season, plenteous in the produce of the +earth, and the merchants used to feast every day at the house of +some one among them, till it was my master's turn to entertain +them in a flower garden without the city. So he and the other +merchants went to the garden, taking with them all that they +required of provaunt and else beside, and sat eating and +carousing and drinking till mid day, when my master, having need +of some matter from his home, said to me, "O slave, mount the she +mule and hie thee to the house and bring from thy mistress such +and such a thing and return quickly." I obeyed his bidding and +started for the house but, as I drew near it, I began to cry out +and shed tears, whereupon all the people of the quarter +collected, great and small; and my master's wife and daughters, +hearing the noise I was making, opened the door and asked me what +was the matter. Said I, "My master was sitting with his friends +beneath an old wall, and it fell on one and all of them; and when +I saw what had happened to them, I mounted the mule and came +hither in haste to tell you." When my master's daughters and wife +heard this, they screamed and rent their raiment and beat their +faces, whilst the neighbours came around them. Then the wife over +turned the furniture of the house, one thing upon another, and +tore down the shelves and broke the windows and the lattices and +smeared the walls with mud and indigo, saying to me, "Woe to +thee, O Kafur! come help me to tear down these cupboards and +break up these vessels and this china ware,[FN#96] and the rest +of it." So I went to her and aided her to smash all the shelves +in the house with whatever stood upon them, after which I went +round about the terrace roofs and every part of the place, +spoiling all I could and leaving no china in the house unbroken +till I had laid waste the whole, crying out the while "Well away! +my master!" Then my mistress fared forth bare faced wearing a +head kerchief and naught else, and her daughters and the children +sallied out with her, and said to me, "O Kafur, go thou before us +and show us the place where thy master lieth dead, that we may +take him from under the fallen wall and lay him on a bier and +bear him to the house and give him a fine funeral." So I went +forth before them crying out, "Slack, my master!"; and they after +me with faces and heads bare and all shrieking, "Alas! Alas for +the man!" Now there remained none in the quarter, neither man nor +woman, nor epicene, nor youth nor maid, nor child nor old trot, +but went with us smiting their faces and weeping bitterly, and I +led them leisurely through the whole city. The folk asked them +what was the matter, whereupon they told them what they had heard +from me, and all exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is no +Might save in Allah!" Then said one of them, "He was a personage +of consequence; so let us go to the Governor and tell him what +hath befallen him." When they told the Governor,--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Fortieth Night,[FN#97] + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when they +told the Governor, he rose and mounted and, taking with him +labourers, with spades and baskets, went on my track, with many +people behind him; and I ran on before them, howling and casting +dust on my head and beating my face, followed by my mistress and +her children keening for the dead. But I got ahead of them and +entered the garden before them, and when my master saw me in this +state, I smiting my face and saying, "Well away! my mistress! +Alas! Alas! Alas! who is left to take pity on me, now that my +mistress is gone? Would I had been a sacrifice for her!", he +stood aghast and his colour waxed yellow and he said to me, "What +aileth thee O Kafur! What is the matter?" "O my lord," I replied, +"when thou sentest me to the house, I found that the saloon wall +had given way and had fallen like a layer upon my mistress and +her children!" "And did not thy mistress escape?" "No, by Allah, +O my master; not one of them was saved; the first to die was my +mistress, thine elder daughter!" "And did not my younger daughter +escape?"; "No, she did not!" "And what became of the mare mule I +use to ride, is she safe?" "No, by Allah, O my master, the house +walls and the stable walls buried every living thing that was +within doors, even to the sheep and geese and poultry, so that +they all became a heap of flesh and the dogs and cats are eating +them and not one of them is left alive." "And hath not thy +master, my elder son, escaped?" "No, by Allah! not one of them +was saved, and now there is naught left of house or household, +nor even a sign of them: and, as for the sheep and geese and +hens, the cats and dogs have devoured them." When my master heard +this the light became night before his sight; his wits were dazed +and he so lost command of his senses that he could not stand firm +on his feet: he was as one struck with a sudden palsy and his +back was like to break. Then he rent his raiment and plucked out +his beard and, casting his turband from off his head, buffeted +his face till the blood ran down and he cried aloud, "Alas, my +children! Alas, my wife! Alas, my calamity! To whom ever befel +that which hath befallen me?" The merchants, his friends, also +cried aloud at his crying and wept for his weeping and tore their +clothes, being moved to pity of his case; and so my master went +out of the garden, smiting his face with such violence that from +excess of pain he staggered like one drunken with wine. As he and +the merchants came forth from the garden gate, behold, they saw a +great cloud of dust and heard a loud noise of crying and +lamentation; so they looked and lo! it was the Governor with his +attendants and the townsfolk, a world of people, who had come out +to look on, and my master's family following them, all screaming +and crying aloud and weeping exceeding sore weeping. The first to +address my owner were his wife and children; and when he saw them +he was confounded and laughed[FN#98] and said to them, "How is it +with all of you and what befel you in the house and what hath +come to pass to you?" When they saw him they exclaimed, "Praise +be to Allah for thy preservation!" and threw themselves upon him +and his children hung about him crying, "Slack, our father! +Thanks to Allah for thy safety, O our father!" And his wife said +to him, "Art thou indeed well! Laud to Allah who hath shown us +thy face in safety!" And indeed she was confounded and her reason +fled when she saw him, and she asked, "O, my lord, how didst thou +escape, thou and thy friends the merchants?"; and he answered +her, "And how fared it with thee in the house?" Quoth they, "We +were all well, whole and healthy, nor hath aught of evil befallen +us in the house, save that thy slave Kafur came to us, bareheaded +with torn garments and howling, 'Alas, the master! Alas the +master!' So we asked him, 'What tidings, O Kafur?' and he +answered 'A wall of the garden hath fallen on my master and his +friends the merchants, and they are all crushed and dead!''' "By +Allah," said my master, "he came to me but now howling, 'Alas, my +mistress! Alas, the children of the mistress!', and said, 'My +mistress and her children are all dead, every one of them!'" Then +he looked round and seeing me with my turband rent in rags round +my neck, howling and weeping with exceeding weeping and throwing +dust upon my head, he cried out at me. So I came to him and he +said, "Woe to thee, O ill omened slave! O whoreson knave! O thou +damned breed! What mischief thou hast wrought? By Allah! I will +flog thy skin from thy flesh and cut thy flesh from thy bones!" I +rejoined, "By Allah, thou canst do nothing of the kind with me, O +my lord, for thou boughtest me with my blemish; and there are +honest men to bear witness against thee that thou didst so +accepting the condition, and that thou knewest of my fault which +is to tell one lie every year. Now this is only a half lie, but +by the end of the year I will tell the other half, then will the +lie stand whole and complete." "O dog, son of a dog!", cried my +master, "O most accursed of slaves, is this all of it but a half +lie? Verily if it be a half lie 'tis a whole calamity! Get thee +from me, thou art free in the face of Allah!" "By Allah," +rejoined I, if thou free me, I will not free thee till my year is +completed and I have told thee the half lie which is left. When +this is done, go down with me to the slave market and sell me as +thou boughtest me to whoso will buy me with my blemish; but thou +shalt not manumit me, for I have no handicraft whereby to gain my +living;[FN#99] and this my demand is a matter of law which the +doctors have laid down in the Chapter of Emancipation."[FN#100] +While we were at these words, up came the crowd of people, and +the neighbours of the quarter, men, women and children, together +with the Governor and his suite offering condolence. So my master +and the other merchants went up to him and informed him of the +adventure, and how this was but a half lie, at which all +wondered, deeming it a whole lie and a big one. And they cursed +me and reviled me, while I stood laughing and grinning at them, +till at last I asked, "How shall my master slay me when he bought +me with this my blemish?" Then my master returned home and found +his house in ruins, and it was I who had laid waste the greater +part of it,[FN#101] having broken things which were worth much +money, as also had done his wife, who said to him, "'Twas Kafur +who broke the vessels and chinaware." Thereupon his rage +redoubled and he struck hand upon hand exclaiming, "By Allah! in +my life never saw I a whoreson like this slave; and he saith this +is but a half lie! How, then, if he had told me a whole lie? He +would ruin a city, aye or even two." Then in his fury he went to +the Governor, and they gave me a neat thing in the bastinado-line +and made me eat stick till I was lost to the world and a fainting +fit came on me; and, whilst I was yet senseless, they brought the +barber who docked me and gelded me[FN#102] and cauterised the +wound. When I revived I found myself a clean eunuch with nothing +left, and my master said to me, "Even as thou hast burned my +heart for the things I held dearest, so have I burnt thy heart +for that of thy members whereby thou settest most store!" Then he +took me and sold me at a profit, for that I was become an eunuch. +And I ceased not bringing trouble upon all, wherever I was sold, +and was shifted from lord to lord and from notable to notable, +being sold and being bought, till I entered the palace of the +Commander of the Faithful. But now my spirit is broken and my +tricks are gone from me, so alas! are my ballocks. When the two +slaves heard his history, they laughed at him and chaffed him and +said, "Truly thou art skite[FN#103] and skite-son! Thou liedest +an odious lie." Then quoth they to the third slave, "Tell us thy +tale." "O sons of my uncle," quoth he, "all that ye have said is +idle: I will tell you the cause of my losing my testicles, and +indeed I deserved to lose even more, for I futtered both my +mistress and my master's eldest son and heir: but my story is a +long one and this is not the time to tell it; for the dawn, O my +cousins, draweth near and if morning come upon us with this chest +still unburied, we shall get into sore disgrace and our lives +will pay for it. So up with you and open the door and, when we +get back to the palace, I will tell you my story and the cause of +my losing my precious stones." Then he swarmed up and dropped +down from the wall inside and opened the door, so they entered +and, setting down the lantern, dug between four tombs a hole as +long as the chest and of the same breadth. Kafur plied the spade +and Sawab removed the earth by baskets full till they reached the +depth of the stature of a man;[FN#104] when they laid the chest +in the hole and threw back the earth over it: then they went +forth and shutting the door disappeared from Ghanim's eyes. When +all was quiet and he felt sure that he was left alone in the +place, his thought was busied about what the chest contained and +he said to himself, "Would that I knew the contents of that box!" +However, he waited till day broke, when morning shone and showed +her sheen: whereupon he came down from the date tree and scooped +away the earth with his hands, till the box was laid bare and +disengaged from the ground. Then he took a large stone and +hammered at the lock till he broke it and, opening the lid, +behold a young lady, a model of beauty and loveliness, clad in +the richest of garments and jewels of gold and such necklaces of +precious stones that, were the Sultan's country evened with them, +it would not pay their price. She had been drugged with Bhang, +but her bosom, rising and falling, showed that her breath had not +departed. When Ghanim saw her, he knew that some one had played +her false and hocussed her; so he pulled her out of the chest and +laid her on the ground with her face upwards. As soon as she +smelt the breeze and the air entered her nostrils, mouth and +lungs, she sneezed and choked and coughed; when there fell from +out her throat a pill of Cretan Bhang, had an elephant smelt it +he would have slept from night to night. Then she opened her eyes +and glancing around said, in sweet voice and gracious words, "Woe +to thee O wind! there is naught in thee to satisfy the thirsty, +nor aught to gratify one whose thirst is satisfied! Where is Zhar +al-Bostan?" But no one answered her, so she turned her and cried +out, "Ho Sabhah! Shajarat al-Durr! Nr al-Hud! Najmat al-Subh! +be ye awake? Shahwah, Nuzhab, Halw, Zarfah, out on you, +speak![FN#105]'' But no one answered; so she looked all around +and said, "Woe's me! have they entombed me in the tombs? O Thou +who knowest what man's thought enwombs and who givest +compensation on the Day of Doom, who can have brought me from +amid hanging screens and curtains veiling the Harim rooms and set +me down between four tombs?" All this while Ghanim was standing +by: then he said to her, "O my lady, here are neither screened +rooms nor palace Harims nor yet tombs; only the slave henceforth +devoted to thy love, Ghanim bin Ayyub, sent to thee by the +Omniscient One above, that all thy troubles He may remove and win +for thee every wish that cloth behove!" Then he held his peace. +She was reassured by his words and cried, "I testify that there +is no god but the God and I testify that Mohammed is the Apostle +of God!"; then she turned to Ghanim and, placing her hands before +her face, said to him in the sweetest speech, "O blessed youth, +who brought me hither? See, I am now come to myself." "O my +lady," he replied, "three slave eunuchs came here bearing this +chest;" and related to her the whole of what had befallen him, +and how evening having closed upon him had proved the cause of +her preservation, otherwise she had died smothered.[FN#106] Then +he asked her who she was and what was her story, and she +answered, "O youth, thanks be to Allah who hath cast me into the +hands of the like of thee! But now rise and put me back into the +box; then fare forth upon the road and hire the first camel +driver or muleteer thou findest to carry it to thy house. When I +am there, all will be well and I will tell thee my tale and +acquaint thee with my adventures, and great shall be thy gain by +means of me." At this he rejoiced and went outside the tomb. The +day was now dazzling bright and the firmament shone with light +and the folk had begun to circulate; so he hired a man with a +mule and, bringing him to the tomb, lifted the chest wherein he +had put the damsel and set it on the mule. Her love now engrossed +his heart and he fared homeward with her rejoicing, for that she +was a girl worth ten thousand gold pieces and her raiment and +ornaments would fetch a mint of money. As soon as he arrived at +his house he carried in the chest and opening it,--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-first night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ghanim +son of Ayyub arrived with the chest at his house, he opened it +and took out the young lady, who looked about her and, seeing +that the place was handsome, spread with carpets and dight with +cheerful colours and other deckings; and noting the stuffs up +piled and packed bales and other else than that, knew that he was +a substantial merchant and a man of much money. There upon she +uncovered her face and looked at him, and lo! he was a fair +youth; so when she saw him she loved him and said, "O my lord, +bring us something to eat." "On my head and mine eyes!" replied +he; and, going down to the bazar, bought a roasted lamb and a +dish of sweetmeats and with these dry fruits and wax candles, +besides wine and whatsoever was required of drinking materials, +not forgetting perfumes. With all this gear he returned to the +house; and when the damsel saw him she laughed and kissed him and +clasped his neck. Then she began caressing him, which made his +love wax hotter till it got the mastery of his heart. They ate +and drank and each had conceived the fondest affection; for +indeed the two were one in age and one in loveliness; and when +night came on Ghanim bin Ayyub, the Distraught, the Thrall o' +Love, rose and lit the wax candles and lamps till the place +blazed with light;[FN#107] after which he produced the wine +service and spread the table. Then both sat down again, he and +she, and he kept filling and giving her to drink, and she kept +filling and giving him to drink, and they played and toyed and +laughed and recited verses; whilst their joy increased and they +dove in closer love each to each (glory be to the Uniter of +Hearts!). They ceased not to carouse after this fashion till near +upon dawn when drowsiness overcame them and they slept where they +were, apart each from other, till the morning.[FN#108] Then +Ghanim arose and going to the market, bought all they required of +meat and vegetables and wine and what not, and brought them to +the house; whereupon both sat down to eat and ate their +sufficiency, when he set on wine. They drank and each played with +each, till their cheeks flushed red and their eyes took a darker +hue and Ghanim's soul longed to kiss the girl and to lie with her +and he said, "O my lady, grant me one kiss of that dear mouth: +per chance 't will quench the fire of my heart." "O Ghanim," +replied she, "wait till I am drunk and dead to the world; then +steal a kiss of me, secretly and on such wise that I may not know +thou hast kissed me." Then she rose and taking off her upper +dress sat; in a thin shift of fine linen and a silken head +kerchief.[FN#109] At this passion inflamed Ghanim and he said to +her, "O my lady, wilt thou not vouchsafe me what I asked of +thee?" "By Allah," she replied, "that may not be thine, for there +is written upon my trouser string[FN#110] a hard word!" Thereupon +Ghanim's heart sank and desire grew on him as its object offered +difficulties; and he improvised these verses, + +"I asked the author of mine ills * To heal the wound with one + sweet kiss: +No! No! she cried,[FN#111] for ever no! * But I, soft whispering, + urged yes: +Quoth she, Then take it by my leave, * When smiles shall pardon + thine amiss: +By force, cried I? Nay, she replied * With love and gladness eke + I wis. +Now ask me not what next occurred * Seek grace of God and whist + of this! +Deem what thou wilt of us, for love * By calumnies the sweeter is +Nor after this care I one jot * Whether my foe be known or not." + +Then his affection increased and love fires rose hotter in his +heart, while she refused herself to him saying, "Thou canst not +possess me." They ceased not to make love and enjoy their wine +and wassail, whilst Ghanim was drowned in the sea of love and +longing; but she redoubled in coyness and cruelty till the night +brought on the darkness and let fall on them the skirts of sleep. +Thereupon Ghanim rose and lit the lamps and wax candles and +refreshed the room and removed the table; then he took her feet +and kissed them and, finding them like fresh cream, pressed his +face[FN#112] on them and said to her, "O my lady, take pity on +one thy love hath ta'en and thine eyes hath slain; for indeed I +were heart whole but for thy bane!" And he wept somewhat. "O my +lord, and light of my eyes," quoth she, "by Allah, I love thee in +very sooth and I trust to thy truth, but I know that I may not be +thine." "And what is the obstacle?" asked he; when she answered, +"Tonight I will tell thee my tale, that thou mayst accept my +excuse." Then she threw herself upon him and winding her arms +like a necklace about his neck, kissed him and caressed him and +promised him her favours; and they ceased not playing and +laughing till love get the firmest hold upon both their hearts. +And so it continued a whole month, both passing the night on a +single carpet bed, but whenever he would enjoy her, she put him +off; whilst mutual love increased upon them and each could hardly +abstain from other. One night, as he lay by her side, and both +were warm with wine Ghanim passed his hand over her breasts and +stroked them; then he slipped it down to her waist as far as her +navel. She awoke and, sitting up, put her hand to her trousers +and finding them fast tied, once more fell asleep. Presently, he +again felt her and sliding his hand down to her trouser string, +began pulling at it, whereupon she awoke and sat upright. Ghanim +also sat up by her side and she asked him, "What dost thou want?" +"I want to lie with thee," he answered, "and that we may deal +openly and frankly with each other." Quoth she, "I must now +declare to thee my case, that thou mayst know my quality; then +will my secret be disclosed to thee and my excuse become manifest +to thee." Quoth he, "So be it!" Thereat she opened the skirt of +her shift and taking up her trouser string, said to him, "O my +lord, read what is worked on the flat of this string:" so he took +it in hand, and saw these words broidered on it in gold, "I AM +THINE, AND THOU ART MINE, O COUSIN OF THE APOSTLE!''[FN#113] When +he read this, he withdrew his hand and said to her, "Tell me who +thou art!" "So be it," answered she; "know that I am one of the +concubines of the Commander of the Faithful, and my name is Kt +al-Kulb the Food of Hearts. I was brought up in his palace and, +when I grew to woman's estate, he looked on me and, noting what +share of beauty and loveliness the Creator had given me, loved me +with exceeding love, and assigned me a separate apartment, and +gave me ten slave girls to wait on me and all these ornaments +thou seest me wearing. On a certain day he set out for one of his +provinces, and the Lady Zubaydah came to one of the slave girls +in my service and said to her, 'I have something to require of +thee.' 'What is it, O my lady?' asked she and the Caliph's wife +answered, 'When thy mistress Kut al-Kulub is asleep, put this +piece of Bhang into her nostrils or drop it into her drink, and +thou shalt have of me as much money as will satisfy thee.' 'With +love and gladness;' replied the girl and took the Bhang from her, +being a glad woman because of the money and because aforetime she +had been one of Zubaydah's slaves. So she put the Bhang in my +drink, and when it was night drank, and the drug had no sooner +settled in my stomach than I fell to the ground, my head touching +my feet, and knew naught of my life but that I was in another +world. When her device succeeded, she bade put me in this chest, +and secretly brought in the slaves and the doorkeepers and bribed +them; and, on the night when thou wast perched upon the date +tree, she sent the blacks to do with me as thou sawest. So my +delivery was at thy hands, and thou broughtest me to this house +and hast entreated me honourably and with thy kindest. This is my +story, and I wot not what is become of the Caliph during my +absence. Know then my condition and divulge not my case." When +Ghanim heard her words and knew that she was a concubine of the +Caliph, he drew back, for awe of the Caliphate beset him, and sat +apart from her in one of the corners of the place, blaming +himself and brooding over his affair and patiencing his heart +bewildered for love of one he could not possess. Then he wept for +excess of longing, and plained him of Fortune and her injuries, +and the world and its enmities (and praise be to Him who causeth +generous hearts to be troubled with love and the beloved, and who +endoweth not the minds of the mean and miserly with so much of it +as eveneth a grain-weight!). So he began repeating, + +"The lover's heart for his beloved must meet * Sad pain, and from + her charms bear sore defeat: +What is Love's taste? They asked and answered I, * Sweet is the + taste but ah! 'tis bitter sweet." + +Thereupon Kut al-Kulub arose and took him to her bosom and kissed +him; for the love of him was firm fixed in her heart, so that she +disclosed to him her secret and all the affection she felt; and, +throwing her arms round Ghanim's neck like a collar of pearls, +kissed him again and yet again. But he held off from her in awe +of the Caliph. Then they talked together a long while (and indeed +both were drowned in the sea of their mutual love); and, as the +day broke, Ghanim rose and donned his clothes and going to the +bazar, as was his wont, took what the occasion required and +returned home. He found her weeping; but when she saw him she +checked herself and, smiling through her tears, said, "Thou hast +desolated me, O beloved of my heart. By Allah, this hour of +absence hath been to me like a year![FN#114] I have explained to +thee my condition in the excess of my eager love for thee; so +come now near me, and forget the past and have thy will of me." +But he interrupted her crying, "I seek refuge with Allah! This +thing may never be. How shall the dog sit in the lion's stead? +What is the lord's is unlawful to the slave!" So he with-drew +from her, and sat down on a corner of the mat. Her passion for +him increased with his forbearance; so she seated herself by his +side and caroused and played with him, till the two were flushed +with wine, and she was mad for her own dishonour. Then she sang +these verses, + +"The lover's heart is like to break in twain: * Till when these + coy denials ah! till when? +O thou who fliest me sans fault of mine, * Gazelles are wont at + times prove tame to men: +Absence, aversion, distance and disdain, * How shall young lover + all these ills sustain?" + +Thereupon Ghanim wept and she wept at his weeping, and they +ceased not drinking till nightfall, when he rose and spread two +beds, each in its place. "For whom is this second bed?" asked +she, and he answered her, "One is for me and the other is for +thee: from this night forth we must not sleep save thus, for that +which is the lord's is unlawful to the thrall." "O my master!" +cried she, "let us have done with this, for all things come to +pass by Fate and Fortune." But he refused, and the fire was +lighted in her heart and, as her longing waxed fiercer, she clung +to him and cried, "By Allah, we will not sleep save side by +side!" "Allah forefend!" he replied and prevailed against her and +lay apart till the morning, when love and longing redoubled on +her and distraction and eager thirst of passion. They abode after +this fashion three full told months, which were long and longsome +indeed, and every time she made advances to him, he would refuse +himself and say, "Whatever belongeth to the master is unlawful to +the man." Now when time waxed tiresome and tedious to her and +anguish and distress grew on her, she burst out from her +oppressed heart with these verses, + +"How long, rare beauty! wilt do wrong to me? * Who was it bade + thee not belong to me? +With outer charms thou weddest inner grace * Comprising every + point of piquancy: +Passion thou hast infused in every heart, * From eyelids driven + sleep by deputy: +Erst was (I wet) the spray made thin of leaf. * O Cassia spray! + Unlief thy sin I see:[FN#115] +The hart erst hunted I: how is 't I spy * The hunter hunted (fair + my hart!) by thee? +Wondrouser still I tell thee aye that I * Am trapped while never + up to trap thou be! +Ne'er grant my prayer! For if I grudge thyself * To thee, I + grudge my me more jealously +And cry so long as life belong to me, * Rare beauty how, how long + this wrong to me?" + +They abode in this state a long time, and fear kept Ghanim aloof +from her. So far concerning these two; but as regards the Lady +Zubaydah, when, in the Caliph's absence she had done this deed by +Kut al-Kulub she became perplexed, saying to herself, "What shall +I tell my cousin when he comes back and asks for her? What +possible answer can I make to him?" Then she called an old woman, +who was about her and discovered her secret to her saying, "How +shall I act seeing that Kut al-Kulub died by such untimely +death?" "O my lady," quoth the old crone, "the time of the +Caliph's return is near; so do thou send for a carpenter and bid +him make thee a figure of wood in the form of a corpse. We will +dig a grave for it midmost the palace and there bury it: then do +thou build an oratory over it and set therein lighted candles and +lamps, and order each and every in the palace to be clad in +black.[FN#116] Furthermore command thy handmaids and eunuchs as +soon as they know of the Caliph's returning from his journey, to +spread straw over the vestibule floors and, when the Commander of +the Faithful enters and asks what is the matter, let them say:-- +Kut al-Kulub is dead, and may Allah abundantly compensate thee +for the loss of her![FN#117]; and, for the high esteem in which +she was held of our mistress, she hath buried her in her own +palace. When he hears this he will weep and it shall be grievous +to him; then will he cause perfections of the Koran to be made +for her and he will watch by night at her tomb. Should he say to +himself, 'Verily Zubaydah, the daughter of my uncle, hath +compassed in her jealousy the death of Kut al-Kulub'; or, if love +longing overcome him and he bid her be taken out of her tomb, +fear thou not; for when they dig down and come to the image in +human shape he will see it shrouded in costly grave clothes; and, +if he wish to take off the winding sheet that he may look upon +her, do thou forbid him or let some other forbid him, saying, +'The sight of her nakedness is unlawful.' The fear of the world +to come will restrain him and he will believe that she is dead +and will restore the figure to its place and thank thee for thy +doings; and thus thou shalt escape, please Almighty Allah, from +this slough of despond." When the Lady Zubaydah heard her words, +she commended the counsel and gave her a dress of honour and a +large sum of money, ordering her to do all she had said. So the +old woman set about the business forthright and bade the +carpenter make her the afore said image; and, as soon as it was +finished, she brought it to the Lady Zubaydah, who shrouded it +and buried it and built a sepulchre over it, wherein they lighted +candles and lamps, and laid down carpets about the tomb. Moreover +she put on black and she spread abroad in the Harim that Kut +al-Kulub was dead. After a time the Caliph returned from his +journey and went up to the palace, thinking only of Kut al-Kulub. +He saw all the pages and eunuchs and handmaids habited in black, +at which his heart fluttered with extreme fear; and, when he went +in to the Lady Zubaydah, he found her also garbed in black. So he +asked the cause of this and they gave him tidings of the death of +Kut al-Kulub, whereon he fell a swooning. As soon as he came to +himself, he asked for her tomb, and the Lady Zubaydah said to +him, "Know, O Prince of the Faithful, that for especial honour I +have buried her in my own palace." Then he repaired in his +travelling garb[FN#118] to the tomb that he might wail over her, +and found the carpets spread and the candles and lamps lighted. +When he saw this, he thanked Zubaydah for her good deed and abode +perplexed, halting between belief and unbelief till at last +suspicion overcame him and he gave order to open the grave and +take out the body. When he saw the shroud and would have removed +it to look upon her, the fear of Allah Almighty restrained him, +and the old woman (taking advantage of the delay) said, "Restore +her to her place." Then he sent at once for Fakirs and Koran +readers, and caused perfections to be made over her tomb and sat +by the side of the grave, weeping till he fainted; and he +continued to frequent the tomb and sit there for a whole month,-- +And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph +ceased not to frequent the tomb for the period of a whole month, +at the end of which time it so happened one day that he entered +the Serraglio, after dismissing the Emirs and Wazirs, and lay +down and slept awhile; and there sat at his head a slave girl +fanning him, and at his feet a second rubbing and shampooing +them. Presently he awoke and, opening his eyes, shut them again +and heard the handmaid at his head saying to her who was at his +feet, "A nice business this, O Khayzarn!" and the other answered +her "Well, O Kazb al-Bn?"[FN#119] "Verily" said the first, "our +lord knoweth naught of what hath happened and sitteth waking and +watching by a tomb wherein is only a log of wood carved by the +carpenter's art." "And Kut al-Kulub," quoth the other, "what hath +befallen her?" She replied, "Know that the Lady Zubaydah sent a +pellet of Bhang by one of the slave women who was bribed to drug +her; and when sleep overpowered her she let put her in a chest, +and ordered Sawab and Kafur and Bukhayt to throw her amongst the +tombs." "What dost thou say, O Kazib al-Ban;" asked Khayzaran, +"is not the lady Kut al-Kulub dead?" "Nay, by Allah!" she +answered "and long may her youth be saved from death! but I have +heard the Lady Zubaydah say that she is in the house of a young +merchant named Ghanim bin Ayyub of Damascus, highs the +Distraught, the Thrall o' Love; and she hath been with him these +four months, whilst our lord is weeping and watching by night at +a tomb wherein is no corpse." They kept on talking this sort of +talk, and the Caliph gave ear to their words; and, by the time +they had ceased speaking, he knew right well that the tomb was a +feint and a fraud, and that Kut al-Kulub had been in Ghanim's +house for four months. Whereupon he was angered with exceeding +anger and rising up, he summoned the Emirs of his state; and his +Wazir Ja'afar the Barmaki came also and kissed the ground between +his hands. The Caliph said to him in fury, "Go down, O Ja'afar, +with a party of armed men and ask for the house of Ghanim son of +Ayyub: fall upon it and spoil it and bring him to me with my +slave girl, Kut al-Kulub, for there is no help but that I punish +him!" "To hear is to obey," said Ja'afar; and setting out with +the Governor and the guards and a world of people, repaired to +Ghanim's house. Now about that time the youth happened to have +brought back a pot of dressed meat and was about to put forth his +hand to eat of it, he and Kut al-Kulub, when the lady, happening +to look out saw calamity surrounding the house on every side; for +the Wazir and the Governor, the night guard and the Mamelukes +with swords drawn had girt it as the white of the eye girdeth the +black. At this she knew that tidings of her had reached the +Caliph, her lord; and she made sure of ruin, and her colour paled +and her fair features changed and her favour faded. Then she +turned to Ghanim and said to him, "O my love! fly for thy life!" +"What shall I do," asked he, "and whither shall I go, seeing that +my money and means of maintenance are all in this house?"; and +she answered, "Delay not lest thou be slain and lose life as well +as wealth." "O my loved one and light of mine eyes!" he cried, +"how shall I do to get away when they have surrounded the house?" +Quoth she, "Fear not;" and, stripping off his fine clothes, +dressed him in ragged old garments, after which she took the pot +and, putting in it bits of broken bread and a saucer of +meat,[FN#120] placed the whole in a basket and setting it upon +his head said, "Go out in this guise and fear not for me who +wotteth right well what thing is in my hand for the +Caliph."[FN#121] So he went out amongst them, bearing the basket +with its contents, and the Protector vouchsafed him His +protection and he escaped the snares and perils that beset him, +by the blessing of his good conscience and pure conduct. +Meanwhile Ja'afar dismounted and entering the house, saw Kut +al-Kulub who had dressed and decked herself in splendid raiments +and ornaments and filled a chest with gold and jewellery and +precious stones and rarities and what else was light to bear and +of value rare. When she saw Ja'afar come in, she rose and, +kissing the ground before him, said, "O my lord, the Reed hath +written of old the rede which Allah decreed!''[FN#122] "By Allah, +O my lady," answered Ja'afar, "he gave me an order to seize +Ghanim son of Ayyub;" and she rejoined, "O my lord, he made ready +his goods and set out therewith for Damascus and I know nothing +more of him; but I desire thee take charge of this chest and +deliver it to me in the Harim of the Prince of the Faithful." +"Hearing and obedience," said Ja'afar, and bade his men bear it +away to the head quarters of the Caliphate together with Kut +al-Kulub, commanding them to entreat her with honour as one in +high esteem. They did his bidding after they had wrecked and +plundered Ghanim's house. Then Ja'afar went in to the Caliph and +told him all that had happened, and he ordered Kut al-Kulub to be +lodged in a dark chamber and appointed an old women to serve her, +feeling convinced that Ghanim had debauched her and slept with +her. Then he wrote a mandate to the Emir Mohammed bin Sulayman +al-Zayni, his viceroy in Damascus, to this effect: "The instant +thou shalt receive this our letter, seize upon Ghanim bin Ayyub +and send him to us." When the missive came to the viceroy, he +kissed it and laid it on his head; then he let proclaim in the +bazars, "Whoso is desirous to plunder, away with him to the house +of Ghanim son of Ayyub."[FN#123] So they flocked thither, when +they found that Ghanim's mother and sister had built him a +tomb[FN#124] in the midst of the house and sat by it weeping for +him; whereupon they seized the two without telling them the cause +and, after spoiling the house, carried them before the viceroy. +He questioned them concerning Ghanim and both replied, "For a +year or more we have had no news of him." So they restored them +to their place. Thus far concerning them; but as regards Ghanim, +when he saw his wealth spoiled and his ruin utterest he wept over +himself till his heart well nigh brake. Then he fared on at +random till the last of the day, and hunger grew hard on him and +walking wearied him. So coming to a village he entered a +mosque[FN#125] where he sat down upon a mat and propped his back +against the wall; but presently he sank to the ground in his +extremity of famine and fatigue. There he lay till dawn, his +heart fluttering for want of food; and, owing to his sweating, +the lice[FN#126] coursed over his skin; his breath waxed fetid +and his whole condition was changed. When the villagers came to +pray the dawn prayer, they found him prostrate, ailing, hunger +lean, yet showing evident signs of former affluence. As soon as +prayers were over, they drew near him; and, understanding that he +was starved with hunger and cold, they gave him an old robe with +ragged sleeves and said to him, "O stranger, whence art thou and +what sickness is upon thee?" He opened his eyes and wept but +returned no answer; whereupon one of them, who saw that he was +starving, brought him a saucer of honey and two barley scones. He +ate a little and they sat with him till sun rise, when they went +to their work. He abode with them in this state for a month, +whilst sickness and weakliness grew upon him; and they wept for +him and, pitying his condition, took counsel with one another +upon his case and agreed to forward him to the hospital in +Baghdad.[FN#127] Meanwhile behold, two beggar women, who were +none other than Ghanim's mother and sister,[FN#128] came into the +mosque and, when he saw them, he gave them the bread that was at +his head; and they slept by his side that night but he knew them +not. Next day the villagers brought a camel and said to the +cameleer, "Set this sick man on thy beast and carry him to +Baghdad and put him down at the Spital door; so haply he may be +medicined and be healed and thou shalt have thy hire."[FN#129] +"To hear is to comply," said the man. So they brought Ghanim, who +was asleep, out of the mosque and set him, mat and all, on the +camel; and his mother and sister came out among the crowd to gaze +upon him, but they knew him not. However, after looking at him +and considering him carefully they said, "Of a truth he favours +our Ghanim, poor boy!; can this sick man be he?" Presently, he +woke and finding himself bound with ropes on a camel's back, he +began to weep and complain,[FN#130] and the village people saw +his mother and sister weeping over him, albeit they knew him not. +Then they fared forth for Baghdad, but the camel-man forewent +them and, setting Ghanim down at the Spital gate, went away with +his beast. The sick man lay there till dawn and, when the folk +began to go about the streets, they saw him and stood gazing on +him, for he had become as thin as a toothpick, till the Syndic of +the bazar came up and drove them away from him, saying, "I will +gain Paradise through this poor creature; for if they take him +into the Hospital, they will kill him in a single day."[FN#131] +Then he made his young men carry him to his house, where they +spread him a new bed with a new pillow,[FN#132] and he said to +his wife, "Tend him carefully;" and she replied, "Good! on my +head be it!" Thereupon she tucked up her sleeves and warming some +water, washed his hands, feet and body; after which she clothed +him in a robe belonging to one of her slave girls and made him +drink a cup of wine and sprinkled rose wafer over him. So he +revived and complained, and the thought of his beloved Kut +al-Kulub made his grief redouble. Thus far concerning him; but as +regards Kut al-Kulub, when the Caliph was angered against her,-- +And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Caliph was angered against Kut al-Kulub, he ordered her to a dark +chamber where she abode eighty days, at the end of which the +Caliph, happening to pass on a certain day the place where she +was, heard her repeating poetry, and after she ceased reciting +her verse, saying, "O my darling, O my Ghanim! how great is thy +goodness and how chaste is thy nature! thou didst well by one who +did ill by thee and thou guardedst his honour who garred thine +become dishonour, and his Harim thou didst protect who to enslave +thee and shine did elect! But thou shalt surely stand, thou and +the Commander of the Faithful, before the Just Judge, and thou +shalt be justified of him on the Day when the Lord (to whom be +honour and glory!) shall be Kazi and the Angels of Heaven shall +be witnesses!" When the Caliph heard her com plaint, he knew that +she had been wronged and, returning to the palace, sent Masrur +the Eunuch for her. She came before him with bowed head and eyes +tearful and heart sorrowful; and he said to her, "O Kut al-Kulub, +I find thou accuses me of tyranny and oppression, and thou +avouches that I have done ill by one who did well by me. Who is +this who hath guarded my honour while I garred his become +dishonour? Who protected my Harim and whose Harim I wrecked?" "He +is Ghanim son of Ayyub," replied she, "for he never approached me +in wantonness or with lewd intent, I swear by thy munificence, O +Commander of the Faithful!" Then said the Caliph, "There is no +Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! Ask what thou wilt +of me, O Kut al-Kulub." "O Prince of the Faithful!", answered +she, "I require of thee only my beloved Ghanim son of Ayyub." He +did as she desired, whereupon she said, "O Lord of the Moslems, +if I bring him to thy presence, wilt thou bestow me on him?"; and +he replied, "If he come into my presence, I will give thee to him +as the gift of the generous who revoketh not his largesse." "O +Prince of True Believers," quoth she, "suffer me to go and seek +him; haply Allah may unite me with him:" and quoth he, "Do even +as thou wilt." So she rejoiced and, taking with her a thousand +diners in gold, went out and visited the elders of the various +faiths and gave alms in Ghanim's name.[FN#133] Next day she +walked to the merchants' bazar and disclosed her object to the +Syndic and gave him money, saying, "Bestow this in charity to the +stranger!" On the following Friday she fared to the bazar (with +other thousand diners) and, entering the goldsmiths' and +jewellers' market street, called the Chief and presented to him a +thousand diners with these words, "Bestow this in charity to the +stranger!" The Chief looked at her (and he was the Syndic who had +taken in Ghanim) and said, "O my lady, wilt thou come to my house +and look upon a youth, a stranger I have there and see how goodly +and graceful he is?" Now the stranger was Ghanim, son of Ayyub, +but the Chief had no knowledge of him and thought him to be some +wandering pauper, some debtor whose wealth had been taken from +him, or some lover parted from his beloved. When she heard his +words her heart fluttered[FN#134] and her vitals yearned, and she +said to him, "Send with me one who shall guide me to thy house." +So he sent a little lad who brought her to the house wherein was +the head man's stranger guest and she thanked him for this. When +she reached the house, she went in and saluted the Syndic's wife, +who rose and kissed the ground between her hands, for she knew +her. Then quoth Kut al-Kulub, "Where is the sick man who is with +thee?" She wept and replied, "Here is he, O my lady; by Allah, he +is come of good folk and he beareth the signs of gentle breeding: +you see him lying on yonder bed." So she turned and looked at +him: and she saw something like him, but he was worn and wasted +till he had become lean as a toothpick, so his identity was +doubtful to her and she could not be certain that it was he. Yet +pity for him possessed her and she wept saying, "Verily the +stranger is unhappy, even though he be a prince in his own +land!"; and his case was grievous to her and her heart ached for +him, yet she knew him not to be Ghanim. Then she furnished him +with wine and medicines and she sat awhile by his head, after +which she mounted and returned to her palace and continued to +visit every bazar in quest of her lover. Meanwhile Ghanim's +mother and sister Fitnah arrived at Baghdad and met the Syndic, +who carried them to Kut al-Kulub and said to her, "O Princess of +beneficent ladies, there came to our city this day a woman and +her daughter, who are fair of favour and signs of good breeding +and dignity are apparent in them, though they be dressed in hair +cloth and have each one a wallet hanging to her neck; and their +eyes are tearful and their hearts are sorrowful. So I have +brought them to thee that thou mayst give them refuge, and rescue +them from beggary, for they are not of asker folk and, if it +please Allah, we shall enter Paradise through them." "By Allah, O +my master," cried she, "thou makest me long to see them! Where +are they?", adding, "Here with them to me!" So he bade the eunuch +bring them in; and, when she looked on them and saw that they +were both of distinguished beauty, she wept for them and said, +"By Allah, these are people of condition and show plain signs of +former opulence." "O my lady," said the Syndic's wife, "we love +the poor and the destitute, more especially as reward in Heaven +will recompense our love; and, as for these persons, haply the +oppressor hath dealt hardly with them and hath plundered their +property and harried their houses." Then Ghanim's mother and +sister wept with sore weeping, remembering their former +prosperity and contrasting it with their present poverty and +miserable condition; and their thoughts dwelt upon son and +brother, whilst Kut al-Kulub wept for their weeping; and they +said, "We beseech Allah to reunite us with him whom we desire, +and he is none other but my son named Ghanim bin Ayyud!" When Kut +al-Kulub heard this, she knew them to be the mother and sister of +her lover and wept till a swoon came over her. When she revived +she turned to them and said, "Have no fear and sorrow not, for +this day is the first of your prosperity and the last of your +adversity!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Kut +al-Kulub had consoled them she bade the Syndic lead them to his +house and let his wife carry them to the Hammam and dress them in +handsome clothes and take care of them and honour them with all +honour; and she gave him a sufficient sum of money. Next day, she +mounted and, riding to his house, went in to his wife who rose up +and kissed her hands and thanked her for her kindness. There she +saw Ghanim's mother and sister whom the Syndic's wife had taken +to the Hammam and clothed afresh, so that the traces of their +former condition became manifest upon them. She sat talking with +them awhile, after which she asked the wife about the sick youth +who was in her house and she replied, "He is in the same state." +Then said Kut al-Kulub, "Come, let us go and visit him." So she +arose, she and the Chief's wife and Ghanim's mother and sister, +and went in to the room where he lay and sat down near him. +Presently Ghanim bin Ayyub, the Distraught, the Thrall o' Love, +heard them mention the name of Kut al-Kulub; whereupon life +returned to him, emaciated and withered as he was and he raised +his head from the pillow and cried aloud, "O Kut al-Kulub!" She +looked at him and made certain it was he and shrieked rather than +said, "Yes, O my beloved!" "Draw near to me;" said he, and she +replied, "Surely thou art Ghanim bin Ayyub?"; and he rejoined "I +am indeed!" Hereupon a swoon came upon her; and, as soon as +Ghanim's mother and his sister Fitnah heard these words, both +cried out "O our joy'" and fainted clean away. When they all +recovered, Kut al-Kulub exclaimed "Praise be to Allah who hath +brought us together again and who hath reunited thee with thy +mother and thy sister!" And she related to him all that had +befallen her with the Caliph and said "I have made known the +truth to the Commander of the Faithful, who believed my words and +was pleased with thee; and now he desireth to see thee," adding, +"He hath given me to thee." Thereat he rejoiced with extreme joy, +when she said, "Quit not this place till I come back" and, rising +forthwith, betook herself to her palace. There she opened the +chest which she had brought from Ghanim's house and, taking out +some of the diners, gave them to the Syndic saying, "Buy with +this money for each of them four complete suits of the finest +stuffs and twenty kerchiefs, and else beside of whatsoever they +require;" after which she carried all three to the baths and had +them washed and bathed and made ready for them consomms, and +galangale-water and cider against their coming out. When they +left the Hammam, they put on the new clothes, and she abode with +them three days feeding them with chicken meats and bouillis, and +making them drink sherbert of sugar candy. After three days their +spirits returned; and she carried them again to the baths, and +when they came out and had changed their raiment, she led them +back to the Syndic's house and left them there, whilst she +returned to the palace and craved permission to see the Caliph. +When he ordered her to come in, she entered and, kissing the +ground between his hands, told him the whole story and how her +lord, Ghanim bin Ayyub, yclept the Distraught, the Thrall o' +Love, and his mother and sister were now in Baghdad. When the +Caliph heard this, he turned to the eunuchs and said, "Here with +Ghanim to me." So Ja'afar went to fetch him; but Kut al-Kulub +forewent him and told Ghanim, "The Caliph hath sent to fetch thee +before him," and charged him to show readiness of tongue and +firmness of heart and sweetness of speech. Then she robed him in +a sumptuous dress and gave him diners in plenty, saying, "Be +lavish of largesse to the Caliph's household as thou goest in to +him." Presently Ja'afar, mounted on his Nubian mule, came to +fetch him; and Ghanim advanced to welcome the Wazir and, wishing +him long life, kissed the ground before him. Now the star of his +good fortune had risen and shone brightly; and Ja'afar took him; +and they ceased not faring together, he and the Minister, till +they went in to the Commander of the Faithful. When he stood in +the presence, he looked at the Wazirs and Emirs and Chamberlains, +and Viceroys and Grandees and Captains, and then at the Caliph. +Hereupon he sweetened his speech and his eloquence and, bowing +his head to the ground, broke out in these extempore couplets, + +"May that Monarch's life span a mighty span, * Whose lavish of + largesse all Empyrean! lieges scan: +None other but he shall be Kaysar highs, * Lord of lordly hall + and of haught Divan: +Kings lay their gems on his threshold-dust * As they bow and + salam to the mighty man; +And his glances foil them and all recoil, * Bowing beards aground + and with faces wan: +Yet they gain the profit of royal grace, * The rank and station + of high +Earth's plain is scant for thy world of men, * Camp there in Kay + wan's[FN#135] Empyrean! +May the King of Kings ever hold thee dear; * Be counsel shine and + right steadfast plan +Till thy justice spread o'er the wide spread earth * And the near + and the far be of equal worth." + +When he ended his improvisation the Caliph was pleased by it and +marvelled at the eloquence of his tongue and the sweetness of his +speech,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph, +after marvelling at his eloquence of tongue and sweetness of +speech, said to him, "Draw near to me." So he drew near and quoth +the King, "Tell me thy tale and declare to me thy case." So +Ghanim sat down and related to him what had befallen him in +Baghdad, of his sleeping in the tomb and of his opening the chest +after the three slaves had departed, and informed him, in short, +of everything that had happened to him from commencement to +conclusion none of which we will repeat for interest fails in +twice told tales. The Caliph was convinced that he was a true +man; so he invested him with a dress of honour, and placed him +near himself in token of favour, and said to him, "Acquit me of +the responsibility I have incurred.''[FN#136] And Ghanim so did, +saying, "O our lord the Sultan, of a truth thy slave and all +things his two hands own are his master's." The Caliph was +pleased at this and gave orders to set apart a palace for him and +assigned to him pay and allowances, rations and donations, which +amounted to something immense. So he removed thither with sister +and mother; after which the Caliph, hearing that his sister +Fitnah was in beauty a very "fitnah,"[FN#137] a mere seduction, +demanded her in marriage of Ghanim who replied, "She is thy +handmaid as I am thy slave." The Caliph thanked him and gave him +an hundred thousand diners, then summoned the witnesses and the +Kazi, and on one and the same day they wrote out the two +contracts of marriage between the Caliph and Fitnah and between +Ghanim bin Ayyub and Kut al-Kulub; and the two marriages were +consummated on one and the same night. When it was morning, the +Caliph gave orders to record the history of what had befallen +Ghanim from first to last and to deposit it in the royal muniment +rooms, that those who came after him might read it and marvel at +the dealings of Destiny and put their trust in Him who created +the night and the day. Yet, O auspicious King, this story to +which thou hast deigned give ear is on no wise more wondrous than +the + + + + + Tale Of King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons Sharrkan + And Zau Al-Makan, + + + And What Befel Them of Things Seld-Seen and Peregrine.[FN#138] + + + +The King asked her, "And what was their story?" and she answered: +It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that there was in the City +of Safety, Baghdad, before the Caliphate of Abd al-Malik bin +Marwn,[FN#139] a King, Omar bin al-Nu'umn highs, who was of the +mighty giants and had subjected the Chosros of Persia and the +Kaysars of Eastern Rome; for none could warm himself at his +fire;[FN#140] nor could any avail to meet him in the field of +foray and fray; and, when he was angered, there came forth from +his nostrils sparks of flame. He had made himself King over all +quarters, and Allah had subjected to him all His creatures; his +word went forth to all great cities and his hosts had harried the +farthest lands. East and West had come under his command with +whatsoever regions lay interspersed between them, Hind and Sind +and Sin,[FN#141] the Holy Land, Al-Hijaz, the rich mountains of +Al-Yaman and the archipelagos of India and China. Moreover, he +reigned supreme over the north country and Diyr Bakr, or +Mesopotamia, and over Sudn, the Eastern Negro land and the +Islands of the Ocean, and all the far famed rivers of the earth, +Sayhn and Jayhn,[FN#142] Nile and Euphrates. He sent envoys +and ambassadors to capitals the most remote, to provide him with +true report; and they would bring back tidings of justice and +peace, with assurance of loyalty and obedience and of prayers in +the pulpits for King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; for he was, O Ruler of +the Age, a right noble King; and there came to him presents of +rarities and toll and tribute from all lands of his governing. +This mighty monarch had a son yclept Sharrkan,[FN#143] who was +likest of all men to his father and who proved himself one of the +prodigies of his time for subduing the brave and bringing his +contemporaries to bane and ban. For this his father loved him +with love so great none could be greater, and made him heir to +the kingdom after himself. This Prince grew up till he reached +man's estate and was twenty years old, and Allah subjected His +servants to him, by reason of his great might and prowess in +battle. Now his father, King Omar, had four wives legally +married, but Allah had vouchsafed him no son by them, save +Sharrkan, whom he had begotten upon one of them, and the rest +were barren. Moreover he had three hundred and sixty concubines, +after the number of days in the Coptic year, who were of all +nations; and he had furnished for each and every a private +chamber within his own palace. For he had built twelve +pavilions, after the number of the months, each containing thirty +private chambers, which thus numbered three hundred and three +score, wherein he lodged his handmaids: and he appointed +according to law for each one her night, when he lay with her and +came not again to her for a full year;[FN#144] and on this wise +he abode for a length of time. Meanwhile his son Sharrkan was +making himself renowned in all quarters of the world and his +father was proud of him and his might waxed and grew mightier; so +that he passed all bounds and bore himself masterfully and took +by storm castles and cities. Presently, by decree of the +Decreer, a handmaid among the handmaids of Omar bin Nu'uman +became pregnant; and, her pregnancy being announced to the Harim, +the King was informed thereof; whereupon he rejoiced with +exceeding joy and said, "Haply it will be a son, and so all my +offspring will be males!" Then he documented the date of her +conception and entreated her with all manner of kindness. But +when the tidings came to Sharrkan, he was troubled and the matter +seemed to him a sore one and a grievous; and he said, "Verily one +cometh who shall dispute with me the sovereignty:" so quoth he to +himself, "If this concubine bear a male child I will kill it:" +but he kept that intention hidden in his heart. Such was the +case with Sharrkan; but what happened in the matter of the damsel +was as follows. She was a Roumiyah, a Greek girl, by name +Sofiyah or Sophia,[FN#145] whom the King of Roum and Lord of +Csarea had sent to King Omar as a present, together with great +store of gifts and of rarities: she was the fairest of favour and +loveliest of all his handmaids and the most regardful of her +honour; and she was gifted with a wit as penetrating as her +presence was fascinating. Now she had served the King on the +night of his sleeping with her, saying to him, "O King! I desire +of the God of the Heavens that he bless thee this night with a +male child by me, so I may bring him up with the best of rearing, +and enable him to reach man's estate perfect in intelligence, +good manners and prudent bearing"[FN#146]--a speech which much +pleased the King. During her pregnancy she was instant in +prayer, fervently supplicating the Lord to bless her with a +goodly male child and make his birth easy to her; and Allah heard +her petition so that after her months were accomplished she sat +safely upon the birth stool.[FN#147] Now the King had deputed a +eunuch to let him know if the child she should bring forth were +male or female; and in like way his son Sharrkan had sent one to +bring him tidings of the same. In due time Sophia was delivered +of a child, which the midwives examined and found to be a girl +with a face sheenier than the moon. So they announced this to +all present in the room, whereupon the King's messenger carried +the news to him; and Sharrkan's eunuch did the like with his +master who rejoiced with exceeding joy. But, after the two had +departed, quoth Sophia to the midwives, "Wait with me awhile, for +I feel as if there were still somewhat in my womb." Then she +cried out and the pains of child bed again took her; and Allah +made it easy to her and she gave birth to a second child. The +wise women looked at it and found it a boy like the full moon, +with forehead flower white, and cheek ruddy bright with rosy +light; whereupon the mother rejoiced, as did the eunuchs and +attendants and all the company; and Sophia was delivered of the +after birth whilst all in the palace sent forth the trill of +joy.[FN#148] The rest of the concubines heard it and envied her +lot; and the tidings reached Omar son of Al- Nu'uman, who was +glad and rejoiced at the excellent news. Then he rose and went +to her and kissed her head, after which he looked at the boy; +and, bending over him, kissed him, whilst the damsels struck the +tabors and played on instruments of music; and the King gave +order that the boy should be named Zau al-Makn and his sister +Nuzhat al-Zamn.[FN#149] They answered "Hearing and obedience," +and did his bidding; so he appointed wet nurses and dry nurses +and eunuchs and attendants to serve them; and assigned them +rations of sugar and diet drinks and unguents and else beside, +beyond the power of tongue to rehearse. Moreover the people of +Baghdad, hearing that Allah had blessed their King with issue, +decorated the city and made proclamation of the glad tidings with +drum and tom tom; and the Emirs and Wazirs and high dignitaries +came to the palace and wished King Omar bin al-Nu'uman joy of his +son, Zau al-Makan, and of his daughter Nuzhat al-Zaman, wherefore +he thanked them and bestowed on them dresses of honour and +further favoured them with gifts, and dealt largesse to all, +gentle and simple, who were present. After this fashion he did +for four days full told, and he lavished upon Sophia raiment and +ornaments and great store of wealth; and, every few days he would +send a messenger to ask after her and the new-borns. And when +four years had gone by, he provided her with the wherewithal to +rear the two children carefully and educate them with the best of +instructions. All this while his son Sharrkan knew not that a +male child had been born to his father, Omar son of Al-Nu'uman, +having news only that he had been blessed with the birth of +Nuzhat al-Zaman; and they hid the intelligence from him, until +days and years had sped by, whilst he was busied in battling with +the brave and fighting single handed against the knights. One +day, as King Omar was sitting in his palace, his Chamberlains +came in to him and, kissing the ground before him, said, "O King +there be come Ambassadors from the King of Roum, Lord of +Constantinople the Great, and they desire admission to thee and +submission to thy decree: if the King commend us to introduce +them we will so do; and, if not, there is no disputing his +behest." He bade them enter and, when they came in, he turned to +them and, courteously receiving them, asked them of their case, +and what was the cause of their coming. They kissed the ground +before him and said, "O King glorious and strong! O lord of the +arm that is long! know that he who despatched us to thee is King +Afrdn,[FN#150] Lord of Ionia land[FN#151] and of the Nazarene +armies, the sovereign who is firmly established in the empery of +Constantinople, to acquaint thee that he is now waging fierce war +and fell with a tyrant and a rebel, the Prince of Casarea; and +the cause of this war is as follows. One of the Kings of the +Arabs in past time, during certain of his conquests, chanced upon +a hoard of the time of Alexander,[FN#152] whence he removed +wealth past compute; and, amongst other things, three round +jewels, big as ostrich eggs, from a mine of pure white gems whose +like was never seen by man. Upon each were graven characts in +Ionian characters, and they have many virtues and properties, +amongst the rest that if one of these jewels be hung round the +neck of a new-born child, no evil shall befal him and he shall +neither wail, nor shall fever ail him as long as the jewel remain +without fail.[FN#153] When the Arab King laid hands upon them and +learned their secrets, he sent to King Afridun presents of +certain rarities and amongst them the three jewels afore +mentioned; and he equipped for the mission two ships, one bearing +the treasure and the other men of might to guard it from any who +might offer hindrance on the high seas, albeit well assured that +none would dare waylay his vessels, for that he was King of the +Arabs, and more by token that their course lay over waters +subject to the King of Constantinople and they were bound to his +port; nor were there on the shores of that sea any save the +subjects of the Great King, Afridun. The two ships set out and +voyaged till they drew near our city, when there sallied out on +them certain corsairs from that country and amongst them troops +from the Prince of Caesarea, who took all the treasures and +rarities in the ships, together with the three jewels, and slew +the crews. When our King heard of this, he sent an army against +them, but they routed it; then he marched a second and a stronger +but they put this also to flight,--whereupon the King waxed wroth +and swore that he would not go forth[FN#154] against them save in +his own person at the head of his whole army; nor would he turn +back from them till he had left Caesarea, of Armenia[FN#155] in +ruins and had laid waste all the lands and cities over which her +Prince held sway. So he sent us to the Lord of the age and the +time, Sultan Omar bin al-Nu'uman, King of Baghdad and of +Khorasan, desiring that he aid us with an army, so may honour and +glory accrue to him; and he hath also forwarded by us somewhat of +various kinds of presents, and of the King's grace he beggeth +their acceptance and the friendly boon of furtherance." Then the +Ambassadors kissed the ground before him,--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that, after the +Ambassadors and retinue from the Constantinopolitan King had +kissed the ground before Omar and had delivered their embassage, +they brought out the presents, which were fifty damsels of the +choicest from Graecia-land, and fifty Mamelukes in tunics of +brocade, belted with girdles of gold and silver, each wearing in +his ears hoops of gold with pendants of fine pearls costing a +thousand ducats every one. The girls were adorned in like +fashion and were clad in stuffs worth a treasury of money. When +the King saw them, he rejoiced in them and accepted them; then he +bade the Ambassadors be honourably entreated and, summoning his +Wazirs, took counsel with them of what he should do. Herewith +rose up among them a Wazir, an ancient man, Dandan[FN#156] highs, +who kissed the ground before Omar and said, "O King, there is +nothing better to do in this matter than equip an army valiant +and victorious, and set over it thy son Sharrkan with us as his +lieutenants; and this rede commendeth itself to me on two counts; +first, because the King of Roum hath invoked thine assistance and +hath sent thee gifts which thou hast accepted; and, secondly, +because while no enemy dareth attack our country, thine army may +go forth safely and, should it succour the King of Graecia-land +and defeat his foe, the glory will be thine. Moreover, the news +of it will be noised abroad in all cities and countries and +especially, when the tidings shall reach the Islands of the Ocean +and the Kings of Mauritania shall hear it, they will send thee +offerings of rarities and pay thee tribute of money." The King +pleased by the Wazir's words and approving his rede, gave him a +dress of honour and said to him, "Of the like of thee should +Kings ask counsel, and it seemeth fit that thou shouldst conduct +the van of our army and our son Sharrkan command the main +battle." Then he sent for his son who came and kissed ground +before him and sat down; and he expounded to him the matter, +telling him what the Ambassadors and the Wazir Dandan had said, +and he charged him to take arms and equip himself for the +campaign, enjoining him not to gainsay Dandan in aught he should +do. Moreover, he ordered him to pick out of his army ten +thousand horsemen, armed cap--pie and inured to onset and stress +of war. Accordingly, Sharrkan arose on the instant, and chose +out a myriad of horsemen, after which he entered his palace and +mustered his host and distributed largesse to them, saying, "Ye +have delay of three days." They kissed the earth before him in +obedience to his commands and began at once to lay in munitions, +and provide provisions for the occasion; whilst Sharrkan repaired +to the armouries and took therefrom whatsoever he required of +arms and armour, and thence to the stable where he chose horses +of choice blood and others. When the appointed three days were +ended, the army drew out to the suburbs of Baghdad city;[FN#157] +and King Omar came forth to take leave of his son who kissed the +ground before him and received from the King seven parcels of +money.[FN#158] Then he turned to Danden and commended to his care +the army of his son; and the Wazir kissed the ground before him +and answered, "I hear and I obey;" and lastly he charged Sharrkan +that he should consult the Wazir on all occasions, which he +promised to do. After this, the King returned to his city and +Sharrkan ordered the officers to muster their troops in battle +array. So they mustered them and their number was ten thousand +horsemen, besides footmen and camp followers. Then they loaded +their baggage on their beasts and the war drums beat and the +trumpets blared and the bannerols and standards were unfurled, +whilst Sharrkan mounted horse, with the Wazir Dandan by his side, +and the colours fluttering over their heads. So the host fared +forth and stinted not faring, with the ambassadors preceding +them, till day departed and night drew nigh, when they alighted +and encamped for the night. And as soon as Allah caused the morn +tomorrow, they mounted and tried on, guided by the Ambassadors, +for a space of twenty days; and by the night of the twenty first +they came to a fine and spacious Wady well grown with trees and +shrubbery. Here Sharrkan ordered them to alight and commanded a +three days' halt, so they dismounted and pitched their tents, +spreading their camp over the right and the left slopes of the +extensive valley, whilst the Wazir Dandan and the Ambassadors of +King Afridun pitched in the sole of the Wady.[FN#159] As for +Sharrkan, he tarried behind them for awhile till all had +dismounted and had dispersed themselves over the valley sides; he +then slacked the reins of his steed, being minded to explore the +Wady and to mount guard in his own person, because of his +father's charge and owing to the fact that they were on the +frontier of Graecia land and in the enemy's country. So he rode +out alone after ordering his armed slaves and his body guard to +camp near the Wazir Dandan, and he fared on along the side of the +valley till a fourth part of the night was passed, when he felt +tired and drowsiness overcame him, so that he could no longer +urge horse with heel. Now he was accustomed to take rest on +horseback; so when slumber overpowered him, he slept and the +steed ceased not going on with him till half the night was spent +and entered one of the thickets[FN#160] which was dense with +growth; but Sharrkan awoke not until his horse stumbled over +wooded ground. Then he started from sleep and found himself +among the trees, and the moon arose and shone brightly over the +two horizons, Eastern and Western. He was startled when he found +himself alone in this place and said the say which ne'er yet +shamed its sayer, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save +in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" But as he rode on, in fear of +wild beasts, behold, the moon spread her glad light over a meadow +as if it were of the meads of Paradise; and he heard pleasant +voices and a loud noise of talk and laughter captivating the +senses of men. So King Sharrkan alighted and, tying his steed to +one of the trees, went over a little way till he came upon a +stream and heard a woman talking in Arabic and saying, "Now by +the crush of the Messiah, this is not well of you! but whose +utters a word, I will throw her and truss her up with her own +girdle[FN#161]!" He kept walking in the direction of the sound +and when he reached the further side he looked and behold, a +stream was gushing and flowing, and antelopes at large were +frisking and roving, and wild cattle amid the pasture moving, and +birds expressed joy and gladness in their divers tongues, and +that place was purfled with all manner flowers and green herbs, +even as a poet described it in these couplets, + +"Most beautiful is earth in budding bloom, * When lucid waters + course through plain and wood: +No work but His th' All great, th' All glorious, * Giver of all + gifts, Giver of all good!" + +And as Sharrkan considered the place, he saw in it a Christian +Monastery within whose enceinte a castle towered high in air +catching the light of the moon.[FN#162] Through the midst of the +convent passed a stream, the water flowing amongst its gardens; +and upon the bank sat the woman whose voice he had heard, while +before her stood ten handmaids like moons and wearing various +sorts of raiment and ornaments that dazed and dazzled the +beholder, high bosomed virgins, as saith of them the poet in +these couplets, + +"The mead is bright with what is on't * Of merry maidens + debonnair: +Double its beauty and its grace * Those trooping damsels slender- + fair: +Virgins of graceful swimming gait * Ready with eye and lip to + ensnare; +And like the tendril'd vine they loose * The rich profusion of + their hair: +Shooting their shafts and arrows from * Beautiful eyes beyond + compare; +Overpowering and transpiercing * Every froward adversaire." + +Sharrkan gazed upon the ten girls and saw in their midst a lady +like the moon at fullest, with ringleted hair and forehead sheeny +white, and eyes wondrous wide and black and bright, and temple +locks like the scorpion's tail; and she was perfect in essence +and attributes, as the poet said of her in these couplets, + +"She beamed on my sight with a wondrous glance, * And her + straight slender stature enshamed the lance: +She burst on my sight with cheeks rosy red, * Where all manner of + beauties have habitance: +And the locks on her forehead were lowering as night * Whence + issues a dawn tide of happiest chance." + +Then Sharrkan heard her say to the handmaids, "Come ye on, that I +may wrestle with you and gravel you, ere the moon set and the +dawn break!" So each came up to her in turn and she grounded them +forthright, and pinioned them with their girdles, and ceased not +wrestling and pitching them until she had overthrown one and all. +Then there turned to her an old woman who was before her, and the +beldam said as in wrath, "O strumpet, cost thou glory in +grounding these girls? Behold I am an old woman, yet have I +thrown them forty times! So what hast thou to boast of? But if +thou have the strength to wrestle with me, stand up that I may +grip thee and set thy head between thy heels!" The young lady +smiled at her words, but she was filled with inward wrath, and +she jumped up and asked, "O my lady Zat al-Dawahi,[FN#163] by the +truth of the Messiah, wilt thou wrestle with me in very deed, or +dost thou jest with me?"; and she answered, "Yea,"--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +young lady asked Zat al-Dawahi, "By the truth of the Messiah, +wilt wrestle with me or dost jest?", and she answered, "Yea, I +will wrestle with thee in very deed" (Sharrkan looking on the +while), the damsel cried, "Rise up for the fall an thou have +spunk so to do." When the old woman heard this, she raged with +exceeding rage, and her body hair stood on end like the bristles +of a fretful hedgehog.[FN#164] Then she sprang to her feet, +whilst the damsel stood up to her, and said, "Now by the truth of +the Messiah, I will not wrestle with thee unless I be naked, +Mistress whore!"[FN#165] So she loosed her petticoat trousers +and, putting her hand under her clothes, tore them off her body; +then twisted up a silken kerchief into cord shape, girt it round +her middle and became as she were a scald head If ritah or a +spotted snake. With this she inclined towards the damsel and +said, "Do thou as I have done." All this time, Sharrkan was +gazing at the twain, and laughing at the beldam's loathly +semblance. So the damsel leisurely rose and, taking a sash of +Yamani stuff, passed it twice round her waist, then she tucked up +her trousers and displayed two calves of alabaster carrying a +mound of crystal, smooth and rounded, and a stomach which exhaled +musk from its dimples, as it were a bed of Nu'uman's anemones; +and breasts like double pomegranates. Then the old woman leant +towards her, and the two laid hold either of each, while Sharrkan +raised his head Heavenwards and prayed Allah that the belle might +beat the beldam. Presently the young woman get beneath the old +woman; and, gripping her waist cloth with the left and circling +her neck with the right hand, hoisted her off the ground with +both; whereupon the old woman strove to free herself and, in so +doing fell on her back arsiversy, with her legs high in air and +her hairy bush between them showed manifest in the moonshine; +furthermore she let fly two great farts[FN#166] one of which blew +up the dust from the earth's face and the other steamed up to the +gate of Heaven. Sharrkan laughed till he fell back upon the +ground. Then he arose and, baring his brand looked right and +left, but he saw no one save the old woman sprawling on her back, +and said to himself, "He lied not who named thee Lady of +Calamities! Verily thou knewest her prowess by her performance +upon the others." So he drew near them to hear what should pass +between them. Then the young lady went up to the old one and, +throwing a wrapper of thin silk upon her nakedness, helped her to +don her clothes and made excuses saying, "O my lady Zat al- +Dawahi, I intended only to throw thee and not all this, but thou +triedst to twist out of my hands; so laud to Allah for safety!" +She returned her no answer, but rose in her shame and walked away +till out of sight, leaving the handmaids prostrate and pinioned, +with the fair damsel standing amongst them. Quoth Sharrkan to +himself, "Every luck hath its cause. Sleep did not fall upon me +nor the war horse bear me hither save for my good fortune; for +doubtless this maid and what is with her shall become booty to +me." So he made towards his steed and mounted and heeled[FN#167] +him on, when he sped as the shaft speeds from the bow and in his +hand he still hent his brand bare of sheath, which he brandished +shouting the while his war cry, "Allah is All mighty[FN#168]!" +When the damsel saw him she sprang to her feet and, taking firm +stand on the bank of the stream, whose breadth was six ells, the +normal cubits, made one bound and landed clear on the farther +side,[FN#169] where she turned and cried out with a loud voice, +"Who art thou, O thou fellow, that breakest in upon our privacy +and pastime, and that too hanger in hand as if charging a host? +Whence camest thou and whither art thou going? Speak sooth, for +truth will stand thee in good stead, and lie not, for lies come +of villein breed Doubtless thou hast wandered this night from thy +way, that thou chancedst upon this place whence escape were the +greatest of mercies; for thou art now in an open plain and, did +we shout but a single shout, would come to our rescue four +thousand knights.[FN#170] So tell me what thou wantest; and if +thou wouldst only have us set thee on the right road, we will do +so." When Sharrkan heard her words he replied, "I am a stranger +of the Moslems, who fared forth this night single handed, seeking +for spoil; nor could this moonlight show me a fairer booty than +these ten maidens; so I shall seize them and rejoin my comrades +with them." Quoth she, "I would have thee know that as for the +booty thou hast not come at it; and, as for the handmaids, by +Allah, they shall never be thy spoil. Have I not told thee that +to lie is villein vile?" Quoth he, "The wise man is he who taketh +warning by others." Thereupon quoth she, "By the truth of the +Messiah, did I not fear that thy death would be on my hands, I +would shout a shout should fill the mead for thee with war steeds +and with men of might, but I take pity upon the stranger. So, if +thou seek booty, I require of thee that thou alight from thy +steed and swear to me, by thy faith, that thou wilt not advance +against me aught like arms in hand, and we will wrestle, I and +thou. If thou throw me, set me on thy steed and take all of us +to thy booty; but if I throw thee, thou shalt become under my +command. Swear this to me, for I fear thy treachery: indeed it +hath become a common saw, 'Where Perfidy is innate there Trust is +a weakly mate.' Now an thou wilt swear I will return and draw +near to thee and tackle thee." Answered Sharrkan (and indeed he +lusted to seize her and said in his soul, "Truly she knoweth not +that I am a champion of champions"); "Swear me by what oath thou +wilt and by what thou deemest most binding, and I will not +approach thee with aught till thou hast made thy preparation and +sayest, 'Draw near that I wrestle with thee.' If thou throw me, I +have money where withal to ransom myself; and if I throw thee, +'twill be booty and booty enough for me!" Rejoined the damsel, "I +am content herewith!" and Sharrkan was astounded at her words and +said, "And by the truth of the Apostle (whom Allah bless and +keep!) I too am content on the other part!" Then said she, "Swear +to me by Him who sprite in body dight and dealt laws to rule man +kind aright, that thou wilt not offer me aught of violence save +by way of wrestling; else mayst thou die without the pale of Al- +Islam." Sharrkan replied, "By Allah! were a Kazi to swear me, +even though he were a Kazi of the Kazis,[FN#171] he would not +impose upon me such an oath as this!" Then he sware to her by all +she named and tied his steed to a tree; but he was drowned in the +sea of thought, saying in himself, "Praise be to Him who +fashioned her from dirty water!"[FN#172] Then he girt himself and +made ready for wrestling, and said to her, "Cross the stream to +me;" but she replied, "It is not for me to come over to thee: if +thou wilt, pass thou over here to me." "I cannot do that," quoth +he, and quoth she, "O boy, I will come across to thee." So she +tucked up her skirts and, leaping, landed on the other side of +the stream by his side; whereupon he drew near to her and bent +him forwards and clapped palms.[FN#173] But he was confounded by +her beauty and loveliness; for he saw a shape which the Hand of +Power had tanned with the dye leaves of the Jann, which had been +fostered by the Hand of Beneficence and fanned by the Zephyrs of +fair fortune and whose birth a propitious ascendant had greeted. +Then she called out to him, "O Moslem, come on and let us wrestle +ere the break of morning," and tucked up her sleeves from a +forearm like fresh curd, which illumined the whole place with its +whiteness; and Sharrkan was dazzled by it. Then he bent forwards +and clapped his palms by way of challenge, she doing the like, +and caught hold of her, and the two grappled and gripped and +interlocked hands and arms. Presently he shifted his hands to +her slender waist, when his finger tips sank into the soft folds +of her middle, breeding languishment, and he fell a trembling +like the Persian reed in the roaring gale. So she lifted him up +and, throwing him to the ground, sat upon his breast with hips +and hinder cheeks like mounds of sand, for his soul had lost +mastery over his senses. Then she asked him, "O Moslem! the +slaying of Nazarenes is lawful to you folk; what then hast thou +to say about being slain thyself?"; and he answered, "O my lady, +thy speech as regards slaying me is not other than unlawful; for +our prophet Mohammed (whom Allah bless and preserve!) prohibited +the slaying of women and children, old men and monks!" "As it was +thus revealed to your Prophet," she replied, "it behoveth us to +render the equivalent of his mercy; so rise. I give thee thy +life, for generosity is never lost upon the generous." Then she +got off his breast and he rose and stood shaking the dust from +his head against the owners of the curved rib, even women; and +she said to him, "Be not ashamed; but verily one who entereth the +land of Roum in quest of booty, and cometh to assist Kings +against Kings, how happeneth it that he hath not strength enough +to defend himself from one made out of the curved rib?" "'Twas +not for lack of strength in me," he answered; "nor didst thou +throw me by thy force; it was thy loveliness overthrew me; so if +thou wilt grant me another bout, it will be of thy courtesy." She +laughed and said, "I grant thee thy request: but these handmaids +have long been pinioned and their arms and sides are weary, and +it were only right I should loose them, for haply this next +wrestling bout will be long." Then she went to the slave girls +and, unbinding them, said to them in the tongue of Greece, "Get +ye to some safe place, till I foil this Moslem's lust and longing +for you." So they went away, whilst Sharrkan kept gazing at them +and they kept turning to look at the two. Then each approached +the adversary and he set his breast against hers, but when he +felt waist touch waist, his strength failed him; and she, waxing +ware of this, lifted him with her hands swiftlier than the +blinding leven-flash, and threw him to the ground. He fell on +his back,[FN#174] and then she said to him, "Rise: I give thee +thy life a second time. I spared thee in the first count because +of thy Prophet, for that he made unlawful the slaying of women; +and I do so on the second count because of thy weakliness and the +greenness of thine years and thy strangerhood; but I charge thee, +if there be in the Moslem army sent by Omar bin al-Nu'uman to +succour the King of Constantinople, a stronger than thou, send +him hither and tell him of me: for in wrestling there are shifts +and trips, catches and holds, such as the feint or falsing and +the snap or first grip, the hug, the feet-catch, the thigh +Lite,[FN#175] the jostle and the leg-lock." "By Allah, O my +lady," quoth Sharrkan (and indeed he was highly incensed against +her), "had I been Master al-Safd, Master Mohammed Kiml or Ibn +al-Sadd,[FN#176] as they were in their prime, I had kept no note +of these shifts thou mentionest; for O my mistress, by Allah, +thou hast not grassed me by thy strength, but by the +blandishments of thy back parts; for we men of Mesopotamia so +love a full formed thigh that nor sense was left me nor +foresight. But now, an thou wish, thou shalt try a third fall +with me while my wits are about me, and this last match is +allowed me by the laws of the game which sayeth the best of +three: moreover I have regained my presence of mind." When she +heard his words she said to him, "Hast thou not had a belly full +of this wrestling, O vanquished one? However come on, an thou +wilt; but know that this must be the last round." Then she bent +forward and challenged him and Sharrkan did likewise, setting to +it in real earnest and being right cautious about the throw: so +the two strove awhile and the damsel found in him a strength such +as she had not observed before and said to him, "O Moslem, thou +art now on thy mettle." "Yes," he replied, "thou knowest that +there remaineth to me but this one round, after which each of us +will wend a different way." She laughed and he laughed +too;[FN#177] then she overreached at his thigh and caught firm +hold of it unawares, which made him greet the ground and fall +full on his back. She laughed at him and said, "Art thou an +eater of bran? Thou are like a Badawi's bonnet which falleth off +with every touch or else the Father of Winds[FN#178] that +droppeth before a puff of air. Fie upon thee, O thou poor +thing!" adding, "Get thee back to the Moslem army and send us +other than thyself, for thou fairest of thews; and proclaim for +us, among the Arabs and Persians, the Turks and +Daylamites,[FN#179] whoso hath might in him, let him come to us." +Then she made a spring and landed on the other side of the stream +and said to Sharrkan, laughing, "Parting with thee is right +grievous to me, O my lord; but get thee to thy mates before dawn, +lest the Knights come upon thee and pick thee up on their lance +points. Thou hast no strength to defend thee against a woman, so +how couldst thou hold thine own amongst men of might and +Knights?" Sharrkan was confounded and called to her (as she +turned from him making towards the convent), "O my lady, wilt +thou go away and leave the miserable stranger, the broken hearted +slave of love?" So she turned to him laughing and said, "What is +thy want? I will grant thee thy prayer." "Have I set foot in thy +country and tasted the sweetness of thy courtesy," replied he, +"and shall I return without eating of thy victual and tasting thy +hospitality; I who have become one of thy servitors!" "None baulk +kindliness save the base," she rejoined, "honour us in Allah's +name, on my head and eyes be it! Mount thy steed and ride along +the brink of the stream over against me, for now thou art my +guest." At this Sharrkan was glad and, hastening back to his +horse, mounted and walked him abreast of her, and she kept faring +on till they came to a drawbridge[FN#180] built of beams of the +white poplar, hung by pullies and steel chains and made fast with +hooks and padlocks. When Sharrkan looked, he saw awaiting her +upon the bridge the same ten handmaids whom she had thrown in the +wrestling bouts; and, as she came up to them, she said to one in +the Greek tongue, "Arise and take the reins of his horse and +conduct him across into the convent." So she went up to Sharrkan +and led him over, much puzzled and perturbed with what he saw, +and saying to himself, "O would that the Wazir Dandan were here +with me that his eyes might look upon these fairest of favours." +Then he turned to the young lady and said to her, "O marvel of +loveliness, now I have two claims upon thee; first the claim of +good fellowship, and secondly for that thou hast carried me to +thy home and offered me thy hospitality. I am now under thy +commandance and thy guidance; so do me one last favour by +accompanying me to the lands of Al-Islam; where thou shalt look +upon many a lion hearted warrior and thou shalt learn who I am." +When she heard this she was angered and said to him, "By the +truth of the Messiah, thou hast proved thyself with me a man of +keen wit; but now I see what mischief there is in thy heart, and +how thou canst permit thyself a speech which proveth thy +traitorous intent. How should I do as thou sayest, when I wot +that if I came to that King of yours, Omar bin al- Nu'uman, I +should never get free from him? For truly he hath not the like +of me or behind his city walls or within his palace halls, Lord +of Baghdad and of Khorasan though he be, who hath built for +himself twelve pavilions, in number as the months of the year, +and in each a concubine after the number of the days; and if I +come to him he would not prove shy of me, for your folk believe I +am lawful to have and to hold as is said in your writ, 'Or those +women whom your right hand shall possess as slaves.'[FN#181] So +how canst thou speak thus to me? As for thy saying, 'Thou shalt +look upon the braves of the Moslems,' by the truth of the +Messiah, thou sayest that which is not true, for I saw your army +when it reached our land, these two days ago; and I did not see +that your ordinance was the ordinance of Kings, but I beheld only +a rabble of tribesmen gathered together. And as to thy words, +'Thou shalt know who I am,' I did not do thee kindness because of +thy dignity but out of pride in myself; and the like of thee +should not talk thus to the like of me, even wert thou Sharrkan, +Omar bin al- Nu'uman's son, the prowess name in these days!" +"Knowest thou Sharrkan?" asked he; and she answered Yes! and I +know of his coming with an army numbering ten thousand horsemen; +also that he was sent by his sire with this force to gain +prevalence for the King of Constantinople." "O my lady," said +Sharrkan, "I adjure thee by thy religion, tell me the cause of +all this, that sooth may appear to me clear of untruth, and with +whom the fault lies." "Now by the virtue of thy faith," she +replied, "did I not fear lest the news of me be bruited abroad +that I am of the daughters of Roum, I would adventure myself and +sally forth single handed against the ten thousand horsemen and +slay their leader, the Wazir Dandan and vanquish their champion +Sharrkan.[FN#182] Nor would aught of shame accrue to me thereby, +for I have read books and studied the rules of good breeding in +the language of the Arabs. But I have no need to vaunt my own +prowess to thee, more by token as thou hast proved in thy proper +person my skill and strength in wrestling; and thou hast learnt +my superiority over other women. Nor, indeed, had Sharrkan +himself been here this night and it were said to him, 'Clear this +stream,' could he have done it; and I only long and lust that the +Messiah would throw him into my hands in this very convent, that +I might go forth to him in the habit of a man and drag him from +his saddle seat and make him my captive and lay him in bilboes."- +-And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Nazarene damsel said to Sharrkan (and he listening impatiently +enow), "Verily if Sharrkan fell into my hands, I would go forth +to him in the habit of a man and drag him from his saddle seat +and make him my captive and lay him in bilboes," pride and +passion and knightly jealousy took possession of him and he +desired to discover and declare himself and to lay on load; but +her loveliness restrained him and he began repeating, + +"An faulty of one fault the Beauty prove, * Her charms a thousand + advocates shall move." + +So she went up and Sharrkan after her; and, when he saw the +maiden's back and hinder cheeks that clashed against each other, +like rollers in the rolling sea, he extemporised these couplets:- +- + +"For her sins is a pleader that brow, * And all hearts its fair + pleading must bow: +When I saw it I cried, "To night * The moon at its fullest doth + show; +Tho' Balkis' own Ifrit[FN#183] try a bout, * Spite his force she + would deal him a throw." + +The two fared on till they reached a gate over which rose a +marble archway. This she opened and ushered Sharrkan into a long +vestibule, vaulted with ten connected arches, from each of which +hung a crystal lamp glistening like a spark of fire. The +handmaids met her at the further end bearing wax candles of +goodly perfume, and wearing on their heads golden fillets crusted +with all manner bezel gems,[FN#184] and went on before her +(Sharrkan still following), till they reached the inner convent. +There the Moslem saw couches and sofas ranged all around, one +opposite the other and all over hung with curtains flowered in +gold. The monastery floor was paved with every kind of vari +coloured marbles and mosaic work, and in the midst stood a basin +that held four and twenty jetting fountains of gold, whence the +water ran like molten silver; whilst at the upper end stood a +throne spread with silks fit only for Kings. Then said the +damsel, "Ascend, O my lord, this throne." So he went up to it and +sat down and she withdrew to remain absent for some time. +Sharrkan asked of her from one of the servants who answered him, +"She hath gone to her dormitory; but we will serve thee even as +she ordered." So they set before him viands of rare varieties, +and he ate his sufficiency, when they brought him a basin of gold +and an ewer of silver, and he washed his hands. Then his +thoughts reverted to his army, knowing not what had befallen it +in his absence and calling to mind also how he had forgotten his +father's injunctions: so he was troubled about his case, +repenting of what he had done till the dawn broke and the day +appeared; when he lamented and sighed and became drowned in sea +of sadness and repeated, + +"I am not lost to prudence, but indeed * Here I'm bewildered, + what shall be my rede? +Would any aid me in mine ails of love, * By my own might and + sleight would I be free'd: +But ah! my heart is lost and passion-shent: * To none save Allah + can I trust my need!" + +When he ended his verse behold, there came up to him a rare show +and a fair, more than twenty maidens like crescents encompassing +the young lady, who shone in their midst as the full moon among +the constellations guarding and girding her. She was clad in +brocades befitting Kings; her breasts were like twin +pomegranates, a woven zone set with all kinds of jewels tightly +clasped her waist which expanded below into jutting hips; and her +hinder cheeks stood out as a mound of crystal[FN#185] supporting +a silvern shaft. When Sharrkan looked at her his wits went nigh +to fly away from him with delight; and he forgot army and Wazir +as he gazed on her fair head decked and dight with a net work of +pearls set off by divers sorts of gems. Handmaids on her right +and handmaids on her left bore her train, as she paced with +dainty graceful gait in all the pride of seemlihead. He sprang +to his feet seeing such beauty and loveliness, and cried aloud, +"Beware and beware of that zone rarely fair!" and broke out into +these couplets, + +"With heavy back parts, high breasts delicate, * And lissome form + that sways with swimming gait +She deftly hides love longing in her breast; * But I may never + hide its ban and bate +While hosts of followers her steps precede,[FN#186] * Like pearls + now necklaced and now separate." + +She gazed upon him for a long time and considered him till she +was assured of him, when she came up to him and said, "In very +sooth the place is honoured and illumined by thee, O Sharrkan! +How sped thy night, O hero, after we went away and left thee?"; +adding, "Verily lying is a vile thing and a shameful, especially +in great Kings! and thou art Crown Prince Sharrkan, son and heir +of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; so henceforth make no secret of thy +rank and condition, nor let me hear aught from thee but the +truth; for leasing bequeatheth hate and despite. And as thou art +pierced by the shaft of Fate, be resignation thine and abide +content to wait." When he heard her words he saw that artifice +availed him naught and he acknowledged the truth, saying, "I am +Sharrkan, bin Omar bin al-Nu'uman, whom fortune hath afflicted +and cast into this place; so whatso thou willest, do it in my +case!" She hung her head groundwards a long while, then turned to +him and said, "Be of good cheer and let thine eyes be cool and +clear;[FN#187] for thou art the guest of my hospitality, and +bread and salt hath made a tie between me and thee; wherefore +thou art in my ward and under my safeguard. Have no fear for, by +the truth of the Messiah, if all on earth sought to do thee hurt +they should not come at thee, till life had left my body for thy +sake: indeed thou art now under the charge of the Messiah and of +me." Hereat she sat her down by his side and fell to playing with +him, till his alarm subsided and he knew that had she desired to +slay him, she would have done so during the past night. +Presently she bespoke in the Grecian tongue one of her slave +girls, who went away and soon came back bringing a beaker and a +tray of food; but Sharrkan abstained from eating and said to +himself, "Haply she hath put somewhat in this meat." She knew +what was in his thought; so she turned to him and said, "By the +truth of the Messiah, the case is not on such wise, nor is there +aught in this meat of what thou suspectest! Had my mind been set +on slaying thee, I had slain thee ere now." Then she walked up to +the tray and ate of every dish a mouthful; where upon Sharrkan +came forward and ate too. She was pleased at this and both ate +till they were satisfied. They washed their hands and after that +she rose and ordered a handmaid to bring perfumes and herbs of +sweet savour, wines of all colours and kinds and a wine-service +with vessels of gold, silver and crystal. She filled a first +goblet and drank it off before offering it to him, even as she +had done with the food: then she crowned a second and handed it +to him. He drank and she said to him, "O Moslem, see how thou +art here in all solace and delight of life!" And she ceased not +to drink and ply him with drink, till he took leave of his wits,- +-And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Forty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the damsel +ceased not to drink and ply Sharrkan with drink till he took +leave of his wits, for the wine and the intoxication of love he +bore her. Presently she said to the slave girl, "O +Marjanah[FN#188]! bring us some instruments of music!" "To hear +is to obey," said the hand maid and going out, returned in the +twinkling of an eye with a Damascus lute,[FN#189] a Persian harp, +a Tartar pipe, and an Egyptian dulcimer. The young lady took the +lute and, after tuning each several string, began in gentle +undersong to sing, softer than zephyr's wing and sweeter than +Tasmin[FN#190] spring, with heart safe and secure from everything +the couplets following, + +"Allah assain those eyne! What streams of blood they shed! * How + many an arrowy glance those lids of thine have sped. +I love all lovers who to lovers show them cure; * 'Twere wrong to + rue the love in wrong head born and bred: +Haply fall hapless eye for thee no sleeping kens! * Heaven help + the hapless heart by force of thee misled! +Thou doomest me to death who art my king, and I * Ransom with + life the deemster who would doom me dead." + +Thereupon each and every of the maidens rose up and taking an +instrument, played and recited couplets in the Roumi tongue; then +their mistress sang also and seeing Sharrkan in ecstasies asked +him, "O Moslem, dost thou understand what I say?"; and he +answered, "Nay, my ecstasy cometh from the beauty of thy finger +sips." She laughed and continued, "If I sing to thee in Arabic +what wouldst thou do?" "I should no longer," quoth he, "be master +of my senses." Then she took an instrument and, changing the +measure, began singing these verses, + +"The smack of parting's myrrh to me, * How, then, bear patience' + alo? +I'm girt by ills in trinity * Severance, distance, + cruelty! +My freedom stole that fairest she, * And parting irks me + bitterly." + +When she ended her verse, she looked at Sharrkan and found him +lost to existence, and he lay for a while stretched at full +length and prone among the maidens.[FN#191] Then he revived and, +remembering the songs, again inclined to mirth and merriment; and +the twain returned to their wine and wassail, and continued their +playing and toying, their pastime and pleasure till day ceased +illuminating and night drooped her wing. Then the damsel went +off to her dormitory and when Sharrkan asked after her they +answered, "She is gone to her sleeping chamber," whereto he +rejoined, "Under Allah's ward and His good guard!" As soon as it +was morning, a handmaid came to him and said to him, "My mistress +biddeth thee to her." So he rose and followed her and, as he drew +near her lodging, the damsels welcomed him with smitten tabrets +and songs of greeting, and led him through a great door of ivory +studded with pearls and jewels. Thence they passed with him into +a tall and spacious hall, at the upper end of which was a wide +dais carpeted with all kinds of silks, and round it open lattices +commanding a view of trees and streams. About the saloon were +figures carved in human form, and fashioned on such wise that the +air passed through them and set in motion musical instruments +within, so that the beholder would fancy they spoke.[FN#192] Here +sat the young lady, looking at the figures; but when she saw +Sharrkan, she sprang to her feet and, taking him by the hand, +made him sit down by her side, and asked him how he had passed +the night. He blessed her and the two sat talking awhile till +she asked him, "Knowest thou aught touching lovers and slaves of +love?"; and he answered "Yes! I wot somewhat in verse on that +matter." "Let me hear it," quoth she, so he began quoting, + +"Pleasure and health, good cheer, good appetite * To Azzah, + freest with our name and fame! +By Allah! would I near her off she flies * At tangent, granting + less the more I claim: +I dote on Azzah, but when clear I off * My rivals, clears me too + that dearest dame; +Like wandering wight that chose for shade a cloud * Which, ere + siesta done, thin air became." + +When she heard this she said, "Verily Al-Kuthayyir[FN#193] was +conspicuous for sweet speech and chaste, and he was superlative +in his praise of Azzah when he sang" (and she began to recite), + +"Did Azzah deal behest to Sun o' noon, * The judge had judged her + beauty's bestest boon; +And girls who come to me and carp at her, * God make their rosy + cheeks her sandal-shoon! + +And indeed," quoth she, "'twas said that Azzah boasted exceeding +beauty and loveliness." Then she asked Sharrkan saying, "O +Prince, cost thou know aught of Jamil's[FN#194] verses to +Buthaynah? if so repeat to us somewhat of them;" and he +answered, "Yes, I know them better than any;" whereupon he began +repeating these couplets, + +"Jamil, in Holy war go fight!" to me they say: * What war save + fight for fair ones would I e'er essay? +To me their every word and work are mere delight, * And martyrs + crepe I all they slay in fight and fray: +An ask I, 'O Buthaynah! what's this love, I pray, * Which eats + my heart?' quoth she ' 'Twill stay for ever and aye!' +And when I cry, 'Of wits return some small display * For daily + use,' quoth she, 'Far, far 'tis fled away! +Thou seekst my death; naught else thy will can satisfy * While I + no goal espy save thee and thee alway.'" + +"Thou hast spoken right well," said she, "O King's son, and Jamil +also spoke excellently well. But what would Buthaynah have done +with him that he saith in his hemistich, + +'Thou seekst my death; naught else thy will can satisfy?'" + +"O my lady," quoth Sharrkan, "she willed to do him what thou +willest to do with me, and even that will not satisfy thee." She +laughed at his opportune reply and they ceased not carousing till +Day put out her light and Night came in darkness dight. Then she +rose and went to her dormitory and slept, while Sharrkan slept in +his place till morning dawned. As soon as he awoke, the hand +maids came to him with tabrets and other instruments of mirth and +merriment, as wont; and, kissing the ground between his hands, +said to him, "Bismillah! in Allah's name be so kind as to +come[FN#195]: our mistress biddeth thee to her presence!" So he +rose and accompanied the slave girls who surrounded him, playing +on tabrets and other instruments of music, till they passed from +that saloon into another and a yet more spacious hall, decorated +with pictured likenesses and figures of birds and beasts, passing +all description. Sharrkan marvelled at the art and artifice of +the place and began reciting, + +"He plucks fruits of her necklace in rivalry, * And her breast- + pearls that bedded in gold mine lie. +Pure water on silvern bars is her brow, * And her cheeks show + roses with rubies vie: +Meseems in her eyne that the violet's hue * Lies purpling set in + the Ithmid's[FN#196] dye." + +When the lady saw Sharrkan, she stood up to him in honour and, +taking his hand, seated him by her side and asked, "O son of King +Omar bin al-Nu'uman, hast thou any cunning in the game of chess?" +"Yes," he answered, "but do not thou with me as said the poet, + +'I speak and longing love upties me and unties me; * Till with + her honey dew of inner lip she plies me: +I brought the chess board and my liefest lover plays me * With + white and black,[FN#197] but black cum white ne'er satisfies + me: +'Twas as if King for Castle I were fain to place me * Till wilful + loss of game atwixt two queens surprise me: +And if I seek to read intent in eyes that eye me * Oh man! that + glance askance with hint of wish defies me.'" + +Then she brought the chessboard and played with him; but +Sharrkan, instead of looking at her moves, kept gazing at her +fair mouth, and putting knight in place of elephant and +elephant[FN#198] instead of knight. She laughed and said to him, +"If thy play be after this fashion, thou knowest naught of the +game." "This is only our first," replied he, "judge not by this +bout." When she beat him he replaced the pieces in position and +played again with her; but she beat him a second time, a third, a +fourth and a fifth. So she turned to him and said, "Thou art +beaten in everything;" and he replied, "O my lady, how should one +playing with the like of thee avoid being beaten?" Then she bade +bring food, and they ate and washed their hands; after which the +wine was set before them and they drank. Presently, she took the +dulcimer, for her hand was cunning in smiting it, and she began +repeating to an accompaniment these couplets, + +"Twixt the close tied and open wide no medium Fortune knoweth, * + Now ebb and flow then flow and ebb this wise her likeness + showeth. +Then drink her wine the syne she's thine and smiling thou dost + find her * Anon she'll fall and fare away when all thy good + forth goeth." + +They ceased not to carouse till nightfall and this day was +pleasanter even than the first. When darkness set in, the lady +betook her to her dormitory, leaving him alone with the hand +maids; so he threw himself on the ground and slept till dawn, +when the damsels came to him with tambourines and other +instruments according to custom. Seeing them he roused him +hastily and sat up; and they carried him to their mistress, who +came to meet him and, taking him by the hand, seated him by her +side. Then she asked him how he had passed his night, whereat he +prayed that her life be prolonged; and she took the lute and sang +to it these verses which she improvised, + +"Ne'er incline thee to part * Which embitters the heart +E'en the sun when he sets * Shall in pallor depart." + +While they were solacing themselves after this fashion, behold, +there arose a great and sudden clamour, and a confused crowd of +knights and men rushed in, holding drawn swords that glittered +and gleamed in their hands, and cried aloud in the Grecian tongue +"Thou hast fallen into our hands, O Sharrkan, so make thee sure +of death!" When he heard this, he said to himself, "By Allah, she +hath entrapped me and held me in play, till her men should come. +These are the Knights with whom she threatened me; but 'tis I who +have thrown myself into this strait." Then he turned towards the +young lady to reproach her, but saw that she had changed colour +and her face was pale; and she sprang to her feet and asked the +crowd, "Who are ye?" "O most gracious Princess and peerless onion +pearl," answered the leading Knight, "dost thou weet who is yon +man by thy side?" "Not I," she replied, "who may he be?" Quoth +the Patrician, "This is of towns the highwayman! This is he who +rideth in the horseman's van! This is Sharrkan, son of King Omar +bin al-Nu'uman! This is he that forceth fortalice and +penetrateth every impregnable place! The news of him reached +King Hardub, thy father, by report of the ancient dame Zat al- +Dawahi; and thy sire, our sovereign, hath made sure that thou +hast rendered good service to the army of the Greeks by taking +captive this ominous lion." When she heard this, she looked at +the Knight and asked him, "What be thy name?" and he answered, "I +am Msrah, son of thy slave Mausrah bin Kshardah, Knight of +Knights." "And how?" quoth she, "durst thou enter my presence +without leave?" Quoth he, "O my lady, when I came to the gate, +none forbade me, neither chamberlain nor porter, but all the door +keepers rose and forewent us as of wont; although, when others +come, they leave them standing at the gate while they ask +permission to admit them. But this is not a time for long +talking, when the King is expecting our return with this Prince, +the scorpion sting[FN#199] of the Islamitic host, that he may +kill him and drive back his men whither they came, without the +bane of battling with them." "These words be ill words," rejoined +the Princess, "and Dame Zat al-Dawahi lied, avouching an idle +thing and a vain, whereof she weeteth not the truth; for by the +virtue of the Messiah, this man who is with me is not Sharrkan, +nor is he a captive, but a stranger who came to us seeking our +hospitality, and I made him my guest. So even were we assured +that this be Sharrkan and were it proved to us that it is he +beyond a doubt, I say it would ill befit mine honour that I +should deliver into your hands one who hath entered under my +protection. So make me not a traitor to my guest and a disgrace +among men; but return to the King, my father, and kiss the ground +before him, and inform him that the case is contrariwise to the +report of the Lady Zat al-Dawahi." "O Abrzah," replied Masurah, +the Knight, "I cannot return to the King's majesty without his +debtor and enemy." Quoth she (and indeed she had waxed very +wroth). "Out on thee! Return to him with my answer, and no +blame shall befal thee!" Quoth Masurah, "I will not return +without him." Thereupon her colour changed and she exclaimed, +"Exceed not in talk and vain words; for verily this man had not +come in to us, were he not assured that he could of himself and +single handed make head against an hundred riders; and if I said +to him, 'Thou art Sharrkan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman,' he +would answer, 'Yes.' But 'tis not of your competence to let or +hinder him; for if you do so, he will not turn back from you till +he hath slain all that are in this place. Behold, here he is by +my side, and I will bring him before you sword and targe in +hand." "Albeit I were safe from thy wrath," answered Masurah the +Knight, "I am not safe from that of thy father, and when I see +him, I shall sign to the Knights to take him captive, and we will +carry him to the King bound and in abject sort." When she heard +this, she said, "The matter shall not pass thus, for 'twould be +blazoning mere folly. This man is but one and ye are an hundred +Knights: so if you would attack him come out against him, one +after one, that it may appear to the King which is the valiant +amongst you."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Fiftieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Princess +Abrizah said to the Knight, "This man is but one, and ye are an +hundred: so if ye would attack him, come out against him, one +after one, that it may appear to the King which is the valiant." +Quoth Masurah, the Knight, "By the truth of the Messiah, thou +sayest sooth, and none but I shall sally out against him first." +Quoth she, "Wait till I go to him and acquaint him with the case +and hear what answer he will make. If he consent, 'tis well; but +if he refuse, ye shall on no wise come to him, for I and my hand +maids and whosoever is in the convent will be his ransom." So she +went to Sharrkan and told him the news, whereat he smiled and +knew that she had not informed any of the Emirs; but that tidings +of him had been bruited and blazed abroad, till the report +reached the King, against her wish and intent. So he again began +reproaching himself and said, "How came I to adventure and play +with my life by coming to the country of the Greeks?" But hearing +the young lady's proposal he said to her, "Indeed their onset, +one after one, would be overburdensome to them. Will they not +come out against me, ten by ten?" "That would be villainy," said +she; "Let one have at one." When he heard this, he sprang to his +feet and made for them with his sword and battle gear; and +Masurah, the Knight, also sprang up and bore down upon him. +Sharrkan met him like a lion and delivered a shoulder cut[FN#200] +which clove him to the middle, and the blade came out gleaming +and glittering from his back and bowels. When the lady beheld +that swashingblow, Sharrkan's might was magnified in her sight +and she knew that when she overthrew him in the wrestle it was +not by her strength but by her beauty and loveliness. So she +turned to the Knights and said, "Take wreak for your chief!" +Thereupon out came the slain man's brother, a fierce and furious +Knight, and rushed upon Sharrkan, who delayed not, but smote him +also with the shoulder cut and the sword came out glittering from +his vitals. Then cried the Princess, "O ye servants of the +Messiah, avenge your comrade!" So they ceased not charging down +upon him, one after one; and Sharrkan also ceased not playing +upon them with the blade, till he had slain fifty Knights, the +lady looking on the while. And Allah cast a panic into the +hearts of the survivors, so that they held back and dared not +meet him in the duello, but fell upon him in a body; and he laid +on load with heart firmer than a rock, and smote them and trod +them down like straw under the threshing sled,[FN#201] till he +had driven sense and soul out of them. Then the Princess called +aloud to her damsels, saying, "Who is left in the convent?"; and +they replied, "None but the gate keepers;" whereupon she went up +to Sharrkan and took him to her bosom, he doing the same, and +they returned to the palace, after he had made an end of the +melee. Now there remained a few of the Knights hiding from him +in the cells of the monastery, and when the Princess saw this she +rose from Sharrkan's side and left him for a while, but presently +came back clad in closely meshed coat of ring mail and holding in +her hand a fine Indian scymitar. And she said, "Now by the truth +of the Messiah, I will not be a niggard of myself for my guest; +nor will I abandon him though for this I abide a reproach and a +by word in the land of the Greeks." Then she took reckoning of +the dead and found that he had slain fourscore of the Knights, +and other twenty had taken to flight.[FN#202] When she saw what +work he had made with them she said to him, "Allah bless thee, O +Sharrkan! The Cavaliers may well glory in the like of thee." +Then he rose and wiping his blade clean of the blood of the slain +began reciting these couplets, + +"How oft in the mellay I've cleft the array, * And given their + bravest to lions a prey: +Ask of me and of them when I proved me prow * O'er creation, on + days of the foray and fray: +When I left in the onslaught their lions to lie * On the sands of + the low lands[FN#203] in fieriest day." + +When he ended his verse, the Princess came up to him with smiles +and kissed his hand; then she doffed her hauberk and he said to +her, "O lady mine, wherefore didst thou don that coat of mail and +bare thy brand?" "To guard thee against these caitiffs,"[FN#204] +she replied. Then she summoned the gate keepers and asked them, +"How came ye to admit the King's Knights into my dwelling without +leave of me?"; and they answered, "O Princess, it is not our +custom to ask leave of thee for the King's messengers, and +especially for the chief of his Knights." Quoth she, "I think ye +were minded only to disgrace me and murder my guest;" and bade +Sharrkan smite their necks. He did so and she cried to the rest +of her servants, "Of a truth, they deserved even more than that!" +Then turning to Sharrkan, she said to him, "Now that there hath +become manifest to thee what was concealed, thou shalt be made +acquainted with my history. Know, then, that I am the daughter +of King Hardub of Roum; my name is Abrizah and the ancient dame, +yclept Zat al-Dawahi, is my grandmother by the sword side. She +it certainly is who told my father of thee, and as surely she +will compass a sleight to slay me, more by token as thou hast +slain my father's chivalry and it is noised abroad that I have +separated myself from the Nazarenes and have become no better +than I should be with the Moslems. Wherefore it were wiser that +I leave this dwelling while Zat al-Dawahi is on my track; but I +require of thee the like kindness and courtesy I have shown thee, +for enmity will presently befal between me and my father on thine +account. So do not thou neglect to do aught that I shall say to +thee, remembering all this betided me not save by reason of +thee." Hearing her words, Sharrkan joyed greatly; his breast +broadened and his wits flew from him for delight, and he said, +"By Allah, none shall come at thee, while life is in my bosom! +But hast thou patience to bear parting from thy parents and thy +people?" "Even so," she answered; and Sharrkan swore to her and +the two plighted their troth. Then said she, "Now is my heart at +ease; but there remaineth one other condition for thee." "What is +it?" asked he and she answered, "It is that thou return with thy +host to thine own country." Quoth he, "O lady mine, my father, +King Omar bin al- Nu'uman, sent me to wage war upon thy sire, on +account of the treasure he plundered from the King of +Constantinople, and amongst the rest three great jewels, noted +givers of good fortune." Quoth she, "Cheer thy heart and clear +thine eyes: I will tell thee the whole of the tale and the cause +of our feud with the King of Constantinople. Know that we have a +yearly festival, highs the Convent Feast, whereat Kings from all +quarters and the noblest women are wont to congregate; thither +also come merchants and traders with their wives and families, +and the visitors abide there seven days. I was wont to be one of +them; but, when there befel enmity between us, my father forbade +me to be present at the festival for the space of seven years. +One year, it chanced that amongst the daughters of the great who +resorted to the patron, as was their custom, came a daughter of +the King of Constantinople, a beautiful girl called Sophia. They +tarried at the monastery six days and on the seventh the folk +went their ways;[FN#205] but Sophia said, 'I will not return to +Constantinople save by water.' So they equipped for her a ship in +which she embarked with her suite; and making sail they put out +to sea; but as they were voyaging behold, a contrary wind caught +them and drove the vessel from her course till, as Fate and +Fortune would have it, she fell in with a Nazarene craft from the +Camphor Island[FN#206] carrying a crew of five hundred armed +Franks, who had been cruising about a long time. When they +sighted the sails of the ship, wherein Sophia and her women were, +they gave chase in all haste and in less than an hour they came +up with her, then they laid the grappling irons aboard her and +captured her. Then taking her in tow they made all sail for +their own island and were but a little distant from it when the +wind veered round and, splitting their sails, drove them on to a +shoal which lies off our coast. Thereupon we sallied forth and, +looking on them as spoil driven to us by Fate,[FN#207] boarded +and took them; and, slaying the men, made prize of the wreck, +wherein we found the treasures and rarities in question and forty +maidens, amongst whom was the King's daughter, Sophia. After the +capture we carried the Princess and her women to my father, not +knowing her to be a daughter of King Afridun of Constantinople; +and he chose out for himself ten including her; and divided the +rest among his dependents. Presently he set apart five damsels, +amongst whom was the King s daughter, and sent them to thy +father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, together with other gifts, such +as broadcloth[FN#208] and woollen stuffs and Grecian silks. Thy +father accepted them and chose out from amongst the five girls +Sophia, daughter of King Afridun; nor did we hear more of her +till the beginning of this year, when her father wrote to my +father in words unfitting for me to repeat, rebuking him with +menaces and saying to him: Two years ago, you plundered a ship of +ours which had been seized by a band of Frankish pirates in which +was my daughter, Sophia, attended by her maidens numbering some +threescore. Yet ye informed me not thereof by messenger or +otherwise; nor could I make the matter public, lest reproach +befal me amongst the Kings, by reason of my daughter's honour. +So I concealed my case till this year, when I wrote to certain +Frankish corsairs and sought news of my daughter from the Kings +of the Isles. They replied, 'By Allah we carried her not forth +of thy realm; but we have heard that King Hardub rescued her from +certain pirates. And they told me the whole tale.' Then he added +in the writing which he writ to my father: 'Except you wish to be +at feud with me and design to disgrace me and dishonour my +daughter, you will, the instant my letter reacheth you, send my +daughter back to me. But if you slight my letter and disobey my +commandment, I will assuredly make you full return for your foul +dealing and the baseness of your practices.'[FN#209] When my +father read this letter and understood the contents,[FN#210] it +vexed him and he regretted not having known that Sophia, King +Afridun's daughter, was among the captured damsels, that he might +have sent her back to her sire; and he was perplexed about the +case because, after so long a time, he could not send to King +Omar bin al-Nu'uman and demand her back from him, especially as +he had lately heard that Heaven had granted him boon of babe by +this Sophia. So when we pondered that truth, we knew that this +letter was none other than a grievous calamity; and my father +found nothing for it but to write an answer to King Afridun, +making his excuses and swearing to him by strong oaths that he +knew not his daughter to be among the bevy of damsels in the ship +and setting forth how he had sent her to King Omar bin al +Nu'uman, who had gotten the blessing of issue by her. When my +father's reply reached King Afridun he rose up and sat +down,[FN#211] and roared and foamed at the mouth crying:--'What! +shall he take captive my daughter and even her with slave girls +and pass her on from hand to hand sending her for a gift to +Kings, and they lie with her without marriage contract? By the +Messiah and the true Faith,' said he, 'I will not desist till I +have taken my blood vengeance for this and have wiped out my +shame; and indeed I will do a deed which the chroniclers shall +chronicle after me!' So he bided his time till he devised a +device and laid notable toils and snares, when he sent an embassy +to thy father, King Omar, to tell him that which thou hast heard: +accordingly thy father equipped thee and an army with thee and +sent thee to King Afridun, whose object is to seize thee and +thine army to boot. As for the three jewels whereof he told thy +father when asking his aid, there was not one soothfast word in +that matter, for they were with Sophia, his daughter; and my +father took them from her, when he got possession of her and of +her maidens, and gave them to me in free gift, and they are now +with me. So go thou to thy host and turn them back ere they be +led deep into, and shut in by, the land of the bevy of damsels in +the ship and setting forth the Franks and the country of the +Greeks; for as soon as you have come far enough into their +interior, they will stop the roads upon you and there will be no +escape for you till the Day of retribution and retaliation. I +know that thy troops are still halting where thou leftest them, +because thou didst order a three days' rest; withal they have +missed thee all this time and they wot not what to do." When +Sharrkan heard her words, he was absent awhile in thought; then +he kissed Princess Abrizah's hand and said, "Praise be to Allah +who hath bestowed thee on me and appointed thee to be the cause +of my salvation and the salvation of whoso is with me! But 'tis +grievous to me to part from thee and I know not what will become +of thee after my departure." "Go now to thine army," she replied, +"and turn them back, while ye are yet near your own country. If +the envoys be still with them, lay hands on them and keep them, +that the case may be made manifest to you; and, after three days, +I will be with you all and we will enter Baghdad together." As he +turned to depart she said, "Forget not the compact which is +between me and thee," then she rose to bid[FN#212] him farewell +and embrace him and quench the fire of desire, so she took leave +of him and, throwing her arms round his neck, wept with exceeding +weeping, and repeated these verses, + +"I bade adieu, my right hand wiped my tears away, * The while my + left hand held her in a close embrace: +'Fearest thou naught,' quoth she, 'of shame?' I answered 'Nay, * + The lover's parting day is lover's worst disgrace.'" + +Then Sharrkan left her and walked down from the convent. They +brought his steed, so he mounted and rode down stream to the +drawbridge which he crossed and presently threaded the woodland +paths and passed into the open meadow. As soon as he was clear +of the trees he was aware of horsemen which made him stand on the +alert, and he bared his brand and rode cautiously, but as they +drew near and exchanged curious looks he recognized them and +behold, it was the Wazir Dandan and two of his Emirs. When they +saw him and knew him, they dismounted and saluting him, asked the +reason of his absence; whereupon he told them all that had passed +between him and Princess Abrizah from first to last. The Wazir +returned thanks to Almighty Allah for his safety and +said,[FN#213] "Let us at once leave these lands; for the envoys +who came with us are gone to inform the King of our approach, and +haply he will hasten to fall on us and take us prisoners." So +Sharrkan cried to his men to saddle and mount, which they did +and, setting out at once, they stinted not faring till they +reached the sole of the valley wherein the host lay. The +Ambassadors meanwhile had reported Sharrkan's approach to their +King, who forthright equipped a host to lay hold of him and those +with him. But Sharrkan, escorted by the Wazir Dandan and the two +Emirs, had no sooner sighted the army, than he raised the cry +"March! March!" They took horse on the instant and fared through +the first day and second and third day, nor did they cease faring +for five days; at the end of which time they alighted in a well +wooded valley, where they rested awhile. Then they again set out +and stayed not riding for five and twenty days which placed them +on the frontiers of their own country. Here, deeming themselves +safe, they halted to rest; and the country people came out to +them with guest gifts for the men and provender and forage for +the beasts. They tarried there two days after which, as all +would be making for their homes, Sharrkan put the Wazir Dandan in +command, bidding him lead the host back to Baghdad. But he +himself remained behind with an hundred riders, till the rest of +the army had made one day's march: then he called "To horse!" and +mounted with his hundred men. They rode on two +parasangs'[FN#214] space till they arrived at a gorge between two +mountains and lo! there arose before them a dark cloud of sand +and dust. So they checked their steeds awhile till the dust +opened and lifted, discovering beneath it an hundred cavaliers, +lion faced and in mail coats cased. As soon as they drew within +earshot of Sharrkan and his meiny they cried out to them, saying, +"By the virtue of John and Mary, we have won to our wish! We +have been following you by forced marches, night and day, till we +forewent you to this place. So dismount and lay down your arms +and yield yourselves, that we may grant you your lives." When +Sharrkan heard this, his eyes stood out from his head and his +cheeks flushed red and he said 'How is it, O. Nazarene dogs, ye +dare enter our country and overmatch our land? And doth not this +suffice you, but ye must adventure yourselves and address us in +such unseemly speech? Do you think to escape out of our hands +and return to your country?" Then he shouted to his hundred +horsemen, "Up and at these hounds, for they even you in number!" +So saying, he bared his sabre and bore down on them, he and his, +but the Franks met them with hearts firmer than rocks, and wight +dashed against wight, and knight dashed upon knight, and hot +waxed the fight, and sore was the affright, and nor parley nor +cries of quarter helped their plight; and they stinted not to +charge and to smite, right hand meeting right, nor to hack and +hew with blades bright white, till day turned to night and gloom +oppressed the sight. Then they drew apart and Sharrkan mustered +his men and found none wounded save four only, who showed hurts +but not death hurts. Said he to them, "By Allah, my life long +have I waded in the clashing sea of fight and I have met many a +gallant sprite, but none so unfrightened of the sword that smites +and the shock of men that affrights like these valiant Knights!" +"Know, O King," said they, that there is among them a Frankish +cavalier who is their leader and, indeed, he is a man of valour +and fatal is his spear thrust: but, by Allah, he spares us great +and small; for whoso falls into his hands he lets him go and +forbears to slay him. By Allah, had he willed he had killed us +all." Sharrkan was astounded when he heard what the Knight had +done and such high report of him, so he said, "When the morn +shall morrow, we will draw out and defy them, for we are an +hundred to their hundred; and we will seek aid against them from +the Lord of the Heavens." So they rested that night in such +intent; whilst the Franks gathered round their Captain and said, +"Verily this day we did not win our will of these;" and he +replied, "At early dawn when the morrow shall morn, we will draw +out and challenge them, one after one." They also rested in that +mind, and both camps kept guard until Almighty Allah sent the +light of day dawn. Thereupon King Sharrkan and his hundred +riders took horse and rode forth to the plain, where they found +the Franks ranged in line of battle; and Sharrkan said to his +followers, "Our foes have determined like ourselves to do their +devoir; so up and at them and lay on load." Then came forth an +Herald of the Franks and cried out, saying, "Let there be no +general engagement betwixt us this day, save by the duello, a +champion of yours against a champion of ours." Whereupon one of +Sharrkan's riders dashed out from the ranks and crave between the +two lines crying, "Ho! who is for smiting? Let no dastard +engage me this day nor niderling!" Hardly had he made an end of +his vaunt, when there sallied forth to him a Frankish cavalier, +armed cap--pie and clad in a surcoat of gold stuff, riding on a +grey white steed,[FN#215] and he had no hair on his cheeks. He +urged his charger on to the midst of the battle plain and the two +fell to derring do of cut and thrust, but it was not long before +the Frank foined the Moslem with the lance point; and, toppling +him from his steed, took him prisoner and led him off +crestfallen. His folk rejoiced in their comrade and, forbidding +him to go out again to the field, sent forth another, to whom +sallied out another Moslem, brother to the captive, and offered +him battle. The two fell to, either against other, and fought +for a little while, till the Frank bore down upon the Moslem and, +falsing him with a feint, tumbled him by a thrust of the lance +heel from his destrier and took him prisoner. After this fashion +the Moslems ceased not dashing forwards, one after one, and the +Franks to unhorse them and take them captive, till day departed +and the night with darkness upstarted. Now they had captured of +the Moslems twenty cavaliers, and when Sharrken saw this, it was +grievous to him and he mustered his men and said to them, "What +is this thing that hath befallen us? To- morrow, I myself will +go forth to the field and offer singular combat to their chief +and learn what is the cause of his entering our land and warn him +against doing battle with our band. If he persist, we will +punish him with death, and if he prove peaceable we will make +peace with him." They righted on this wise till Allah Almighty +caused the morn to dawn, when mounted the twain and drew up for +battle fain; and Sharrkan was going forth to the plain, but +behold, more than one half of the Franks dismounted and remained +on foot before one of them who was mounted, till they reached the +midst of the battle plain. Sharrken looked at that horseman and +lo! he was their chief. He was clad in a surcoat of blue satin +and a close ringed mail shirt; his face was as the moon when it +rises and no hair was upon his cheeks. He hent in hand an Indian +scymitar and he rode a sable steed with a white blaze on brow, +like a dirham; and he smote the horse with heel till he stood +almost in the midst of the field when, signing to the Moslems, he +cried out in fluent Arab speech "Ho, Sharrkan! Ho, son of Omar +bin al- Nu'uman! Ho, thou who forcest fortalice and overthrowest +cities and countries! up and out to battle bout, and blade +single handed wield with one who halves with thee the field! +Thou art Prince of thy people and I am Prince of mine; and whoso +overcometh his adversary, him let the other's men obey and come +under his sway." Hardly had he ended his speech, when out came +Sharrkan with a heart full of fury, and urging his steed into the +midst of the field, closed like a raging lion with the Frank who +encountered him with wariness and steadfastness and met him with +the meeting of warriors. Then they fell to foining and hewing, +and they stinted not of onset and offset, and give and take, as +they were two mountains clashing together or two seas together +dashing; nor did they cease fighting until day darkened and night +starkened. Then they drew apart and each returned to his own +party; but as soon as Sharrkan foregathered with his comrades, he +said, "Never looked I on the like of this cavalier: he hath one +quality I have not yet seen in any and this it is that, when his +foemen uncovereth a place for the death blow, he reverseth his +weapon and smiteth with the lance-heel! In very deed I know not +what will be the issue 'twixt him and me; but 'tis my wish that +we had in our host his like and the like of his men." Then he +went to his rest for the night and, when morning dawned, the +Frank came forth and rode down to the mid field, where Sharrkan +met him; and they fell to fighting and to wheeling, left and +right; and necks were stretched out to see the sight, nor did +they stint from strife and sword play and lunge of lance with +main and might, till the day turned to night and darkness +overwhelmed the light. Then the twain drew asunder and returned +each to his own camp, where both related to their comrades what +had befallen them in the duello; and at last the Frank said to +his men, "Tomorrow shall decide the matter!" So they both passed +that night restfully till dawn; and, as soon as it was day, they +mounted and each bore down on other and ceased not to fight till +half the day was done. Then the Frank bethought him of a ruse; +first urging his steed with heel and then checking him with the +rein, so that he stumbled and fell with his rider; thereupon +Sharrkan threw himself on the foe, and would have smitten him +with the sword fearing lest the strife be prolonged, when the +Frank cried out to him, "O Sharrkan, champions are not wont to do +thus! This is the act of a man accustomed to be beaten by a +woman."[FN#216] When Sharrkan heard this, he raised his eyes to +the Frank's face and gazing steadfastly at him, recognized in him +Princess Abrizah with whom that pleasant adventure had befallen +him in the convent; whereupon he cast brand from hand and, +kissing the earth before her, asked her, "What moved thee to a +deed like this?"; and she answered, "I desired to prove thy +prowess afield and test thy doughtiness in tilting and jousting. +These that are with me are my handmaids, and they are all clean +maids; yet they have vanquished thy horsemen in fair press and +stress of plain; and had not my steed stumbled with me, thou +shouldst have seen my might and prowess in combat." Sharrkan +smiled at her speech and said, "Praise be to Allah for safety and +for my reunion with thee, O Queen of the age!" Then she cried out +to her damsels to loose the twenty captives of Sharrkan's troop +and dismount. They did as she bade and came and kissed the earth +before her and Sharrkan who said to them, "It is the like of you +that Kings keep in store for the need hour." Then he signed to +his comrades to salute the Princess; so all alighted and kissed +the earth before her, for they knew the story. After this, the +whole two hundred took horse, and fared on night and day for six +days' space, till they drew near to Baghdad, when they halted and +Sharrkan bade Abrizah and her handmaids doff the Frankish garb +that was on them,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan +bade Princess Abrizah and her damsels doff the garb that was on +them and don the garments of daughters of Greece; and thus did +they. Then he despatched a company of his companions to Baghdad +to acquaint his father Omar bin al-Nu'uman, with his arrival and +report that he was accompanied by Princess Abrizah, daughter of +King Hardub, Lord of Graecia-land. They halted forthright in the +place they had reached, and Sharrkan also halted and all righted +there; and when Almighty Allah made morning dawn, Sharrkan and +his company and Abrizah and her company took horse and fared on +towards the city; when lo! on the way they met the Wazir Dandan, +who had come out amongst a thousand horse to honour Abrizah and +Sharrkan, by especial commandment of King Omar Son of Al- +Nu'uman. When the two drew near, they turned towards them and +kissed ground before them; then they mounted again and escorted +them into the city and went up with them to the palace. Sharrkan +walked in to his father, who rose and embraced him and questioned +him of his case. So he told him all that Abrizah had told him, +and what had passed between them and said, "She hath parted from +her sire and departed from her reign and hath chosen to take part +with us and make her abode with us; and indeed," he said to his +father, "the King of Constantinople hath plotted to do us a +mischief, because of his daughter Sophia, for that the King of +Greece had made known to him her story and the cause of her being +given to thee; and he (the Grecian King) not knowing her to be +daughter of King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople; and, had he +known that, he would not have bestowed her upon thee, but he +would have restored her to her parent. And of a verity," he +continued, "we were saved from these perils only by the Lady +Abrizah, and never saw we a more valiant than she." And he went +on to tell his father all that had passed from first to last of +the wrestling and the single fighting. When King Omar heard the +story of Sharrkan, Abrizah was exalted in his eyes, and he longed +to see her and question her. Thereupon Sharrkan went out to her +and said, "The King calleth for thee;" she replied, "I hear and I +obey;" and he took her and brought her in to his father, who was +seated on his throne and who, having dismissed his high officers, +was attended only by his eunuchs. The Princess entered and +kissing the ground between his hands, saluted him in choice +terms. He was amazed at her eloquent speech and thanked her for +her dealing with his son Sharrkan and bade her be seated. So she +sat down and unveiled her face;[FN#217] and, when the King saw +her beauty, his reason fled his head and he made her draw near +and showed her favour, appointing her an especial palace for +herself and her damsels, and assigning them solde and allowances. +Then began he to ask her of the three jewels aforesaid, and she +answered, "Here be they with me, O King of the age!" So saying, +she rose and going to her lodging, unpacked her baggage and from +it brought out a box and from the box a casket of gold. She +opened the casket and taking out those three jewels, kissed them +and gave them to the King. Then she went away bearing his heart +with her. After her going the King sent for his son Sharrkan and +gave him one jewel of the three, and when he enquired of the +other two replied, "O my son! I mean to give one to thy brother +Zau al-Makan, and the other to thy sister Nuzhat al- Zaman." But +when Sharrkan heard that he had a brother (for to that time he +knew only of his sister) he turned to his sire and said to him, +"O King, hast thou a son other than myself?" He answered, "Yes, +and he is now six years old;" adding that his name was Zau al- +Makan and that he and Nuzhat al-Zaman were twins, born at a +birth. This news was grievous to Sharrkan, but he kept his +secret and said, "The bless- ing of Allah Most High be upon +them!", and he cast the jewel from his hand and shook the dust +off his clothes. Quoth the King, "How do I see thee change thy +manner when hearing of this, considering that after me thou +becomes" heir of the kingdom. Of a truth the troops have sworn +to thee and the Emirs and Grandees have taken the oath of +succession to thee; and this one of the three jewels is thine." +Sharrkan bowed his head to the ground and was ashamed to bandy +words with his parent so he accepted the jewel and went away, +knowing not what to do for exceeding wrath, and stayed not +walking till he had entered Abrizah's palace. As he approached +she stood up to meet him and thanked him for what he had done and +prayed for blessings on him and his sire. Then she sat down and +seated him by her side; but when he had taken his place she saw +rage in his face and questioned him, whereupon he told her that +Allah had blessed his father with two children by Sophia, a boy +and a girl, and that he had named the boy Zau al-Makan and the +girl Nuzhat al-Zaman; adding, "He hath kept the other two jewels +for them and hath given me one of thine, so I left it behind; I +knew naught of Zau al-Makan's birth till this day, and the twain +are now six years old. So when I learnt this, wrath possessed +me; and I tell thee the reason of my rage and hide nothing from +thee. But now I fear lest my father take thee to wife, for he +loveth thee and I saw in him signs of desire for thee: so what +wilt thou say, if he wish this?" Quoth she, "Know, O Sharrkan, +that thy father hath no dominion over me, nor can he have me +without my consent; and if he prevail over me by force, I will +take my own life. As for the three jewels, it was not my intent +that he should give any of them to either of his children and I +had no thought but that he would lay them up in his treasury with +his things of price; but now I desire of thy favour that thou +make me a present of the jewel which he gave thee, if thou have +accepted it." "Hearkening and obedience," replied Sharrkan, and +gave it to her. Then said she, "Fear nothing," and talked with +him awhile and continued, "I fear lest my father hear that I am +with you and sit not patiently under my loss, but do his +endeavours to find me; and to that end he may ally himself with +King Afridun, on account of his daughter Sophia, and both come on +thee with armies and so there befal great turmoil." When Sharrken +heard these words, he said to her, "O my lady, if it please thee +to sojourn with us, take no thought of them; though there gather +together against us all that be on land and on sea." " 'Tis +well," rejoined she; "if ye entreat me fair, I will tarry with +you, and if ye deal evilly by me, I will depart from you." Then +she bade her slave maidens bring food; so they set the tables, +and Sharrkan ate a little and went away to his own house, +disturbed and perturbed. Such was his case; but regarding the +affairs of his father, Omar bin al-Nu'uman, after dismissing his +son Sharrkan he arose and, taking the other two jewels, betook +himself to the Lady Sophia, who stood up when she saw him and +remained standing till he was seated. Presently, his two +children, Zau al-Makan and Nuzhat al-Zaman, came to him and he +kissed them and hung a jewel round each one's neck, at which they +rejoiced and kissed his hands. Then went they to their mother, +who joyed in their joy and wished the King long life; so he asked +her, "Why hast thou not informed me all this time that thou art +the daughter of King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, that I +might have honoured thee still more and enlarged thee in dignity +and raised thy rank?" "O King," answered Sophia, "and what could +I desire greater or higher than this my standing with thee, +overwhelmed as I am with thy favours and thy benefits? And, +furthermore, Allah hath blessed me with two children by thee, a +son and a daughter." Her reply pleased the King and after leaving +her, he set apart for her and her children a wondrous fine +palace. Moreover, he appointed for them eunuchs and attendants +and doctors of law and doctors of philosophy and astrologers and +physicians and surgeons to do them service; and in every way he +redoubled his favour and entreated them with the best of +treatment. And presently he returned to the palace of his +dominion and to his Court where he distributed justice among the +lieges. So far concerning him and Sophia and her children; but +in the matter of Abrizah the King was greatly occupied with love +of her and burnt with desire of her night and day; and every +night, he would go in to her and converse with her and pay his +court to her, but she gave him no answer, only saying, "O King of +the age! I have no desire for men at this present." When he saw +her withdraw from him, his passion waxed hotter and his longing +and pining increased until, when weary of this, he summoned his +Wazir Dandan and, opening his very heart to him, told him of his +love for Princess Abrizah, daughter of Hardub, and informed him +how she refused to yield to his wishes and how desire for her was +doing him to die, for that he could get no grace of her. The +Wazir, hearing these words, said to the King, "As soon as it is +dark night, take thou a piece of Bhang the measure of a miskal, +about an ounce, and go in to her and drink somewhat of wine with +her. When the hour of ending the carousel shall draw near, fill +her a last cup and dropping therein the Bhang, give it to her to +drink, and she will not reach her sleeping chamber ere the drug +take effect on her. Then do thou go in to her and take thy will +of her; and such is my advice."[FN#218] "Thy rede is aright," +quoth the King, and seeking his treasury, he took thence a piece +of concentrated Bhang, if an elephant smelt it he would sleep +from year to year. This he put in his bosom pocket and waited +till some little of the night went by, when he betook himself to +the palace of Princess Abrizah, who seeing him stood up to +receive him; but he bade her sit down. So she sat down, and he +sat by her, and he began to talk with her of wine and wassail, +whereupon she furnished the carousing table[FN#219] and placed it +before him. Then she set on the drinking vessels and lighted the +candles and ordered to bring dried fruits and sweet meats and all +that pertaineth to drinking. So they fell to tippling and the +King ceased not to pledge her till drunkenness crept into her +head; and seeing this he took out the bit of Bhang from his +pocket and, holding it between his fingers, filled a cup with his +own hand and drank it off. Then filling a second he said, "To +thy companionship!"; and dropped the drug into her cup, she +knowing naught of it. She took it and drank it off; then she +rose and went to her sleeping chamber. He waited for less than +an hour till he was assured that the dose had taken effect on her +and had robbed her of her senses, when he went in to her and +found her thrown on her back: and she had doffed her petticoat +trousers and the air raised the skirt of her shift and discovered +what was between her thighs. When the King saw the state of +things and found a lighted candle at her head and another at her +feet, shining upon what her thighs enshrined he took leave of his +five senses for lust and Satan seduced him and he could not +master himself, but put off his trousers and fell upon her and +abated her maiden head. Then he rose off her and went to one of +her women, by name Marjnah, and said, "Go in to thy lady and +speak with her." So she went in to her mistress and found her +lying on her back insensible, with the blood running down to the +calves of her legs, whereupon she took a kerchief and wiped away +the blood and lay by her that night. As soon as Almighty Allah +brought the dawn, the handmaid Marjanah washed her mistress's +hands and feet and brought rose water and bathed her face and +mouth with it, where upon she sneezed and yawned and cast up from +her inside that bit of Bhang like a bolus.[FN#220] Then she +revived and washed her hands and mouth and said to Marjanah, +"Tell me what hath befallen me." So she told her what had passed +and how she had found her, lying on her back, with the blood +running down, wherefore she knew that King Omar bin al-Nu'uman +had lain with her and had undone her and taken his will of her. +At this she grieved with exceeding grief and retired into +privacy, saying to her damsels, "Deny me to whoso would come in +to me and say to him that I am ill, till I see what Allah will do +with me." Presently the news of her sickness came to the King; so +he sent her sherbets and sugar electuaries. Some months she thus +passed in solitude, during which time the King's flame cooled and +his desire for her was quenched, so that he abstained from her. +Now she had conceived by him, and when the months of child +breeding had gone by, her pregnancy appeared and her belly +swelled, and the world was straitened upon her, so she said to +her handmaid Marjanah, "Know that it is not the folk who have +wronged me, but I who sinned against my own self[FN#221] in that +I left my father and mother and country. Indeed, I abhor life, +for my spirit is broken and neither courage nor strength is left +me. I used, when I mounted my steed, to have the mastery of him, +but now I am unable to ride. If I be brought to bed among them I +shall be dishonoured before my hand women and every one in the +palace will know that he hath taken my maidenhead in the way of +shame; and if I return to my father, with what face shall I meet +him or with what face shall I have recourse to him? How well +quoth the poet, + +'Say, what shall solace one who hath nor home nor stable stead * + Nor cup companion, nor a cup, nor place to house his head?'" + +Marjanah answered her, "It is thine to command; I will obey;" and +Abrizah said, "I desire at once to leave this place secretly, so +that none shall know of me but thou; and return to my father and +my mother, for when flesh stinketh, there is naught for it but +its own folk and Allah shall do with me e'en as He will." "O +Princess," Marjanah replied, "what thou wouldest do is well." +Then she made matters ready and kept her secret and waited for +some days till the King went out to chase and hunt, and his son +Sharrkan betook himself to certain of the fortresses to sojourn +there awhile. Then said she to Marjanah, "I wish to set out this +night, but how shall I do against my destiny? For already I feel +the pangs of labour and child birth, and if I abide other four or +five days, I shall be brought to bed here, and I shall be unable +to travel to my country. But this is what was written on my +forehead." Then she considered awhile, and said to Marjanah, +"Look us out a man who will go with us and serve us by the way, +for I have no strength to bear arms." "By Allah, O my lady," +replied Marjanah, "I know none but a black slave called Al- +Ghazbn,[FN#222] who is one of the slaves of King Omar bin al- +Nu'uman; he is a valiant wight, and he keepeth guard at our +palace gate. The King appointed him to attend us, and indeed we +have overwhelmed him with our favours; so, lookye, I will go out +and speak with him of this matter, and promise him some monies +and tell him that, if he have a mind to tarry with us, I will +marry him to whom he will. He told me before to day that he had +been a highwayman; so if he consent to us we shall win our wish +and reach to our own land." She rejoined, "Call him that I may +talk with him;" whereupon Marjanah fared forth and said to the +slave, 'O Ghazban, Allah prosper thee, so thou fall in with what +my lady saith to thee!" Then she took him by the hand and brought +him to the Princess, whose hands he kissed but as she beheld him, +her heart took fright at him. "How ever," she said to herself, +"of a truth, Need giveth the law;" and she approached to speak +with him, yet her heart started away from him. Presently she +said, "O Ghazban, say me, wilt thou help me against the perfidies +of Fortune and conceal my secret if I discover it to thee?" When +the slave saw her, his heart was taken by storm and he fell in +love with her forthright and could not but reply; "O my mistress, +whatsoever thou biddest me do, I will not depart therefrom." +Quoth she, "I would have thee take me at this hour and take this +my handmaid and saddle us two camels and two of the King's horses +and set on each horse a saddle bag of goods and somewhat of +provaunt, and go with us to our own country; where, if thou +desire to abide with us, I will marry thee to her thou shalt +choose of my handmaidens, or, if thou prefer return to thine own +land, we will marry thee and give thee whatso thou desires" after +thou hast taken of money what shall satisfy thee." When Al +Ghazban, heard this, he rejoiced with great joy and replied, "O +my lady, I will serve both of you with mine eyes and will go at +once and saddle the horses." Then he went away gladsome and +saying to himself, "I shall get my will of them and if they will +not yield to me, I will kill them both and take their riches." +But he kept this his intent to himself, and presently returned +with two camels and three head of horses, one of which he rode, +and Princess Abrizah made Marjanah mount the second she mounting +the third, albeit she was in labour pains and possessed not her +soul for anguish. And the slave ceased not travelling with them +night and day through the passes of the mountains, till there +remained but musingly march between them and their own country; +when the travail pangs came upon Abrizah and she could no longer +resist; so she said to Al-Ghazban, "Set me down, for the pains of +labour are upon me;" and cried to Marjanah, "Do thou alight and +sit by me and deliver me." Then Marjanah dismounted from her +horse, and Al-Ghazban did in like sort, and they made fast the +bridles and helped the Princess to dismount, for she was aswoon +from excess of anguish. When Al-Ghazban saw her on the ground, +Satan entered into him and he drew his falchion and brandishing +it in her face, said "O my lady, vouchsafe me thy favours." +Hearing these words she turned to him and said, "It remaineth for +me only that I yield me to negro slaves, after having refused +Kings and Braves!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Princess +Abrizah said to the black slave Al Ghazban, "It remaineth for me +only that I yield me to negro slaves, after having refused Kings +and Braves!" And she was wroth with him and cried, "Woe to thee! +what words are these thou sayest? Out on thee, and talk not thus +in my presence and know that I will never consent to what thou +sayest, though I drink the cup of death. Wait till I have cast +my burden and am delivered of the after birth, and then, if thou +be able thereto, do with me as thou wilt; but, an thou leave not +lewd talk at this time assuredly I will slay myself with my own +hand and quit the world and be at peace from all this." And she +began reciting extempore,[FN#223] + +"O spare me, thou Ghazban, indeed enow for me * Are heavy strokes + of time, mischance and misery! +Whoredom my Lord forfends to all humanity; * Quoth He, 'Who + breaks my bidding Hell for home shall see!' +And if thou leave not suing me to whoredom's way * Against th' + Almighty's choicest gift, my chastity, +Upon my tribesmen I with might and main will call * And gather + all, however far or near they be; +And with Yamni blade were I in pieces hewn, * Ne'er shall he + sight my face who makes for villeiny, +The face of free born come of noble folk and brave; * What then + can be to me the seed of whoreson slave?" + +When Ghazban heard these lines he was wroth exceedingly; his eyes +reddened with blood and his face became a dusty grey[FN#224]; his +nostrils swelled, his lips protruded and the repulsiveness of his +aspect redoubled. And he repeated these couplets, + +"Ho thou, Abrizah, mercy! leave me not for I * Of thy love and + Yamni[FN#225] glance the victim lie +My heart is cut to pieces by thy cruelty, * My body wasted and my + patience done to die: +From glances ravishing all hearts with witchery * Reason far + flies, the while desire to thee draws nigh; +Though at thy call should armies fill the face of earth * E'en + now I'd win my wish and worlds in arms defy!" + +When Abrizah heard these words, she wept with sore weeping and +said to him, "Woe to thee, O Ghazban! How dareth the like of +thee to address me such demand, O base born and obscene bred? +Dost thou deem all folk are alike?" When the vile slave heard +this from her, he waxt more enraged and his eyes grew redder: and +he came up to her and smiting her with the sword on her neck +wounded her to the death. Then he drove her horse before him +with the treasure and made off with himself to the mountains. +Such was the case with Al-Ghazban; but as regards Abrizah, she +gave birth to a son, like the moon, and Marjanah took the babe +and did him the necessary offices and laid him by his mother's +side; and lo and behold! the child fastened to its mother's +breast and she dying.[FN#226] When Marjanah saw this, she cried +out with a grievous cry and rent her raiment and cast dust on her +head and buffeted her cheeks till blood flowed, saying, "Alas, my +mistress! Alas, the pity of it! Thou art dead by the hand of a +worthless black slave, after all thy knightly prowess!" And she +ceased not weeping when suddenly a great cloud of dust arose and +walled the horizon;[FN#227] but, after awhile, it lifted and +discovered a numerous conquering host. Now this was the army of +King Hardub, Princess Abrizah's father, and the cause of his +coming was that when he heard of his daughter and her handmaids +having fled to Baghdad, and that they were with King Omar bin al- +Nu'uman, he had come forth, leading those with him, to seek +tidings of her from travellers who might have seen her with the +King. When he had gone a single day's march from his capital, he +espied three horse men afar off and made towards them, intending +to ask whence they came and seek news of his daughter. Now these +three whom he saw at a distance were his daughter and Marjanah +and the slave Al- Ghazban; and he made for them to push inquiry. +Seeing this the villain blackamoor feared for himself; so he +killed Abrizah and fled for his life. When they came up, King +Hardub saw his daughter lying dead and Marjanah weeping over her, +and he threw himself from his steed and fell fainting to the +ground. All the riders of his company, the Emirs and Waxirs, +took foot and forth right pitched their tents on the mountain and +set up for the King a great pavilion, domed and circular, without +which stood the grandees of the realm. When Marjanah saw her +master, she at once recognized him and her tears redoubled; and, +when he came to himself, he questioned her and she told him all +that had passed and said, "Of a truth he that hath slain thy +daughter is a black slave belonging to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, +and she informed him how Sharrkan's father had dealt with the +Princess. When King Hardub heard this, the world grew black in +his sight and he wept with sore weeping. Then he called for a +litter and, therein laying his dead daughter, returned to +Caesarea and carried her into the palace, where he went in to his +mother, Zat al-Dawahi, and said to that Lady of Calamities, +"Shall the Moslems deal thus with my girl? Verily King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman despoiled her of her honour by force, and after this, +one of his black slaves slew her. By the truth of the Messiah, I +will assuredly take blood revenge for my daughter and clear away +from mine honour the stain of shame; else will I kill myself with +mine own hand!" And he wept passing sore. Quoth his mother, +"None other than Marjanah killed thy daughter, for she hated her +in secret;" and she continued to her son, "Fret not for taking +the blood wit of thy daughter, for, by the truth of the Messiah, +I will not turn back from King Omar bin al-Nu'uman till I have +slain him and his sons; and of a very truth I will do with him a +deed, passing the power of Sage and Knight, whereof the +chroniclers shall tell chronicles in all countries and in every +place: but needs must thou do my bidding in all I shall direct, +for whoso be firmly set on the object of his desire shall surely +compass his desire." "By the virtue of the Messiah," replied he, +"I will not cross thee in aught thou shalt say." Then quoth she, +"Bring me a number of hand maids, high bosomed virgins, and +summon the wise men of the age and let them teach them philosophy +and the rules of behaviour before Kings, and the art of +conversation and making verses; and let them talk with them of +all manner science and edifying knowledge. And the sages must be +Moslems, that they may teach them the language and traditions of +the Arabs, together with the history of the Caliphs and the +ancient annals of the Kings of Al-Islam; and if we persevere in +this for four years' space, we shall gain our case. So possess +thy soul in patience and wait; for one of the Arabs saith, 'If we +take man bote after years forty the time were short to ye.' When +we have taught the girls these things, we shall be able to work +our will with our foe, for he doteth on women and he hath three +hundred and sixty concubines, whereto are now added an hundred of +the flowers of thy handmaidens who were with thy daughter, she +that hath found mercy.[FN#228] As soon as I have made an end of +their education, as described to thee, I will take them and set +out with them in person." When King Hardub heard his mother's +words, he rejoiced and arose and kissed her head; and at once +despatched messengers and couriers to lands sundry and manifold +to fetch him Moslem sages. They obeyed his commands and fared to +far countries and thence brought him the sages and the doctors he +sought. When these came into presence, he honoured them with +notable honorurs and bestowed dresses on them and appointed to +them stipends and allowances and promised them much money whenas +they should have taught the damsels. Then he committed the +handmaidens to their hands--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-third Night. + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +sages and the doctors stood in presence of King Hardub, he +honoured them with notable honours and committed the hand maidens +to their hands, enjoining that these be instructed in all manner +of knowledge, philosophy and polite accomplishments; and they set +themselves to do his bidding. Such was the case with King +Hardub; but as for King Omar bin al Nu'uman, when he returned +from coursing and hunting and entered his palace, he sought +Princess Abrizah but found her not, nor any one knew of her nor +could any give him news of her. This was grievous to him and he +said, "How could the lady leave the palace unknown of any? Had +my kingdom been at stake in this case, it were in perilous +condition there being none to govern it! I will never again go +to sport and hunt till I have stationed at the gates those who +shall keep good guard over them!" And he was sore vexed and his +breast was straitened for the loss of Princess Abrizah. Hereupon +behold, his son Sharrkan returned from his journey; and the +father told him what had happened, and informed him how the lady +had fled, whilst he was chasing and hunting, whereat he grieved +with exceeding grief. Then King Omar took to visiting his +children every day and making much of them and brought them +learned men and doctors to teach them, appointing for them +stipends. When Sharrkan saw this, he raged with exceeding rage +and envied thereupon his brother and sister till the signs of +chagrin appeared in his face and he ceased not to languish by +reason of this matter: so one day his father said to him, "Why do +I see thee grown weak in body and yellow of face?" "O my father," +replied Sharrkan, "every time I see thee fondle my brother and +sister and make much of them, jealousy seizeth on me, and I fear +lest it grow on me till I slay them and thou slay me in return. +And this is the reason of my weakness of body and change of +complexion. But now I crave of thy favour that thou give me one +of thy castles outlying the rest, that I may abide there the +remnant of my life, for as the sayer of bywords saith, 'Absence +from my friend is better and fitter for me'; and, 'Whatso eye +doth not perceive, that garreth not heart to grieve.'" And he +bowed his head towards the ground. When King Omar bin al-Nu'uman +heard his words and knew the cause of his ailment and of his +being broken down, he soothed his heart and said to him, "O my +son, I grant thee this and I have not in my reign a greater than +the Castle of Damascus, and the government of it is thine from +this time." Thereupon he forthright summoned his secretaries of +state and bade them write Sharrkan's patent of investiture to the +viceroyalty of Damascus of Syria. And when they had written it, +he equipped him and sent with him the Wazir Dandan, and invested +him with the rule and government and gave him instructions as to +policy and regulations; and took leave of him, and the grandees +and officers of state did likewise, and he set out with his host. +When he arrived at Damascus, the townspeople beat the drums and +blew the trumpets and decorated the city and came out to meet him +in great state; whilst all the notables and grandees paced in +procession, and those who stood to the right of the throne walked +on his right flank, and the others to the left. Thus far +concerning Sharrkan; but as regards his father, Omar bin al- +Nu'uman, soon after the departure of his son, the children's +tutors and governors presented themselves before him and said to +him, "O our lord, thy children have now learnt knowledge and they +are completely versed in the rules of manners and the etiquette +of ceremony." The King rejoiced thereat with exceeding joy and +conferred bountiful largesse upon the learned men, seeing Zau al- +Makan grown up and flourishing and skilled in horsemanship. The +Prince had reached the age of fourteen and he occupied himself +with piety and prayers, loving the poor, the Olema and the Koran +students, so that all the people of Baghdad loved him, men and +women. One day, the procession of the Mahmil[FN#229] of Irk +passed round Baghdad before its departure for the pilgrimage to +Meccah and visitation of the tomb of the Prophet (whom Allah +bless and preserve!). When Zau al-Makan the Mahmil procession he +was seized with longing desire to become a pilgrim,[FN#230] so he +went in to his sire and said, "I come to ask thy leave to make +the pilgrimage." But his father forbade him saying, "Wait till +next year and I will go and thou too." When the Prince saw that +the matter was postponed, he betook himself to his sister Nuzhat +al-Zaman, whom he found standing at prayer. As soon as she had +ended her devotions he said to her, "I am dying with desire of +pilgrimage to the Holy House of Allah at Meccah and to visit the +tomb of the Prophet, upon whom be peace! I asked my father's +leave, but he forbade me that, so I mean to take privily somewhat +of money and set out on the pilgrimage without his knowledge." +"Allah upon thee," exclaimed she, "take me with thee and deprive +me not of visitation to the tomb of the Prophet, whom Allah bless +and keep!" And he answered, "As soon as it is dark night, do thou +come forth from this place, without telling any." +Accordingly,When it was the middle of the night she arose and +took somewhat of money and donned a man's habit; and she ceased +not walking to the palace gate, where she found Zau al-Makan with +camels ready for marching. So he mounted and mounted her; and +the two fared on till they were in the midst of the Iraki[FN#231] +pilgrim-party, and they ceased not marching and Allah wrote +safety for them, till they entered Meccah the Holy and stood upon +Araft and performed the pilgrimage rites. Then they made a +visitation to the tomb of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and +assain!) and thought to return with the pilgrims to their native +land. But Zau al-Makan said to his sister, "O my sister, it is +in my mind to visit the Holy House,[FN#232] Jerusalem, and +Abraham the Friend of Allah[FN#233] (on whom be peace!)." "I also +desire so to do," replied she. So they agreed upon this and he +fared forth and took passage for himself and her and they made +ready and set out in the ship with a company of Jerusalem +palmers. That very night the sister fell sick of an aguish +chill, and was grievously ill but presently recovered, after +which the brother also sickened. She tended him during his +malady and they ceased not wayfaring till they arrived at +Jerusalem, but the fever increased on him and he grew weaker and +weaker. They alighted at a Khan and there hired a lodging; but +Zau al- Makan's sickness ceased not to increase on him, till he +was wasted with leanness and became delirious. At this, his +sister was greatly afflicted and exclaimed, "There is no Majesty +and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! +This is the decree of Allah!" They sojourned in that place +awhile, his weakness ever increasing and she attending him and +buying necessaries for him and for herself, till all the money +she had was expended and she became so poor that she had not so +much as a dirham left. Then she sent a servant of the Khan to +the bazar with some of her clothes, and he sold them and she +spent the price upon her brother; then sold she something more +and she ceased not selling all she had, piece by piece, till +nothing was left but an old rug. Whereupon she wept and +exclaimed, "Verily is Allah the Orderer of the past and the +future!" Presently her brother said to her, "O my sister, I feel +recovery drawing near and my heart longeth for a little roast +meat." "By Allah! O my brother," replied she, "I have no face to +beg; but tomorrow I will enter some rich man's house and serve +him and earn somewhat for our living." Then she bethought herself +awhile and said, "Of a truth 'tis hard for me to leave thee and +thou in this state, but I must despite myself!" He rejoined, +"Allah forbid! Thou wilt be put to shame; but there is no +Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah!" And he wept and she +wept too. Then she said, "O my brother, we are strangers who +have dwelt here a full year, but none hath yet knocked at our +door. Shall we then die of hunger? I know no resource but that +I go out and do service and earn somewhat to keep us alive, till +thou recover from thy sickness, when we will travel back to our +native land." She sat weeping awhile and he wept too, propped +upon his elbow. Then Nuzhat al-Zaman arose and, veiling her head +with a bit of camlet,[FN#234] which had been of the cameleer's +clothes and which the owner had forgotten and left with them; she +kissed the head of her brother and embraced him and went forth +from him, weeping and knowing not whither she should wend. And +she stinted not going and her brother Zau al-Makan awaiting her +return till the supper time; but she came not, and he watched for +her till the morning morrowed but still she returned not; and +this endured till two days went by. He was greatly troubled +thereat and his heart fluttered for her, and hunger was sore upon +him. At last he left the chamber and, calling the servant of the +caravanserai, said, "I wish thee to bear me to the bazar." So he +carried him to the market street and laid him down there; and the +people of Jerusalem gathered round him and were moved to tears +seeing his condition. He signed to them begging for somewhat to +eat; so they brought him some money from certain of the merchants +who were in the bazar, and bought food and fed him therewith; +after which they carried him to a shop, where they spread him a +mat of palm leaves and set an ewer of water at his head. When +night fell, all the folk went away, sore concerned for him and, +in the middle of the night, he called to mind his sister and his +sickness redoubled on him, so that he abstained from eating and +drinking and became insensible to the world around him. Then the +bazar people arose and took for him from the merchants thirty +seven dirhams, and hiring a camel, said to the driver, "Carry +this sick man to Damascus and leave him in the hospital; haply he +may be cured and recover health." "On my head be it!" replied the +camel man; but he said to himself, "How shall I take this sick +man to Damascus, and he nigh upon death?" So he carried him away +to a place and hid with him till the night, when he threw him +down on the ash heap near the fire hole of a Hammam and went his +way. When morning dawned the Stoker[FN#235] of the bath came to +his work and, finding Zau al-Makan cast on his back, exclaimed, +"Why did they not throw their dead body anywhere but here?" So +saying, he gave him a kick and he moved; whereupon quoth the +Fireman, "Some one of you who hath eaten a bit of Hashish and +hath thrown himself down in whatso place it be!" Then he looked +at his face and saw his hairless cheeks and his grace and +comeliness; so he took pity on him and knew that he was sick and +a stranger in the land. And he cried, "There is no Majesty and +there is no Might save in Allah! verily, I have sinned against +this youth, for indeed the Prophet (whom Allah bless and keep!) +enjoineth honour to the stranger, more especially when the +stranger is sick." Then he carried him home and went in with him +to his wife and bade her tend him. So she spread him a sleeping +rug and set a cushion under his head, then warmed water for him +and washed therewith his hands and feet and face. Meanwhile, the +Stoker went to the market and bought some rose water and sugar, +and sprinkled Zau al-Makan's face with the water and gave him to +drink of the sherbet. Then he fetched a clean shirt and put it +on him. With this, Zau al-Makan sniffed the zephyr of health and +recovery returned to him; and he sat up and leant against the +pillow. Hereat the Fireman rejoiced and exclaimed, "Praise be to +Allah for the welfare of this youth! O Allah, I beseech Thee by +Thy knowledge of hidden things, that Thou make the salvation of +this youth to be at my hands!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Fireman +exclaimed, "O Allah, I beseech Thee of Thy knowledge of hidden +things, that Thou make this young man's life the work of my +hands!" And he ceased not to nurse him for three days, giving him +to drink of sherbet of sugar and willow flower water and rose +water; and doing him all manner of service and kindness, till +health began to return to his body and Zau al-Makan opened his +eyes. Presently came in the Fireman and, seeing him sitting up +and showing signs of amendment, said to him, "What is now thy +state, O my son?" "Praise be to Allah," replied Zau al-Makan, "I +am well and like to recover, if such be the will of Allah +Almighty at this time." The Stoker praised the Lord of All for +this and, wending fast to the market, bought ten chickens, which +he carried to his wife and said, "Kill two of these for him every +day, one at dawn of day and the other at fall of day." So she +rose up and killed a fowl and brought it to him boiled, and fed +him with the flesh and made him drink its broth. When he had +done eating, she fetched hot water and he washed his hands and +lay back upon the pillow, whereupon she covered him up with the +coverlet, and he slept till the time of the mid afternoon prayer. +Then she arose and killed another fowl and boiled it; after which +she cut it up and, bringing it to Zau al-Makan, said, "Eat, O my +son!" While he was eating; behold, her husband entered and seeing +her feeding him, sat down at his head and said to him, "How is it +with thee now, O my son?" "Thanks be to Allah for recovery!" he +replied: "may the Almighty requite thee thy kindness to me." At +this the Fireman rejoiced and going out, bought sherbet of +violets and rose water and made him drink it. Now the Stoker +used to work at the Hammam all day for a wage of five dirhams, +whereof he spent every day, for Zau al-Makan, one dirham upon +sugar and sherbet of rose water and willow flower water,[FN#236] +and another dirham for fowls; and he ceased not to entreat him +thus kindly during a whole month, till the traces of illness +ceased from him and he was once more sound and whole. Thereupon +the Fireman and his wife rejoiced and asked him, "O my son, wilt +thou go with me to the bath?"; whereto he answered, "Yes!" So the +Stoker went to the bazar and fetched a donkey boy, and he mounted +Zau al-Makan on the ass and supported him in the saddle till they +came to the bath. Then he made him sit down and seated the +donkey boy in the furnace-room and went forth to the market and +bought Iote leaves and lupin-flour,[FN#237] with which he +returned to the bath and said to Zau al-Makan, "O my master, in +Allah's name, walk in and I will wash thy body." So they entered +the inner room of the bath, and the Fireman took to rubbing Zau +al-Makan's legs and began to wash his body with the leaves and +meal, when there came to them a bathman, whom the bath keeper had +sent to Zau al-Makan; and he, seeing the Stoker washing and +rubbing him, said, "This is doing injury to the keeper's rights." +Replied the Fireman, "The master overwhelmeth us with his +favours!" Then the bathman proceeded to shave Zau al-Makan's +head, after which he and the Stoker washed themselves and +returned to the house, where he clad Zau al-Makan in a shirt of +fine stuff and a robe of his own; and gave him a handsome turband +and girdle and a light kerchief which he wound about his neck. +Meanwhile the Fireman's wife had killed and cooked two chickens; +so, as soon as Zau al-Makan entered and seated himself on the +carpet, the husband arose and, dissolving sugar in willow flower +water, made him drink of it. Then he brought the food tray and, +cutting up the chickens, fed him with the flesh and gave him the +broth to drink till he was satisfied; when he washed his hands +and praised Allah for recovery, and said to the Fireman, "Thou +art he whom the Almighty vouchsafed to me and made the cause of +my cure!" "Leave this talk," replied the other, "and tell us the +cause of thy coming to this city and whence thou art. Thy face +showeth signs of gentle breeding." "Tell me first how thou camest +to fall in with me," said Zau al-Makan; "and after I will tell +thee my story." Rejoined the Fireman, "As for that, I found thee +lying on the rubbish heap by the door of the fire house, as I +went to my work near the morning, and knew not who had thrown +thee there. So I carried thee home with me; and this is all my +tale." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "Glory to Him who quickeneth the +bones, though they be rotten! Indeed, O my brother, thou hast +not done good save to one worthy of it, and thou shalt presently +gather its fruitage." And he added, "But where am I now?" "Thou +art in the city of Jerusalem," replied the Stoker; where upon Zau +al-Makan called to mind his strangerhood and remembered his +separation from his sister and wept. Then he discovered his +secret to the Fireman and told him his story and began repeating, + +"In love they bore me further than my force would go, * And for + them made me suffer resurrection throe: +Oh, have compassion, cruel! on this soul of mine * Which, since + ye fared, is pitied by each envious foe; +Nor grudge the tender mercy of one passing glance * My case to + lighten, easing this excess of woe: +Quoth I 'Heart, bear this loss in patience!' Patience cried * + 'Take heed! no patience in such plight I'm wont to show.' " + +Then he redoubled his weeping, and the Fireman said to him, "Weep +not, but rather praise Allah for safety and recovery." Asked Zau +al-Makan, "How far is it hence to Damascus?" Answered the other, +"Six days' journey." Then quoth Zau al-Makan, "Wilt thou send me +thither?" "O my lord," quoth the Stoker, "how can I allow thee to +go alone, and thou a youth and a stranger to boot? If thou would +journey to Damascus, I am one who will go with thee; and if my +wife will listen to and obey me and accompany me, I will take up +my abode there; for it is no light matter to part with thee." +Then said he to his wife, "Wilt thou travel with me to Damascus +of Syria or wilt thou abide here, whilst I lead this my lord +thither and return to thee? For he is bent upon going to +Damascus of Syria and, by Allah, it is hard to me to part with +him, and I fear for him from highway men." Replied she, "I will +go with you both;" and he rejoined, "Praised be Allah for accord, +and we have said the last word!" Then he rose and selling all his +own goods and his wife's gear,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say, + + When it was the Fifty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Fire +man and his wife agreed with Zau al-Makan to travel with him +Damascus wards. Then the Stoker sold his goods and his wife's +gear and bought a camel and hired an ass for Zau al-Makan; and +they set out, and ceased not wayfaring for six days till they +reached Damascus. And they arrived there towards eventide; when +the Fireman went forth and, as was his wont, bought some meat and +drink. They had dwelt but five days in Damascus, when his wife +sickened and, after a short illness, was translated to the mercy +of Almighty Allah. Her death was a heavy matter to Zau al-Makan, +for he was grown used to her as she had tended him assiduously; +and the Fireman grieved for her with excessive grief. Presently +the Prince turned to the Stoker and finding him mourning, said to +him, "Grieve not, for at this gate we must all go in." Replied +he, "Allah make weal thy lot, O my son! Surely He will +compensate us with His favours and cause our mourning to cease. +What sayst thou, O my son, about our walking abroad to view +Damascus and cheer thy spirits?" Replied Zau al-Makan, "Thy will +is mine." So the Fireman arose and placed his hand in that of Zau +al- Makan and the two walked on till they came to the stables of +the Viceroy of Damascus, where they found camels laden with +chests and carpets and brocaded stuffs, and horses ready saddled +and Bactrian dromedaries, while Mamelukes and negro slaves and +folk in a hubbub were running to and fro. Quoth Zau al-Makan, "I +wonder to whom belong all these chattels and camels and stuffs!" +So he asked one of the eunuchs, "Whither this dispatching?'' and +he answered, "These are presents sent by the Emir of Damascus to +King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, with the tribute of Syria." Now when +Zau al-Makan heard his father's name his eyes brimmed over with +tears, and he began repeating, + +"Oh ye gone from the gaze of these ridded eyne, * Ye whose sight + in my spirit shall ever dwell! +Your charms are gone, but this heart of me * Hath no sweet, and + no pleasures its sour dispel; +If Allah's grace make us meet again, * In long drawn love-tale my + love I'll tell." + +And when he had ended his verse, he wept and the Fireman said to +him, "O my son, we hardly believed that thy health had +returned;[FN#238] so take heart and do not weep, for I fear a +relapse for thee." And he ceased not comforting and cheering him, +whilst Zau al-Makan sighed and moaned over his strangerhood and +separation from his sister and his family; and tears streamed +from his eyes and he recited these couplets, + +"Get thee provaunt in this world ere thou wend upon thy way, * + And know how surely Death descends thy life lot to waylay: +All thy worldly goods are pride and the painfullest repine; * All + thy worldly life is vexing, of thy soul in vain display: +Say is not worldly wone like a wanderer's place of rest, * Where + at night he 'nakhs'[FN#239] his camels and moves off at dawn + of day?" + +And he continued to weep and wail over his separation; whilst the +Fireman also bewept the loss of his wife, yet ceased not to +comfort Zau al-Makan till morning dawned. When the sun rose, he +said to him, "Meseemeth thou yearnest for thy native land?" +"Yes," replied Zau al-Makan, "and I can no longer tarry here; so +I will commend thee to Allah's care and set out with these folk +and journey with them, little by little, till I come to my mother +land." Said the Stoker, "And I with thee; for of a truth I cannot +bear to part with thee. I have done thee kindly service and I +mean to complete it by tending thee on thy travel." At this, Zau +al-Makan rejoiced and said, "Allah abundantly requite thee for +me!" and was pleased with the idea of their travelling together. +The Fireman at once went forth and bought another ass, selling +the camel; and laid in his provaunt and said to Zau al-Makan, +"This is for thee to ride by the way; and, when thou art weary of +riding, thou canst dismount and walk." Said Zau al-Makan, "May +Allah bless thee and aid me to requite thee! for verily thou +hast dealt with me more lovingly than one with his brother." Then +he waited till it was dark night, when he laid the provisions and +baggage on that ass and set forth upon their journey. This much +befel Zau al-Makan and the Fireman; but as regards what happened +to his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman, when she left her brother in the +Khan where they abode and, wrapped in the old camlet, went out to +seek service with some one, that she might earn wherewithal to +buy him the roast meat he longed for, she fared on, weeping and +knowing not whither to go, whilst her mind was occupied with +thoughts of her brother and of her family and her native land. +So she implored Allah Almighty to do away with these calamities +from them and began versifying, + +"Dark falls the night and Passion comes sore pains to gar me + dree, * And pine upstirs those ceaseless pangs which work my + tormentry, +And cease not separation flames my vitals to consume, * And + drives me on destruction way this sorrow's ecstacy +And longing breeds me restlessness; desire for ever fires, * And + tears to all proclaim what I would keep in secrecy +No cunning shift is known to me a meeting to secure, * That I may + quit this sickly state, may cure my malady: +The love which blazeth in my heart is fed with fancy fuel, * The + lover from its hell of fire must bear Hell's agony![FN#240] +O thou who blamest me for all befel me, 'tis enough, * Patient I + bear what ever wrote the Reed of Doom for me: +By Love I swear I'll never be consoled, no, never more; * I swear + the oath of Love's own slaves who know no perjury: +O Night, to chroniclers of Love the news of me declare; * That + sleep hath fed mine eyelids of thy knowledge witness bear!" + +Then she walked on, weeping and turning right and left as she +went, when behold, there espied her an old Badawi[FN#241] who had +come into the town from the desert with wild Arabs other five. +The old man took note of her and saw that she was lovely, but she +had nothing on her head save a piece of camlet, and, marvelling +at her beauty, he said to himself, "This charmer dazzleth men's +wits but she is in squalid condition, and whether she be of the +people of this city or she be a stranger, I needs must have her." +So he followed her, little by little, till he met her face to +face and stopped the way before her in a narrow lane, and called +out to her, asking her case, and said, "Tell me, O my little +daughter! art thou a free woman or a slave?" When she heard +this, she said to him, "By thy life, do not add to my sorrows!" +Quoth he, "Allah hath blessed me with six daughters, of whom five +died and only one is left me, the youngest of all; and I came to +ask thee if thou be of the folk of this city or a stranger; that +I might take thee and carry thee to her, to bear her company so +as to divert her from pining for her sisters. If thou have no +kith and kin, I will make thee as one of them and thou and she +shall be as my two children." Nuzhat al-Zaman bowed her head in +bashfulness when she heard what he said and communed with +herself, "Haply I may trust myself to this old man." Then she +said to him, "O nuncle, I am a maiden of the Arabs and a stranger +and I have a sick brother; but I will go with thee to thy +daughter on one condition, which is, that I may spend only the +day with her and at night may return to my brother. If thou +strike this bargain I will fare with thee, for I am a stranger +and I was high in honour among my tribe, and I awoke one morning +to find myself vile and abject. I came with my brother from the +land of Al-Hijaz and I fearless he know not where I am." When the +Badawi heard this, he said to himself, "By Allah, I have got my +desire!" Then he turned to her and replied, "There shall none be +dearer to me than thou; I wish thee only to bear my daughter +company by day and thou shalt go to thy brother at earliest +nightfall. Or, if thou wilt, bring him over to dwell with us." +And the Badawi ceased not to console her heart and coax her, till +she trusted in him and agreed to serve him. Then he walked on +before her and, when she followed him, he winked to his men to go +in advance and harness the dromedaries and load them with their +packs and place upon them water and provisions, ready for setting +out as soon as he should come up with the camels. Now this +Badawi was a base born churl, a highway thief and a traitor to +the friend he held most fief, a rogue in grain, past master of +plots and chicane. He had no daughter and no son and was only +passing through the town when, by the decree of the Decreer, he +fell in with this unhappy one. And he ceased not to hold her in +converse on the highway till they came without the city of +Jerusalem and, when outside, he joined his companions and found +they had made ready the dromedaries. So the Badawi mounted a +camel, having seated Nuzhat al-Zaman behind him and they rode on +all night. Then she knew that the Badawi's proposal was a snare +and that he had tricked her; and she continued weeping and crying +out the whole night long, while they journeyed on making for the +mountains, in fear any should see them. Now when it was near +dawn, they dismounted from their dromedaries and the Badawi came +up to Nuzhat al-Zaman and said to her, "O city strumpet, what is +this weeping? By Allah, an thou hold not thy peace, I will beat +thee to death, O thou town filth!" When she heard this she +loathed life and longed for death; so she turned to him and said, +"O accursed old man, O gray beard of hell, how have I trusted +thee and thou hast played me false, and now thou wouldst torture +me?" When he heard her reply he cried out, "O lazy baggage, dost +thou dare to bandy words with me?" And he stood up to her and +beat her with a whip, saying, "An thou hold not thy peace, I will +kill thee!" So she was silent awhile, then she called to mind her +brother and the happy estate she had been in and she shed tears +secretly. Next day, she turned to the Badawi and said to him, +"How couldst thou play me this trick and lure me into these bald +and stony mountains, and what is thy design with me?" When he +heard her words he hardened his heart and said to her, "O lazy +baggage of ill omen and insolent! wilt thou bandy words with +me?" and he took the whip and came down with it on her back till +she felt faint. Then she bowed down over his feet and +kissed[FN#242] them; and he left beating her and began reviling +her and said, "By the rights of my bonnet,[FN#243] if I see or +hear thee weeping, I will cut out thy tongue and stuff it up thy +coynte, O thou city filth!" So she was silent and made him no +reply, for the beating pained her; but sat down with her arms +round her knees and, bowing her head upon her collar, began to +look into her case and her abasement after her lot of high +honour; and the beating she had endured; and she called to mind +her brother and his sickness and forlorn condition, and how they +were both strangers in a far country, which crave her tears down +her cheeks and she wept silently and began repeating, + +"Time hath for his wont to upraise and debase, * Nor is lasting + condition for human race: +In this world each thing hath appointed turn; * Nor may man + transgress his determined place: +How long these perils and woes? Ah woe * For a life, all woeful + in parlous case! +Allah bless not the days which have laid me low * I' the world, + with disgrace after so much grace! +My wish is baffled, my hopes cast down, * And distance forbids me + to greet his face: +O thou who passeth that dear one's door, * Say for me, these + tears shall flow evermore!" + +When she had finished her verses, the Badawi came up to her and, +taking compassion on her, bespoke her kindly and wiped away her +tears. Then he gave her a barley scone and said, "I love not one +who answereth at times when I am in wrath: so henceforth give me +no more of these impertinent words and I will sell thee to a good +man like myself, who will do well with thee, even as I have +done." "Yes; whatso thou doest is right," answered she; and when +the night was longsome upon her and hunger burnt her, she ate +very little of that barley bread. In the middle of the night the +Badawi gave orders for departure,--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Badawi gave the barley scone to Nuzhat al-Zaman and promised he +would sell her to a good man like himself, she replied, "Whatso +thou doest is right!" and, about midnight when hunger burned +her,[FN#244] she ate a very little of that barley bread and the +Badawi ordered his party to set out; so they loaded their loads +and he mounted a camel setting Nuzhat al-Zaman behind him. Then +they journeyed and ceased not journeying for three days, till +they entered the city of Damascus and alighted at the Sultan's +Khan, hard by the Viceroy's Gate. Now she had lost her colour by +grief and the fatigue of such travelling, and she ceased not to +weep over her misfortunes. So the Badawi came up to her and +said, "O thou city filth, by the right of my bonnet, if thou +leave not this weeping, I will sell thee to none but a Jew!" Then +he arose and took her by the hand and carried her to a chamber, +and walked off to the bazar, and he went round to, the merchants +who dealt in slave girls, and began to parley with them, saying, +"I have brought a slave girl whose brother fell ill, and I sent +him to my people about Jerusalem, that they might tend him till +he is cured. As for her I want to sell her, but after the dog +her brother fell sick, the separation from him was grievous to +her, and since then she doth nothing but weep, and now I wish +that whoso is minded to buy her of me speak softly to her and +say, 'Thy brother is with me in Jerusalem ill'; and I will be +easy with him about her price." Then one of the merchants came up +to him and asked, "How old is she?" He answered "She is a virgin, +just come to marriageable age, and she is endowed with sense and +breeding and wit and beauty and loveliness. But from the day I +sent her brother to Jerusalem, her heart hath been yearning for +him, so that her beauty is fallen away and her value lessened." +Now when the merchant heard this, he set forth with the Badawi +and said, "O Shaykh[FN#245] of the Arabs, I will go with thee and +buy of thee this girl whom thou praisest so highly for wit and +manners and beauty and loveliness; and I will pay thee her price +but it must be upon conditions which if thou accept, I will give +thee ready money, and if thou accept not I will return her to +thee." Quoth the Badawi, "An thou wilt, take her up to the Sultan +Sharrkan, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman lord of Baghdad and of the +land of Khorasan, and condition me any conditions thou likest, +for when thou hast brought her before King Sharrkan, haply she +will please him, and he will pay thee her price and a good profit +for thyself to boot." Rejoined the merchant, "It happens that I +have just now something to ask from him, and it is this that he +write me an order upon the office, exempting me from custom dues +and also that he write me a letter of recommendation to his +father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman. So if he take the girl, I will +weigh[FN#246] thee out her price at once." "I agree with thee to +this condition," answered the Badawi. So they returned together +to the place where Nuzhat al-Zaman was and the wild Arab stood at +the chamber door and called out, saying, "O Njiyah[FN#247]!" +which was the name wherewith he had named her. When she heard +him, she wept and made no answer. Then he turned to the merchant +and said to him, "There she sitteth; go to her and look at her +and speak to her kindly as I enjoined thee." So the trader went +up to her in courteous wise and saw that she was wondrous +beautiful and loveable, especially as she knew the Arabic tongue; +and he said to the Badawi, "If she be even as thou saddest, I +shall get of the Sultan what I will for her." Then he bespake +her, "Peace be on thee, my little maid! How art thou?" She +turned to him and replied, "This also was registered in the Book +of Destiny." Then she looked at him and, seeing him to be a man +of respectable semblance with a handsome face, she said to +herself, "I believe this one cometh to buy me;" and she +continued, "If I hold aloof from him, I shall abide with my +tyrant and he will do me to death with beating. In any case, +this person is handsome of face and maketh me hope for better +treatment from him than from my brute of a Badawi. May be he +cometh only to hear me talk; so I will give him a fair answer." +All this while her eyes were fixed on the ground; then she raised +them to him and said in a sweet voice, "And upon thee be peace, O +my lord, and Allah's mercy and His benediction![FN#248] This is +what is commanded of the Prophet, whom Allah bless and preserve! +As for thine enquiry how I am, if thou wouldst know my case, it +is such as thou wouldst not wish but to thy foe." And she held +her peace. When the merchant heard what she said, his fancy took +wings for delight in her and, turning to the Badawi, he asked +him, "What is her price, for indeed she is noble?" Thereupon the +Badawi waxed angry and answered, "Thou wilt turn me the girl's +head with this talk! Why dost thou say that she is +noble,[FN#249] while she is of the scum of slave girls and of the +refuse of folk? I will not sell her to thee!" When the merchant +heard this, he knew the man to be weak of wits and said to him, +"Calm thyself, for I will buy her of thee with these blemishes +thou mentionest." "And how much wilt thou give me for her?" +enquired the Badawi. Replied the merchant, "Name thy price for +her: none should name the son save his sire." Rejoined the +Badawi, "None shall name it but thou thyself." Quoth the merchant +to himself, "This wildling is a rudesby and a maggotty head. By +Allah, I cannot tell her price, for she hath won my heart with +her fair speech and good looks; and, if she can read and write, +it will be complete fair luck to her and to her purchaser. But +this Badawi does not know her worth." Then he turned and said to +him, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, I will give thee in ready money, +clear of the tax and the Sultan's dues, two hundred gold pieces." +Now when the Badawi heard this, he flew into a violent rage and +cried at the merchant, saying, "Get up and go thy ways! By +Allah, wert thou to offer me two hundred diners for the bit of +camlet she weareth, I would not sell it to thee. And now I will +not sell her, but will keep her by me, to pasture the camels and +grind my grist." And he cried out to her, saying, "Come here, +thou stinkard! I will not sell thee." Then he turned to the +merchant and said to him, "I used to think thee a man of +judgment; but, by the right of my bonnet, if thou begone not from +me, I will let thee hear what shall not please thee!" Quoth the +merchant to himself, "Of a truth this Badawi is mad and knoweth +not her value, and I will say no more to him about her price at +the present time; for by Allah, were he a man of sense, he would +not say, 'By the rights of my bonnet!' By the Almighty, she is +worth the kingdom of the Chosros and I have not her price by me, +but if he ask even more, I will give him what he will, though it +be all my goods." Then he turned and said to him, "O Shaykh of +the Arabs, take patience and calm thyself and tell me what +clothes she hath with thee?" Cried the Badawi, "And what hath the +baggage to do with clothes? By Allah, this camlet in which she +is wrapped is ample for her." "With thy leave," said the +merchant, "I will unveil her face and examine her even as folk +examine slave girls whom they think of buying."[FN#250] Replied +the other, "Up and do what thou wilt and Allah keep thy youth! +Examine her outside and inside and, if thou wilt, strip off her +clothes and look at her when she is naked." Quoth the trader, +"Allah forfend! I will look at naught save her face."[FN#251] +Then he went up to her and was put to shame by her beauty and +loveliness,--And Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +merchant went up to Nuzhat al-Zaman and was put to shame by her +beauty and loveliness, so he sat by her side and asked her, "O my +mistress, what is thy name?" She answered, "Doss thou ask what is +my name this day or what it was before this day?" Thereupon the +merchant enquired, "Hast thou then two names: to day's and +yesterday's?" "Yes," replied she, "my name in the past was Nuzhat +al-Zaman, the Delight of the Age; but my name at this present is +Ghussat[FN#252] al-Zaman, the Despight of the Age." When the +merchant heard this his eyes brimmed over with tears and quoth he +to her, "Hast thou not a sick brother?" "Ay by Allah, O my lord, +I have," quoth she, "but fortune hath parted me and him and he +lieth sick in Jerusalem." The merchant's head was confounded at +the sweetness of her speech and he said to himself, "Verily, the +Badawi spake the truth of her." Then she called to mind her +brother and his sickness and his strangerhood and her separation +from him in his hour of weakness and her not knowing what had +befallen him; and she thought of all that had happened to her +with the Badawi and of her severance from her mother and father +and native land; and the tears coursed down her cheeks and fast +as they started they dropped; and she began reciting, + +"Allah, where'er thou be, His aid impart * To thee, who distant + dwellest in my heart! +Allah be near thee how so far thou fare; * Ward off all shifts of + Time, all dangers thwart! +Mine eyes are desolate for thy vanisht sight, * And start my + tears-ah me, how fast they start! +Would Heaven I kenned what quarter or what land * Homes thee, and + in what house and tribe thou art +An fount of life thou drain in greenth of rose, * While drink I + tear drops for my sole desert? +An thou 'joy slumber in those hours, when I * Peel 'twixt my side + and couch coals' burning smart? +All things were easy save to part from thee, * For my sad heart + this grief is hard to dree." + +When the merchant heard her verses, he wept and put out his hand +to wipe away the tears from her cheeks; but she let down her veil +over her face, saying, "Heaven forbid, O my lord!''[FN#253] Then +the Badawi, who was sitting at a little distance watching them, +saw her cover her face from the merchant while about to wipe the +tears from her cheeks; and he concluded that she would have +hindered him from handling her: so he rose and running to her, +dealt her, with a camel's halter he had in his hand, such a blow +on the shoulders that she fell to the ground on her face. Her +eyebrow struck a stone which cut it open, and the blood streamed +down her cheeks; whereupon she screamed a loud scream and felt +faint and wept bitterly. The merchant was moved to tears for her +and said in himself, "There is no help for it but that I buy this +damsel, though at her weight in gold, and free her from this +tyrant." And he began to revile the Badawi whilst Nazhat al- +Zaman lay in sensible. When she came to herself, she wiped away +the tears and blood from her face; and she bound up her head: +then, raising her glance to heaven, she besought her Lord with a +sorrowful heart and began repeating, + +"And pity one who erst in honour throve, * And now is fallen into + sore disgrace. +She weeps and bathes her cheeks with railing tears, * And asks + 'What cure can meet this fatal case?'" + +When she had ended her verse, she turned to the merchant and said +in an undertone, "By the Almighty, do not leave me with a tyrant +who knoweth not Allah the Most High! If I pass this night in his +place, I shall kill myself with my own hand: save me from him, so +Allah save thee from Gehenna-fire." Then quoth the merchant to +the Badawi, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, this slave is none of thine +affair; so do thou sell her to me for what thou wilt." "Take +her," quoth the Badawi, "and pay me down her price, or I will +carry her back to the camp and there set her to feed the camels +and gather their dung."[FN#254] Said the merchant, "I will give +thee fifty thousand diners for her." "Allah will open!"[FN#255] +replied the Badawi. "Seventy thousand," said the merchant. +"Allah will open!" repeated the Badawi: "this is not the capital +spent upon her, for she hath eaten with me barley bread to the +value of ninety thousand gold pieces." The merchant rejoined, +"Thou and thine and all thy tribe in the length of your lives +have not eaten a thousand ducats' worth of barley; but I will say +thee one word, wherewith if thou be not satisfied, I will set the +Viceroy of Damascus on thee and he will take her from thee by +force." The Badawi continued, "Say on!" "An hundred thousand," +quoth the merchant. "I have sold her to thee at that price," +answered the Badawi; "I shall be able to buy salt with her." The +merchant laughed and, going to his lodgings, brought the money +and put it into the hand of the Badawi, who took it and made off, +saying to himself, "Needs must I go to Jerusalem where, haply, I +shall happen on her brother, and I will bring him here and sell +him also." So he mounted and journeyed till he arrived at +Jerusalem, where he went to the Khan and asked for Zau al-Makan, +but could not find him. Such was the case with him; but for what +regards the merchant and Nazhat al-Zaman, when he took her he +threw some of his clothes over her and carried her to his +lodgings,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +trader saved Nuzhat al-Zaman from the Badawi and bore her to his +lodgings and robed her in the richest raiment, he went down with +her to the bazar, where he bought her what ornaments she chose +and put them in a satin bag, which he set before her, saying, +"All is for thee and I ask nothing of thee in return but that, +when I lead thee to the Sultan, Viceroy of Damascus, thou +acquaint him with the price I paid for thee, albeit it was little +compared with thy value: and, if seeing thee he buy thee of me, +thou tell him how I have dealt with thee and ask of him for me a +royal patent, and a written recommendation wherewith I can repair +to his father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad, to the +intent that he may forbid the tax on my stuffs or any other goods +in which I traffic." When she heard his words, she wept and +sobbed, and the merchant said to her, "O my lady, I observe that, +every time I mention Baghdad, thine eyes are tearful: is there +any one there whom thou lovest? If it be a trader or the like, +tell me; for I know all the merchants and so forth there and, if +thou wouldst send him a message, I will bear it for thee." +Replied she, "By Allah, I have no acquaintance among merchant +folk and the like! I know none there but King Omar bin Nu'uman, +Lord of Baghdad." When the merchant heard her words, he laughed +and rejoiced with exceeding joy and said in himself, "By Allah, I +have won my wish!" Then he said to her, "Hast thou been shown to +him in time past?" She answered, "No, but I was brought up with +his daughter and he holdeth me dear and I have high honour with +him; so if thou wouldst have the King grant thee thy desire, give +me ink case and paper and I will write thee a letter; and when +thou reachest the city of Baghdad, do thou deliver it into the +hand of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and say to him, 'Thy handmaid, +Nuzhat al-Zaman, would have thee to know that the chances and +changes of the nights and days have struck her as with a hammer, +and have smitten her so that she hath been sold from place to +place, and she sendeth thee her salams.' And, if he ask further +of her, say that I am now with the Viceroy at Damascus." The +merchant wondered at her eloquence, and his affection for her +increased and he said to her I cannot but think that men have +played upon thine understanding and sold thee for money. Tell +me, dost thou know the Koran by heart?" "Yes," answered she; "and +I am also acquainted with philosophy and medicine and the +prolegomena of science and the commentaries of Galen, the +physician, on the canons of Hippocrates; and I have commented him +and I have read the Tazkirah and have commented the Burhn; and I +have studied the Simples of Ibn Baytr, and I have something to +say of the canon of Meccah, by Avicenna. I can ree riddles and +can solve ambiguities, and discourse upon geometry and am skilled +in anatomy I have read the books of the Shfi'[FN#256] school +and the Traditions of the Prophet and syntax; and I can argue +with the Olema and discourse of all manner learning. Moreover I +am skilled in logic and rhetoric and arithmetic and the making of +talismans and almanacs, and I know thoroughly the Spiritual +Sciences[FN#257] and the times appointed for religious duties and +I understand all these branches of knowledge." Then quoth she to +the merchant, "Bring me ink case and paper, that I write thee a +letter which shall aid thee on thy journey to Baghdad and enable +thee to do without passports." Now when the merchant heard this, +he cried out "Brava! Brava![FN#258] Then O happy he in whose +palace thou shalt! Thereupon he brought her paper and ink case +and a pen of brass and bussed the earth before her face to do her +honour. She took a sheet and handled the reed and wrote +therewith these verses, + +"I see all power of sleep from eyes of me hath flown; * Say, did + thy parting teach these eyne on wake to wone? +What makes thy memory light such burnings in my heart? * Hath + every lover strength such memories to own? +How sweet the big dropped cloud which rained on summer day; * + 'Tis gone and ere I taste its sweets afar 'tis flown: +I pray the wind with windy breath to bring some news * From thee, + to lover wightwi' love so woe begone +Complains to thee a lover of all hope forlorn, * For parting + pangs can break not only heart but stone." + +And when she had ended writing the verses she continued, "These +words are from her who saith that melancholy destroyeth her and +that watching wasteth her; in the murk of whose night is found no +light and darkness and day are the same in her sight. She +tosseth on the couch of separation and her eyes are blackened +with the pencils of sleeplessness; she watcheth the stars arise +and into the gloom she strains her eyes: verily, sadness and +leanness have consumed her strength and the setting forth of her +case would run to length. No helper hath she but tears and she +reciteth these verses, + +'No ring dove moans from home on branch in morning light, * But + shakes my very frame with sorrow's killing might: +No lover sigheth for his love or gladdeth heart * To meet his + mate, but breeds in me redoubled blight +I bear my plaint to one who has no ruth for me, * Ah me, how Love + can part man's mortal frame and sprite!' " + +Then her eyes welled over with tears, and she wrote also these +two couplets, + +"Love smote my frame so sore on parting day, * That severance + severed sleep and eyes for aye. +I waxt so lean that I am still a man, * But for my speaking, thou + wouldst never say." + +Then she shed tears and wrote at the foot of the sheet, "This +cometh from her who is far from her folk and her native land, the +sorrowful hearted woman Nuzhat al-Zaman." In fine, she folded the +sheet and gave it to the merchant, who took it and kissed it and +understood its contents and exclaimed, "Glory to Him who +fashioned thee!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Fifty-ninth Night, + +She said, It reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al-Zaman +wrote the letter and gave it to the merchant; and he took it and +read it and understood the contents and exclaimed, "Glory to Him +who fashioned thee!" Then he redoubled his kindness and made +himself pleasant to her all that day, and when night came he +sallied out to the bazar and bought some food, wherewith he fed +her; after which he carried her to the Hammam and said to the +bath woman, "As soon as thou hast made an end of washing her +head, dress her and send and let me know of it." And she replied +"Hearing is obeying." Meanwhile he fetched food and fruit and wax +candles and set them on the bench in the outer room of the bath; +and when the tire woman had done washing her, she dressed her and +led her out of the bath and seated her on the bench. Then she +sent to tell the merchant, and Nuzhat al-Zaman went forth to the +outer room, where she found the tray spread with food and fruit. +So she ate and the tire woman with her, and gave the rest to the +people and keeper of the bath. Then she slept till the morning, +and the merchant lay the night in a place apart from her. When +he aroused himself from sleep he came to her and waking her, +presented her with a shift of fine stuff and a head kerchief +worth a thousand diners, a suit of Turkish embroidery and walking +boots purfled with red gold and set with pearls and gems. +Moreover, he hung in each of her ears a circlet of gold with a +fine pearl therein, worth a thousand diners, and threw round her +neck a collar of gold with bosses of garnet and a chain of amber +beads that hung down between her breasts over her navel. Now to +this chain were attached ten balls and nine crescents, and each +crescent had in its midst a bezel of ruby, and each ball a bezel +of balass: the value of the chain was three thousand diners and +each of the balls was priced at twenty thousand dirhams, so that +the dress she wore was worth in all a great sum of money. When +she had put these on, the merchant bade her adorn herself, and +she adorned herself to the utmost beauty; then she let fall her +fillet over her eyes and she fared forth with the merchant +preceding her. But when folk saw her, all wondered at her beauty +and exclaimed, "Blessed be Allah, the most excellent Creator! O +lucky the man in whose house the hall be!" And the trader ceased +not walking (and she behind him) till they entered the palace of +Sultan Sharrkan; when he sought an audience and, kissing the +earth between his hands, said, "O auspicious King, I have brought +thee a rare gift, unmatched in this time and richly gifted with +beauty and with good qualities." Quoth the King, "Let me see it." +So the merchant went out and brought her, she following him till +he made her stand before King Sharrkan. When he beheld her, +blood yearned to blood, though she had been parted from him in +childhood and though he had never seen her, having only heard a +long time after her birth that he had a sister called Nuzhat al- +Zaman and a brother Zau al-Makan, he having been jealous of them, +because of the succession. And such was the cause of his knowing +little about them. Then, having placed her before the presence, +the merchant said, "O King of the age, besides being peerless in +her time and beauty and loveliness, she is also versed in all +learning, sacred and profane, including the art of government and +the abstract sciences." Quoth the King to the trader, "Take her +price, according as thou boughtest her, and go thy ways." "I hear +and I obey," replied the merchant; "but first write me a patent, +exempting me for ever from paying tithe on my merchandise." Said +the King, "I will do this, but first tell me what price thou +paidest for her." Said the merchant, "I bought her for an hundred +thousand diners, and her clothes cost me another hundred +thousand." When the Sultan heard these words, he declared, "I +will give thee a higher price than this for her;" and, calling +his treasurer, said to him, "Pay this merchant three hundred and +twenty thousand ducats; so will he have an hundred and twenty +thousand diners profit." Thereupon the Sultan summoned the four +Kazis and paid him the money in their presence and then he said, +"I call you to witness that I free this my slave girl and purpose +to marry her." So the Kazis wrote out the deed of emancipation +and the contract of marriage, when the Sultan scattered much gold +on the heads of those present; and the pages and the eunuchs +picked up this largesse. Then, after paying him his monies, +Sharrkan bade them write for the merchant a perpetual patent, +exempting him from toll, tax or tithe upon his merchandise and +forbidding each and every in all his government to molest him, +and lastly bestowed on him a splendid dress of honour.--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Sixtieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King +Sharrkan bade them write for the merchant a mandate, after paying +him his monies; and they wrote a perpetual patent, exempting him +from the tithe upon his merchandise and forbidding any in his +government to molest him; and lastly bestowed upon him a splendid +dress of honour. Then all about him retired, and none remained +save the Kazis and the merchant, whereupon said he to the judges, +"I wish you to hear such discourse from this damsel as may prove +her knowledge and accomplishments in all aimed for her by this +trader, that we ascertain the truth of his assertions." They +answered, "There is no evil in that!"; and he commanded the +curtain to be let down between him and those with him and the +maiden and those with her; and the women about the damsel behind +the curtains began to wish her joy and kiss her hands and feet, +when they learned that she was become the King's wife. Then they +came round her and took off her dresses easing her of the weight +of her clothes and began to look upon her beauty and loveliness. +Presently the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs heard that King +Sharrkan had bought a hand maiden unmatched for her beauty and +learning and philosophy and account keeping, and versed in all +branches of knowledge, that he had paid for her three hundred and +twenty thousand dinars, and that he had set her free and had +written a marriage contract with her and had summoned the four +Kazis to make trial of her, how she would answer all their +questions and hold disputetion with them. So they asked leave of +their husbands and repaired to the palace wherein was Nuzhat al- +Zaman. When they came in to her, they found the eunuchs standing +before her; and, as soon as she saw the wives of the Emirs and +Wazirs and Grandees of the realm coming to call upon her, she +arose to them on her feet and met them with courtesy, her +handmaidens standing behind her, and she received them saying, +"Ye be welcome!" The while she smiled in their faces so as to win +their hearts; and she promised them all manner of good and seated +them in their proper stations, as if she had been brought up with +them; so all wondered at her beauty and loveliness and said to +one another, "This damsel is none other than a Queen, the +daughter of a King." Then they sat down, magnifying her worth and +said to her, "O our lady, this our city is illumined by thee, and +our country and abode and birth place and reign are honoured by +thy presence. The kingdom indeed is thy kingdom and the palace +is thy palace, and we all are thy handmaids; so, by Allah, do not +shut us out from thy favours and the sight of thy beauty." And +she thanked them for this. All this while the curtains were let +down between Nuzhat al-Zaman and the women with her, on the one +side, and King Sharrkan and the four Kazis and the merchant +seated by him on the other. Presently King Sharrkan called to +her and said, "O Queen, the glory of thine age, this merchant +hath described thee as being learned and accomplished; and he +claimeth that thou art skilled in all branches of knowledge, even +to astrology: so let us hear something of all this he hath +mentioned, and favour us with a short discourse on such +subjects." She replied, saying: "O King, to hear is to +obey.[FN#259] The first subjects whereof I will treat are the art +of government and the duties of Kings and what behoveth governors +of command meets according to religious law, and what is +incumbent on them in respect of satisfactory speech and manners. +Know then, O King, that all men's works tend either to religious +or to laical life, for none attaineth to religion save through +this world, because it is the best road to futurity. Now the +works of this world are not ordered save by the doings of its +people, and men's doings are divided into four divisions, +government, commerce, husbandry and craftsmanship. Now +government requireth perfect administration with just and true +judgment; for government is the pivot of the edifice of the +world, which world is the road to futurity; since Allah Almighty +hath made the world for His servants as viaticum to the traveller +for the attainment of his goal; and it befitteth each man that he +receive of it such measure as shall bring him to Allah, and that +he follow not herein his own mind and his individual lust. If +folk would take of worldly goods with justice and equity, all +cause of contention would be cut off; but they take thereof with +violence ant after their own desires, and their persistence +therein giveth rise to contentions; so they have need of the +Sultan, that he do justice between them and order their affairs; +and, if the King restrain not his folk from one another, the +strong will drive the weak to the wall. Hence Ardeshir[FN#260] +saith, 'Religion and Kingship be twins'; religion is a hidden +treasure and the King is its keeper; and the Divine Ordinances +and men's intelligence point out that it behoveth the people to +adopt a Sultan who shall withhold oppressor from oppressed and do +the weak justice against the strong and restrain the violence of +the proud and the rebels against rule. For know, O King, that +according to the measure of the Sultan's good morals, even so +will be the time; as saith the Apostle of Allah (on whom be peace +and salvation!), 'There be two classes who, if they be good, the +people will be good; and if they be bad, the people will be bad, +even the Olema and the Emirs.' And it is said by a certain sage, +'There be three kinds of Kings, the King of the Faith, the King +who protecteth things to which reverence is due, and the King of +his own lusts.' The King of the Faith obligeth his subjects to +follow their faith, and it behoveth he be the most +faithful,[FN#261] for it is by him that they take pattern in the +things of the Faith; and it becometh the folk to obey him in +whatso he commandeth according to Divine Ordinance; but he shall +hold the discontented in the same esteem as the contented, +because of submission to the decrees of Destiny. As for the King +who protecteth things to be reverenced, he upholdeth the things +of the Faith and of the World and compelleth his folk to follow +the Divine Law and to preserve the rights of humanity; and it +fitteth him to unite Pen and Sword; for whoso declineth from what +Pen hath written his feet slip and the King shall rectify his +error with the sharp Sword and dispread his justice over all +mankind. As for the King of his own lusts, he hath no religion +but the following his desire and, as he feareth not the wrath of +his Lord who set him on the throne, so his Kingdom inclineth to +deposition and the end of his pride is in the house of perdition. +And sages say, 'The King hath need of many people, but the people +have need of but one King' wherefore it beseemeth that he be well +acquainted with their natures, that he reduce their discord to +concord, that with his justice be encompass them all and with his +bounties overwhelm them all. And know, O King, that Ardeshir, +styled Jamr Shadd, or the Live Coal, third of the Kings of +Persia, conquered the whole world and divided it into four +divisions and, for this purpose, get for himself four seal rings, +one for each division. The first seal was that of the sea and +the police of prohibition and on it was written, Alterna lives. +The second was the seal of tribute and of the receipt of monies, +and on it was written, Building up. The third was the seal of +the provisioning department and on it was written, Plenty. The +fourth was the seal of the oppressed, and on it was written, +Justice. And these usages remained valid in Persia until the +revelation of Al-Islam. Chosros also wrote his son, who was +with the army, 'Be not thou too open handed with thy troops, or +they will be too rich to need thee.'--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-first night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Chosros +wrote his son, 'Be not thou too open handed with thy troops, or +they will be too rich to need thee; nor be thou niggardly with +them, or they will murmur against thee. Give thy giving +deliberately and confer thy favours advisedly; open thy hand to +them in time of success and stint them not in time of distress.' +There is a legend that a desert Arab came once to the Caliph Al- +Mansr[FN#262] and said, 'Starve thy dog and he shall follow +thee.' When the Caliph heard his words, he was enraged with the +Arab, but Abu 'l-Abbs of Ts said to him, 'I fear that if some +other than thou should show him a scone, the dog would follow him +and leave thee alone.' Thereupon the Caliph Al-Mansur's wrath +subsided and he knew that the wild Arab had intended no offence +and ordered him a present. And know, O King, that Abd al-Malik +bin Marwn wrote to his brother Abd al-Azz, when he despatched +him to Egypt, as follows, 'Pay heed to thy Secretaries and thy +Chamberlains, for the Secretaries will acquaint thee with estate +fished matters and the Chamberlains with matters of official +ceremony, whilst thine expenditure will make thy troops known to +thee.' Omar bin Al-Khattb[FN#263] (whom Allah accept!) when +engaging a servant was in the habit of conditioning him with four +conditions; the first that he should not ride the baggage beasts, +the second that he should not wear fine clothes, the third that +he should not eat of the spoil and the fourth that he should not +put off praying till after the proper period. It is said that +there is no wealth more profitable than understanding, and there +is no understanding like common sense and prudence, and there is +no prudence like piety; that there is no means of drawing near to +God like good morals, no measure like good breeding, no traffic +like good works and no profit like earning the Divine favour; +that there is no temperance like standing within the limits of +the law, no science like that of meditation, no worship like +obeying the Divine commends, no faith like modesty, no +calculation like self abasement and no honour like knowledge. So +guard the head and what it containeth and the belly and what it +compriseth; and think of death and doom ere it ariseth. Saith +Ali (whose face Allah honour!), 'Beware of the wickedness of +women and be on thy guard against them: consult them not in +aught;[FN#264] but grudge not complaisance to them, lest they +greed for intrigue.' And eke quoth he, 'Whoso leaveth the path of +moderation his wits become perplexed'; and there be rules for +this which we will mention, if it be Allah's will. And Omar +(whom Allah accept!) saith, 'There are three kinds of women, +firstly the true believing, Heaven fearing, love full and fruit +full, who helpeth her mate against fate, not helping fate against +her mate; secondly, she who loveth her children but no more and, +lastly, she who is a shackle Allah setteth on the neck of whom He +will.' Men be also three: the wise when he exerciseth his own +judgement; the wiser who, when befalleth somewhat whereof he +knoweth not the issue, seeketh folk of good counsel and acteth by +their advice; and the unwise irresolute ignoring the right way +nor heeding those who would guide him straight. Justice is +indispensable in all things; even slave girls have need of +justice; and men quote as an instance highway robbers who live by +violenting mankind, for did they not deal equitably among +themselves and observe justice in dividing their booty, their +order would fall to pieces.[FN#265] In short, for the rest, the +Prince of noble qualities is Beneficence cum Benevolence; and how +excellent is the saying of the poet, + +By open hand and ruth the youth rose to his tribe's command; * Go + and do likewise for the same were easy task to thee.' + +And quoth another, + +'In ruth and mildness surety lies and mercy wins respect, * And + Truth is best asylum for the man of soothfast soul: +Whoso for wealth of gold would win and wear the world's good + word, * On glory's course must ever be the first to gain the + goal.'" + +And Nazhat al-Zaman discoursed upon the policy of Kings till the +bystanders said, "Never have we seen one reason of rule and +government like this damsel! Haply she will let us hear some +discourse upon subject other than this." When she heard their +words and understood them she said, "As for the chapter of good +breeding, it is wide of comprehension, being a compend of things +perfect. Now it so happened that one day there came to the +Caliph Mu'wiyah[FN#266] one of his companions, who mentioned the +people of Irak and the goodness of their wit; and the Caliph's +wife Maysn, mother of Yezd, heard his words. So, when he was +gone, she said to the Caliph, 'O Prince of the Faithful, I would +thou let some of the people of Irak come in and talk to thee, +that I may hear their discourse.' Therewith Mu'awiyah said to his +attendants, 'See who is at the door?' And they answered, 'The +Banu Tamim.' 'Let them come in,' said he. So they came in and +with them Al-Ahnf son of Kays.[FN#267] Then quoth Mu'awiyah, +'Enter, O Abu Bahr,' and drew a curtain between himself and +Maysun, that she might hear what they said without being seen +herself; then he said to Al-Ahnaf, 'O Son of the Sea, draw near +and tell me what counsel thou hast for me.' Quoth Al-Ahnaf, 'Part +thy hair and trim thy moustachio and pare thy nails and pluck +thine armpits and shave thy pubes[FN#268] and ever use the +toothstick because therein be two and seventy virtues, and make +the Ghusl or complete ablution on Friday, as an expiation for all +between the Fridays.'--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ahnaf bin +Kays replied to Al-Mu'awiyah's[FN#269] question, 'And ever use +the toothstick, because therein be two end seventy virtues and +make the complete Friday ablution as an expiation for all between +the two Fridays.' Quoth Mu'awiyah, 'What is thy counsel to +thyself?' 'To set my feet firmly on the ground, to move them +deliberately and watch over them with mine eyes!' 'How dost thou +order thyself when thou goest in to one not of the nobles of thy +tribe?' 'I lower mine eyes modestly and I salute first; I avoid +what concerneth me not and I spare my words!' 'And how when thou +goest in to thine equals?' 'I give ear to them when they speak +and I do not assail them when they err!' 'When thou goest in to +thy chiefs?' 'I salute without making any sign and await the +reply: if they bid me draw near, I draw near, and if they draw +off from me I withdraw!' 'How dost thou with thy wife?' Quoth +Ahnaf, 'Excuse me from answering this, O Commander of the +Faithful!'; but Mu'awiyah cried, 'I conjure thee inform me.' He +said, 'I entreat her kindly and show her familiarity and am large +in expenditure, for woman was created of a crooked rib.'[FN#270] +'And how dost thou when thou hast a mind to lie with her?' 'I bid +her perfume herself and kiss her till she is moved to desire; +then, should it be as thou knowest,[FN#271] I throw her on her +back. If the seed abide in her womb I say, 'O Allah make it +blessed and let it not be a wastrel, but fashion it into the best +of fashions!'[FN#272] Then I rise from her to ablution and first +I pour water over my hands and then over my body and lastly, I +praise Allah for the joy He hath given me.' Said Mu'awiyah, 'Thou +hast answered right well and now tell me what be thy +requirements?' Said Ahnaf, 'I would have thee rule thy subjects +in the fear of Allah and do even handed justice between them.' +Thereupon Ahnaf rose to his feet and left the Caliph's presence, +and when he had gone Maysun said, 'Were there but this man in +Irak, he would suffice to it.' Then continued Nuzhat al-Zaman, +"And all this is a section of the chapter of good breeding, and +know O King, that Muaykib was intendant of the public treasury +during the Caliphate of Omar bin al-Khattb,"--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- +Zaman continued, "Know, O King, that Mu'aykib was intendant of +the public treasury during the Caliphate of Omar bin al-Khattab; +and it so befel him that he saw Omar's son and gave him a dirham +out of the treasury. Thereupon, quoth Mu'aykib, 'I returned to +my own house, and while I was sitting there behold, a messenger +came to me from Omar and I was afraid and went to him, and when I +came into his presence, in his hand was the dirham I had given +his son. He said to me, 'Woe to thee Mu'aykib! I have found +somewhat concerning thy soul.' I asked 'And what is that?'; and +he answered, 'It is that thou hast shown thyself a foe to the +followers of Mohammed (on whom be peace and salvation!) in the +matter of this dirham, and thou wilt have to account for it on +Resurrection Day.'[FN#273] And Omar also wrote a letter to Ab +Ms al-Ashri[FN#274] as follows, 'When these presents reach +thee, give the people what is theirs and remit to me the rest.' +And he did so. Now when Othman succeeded to the Caliphate, he +wrote a like letter to Abu Musa, who did his bidding and sent him +the tribute accordingly, and with it came Ziyd.[FN#275] And +when Ziyad laid the tribute before Othman, the Caliph's son came +in and took a dirham, whereupon Ziyad shed tears. Othman asked +'Why weepest thou?'; and Ziyad answered, 'I once brought Omar bin +al-Khattab the like of this and his son took a dirham, where upon +Omar bade snatch it from his hand. Now thy son hath taken of the +tribute, yet I have seen none say aught to him or snatch the +money from him.' Then Othman[FN#276] cried, 'And where wilt thou +find the like of Omar?' Again Zayd bin Aslam relates of his +father that he said, 'I went out one night with Omar till we +approached a blazing fire. Quoth Omar, 'O Aslam, I think these +must be travellers who are suffering from the cold. Come, let us +join them.' So we walked on till we came to them and behold! we +found a woman who had lighted a fire under a cauldron and by her +side were two children, both a wailing. Said Omar, 'Peace be +with you, O folk of light (for it was repugnant to him to say +'folk of fire'),[FN#277] what aileth you?' Said she, 'The cold +and the night trouble us.' He asked, 'What aileth these little +people that they weep?'; and she answered, 'They are hungry.' He +enquired, 'And what is in this cauldron?'; and she replied, 'It +is what I quiet them withal, and Allah will question Omar bin al- +Khattab of them, on the Day of Doom.' He said, 'And what should +Omar know of their case?' 'Why then,' rejoined she, 'should he +manage people's affairs and yet be unmindful of them?' Thereupon +Omar turned to me (continned Aslam) and cried, 'Come with us!' So +we set off running till we reached the pay department of his +treasury, where he took out a sack containing flour and a pot +holding fat and said to me, 'Load these on my back!' Quoth I, 'O +Commander of the Faithful, I will carry them for thee.' He +rejoined, 'Wilt thou bear my load for me on the Day of +Resurrection?' So I put the things on his back, and we set off, +running, till we threw down the sack hard by her. Then he took +out some of the flour and put it in the cauldron; and, saying to +the woman, 'Leave it to me,' he began blowing the fire under the +cauldron. Now he was a long bearded man[FN#278] and I saw the +smoke issuing from between the hairs of his beard till the flour +was cooked, when he took some of the fat and threw it in and said +to the woman, 'Bed them while I cool it for them.' So they fell +to eating till they had eaten their fill, and he left the rest +with her. Then he turned to me and said, 'O Aslam, I see it was +indeed hunger made them weep; and I am glad I did not go away ere +I found out the cause of the light I saw.'--And Shahrazad per +ceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- +Zaman continued, "It is related that Omar passed by a flock of +sheep, kept by a Mameluke, and asked him to sell him a sheep. He +answered, 'They are not mine.' 'Thou art the man I sought,' said +Omar, and bought him and freed him; whereupon the slave +exclaimed, 'O Allah, as thou hast bestowed on me the lesser +emancipation; so vouchsafe me the greater!'[FN#279] It is also +said that Omar bin al- Khattab was wont to give his servants +sweet milk and himself eat coarse fare, and to clothe them softly +and himself wear rough garments. He rendered unto all men their +due, and exceeded in his giving to them. He once gave a man four +thousand dirhams and added thereto a thousand, wherefore it was +said to him, 'Why dost thou not increase to thy son as thou +increasest to this man?' He answered, 'This man's father stood +firm at the battle day of Ohod.'[FN#280] Al-Hasan relates that +Omar once came back from foray with much money, and that +Hafsah[FN#281] approached him and said, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, the due of kinship!' 'O Hafsah!' replied he, 'verily +Allah hath enjoined us to satisfy the dues of kinship, but not +with the monies of the True Believers. Indeed, thou pleasest" +thy family, but thou angerest thy father.' And she went away +trailing her skirts.[FN#282] The son of Omar said, 'I implored +the Lord to show me my father one year after his death, till at +last I saw him wiping the sweat from his brow and asked him, 'How +is it with thee, O my father?' He answered, 'But for my Lord's +mercy thy father surely had perished.' Then said Nuzhat al-Zaman, +"Hear, O auspicious King, the second division of the first +chapter of the instances of the followers of the Apostle and +other holy men. Saith Al Hasan al-Basr,[FN#283] Not a soul of +the sons of Adam goeth forth of the world without regretting +three things,- failure to enjoy what he hath amassed, failure to +compass what he hoped, failure to provide himself with sufficient +viaticum for that hereto he goeth.[FN#284] It was said of +Sufyan,[FN#285] 'Can a man be a religious and yet possess +wealth?' He replied, 'Yes, so he be patient when grieved and be +thankful when he hath received.' Abdullah bin Shaddd, being +about to die, sent for his son Mohammed and admonished him, +saying, 'O my son, I see the Summoner of Death summoning me, and +so I charge thee to fear Allah both in public and private, to +praise Allah and to be soothfastin thy speech, for such praise +bringeth increase of prosperity, and piety in itself is the best +of provision for the next world; even as saith one of the poets, + +'I see not happiness lies in gathering gold; * The man most pious + is man happiest: +In truth the fear of God is best of stores, * And God shall make + the pious choicely blest.' + +Then quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman, "Let the King also give ear to these +notes from the second section of the first chapter." He asked her +'What be they?'; and she answered, "When Omar bin Abd al-Azz[FN# +286] succeeded to the Caliphate, he went to his household and +laying hands on all that was in their hold, put it into the +public treasury. So the Banu Umayyah flew for aid to his +father's sister, Ftimah, daughter of Marwan, and she sent to him +saying, 'I must needs speak to thee.' So she came to him by night +and, when he had made her alight from her beast and sit down, he +said to her, 'O aunt, it is for thee to speak first, since thou +hast some thing to ask: tell me then what thou wouldst with me.' +Replied she, 'O Commander of the Faithful, it is thine to speak +first, for thy judgment perceiveth that which is hidden from the +intelligence of others.' Then said Omar, 'Of a verity Allah +Almighty sent Mohammed as a blessing to some and a bane to +others; and He elected for him those with him, and commissioned +him as His Apostle and took him to Himself,'--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- +Zaman continued thus, "Said Omar, 'Verily Allah commissioned as +His Apostle Mohammed (upon whom be the benediction of Allah and +His salvation!), for a blessing to some and a bane to others; and +He elected for him those with him and took him to Himself, +leaving the people a stream whereof they might drink. After him +Abu Bakr[FN#287] the Truth teller became Caliph and he left the +river as it was, doing what was pleasing to Allah. Then arose +Omar and worked a work and strove in holy war and strife where of +none might do the like. But when Othman arose to power he +diverted a streamlet from the stream, and Mu'awiyah in his turn +diverted from it several streamlets; and without ceasing in like +manner, Yezid and the Banu Marwn such as Abd al-Malik and Wald +and Sulaymn[FN#288] drew away water from the stream, and the +main course dried up, till rule devolved upon me, and now I am +minded to restore the stream to its normal condition.' When +Fatimah heard this, she said, 'I came wishing only to speak and +confer with thee, but if this be thy word, I have nothing to say +to thee.' Then she returned to the Ommiades and said to them, +'Now take ye the consequences of your act when ye allied +yourselves by marriage with Omar bin al-Khattab.'[FN#289] And it +is also said that when Omar was about to die, he gathered his +children round him, and Maslamah[FN#290] bin Abd al-Malik said to +him, 'O Prince of the Faithful, how wilt thou leave thy children +paupers and thou their protector? None can hinder thee in thy +lifetime from giving them what will suffice them out of the +treasury; and this indeed were better than leaving the good work +to him who shall rule after thee.' Omar looked at him with a look +of wrath and wonder and presently replied, 'O Maslamah, I have +defended them from this sin all the days of my life, and shall I +make them miserable after my death? Of a truth my sons are like +other men, either obedient to Almighty Allah who will prosper +them, or disobedient and I will not help them in their +disobedience. Know, O Maslamah, that I was present, even as +thou, when such an one of the sons of Marwanwas buried, and I +fell asleep by him and saw him in a dream given over to one of +the punishments of Allah, to whom belong Honour and Glory! This +terrified me and made me tremble, and I vowed to Allah, that if +ever I came to power, I would not do such deeds as the dead man +had done. I have striven to fulfil this vow all the length of my +life and I hope to die in the mercy of my Lord.' Quoth Maslamah, +'A certain man died and I was present at his burial, and when all +was over I fell asleep and I saw him as a sleeper seeth a dream, +walking in a garden of flowing waters clad in white clothes. He +came up to me and said: 'O Maslamah, it is for the like of this +that rulers should rule.' Many are the instances of this kind, +and quoth one of the men of authority, 'I used to milk the ewes +in the Caliphate of Omar bin Abd al-Aziz, and one day I met a +shepherd, among whose sheep I saw a wolf or wolves. I thought +them to be dogs, for I had never before seen wolves; so I asked, +'What dost thou with these dogs?' 'They are not dogs, but +wolves,' answered the shepherd. Quoth I, 'Can wolves be with +sheep and not hurt them?' Quoth he, 'When the head is whole, the +body is whole.'[FN#291] Omar bin Abd al-Aziz once preached from a +pulpit of clay and, after praising and glorifying Allah Almighty, +said three words as follows, 'O folk, make clean your inmost +hearts, that your outward lives may be dean to your brethren, and +abstain ye from the things of the world. Know that between us +and Adam there is no one man alive among the dead. Dead are Abd +al- Malik and those who forewent him, and Omar also shall die and +those who forewent him.' Asked Maslamah, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, an we set a pillow behind thee, wilt thou lean on it a +little while?' But Omar answered, 'I fear lest it be a fault +about my neck on Resurrection Day.' Then he gasped with the death +rattle and fell back in a faint; whereupon Fatimah cried out, +saying, 'Ho, Maryam! Ho, Muzahim![FN#292] Ho, such an one! Look +to this man!' And she began to pour water on him weeping, till he +revived from his swoon; and, seeing her in tears said to her, +'What causeth thee to weep, O Fatimah?' She replied, 'O Commander +of the Faithful, I saw thee lying prostrate before us and thought +of thy prostration in death before Almighty Allah, of thy +departure from the world and of thy separation from us. This is +what made me weep.' Answered he, 'Enough, O Fatimah, for indeed +thou exceedest.' Then he would have risen, but fell down and +Fatimah strained him to her and said, 'Thou art to me as my +father and my mother, O Commander of the Faithful! We cannot +speak to thee, all of us.' Then quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman to her +brother Sharrkan and the four Kazis, "Here endeth the second +section of the first chapter."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- +Zaman said to her brother Sharrkan and the four Kazis, "Here +endeth the second section of the first chapter. And it so +happened that Omar bin Abd al-Aziz wrote to the people of the +festival at Meccah as follows, 'I call Allah to witness, in the +Holy Month, in the Holy City and on the day of the Greater +Pilgrimage,[FN#293] that I am innocent of your oppression and of +his wrongs that doth wrong you, in that I have neither commanded +this nor purposed it, neither hath any report of aught thereof +hitherto reached me, nor have I compassed any knowledge thereof; +and I trust that a cause for pardon will be found in that none +hath authority from me to oppress any man, for I shall assuredly +be questioned concerning every one oppress. And if any of my +officers swerve from the right and act otherwise than the Holy +Book and the Traditions of the Apostle do authorise, obey him not +so that he may return to the way of righteousness.' He said also +(Allah accept of him!), 'I do not wish to be relieved from death, +because it is the supreme thing for which the True Believer is +rewarded.' Quoth one of authority, 'I went to the Prince of the +Faithful, Omarbin Abd al-Aziz, who was then Caliph, and saw +before him twelve dirhams, which he ordered for deposit in the +public treasury. So I said to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, +thou impoverishest thy children and reducest them to beggary +having nothing whereon to live. An thou wouldst appoint somewhat +by will to them and to those who are poor of the people of thy +house, it were well.' 'Draw near to me,' answered he: so I drew +near to him and he said, 'Now as for thy saying, 'Thou beggarest +thy children; provide for them and for the poor of thy +household,' it is without reason; for Allah of a truth will +replace me to my children and to the poor of my house, and He +will be their guardian. Verily, they are like other men; he who +feareth Allah, right soon will Allah provide for him a happy +issue, and he that is addicted to sins, I will not up hold him in +his sin against Allah.' Then he summoned his sons who numbered +twelve, and when he beheld them his eyes dropped tears and +presently he said to them, 'Your Father is between two things; +either ye will be well to do, and your parent will enter the +fire, or ye will be poor and your parent will enter Paradise; and +your father's entry into Paradise is liefer to him than that ye +should be well to do.[FN#294] So arise and go, Allah be your +helper, for to Him I commit your affairs!' Khlid bin +Safwn[FN#295] said, 'Ysuf bin Omar[FN#296] accompanied me to +Hishm bin Abd al-Malik,[FN#297] and as I met him he was coming +forth with his kinsmen and attendants. He alighted and a tent +was pitched for him. When the people had taken their seats, I +came up to the side of the carpet whereon he sat reclining and +looked at him; and, waiting till my eyes met his eyes, bespoke +him thus, 'May Allah fulfil His bounty to thee, O Commander of +the Faithful, I have an admonition for thee, which hath come down +to us from the history of the Kings preceding thee!' At this, he +sat up whenas he had been reclining and said to me, 'Bring what +thou hast, O son of Safwan!' Quoth I, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, one of the Kings before thee went forth in a time +before this thy time, to this very country and said to his +companions, 'Saw ye ever any state like mine and say me, hath +such case been given to any man even as it hath been given unto +me?' Now there was with him a man of those who survive to bear +testimony to Truth; upholders of the Right and wayfarers in its +highway, and he said to him, 'O King, thou askest of a grave +matter. Wilt thou give me leave to answer?' 'Yes,' replied the +King, and the other said, 'Dost thou judge thy present state to +be short lasting or ever lasting?' 'It is temporary,' replied the +King. 'How then,' rejoined the man, 'do I see thee exulting in +that which thou wilt enjoy but a little while and whereof thou +wilt be questioned for a long while and for the rendering an +account whereof thou shalt be as a pledge which is pawned?' Quoth +the King, 'Whither shall I flee and what must I seek for me?' +'That thou abide in thy kingship,' replied the other, 'or else +robe thee in rags[FN#298] and apply thyself to obey Almighty +Allah thy Lord until thine appointed hour. I will come to thee +again at daybreak.' Khalid bin Safwan further relates that the +man knocked at the door at dawn and behold, the King had put off +his crown and resolved to become an anchorite, for the stress of +his exhortation. When Hishm bin Abd al-Malik heard this, he +wept till his beard was wet, and, bidding his rich apparel be put +off, shut himself up in his palace. Then the grandees and +dependents came to Khalid and said, 'What is this thou hast done +with the Commander of the Faithful? Thou hast troubled his +pleasure and disturbed his life!' Then quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman, +addressing herself to Sharrkan, "How many instances of admonition +are there not in this chapter! Of a truth I cannot report all +appertaining to this head in a single sitting,"--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- +Zaman continued, speaking to Sharrkan, "Know, O King, that in +this chapter be so many instances of admonition that of a truth I +cannot report all appertaining to this head in a single sitting +but, with length of days, O King of the age, all will be well." +There said the Kazis, "O King, of a truth this damsel is the +wonder of the world, and of our age the unique pearl! Never +heard we her like in the length of time or in the length of our +lives." And they called down blessings on the King and went away. +Then Sharrkan turned to his attendants and said, "Begin ye to +prepare the marriage festival and make ready food of all kinds." +So they forthright did his bidding as regards the viands, and he +commanded the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees depart +not until the time of the wedding banquet and of the unveiling of +the bride. Hardly came the period of afternoon prayer when the +tables were spread with whatso heart can desire or eye can +delight in of roast meats and geese and fowls; and the subjects +ate till they were satisfied. Moreover, Sharrkan had sent for +all the singing women of Damascus and they were present, together +with every slave girl of the King and of the notables who knew +how to sing. And they went up to the palace in one body. When +the evening came and darkness starkened they lighted candles, +right and left, from the gate of the citadel to that of the +palace; and the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees marched past before +King Sharrkan, whilst the singers and the tire women took the +damsel to dress and adorn her, but found she needed no adornment. +Meantime King Sharrkan went to the Hammam and coming out, sat +down on his seat of estate, whilst they paraded the bride before +him in seven different dresses: after which they eased her of the +weight of her raiment and ornaments and gave such injunctions as +are enjoined upon virgins on their wedding nights. Then Sharrkan +went in unto her and took her maidenhead;[FN#299] and she at once +conceived by him and, when she announced it, he rejoiced with +exceeding joy and commanded the savants to record the date of her +conception. On the morrow he went forth and seated himself on +his throne, and the high officers came in to him and gave him +joy. Then he called his private secretary and bade him write a +letter to his father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, saying that he +had bought him a damsel, who excels in learning and good breeding +and who is mistress of all kinds of knowledge. Moreover he +wrote, "There is no help but that I send her to Baghdad to visit +my brother Zau al-Makan and my sister Nuzhat al-Zaman. I have +set her free and married her and she hath conceived by me." And +he went on to praise her wit and salute his brother and sister +together with the Wazir Dandan and all the Emirs. Then he sealed +the letter and despatched it to his father by a post courier who +was absent a whole month, after which time he returned with the +answer and presented it in the presence. Sharrkan took it and +read as follows, "After the usual Bismillah, this is from the +afflicted distracted man, from him who hath lost his children and +home by bane and ban, King Omar bin al- Nu'uman, to his son +Sharrkan. Know that, since thy departure from me, the place is +become contracted upon me, so that no longer I have power of +patience nor can I keep my secret: and the cause thereof is as +follows. It chanced that when I went forth to hunt and course +Zau al-Makan sought my leave to fare Hijaz wards, but I, fearing +for him the shifts of fortune, forbade him therefrom until the +next year or the year after. My absence while sporting and +hunting endured for a whole month"--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-eighth night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Omar +bin al-Nu'uman wrote in his letter, "My absence while sporting +and hunting endured for a whole month, and when I returned I +found that thy brother and sister had taken somewhat of money and +had set out with the pilgrim caravan for pilgrimage by stealth. +When I knew this, the wide world narrowed on me, O my son! but I +awaited the return of the caravan, hoping that haply they would +come back with it. Accordingly, when the palmers appeared I +asked concerning the twain, but they could give me no news of +them; so I donned mourning for them, being heavy at heart, and in +sleep I have no part and I am drowned in the tears of my eyes." +Then he wrote in verse, + +"That pair in image quits me not one single hour, * Whom in my + heart's most honourable place I keep: +Sans hope of their return I would not live one hour, * Without my + dreams of them I ne'er would stretch me in sleep." + +The letter went on, "And after the usual salutations to thee and +thine, I command thee neglect no manner of seeking news of them +for indeed this is a shame to us." When Sharrkan read the letter +he felt grief for his father and joy for the loss of his brother +and sister. Then he took the missive and went in with it to +Nuzhat al-Zaman who knew not that he was her brother, nor he that +she was his sister, albeit he often visited her both by night and +by day till the months were accomplished and she sat down on the +stool of delivery. Allah made the child birth easy to her and +she bare a daughter, whereupon she sent for Sharrkan and seeing +him she said to him, "This is thy daughter: name her as thou +wilt." Quoth he, "It is usual to name children on the seventh day +after birth.[FN#300]" Then he bent over the child to kiss it and +he saw, hung about its neck, a jewel, which he knew at once for +one of those which Princess Abrizah had brought from the land of +the Greeks. Now when he saw the jewel hanging from his babe's +neck he recognised it right well, his senses fled and wrath +seized on him; his eyes rolled in rage and he looked at Nuzhat +al- Zaman and said to her, "Whence hadst thou this jewel, O slave +girl?" When she heard this from Sharrkan she replied, "I am thy +lady, and the lady of all in thy palace! Art thou not ashamed to +say to me Slave girl? I am a Queen, daughter of King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman." Hearing this, he was seized with trembling and hung +his head earthwards,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Sixty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when +Sharrkan heard these words, his heart fluttered and his colour +waxed yellow and he was seized with trembling and he hung his +head earthwards, for he knew that she was his sister by the same +father. Then he lost his senses; and, when he revived, he abode +in amazement, but did not discover his identity to her and asked, +O my lady, say, art thou in sooth the daughter of King Omar bin +al- Nu'uman?" "Yes," answered she; and he continued, "Tell me the +cause of thy leaving thy sire and of thy being sold for a slave." +So she related to him all that had befallen her from beginning to +end, how she had left her brother sick in the Sanctified City, +Jerusalem, and how the Badawi had kidnapped her and had sold her +to the trader. When Sharrkan heard this, he was certified of her +being his sister on the sword side and said to himself, "How can +I have my sister to wife? By Allah, needs must I marry her to +one of my chamberlains; and, if the thing get wind, I will +declare that I divorced her before consummation and married her +to my Chief Chamberlain." Then he raised his head and sighing +said, "O Nuzhat al-Zaman, thou art my very sister and I cry: 'I +take refuge with Allah from this sin whereinto we have fallen,' +for I am Sharrkan, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman." She looked at him +and knew he spoke the truth; and, becoming as one demented, she +wept and buffeted her face, exclaiming, "There is no Majesty and +there is no Might save in Allah! Verily have we fallen into +mortal sin![FN#301] What shall I do and what shall I say to my +father and my mother when they ask me, Whence hadst thou thy +daughter?" Quoth Sharrkan, "It were meetest that I marry thee to +my Chamberlain and let thee bring up my daughter in his house, +that none may know thou be my sister. This hath befallen us from +Almighty Allah for a purpose of his own, and nothing shall cover +us but thy marriage with this Chamberlain, ere any know." Then he +fell to comforting her and kissing her head and she asked him, +"What wilt thou call the girl?" "Call her Kuzia Fakn,"[FN#302] +answered he. Then he gave the mother in marriage to the Chief +Chamberlain, and transferred her to his house with the child, +which they reared on the laps of the slave girls, and fed with +milk and dosed with powders. Now all this occurred whilst the +brother, Zau al-Makan, still tarried with the Fireman at +Damascus. One day there came to King Sharrkan a courier from his +father, with a letter which he took and read and found therein, +"After the Bismillah know, O beloved King, that I am afflicted +with sore affliction for the loss of my children: sleep ever +faileth me and wakefulness ever assaileth me. I send thee this +letter that, as soon as thou receivest it, thou make ready the +monies and the tribute, and send them to us, together with the +damsel whom thou hast bought and taken to wife; for I long to see +her and hear her discourse; more especially because there hath +come to us from Roumland an old woman of saintly bearing and with +her be five damsels high bosomed virgins, endowed with knowledge +and good breeding and all arts and sciences befitting mortals to +know; and indeed tongue faileth me to describe this old woman and +these who with her wend; for of a truth they are compendiums of +perfections in learning and accomplishments. As soon as I saw +them I loved them, and I wished to have them in my palace and in +the compass of my hand; for none of the Kings owneth the like of +them; so I asked the old woman their price and she answered, 'I +will not sell them but for the tribute of Damascus.' And I, by +Allah, did not hold this price exorbitant, indeed it is but +little, for each one of them is worth the whole valuation. So I +agreed to that and took them into my palace, and they remain in +my possession. Wherefore do thou forward the tribute to us that +the woman may return to her own country; and send to us the +damsel to the end that she may dispute with them before the +doctors; and, if she prevail over them, I will return her to thee +accompanied by the tribute of Baghdad."--And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Omar +son of Al-Nu'uman said in his letter, "And send to us the damsel +to the end that she may dispute with them before the doctors and, +if she prevail over them, I will return her to thee accompanied +with the tribute of Baghdad." As soon as Sharrkan knew the +contents, he went in to his brother in law and said to him, +"Bring the damsel to whom I married thee;" and when she came he +showed her the letter and said, "O my sister! what answer +wouldst thou advise me make to this letter?" Replied she, "Seek +advice from thyself!" and presently added (for she yearned after +her people and her native land), "Send me together with my +husband the Chamberlain, to Baghdad, that I may tell my father my +tale and let him know whatso befel me with the Badawi who sold me +to the merchant, and that I also inform him how thou boughtest me +of the trader and gavest me in marriage to the Chamberlain, after +setting me free." "Be it so," replied Sharrkan. Then Sharrkan +took his daughter, Kuzia Fakan, and committed her to the charge +of the wet nurses and the eunuchs, and he made ready the tribute +in haste, bidding the Chamberlain travel with the Princess and +the treasure to Baghdad. He also furnished him two travelling +litters one for himself and the other for his wife. And the +Chamberlain replied, "To hear is to obey." Moreover Sharrkan +collected camels and mules and wrote a letter to his father and +committed it to the Chamberlain; then he bade farewell to his +sister, after he had taken the jewel from her and hung it round +his daughter's neck by a chain of pure gold; and she and her +husband set out for Baghdad the same night. Now it so happened +that Zau al-Makan and his friend the Fireman had come forth from +the hut in which they were, to see the spectacle, and they beheld +camels and Bukhti[FN#303] dromedaries and bt-mules and torches +and lanterns alight; and Zau al-Makan enquired about the loads +and their owner and was told that it was the tribute of Damascus +going to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of the City of Baghdad. +He then asked, "Who be the leader of the caravan?" and they +answered, "The Head Chamberlain who hath married the damsel so +famous for learning and science." Thereupon Zau al-Makan wept +with bitter weeping and was minded of his mother and his father +and his sister and his native land, and he said to the Stoker, "I +will join this caravan and, little by little, will journey +homewards." Quoth the Fireman, "I would not suffer thee to travel +single handed from the Holy City to Damascus, then how shall I be +sure of thy safety when thou farest for Baghdad? But I will go +with thee and care for thee till thou effectest thine object." +"With joy and good will," answered Zau al-Makan. Then the +Fireman get him ready for the journey and hired an ass and threw +saddle bags over it and put therein something of provaunt; and, +when all was prepared, he awaited the passage of the caravan. +And presently the Chamberlain came by on a dromedary and his +footmen about him. Then Zau al-Ma ken mounted the ass and said +to his companion, "Do thou mount with me." But he replied, "Not +so: I will be thy servant." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "There is no help +for it but thou ride awhile." "'Tis well," quoth the Stoker; "I +will ride when I grow tired." Then said Zau al-Makan, "O my +brother, soon shalt thou see how I will deal with thee, when I +come to my own folk." So they fared on till the sun rose and,When +it was the hour of the noonday sleep[FN#304] the Chamberlain +called a halt and they alighted and reposed and watered their +camels. Then he gave the signal for departure and, after five +days, they came to the city of Hamh,[FN#305] where they set down +and made a three days' halt;--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they halted +in the city of Hamah three days; they then fared forwards and +ceased not travelling till they reached another city. Here also +they halted three days and thence they travelled till they +entered the province Diyr Bakr. Here blew on them the breezes +of Baghdad, and Zau al-Makan bethought him of his father and +mother and native land, and how he was returning to his sire +without his sister: so he wept and sighed and complained, and his +regrets grew on him, and he began improvising these couplets, + +"Sweetheart! How long must I await by so long suffering teed? * + Nor cometh messenger to tell me where thou dost abide: +Ah me! in very sooth our meeting time was short enow: * Would + Heaven shorter prove to me the present parting-tide! +Now trend my hand and open my robe and thou within shall sight * + How wasted are the limbs of me and yet the waste I hide: +When say they 'Comfort take for loss of love' I but reply * 'By + Allah, till the Day of Doom no comfort shall betide!' " + +Thereupon said to him the Fireman, "Leave this weeping and +wailing, for we are near the Chamberlain's tent." Quoth Zau al- +Makan, "Needs must I recite somewhat of verse; haply it may +quench the fire of my heart." "Allah upon thee," cried the other, +"cease this lamentation till thou come to shine own country; then +do what thou wilt, and I will be with thee wherever thou art." +Replied Zau al-Makan, "By Allah! I cannot forbear from this!" +Then he turned his face towards Baghdad and the moon was shining +brightly and shedding her light on the place, and Nuzhat al-Zaman +could not sleep that night, but was restless and called to mind +her brother and wept. And while she was in tears, he heard Zau +al-Makan weeping and improvising the following distichs, + +'Al-Yaman's[FN#306] leven-gleam I see, * And sore despair + despaireth me +For friend who erst abode wi' me * Crowning my cup with gladdest + gree: +It minds me o' one who jilted me * To mourn my bitter liberty. +Say sooth, thou fair sheet lightning! shall * We meet once more + in joy and glee? +O blamer! spare to me thy blame * My Lord hath sent this dule to + dree, +Of friend who left me, fain to flee; * Of Time that breeds + calamity: +All bliss hath fled the heart of me * Since Fortune proved mine + enemy. +He[FN#307] brimmed a bowl of merest pine, * And made me drain the + dregs, did he: +I see me, sweetheart, dead and gone * Ere I again shall gaze on + thee. +Time! prithee bring our childhood back, * Restore our happy + infancy, +When joy and safety 'joyed we * From shafts that now they shoot + at me! +Who aids the hapless stranger wight, * That nights in fright and + misery, +That wastes his days in lonely grief, * For 'Time's + Delight'[FN#308] no more must be? +Doomed us despite our will to bear * The hands of base bores cark + and care." + +When he ended his verse he cried out and fell down in a fainting +fit. This is how it fared with him; but as regards Nuzhat al- +Zaman, when she heard that voice in the night, her heart was at +rest and she rose and in her joy she called the Chief Eunuch, who +said to her, "What is thy will?" Quoth she, "Arise and bring me +him who recited verses but now." Replied he, "Of a truth I did +not hear him"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nuzhat +Al-Zaman heard her brother reciting, she called the Chief Eunuch +and said to him, "Go, fetch me the man who is repeating this +poetry!" Replied he, "Of a truth I heard him not and I wot him +not and folks are all sleeping." But she said, "Whomsoever thou +seest awake, he is the reciter." So he went, yet found none on +wake save the Stoker; for Zau al-Makan was still insensible, and +when his companion saw the Eunuch standing by his head he was +afraid of him. Then said the Eunuch, "Art thou he who repeated +poetry but now and my lady heard him?" The Stoker fancied that +the dame was wroth with the reciter; and, being afraid, he +replied, "By Allah, 'twas not I!" Rejoined the Eunuch, "Who then +was the reciter?: point him out to me. Thou must know who it +was, seeing that thou art awake." The Fireman feared for Zau al- +Makan and said in himself, "Haply the Eunuch will do him some +hurt"; so he answered, "By Allah, I know not who it was." Said +the Eunuch, "By Allah, thou liest, for there is none on wake here +but thou! So needs must thou know him." "By Allah," replied the +Fireman, "I tell thee the truth!: some passer by, some wayfarer +must have recited the verses and disturbed me and kept me awake; +Allah requite him!" Quoth the Eunuch, "If thou happen upon him, +point him out to me and I will lay hands on him and bring him to +the door of our lady's litter[FN#309] or do thou take him with +thine own hand." Said the Fireman, "Go thou back and I will bring +him to thee." So the Eunuch left him and went his ways; and, +going in to his mistress, told her all this and said to her, +"None knoweth who it was; it must have been some passer by, some +wayfarer." And she was silent. Meanwhile, Zau al-Makan came to +himself and saw that the moon had reached the middle Heavens; the +breath of the dawn breeze[FN#310] breathed upon him and his heart +was moved to longing and sadness; so he cleared his throat and +was about to recite verses, when the Fire man asked him, "What +wilt thou do?" Answered Zau al-Makan, "I have a mind to repeat +somewhat of poetry, that I may quench therewith the fire of my +heart." Quoth the other, "Thou knowest not what befel me whilst +thou wast a faint, and how I escaped death only by beguiling the +Eunuch." "Tell me what happened," quoth Zau al-Makan. Replied +the Stoker, "Whilst thou wast aswoon there came up to me but now +an Eunuch, with a long staff of almond tree wood in his hand, who +took to looking in all the people's faces, as they lay asleep, +and asked me who it was recited the verses, finding none awake +but myself. I told him in reply it was some passerby, some +wayfarer; so he went away and Allah delivered me from him; else +had he killed me. But first he said to me, 'If thou hear him +again, bring him to us.'" When Zau al-Makan heard this he wept +and said, "Who is it would forbid me to recite? I will surely +recite, befal me what may; for I am near mine own land and care +for none." Rejoined the Fireman, "Thy design is naught save to +lose thy life;" and Zau al-Makan retorted, "Needs must I recite +verses." "Verily," said the Stoker, "needs must there be a +parting between me and thee in this place, albeit;I had intended +not to leave thee, till I had brought thee to thy native city and +reunited thee with thy mother and father. Thou hast now tarried +with me a year and a half and I have never harmed thee in aught. +What ails thee, then, that thou must needs recite verses, seeing +that we are tired out with walking and watching and all the folk +are asleep, for they require sleep to rest them of their +fatigue?" But Zau al-Makan answered, "I will not be turned away +from my purpose."[FN#311] Then grief moved him and he threw off +concealment and began repeating these couplets, + +"Stand thou by the homes and hail the lords of the ruined stead; + * Cry thou for an answer, belike reply to thee shall be + sped: +If the night and absence irk thy spirit kindle a torch * Wi' + repine; and illuminate the gloom with a gleaming greed: +If the snake of the sand dunes hiss, I shall marvel not at all! + * Let him bite so I bite those beauteous lips of the + luscious red: +O Eden, my soul hath fled in despite of the maid I love: * Had I + lost hope of Heaven my heart in despair were dead." + +And he also improvised the two following distichs, + +"We were and were the days enthralled to all our wills, * + Dwelling in union sweet and homed in fairest site: +Who shall restore the home of the beloved, where showed * Light + of the Place for aye conjoined with Time's + Delight?''[FN#312] + +And as he ceased his verses, he shrieked three shrieks and fell +senseless to the ground and the Fireman rose and covered him. +When Nuzhat al-Zaman heard the first improvisation, she called to +mind her father and her mother and her brother and their whilome +home; then she wept and cried at the Eunuch and said to him, "Woe +to thee! He who recited the first time hath recited a second +time and I heard him hard by. By Allah, an thou fetch him not to +me, I will assuredly rouse the Chamberlain on thee, and he shall +beat thee and cast thee out. But take these hundred diners and +give them to the singer and bring him to me gently, and do him no +hurt. If he refuse, hand to him this purse of a thousand diners, +then leave him and return to me and tell me, after thou hast +informed thyself of his place and his calling and what countryman +he is. Return quickly and linger not."--And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- +Zaman sent the Eunuch to make enquiries concerning the singer and +said, "Beware how thou come back to me and report, I could not +find him." So the Eunuch went out and laid about the people and +trod in their tents, but found none awake, all being asleep for +weariness, till he came to the Stoker and saw him sitting up, +with his head uncovered. So he drew near and seizing him by the +hand, said to him, "It was thou didst recite the verses!" The +Fireman was afeard for his life and replied, "No, by Allah, O +chief of the people, it was not I!" But the Eunuch said, "I will +not leave thee till thou show me who it was that recited the +verses, for I dread returning to my lady without him." Now when +the Fireman heard these words he feared for Zau al-Makan and wept +with exceeding weeping and said to the Eunuch, "By Allah, it was +not I, and I know him not. I only heard some passer by, some +wayfarer, recite verses: so do not thou commit sin on me, for I +am a stranger and come from the Holy City of Jerusalem; and +Abraham, the friend of Allah, be with you all." "Rise up and fare +with me," rejoined the Eunuch, "and tell my lady this with thine +own mouth, for I have seen none awake save thyself." Quoth the +Stoker, "Hast thou not come and seen me sitting in the place +where I now am, and dost thou not know my station? Thou wottest +none can stir from his place, except the watchman seize him. So +go thou to thy station and if thou again meet any one after this +hour reciting aught of poetry, whether he be near or far, it will +be I or some one I know, and thou shalt not learn of him but by +me." Then he kissed the Eunuch's head and spake him fair till he +went away; but the Castrato fetched a round and, returning +secretly, came and stood behind the Fireman, fearing to go back +to his mistress without tidings. As soon as he was gone, the +Stoker arose and aroused Zau al-Makan and said to him, "Come, sit +up, that I may tell thee what hath happened." So Zau al-Makan sat +up, and his companion told him what had passed, and he answered, +"Let me alone; I will take no heed of this and I care for none, +for I am mine own country."[FN#313] Quoth the Stoker, "Why wilt +thou obey thy flesh and the devil? If thou fear no one, I fear +for thee and for my life, so Allah upon thee! recite nothing +more of verses till thou come to thine own land. Indeed, I had +not deemed thee so ill conditioned. Dost thou not know that this +lady is the wife; of the Chamberlain and is minded to chastise +thee for disturbing her? Belike, she is ill or restless for +fatigue of the journey and the distance of the place from her +home, and this is the second time she hath sent the Eunuch to +look for thee." However Zau al-Makan paid no heed to the +Fireman's words but cried out a third time and began versifying +with these couplets, + +"I fly the carper's injury,* Whose carping sorely vexeth me: +He chides and taunts me, wotting not * He burns me but more + grievously. +The blamer cries 'He is consoled!' * I say, 'My own dear + land[FN#314] to see:' +They ask, 'Why be that land so dear?' * I say, 'It taught me in + love to be:' +They ask, 'What raised its dignity?' * I say, 'What made my + ignomy:' +Whate'er the bitter cup I drain, * Far be fro' me that land to + flee: +Nor will I bow to those who blame, * And for such love would deal + me shame. + +Hardly had he made an end of his verses and come to a conclusion, +when the Eunuch (who had heard him from his hiding place at his +head) came up to him; whereupon the Fireman flea end stood afar +off to see what passed between them. Then said the Eunuch to Zau +al-Makan, "Peace be with thee, O my lord!" "And on thee be +peace," replied Zau al-Makan, "and the mercy of Allah and His +blessings!" "O my lord," continued the Eunuch---And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say, + + When it was the Seventy-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Eunuch +said to Zau al-Makan, "O my lord, I have sought thee these +several times this night, for my mistress biddeth thee to her." +Quoth Zau al- Makan, "And who be this bitch that seeketh for me? +Allah curse her and curse her husband with her!"[FN#315] And he +began to revile the Eunuch, who could make him no answer, because +his mistress had charged him to do Zau al-Makan no hurt, nor +bring him save of his own especial free will; and, if he would +not accompany him, to give him the thousand diners. So the +Castrato began to speak him fair and say to him, "O my lord, take +this purse and go with me. We will do thee no upright, O my son, +nor wrong thee in aught; but our object is that thou bend thy +gracious steps with me to my mistress, to receive her answer and +return in weal and safety: and thou shalt have a handsome present +as one who bringeth good news." When Zau al- Makan heard this, he +arose and went with the Eunuch and walked among the sleeping +folk, stepping over them; whilst the Fireman followed after them +from afar, and kept his eye upon him and said to himself, "Alas +the pity of his youth! Tomorrow they will hang him." And he +ceased not following them till he approached their +station,[FN#316] without any observing him. Then he stood still +and said, "How base it will be of him, if he say it was I who +bade him recite the verses!" This was the case of the Stoker; but +as regards what befel Zau al-Makan, he ceased not walking with +the Eunuch till he reached his station and the Castrato went in +to Nuzhat al-Zaman and said, "O my lady, I have brought thee him +whom thou soughtest, and he is a youth, fair of face and bearing +the marks of wealth and gentle breeding." When she heard this, +her heart fluttered and she cried, "Let him recite some verses, +that I may hear him near hand, and after ask him his name and his +condition and his native land." Then the Eunuch went out to Zau +al-Makan and said to him, "Recite what verses thou knowest, for +my lady is here hard by, listening to thee, and after I will ask +thee of thy name and thy native country and thy condition." +Replied he, "With love and gladness but, an thou ask my name, it +is erased and my trace is unplaced and my body a waste. I have a +story, the beginning of which is not known nor can the end of it +be shown, and behold, I am even as one who hath exceeded in wine +drinking and who hath not spared himself; one who is afflicted +with distempers and who wandereth from his right mind, being +perplexed about his case and drowned in the sea of thought." When +Nuzhat al-Zaman heard this, she broke out into excessive weeping +and sobbing, and said to the Eunuch, "Ask him if he have parted +from one he loveth even as his mother or father." The Castrato +asked as she bade him, and Zau al-Makan replied, "Yes, I have +parted from every one I loved: but the dearest of all to me was +my sister, from whom Fate hath separated me." When Nuzhat al- +Zaman heard this, she exclaimed, "Allah Almighty reunite him with +what he loveth!"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nuzhat +al-Zaman heard his words she said, "Allah reunite him with what +he loveth!" Then quoth she to the Eunuch, "Tell him to let me +hear somewhat anent his separation from his countrymen and his +country." The Eunuch did so, and Zau al-Makan sighed heavily and +began repeating these couplets,[FN#317] + +"Is not her love a pledge by all mankind confest? * The house + that hometh Hinda be forever blest' +Her love all levels; man can reck of naught beside; * Naught or + before or after can for man have zest +'Tis though the vale is paved with musk and ambergris * That day + when Hinda's footstep on its face is prest: +Hail to the beauty of our camp, the pride of folk, * The dearling + who en' Slaves all hearts by her behest: +Allah on 'Time's Delight' send large dropped clouds that teem * + With genial rain but bear no thunder in their breast." + +And also these, + +"I vow to Allah if at home I sight * My sister Nuzhat al-Zamani + highs +I'll pass the days in joyance and delight * Mid bashful minions, + maidens soft and white: +To sound of harps in various modes they smite * Draining the + bowl, while eyes rain lively light +'Neath half closed lids, a sipping lips red bright * By stream + bank flowing through my garden site." + +When he had finished his verse, Nuzhat al-Zaman lifted up a skirt +of the litter curtain and looked at him. As soon as her eyes +fell on his face, she knew him for certain and cried out, "O my +brother! O Zau al-Makan!" He also looked at her and knew her and +cried out, "O my sister! O Nuzhat al-Zaman!" Then she threw +herself upon him and he gathered her to his bosom and the twain +fell down in a fainting fit. When the Eunuch saw this case, he +wondered at them and throwing over them somewhat to cover them, +waited till they should recover. After a while they came to +themselves, and Nuzhat al-Zaman rejoiced with exceeding joy: +oppression and depression left her and gladness took the mastery +of her, and she repeated these verses, + +"Time sware my life should fare in woeful waste; * Forsworn art + Time, expiate thy sin in haste![FN#318] +Comes weal and comes a welcome friend to aid; * To him who brings + good news, rise, gird thy waist +I spurned old world tales of Eden bliss; * Till came I + Kausar[FN#319] on those lips + +When Zau al-Makan heard this, he pressed his sister to his +breast; tears streamed from his eyes for excess of joy and he +repeated these couplets,[FN#320] + +"Long I lamented that we fell apart, * While tears repentant + railed from these eyne; +And sware, if Time unite us twain once more, * 'Severance' shall + never sound from tongue of mine: +Joy hath so overwhelmed me that excess * Of pleasure from mine + eyes draws gouts of brine: +Tears, O mine eyes, have now become your wont * Ye weep for + pleasure and you weep for pine!" + +They sat awhile at the litter door till she said to him, "Come +with me into the litter and tell me all that hath befallen thee, +and I will tell thee what happened to me." So they entered and +Zau al-Maken said, "Do thou begin thy tale." Accordingly she told +him all that had come to her since their separation at the Khan +and what had happened to her with the Badawi; how the merchant +had bought her of him and had taken her to her brother Sharrkan +and had sold her to him; how he had freed her at the time of +buying; how he had made a marriage contract with her and had gone +in to her and how the King, their sire, had sent and asked for +her from Sharrkan. Then quoth she, "Praised be Allah who hath +vouchsafed thee to me and ordained that, even as we left our +father together, so together shall we return to him!" And she +added, "Of a truth my brother Sharrkan gave me in marriage to +this Chamberlain that he might carry me to my father. And this +is what befel me from first to last; so now tell me how it hath +fared with thee since I left thee." Thereupon he told her all +that had happened to him from beginning to end; and how Allah +vouchsafed to send the Fireman to him, and how he had journeyed +with him and spent his money on him and had served him night and +day. She praised the Stoker for this and Zau al-Makan added, "Of +a truth, O my sister, this Fireman hath dealt with me in such +benevolent wise as would not lover with lass nor sire with son, +for that he fasted and gave me to eat, and he walked whilst he +made me ride; and I owe my life to him." Said she, "Allah +willing, we will requite him for all this, according to our +power." Then she called the Eunuch, who came and kissed Zau al- +Makan's hand, and she said, "Take thy reward for glad tidings, O +face of good omen! It was thy hand reunited me with my brother; +so the purse I gave thee and all in it are thine. But now go to +thy master and bring him quickly to me." The Castrato rejoiced +and, going in to the Chamberlain, him to his mistress. +Accordingly, he came in to his wife and finding Zau al-Makan with +her, asked who he was. So she told him all that had befallen +them both, first and last, and added, "Know, O Chamberlain, that +thou hast married no slave girl; far from it, thou hast taken to +wife the daughter of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman for I am Nuzhat al- +Zaman, and this is my brother, Zau al-Makan." When the +Chamberlain heard the story he knew it to be sooth, and its +manifest truth appeared to him and he was certified that he was +become King Omar bin al-Nu'uman's son in law, so he said to +himself, " 'Twill be my fate to be made viceroy of some +province."[FN#321] Then he went up to Zau al-Makan and gave him +joy of his safety and reunion with his sister, and bade his +servants forthwith make him ready a tent and one of the best of +his own horses to ride. Thereupon said Nuzhat al-Zaman, "We are +now near our country and I would be left alone with my brother, +that we may enjoy each other's company and take our fill of it +ere we reach Baghdad; for we have been parted a long, long time." +"Be it as thou biddest," replied the Chamberlain, and, going +forth from them, sent them wax candles and various kinds of +sweetmeats, together with three suits of the costliest for Zau +al-Makan. Then he returned to the litter and related the good he +had done and Nuzhat al-Zaman said to him, "Bid the Eunuch bring +me the Fireman and give him a horse to ride and ration him with a +tray of food morning and evening, and let him be forbidden to +leave us." The Chamberlain called the Castrato and charged him to +do accordingly; so he replied, "I hear and I obey;" and he took +his pages with him and went out in search of the Stoker till he +found him in the rear of the caravan, girthing his ass and +preparing for flight. The tears were running adown his cheeks, +out of fear for his life and grief for his separation from Zau +al-Makan; and he was saying to himself, "Indeed, I warned him for +the love of Allah, but he would not listen to me; Oh would I knew +what is become of him!" Ere he had done speaking the Eunuch was +standing by his head whilst the pages surrounded him The Fireman +turned and seeing the Eunuch and the pages gathered around him +became yellow with fear,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Stoker girthed his ass for flight and bespake himself, saying, +"Oh would I knew what is become of him!"; ere he had done +speaking the Castrato was standing by his head and his side +muscles quivered for fear and he lifted up his voice and cried, +"Verily he knoweth not the value of the good offices I have done +him! I believe he hath denounced me to the Eunuch (hence these +pages et about me) and he hath made me an accomplice in his +crime." Then the effeminated one cried at him, saying, "Who was +it recited the verses? O liar! why didst thou say, 'I never +repeated these couplets, nor do I know who repeated them;' when +it was thy companion? But now I will not leave thee between this +place and Baghdad, and what betideth thy comrade shall betide +thee." Quoth the Fireman, "What I feared hath befallen me." And +he repeated this couplet, + +"'Twas as I feared the coming ills discerning: * But unto Allah + we are all returning." + +Then the Eunuch cried upon the pages, saying, "Take him off the +ass." So they carried him along with the caravan, surrounded by +the pages, as the white contains the black of the eye; and the +Castrato said to them, "If a hair of him be lost, you will be +lost with it." And he bade them privily treat him with honour and +not humiliate him. But when the Stoker saw himself beset by the +pages, he despaired of his life and turning to the Eunuch, said +to him, "O Chief, I am neither this youth's brother nor am I akin +to him, nor is he sib to me; but I was a Fireman in a Hammam and +found him cast out, in his sickness, on the dung heap." Then the +caravan fared on and the Stoker wept and imagined in himself a +thousand things, whilst the Eunuch walked by his side and told +him nothing, but said to him, "Thou disturbedst our mistress by +reciting verses, thou and this youth: but fear nothing for thy +self;" and kept laughing at him the while to himself. Whenever +the caravan halted, they served him with food, and he and the +Castrato ate from one dish.[FN#322] Then the Eunuch bade his lads +bring a gugglet of sugared sherbet and, after drinking himself, +gave it to the Fireman, who drank; but all the while his tears +never dried, out of fear for his life and grief for his +separation from Zau al-Makan and for what had befallen them in +their strangerhood. So they both travelled on with the caravan, +whilst the Chamberlain now rode by the door of his wife's litter, +in attendance on Zau al-Makan and his sister, and now gave an eye +to the Fireman; and Nuzhat al-Zaman and her brother occupied +themselves with converse and mutual condolence; and they ceased +not after this fashion till they came within three days' journey +from Baghdad. Here they alighted at eventide and rested till the +morning morrowed; and as they awoke and they were about to load +the beasts, behold, there appeared afar off a great cloud of dust +that darkened the firmament till it became black as gloomiest +night.[FN#323] Thereupon the Chamberlain cried out to them, +"Stay, and your loading delay!"; then, mounting with his +Mamelukes, rode forward in the direction of the dust cloud. When +they drew near, suddenly appeared under it a numerous conquering +host like the full tide sea, with flags and standards, drums and +kettledrums, horsemen and footmen. The Chamberlain marvelled at +this; and when the troops saw him, there detached itself from +amongst them a plump of five hundred cavaliers, who fell upon him +and his suite and surrounded them, five for one; whereupon said +he to them, "What is the matter and what are these troops, that +ye do this with us?" Asked they, "Who art thou; and whence comest +thou, and whither art thou bound?" and he answered, "I am the +Chamberlain of the Emir of Damascus, King Sharrkan, son of Omar +bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad and of the land of Khorasan, and +I bring tribute and presents from him to his father in Baghdad." +When the horsemen heard his words they let their head kerchiefs +fall over their faces and wept, saying, "In very sooth King Omar +is dead and he died not but of poison. So fare ye forwards; no +harm shall befal you till you join his Grand Wazir, Dandan." Now +when the Chamberlain heard this, he wept sore and exclaimed, "Oh +for our disappointment in this our journey!" Then he and all his +suite wept till they had come up with the host and sought access +to the Wazir Dandan, who granted an interview and called a halt +and, causing his pavilion to be pitched, sat down on a couch +therein and commanded to admit the Chamberlain. Then he bade him +be seated and questioned him; and he replied that he was +Chamberlain to the Emir of Damascus and was bound to King Omar +with presents and the tribute of Syria. The Wazir, hearing the +mention of King Omar's name, wept and said, "King Omar is dead by +poison, and upon his dying the folk fell out amongst themselves +as to who should succeed him, until they were like to slay one +another on this account; but the notables and grandees and the +four Kazis interposed and all the people agreed to refer the +matter to the decision of the four judges and that none should +gainsay them. So it was agreed that we go to Damascus and fetch +thence the King's son, Sharrkan, and make him Sultan over his +father's realm. And amongst them were some who would have chosen +the cadet, Zau Al-Makan, for, quoth they, his name be Light of +the Place, and he hath a sister Nuzhat al-Zaman highs, the +Delight of the Time; but they set out five years ago for Al-Hijaz +and none wotteth what is become of them." When the Chamberlain +heard this, he knew; that his wife had told him the truth of her +adventures; and he grieved with sore grief for the death of King +Omar, albeit he joyed with exceeding joy, especially at the +arrival of Zau al-Makan, for that he would now become Sultan of +Baghdad in his father's stead--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when +Sharrkan's Chamberlain heard of the death of King Omar bin al- +Nu'uman he mourned, but he rejoiced because of his wife and her +brother Zau al-Makan who would become Sultan of Baghdad in his +father's stead. So he turned to the Wazir Dandan and said to +him, "Verily your tale is a wonder of wonders! Know, O Chief +Wazir, that here, where you have encountered me, Allah hath given +you rest from fatigue and bringeth you your desire after the +easiest of fashions, for that His Almighty Will restoreth to you +Zau al-Makan and his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman; whereby we will +settle the matter as we easily can." When the Minister heard +these words he rejoiced with great joy and said, "O Chamberlain, +tell me the tale of the twain and what befel them and the cause +of their long absence." So he repeated to him the whole story and +told him that Nuzhat al-Zaman was his wife and related to him the +adventures of Zau al-Makan from first to last. As soon as he had +ended his tale, the Wazir sent for the Emirs and Wazirs and Chief +Officers and acquainted them with the matter; whereat they +rejoiced with great joy and wondered at the happy chance. Then +they gathered in a body and went in to the Chamberlain and did +their service to him, kissing the ground between his hands; and +the Wazir Dandan also rose and went out to meet him and stood +before him in honour. After this, the Chamberlain held on that +day a Divan council; and he and the Wazir sat upon a throne, +whilst all the Emirs and Grandees and Officers of State took +their places before them, according to their several +ranks.[FN#324] Then they melted sugar in rose water and drank, +after which the Emirs sat down to hold council and permitted the +rest of the host to mount and ride forward leisurely, till they +should make an end of their debate and overtake them. So the +officers kissed the ground between their hands and mounting, rode +onwards, preceded by the standards of war. When the grandees had +finished their conference, they took horse and rejoined the host; +and the Chamberlain approached the Wazir Dandan and said, "I deem +it well to ride on before you, and precede you, that I may get +ready a place for the Sultan and notify him of your coming and of +your choosing him as Sultan over the head of his brother +Sharrkan." "Aright thou reckest," answered the Wazir Then the +Chamberlain rose up in haste and Dandan also stood up to do him +honour and brought him presents, which he conjured him to accept. +In similar guise did all the Emirs and Grandees and Officers of +State, bringing him gifts and calling down blessings on him and +saying to him, "Haply thou wilt mention our case to Sultan Zau +al-Makan and speak to him to continue us in our +dignities."[FN#325] The Chamberlain promised all they required +and bade his pages be ready to march, whereupon the Wazir Dandan +sent with him tents and bade the tent pitchers set them up at a +day's journey from the city. And they did his bidding. Then the +Chamberlain mounted and rode forward, full of joy and saying to +himself, "How blessed is this gurney!", and indeed his wife was +exalted in his eyes, she and her brother Zau al-Makan. They made +all haste over their wayfare, till they reached a place distant a +day's journey from Baghdad, where the Chamberlain called a halt +for rest, and bade his men alight and make ready a sitting place +for the Sultan Zau al-Makan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, +while he rode forward with his Mamelukes and, alighting at a +distance from Nuzhat al-Zaman's litter, commanded the eunuchs to +ask leave of admission to the presence. They did so and she gave +permission; whereupon he went in to her and conversed with her +and her brother; and told them of the death of their father; and +of Zau al-Makan, how the heads of the people had made him King +over them in the stead of his sire; and he gave them joy of the +kingdom. They both wept for their father and asked the manner of +his being killed; but the Chamberlain answered, "The news rests +with the Wazir Dandan who will be here tomorrow leading all the +host; and it only remaineth for thee, O King, to do what they +counsel, since they have unanimously chosen thee Sultan; for if +thou do not this, they will choose some one else and thou canst +not be sure of thy life with another Sultan. Haply he will kill +thee, or discord may befal between you twain and the kingdom pass +out of the hands of both." Zau al-Makan bowed his head awhile and +then said, "I accept this position;" for indeed there was no +refusing; and he was certified that the Chamberlain had +counselled him well and wisely and set him on the right way. +Then he added, "O my uncle, how shall I do with my brother +Sharrkan?" "O my son," replied the Chamberlain, "thy brother will +be Sultan of Damascus and thou Sultan of Baghdad; so take heart +of grace and get ready thy case." Zau al-Makan accepted this and +the Chamberlain presented him with a suit of royal raiment and a +dagger[FN#326] of state, which the Wazir Dandan had brought with +him; then leaving him he bade the tent pitchers choose a spot of +rising ground and set up thereon a spacious pavilion, wherein the +Sultan might sit to receive the Emirs and Grandees. Moreover he +ordered the kitcheners to cook rich viands and serve them and he +commanded the water carriers to dispose the water troughs. They +did as he bade them and presently arose a cloud of dust from the +ground and spread till it walled the horizon round. After +awhile, the dust dispersed and there appeared under it the army +of Baghdad and Khorasan, a conquering host like the full tide +sea.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Chamberlain bade the tent pitchers set up a pavilion spacious +enough to receive the subjects flocking to their Sultan, they +planted a splendid Shhmiynah[FN#327] befitting Kings. And as +they ended their labours behold, a dust cloud spired aloft and +the breeze made it lift and beneath it showed a conquering host; +and presently it appeared that this was the army of Baghdad and +Khorasan preceded by the Wazir Dandan. And in it all rejoiced at +the accession of the "Light of the Place." Now Zau al-Makan had +donned robes of royal estate and girt himself with the sword of +state: so the Chamberlain brought him a steed and he mounted +surrounded by the Mamelukes and all the company from the tents on +foot, to do him service, and he rode on until he came to the +great pavilion, where he sat down and he laid the royal dagger +across his thighs, whilst the Chamberlain stood in attendance on +him and his armed slaves stationed themselves under the entrance +awning of the Shahmiyanah, with drawn swords in their hands. +Presently, up came the troops and the host and craved admission +so the Chamberlain went in to Zau al-Makan and asked his leave +whereupon he bade admit them, ten by ten. The Chamberlain +acquainted them with the King's commands, to which they replied, +"We hear and we obey;" and all drew up before the pavilion +entrance. Then he took ten of them and carried them through the +vestibule into the presence of Sultan Zau al-Makan, whom when +they saw, they were awed; but he received them with most gracious +kindness and promised them all good. So they gave him joy of his +safe return and invoked Allah's blessings upon him after which +they took the oath of fealty never to gainsay him in aught and +they kissed ground before him and withdrew. Then other ten +entered and he entreated them as he had entreated the ethers; and +they ceased not to enter, ten by ten, till none was left but the +Wazir Dandan. Lastly the Minister went in and kissed the ground +before Zau al-Makan, who rose to meet him, saying, "Welcome, O +Wazir and sire sans peer! Verily, thine acts are those of a +counsellor right dear, and judgement and foreseeing clear are in +the hands of the Subtle of Lere." Then bade he the Chamberlain +forthwith go out and cause the tables to be spread and order all +the troops thereto. So they came and ate and drank. Moreover +the Sultan commanded his Wazir Dandan call a ten days' halt of +the army, that he might be private with him and learn from him +how and wherefore his father had been slain. The Wazir obeyed +the commands of the Sultan with submission and wished him +eternity of glory and said, "This needs must be!" He then +repaired to the heart of the encampment and ordered the host to +halt ten days. They did as he bade them and, moreover, he gave +them leave to divert themselves and ordered that none of the +lords in waiting should attend upon the King for service during +the space of three days. Then the Wazir went to the Sultan and +reported all to him, and Zau al-Makan waited until nightfall, +when he went in to his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman and asked her, +"Dost thou know the cause of my father's murder or not?" "I have +no knowledge of the cause," she answered, and drew a silken +curtain before herself, whilst Zau al-Makan seated himself +without the curtain and commanded the Wazir to the presence and, +when he came, said to him, "I desire thou relate to me in detail +the cause of the killing of my sire, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman!" +"Know then, O King," replied Dandan, "that King Omar bin al- +Nu'uman, when he returned to Baghdad from his chasing and hunting +and entered the city, enquired for thee and thy sister, but could +not find you and knew that you twain had gone on the Pilgrimage; +whereat he was greatly grieved and much angered, and his breast +was straitened and he abode thus half a year, seeking news of you +from all who came and went but none could give him any tidings. +Now while we were in attendance upon him one day, after a whole +year had sped since ye were lost to his sight, lo! there came to +us an ancient dame with signs of being a devotee, accompanied by +five damsels, high bosomed virgins like moons, endowed with such +beauty and loveliness as tongue faileth to describe; and, to +crown their perfections of comeliness, they could read the Koran +and were versed in various kinds of learning and in the histories +of bygone peoples. Then that old woman sought audience of the +King, and he bade admit her; whereupon she entered the presence +and kissed the ground between his hands. I was then sitting by +his side and he, seeing in her the signs of asceticism and +devoutness, made her draw near and take seat hard by him. And +when she had sat down she addressed him and said, 'Know, O King, +that with me are five damsels, whose like no King among the Kings +possesseth; for they are endowed with wit and beauty and +loveliness and perfection. They read the Koran--and the +Traditions and are skilled in all manner of learning and in the +history of bygone races. They stand here between thy hands to do +thee service, O King of the Age, and it is by trial that folk are +prized or despised. 'Thy father, who hath found mercy;[FN#328] +looked at the damsels and their favour pleased him; so he said to +them, Let each and every of you make me hear something of what +she knoweth anent the history of the folk of yore and of peoples +long gone before!'--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Seventy-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +Dandan said unto King Zau al-Makan, "Thy father, who hath found +mercy, glanced at the damsels and their favour pleased him and he +said to them, 'Let each and every of you make me hear something +of what she knoweth anent the history of the folk of yore and of +peoples long gone before!' Thereupon one of them came forward +and, kissing the ground before him, spake as follows[FN#329] +'Know, O King, that it behoveth one of good breeding to eschew +impertinence and adorn himself with excellencies, and observe the +Divine injunctions and avoid mortal sins; and to this he should +apply himself with the assiduity of one who, if he stray +therefrom, falleth into perdition; for the foundation of good +breeding is virtuous behaviour. And know that the chief cause +and reason of man's existence is the endeavour after life +everlasting, and the right way thereto is the service of Allah. +Wherefore it behoveth thee to deal beneficently with the people: +and swerve not from this canon, for the mightier men are in +dignity, the more their need of prudence and foresight; and +indeed Monarchs need this more than the many, for the general +cast themselves into affairs, without taking thought to the issue +thereof. Be thou prodigal of thy life and thy good in the way of +Allah, and know that, if an enemy dispute with thee, thou mayst +dispute with him and refute him with proofs and be proof against +him; but as for thy friend, there is none can judge between thee +and him save righteousness and fair dealing. Choose, therefore, +thy friend for thyself, after thou hast proved him. If he be of +the brotherhood of futurity,[FN#330] let him be zealous in +observing the externals of the Holy Law and versed in its inner +meaning, as far as may be; and if he be of the brotherhood of the +world, let him be free born, sincere, neither a fool nor a +perverse, for the fool man is such that even his parents might +well flee from him, and a liar cannot be a true friend. Indeed +the word, Siddk[FN#331] ('friend') deriveth from Sidk ('truth') +that welleth up from the bottom of the heart; and how can this be +the case, when falsehood is manifest upon the tongue? And know, +that the observance of the Law profiteth him who practiseth it: +so love thy brother, if he be of this quality and do not cast him +off, even if thou see in him that which irketh thee, for a friend +is not I like a wife, whom one can divorce and re-marry: nay, his +heart is like glass: once broken, it may not be mended. And +Allah bless him who saith, + +'Ware how thou hurtest man with hurt of heart; * 'Tis hard to win + thee back the heart offended: +For hearts indeed, whence love is alien made, * Like broken glass + may nevermore be mended.' + +The maiden continued and concluded with pointing out to us what +sages say, 'The best of brethren is he who is the most constant +in good counsel; the best of action is that which is fairest in +its consequence, and the best of praise is not that which is in +the mouths of men. It is also said, 'It behoveth not the servant +to neglect thanking Allah especially for two favours, health and +reason.' Again it is said, 'Whoso honoureth himself, his lust is +a light matter to him, and he who maketh much of his small +troubles, Allah afflicteth him with the greater; he who obeyeth +his own inclination neglecteth his duties and he who listeneth to +the slanderer loseth the true friend. He who thinketh well of +thee, do thou fulfill his thought of thee. He who exceedeth in +contention sinneth, and he who against upright standeth not on +ward, is not safe from the sword. Now will I tell thee somewhat +of the duties of Kazis and judges. Know, O King, that no +judgement serveth the cause of justice save it be given after +proof positive, and it behoveth the judge to treat all people on +the same level, to the intent that the great may not hunger for +oppression nor the small despair of justice. Furthermore he +should extract proof from the complainant and impose an oath upon +the defendant; and mediation is admissible between Moslems, +except it be a compromise sanctioning the unlawful or forbidding +the lawful.[FN#332] If thou shalt have done aught during the day, +of which thy reason is doubtful but thy good intention is proved, +thou (O Kazi) shouldst revert to the right, for to do justice is +a religious obligation and to return to that which is right is +better than persistence in wrong. Then (O judge) thou shouldest +study precedents and the law of the case and do equal justice +between the suitors, withal fixing thine eyes upon the truth and +committing thine affair to Allah (be He extolled and exalted!). +And require thou proof of the complainant, and if he adduce +evidence let him have due benefit of it; and if not, put the +defendant to his oath; for this is the ordinance of Allah. +Receive thou the testimony of competent Moslem witnesses, one +against other, for Almighty Allah hath commanded judges to judge +by externals, He Himself taking charge of the inner and secret +things. It behoveth the judge also to avoid giving judge meet, +whilst suffering from stress of pain or hunger,[FN#333] and that +in his decisions between folk he seek the face of Allah Almighty +for he whose intent is pure and who is at peace with himself, +Allah shall guarantee him against what is between him and the +people.' Quoth al-Zuhri,[FN#334] 'There are three things for +which, if they be found in a Kazi, he should be deposed; namely, +if he honour the base, if he love praise and if he fear +dismissal. And Omar bin Abd al-Aziz once deposed a Kazi, who +asked him, 'Why hast thou dismissed me? It hath reached me,' +answered Omar, 'that thy converse is greater than thy condition.' +It is said also that Iskandar[FN#335] said to his Kazi, 'I have +invested thee with this function and committed to thee in it my +soul and mine honour and my manliness; so do thou guard it with +thy sense and thine understanding.' To his Cook he said, 'Thou +art the Sultan of my body; so look thou tender it as thine own +self.' To his Secretary he said, 'Thou art the controller of my +wit: so do thou watch over me in what thou writest for me and +from me.'" Thereupon the first damsel backed out from the +presence and a second damsel came forward.--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Eightieth Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +Wazir Dandan said to Zau al-Makan, "Thereupon the first damsel +backed out from the presence and a second damsel came forward +and, kissing the ground seven times before the King thy father, +spake as follows, 'The sage Lukmn[FN#336] said to his son, +'There be three who are known only in three several cases; the +merciful man is unknown save in time of wrath, the brave only in +battle, and thy friend in time of need.' It is said that the +oppressor shall be depress though by people praised, and that the +oppress is at rest though by people blamed. Quoth Allah +Almighty,[FN#337] 'Assuredly deem not that those who rejoice in +what they have done, and who love to be praised for what they +have not done, shall escape reckoning of punishment: indeed there +is reserved for them a grievous penalty.' And he said[FN#338] (on +whom be salvation and salutation!), 'Works are according to +intention and to each man is attributed that which he intendeth.' +He said also, 'In the body is a part which being sound the rest +is sound, and which being unsound the whole is unsound.' And this +is the heart. Now this heart is the most marvellous of what is +in man, since it is that which ordereth his whole affair: If +covetise stir in it, desire destroyeth him, and if affliction +master it, anguish slayeth him; if anger rage in it, danger is +hard upon him; if it be blest with contentment, he is safe from +discontent; if fear surprise it, he is full of mourning; and if +calamity overtake it, affliction betideth him. If a man gain the +use of wealth, peradventure he is diverted thereby from the +remembrance of his Lord; if poverty choke him his heart is +distracted by woe, or if disquietude waste his heart, weakness +causeth him to fall. Thus, in any case, nothing profiteth him +but that he be mindful of Allah and occupy himself with gaining +his livelihood in this world and securing his place in the next. +It was asked of a certain sage, 'Who is the most ill conditioned +of men?'; and he answered, 'The man whose lusts master his +manhood and whose mind soareth over high, so that his knowledge +dispreadeth and his excuse diminisheth; and how excellently saith +the poet, + +Freest am I of all mankind fro' meddling wight * Who, seeing + others err, self error ne'er can sight: +Riches and talents are but loans to creature lent, * Each wears + the cloak of that he bears in breast and sprite: +If by mistaken door attempt on aught thou make, * Thou shalt go + wrong and if the door be right, go right!' + +Continued the maiden, 'As for anecdotes of devotees, quoth Hisham +bin Bashar, 'I asked Omar bin Ubayd, What is true piety?'; and he +answered, 'The Apostle of Allah (to whom be salutation and +salvation!) hath explained it when he sayeth, The pious is he who +forgetteth not the grave nor calamity and who preferreth that +which endureth to that which passeth away; who counteth not the +morrow as of his days but reckoneth himself among the dead.' And +it is related that Abu Zarr[FN#339] used to say, Want is dearer +to me than wealth, and unheal is dearer to me than health.' Quoth +one of the listeners, 'May Allah have mercy on Abu Zarr!'. For +my part, I say, 'Whoso putteth his trust in the goodness of the +election of Almighty Allah should be content with that condition +which Allah hath chosen for him.' Quoth one of the Companions of +the Prophet, 'Ibn Abi Aufa[FN#340] once prayed with us the dawn +prayer. When he had done, he recited, 'O Thou +Enwrapped!'[FN#341] till he came to where Allah saith, 'When +there shall be a trumping on the trumpet,' and fell down dead. +It is said that Sabit al-Banani wept till he well nigh lost his +eyes. They brought him a man to medicine him who said to him, 'I +will cure thee, provided thou obey my bidding' Asked Sabit, 'In +what matter?' Quoth the leach, 'In that thou leave weeping!' +'What is the worth of mine eyes?', rejoined Sabit, 'if they do +not weep?' Quoth a man to Mohammed bin Abdillah, 'Exhort thou +me!'"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-first Night, + +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +Wazir Dandan said to Zau al-Makan, "Thus spake the second hand +maid to the King who hath found mercy, Omar bin al-Nu'uman. +'Quoth a man to Mohammed bin Abdillah, Exhort thou me!' 'I exhort +thee,' replied he, 'to be a self ruler, an abstainer in this +world, and in the next a greedy slave.' 'How so?' asked the other +and Mohammed answered, 'The abstinent man in this world +conquereth both the world that is and the world to come.' And +quoth Ghaus bin Abdillah, 'There were two brothers among the sons +of Israel, one of whom said to the other, 'What be the most +perilous[FN#342] thing thou hast done?' Replied the brother, 'I +once came upon a nest of young birds; so I took out one and threw +it back into the nest; but among the chickens were some which +drew apart from it. This is the most perilous thing I ever did; +now what be the most perilous thing thou hast ever done?' He +rejoined, 'When I arise for prayer I am fearful that it is only +for the sake of the reward.' Now their father heard these words +and exclaimed, 'O Allah, an say they sooth take them to Thyself!' +It was declared by one of the wise men, 'Verily, these were of +the most virtuous of children.' Quoth Sa'd bin Jubayr,[FN#343] +'I was once in company with Fuzalah bin 'Ubaydand said to him, +'Exhort thou me!, Replied he, 'Bear in mind these two +necessaries, Shun syntheism[FN#344] and harm not any of Allah's +creatures.' And he repeated these two couplets, + +'Be as thou wilt, for Allah still is bounteous Lord, * And care + dispeller dread not therefore bane and ban +To two things only never draw thee nigh, nor give * Partner to + Allah trouble to thy brother man.' + +And how well saith the poet, + +'An thou of pious works a store neglect * And after death meet + one who did collect, +Thou shalt repent thou diddest not as he, * Nor madest ready as + he did elect.' + +Then the third damsel came forward, after the second had with +drawn, and said, 'Of a truth, the chapter of piety is exceeding +wide; but I will mention what occurreth to me thereof, concerning +the pious of old. Quoth a certain holy man, 'I congratulate +myself in death, though I am not assured of rest therein, save +that I know death interveneth between a man and his works; so I +hope for the doubling of good works and the docking off of ill +works.' And Ita'a al Salami, when he had made an end of an +exhortation, was wont to tremble and grieve and weep sore; and as +they asked him why he did this he answered, 'I desire to enter +upon a grave matter, and it is the standing up before Almighty +Allah to do in accordance with my exhortation.' In similar guise +Zayn al-Abidn,[FN#345] son of Al-Husayn, was wont to tremble +when he rose to pray. Being asked the cause of this, he replied, +'Know ye not before whom I stand and whom I address?' It is said +that there lived near Sufyn al-Thauri[FN#346] a blind man who, +when the month of Ramazan came, went out with the folk to +pray,[FN#347] but remained silent and hung back. Said Sufyan, +'On the Day of Resurrection he shall come with the people of the +Koran and they will be distinguished by increase of honour from +their fellows.' Quoth Sufyan, 'Were the soul established in the +heart as befitteth, it would fly away for joy and pining for +Paradise, and for grief and fear of hell-fire.' It is related +also of Sufyan Al-Thauri that he said, 'To look upon the face of +a tyrant is a sin.' Then the third damsel retired and came for +ward the fourth, who said, 'Here am I to treat of sundry +traditions of pious men which suggest themselves to me. It is +related that Bishr Barefoot[FN#348] said, 'I once heard Khlid +say, 'Beware of secret polytheism.' I asked, 'What may secret +polytheism be?'; and he answered, 'When one of you in praying +prolong his inclinations and prostrations till a cause of +impurity[FN#349] come upon him.' And one of the sages said, +'Doing works of weal expiateth what is ill.' Quoth +Ibrahim,[FN#350] 'I supplicated Bishr Barefoot to acquaint me +with some theological mysteries; but he said, 'O my son, this +knowledge it behoveth us not to teach to every one; of every +hundred five, even as the legal alms upon money.' Said Ibrahim, +'I thought his reply excellent and approved of it and while I was +praying behold, Bishr was also praying: so I stood behind +him[FN#351] making the prayer bow till the Mu'ezzin called his +call. Then rose a man of tattered appearance and said, O folk, +beware of a truth which bringeth unweal, for there is no harm in +a lie bringing weal,[FN#352] and in time of need no choice we +heed: speech booteth not in the absence of good qualities even as +silence hurteth not in the presence of good. Presently I saw +Bishr drop a danik,[FN#353] so I picked it up and exchanged it +for a dirham which I gave him. Quoth he, 'I will not take it.' +Quoth I, 'It is perfectly lawful change'; but he rejoined 'I +cannot take in exchange the riches of the present world for those +of the future world.' It is related also that Bishr Barefoot's +sister once went to Ahmad bin Hanbal"[FN#354]--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +Dandan continued to bespeak Zau al-Makan on this wise, "And quoth +the maiden to thy father, 'Bishr Barefoot's sister once went to +Ahmad bin Hanbal and said to him, 'O Imam of the Faith, we are a +family that spin thread by night and work for our living by day; +and oftentimes the cressets of the watch of Baghdad pass by and +we on the roof spinning by their light. Is this forbidden to +us?' Asked Ahmad:'Who are thou?' 'I am the sister of Bishr +Barefoot,' answered she. Rejoined the Iman, 'O household of +Bishr, I shall never cease to drink full draughts of piety from +your hearts.' Quoth one of the sages, 'When Allah willeth well to +His servant He openeth upon him the gate of action.' Mlik bin +Dinr,[FN#355] when he passed through the bazar and saw aught he +desired, was wont to say, 'O soul, take patience, for I will not +accord to thee what thou desirest.' He said also (Allah accept +him!), 'The salvation of the soul lies in resistance to it and +its damnation in submission to it.' Quoth Mansr bin +Ammr,[FN#356] 'I made a pilgrimage and was faring Meccahwards by +way of Cufa, and the night was overcast, when I heard a voice +crying out from the deeps of the darkness saying, 'O Allah, I +swear by Thy Greatness and Thy Glory, I meant not through my +disobedience to transgress against Thee; for indeed I am not +ignorant of Thee; but my fault is one Thou didst foreordain to me +from eternity without beginning;[FN#357] so do Thou pardon my +transgression, for indeed I disobeyed Thee of my ignorance!' When +he had made an end of his prayer he recited aloud the verse, 'O +true believers, save your souls and those of your families from +the fire whose fuel is men and stones.'[FN#358] Then I heard a +fall, but not knowing what it was I passed on. When the morning +morrowed, as we went our way, behold, we fell in with a funeral +train, followed by an old woman whose strength had left her. I +asked her of the dead, and she answered, 'This is the funeral of +a man who passed by us yesterday whilst my son was standing at +prayer and after his prayers he recited a verse from the Book of +Allah Almighty when the man's gall bladder burst and he fell +dead.' Therewith the fourth damsel retired and the fifth came +forward and said, 'I here will also repeat what occurreth to me +regarding the acts of devotees in olden time. Maslamah bin Dinr +used to say, 'By making sound the secret thoughts, sins great and +small are covered'; and, 'when the servant of Allah is resolved +to leave sinning, victory cometh to him.' Also quoth he, 'Every +worldly good which doth not draw one nearer to Allah is a +calamity, for a little of this world distracteth from a mickle of +the world to come and a mickle of the present maketh thee forget +the whole of the future.' It was asked of Ab Hzim,[FN#359] 'Who +is the most prosperous of men?'; and he answered, 'Whoso spendeth +his life in submission to Allah.' The other enquired, 'And who is +the most foolish of mankind?' 'Whoso selleth his future for the +worldly goods of others,' replied Abu Hazim. It is reported of +Moses[FN#360] (on whom be peace!) that when he came to the waters +of Midian he exclaimed, 'O Lord, verily I stand in need of the +good which thou shalt send down to me.'[FN#361] And he asked of +his Lord and not of his folk. There came two damsels and he drew +water for them both and allowed not the shepherds to draw first. +When the twain returned, they informed their father Shu'ayb (on +whom be peace!) who said, 'Haply, he is hungry,' adding to one of +them, 'Go back to him and bid him hither.' Now when she came to +Moses, she veiled her face and said, 'My father biddeth thee to +him that he may pay thee thy wage for having drawn water for us.' +Moses was averse to this and was not willing to follow her. Now +she was a woman large in the back parts, and the wind blowing +upon her garment[FN#362] covered the hinder cheeks to Moses; +which when Moses saw, he lowered his eyes and said to her, 'Get +thee behind while I walk in front.' So she followed him till he +entered the house of Shu'ayb where supper was ready."--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +Dandan continued to Zau al-Makan, "Now, quoth the fifth damsel to +thy sire, 'When Moses (on whom be peace!) entered the home of +Shu'ayb where supper was ready, Shu'ayb said to him, 'O Moses, I +desire to pay thee thy wage for having drawn water for these +two.' But Moses answered, 'I am of a household which selleth +nothing of the fashion of the next world[FN#363] for what is on +earth of gold and silver.' Then quoth Shu'ayb, 'O youth! +nevertheless thou art my guest, and it is my wont and that of my +forbears to honour the guest by setting food before him.' So +Moses sat down and ate. Then Shu'ayb hired Moses for eight +pilgrimages, that is to say, eight years, and made his wage +marriage with one of his two daughters, and Moses' service to him +was to stand for her dowry. As saith the Holy Writ of him, +'Verily I will give thee one of these my two daughters in +marriage, on condition that thou serve me for hire eight +pilgrimages: and if thou fulfil ten years, it is in thine own +breast; for I seek not to impose a hardship on thee.'[FN#364] A +certain man once said to one of his friends whom he had not met +for many days, 'Thou hast made me desolate, for that I have not +seen thee this long while.' Quoth the other, 'I have been +distracted from thee by Ibn Shihb: dost thou know him?' Quoth +his friend, 'Yes, he hath been my neighbour these thirty years, +but I have never spoken to him.' He replied, 'Verily thou +forgettest Allah in forgetting--thy neighbour! If thou lovedst +Allah thou wouldst love thy neighbour. Knowest thou not that a +neighbour hath a claim upon his neighbour,[FN#365] even as the +right of kith and kin?' Said Huzayfah, 'We entered Meccah with +Ibrhm bin Adham, and Shakk al-Balkh was also making a +pilgrimage that year. Now we met whilst circumambulating the +Ka'abah and Ibrahim said to Shakik, 'What is your fashion in your +country?' Replied Shakik, 'When we are blest with our daily bread +we eat, and when we hunger we take patience.' 'This wise,' said +Ibrahim, 'do the dogs of Balkh; but we, when blest with plenty, +do honour to Allah and when an hungered we thank Him.' And Shakik +seated himself before Ibrahim and said to him, 'Thou art my +master.' Also said Mohammed bin Imrn, 'A man once asked of Htim +the Deaf[FN#366] 'What maketh thee to trust in Allah?' 'Two +things,' answered he, 'I know that none save myself shall eat my +daily bread, so my heart is at rest as to that; and I know that I +was not created without the knowledge of Allah, and am abashed +before Him.' Then the fifth damsel retired and the ancient dame +came forward and, kissing the ground before thy father nine +times, said, 'Thou hast heard, O King, what these all have spoken +on the subject of piety; and I will follow their example in +relating what hath reached me of the famous men of past times. +It is said that the Imam al-Shfi' departed the night into three +portions, the first for study, the second for sleep and the third +for prayer. The Imam Ab Hanfah[FN#367] was wont also to pass +half the night in prayer. One + +day a man pointed him out to another, as he walked by and +remarked, 'Yonder man watcheth the whole night.' When he heard +this Abu Hanifah said, 'I was abashed before Allah to hear myself +praised for what was not in me'; so after this he used to watch +the whole night. And one of the Sages hath said, + +'Who seeketh for pearl in the Deep dives deep; * Who on high + would hie robs his night of sleep.' + +Al-Rab a relates that Al-Shafi'i used to recite the whole Koran +seventy times during the month of Ramazan, and that in his daily +prayers. Quoth Al-Shafi'i (Allah accept him!), 'During ten years +I never ate my fill of barley bread, for fullness hardeneth the +heart and deadeneth the wit and induceth sleep and enfeebleth one +from standing up to pray.'[FN#368] It is reported of Abdullah bin +Mohammed al-Sakr that he said, 'I was once talking with Omar and +he observed to me, 'Never saw I a more God fearing or eloquent +man than Mohammed bin Idris al-Shafi'i.' It so happened I went +out one day with Al-Hris bin Labb al-Saffr, who was a disciple +of Al-Muzani[FN#369] and had a fine voice and he read the saying +of the Almighty, 'This shall be a day whereon they shall not +speak to any purpose, nor shall they be permitted to excuse +themselves.'[FN#370] I saw Al-Shafi'i's colour change; his skin +shuddered with horripilation, he was violently moved and he fell +down in a fainting fit When he revived he said, 'I take refuge +with Allah from the stead of the liars and the lot of the +negligent! O Allah, before whom the hearts of the wise abase +themselves, O Allah, of Thy bene ficence accord to me the +remission of my sins, adorn me with the curtain of Thy protection +and pardon me my shortcomings, by the magnanimity of Thy Being!' +Then I rose and went away. Quoth one of the pious, 'When I +entered Baghdad, Al-Shafi'i was there. So I sat down on the +river bank to make the ablution before prayer; and behold, there +passed me one who said, 'O youth, make thy Wuzu-ablution well and +Allah will make it well for thee in this world and in the next.' +I turned and lo! there was a man behind whom came a company of +people. So I hastened to finish my ablution and followed him. +Presently, he turned and asked me, 'Say, dost thou want aught?' +'Yes,' answered I, 'I desire that thou teach me somewhat of that +which Allah Almighty hath taught thee.' He said, 'Know then that +whoso believeth in Allah shall be saved, and whoso jealously +loveth his faith shall be delivered from destruction, and whoso +practiseth abstinence in this world, his eyes shall be solaced on +the morrow of death. Shall I tell thee any more?' I replied, +'Assuredly;' and he continued, 'Be thou of the world that is, +heedless; and of the world to come, greediest. Be truthful in +all thy dealings, and thou shalt be saved with the +Salvationists.' Then he went on and I asked about him and was +told that he was the Imam Al-Shafi'i. Al-Shafi'i was wont to +remark, 'I love to see folk profit by this learning of mine, on +condition that nothing of it be attributed to me."--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +Dandan continued to Zau al-Makan, "The old woman bespake thy +sire, saying, 'The Imam Al-Shafi'i was wont to remark, I love to +see folk profit by this learning of mine on condition that +nothing of it be attributed to me.' He also said, 'I never +disputed with any one, but I would that Almighty Allah should +give him the knowledge of the Truth and aid him to dispread it: +nor did I ever dispute with anyone at all but for the showing +forth of the Truth, and I reck not whether Allah manifest it by +my tongue or by His.' He said also (whom Allah accept!), 'If thou +fear to grow conceited of thy lore, then bethink thee Whose grace +thou seekest and for what good thou yearnest and what punishment +thou dreadest.' It was told to Abu Hanfah that the Commander of +the Faithful, Ab Ja'afar al-Mansr, had appointed him Kazi and +ordered him a salary of ten thousand dirhams; but he would not +accept of this; and, when the day came on which the money was to +be paid him, he prayed the dawn prayer, then covered his head +with his robe--and spoke not. When the Caliph's messenger came +with the money, he went in to the Imam and accosted him, but he +would not speak to him. So the messenger said, 'Verily this +money is lawfully thine.' 'I know that it is lawfully mine,' +replied he: 'but I abhor that the love of tyrants get a hold upon +my heart.'[FN#371] Asked the other, 'If thou go in to them canst +thou not guard thyself from loving them?' Answered Abu Hanifah, +'Can I look to enter the sea without my clothes being wet?' +Another of Al-Shafi'i's sayings (Allah accept him!) is, + +'Oh soul of me, an thou accept my rede, * Thou shalt be wealthy + and of grace entire: +Cast off ambitious hopes and vain desires, * How many a death was + done by vain desire!' + +Among the sayings of Sufyn al-Thaur, with which he admonished +Ali bin al-Hasan al-Salami was, 'Be thou a man of truth and 'ware +lies and treachery and hypocrisy and pride. Be not indebted save +to Him who is merciful to His debtors; and let thine associate be +one who shall dissociate thee from the world. Be ever mindful of +death and be constant in craving pardon of Allah and in +beseeching of Allah peace for what remaineth of thy life. +Counsel every True Believer, when he asketh thee concerning the +things of his faith; and beware of betraying a Believer, for +whoso betrayeth a Believer, betrayeth Allah and His Apostle. +Avoid dissensions and litigation; and leave that which causeth +doubt in thee for things which breed no doubt:[FN#372] so shalt +thou be at peace. Enjoin beneficence and forbid malevolence: so +shalt thou be loved of Allah. Adorn thine inner man and Allah +shall adorn thine outer man. Accept the excuse of him who +excuseth self to thee and hate not any one of the Moslems. Draw +near unto those who withdraw from thee and excuse those that +misuse thee: so shalt thou be the friend of the Prophets. Let +thine affairs, both public and private, be in Allah's charge, and +fear Him with the fear of one who knoweth he is dead and who +fareth towards Resurrection and Judgement stead between the hands +of the Lord of Dread; and remember that to one of two houses thou +art sped, either for Heavens eterne or to the Hell fires that +burn.' Thereupon the old woman sat down beside the damsels. Now +when thy father, who hath found mercy, heard their discourse, he +knew that they were the most accomplished of the people of their +time; and, seeing their beauty and loveliness and the extent of +their wisdom and lore, he showed them all favour. Moreover, he +turned to the ancient dame and treated her with honour, and set +apart for her and her damsels the palace which had lodged +Princess Abrizah, daughter of the King of Greece, to which he +bade carry all the luxuries they needed. They abode with him ten +days and the old woman abode with them; and, whenever the King +visited them, he found her absorbed in prayer, watching by night +and fasting by day; whereby love of her took hold upon his heart +and he said to me, 'O Wazir, verily this old woman is of the +pious, and awe of her is strong in my heart.' Now on the eleventh +day, the King visited her, that he might pay her the price of the +damsels; but she said to him, 'O King, know that the price of +these maidens surpasseth the competence of men; indeed I seek not +for them either gold or silver or jewels, be it little or much.' +Now when thy father heard these words he wondered and asked her, +'O my lady and what is their price?'; whereto she answered, 'I +will not sill them to thee save on condition that thou fast, +watching by night a whole month, and abstaining by day, all for +the love of Allah Almighty; and, if thou do this, they are thy +property to use in thy palace as thou please.' So the King +wondered at the perfection of her rectitude and piety and +abnegation; she was magnified in his eyes and he said, 'Allah +make this pious woman to profit us!' Then he agreed with her to +fast for a month as she had stipulated, and she said to him, 'I +will help thee with the prayers I pray for thee and now bring me +a gugglet of water.' They brought one and she took it and recited +over it and muttered spells, and sat for an hour speaking in +speech no one understood or knew aught thereof. Lastly she +covered it with a cloth and, sealing it with her signet ring, +gave it to thy sire, saying, 'When thou hast fasted the first ten +days, break thy fast on the eleventh night with what is in this +gugglet, for it will root out the love of the world from thy +heart and fill it with light and faith. As for me, tomorrow I +will go forth to my brethren, the Invisible[FN#373] Controuls, +for I yearn after them, and I will return to thee when the first +ten days are past. Thy father took the gugglet and arose and set +it apart in a closet of his palace, then locked the door and put +the key in his pocket. Next day the King fasted and the old +woman went her ways."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +Dandan thus continued to Zau al-Makan, "Now when came the day for +the Sultan's fast, the old woman went her ways. And after he had +accomplished the ten days thereof, on the eleventh he opened the +gugglet and drank what was therein and found it cordial to his +stomach. Within the second ten days of the month the old woman +returned, bringing sweetmeats wrapped in a green leaf, like no +leaf of known tree. She went in to thy sire and saluted him; +and, when he saw her, he rose to her saying, 'Welcome, O pious +lady!' 'O King,' quoth she, 'the Invisible Controuls salute thee, +for I told them of thee, and they rejoiced in thee and have sent +thee their Halw,[FN#374] which is of the sweetmeats of the other +world. Do thou break thy fast on it at the end of the day.' The +King rejoiced at this with great joy, and exclaimed, 'Praised be +Allah, who hath given me brethren of the Invisible World!' +Thereupon he thanked the ancient dame and kissed her hands; and +he honoured her and the damsels with exceeding honour. She went +forth for the twenty days of thy father's fast at the end of +which time she came to him and said, 'Know, O King, that I told +the Invisible Controuls of the love which is between me and thee, +and informed them how I had left the maidens with thee, and they +were glad that the damsels should belong to a King like thee; for +they were wont, when they saw them, to be strenuous in offering +on their behalf prayers and petitions ever granted. So I would +fain carry them to the Invisible Controuls that they may benefit +by the breath of their favour, and peradventure, they shall not +return to thee without some treasure of the treasures of the +earth, that thou, after completing thy fast, mayst occupy thyself +with their raiment and help thyself by the money they shall bring +thee, to the extent of thy desires.' When thy sire heard her +words, he thanked her for them and said, 'Except that I fear to +cross thee, I would not accept the treasure or aught else; but +when wilt thou set out with them?' Replied she, 'On the seven and +twentieth night; and I will bring them back to thee at the head +of the month, by which time thou wilt have accomplished thy fast +and they will have had their courses and be free from impurity; +and they shall become thine and be at thy disposal. By Allah, +each damsel of them is worth many times thy kingdom!' He said, 'I +know it, O pious lady!' Then quoth the old woman, 'There is no +help but that thou send with them someone in thy palace who is +dear to thee, that she may find solace and seek a blessing of the +Invisible Controuls.' Quoth he, 'I have a Greek slave called +Sophia, by whom I have been blessed with two children, a girl and +a boy; but they were lost; years ago. Take her with thee that +she may get the blessing'"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-sixth Night, + + She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +Dandan continued to Zau al-Makan, "Quoth thy sire to the ancient +woman when she demanded the handmaids of him, 'I have a Greek +slave called Sophia, by whom I have been blest with two children, +a girl and a boy, but they were lost years ago; so take her with +thee, haply she may get the benediction and, belike, the +Invisible Controuls will sue Allah for her that her two children +may be restored to her.' 'Thou hast said well,' replied she; 'for +that indeed was her grievousest want.' Thy sire gave not over +finishing his fast till the old woman said to him, 'O my son, I +am going to the Invisible Controuls; so bring me Sophia.' +Accordingly, he summoned her and she came forthright, and he +delivered her to the old woman who mixed her up with the other +damsels. Then she went in to her chamber and bringing out a +sealed cup, presented it to the Sultan saying, 'On the thirtieth +day, do thou repair to the Hammam and when thou comest out, enter +one of the closets in thy palace and drink what is in this cup. +Then sleep, and thou shalt attain what thou seekest, and peace be +with thee'! Thereat the King was glad and thanked her and kissed +her hands. Quoth she, 'I commend thee to Allah's care;' whereat +quoth he, 'And when shall I see thee again, O pious lady? In +very sooth I love not to part with thee.' Then she called down +blessings on him and departed with the five damsels and the +Queen; whilst the King fasted after her departure other three +days, till the month ended, when he arose and went to the Hammam +and coming out shut himself up in a closet of his palace, +commanding that none should go in to him. There, after making +fast the door, he drank what was in the cup and lay down to +sleep; and we sat awaiting him till the end of the day, but he +did not come out and we said, 'Perchance he is tired with the +bath and with watching by night and fasting by day; wherefore he +sleepeth.' So we waited till next day; but still he did not come +forth. Then we stood at the closet door and cried aloud so haply +he might awake and ask what was the matter. But nothing came of +that; so at last we lifted up the door;[FN#375] and, going in, +found him dead, with his flesh torn into strips and bits and his +bones broken.[FN#376] When we saw him in this condition it was +grievous to us, and we took up the cup and found within its cover +a piece of paper whereon was inscribed, 'Whoso doeth evil leaveth +no regrets, and this be the reward of him who playeth traitor +with the daughters of Kings and who debaucheth them; and we make +known to all who fall upon this scroll that Sharrkan, when he +came to our country, seduced our Queen Abrizah; nor did that +suffice him but he must needs take her from us and bring her to +you. Then he[FN#377] sent her away in company of a black slave +who slew her, and we found her lying dead on the desert sward and +thrown out to wild beasts. This be no kingly deed, and he who +did this is requited with naught but what he merited. So do ye +suspect none of having killed him, for no one slew him but the +cunning witch, whose name is Zat al-Dawahi. And behold, I have +taken the King's wife, Sophia, and have carried her to her +father, Afridun King of Constantinople. Moreover, there is no +help for it but that we wage war upon you and kill you and take +your country from you, and ye shall be cut off even to the last +man, nor shall a living soul be spared by Death nor one who +bloweth fire with his breath, save he who Cross and Belt[FN#378] +worshippeth.' When we read this paper, we knew that the ancient +woman had beguiled us and carried out her plot against us: +whereupon we cried aloud and buffeted our faces and wept sore +when weeping availed us naught. And the troops fell out as to +whom they should make Sultan; some would have thee, and others +would have thy brother Sharrkan; and we ceased not to dispute +about this for the space of a month, at the end of which certain +of us drew together and agreed to repair to thy brother Sharrkan: +so we set out and journeyed on till we fell in with thee. And +such is the manner of the death of Sultan Omar bin al-Nu'uman!" +Now when the Wazir Dandan had made an end of his story, Zau al- +Makan and his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman wept; and the Chamberlain, +who wept also, said to Zau al-Makan, "O King, weeping will avail +thee naught; nor shall aught profit thee but that thou harden thy +heart and strengthen thy stress and establish thy sovranty; for +verily whoso leaveth the like of thee is not dead." Thereupon Zau +al-Makan gave over his weeping and caused his throne to be set up +without the pavilion, and then commanded the army to pass in +review order before him. And the Chamberlain sat by his side and +all the armour-bearers[FN#379] behind him, whilst the Wazir +Dandan and the rest of the Emirs and Grandees stood each in his +individual stead. Then quoth King Zau al-Makan to the Minister +Dandan, "Inform me concerning my sire's treasures;" and he +replied, "I hear and I obey;" and gave him to know of the late +King's hoards and monies, and what was in the treasury of amassed +wealth and jewels, and acquainted him with other precious things. +So Zau al-Makan opened his hand to the army, and gave a sumptuous +robe of honour to the Wazir Dandan, saying, "Thou continues" in +office. Whereupon Dandan kissed the ground before him and wished +him long life. Then he bestowed dresses on the Emirs, after +which he said to the Chamberlain, "Bring out before me the +tribute of Damascus that is with thee." So he was shown the +chests of money and rarities and jewels, when he took them and +parted them all amongst the troops,--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zau al- +Makan ordered the Chamberlain to bring out before him what he had +brought of the tribute of Damascus; and, when he was shown the +chests of money and rarities and jewels, he took them and parted +them all amongst the troops, till nothing was left. And the +Emirs kissed the ground before him and wished him long life, +saying, "Never saw we a King, who gave the like of these gifts." +Then all went away to their tents and when it was morning he gave +orders for marching. So they marched for three days, till, on +the fourth day, they drew near to Baghdad. When they entered the +city, they found it decorated, and Zau al-Makan, the Sultan, went +up to his father's palace and sat down on the throne, whilst the +Emirs of the army and the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain of +Damascus stood between his hands. Then he bade his private +secretary write a writ to his brother Sharrkan, acquainting him +with all that had passed, from first to last, and he concluded, +"As soon as thou hast read this letter, make ready thine affair +and join us with thine army, that we may turn to Holy War upon +the Infidels and take man bote for our father and wipe out the +stain upon our honour." Then he folded the letter and sealed it +with his seal ring and said to the Minister Dandan, "None shall +carry this letter but thou; and it behoveth thee speak my brother +fair and say to him, 'If thou have a mind to thy father's +kingdom, it is thine, and thy brother shall be Viceroy for thee +in Damascus; for to this effect am I instructed by him.'" So the +Wazir went down from before him and made ready for his march. +Then Zau al-Makan bade set apart a magnificent house for the +Fireman and furnished it with the best of furniture and long is +the tale of that Fireman.[FN#380] Presently Zau al-Makan went +out chasing and hunting and, as he was returning to Baghdad, one +of the Emirs presented him with blood horses and with beauteous +handmaids whose description the tongue evades. One of the +damsels pleased him: so he went in unto her and knew her that +night, and she conceived by him forthright. After a while, the +Wazir Dandan returned from his journey, bringing him news of his +brother Sharrkan and that he was then on his way to him, and +said, "It were fitting thou go forth to meet him." Zau al- Makan +replied, "I hear and I consent;" and riding forth with his +Grandees a day's journey from Baghdad, he pitched his pavilions +there awaiting his brother. Next morning appeared King Sharrkan +amid the army of Syria, a horseman of might, a lion fierce in +fight, a prow and doughty knight. As the squadrons drew nigh and +the dust clouds came hard by and the troops rode up with banners +on high, Zau al-Makan and those with him pushed forward to meet +Sharrkan and his men; and when Zau al-Makan saw his brother, he +desired to dismount, but Sharrkan conjured him not to do on this +wise, and himself footed it, and walked a few paces towards +him.[FN#381] As soon as he reached Zau al-Makan, the new Sultan +threw himself upon him, and Sharrkan embraced him and wept with +great weeping and the twain condoled with each other. Then they +mounted and rode onward, they and their troops, till they reached +Baghdad, where they alighted and went up to the royal palace and +there they passed that night, and when next morning came, Zau al- +Makan went forth and bade summon the troops from all parts, and +proclaimed a Holy War and a Razzia.[FN#382] They then awaited the +coming of the levies from each quarter of the kingdom, and every +one who came they entreated with honour and promised him all +manner of good; till in so doing a full month had sped, and the +fighting men flocked to them in a continuous body. Then Sharrkan +said to Zau al-Makan, "O my brother, tell me thy history." So he +told him all that had befallen him from first to last, including +the benevolent dealing of the Fireman with him. Asked Sharrkan, +'Hast thou requited his kindness?"; and he answered, "O my +brother! I have not rewarded him as yet, but Inshallah! I will +recompense him whenas I return from this raid"--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan +asked his brother Zau al-Makan, "Hast thou requited the Fireman +for his kindness?"; and he answered, "O my brother, I have not +rewarded him as yet, but Inshallah! I will recompense him whenas +I return from this raid and find time so to do." Therewith +Sharrkan was certified that his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman, had told +him the whole truth; but he concealed what had passed between +them and offered his salutation to her by her husband the +Chamberlain. She sent him back her greeting, calling down +blessings on him and enquiring after her daughter Kuzia-Fakan, to +which he replied that the maiden was well and in the best of +health and safety. Where upon she praised Almighty Allah and +gave him thanks. Then Sharrkan went to his brother to take +counsel with him for departure; and Zau al-Makan said, "O my +brother, as soon as the army is complete and the Arabs have come +in from all parts, we will march forth." So he bade make ready +the commissariat and prepare munitions of war and went in to his +wife, who was now five months gone with child; and he put under +her astrologers and mathematicians, to whom he appointed stipends +and allowances. Then he set out three months after the arrival +of the army of Syria, and as soon as the Arabs were come in and +the troops were assembled from all directions; and, as he fared +forth, he was followed by the warriors and the united host. Now +the name of the General of the Daylam army was Rustam and that of +the General of the army of the Turks[FN#383] Bahram. And Zau al- +Makan marched in mid host and on his right was his brother +Sharrkan, and on his left the Chamberlain his brother-in-law. So +the squadrons broke up and pushed forward and the battalions and +companies filed past in battle array, till the whole army was in +motion. They ceased not to fare on for the space of a month, and +each body dismounted at its own ground and there rested every +week three days (for the host was great); and they advanced in +this order till they came to the country of the Greeks. Then the +people of the villages and hamlets and the poorer sort took +fright at them and fled to Constantinople. But when King Afridun +heard the tidings he arose and betook himself to Zat al-Dawahi, +the same who had contrived the stratagem, and had travelled to +Baghdad and had slain King Omar bin Al-Nu'uman; and who after +carrying off her slaves and Queen Sophia, had returned with them +all to her native land. Now when she had been restored to her +son, the King of Greece, and felt herself safe, she said to King +Hardub, "Cool thine eyes; for I have avenged by blood the shame +of thy daughter Abrizah, and have killed Omar bin al-Nu'uman and +have brought back Sophia. So now let us go to the King of +Constantinople and carry to him his daughter and acquaint him +with what hath happened, that all of us be on guard and prepare +our forces; and I will fare with thee to King Afridun, Lord of +Constantinople, for I opine that the Moslems will not await our +attack." Said Hardub, "Tarry thou till they draw near our +country, that we may make us ready meantime and assemble our +power." Accordingly they took to levying their forces and +preparing for war, and, when the news of the Moslems' advance +reached them, they were prepared for defence; and Zat al Dawahi +had preceded them. Now when she and her son arrived at +Constantinople, the King of Kings, Afridun, hearing of the +approach of Hardub, King of the Greeks, came forth to meet him +and asked how it was with him and the cause of his visit. So +Hardub acquainted him with the cunning doings of his mother, Zat +al-Dawahi, how she had slain the Moslem King and recovered from +him Queen Sophia, and had said, "The Moslems have assembled their +forces and are on their way to attack us, wherefore it behoveth +that we two join hands in single band and meet them." Now King +Afridun rejoiced in the return of his daughter and the killing of +King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; and he sent to all countries seeking +succour and acquainting the folk with the cause of slaying the +Moslem King. So the Nazarene troops flocked to him and three +months were not past ere the army of the Greeks was complete, +besides which there joined themselves to him Franks from all +their lands, French, Germans[FN#384] and Ragusans,[FN#385] with +men of Zara,[FN#386] Venetians, Genoese, and all the hosts of the +Yellow Faces[FN#387]; and, when the gathering was at its full, +earth was straitened on them by reason of their multitude. Then +Afridun, the Great King, ordered a march; so they set out and +ceased not to defile through the city for ten days. They fared +on till they reached the Wady highs Al-Nu'uman, a broad sided +vale hard by the Salt Sea, where they halted three days; and on +the fourth they were about to set out again, when news came that +the army of Al-Islam on them press, and the defenders of the +faith of Mohammed, of Men the Best. So they halted in it other +three days, and on the eighth they espied a dust cloud which +towered till it walled the whole land; nor was an hour of the day +past ere that dust began to drift and was torn to shreds in the +lift, and pierced through its shades the starry radiance of lance +and the white levee of blades. Presently there appeared beneath +it the banners Islamitan and the ensigns Mahometan; the horsemen +urged forward, like the letting loose of seas that surged, clad +in mail, as they were mackerel-back clouds which the moon enveil; +whereupon the two hosts clashed, like two torrents on each other +dashed. Eyes fell upon eyes; and the first to seek combat +singular was the Wazir Dandan, he and the army of Syria, +numbering thirty thousand bridles, and with him were the General +of the Turks, and the General of Daylam, Rustam and Bahram, amid +twenty thousand horse, behind whom came the men from the shores +of the Salt Sea, clad in iron mail, as they were full moons that +past through a night o'ercast. Then the Nazarene host called out +on Jesus and Mary, and the defiled[FN#388] Cross and they heaped +themselves upon the Wazir Dandan and those with him of the Syrian +host. Now all this was in pursuance of a stratagem devised by +that ancient woman Zat al-Dawahi; for, before his departure, King +Afridun had gone in to her and asked her, "How shall I do and +what plan shall I pursue?; it is thou hast caused this great +distress to us;" and she had answered, "O great King and mighty +Cohen![FN#389] I will teach thee a trick would baffle Iblis +himself, though he summon to his assistance all his grisly +hosts."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + + When it was the Eighty-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, all this was a +stratagem of the ancient woman, for that the King before his +departure had gone to her and asked, "How shall I do and what +plan shall I pursue? it is thou hast caused this great distress +to us!" And she had answered, "O great King and mighty Cohen, I +will teach thee a trick would baffle the Devil himself though he +summon to his assistance all his grisly hosts. It is that thou +send fifty thousand men going down in ships, and sailing over the +sea to the Mountain of Smoke; and there let them land and stir +not till {he standards of Al-Islam come upon thee, when do thou +up and at them. Then bid the troops from the seaward sally out +upon the Moslems and take them in rear, whilst we confront them +from the landward. So not one of them shall escape, and our +sorrows shall tease and peace abide with us." Now the counsel of +this ancient woman commended itself to King Afridun, and he +replied, "Right is the recking thou reckest, O Princess of wits +and recourse of Kings and Cohens warring for their blood wit!" So +when the army of Al-Islam came upon them in chat valley, before +they knew of it the flames began to burn up the tents and the +swords in men's bodies to make rents. Then hurried up the army +of Baghdad and Khorasan who numbered one hundred and twenty +thousand horse, with Zau al-Makan in the front of war. When the +host of the Infidels that lay by the sea saw them, they sallied +out against them and followed in their tracks; and when Zau al- +Makan espied this he cried out to his men, "Turn back to the +Infidels, O People of the Chosen Apostle, and slay those who deny +and hate the authority of the Compassionating, the +Compassionate!" So they turned and fought with the Christians. +Then Sharrkan marched up with another corps of the Moslem host, +some hundred thousand men, whilst the Infidels numbered nigh upon +a thousand and six hundred thousand men. When the Moslems were +united, their hearts were strengthened and they cried out, +saying, "Verily Allah hath pro mised us victory, and to the +Infidels hath assigned defeat." And they clashed together with +sword and spear. Now Sharrkan tare through rank and row and +raged among the masses of the foe, fighting so fierce a fight as +to make children grey grow; nor did he cease tourneying among the +infidel horde and working havoc among them with the keen edged +sword, shouting "Allaho Akbar!" (Allah is Most Great) till he +drove back the host to the coast. Then failed the force of the +foe and Allah gave victory to the faith of Al-Islam, and folk +fought folk, drunken without strong drink till they slew of the +Infidels in this affair forty and five thousand, while of the +Moslems but three thousand and five hundred fell. Moreover, the +Lion of the Faith, King Sharrkan, and his brother, Zau al-Makan, +slept not that night, but occupied themselves with congratulating +their braves and with looking to the wounded and with assuring +the army of victory and salvation and promise of reward in the +world to come. Thus far concerning the Moslem; but as regards +King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople and Sovran of Roum, and Zat +Al-Dawahi, they assembled the Emirs of the host and said to them, +"Verily, we had worked our will and solaced our hearts, but our +over confidence in our numbers, and that only, defeated us." Then +quoth to them the ancient one, the Lady of Calamities, "In very +sooth nought shall profit you, except ye draw you nigh unto the +Messiah and put your trust in the True Belief, for, by the virtue +of the Messiah, the whole strength of the Moslem host lieth in +that Satan, King Sharrkan." "Tomorrow," said King Afridun, "I +have resolved to draw up in battle array and to send out against +them that redoubtable cavalier, Lk bin Shamlt; for if King +Sharrkan come forth as a champion to fight single handed, our man +will slay him and will slay the other Moslem Knights, till not +one is left. And I purpose this night to sacre you all with the +Holy Incense." When the Emirs heard these words they kissed the +ground before him. Now the incense which he designated was the +excrement of the Chief Patriarch, the denier, the defiler of the +Truth, and they sought for it with such instance, and they so +highly valued it that the high priests of the Greeks used to send +it to all the countries of the Christians in silken wraps after +mixing it with musk and ambergris. Hearing of it Kings would pay +a thousand gold pieces for every dram and they sent for and +sought it to fumigate brides withal; and the Chief Priests and +the great Kings were wont to use a little of it as collyrium for +the eyes and as a remedy in sickness and colic; and the +Patriarchs used to mix their own skite[FN#390] with it, for that +the skite of the Chief Patriarch could not suffice for ten +countries.[FN#391] So, as soon as dawn was seen and the morning +shone with its shine and sheen, the horsemen ran to their spears +full keen, and King Afridun,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninetieth Night, + + She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, as soon as dawn +was seen and the morning shone with its shine and sheen, the +horsemen ran to their spears full keen and King Afridun summoned +his chief Knights and Nobles and invested them with dresses of +honour; and, drawing the sign of the cross on their brows, +incensed them with the incense which as aforesaid was the skite +of the Chief Patriarch, the Cohen, the Heresiarch. This +incensing done, he called for Luka bin Shamlut, surnamed the +Sword of the Messiah; and, after fumigating him and rubbing his +palate with the Holy Merde, caused him to snuff it and smeared +his cheeks and anointed his moustaches with the rest. Now there +was no stouter champion in the land of Roum than this accursed +Luka, nor any better at bending of bow or sway of sword or lunge +with lance on the day of devoir; but he was foul of favour, for +his face was as the face of an ass, his shape that of an ape and +his look as the look of a malignant snake: his presence was +grievouser than parting from the beloved make; and blacker than +night was his blackness and more fetid than the lion was his +breath for foulness; more crooked than a bow was his crookedness +and grimmer than the leopard was his ugliness, and he was branded +with the mark of the Infidels on face.[FN#392] After this he came +up to King Afridun and kissed his feet and stood before him; and +the King said to him, "I desire thou go out against Sharrkan, +King of Damascus, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman, and deliver us from +this affliction." Quoth Luka, "Hearkening and obedience;" and the +King made the sign of the cross on his forehead and felt assured +of help from Heaven being near hand. Then Luka went out from the +presence and the accursed one mounted a sorrel horse; he was clad +in a red robe and a hauberk of gold set with jewels, and he bore +a trident spear, as he were Iblis the damned on the day of +drewing out his hosts war to darraign. Then he rode forward, he +and his horde of Infidels, even as though they were driving to +the Fire, preceded by a herald, crying aloud in the Arabic tongue +and saying, "Ho, sect of Mohammed (upon whom be salutation and +salvation!), let none of you come out but your champion Sharrkan, +the Sword of Al-Islam, Lord of Damascus in Shm[FN#393]!" Nor had +he made an end of speaking, when arose a tumult in the plain; all +the people heard the strain and the whole moving bodies of the +armies twain called to mind the Day of Complain. Then the +cowards trembled and all necks turned towards the sound, and lo! +it was King Sharrkan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman. For when +his brother, Zau al-Makan, saw that accursed one push out on the +plain, and heard the pursuivant, he turned to Sharrkan and said +to him, "Of a surety they seek for thee." Said he, "Should it so +be, 'twere most pleasing to me." So when they made sure of the +matter and heard the herald crying in the plain, "Let none of you +come out against me save Sharrkan," they knew this cursed Luka to +be champion of the land of Roum who had sworn to sweep the earth +clean of Moslems. Now he was one of the greatest of villains, a +wretch who caused hearts to pain; and the DayIamites, Turks and +Kurds dreaded his might and main. Presently Sharrkan crave at +him like a lion angry grim, mounted on a courser like a wild +gazelle flying snell and slim; and coming nigh to him made the +spear he hent to shake as it were a darting snake, and recited +these couplets, + +"I have a sorrel steed, whose pride is fain to bear the rein, * + Shall give thee what thou likest not and make thee feel his + main: +I have a handy limber spear full bright and keen of point, * Upon + whose shaft the dam of Death her throny seat hath ta'en: +I have a trenchant glaive of Hind; and, when I bare its face * Of + scabbard" veil, from out its brow the rays of levee rain." + +Luka understood not the sense of his speech nor did he apprehend +the vehemence of the verse; but he smote his forehead with his +hand, in honour of the Cross drawn thereon and kissed it; then he +couched his throw spear and ran at Sharrkan. But first he tossed +the javelin with one hand in air to such height that it was lost +to the spectators' sight; and, catching it with the other hand as +do the jugglers, hurled it at Sharrkan. It flew from his grasp +like a shooting star and folk clamoured and feared for Sharrkan; +but, as the spear flew near him, he put out his hand and caught +it in full flight to the amazement of all who saw the sight. +Then he shook it with the hand that took it till it was well nigh +broken, and hurled it so high into the welkin that it disappeared +from view. As it descended, he caught it again with the other +hand, in less than the twinkling of an eye, and cried out from +his heart core, saying, "By the truth of Him who created the +sevenfold skies, I will assuredly make this cursed wight a byword +for mankind to despise!" Then threw he the throw spear at Luka, +who thought to do as Sharrkan had done and put forth his hand to +trend it in mid flight; but Sharrkan prevented him, and sped at +him a second throw spear which smote him and the point fell on +his forehead, in the very centre of the sign of the Cross, and +Allah hurried his soul to the Fire and Dwelling place +dire.[FN#394] But when the Infidels saw Luka bin Shamlut fall +slain, they buffeted their faces and they cried, "Alas!" and "Woe +worth the day!" and called for aid upon the Abbots of the +monasteries,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Infidels saw Luka bin Shamlut fall slain, they buffeted their +faces and cried, "Alas!" and "Woe worth the day!" and called upon +the Abbots of the monasteries and cried, "Where be the crosses?" +So the Religious offered up prayers and the Christians all drew +together against Sharrkan; and, brandishing their scymitars and +lances, rushed forward to the attack. Then army met army and +breasts fell under hoof, whilst spear and sword ruled the day and +forearms and wrists grew weak and the coursers seemed created +without legs;[FN#395] nor did the herald of-war cease calling to +fight, till arms were aweary and day took flight and night came +on with darkness dight. So the two hosts drew apart, whilst +every brave staggered like a drunken knave, for that with so much +cut and thrust they strave; and the place was choked with the +slain; fell were the wounds and the hurt knew not by whom they +fell. Then Sharrkan joined his brother, Zau al-Makan, and the +Chamberlain and the Wazir Dandan, and said to them, "Verily Allah +hath opened a door for the Infidels to fall, praised be the Lord +of the Worlds one and all!" Replied Zau al-Makan, "Let us never +cease to praise Allah, for that He hath dispelled trouble from +the Arab and the Ajam. Indeed the folk, generation after +generation, shall tell of thy derring do against the accursed +Luka, the falsifier of the Evangel;[FN#396] of thy catching the +throng spear in mid-flight, and how the enemy of Allah among men +thou didst smite; and thy fame shall endure until the end of +time." Then said Sharrkan, "Harkye, O grand Chamberlain and +doughty Capitayne!" and he answered, "Adsum!"[FN#397] Quoth +Sharrkan, "Take with thee the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand +horse, and lead them seven parasangs towards the sea, and force +the march till ye shall have come near the shore, and there +remain only two parasangs between thee and the foe. Then ambush +ye in the hollows of the ground till ye hear the tumult of the +Infidels disembarking from their ships; and the war cry from +every side strike your ear and ye know that the sabres have begun +labour between us and them; and, whenso ye see our troops falling +back, as if defeated, and all the Infidels following them, as +well those in front as those from the seaward and the tents, do +ye still lie in wait for them: but as soon as ye see the standard +with the words, There is no god but the God, and Mohammed is +God's Apostle (on whom be salutation and salvation!), then up +with the green banner, and do your endeavour and fall on their +rear and shout, 'Alla ho Akbar! Allah is most Great!' and circle +round that they may not interpose between the retreating army and +the sea." He replied, "To hear is to obey!"; and forthright they +agreed upon this matter and they went forth. Now the Chamberlain +took with himself the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand men even +as Sharrkan had commanded. As soon as dawned the morn, the +troops sprung to horse when they had donned their armour gear and +drawn the scymitar and slung the spear. Then the Christians +dispread themselves over hill and dale and the +Ecclesiasts[FN#398] cried out and all heads were bared, and those +in the ships hoisted the Cross at their mast heads and began +making for shore from every side, and landed their horses and get +them ready for fight and fray, whilst the sword blades glittered +bright and the javelins glanced like levee light on mail shirt +white; and all joined fight and the grind mill of Death whirled +round and ground those who fought from horse and aground: heads +from bodies flew end tongues mute grew and eyes no vision knew. +Scymitars strave with utmost strain and heads flew over the +battle plain; gall bladders crave and wrists were shorn in twain; +steeds plashed in pools of gore and beards were gripped right +sore; the host of Al-Islam called out, saying, "On the Prince of +Mankind be blessings and peace, and to the Compassionate glory +and praise, which ne'er shall cease, for His boons which aye +increase;" and the host of the Infidels shouted, "Glory to the +Cross and the Belt and the vine press juice, and the wine presser +and the Priests and the Monks and the Festival of Palms and the +Metropolitan!" Now Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan held back and their +troops gave way and feigned flight from before the enemy, while +the Infidel array pressed hard upon them deeming them in rout, +and made ready to foin and hew. Then the meiny of the Moslems +raised their voices, reciting the first verses of the Chapter of +the Cow,[FN#399] whilst the dead were trampled under hoofs of +steeds, and the heralds of the Greeks cried out, "Ho, servants of +the Messiah! Ho, people of the True Faith! Ho, followers of the +Primate![FN#400] Verily Divine grace upon you opes; for see, the +hosts of Al Islam like birds with broken wings incline to elope! +So turn ye not to them your backs, but let your swords cleave +deep in their necks and hold not your hands from them, else are +ye outcasts from the Messiah, Mary's son, who spoke even when a +cradled one!"[FN#401] Now Afridun, King of Constantinople, deemed +that the Infidels were victorious, knowing not that this was but +a clever stratagem of the Moslems, and sent to King Hardub of +Roum congratulations on success, adding, "Availed us naught but +the Holy Merde of the Arch Patriarch, whose fragrance exhaled +from the beards and mustachios of the slaves of the Cross near +and far; and I swear, by the Miracles of the Messiah; and by thy +daughter Abrizah, the Nazarene, the Mariolater; and by the Waters +of Baptism, that I will not leave upon the earth a single +defender of Al- Islam! And to the bitter end will I carry out +this plan." So the messenger betook himself with the address to +King Hardub, whilst the Infidels called to one another saying, +"Take we vengeance wreak for Luka!"--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +Infidels called to one another, saying, "Take we vengeance wreak +for Luka!" while Hardub King of Greece cried aloud, "Ho, to our +revenge for Abrizah!" Thereupon King Zau al-Makan shouted "Ho, +servants of the Requiting King!: smite the children of denial and +disobedience with the blanch of sword and the brown of spear!" So +the Moslems returned to the Infidels and plied them with the keen +edged scymitar, whilst their herald cried aloud, "Up, and at the +foes of the Faith, all ye who love the Prophet Elect, with hope +of salvation on the Day of Fear, to win favour of the Bountiful, +the Forgiving One; for verily the Garden of Paradise is under the +shadow of swords!" And behold, Sharrkan and his men charged down +upon the Infidels and cut off their retreat and wheeled and +tourneyed among the ranks; when lo! a knight of goodly presence +opened a passage through the army of Unbelievers and circled +hither and thither amongst the Deniers, cutting and thrusting and +covering the ground with heads and trunks, so that the Faithless +feared him and their necks bent under his lunge and hew. He was +girt with two swords, his glances and his brand, and he was armed +with two lances, one of bamboo cane and the other his straight +wand like shape; and his flowing hair stood him in stead of many +warriors, even as saith the poet, + +"Laud not long hair,[FN#402] except it be dispread * In two fold + locks, on day of fight and fray, +O'er youth who bears his lance 'twixt flank and thigh, * From + many a whis kered knight to win the day." + +And as singeth another, + +"I say to him, what while he slings his sword, * 'For sword shall + serve those looks that sword like show!' +Says he, 'My sabre looks for those I love, * My sword for those + who sweets of love unknow!'" + +When Sharrkan saw him, he said to him, "I conjure thee by the +Koran and the attributes of the Compassionate One, O Champion of +the Champions! tell me who thou art: for verily by thy deeds +this day thou hast pleased the Requiting King, whom one thing +distracteth not from other thing; in that thou hast been +discomforting the children of impiety and in rebellion +revelling." Then cried the Cavalier to him saying, "Thou art he +who madest brother covenant with me but yesterday: how quickly +thou hast forgotten me!" Thereupon he withdrew his mouth +veil,[FN#403] so that what was hidden of his beauty was +disclosed, and lo! it was none other than Zau al-Makan. Then +Sharrkan rejoiced in his brother, save that he feared for him the +rush of fighting and the crush of braves a smiting; and this for +two reasons, the first, his tender age and exposure to the evil +eye, and the second, that his safety was to the kingdom the +greater of the two overshadowing wings. So he said to him, "O +King! thou riskest thy life, so join thy steed to mine; in very +sooth I fear for thee from the foe; and better thou stint +hazarding thyself forth of these squadrons, that we may shoot at +the enemy thine unerring shaft." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "I desire to +even thee in fray and I will not be niggard of myself before thee +in the melay." Then the host of Al-Islam, heaping itself upon the +Infidels, girt them on all sides, warred on them a right Holy +War, and brake the power of the children of impiety and pride and +stowre. But King Afridun sighed when he saw the evil wreak that +had fallen on the Greek, and they turned their backs from fight +and addressed themselves to flight, making for the ships, when +lo! there came out upon them from the seacoast another host, led +by the Minister Dandan, the champion who was wont to make +champions bite the dust, and to lay load on them with cut and +thrust. Nor less came forth the Emir Bahram, Lord of the +Provinces of Sham, amid twenty thousand horse doughty of arm; and +the host of Al-Islam pressed them in front and on flank and +wrought them grievous harm. Then a body of the Moslems turned +against those who in the ships remained, and perdition on them +rained, till they threw themselves into the main, and they slew +of them many slain, more than a hundred thousand noblemen, nor +was one of their champions, great or small, saved from bale and +bane. Moreover, they took their ships, with all the money and +treasure and cargo, save a score of keel, and the Moslems got +that loot whose like was never gotten in by gone years; nor was +such cut and thrust ever heard of by men's ears.[FN#404] Now +amongst the booty were fifty thousand horses, besides treasure +and spoil past reckoning and arithmetic, whereat the Moslems +rejoiced with an exceeding joy for that Allah had given them +victory and protection. Such was the case with them; but as +regards the fugitive Infidels they soon reached Constantinople, +whither the tidings preceded them that King Afridun had prevailed +over the Moslems; so quoth the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, "I +know that my son Hardub, King of Roum, is no runagate and that he +feareth not the Islamitic hosts, but will restore the whole world +to the Nazarene faith." Then she bade the Great King, Afridun, +give command that the city be decorated, and the people held +festival high and drank their wines drunkenly and knew not the +decrees of Destiny. Now whilst they were in the midst of their +rejoicings, behold, the raven of dule and downfall croaked over +them, and up came the twenty fugitive ships wherein was the King +of Csarea. So King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, met them on +the sea shore, and they told him all that had befallen them from +the Moslem, and they wept sore and groaned and moaned; and +rejoicing at weal was turned into dismay for unheal; and they +informed him concerning Luka son of Shamlut, how calamity had +betided him and how Death had shot him with his shaft. Thereat +the horrors of Doomday rose upon King Afridun,[FN#405] and he +knew that there was no making straight their crook. Then came up +from them the sound of weeping and wailing; the city was full of +men mourning and the keepers were keening, and sighs and cries +were heard from all sides. And when King Hardub of Greece met +King Afridun he told him the truth of the case and how the flight +of the Moslems was by way of stratagem and deceit, and said to +him, "Look not to see any of the army, save those who have +already reached thee." When King Afridun heard these words he +fell down in a fainting fit, with his nose under his feet; and, +as soon as he revived, he exclaimed, "Surely the Messiah was +wroth with them that he caused the Moslems to prevail over them!" +Then came the Arch Patriarch sadly to the King who said to him, +"O our father, annihilation hath overtaken our army and the +Messiah hath punished us!" Replied the Patriarch, "Grieve not nor +feel concerned, for it cannot be but that one of you have sinned +against the Messiah, and all have been punished for his offence; +but now we will read prayers for you in the churches, that the +Mohammeden hosts may be repelled from you." After which the old +woman, Zat al-Dawahi, came to Afridun and said to him, "O King, +verily the Moslem hosts are many, and we shall never overcome +them save by wile: wherefore I purpose to work upon them by guile +and repair to this army of Al-Islam, haply I may win my wish of +their leader and slay their champion, even as I slew his father. +If my stratagem succeed in his case, not one of the host he leads +shall return to his native land, for all are strong only because +of him; but I desire to have some Christian dwellers of Syria, +such as go out every month and year to sell their goods, that +they may help me (for this they can do) in carrying out my plan." +Replied the King, "Be it so whenever thou wilt." So she bade +fetch an hundred men, natives of Najrn,[FN#406] in Sham, and the +King asked them, "Have ye not heard what hath befallen the +Christians with the Moslems?" "Yes," answered they; and he +rejoined, "Know ye that this woman hath devoted her life to the +Messiah and purposeth to go forth with you, disguised as +Monotheists and Mohammedans, to work out a device which shall +profit us and hinder the Moslem from us: say, then, are ye also +willing to devote yourselves to the Anointed and I will give you +a quintal of gold?[FN#407] He of you who escapeth shall have the +money, and him of you who dieth will the Messiah reward." "O +King," replied they, "we will devote our lives to the Messiah, +and we will be thy sacrifice." Thereupon the old woman took all +she required of aromatic roots and placed them in water which she +boiled over the fire till the black essence of them was +extracted. She waited till the decoction was cold, then dipped +the corner of a long kerchief therein and stained her face +therewith. Moreover, she donned over her clothes a long +gaberdine with an embroidered border and took in her hand a +rosary, and afterwards went in to King Afridun, who knew her not, +nor did any of his companions know her, till she discovered +herself to them: and there was none in the assembly but who +thanked and praised her for her cunning; and her son rejoiced and +said, "May the Messiah never fail thee!" Thereupon she took with +her the Syrian Christians, and set out for the army of Baghdad.-- +And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King +Afridun heard these words, he fell into a fainting fit with his +nose under his feet; and, as soon as he revived, fear fluttered +the scrotum[FN#408] below his belly and he complained to the +ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi. Now this accursed old woman was a +witch of the witches, past mistress in sorcery and deception; +wanton and wily, deboshed and deceptious; with foul breath, red +eyelids, yellow cheeks, dull brown face, eyes bleared, mangy +body, hair grizzled, back humped, skin withered and wan and +nostrils which ever ran. But she had studied the scriptures of +Al-Islam and had made the Pilgrimage to the Holy House of Meccah +and all this that she might come to the knowledge of the +Mohammedan ordinances and the miraculous versets of the Koran; +and she had professed Judaism in the Holy City of +Jerusalem[FN#409] for two years' space, that she might master the +magic of men and demons; so that she was a plague of plagues and +a pest of pests, wrong headed as to belief and to no religion +fief. Now the chief reason of her sojourn with her son, King +Hardub of Greece, was on account of the slave virgins at his +court: for she was given to tribadism[FN#410] and could not exist +without sapphism or she went mad: so if any damsel pleased her, +she was wont to teach her the art of rubbing clitoris against +clitoris and would anoint her with saffron[FN#411] till she +fainted away for excess of volupty. Whoso obeyed her she was +wont to favour and make her son incline towards her; but whoso +repelled her she would contrive to destroy; and so she abode for +a length of time. This was known to Marjanah and Rayhnah and +Utrijah, the handmaids of Abrizah, and their Princess loathed the +old woman and abhorred to lie with her, because of the rank smell +from her armpits, the stench of her fizzles more fetid than +carrion, and the roughness of her hide coarser than palm fibre. +She was wont to bribe those who rubbed parts with her by means of +jewels and instructions; but Abrizah held aloof from her and +sought refuge with the Omnipotent, the Omniscient; for, by Allah, +right well quoth the poet, + +"Ho thou who grovellest low before the great * Nor over fording + lesser men dost blench +Who gildest dross by dirham gathering, * No otter scent disguises + carrion stench! + +And now to return to the story of her stratagem and the woes of +her working. Presently she departed, taking the chief Nazarenes +with their hosts, and turned towards the army of the Moslems. +Whereupon King Hardub went in to King Afridun and said to him, "O +King, we have no need of the Chief Patriarch nor of his prayers, +but will consult my mother's counsel and observe what she will do +with her craft unending against the Moslem hosts; for these are +marching with all their power, they will soon be upon us and they +will encircle us on all sides." When King Afridun heard this, +terror took hold upon his heart and he wrote letters, without +stay or delay, to all the nations of the Nazarenes, saying, "It +behoveth none of the Messiahites or Cross knights to hold back, +especially the folk of the strongholds and forts: but let them +all come to us, foot and horse, women and children, for the +Moslem hosts already tread our soil. So haste! haste ye! ere +what we fear to us here appear." Thus much concerning them; but +regarding the work of the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi; when she went +forth from the city with her suite, she clad them in the clothing +of Moslem merchants, having provided herself with an hundred +mules carrying stuffs of Antioch, such as goldwoven satins and +royal brocades and so forth. And she had taken a letter from +King Afridun to the following effect: "These be merchantmen from +the land of Sham who have been with us: so it besitteth none to +do them harm or hindrance, nor take tax and tithe of them, till +they reach their homes and safe places, for by merchants a +country flourisheth, and these are no men of war nor of ill +faith." Then quoth the accursed Zat al-Dawahi to those with her, +"Verily I wish to work out a plot for the destruction of the +Moslem." Replied they, "O Queen, command us whatso thou wilt; we +are at thy disposal and may the Messiah never disappoint thy +dealings!" Then she donned a gown of fine white wool and rubbed +her forehead, till she made a great mark as of a scar and +anointed it with an ointment of her own fashion, so that it shone +with prodigious sheen. Now the old hag was lean bodied and +hollow eyed, and she bound her legs tightly round with +cords[FN#412] just above her feet, till she drew near the Moslem +camp, when she unwound them, leaving their marks deeply embedded +in her ankles. Then she anointed the wheels with dragon's blood +and bade her companions beat her with a severe beating, and set +her in a chest and, quoth she, "Cry abroad the Refrain of +Unity,[FN#413] nor fear from it aught of damage!" Replied they, +"How can we beat thee, who be our sovereign lady, Zat al-Dawahi, +mother of the King we glory in?" Then said she, "We blame not nor +deal reproach to him who goeth to the jakes, and in need evil +becometh good deed. When ye have set me in the chest, take it +and make it one of the bales and place it on mule back and fare +forth with it and the other goods through the Moslem camp, and +fear ye no blame. And if any of the Moslems hinder you, give up +the mules and their lading and be take yourselves to their King, +Zau al-Makan, and implore his protection saying, 'We were in the +land of the Infidels and they took nothing from us, but wrote us +a passport, that none shall do us hindrance or work our +mischance.' If he ask you, 'What profit had ye of your property +in the land of Roum?' answer him, 'We profited in the deliverance +of a pious man, who had been bound down in an underground cell +nigh fifteen years, crying out for help yet none helped him. +Nay, the Infidels tortured him night and day. We knew not this; +but, after we had tarried in Constantinople for some time, having +sold our goods and bought others in their stead, we determined on +and made ready for a return to our native land. We spent that +night conversing about our journey and when day broke, we saw +figured upon the wall a human form and as we drew nigh it, +behold, it moved and said, 'O Moslems, is there amongst you one +who is minded to woo the favour of the Lord of the three +Worlds?'[FN#414] 'How so?' asked we; and the figure answered, +'Know that Allah hath made me speak to you, to the intent that +your faith be fortified, and that your belief embolden you and +that you may go forth of the country of the Infidels and repair +to the Moslem host; for with them wones the Sword of the Com +passionate One, of our Age the Champion, King Sharrkan, by whom +He shall conquer Constantinople town and destroy the sect of the +Nazarene. And when ye shall have journeyed three days, you will +find an hermitage known as the Hermitage of the ascetic +Matruhina[FN#415] and containing a cell; visit it with pure +intent and contrive to arrive there by force of will, for therein +is a Religious from the Holy City, Jerusalem, by name Abdullah, +and he is one of the devoutest of mankind, endowed with the power +of working saintly miracles[FN#416] such as dispel doubts and +obscurity. Certain of the monks seized him by fraud and shut him +up in a souterrain where he hath lain a long time. By his +deliverance you will please the Lord of Faithful Men, for such +release is better than fighting for the Faith.'" Now when the +ancient dame and those with her had agreed upon such words, she +said, "As soon as that which I impart shall reach the ears of +King Sharrkan, say him further, 'Hearing this from that image we +knew that the holy man'"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, and those with her had agreed upon such +words, she said, "Now as soon as that which I impart shall reach +the ears of King Sharrkan say him further, 'Hearing these words +from that image we knew that the holy man was indeed of the +chiefest devotees and Allah's servants of purest qualities; so we +made three days' march till we came in sight of that hermitage, +and then we went up to it and passed the day in buying and +selling, as is the wont of merchants. As soon as day had +departed our sight and night was come to darken light, we +repaired to the cell wherein was the dungeon, and we heard the +holy man, after chanting some verses of the Koran, repeat the +following couplets, + +'My heart disheartened is, my breast is strait, * And sinks my + soul in sea of bale and bate +Unless escape be near I soon shall die; * And Death were better + than this doleful strait: +O Lightning an thou light my home and folk, * An their still + brighter charms thy shine abate, +Say, what my path to meet them, being barred * By wars, and + barricado'd succour's gate?' + +"When once ye have brought me into the Moslem camp, and I mix +with them you shall see," the old woman continued, "how I will +make shift to beguile them and slay them all, even to the last +man." The Nazarenes hearing whet she said, kissed her hands and +set her in the chest, after they had beaten her with a grievous +beating in obedience to her commands, for they saw it was +incumbent on them to do her bidding in this; then they all made +for the Moslem host as hath erst been said. Such was the case +with the damned hag, Zat al-Dawahi and her companions; but as +regards the Mohammeden army, they indeed, after Allah had given +them victory over their enemies and they had plundered everything +in the ships of money and hoards, all sat down to converse with +one another and Zau al-Makan said to his brother Sharrkan, +"Verily, Allah hath granted us to prevail because of our just +dealing and discipline and concord amongst ourselves; wherefore +continue, O Sharrkan, to obey my commandment, in submission to +Allah (be He exalted and extolled!), for I mean to slay ten Kings +in blood revenge for my sire, to cut the throat of fifty thousand +Greeks and to enter Constantinople." Replied Sharrkan, "My life +be thy ransom against death! Needs must I follow out the Holy +War, though I wone many a year in their country. But I have, O +my brother, in Damascus a daughter, named Kuzia Fakan, whom I +love heartily for she is one of the marvels of the time and she +will soon be of age.' Said Zau al-Makan, "And I also have left my +wife with child and near her time, nor do I know what Allah will +vouchsafe me by her. But promise me, O my brother, that if Allah +bless me with a son, thou wilt grant me thy daughter for wife to +him, and make covenant with me and pledge me thy faith thereon." +"With love and good will, replied Sharrkan; and, stretching out +his hand to his brother, he said, If she bring thee a son, I will +give him my daughter Kuzia Fakan, to wife." At this Zau al-Makan +rejoiced, and they fell to congratulating each other on the +victory over the enemy. And the Wazir Dandan also congratulated +the two brothers and said to them, "Know, O ye Kings, that Allah +hath given us the victory, for that we have devoted our lives to +Him (be He exalted and ex tolled!); and we have left our homes +and households; and it is my counsel that we follow up the foe +and press upon him and harass him, so haply Allah shall enable us +to win our wishes, and we shall destroy our enemies, branch and +root. If it please you, do ye go down in these ships and sail +over the sea, whilst we fare forward by land and bear the brunt +of battle and the thrust of fight." And the Minister Dandan +ceased not to urge them to combat and repeated his words who +said, + +"To slay my foes is chiefest bliss I wist, * And on the courser's + back be borne a list; +Comes promising tryst a messenger from friend * Full oft, when + comes the friend withouten tryst." + +And these words of another, + +"War for my mother (an I live) I'll take; * Spear for my brother; + scymitar for sire +With every shag haired brave who meets his death * Smiling, till + won from Doom his dear desire!" + +And when the Wazir ended his verses, he said, "Praise be to Him +who aided us dear victory to uphold and who hath given us spoil +of silver and fine gold!" Then Zau al-Makan commanded the army to +depart; and they fared on forcing their marches for +Constantinople, till they came to a wide and spacious champaign, +full of all things fair and fain, with wild cattle frisking and +gazelles pacing to and fro across the plain. Now they had +traversed great deserts and drink had been six days cut off from +them, when they drew near this meadow and saw therein waters +founting and ripe fruits daunting and that land as it were +Paradise; for it had donned its adornments and decked +itself.[FN#417] Gently waved the branches of its trees drunken +with the new wine of the dew, and combined with the nectar of +Tasnim the soft breathings of the morning breeze. Mind and gazer +were confounded by its beauty, even as saith the poet, + +"Behold this lovely garden! 'tis as though * Spring o'er its + frame her greeny cloak had spread. +Looking with fleshly eyne, thou shalt but sight * A lake whose + waters balance in their bed, +But look with spirit eyes and lo! shalt see * Glory in every + leaf o'erwaves thy head." + +And as another saith, + +"The stream's a cheek by sunlight rosy dyed, * Whose down[FN#418] + is creeping shade of tamarisk stems +Round legs of tree trunks waveless roll in rings * Silvern, and + blossoms are the diadems." + +When Zau al-Makan saw this champaign, with its trees bowing and +its flowers blooming and its birds warbling, he called to his +brother Sharrkan and said, "O my brother, verily in Damascus is +naught the like of this place. We will not march from it save +after three days, that we may take rest ourselves and that the +army of Al-Islam may regain strength and their souls be fortified +to encounter the blamed Infidels." So they halted therein and +while camping behold, they heard a noise of voices from afar, and +Zau al-Makan asked the cause thereof, and was answered that a +caravan of merchants from the Land of Syria had halted there to +rest and that the Moslem troops had come on them and had haply +seized something of the goods which they had brought from the +country of the Infidels. After a while up came the merchants, +crying out and appealing to the King for aidance. When Zau al- +Makan saw this, he bade them be brought before him and, when in +presence they said to him, "O King, we have been in the country +of the Infidels and they plundered us of nothing: why then do our +brothers the Moslems despoil our goods, and we in their own land? +Of a truth when we saw your troops, we went up to them and they +robbed us of what we had with us and we have now reported to thee +all that hath befallen us." Thereupon they brought out to him the +letter of the King of Constantinople, and Sharrkan read it and +said, "We will presently restore to you what hath been taken from +you; but yet it behoveth you not to carry merchandise to the +country of the Infidels." Replied they, "O our Lord, in very +sooth Allah despatched us thither that we might win what +Ghzi[FN#419] never won the like of, not even thou in all thy +razzias." Asked Sharrkan, "What was it ye won?" "O King," +answered they, "we will not tell thee save in private; for if +this matter be noised among the folk, haply it may come to the +ears of some,[FN#420] and this will be the cause of our ruin and +of the ruin of all Moslems who resort to the land of the Greeks." +Now they had hidden the chest wherein was the damned Zat al- +Dawahi. So Zau al-Makan and his brother brought them to a +private place, where they laid bare to both of them the story of +the devotee, and wept till they made the two Kings weep.--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the +Nazarenes who wore merchants' weed, when brought to a private +place by Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan, laid bare to both +of them the story of the devotee and wept till they made the two +Kings weep and repeated to them all which had been taught by the +old witch Zat al-Dawahi. Thereupon Sharrkan's heart yearned to +the devotee and he was moved to ruth for him and was fired with +zeal for the service of Almighty Allah. So quoth he to them, +"Did ye rescue this holy man or is he still in the hermitage?" +Quoth they, "We delivered him and slew the hermit, fearing for +our lives; after which we made haste to fly for dread of death; +but a trusty man told us that in this hermitage are quintals of +gold and silver and stones of price." Then they fetched the chest +and brought out the accursed old woman, as she were a cassia +pod[FN#421] for excess of blackness and leanness, and she was +laden with the same fetters and shackles. When Zau al-Makan and +the bystanders saw her, they took her for a man of the best of +Allah's devotees and surpassing in pious qualities, more +especially because of the shining of her forehead for the +ointment wherewith she had anointed her face. So Zau al-Makan +and Sharrkan wept sore; then they rose up in honour and kissed +her hands and feet, sobbing aloud: but she signed to them and +said, "Cease this weeping and hear my words. Hereat they dried +their tears in obedience to her bidding, and she said, "Know ye +both that I was content to accept what my Lord did unto me, for I +kenned that the affliction which befel me was a trial from Him +(be He exalted and extolled!); and whoso hath not patience under +calamity and tribulation, for him there is no coming to the +delights of Paradise. I had indeed supplicated Him that I might +return to my native land, not as a compensation for the +sufferings decreed to me, but that I might die under the horse +hoofs of warriors fighting for the Faith who, being slain in +fray, live again without suffering death."[FN#422] Then she +repeated the following couplets, + +"Our Fort is Tor,[FN#423] and flames the fire of fight: * Moses + art thou and this is time for aid: +Cast down thy rod, 'twill swallow all they wrought, * Nor dread + for men their ropes be vipers made.[FN#424] +For Chapters read on fight day lines of foes, * And on their + necks 'grave versets[FN#425] wi' thy blade!" + +When the old woman had ended her verse, her eyes overflowed with +tears and her forehead under the unguent shone like gleaming +light, and Sharrkan rose and kissed her hand and caused food be +brought before her: but she refused it, saying, "I have not +broken my fast by day for fifteen years; and how should I break +it at such a time when my Lord hath been bountiful to me in +delivering me from the captivity of the Infidels and removing +from me that which was more grievous to me than torment of fire? +I will wait till sun down." So when it was nightfall, Sharrkan +and Zau al-Makan came and served her with food and said, "Eat, O +ascetic!" But she said, "This is no time for eating; it is the +time for worshipping the Requiting King." Then she stood up in +the prayer niche and remained praying till the night was spent; +and she ceased not to do after this fashion for three days and +nights, sitting not but at the time of the Salm or +salutation[FN#426] ending with several prayers. When Zau al- +Makan saw her on this wise, firm belief in her get hold of his +heart and he said to Sharrkan, "Cause a tent of perfumed leather +to be pitched for this Religious, and appoint a body servant to +wait upon him." On the fourth day she called for food; so they +brought her all kinds of meats that could seduce the sense or +delight the sight; but of all this she would eat only a scone +with salt. Then she again turned to her fast and, as the night +came, she rose anew to pray; when Sharrkan said to Zau al-Makan, +"Verily, this man carrieth renunciation of the world to the +extreme of renouncing, and, were it not for this Holy War, I +would join myself to him and worship Allah in his service, till I +came before His presence. And now I desire to enter his tent and +talk with him for an hour." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "And I also: +tomorrow we sally forth to fight against Constantinople, and we +shall find no time like the present." Said the Wazir Dandan, "And +I no less desire to see this ascetic; haply he will pray for me +that I find death in this Holy War and come to the presence of my +Lord, for I am aweary of the world." So as soon as night had +darkened, they repaired to the tent of that witch, Zat al-Dawahi; +and, seeing her standing to pray, they drew near her and fell a +weeping for pity of her; but she paid no heed to them till +midnight was past, when she ended her orisons by pronouncing the +salutation. Then she turned to them and after wishing them long +life, asked them "Wherefore come ye?", whereto they answered, "O +thou holy man! diddest thou not hear us weep around thee?" She +rejoined, "To him who standeth in the presence of Allah, +remaineth no existence in time, either for hearing any or for +seeing aught about him." Quoth they, "We would have thee recount +to us the cause of thy captivity and pray for us this night, for +that will profit us more than the possession of Constantinople." +Now when she heard their words she said, "By Allah, were ye not +the Emirs of the Moslems, I would not relate to you aught of this +at any time; for I complain not but to Allah alone. However, to +you I will relate the circumstances of my captivity. Know, then, +that I was in the saintly City of Jerusalem with certain +ecstatics and inspired men, and did not magnify myself among +them, for that Allah (be He exalted and extolled!) had endowed me +with humility and abnegation, till I chanced to go down to the +sea one night and walked upon the water. Then entered into me +pride; whence I know not, and I said to myself, 'Who like me can +walk the water?' And my heart from that time hardened and Allah +afflicted me with the love of travel. So I journeyed to Roum +land and visited every part for a whole year, and left no place +but therein I worshiped Allah. When I came to this spot,[FN#427] +I clomb the mountain and saw there an hermitage, inhabited by a +monk called Matrubina, who, when he sighted me, came out and +kissed my hands and feet and said, 'Verily, I have seen thee +since thou enteredst the land of the Greeks, and thou hast filled +me with longing for the land of Al-Islam.' Then he took my hand +and carried me into that hermitage, and brought me to a dark +room; and, when I entered it unawares, he locked the door on me +and left me there forty days, without meat or drink; for it was +his intent to kill me by delay. It chanced one day, that a +Knight called Dakians[FN#428] came to the hermitage, accompanied +by ten squires and his daughter Tamsil, a girl whose beauty was +incom parable. When they entered that hermitage, the monk +Matruhina told them of me, and the Knight said, 'Bring him out, +for surely there is not on him a bird's meal of meat.' So they +opened the door of the dark room and found me standing in the +niche, praying and reciting the Koran and glorifying Allah and +humbling myself before the Almighty. When they saw me in this +state Matrohina exclaimed, 'This man is indeed a sorcerer of the +sorcerers!'; and hearing his words, they all came in on me, +Dakianus and his company withal, and they beat me with a grievous +beating, till I desired death and reproached myself, saying, +'This is his reward who exalteth himself and who prideth himself +on that which Allah hath vouchsafed to him, beyond his own +competence! And thou, O my soul, verily self esteem and +arrogance have crept into thee. Dost thou not know that pride +angereth the Lord and hardeneth the heart and bringeth men to the +Fire?' Then they laid me in fetters and returned me to my place +which was the dungeon under ground. Every three days, they threw +me down a scone of barley bread and a draught of water; and every +month or two the Knight came to the hermitage. Now his daughter +Tamasil had grown up, for she was nine years old when I first saw +her, and fifteen years passed over me in captivity, so that she +had reached her four and twentieth year. There is not in our +land nor in the land of the Greeks a fairer than she, and her +father feared lest the King take her from him; for she had vowed +herself to the Messiah and rode with Dakianus in the habit of a +cavalier, so that albeit none might compare with her in +loveliness, no one who saw her knew her for a woman. And her +father had laid up his monies in this hermitage, every one who +had aught of price or treasured hoard being wont to deposit it +therein; and I saw there all manner of gold and silver and jewels +and precious vessels and rarities, none may keep count of them +save Almighty Allah. Now ye are worthier of these riches than +those Infidels; so lay hands on that which is in the hermitage +and divide it among the Moslems and especially on fighters in the +Holy War. When these merchants came to Constantinople and sold +their merchandise, that image which is on the wall spoke to them, +by grace of a marvel which Allah granted to me; so they made for +that hermitage and slew Matruhina, after torturing him with most +grievous torments, and dragging him by the beard, till he showed +them the place where I was; when they took me and found no path +but flight for dread of death. Now tomorrow night Tamasil will +visit that hermitage as is her habit, and her father and his +squires will come after her, as he feareth for her; so, if ye +would witness these things, take me with you and I will deliver +to you the monies and the riches of the Knight Dakianus which be +in that mountain; for I saw them bring out vessels of gold and +silver to drink therefrom, and I heard a damsel of their company +sing to them in Arabic and well-away! that so sweet a voice +should not be busied in chaunting the Koran. If, then, ye will; +enter into that hermitage and hide there against the coming of +Dakianus and his daughter; and take her, for she is fit only for +the King of the Age, Sharrkan, or King Zau al-Makan." Thereat +they all rejoiced with the exception of the Wazir Dandan, who put +scant faith in her story, for her words took no hold on his +reason, and signs of doubt in her and disbelief showed in his +face.[FN#429] Yet he was confounded at her discourse, but he +feared to speak with her for awe of the King. Then quoth the +ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, "Verily, I fear lest the Knight come +and, seeing these troops encamped in the meadow, be afraid to +enter the hermitage." So Zau al-Makan ordered the army to march +upon Constantinople and said, "I have resolved to take with me an +hundred horse and many mules and make for that mountain, where we +will load the beasts with the monies which be in the hermitage." +Then he sent at once for the Chief Chamberlain whom they brought +into the presence; and he summoned likewise the leaders of the +Turks and Daylamites and said, "As soon as it is dawn, do ye set +forth for Constantinople; and thou, O Chamberlain, shalt take my +place in council and contrivance, while thou, O Rustam, shalt be +my brother's deputy in battle. But let none know that we are not +with you and after three days we will rejoin you." Then he chose +out an hundred of the doughtiest riders, and he and Sharrkan and +the Minister Dandan set out for the hermitage, and the hundred +horsemen led the mules with chests for transporting the +treasure.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan +and his brother, Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan set off with +an hundred horse for the hermitage described to them by that +accursed Zat al-Dawahi, and they took with them mules and chests +for transporting the treasure. Now as soon as dawned the morn, +the Chamberlain signalled to the host an order for departure, and +they set out thinking that the two Kings and the Wazir were with +them; knowing not that the three had made for the monastery. +Such was the case with the host, but as regards the two Kings and +the Minister, they tarried in their place till the end of that +day. Now the Infidels who were with Zat al-Dawahi took their +departure privily, after they had gone in to her and kissed her +hands and feet and obtained her leave to march. So she not only +gave them permission but also taught them all she minded of wile +and guile. And when it was dark night, she arose and went in to +Zau al-Makan and his companions and said to them, "Come, let us +set out for the mountain, and take with you a few men at arms." +They obeyed her and left five horsemen at the foot of the +mountain, whilst the rest rode on before Zat al-Dawahi, who +gained new strength for excess of joy, so that Zau al-Makan said, +"Glory be to Him who sustaineth this holy man, whose like we +never saw!" Now the witch had written a letter to the King of +Constantinople and despatched it on the wings of a bird,[FN#430] +acquainting him with what had passed and ending, "I wish thee to +send me ten thousand horsemen of the bravest of the Greeks and +let them steal along the foot of the mountains with caution, lest +the host of Al-Islam get sight of them; and, when they reach the +hermitage, let them ambush themselves there, till I come to them +with the Moslem King and his brother, for I shall inveigle them +and will bring them thither, together with the Wazir and an +hundred horse and no more, that I may presently deliver to them +the crosses which be in the hermitage. I am resolved to slay the +Monk Matruhina, since my scheme cannot be carried out but by +taking his life. If my plot work well, not one of the Moslems +shall return to his own country; no, not a living wight nor one +who blows the fire alight; and Matruhina shall be a sacrifice for +the followers of the Nazarene faith and the servants of the +Cross, and praise be to the Messiah, first and last." When this +letter reached Constantinople, the keeper of the carrier pigeons +carried it to King Afridun, who read it and forthwith inspected +his host and equipped ten thousand cavaliers with horses and +dromedaries and mules and provaunt and bade them repair to that +hermitage and, after reaching the tower, to hide therein. Thus +far concerning them; but as regards King Zau al-Makan and his +brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan and the escort, when they +reached the hermitage they entered and met the Monk Matruhina, +who came out to see who and what they were; whereupon quoth that +pious man Zat al-Dawahi, "Slay this damned fellow."[FN#431] So +they smote him with their swords and made him drink the cup of +death. Then the accursed old woman carried them to the place of +offerings and ex votos, and brought out to them treasures and +precious things more than she had described to them; and after +gathering the whole together, they set the booty in chests and +loaded the mules therewith. As for Tamasil, she came not, she or +her father, for fear of the Moslems; so Zau al-Makan tarried +there, awaiting her all that day and the next and a third, till +Sharrkan said to him, "By Allah, I am troubled anent the army of +Al-Islam, for I know not what is become of them." His brother +replied, "And I also am concerned for them: we have come by this +great treasure and I do not believe that Tamasil or any one else +will approach the hermitage, after that befel which hath befallen +the host of the Christians. It behoveth us, then, to content +ourselves with what Allah hath given us and depart; so haply He +will help us conquer Constantinople." Accordingly they came down +from the mountain, while Zat al-Dawahi was impotent to oppose +their march for fear of betraying her deceit; and they fared +forwards till they reached the head of a defile, where the old +woman had laid an ambush for them with the ten thousand horse. +As soon as these saw the Moslems they encircled them from all +sides, couching lance and baring the white sabre blade; and the +Infidels shouted the watch word of their faithless Faith and set +the shafts of their mischief astring. When Zau al-Makan and his +brother Sharrkan and the Minister Dandan looked upon this host, +they saw that it was a numerous army and said, "Who can have +given these troops information of us?" Replied Sharrkan, "O my +brother, this be no time for talk; this is the time for smiting +with swords and shooting with shafts) so gird up your courage and +hearten your hearts, for this strait is like a street with two +gates; though, by the virtue of the Lord of Arabs and Ajams, were +not the place so narrow I would bring them to naught, even though +they were an hundred thousand men!" Said Zau al-Makan, "Had we +wotted this we would have brought with us five thousand horse;" +and the Wazir Dandan continued, "If we had ten thousand horse +they had availed us naught in these narrows; but Allah will +succour us against them. I know this defile and its straitness, +and I know there be many places of refuge in it; for I have been +here on razzia with King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, what while we +besieged Constantinople. We abode in this place, and here is +water colder than snow. So come, let us push out of this defile +ere the Infidel host increase on us and get the start of us to +the mountain top, whence they will hurl down rocks upon us, and +we powerless to come at them." So they began hurrying on to get +out of those narrows; but the pious man, Zat al-Dawahi, looked at +them and said, "What is it ye fear, ye who have vowed yourselves +to the Lord, and to working His will? By Allah, I abode +imprisoned underground for fifteen years, yet never gainsaid the +Almighty in aught he did with me! Fight ye in Allah's way; so +whoever of you is slain Paradise shall be his abode, and whoso +slayeth, his striving shall be to his honour." When they heard +from the ascetic these words, their care and anxiety ceased from +them and they stood firm till the Infidels charged down from all +sides, whilst the swords played upon their necks and the cup of +death went round amongst them. The Moslems fought for the +service of Allah a right good fight, and wrought upon His foes +with sway of sword and lunge of lance; whilst Zau al-Makan smote +upon the men and garred the knights bite the dust and their heads +from their bodies take flight, five by five and ten by ten, till +he had done to death a number of them past numbering and an +accompt beyond counting. Now while so doing, he looked at the +accursed old woman who was waving her sword and heartening them, +and all who feared fled to her for shelter; but she was also +signing the Infidels to slay Sharrkan. So troop after troop +rushed on him with design to do him die; but each troop that +charged, he charged and drove back; and when another troop +attacked him he repelled the assault with the sword in their +backs; for he thought it was the devotee's blessing that gave him +the vic tory, and he said in himself, "Verily on this holy men +Allah looketh with eyes of His favour and strengtheneth my +prowess against the Infidels with the purity of his pious intent: +for I see that they fear me and cannot prevail against me, but +every one who assaileth me turneth tail and taketh flight." So +they battled the rest of the day and, when night fell, the +Moslems took refuge in a cave of that defile being weary with +stress of war and cast of stone: and that day were slain of them +five and forty. And when they were gathered together, they +sought the devotee, but could find no trace of him; and this was +grievous to them and they said, "Belike, he hath died a martyr." +Quoth Sharrkan, "I saw him heartening the horsemen with divine +instances and using as talisman verses of Holy Writ." Now while +they were talking, behold, the accursed old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, +stood before them, hending in hand the head of the Chief Captain +of the ten thousand horse, a noble knight, a champion fierce in +fight and a Satan for blight. One of the Turks had slain him +with an arrow, and Allah hurried his soul to the fire; and when +the Infidels saw what that Moslem had done with their leader, +they all fell on him and wrought his bane and hewed him in pieces +with their swords, and Allah hurried his soul to Heaven. Then +the accursed old woman cut off that Knight's head and brought it +and threw it at the feet of Sharrkan and Zau al-Makan and the +Wazir Dandan. Now when Sharrkan sew her, he sprang up hastily +before her and exclaimed, "Praised be Allah for thy safety and +for our sighting thee, O holy man and devout champion of the +Religion!" Replied she, O my son, I have sought martyrdom this +day, and have thrown my life away amid the Infidel array, but +they feared me with dismay. When ye dispersed, I waxed jealous +for your honour; so I rushed on the Chief Knight their leader, +albeit he was a match for a thousand horse, and I smote him till +I severed head from trunk. Not one of the Infidels could near +me; so I brought his head to you,"--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +damned witch, Zat al-Dawahi, took the head of the Knight, the +leader of the twenty thousand Infidels, she brought it and threw +it down before Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan and the +Wazir Dandan, saying, "When I saw your condition, I waxed jealous +for your honour; so I rushed on the Chief Knight and smote him +with the sword till I severed head from trunk. And none could +near me, so I brought his head to you, that you may be +strengthened in Holy War and work out with your swords the will +of the Lord of the Faithful. And now I purpose leaving you to +strive against the Infidels, whilst I go to your army, though +they be at the gates of Constantinople, and return with twenty +thousand horse to destroy these Unfaithfuls." Quoth Sharrkan, +"How wilt thou pass to them, O thou holy man, seeing that the +valley is blocked up on all sides by the Miscreants?" Quoth the +accursed hag, "Allah will veil me from their eyes and they shall +not sight me;[FN#432] nor, if any saw me, would he dare to attack +me at that time, for I shall be as one non existing, absorbed in +Allah, and He will fend off from me His foes." "Thou sayest +sooth, O holy man," rejoined Sharrkan, "for indeed I have been +witness of that; so, if thou can pass out at the first of the +night, 'twill be best for us." Replied she, "I will set out at +this very hour and, if thou desire, thou shalt go with me and +none shall see thee. Furthermore if thy brother also have a mind +to go with us we will take him, but none else; for the shadow of +a saint can cover only twain." Sharrkan said, "As for me I will +not leave my comrades; but, if my brother will, there is no harm +in his going with thee and setting us free of this strait; for he +is the stronghold of the Moslems and the sword of the Lord of the +three Worlds; and if it be his pleasure, let him take with him +the Wazir Dandan, or whom else he may elect and send us ten +thousand horse to succour us against these caitiffs." So after +debate they agreed on this and the old woman said, "Give me +leisure to go before you and consider the condition of the +Infidels, if they be asleep or awake." Quoth they, "We will not +go forth save with thee and trust our affair to Allah." "If I do +your bidding," replied she, "blame me not but blame yourselves; +for it is my rede that you await me till I bring you tidings of +the case." Then said Sharrkan, "Go to them and delay not from us, +for we shall be awaiting thee." Thereupon she fared forth and +Sharrkan turned to his brother addressing him and said, "Were not +this holy man a miracle worker, he had never slain yonder furious +knight. This is proof sufficient of the ascetic's power; and of +a truth the pride of the Infidels is laid low by the slaying of +this cavalier, for he was violent, an evil devil and a stubborn." +Now whilst they were thus devising of the mighty works of the +devotee, behold, the accursed Zat al-Dawahi came upon them and +promised them victory over the Unbelievers; wherefor they thanked +her (not knowing that all this was wile and guile) and the damned +hag asked, "Where be the King of the Age, Zau al-Makan, and the +Minister Dandan?" Answered he, "Here am I!" Take with thee thy +Wazir," said she, "and follow after me, that we may fare forth to +Constantinople." Now she had acquainted the Infidels with the +cheat she had put upon the Moslems, and they rejoiced with +exceeding great joy, and said, Our hearts will not be contented +till we shall have slain their King in return for the Knight's +death; because we had no stouter rider than he;" and they added +(bespeaking the ill omened hag as she told them her plan of +faring to the land of the Moslems), "When thou bringest him to +us, we will bear him to King Afridun." Then she went out and went +out with her Zau al-Makan and the Minister Dandan, and she walked +on before the two saying, "Fare forth with the blessing of +Almighty Allah!" So they did her bidding, for the shaft of Pate +and Fortune of man's lot had shot them, and she ceased not +leading them both through the midst of the Grecian camp, till +they came to the defile, the narrow pass aforesaid, whilst the +Infidel enemy watched them, but did them no hindrance; for the +infernal old woman had enjoined this. Now when Zau al-Makan and +the Wazir Dandan saw that the Infidel host offered them no let +and stay and yet had them in sight, the Wazir exclaimed, "By +Allah, this is one of the holy man's saintly miracles! and +doubtless he be of the elect." Rejoined Zau al-Makan, "By Allah, +I think the Infidels be naught but blind, for we see them and +they see us not." And while they were thus praising the holy man +and recounting his mighty works and his piety and his prayers, +behold, the Infidels charged down on them from all sides and +surrounded them and seized them, saying, "Is there anyone else +with you twain, that we may seize upon him too?" And the Wazir +Dandan replied, "See you not yon other man that is before us? ' +Replied the Unbelievers, "By the truth of the Messiah and the +Monks, and the Primate and the Metropolitan, we see none save you +two!" Then Zau Al-Makan said, "By Allah, this is a chastisement +decreed to us by Almighty Allah!"--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Unfaithful had seized upon King Zau al-Makan and the Wazir +Dandan, they said to the two, "Is there anyone else with you +twain, that we may seize upon him also?" And the Wazir Dandan +replied, "See you not yon other man who be with us?" They +rejoined, "By the truth of the Messiah and the Monks and the +Primate and the Metropolitan, we see none save you two!" Then the +Infidels laid shackles on their feet and set men to guard them +during the night, whilst Zat al-Dawahi fared on and disappeared +from their sight. So they fell to lamenting and saying to each +other, "Verily, the opposing of pious men leadeth to greater +distress than this, and we are punished by the strait which hath +befallen us." So far concerning Zau al-Makan and the Wazir +Dandan; but as regards King Sharrkan, he passed that night in the +cavern with his comrades, and when dawned the day and he had +prayed the morn prayer, he and his men made ready to do battle +with the Infidel and he heartened them and promised them all +good. Then they sallied out till they were hard upon the +Unbelievers and, when these saw them from afar, they cried out to +them, saying, "O Moslems, we have taken captives your Sultan and +your Wazir who hath the ordering of your affairs; and except ye +leave off fighting us, we will slay you to the last man; but an +you yield yourselves we will take you to our King, who will make +peace with you on condition that you quit our country and return +home and harm us in naught, and we will do you no harm in aught. +If ye accept, it will be well for you; but if ye refuse there +remaineth nothing for you but death. So we have told you sooth, +and this is our last word to you." Now when Sharrkan heard this +and was certified of the captivity of his brother and the Wazir +Dandan, he was weighed down with woe and wept; his force failed +him and, making sure of death, he said to himself, "Would I knew +the cause of their capture! Did they fail of respect to the holy +man or disobey him, or what was the matter?" Then they sprang up +to battle with the Unbelievers and slew great numbers of them. +The brave was known that day from craven men, and sword and spear +were dyed with bloody stain; for the Infidels flocked up on them, +as flies flock to drink, from hill and from plain; but Sharrkan +and his men ceased not to wage the fight of those who fear not to +die, nor let death hinder them from the pursuit of victory, till +the valley ran gore and earth was full of the slain she bore. +And when night fell the armies separated each making for his own +place; and the Moslems returned to the cavern where gain and loss +were manifest to them: few remained of them and there was no +dependence for them but on Allah and the scymitar. Now there had +been slain of them that day five and thirty men of the chiefest +Emirs, and they had killed thousands of the Infidels, footmen and +fighters on horse. When Sharrkan saw this, the case was grievous +to him and he asked his comrades "What shall we do?"; whereto all +answered, "That which Almighty Allah willeth shall befal us." On +the morning of the second day, Sharrkan said to the remnant of +his troop, "If ye go forth to fight, not one of you will remain +alive and we have but little left of food and water; so I deem ye +would do better to bare your brands and go forth and stand at the +mouth of this cavern, to hinder any from entering. Haply the +holy man may have reached the Moslem host, and may return with +ten thousand horses to succour us in fight with the Infidels, for +belike the Unfaithful may have failed to see him and those with +him." They said, This were the better course to take, and of its +expediency no doubt we make." So the troop went out and held the +cavern mouth standing by its walls; and every one of the Infidels +who sought to enter in, they slew. Thus did they fend off the +foe from the gape of the cave and they patiently supported all +such assaults, till day was done and night came on dusky and +dun;--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. + + When it was the Ninety-ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the army of +the Moslems held the cavern mouth and stood by its walls and they +fended off the foe, and every one of the Infidels attempted to +charge them, him they slew; and they patiently supported all such +assaults till day was done and night came on dusky and dun, by +which time King Sharrkan had only five and twenty men and no more +left. Then quoth the Infidels to one another, "When shall these +battle days have an end? We are weary of warring the Moslems." +And quoth one of them, "Up and at them, for there remain of them +but five and twenty men! If we cannot prevail on them to fight, +let us light a fire upon them;[FN#433] and if they submit +themselves and yield to us, we will take them prisoners; but if +they refuse we will leave them for fuel to the fire, so shall +they become to men of foreseeing mind a warning dire. May the +Messiah on their fathers have no grace, and may the sojourn of +the Nazarenes be for them no abiding place!" So they carried fuel +to the jaws of the cavern and set fire to it. Thereupon Sharrkan +and his companions made sure of perdition and yielded themselves +prisoners. And while they were in this condition, lo! the +knight their captain said to those who counselled their +slaughter, "It is not for any save for King Afridun to kill them, +that he may gratify his wrath; therefore it behoveth us to keep +them in durance by us till the morrow, when we will journey with +them to Constantinople and deliver them to our King, who shall +deal with them as he please." Said they, "This is the right +course;" and he commanded to pinion them and set guards over +them. Then, as soon as it was black night, the Infidels busied +themselves with feasting and making festival; and they called for +wine and drank it till all fell upon their backs. Now Sharrkan +and his brother, Zau al-Makan, were in confinement and so also +were his companion knights; whereupon the elder turned to the +younger brother and said to him, "O my brother, how win free?" +"By Allah," replied Zau al Makan, "I know not; for here we be +like birds in cage." Then Sharrkan waxed wroth and sighed for +excess of rage and stretched himself, till his pinion bonds brass +asunder; whereupon being free he arose and went up to the Captain +of the guard, and taking from his pocket the keys of the fetters, +freed Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan and the rest of his men. +Then he turned to the two and said, "I desire to slay three of +these Infidels and take and don their dress, we three; so that we +shall be guised as Greeks and we will pass through them, with out +their knowing us, and fare forth to our own force." Replied Zau +al-Makan, "This is no safe counsel for if we kill them, I fear +some of their comrades may hear their shrieks and the foe be +aroused upon us and kill us. 'Twere the surer way to pass out of +the defile." So they agreed upon this and set out; and, when they +had left the head of the strait a little distance behind, they +saw horses picketed and the riders sleeping: and Sharrkan said to +his brother, "Better we take each one of us a steed." There were +five and twenty horsemen, so they took five and twenty horses, +whilst Allah sent sleep upon the Infidels for a purpose He knew +and the Faithful mounted and fared on till they were out of +reach. Meanwhile Sharrkan set to gathering from the Infidels as +many weapons, swords, and spears, as were wanted. And while they +took saddle and struck forwards none of the Infidels supposed +that anyone could release Zau al-Makan and his brother and their +men; or that their prisoners had power to escape. Now when all +the captives were safe from the Unfaithful, Sharrkan came up with +his comrades, and found them awaiting his arrival, on coals of +flame, expecting him in anxious grame, so he turned to them and +said, "Feel no fear since Allah protecteth us. I have that to +propose which haply shall effect our purpose." "What is it?" +asked they and he answered, "I desire that ye all climb to the +mountain top and cry out with one voice, 'Allaho Akbar!' and ye +add, 'The army of Al Islam is upon you! Allaho Akbar!' This wise +their company will surely be dissolved nor will they find out the +trick for they are drunk, but they will think that the Moslem +troops have encompassed them about on all sides and have mingled +with them; so they will fall on one another brand in hand during +the confusion of drunkenness and sleep, and we will cleave them +asunder with their own swords and the scymitar will go round +amongst them till dawn." Replied Zau al-Makan, "This plan is not +good; we should do better to make our way to our army and speak +not a word; for if we cry out 'Allaho Akbar,' they will wake and +fall on us and not one of us will escape." Rejoined Sharrkan, "By +Allah, though they should awake tis no matter, and I long that ye +fall in with my plan, for naught save good can come of it!" So +they agreed thereon and clomb the mountain and shouted, "Allaho +Akbar!" And hills and trees and rocks reworded their Allaho Akbar +for fear of the Almighty. But when the Kafirs heard this slogan +they cried out to one another,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundredth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan +spake thus, "I long that ye fall in with this my plan, for naught +save good can come of it." So they agreed thereon and clomb the +mountain head and shouted, "Allaho Akbar!"; and hills and trees +and rocks re worded their Allaho Akbar for fear of the Almighty. +The Infidels heard it and cried out one to other and donned their +armour and said, "The foe is upon us, by the truth of the +Messiah!" Then they fell on one another and slew of their own men +more than any knoweth save Almighty Allah. As soon as it was +dawn, they sought for the captives, but found no trace of them, +and their captains said, "They who did this were the prisoners in +our possession; up, then, and after them in all haste till ye +overtake them, when we will make them quaff the cup of requital; +and let not fright nor the panic of sudden awaking possess you." +So they took horse and rode after the fugitives and it wanted but +an eye twinkling before they overtook them and surrounded them. +Now when Zau al-Makan saw this, he was seized with increase of +terror and said to his brother, "What I feared would come, is +come upon us, and now it remaineth only for us to fight for the +Faith." But Sharrkan preferred to hold his peace. Then Zau al- +Makan and his companions rushed down from the hill crest, +shouting, "Allaho Akbar!" and his men repeated the war cry and +addressed themselves to fight and to sell their lives in the +service of the Lord of Faithful Men; and while they were in this +case, behold, they heard many voices voicing, "There is no god +but the God! God is most great! Salutation and salvation upon +the Apostle, the Bringer of glad Tidings, the Bearer of bad +Tidings!''[FN#434] So they turned towards the direction of the +sound and saw a company of Moslems who believed in one God, +pushing towards them, whereat their hearts were heartened and +Sharrkan charged upon the Infidels crying out, "There is no god +but the God! God is most great! he and those with him, so that +earth quaked as with an earthquake and the Unbeliever host brake +asunder and fled into the mountains and the Moslems followed them +with lunge and blow; and Zau al-Makan and his comrades of the +Moslems ceased not to smite the hosts of the Infidel foe, and +parted heads from bodies till day darkened and night coming on +starkened sight. Thereupon the Moslems drew together and passed +the night in congratulations, and, when morning dawned and +daybreak shone with its shine and sheen, they saw Bahram, the +captain of the Daylamites, and Rustam, the captain of the Turks, +advancing to join them, with twenty thousand cavaliers like lions +grim. As soon as they saw Zau al-Makan, the riders dismounted +and saluted him, and kissed ground between his hands when he said +to them, "Rejoice ye in the glad tidings of the victory of the +Moslem and the discomfiture of the tribe of Unbelievers!" Then +they gave one another joy of their deliverance and of the +greatness of their reward after Resurrection Day. Now the cause +of the coming of the succours to that place was this. When the +Emir Bahram and the Emir Rustam and the Chief Chamberlain, with +the Moslem host and flags flaunting high ahead, came in sight of +Constantinople they saw that the Nazarenes had mounted the walls +and manned the towers and the forts, and had set all their +defenders in order of defence, as soon as they learned of the +approach of the host of Al-Islam and the banners Mohammedan, and +they heard the clash of arms and the noise of war voices and +tramp of horse hoofs and from their look outs they beheld the +Moslems, with their standards and ensigns of the Faith of Unity +under the dust clouds and lo! they were like a flight of locusts +or rain clouds raining rain, and the voices of the Moslems +chanting the Koran and glorifying the Compassionate One, struck +their ears. Now the Infidels knew of the approach of this host +through Zat al-Dawahi with her craft and whoredom,[FN#435] +calumny and contrivance. And the armies of Al-Islam drew near, +as it were the swollen sea, for the multitude of footmen and +horsemen and women and children. Then quoth the General of the +Turks to the General of the Daylamites, "O Emir, of a truth, we +are in jeopardy from the multitude of the foe who is on the +walls. Look at yonder bulwarks and at this world of folk like +the seas that clash with dashing billows. Indeed yon Infidel +outnumbereth us an hundredfold and we cannot be safe from spies +who may inform them that we are without a Sultan. In very sooth, +we run danger from these enemies, whose numbers may not be told +and whose resources none can withhold, especially in the absence +of King Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan and the illustrious +Wazir Dandan. If they know of this, they will be emboldened to +attack us in their absence and with the sword they will +annihilate us to the last man; not one of us safety shall see. +So it is my counsel that thou take ten thousand riders of the +allies and the Turks, and march them to the hermitage of +Matruhina and the meadow of Malkhin in quest of our brothers +and comrades. If thou act by my advice, it may be we shall +approve ourselves the cause of their deliverance, in case they be +hard pressed by the Infidels; and if thou act not, blame will not +attach to me. But, an ye go, it behoveth that ye return quickly, +for ill suspicion is part of prudence." The Emir aforesaid fell +in with his counsel; so they chose twenty thousand horse and they +set out covering the roads and making for the monastery above +mentioned. So much for the cause of their coming; but as regards +the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, as soon as she had delivered +Sultan Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan +into the hands of the Infidels, the foul whore mounted a swift +steed, saying to the Faithless, "I design to rejoin the Moslem +army which is at Constantinople and contrive for their +destruction; for I will inform them that their chiefs are dead, +and when they hear that from me, their joining will be disjointed +and the cord of their confederation cut and their host scattered. +Then will I go to King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, and to my +son Hardub, King of Roum, and relate to them their tidings and +they will sally forth on the Moslems with their troops and will +destroy them and will not leave one of them alive." So she +mounted and struck across country on her good steed all the +livelong night; and, when day dawned, appeared the armies of +Bahram and Rustam advancing towards her. So she turned into a +wayside brake and hid her horse among the trees and she walked a +while saying to herself, "Haply the Moslem hosts be returning, +routed, from the assault of Constantinople." However, as she drew +near them she looked narrowly and made sure that their standards +were not reversed,[FN#436] and she knew that they were coming not +as conquered men, but fearing for their King and comrades. When +she was assured of this, she hastened towards them, running at +speed, like a devil of ill rede, till reaching them she cried +out, "Haste ye! haste ye! O soldiers of the Compassionate One, +hasten to the Holy War against the hosts of Satan!" When Bahram +saw her he dismounted and kissed the ground before her and asked +her, "O friend of Allah what is behind thee?" Answered she, +"Question not of sad case and sore condition; for when our +comrades had taken the treasure from the hermitage of Matruhina, +and designed to win their way Constantinople wards, thereupon +came out on them a driving host and a dreadful of the Infidels." +And the damned witch repeated to them the story to fill them with +trouble and terror, adding, "The most of them are dead, and there +are but five and twenty men left." Said Bahram, "O holy man! +when didst thou leave them?" "But this night,"[FN#437] replied +she. He cried, "Glory be to Allah! to Him who hath rolled up +the far distance for thee like a rug, so that thou hast sped thus +walking upon thy feet and props upon a mid-rib of palm-tree! But +thou art one of the saints which fly like birds when inspired and +possessed by His directions."[FN#438] Then he mounted his horse, +and he was perplexed and confounded by what he had heard from the +beldam so strong in lies and ill calumnies, and he said, "There +is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, +the Great! Verily our labour is lost and our hearts are heavy +within us, for our Sultan is a prisoner and those who are with +him." Then they cut across the country, wide and side, night and +day, and when morning dawned they reached the head of the defile +and saw Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan shouting. "There is no god but +the God! Allaho Akbar! and Salutation and Salvation upon the +Congratulator, the Comminator."[FN#439] Whereupon he and his +drove at the Unbelievers and whelmed them, as the rain torrent +whelms the waste; and cried out their war cries, till fear get +hold of the prowess Knights and the mountains were cloven in +affright. And when shone the day and showed its shine and sheen, +the breeze of morning blew upon them sweet and fragrant, and each +recognised other as hath been said before. Then they kissed the +ground before the King and before his brother Sharrkan, who told +them all that had befallen the party in the cave. Now thereat +they marvelled and said to one another, "Hasten we back to +Constantinople, for we left our companions there, and our hearts +are with them." So they hurried departure, commending themselves +to the Subtle, the All-wise, and Zau al-Makan exhorted the +Moslems to steadfast- ness and versified in the following +couplets,[FN#440] + +"Be praises mine to all praiseworthy Thee, * O Lord, who stinted + not mine aid to be! +Though was I lost abroad, Thou west to me * Strongest support + which vouchsafed victory: +Thou gav'st me wealth and reign and goodly gifts, * And slungest + con quering sword of valiancy: +Thou mad'st me blest beneath Thy kingly shade, * Engraced with + generous boons dealt fain and free: +Thou savedst *from every fear I feared, by aid * Of my Wazir, the + Age's noblest he! +Garred us Thy grace in fight to throw the Greek, * Who yet came + back dight in War's cramoisie: +Then made I feint to fly from out the fight; * But like grim lion + turning made them flee, +And left on valley sole my foemen, drunk * Not with old + wine[FN#441] but Death-cup's revelry: +Then came the Saintly Hermit, and he showed * His marvels wrought + for town and wold to see; +When slew they hero-wights who woke to dwell * In Eden bowers + wherein sweet rill-lets well." + +But, when Zau al-Makan had made an end of versifying, his brother +Sharrkan congratulated him on his safety and thanked him for the +deeds he had done; after which both set out forcing their marches +to rejoin their army.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and First Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan +congratulated his brother, Zau al-Makan, on his safety and +thanked him for the deeds he had done; after which both set out +forcing their marches to rejoin their army. Such was their case; +but as regards the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, after she had +foregathered with the hosts of Rustam and Bahram, she returned to +the coppice, where she took her steed and mounted and sped on at +speed, till she drew near the Moslem army that beleaguered +Constantinople, when she lighted down from her destrier and led +it to the pavilion tent of the Chief Chamberlain. And when he +saw her, he stood up to her in honour and signed to her with his +right hand and said, "Welcome O pious recluse!" Then he +questioned her of what had befallen, and she repeated to him her +disquieting lies and deluding calumnies, saying, "In sooth I fear +for the Emir Rustam, and the Emir Bahram, for that I met them and +theirs on the way and sent them and their following to relieve +the King and his companions. Now there are but twenty thousand +horse and the Unbelievers outnumber them; so I would have thee at +this moment send off the rest of thy troops at full speed to +their suc cour, lest they be slain to the last man." And she +cried to them, "Haste! Haste!" When the Chamberlain and the +Moslems heard these words, their spirits fell and they wept; but +Zat al-Dawahi said to them, "Ask aidance of Allah and bear +patiently this triburation; for ye have the example of those who +have been before you of the people of Mohammed; and Paradise with +its palaces is laid out by Allah for those who die martyrs; and +needs must all die, but most praiseworthy is dying while fighting +for the Faith." The Chamberlain, hearing this speech of the +accursed old woman, called for the Emir Bahram's brother, a +knight by name Tarkash; and, choosing out for him ten thousand +horse, riders famed for force, bade him set out at once. So he +fared forth and marched all that day and the whole of the next +night, till he neared the Moslems. When daylight dawned, +Sharrkan saw the dust cloud about them and feared for the men of +Al-Islam and said, "If these troops which are coming upon us be +Moslem men our victory is assured by them; but, if these be +Nazarenes, there is no gainsaying Destiny's decrees." Then he +turned to his brother, Zau al- Makan, and said, Never fear, for +with my life I will ransom thee from death. If these be +Mohammedan troops, then were it an increase of heavenly favours; +but, if they be our foes, there is no help save that we fight +them. Yet do I long to meet the Holy Man ere I die, so I may beg +him to pray that I die not save by death of martyrdom." Whilst +the twain were thus speaking, behold, there appeared the banners +inscribed with the words, "There is no god but the God and +Mohammed is the Apostle of God;" and Sharrkan cried out, "How is +it with the Moslems?" "All are sound and safe," replied they, +"and we came not but out of concern for you." Then the Chief of +the army dismounted and, kissing ground before Sharrkan, asked, +"O my lord, how be the Sultan and the Wazir Dandan and Rustam and +my brother Bahram; are they all in safety?" He answered, "All +well; but who brought thee tidings of us?" Quoth Tarkash; "It was +the Holy Man who told us that he had met my brother Bahram and +Rustam and had sent them both to you and he also assured us that +the Infidels had encompassed you and out numbered you; but I see +not the case save the contrary thereof and that you are +victorious." They questioned him, "And how did the Holy Man reach +you?"; and he replied, "Walking on his feet and he had compassed +in a day and a night, ten days' journey for a well girt +horseman." "There is no doubt but that he is a Saint of Allah," +said Sharrkan, "but where is he now?" They rejoined, "We left him +with our troops, the folk of the Faith, moving them to do battle +with the rebels and the Faithless." Thereat Sharrkan rejoiced and +all thanked Allah for their own deliverance and the safety of the +Holy Man; and commended the dead to His mercy saying, "This was +writ in the Book." Then they set out making for Constantinople by +forced marches, and whilst they were on this enterprise, behold, +a dust cloud arose to such height that it walled the two +horizons, the eastern and the western, from man's sight and the +day was darkened by it to night. But Sharrkan looked at it and +said, "Verily, I fear lest this be the Infidels who have routed +the army of Al-Islam for that this dust walleth the world, east +and west, and hideth the two horizons, north and south." +Presently appeared under the dust a pillar of darkness, blacker +than the blackness of dismal days; nor ceased to come upon them +that column more dreadful than the dread of the Day of Doom. +Horse and foot hastened up to look at it and know the terrors of +the case, when behold, they saw it to be the recluse aforesaid; +so they thronged round him to kiss his hands and he cried out, "O +people of the Best of Mankind,[FN#442] the lamp which shineth in +darkness blind, verily the Infidels have outwitted the Moslems by +guile, for they fell upon the host of the One God whilst they +deemed themselves safe from the Faithless, and attacked them in +their tents and made a sore slaughter of them what while they +looked for no wile; so hasten to the aid of the Believers in the +unity of God, and deliver them from those who deny Him!" Now when +Sharrkan heard these words, his heart flew from his breast with +sore trouble; and, alighting from his steed in amazement, he +kissed the Recluse's hands and feet. On like wise did his +brother, Zau al-Makan, and the rest of the foot and horse troops; +except the Wazir Dandan, who dismounted not but said, "By Allah, +my heart flieth from this devotee, for I never knew show of +devotion to religion that bred not bane. So leave him and rejoin +your comrades the Moslems, for this man is of the outcasts from +the gate of the mercy of the Lord of the Three Worlds! How often +have I here made razzias with King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and +trodden the earth of these lands!" Said Sharrkan, "Put away from +thee such evil thought, hast thou not seen this Holy Man exciting +the Faithful to fight, and holding spears and swords light? So +slander him not, for backbiting is blameable and poisoned is the +flesh of the pious.[FN#443] Look how he inciteth us to fight the +foe; and, did not Almighty Allah love him, He had cast him +aforetime into fearful torment." Then Sharrkan bade bring a +Nubian mule for the ascetic to ride and said, "Mount, O pious +man, devout and virtuous!" But the devotee refused to ride and +feigned self denial, that he might attain his end; and they knew +not that this holy personage was like him of whom the poet saith, + +"He prayeth and he fasteth for an end he doth espy; * When once + his end is safely won then fast and prayer good + bye."[FN#444] + +So the devotee ceased not to walk among the horsemen and the +footmen, like a wily fox meditating guile, and began to uplift +her voice, chanting the Koran and praising the Compassionate One. +And they continued pressing forward till they approached the camp +of Al-Islam, where Sharrkan found the Moslem in conquered plight +and the Chamberlain upon the brink of falling back in flight, +whilst the sword of Greece havoc dight among the Faithful, the +righteous and those who work upright,--And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when +Sharrkan saw the Moslems in conquered plight and the Chamberlain +upon the brink of retreat and flight and the sword havoc dight +among the righteous and the workers of upright, the cause of this +weakness among the Moslems was that the accursed old woman, Zat +al- Dawahi, the foe of the Faith, after seeing that Bahram and +Rustam had set forward with their troops to join Sharrkan and his +brother Zau al-Makan, repaired to the camp of the Mahometans +before Constantinople and caused the mission of the Emir Tarkash, +as hath been before said. In this her purpose was to divide the +Moslem forces the better to weaken them. Then she left them and +entered Constantinople, and called with a loud voice on the +knights of the Greeks, saying, "Let me down a cord that I may tie +thereto this letter, and do ye bear it to your King Afridun, that +he may read it and to my son King Hardub that they both do what +is written therein of bidding and forbidding." So they let down +for her a string and she tied thereto a letter whose purport was +the following: "From the terriblest of tribulations[FN#445] and +the chiefest of all calamities, Zat al-Dawahi, to King Afridun +greeting. But afterwards, of a truth I have contrived a device +for destroying the Moslems; so bide ye quiet and content. I have +cozened and captured their Sultan and the Wazir Dandan; and then +I returned to their camp and acquainted them therewith, whereby +their pride had a fall and their withers were wrung. And I have +so wrought upon the host 'leaguering Constantinople that they +have sent ten thousand men under the Emir Tarkash to succour the +capitves, of whom there be now left but few; it is therefore my +object that ye sally forth against them with all your power while +this day endureth; and that ye fall on them in their tents and +that ye leave them not till ye shall have slain them to the last +man; for, verily the Messiah looketh down upon you and the +Blessed Virgin favoureth you; and I hope of the Messiah that he +forget not what deed I have done." When her letter came to King +Afridun, he rejoiced with great joyance; and, sending at once for +King Hardub of Greece, son of Zat al-Dawahi, read the letter to +him as soon as he came,whereathe was exceeding glad and said, +"See my mother's craft; verily it dispenseth with swords, and her +aspect standeth in stead of the terrors of the Day of Dread." +Rejoined Afridun, "May the Messiah not bereave us of thy +venerable parent nor deprive her of her wile and guile!" Then he +bade the Knights give orders for sallying outside the city, and +the news was noised abroad in Constantinople. So the Nazarenes +and the cohorts of the Cross burst forth and unsheathed their +keen sabres in their numbers, shouting out their professions of +impiety and heresies, and blaspheming the Lord of all Creatures. +When the Chamberlain saw the sally, he said, "Behold, the Greek +is upon us and they surely have learned that our Sultan is far +away; and haply they have attacked us, for that the most part of +our troops have marched to the succour of King Zau al-Makan!" +Therewith he waxed wroth and cried out, "Ho, soldiers of Al-Islam +and favourers of the True Faith, an you flee you are lost, but if +ye stand fast, ye win! Know ye that valiancy lieth in endurance +of outrance and that no case is so strait but that the Almighty +is able to make it straight; Allah assain you and look upon you +with eyes of compassion fain!" Thereupon the Moslems cried out, +"Allaho Akbar!" and the believer in the One God shouted his +slogan, and whirled the mill wheels of fight with cutting and +thrusting in main and might; scymitars and spears played sore and +the plains and valleys were swamped with gore. The priests and +monks priested it, tight girding their girdles and uplifting the +Crucifixes, while the Moslem shouted out the professions of the +Requiting King and verses of the Koran began to sing. The hosts +of the Compassion are One fought against the legions of Satan; +and head flew from body of man, while the good Angels hovered +above the people of the Chosen Prophet, nor did the sword cease +to smite till the day darkened and night came on and starkened. +Now the miscreants had encompassed the Moslems and made sure of +escaping the pains that awaited them; and the Faithless greeded +for victory over the Faithful until day dawned and dazzled. +There upon the Chamberlain mounted, he and his men, trusting thee +Allah would help them to victory; and host was mingled with host +and battle rose a foot and took post. And heads flew from trunks +whilst the brave stood fast in stead; the craven turned tail and +fled; and the Judge of death judged and sentence sped, so that +the champions fell from their saddles slain and corpses cumbered +meadow and plain. Then the Moslem began to give ground and +rearwards bent; and the Greek took possession of some of their +tents; whereupon the Moslems were about to break and retreat and +take flight, when meanwhile behold, up came Sharrkan with the +rest of the host of Al-Islam and the standards of the Believers +in Unity. And having come up with them, he charged the Infidels; +and followed him Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan and the Emirs +Bahram and Rustam with his brother Tarkash. When the foe saw +this, they lost head and their reason fled, and the dust clouds +towered till they covered the country whilst the righteous +Believers joined their pious comrades. Then Sharrkan accosted +the Chamberlain and praised him for his steadfastness; and he in +turn gave the Prince joy of his timely succour and his gaining +the day. Thereat the Moslems were glad and their hearts were +heartened; so they rushed upon their enemies and devoted +themselves to Allah in their Fight for the Faith. But when the +Idolaters beheld the standards Mohammedan and there on the +profession of Faith Islamitan, proclaiming the Unity, they +shrieked "Woe!" and "Ruin!" and besought succour of the +Patriarchs of the Monasteries. Then fell they to calling upon +John and Mary and the Cross abhorrent and stayed their hands from +slaughter, whilst King Afridun went up to consult King Hardub of +Greece, for the two Kings stood one at the head of each wing, +right and left. Now there was with them also a famous cavalier, +Lawiya highs, who commanded the centre; and they drew out in +battle array, but indeed they were full of alarm and affray. +Meanwhile, the Moslems aligned their forces and thereupon +Sharrkan came to his brother, Zau al-Makan, and said, "O King of +the Age, doubtless they mean to champion it, and that is also the +object of our desire; but it is my wish to push forward the +stoutest hearted of our fighters, for by forethought is one half +of life wrought." Replied the Sultan, "As thou wilt, O companion +of good counsel!" "It is my wish," added Sharrkan, "to stand in +mid line opposite the Infidel, with the Wazir Dandan on my left +and thee on my right, whilst the Emir Bahram leads the dexter +wing and the Emir Rustam leads the wing sinistral; and thou, O +mighty King, shalt be under the standards and the ensigns, for +that thou art the pillar of our defence; upon thee, after Allah, +is our dependence and we will all be thy ransom from aught that +can harm thee." Zau al-Makan thanked him therefor, and the +slogan arose and the sabre was drawn; but, as things stood thus, +behold, there came forth a cavalier from the ranks of Roum; and, +as he drew near, they saw that he was mounted on a slow paced she +mule, fleeing with her master from the shock of swords. Her +housings were of white silk covered by a prayer-carpet of Cash +mere stuff, and on her back sat a Shaykh, an old man of comely +presence and reverend aspect, garbed in a gown of white wool. He +stinted not pushing her and hurrying her on till he came near the +Moslem and said, "I am an ambassador to you all, and an +ambassador hath naught to do save to deliver; so give me safe +conduct and permit of speech, that I communicate to you my +message." Replied Sharrkan, "Thou art in safety: fear neither +sway of sword nor lunge of lance." Thereupon the old man +dismounted and, taking the Cross from his neck, placed it before +the Sultan and humbled himself with much humility. Then quoth to +him the Moslems, "What is with thee of news?"; and quoth he, "I +am an ambassador from King Afridun, for I counselled him to avert +the destruction of all these frames of men and temples of the +Compassionate One; and to him it seemed righteous to stay the +shedding of blood and limit it to the encounter of two knights in +shock of fight singular; so he agreed to that and he saith to +you, 'Verily, I will ransom my army with my life; so let the +Moslem King do as I do and with his life ransom his host. And if +he kill me, there will be no stay left in the army of Roum, and +if I kill him, there will be no stability with the Moslems." When +Sharrkan heard this he said, "O monk, I agree to that, for it is +just nor may it be gainsaid; and behold, I will meet him in +duello and do with him derring do, for I am Champion of the +Faithful even as he is Champion of the Faithless; and if he slay +me, he will have won the day and naught will remain for the +Moslems forces save flight. So return to him, O thou monk, and +say that the single combat shall take place to morrow, for this +day we have come off our journey and are aweary; but after rest +neither reproach nor blame fear ye." So the monk returned (and he +rejoicing) to King Afridun and King Hardub, and told them both +what Sharrkan had said, whereat King Afridun was glad with +exceeding gladness and fell from him anxiety and sadness, and he +said to himself, "No doubt but this Sharrkan is their doughtiest +swayer of the sword and the dourest at lunge of lance; and when I +shall have slain him, their hearts will be disheartened and their +strength will be shattered." Now Zat al-Dawahi had written to +King Afridun of that and had told him how Sharrkan was a Knight +of the Braves and the bravest of knights and had warned him +against him; but Afridun was a stalwart cavalier who fought in +many a fashion; he could hurl rocks and throw spears and smite +with the iron mace and he feared not the prowess of the prow. So +when he heard the report of the monk that Sharrkan agreed to the +duello, he was like to fly for exceeding joy because he had self +confidence and he knew that none could with stand him. The +Infidels passed that night in joy and jubilee and wine bibbing; +and, as soon as it was dawn, the two armies drew out with the +swart of spear and the blanch of blade. And behold a cavalier +rode single handed into the plain, mounted on a steed of purest +strain, and for foray and fray full ready and fain. And that +Knight had limbs of might and he was clad in an iron cuirass made +for stress of fight. On his breast he wore a jewelled mirror and +in his hand he bore a keen scymitar and his lance of Khalanj +wood,[FN#446] the curious work of the Frank, weighing a quintal. +Then the rider uncovered his face and cried out, saying, "Whoso +knoweth me verily hath enough of me, and whoso knoweth me not +right soon[FN#447] shall ken who I be. I am Afridun the +overwhelmed by the well omened Shawhi,[FN#448] Zat al-Dawahi." +But he had not ended speaking ere Sharrkan, the Champion of the +Moslems, fared forth to meet him, mounted on a sorrel horse worth +a thousand pieces of red gold with accoutrements purfled in +pearls and precious stone; and he bore in baldrick a blade of +watered Indian steel that through necks shore and made easy the +hard and sore. He crave his charger between the two hosts in +line whilst the horsemen all fixed on him their eyne, and he +cried out to Afridun, "Woe to thee, O accursed! dost thou deem +me one of the horsemen thou hast overta'en who cannot stand +against thee on battle plain?" Then each rushed upon other and +they bashed together like two mountains crashing or two billows +dash ing and clashing: they advanced and retreated; and drew +together and withdrew; and stinted not of fray and fight and +weapon play, and strife and stay, with stroke of sword and lunge +of lance. Of the two armies looking on, some said, "Sharrkan is +victor!" and others, "Afridun will conquer!"; and the two riders +stayed not their hands from the hustle until ceased the clamour +and the bustle; and the dust columns rose and the day waned and +the sun waxed yellow and wan. Then cried out King Afridun to +Sharrkan, saying, "By the truth of the Messiah and the Faith +which is no liar, thou art nought save a doughty rider and a +stalwart fighter; but thou art fraudful and thy nature is not +that of the noble. I ken thy work is other than praiseworthy nor +is thy prowess that of a Prince; for thy people behave to thee as +though thou wert a slave;[FN#449] and see! they bring thee out a +charger which is not thine, that thou mayst mount and return to +the fight. But by the truth of my Faith, thy fighting irketh and +fatigueth me and I am weary of cutting and thrusting with thee; +and if thou purpose to lay on load with me to night, thou wouldst +not change aught of thy harness nor thy horse, till thou approve +to the cavaliers, thy generous blood and skill in brunt." When +Sharrkan heard him say these words concerning his own folk +behaving to him though he were a slave, he waxt wroth and turned +towards his men, meaning to sign to them and bid them not prepare +him change of harness or horse, when lo! Afridun shook his throw +spear high in air and cast it at Sharrkan. Now when the Moslem +turned his back, he found none of the men near him, and he knew +this to be a trick of the accursed Infidel; so he wheeled round +in haste and behold, the javelin came at him, so he swerved from +it, till his head was bent low as his saddle bow. The weapon +grazed his breast, and pierced the skin of his chest, for +Sharrkan was high bosomed: whereupon he gave one cry and swooned +away. Thereat the accursed Afridun was joyful, thinking he had +slain him; and shouted to the Infidels bidding them rejoice, +whereat the Faithless were encouraged and the Faithful wept. +When Zau al-Makan saw his brother reeling in selle so that he +well nigh fell, he despatched cavaliers towards him and the +braves hurried to his aid and came up with him. Thereupon the +Infidels drove at the Moslems; the two hosts joined battle and +the two lines were mingled, whilst the keen scymitar of Al-Yaman +did good work. Now the first to reach Sharrkan was the Wazir +Dandan,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King +Zau al-Makan saw that the accursed Infidel had struck with +javelin his brother Sharrkan, he deemed him dead, and despatched +cavaliers towards him; and the first to reach him were the Wazir +Dandan and the Emir of the Turks, Bahram, and the Emir of the +Daylamites, Rustam. They found him falling from his horse; so +they stayed him in his saddle and returned with him to his +brother, Zau al-Makan; then they gave him in charge to his pages, +and went again to do the work of cut and thrust. So the strife +redoubled and the weapons together clashed and ceased not bate +and debate and naught was to be seen but blood flowing and necks +bowing; nor did the swords cease on the napes of men to make play +nor the strife to rage with more and more affray, till the most +part of the night was past away and the two hosts were aweary of +the mellay. So they called a truce and each army returned to its +tents, whilst all the Infidels repaired to King Afridun and +kissed the ground before him, and the priests and monks wished +him joy of his victory over Sharrkan. Then the King fared for +Constantinople and sat upon the throne of his realm, when King +Hardub came to him and said, "May the Messiah strengthen thy fore +arm and never cease to be thy helper and hearken to what prayers +my pious mother, Zat al-Dawahi, shall pray for thee! Know that +the Moslems can make no stay without Sharrkan." Replied Afridun, +"To morrow shall end the affair when to fight I fare: I will seek +Zau al-Makan and slay him, and their army shall turn tail and of +flight shall avail." Such was the case with the Kafirs; but as +regards the host of Al-Islam, when Zau al-Makan returned to his +tent, he thought of naught but his brother and, going into the +pavilion, found him in evil case and sore condition; whereupon he +summoned for counsel the Wazir Dandan and Rustam and Bahram. +When they entered, they opined to assemble the physicians that +they might medicine Sharrkan, and they wept and said, "The world +will not readily afford his like!" and they watched by him all +that night, and about the later hours came to them the Recluse in +tears. When Zau al-Makan saw him, he rose in honour; and the +Religious stroked Sharrkan's wound with his hand, chanting +somewhat of the Koran and repeating by way of talisman some of +the verses of the Compassionate One. And the pretender ceased +not to watch over him till dawn, when he came to himself and, +opening his eyes, moved his tongue in his mouth and spake. At +this Zau al-Makan rejoiced, saying, "Of a truth the blessing of +the Holy Man hath taken effect on him!" And Sharrkan said, +"Praised be Allah for recovery; indeed, I am well at this hour. +That accursed one played me false; and, but that I swerved aside +lighter than lightening, the throw spear had pierced through my +breast. So praised be Allah for saving me! And how is it with +the Moslems?" Answered Zau al-Makan, "All are weeping for thee." +Quoth Sharrkan, "I am well and in good case; but where is the +Holy Man?" Now he was sitting by him and said, "At thy head." So +the Prince turned to him and kissed his hand when he said, "O my +son! Be of good patience and Allah shall increase thy reward; +for the wage is measured by the work." Sharrkan rejoined, "Pray +for me," and he prayed for him. As soon as morning dawned and +day brake in shine and sheen, the Moslems sallied out to the +plain and the Kafirs made ready to thrust and cut. Then the +Islamite host advanced and offered fight with weapons ready +dight, and King Zau al-Makan and Afridun made to charge one at +other. But when Zau al-Makan fared forth into the field, there +came with him the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain and Bahram, +saying, "We will be thy sacrifice." He replied, "By the Holy +House and Zemzem and the Place![FN#450] I will not be stayed +from going forth against these wild asses." And when he rode out +into the field he played with sword and spear till riders +marvelled and both armies wondered; then he rushed upon the foe's +right wing and of it slew two knights and in like manner he dealt +with the left wing. Presently he stayed his steed in the midst +of the field and cried out, "Where is Afridun, that I may make +him taste the cup of disgrace?" But when King Hardub saw the case +he conjured Afridun not to attack him, saying, "O King, yesterday +it was thy turn to fight: it is mine to day. I care naught for +his prowess." So he rushed out towards Zau al-Makan brand in hand +and under him a stallion like Abjar, which was Antar's charger +and its coat was jet black even as saith the poet, + +"On the glancing racer outracing glance * He speeds, as though he + would collar Doom: +His steed's black coat is of darkest jet, * And likest Night in + her nightliest gloom: +Whose neigh sounds glad to the hearer's ears * Like thunders + rolling in thun d'rous boom: +If he race the wind he will lead the way, * And the lightning + flash will behind him loom.''[FN#451] + +Then each rushed upon the opponent, parrying blows and proving +the marvellous qualities were stored in him; and they fell to +drawing on and withdrawing till the breasts of the bystanders +were straitened and they were weary of waiting for the event. At +last Zau al-Makan cried out his war cry and rushed upon Hardub, +King of Csarea,[FN#452] and struck him a stroke that shore head +from trunk and slew him on the spot. When the Infidels saw this, +they charged in a body, compact and united, upon Zau al-Makan, +who met them amidfield, and they engaged in hewing and foining, +till blood ran in rills. Then the Moslems cried out, "Allaho +Akbar!" (God is most Great) and "There is no god but the God!", +and invoked salvation for the Prophet, the Bringer of Glad +Tidings, the Bearer of Bad Tidings. And there befel a great +fight, but Allah assigned victory to the Faithful and defeat to +the Faithless. The Wazir Dandan shouted, "Take your blood +revenge for King Omar bin al Nu'uman and his son Sharrkan!"; and +bared his head and cried out to the Turks. Now there were by his +side more than twenty thousand horse, and all charged with him as +men, when the Faithless found naught to save their lives but +flight. So they turned tail to fly while the biting sabre +wrought its havoc and the Moslems slew of them that day some +fifty thousand horse and took more than that number: much folk +also were slain while going in at the gates, for the flock was +great. Then the Greeks hove to the doors and swarmed up the +walls to await the assault; and in fine the Moslem hosts returned +to their tents aided to glory and victory, and King Zau al-Makan +went in to his brother whom he found in most joyous case. So he +made a prostration of thanks to the Bountiful and the Exalted; +and then he came forward and gave Sharrkan joy of his recovery. +Answered he, "Verily we are all under the benediction of this +Religious, holy and righteous, nor would you have been +victorious, but for his accepted orisons; indeed all day he +remained at prayer to invoke victory on the Moslems."--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zau +al- Makan went in to his brother Sharrkan, he found him sitting +with the Holy Man by his side; so he rejoiced and drew near him +and gave him joy of his recovery. Answered he, "Verily we are +all under the benediction of this Recluse nor would you have been +victorious but for his prayers, indeed he felt no fear this day +and he ceased not supplication for the Moslems. I found strength +return to me, when I heard your 'Allaho Akbar,' for then I knew +you to be victorious over your enemies. But now recount to me, O +my brother, what befel thee." So he told him all that had passed +between him and the accursed Hardub and related how he had slain +him and sent him to the malediction of Allah; and Sharrkan +praised him and thanked him for his prowess. When Zat al-Dawahi +heard tell of her son's death (and she still drest as a devotee), +her face waxed yellow and her eyes ran over with railing tears: +she kept her counsel, however, and feigned to the Moslems that +she was glad and wept for excess of joy. But she said to +herself, "By the truth of the Messiah, there remaineth no profit +of my life, if I burn not his heart for his brother, Sharrkan, +even as he hath burned my heart for King Hardub, the mainstay of +Christendom and the hosts of Crossdom!" Still she kept her +secret. And the Wazir Dandan and King Zau al-Makan and the +Chamberlain remained sitting with Sharrkan till they had dressed +and salved his wound; after which they gave him medicines and he +began to recover strength; whereat they joyed with exceeding joy +and told the troops who congratulated themselves, saying, "To +morrow he will ride with us and do manly devoir in the siege." +Then said Sharrkan to them, "Ye have fought through all this day +and are aweary of fight; so it behoveth that you return to your +places and sleep and not sit up." They accepted his counsel and +then each went away to his own pavilion, and none remained with +Sharrkan but a few servants and the old woman Zat al-Dawahi. He +talked with her through part of the night, then he stretched +himself to rest: and his servants did likewise and presently +sleep overcame them all and they lay like the dead. Such was the +case with Sharrkan and his men; but as regards the old woman she +alone abode awake while they slumbered in the tent and, looking +at Sharrkan she presently saw that he was drowned in sleep. +Thereupon she sprang to her feet, as she were a scald she bear or +a speckled snake, and drew from her waist cloth a dagger so +poisoned that if laid thereon it would have melted a rock. Then +she unsheathed the poniard and went up to Sharrkan's head and she +drew the knife across his throat and severed his weasand and +hewed off his head from his body. And once more she sprang to +her feet; and, going the round of the sleeping servants, she cut +off their heads also, lest they should awake. Then she left the +tent and made for the Sultan's pavilion, but finding the guards +on the alert, turned to that of the Wazir Dandan. Now she found +him reading the Koran and when his sight fell upon her he said, +"Welcome to the Holy Man!" Hearing this from the Wazir, her heart +trembled and she said, "The reason of my coming hither at this +time is that I heard the voice of a saint amongst Allah's Saints +and am going to him." Then she turned her back, but the Wazir +said to himself, "By Allah, I will follow our Devotee this +night!" So he rose and walked after her; but when the accursed +old woman sensed his footsteps, she knew that he was following +her: wherefore she feared the disgrace of discovery and said in +herself, "Unless I serve some trick upon him he will disgrace +me." So she turned and said to him from afar, "Ho, thou Wazir, I +am going in search of this Saint that I may learn who he is; and, +after learning this much, I will ask his leave for thee to visit +him. Then I will come back and tell thee: for I fear thine +accompanying me, without having his permission, lest he take +umbrage at me seeing thee in my society." Now when the Wazir +heard these words, he was ashamed to answer her; so he left her +and returned to his tent, and would have slept; but sleep was not +favourable to him and the world seemed heaped upon him. +Presently he rose and went forth from the tent saying in himself, +"I will go to Sharrkan and chat with him till morning." But when +he entered into Sharrkan's pavilion, he found the blood running +like an aqueduct and saw the servants lying with their throats +cut like beasts for food. At this he cried a cry which aroused +all who were asleep; the folk hastened to him and, seeing the +blood streaming, set up a clamour of weeping and wailing. Then +the noise awoke the Sultan, who enquired what was the matter, and +it was said to him, "Sharrkan thy brother and his servants are +murthered." So he rose in haste and entered the tent, and found +the Wazir Dandan shrieking aloud and he saw his brother's body +without a head. Thereat he swooned away and all the troops +crowded around him, weeping and crying out, and so remained for a +while, till he came to himself, when he looked at Sharrkan and +wept with sore weeping, while the Wazir and Rustam and Bahram did +the like. But the Chamberlain cried and lamented more than the +rest and asked leave to absent himself, such was his alarm. Then +said Zau al-Makan, "Know ye who did this deed and how is it I see +not the Devotee, him who the things of this world hath put away?" +Quoth the Wazir, "And who should have been the cause of this +affliction, save that Devotee, that Satan? By Allah, my heart +abhorred him from the first, because I know that all who pretend +to be absorbed in practices religious are vile and treacherous!" +And he repeated to the King the tale of how he would have +followed the Religious, but he forbade him, whereupon the folk +broke out into a tumult of weeping and lamentation and humbled +themselves before Him who is ever near, Him who ever answereth +prayer, supplicating that He would cause the false Devotee who +denied Allah's testimony to fall into their hands. Then they +laid Sharrken out and buried him in the mountain aforesaid and +mourned over his far-famed virtues.--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Fifth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they laid +Sharrkan out and buried him in the mountain aforesaid and mourned +over his far-famed virtues. Then they looked for the opening of +the city gate; but it opened not and no sign of men appeared to +them on the walls; whereat they wondered with exceeding wonder. +But King Zau al-Makan said, "By Allah, I will not turn back from +them, though I sit here for years and years, till I take blood +revenge for my brother Sharrkan and waste Constantinople and kill +the King of the Nazarenes, even if death overcome me and I be at +rest from this woeful world!" Then he bade be brought out the +treasure taken from the Monastery of Matruhina; and mustered the +troops and divided the monies among them, and he left not one of +them but he gave him gifts which contented him. Moreover, he +assembled in the presence three hundred horse of every division +and said to them, "Do ye send supplies to your households, for I +am resolved to abide by this city, year after year, till I have +taken man bote for my brother Sharrkan, even if I die in this +stead." And when the army heard these words and had received his +gifts of money they replied, "To hear is to obey!" Thereupon he +summoned couriers and gave them letters and charged them to +deliver the same, together with the monies, to the soldiers' +families and inform them that all were safe and satisfied, and +acquaint them saying, "We are encamped before Constantinople and +we will either destroy it or die; and, albeit we be obliged to +abide here months and years, we will not depart hence till we +take it." Moreover, he bade the Wazir Dandan write to his sister, +Nuzhat al-Zaman, and said to him, "Acquaint her with what hath +befallen us, and what be our situation and commend my child to +her care since that, when I went out to war, my wife was near her +delivery and by this time she must needs have been brought to +bed; and if she hath given birth to a boy, as I have heard say, +hasten your return and bring me the acceptable news." Then he +gave them somewhat of money, which they pouched and set out at +once; and all the people flocked forth to take leave of them and +entrust them with the monies and the messages. After they had +departed, Zau al-Makan turned to the Wazir Dandan and commanded +him to advance with the army against the city walls. So the +troops pushed forward, but found none on the ramparts, whereat +they marvelled, while Zau al-Makan was troubled at the case, for +he deeply mourned the severance from his brother Sharrkan and he +was sore perturbed about that traitor the Ascetic. In this +condition they abode three days without seeing anyone. So far +concerning the Moslems; but as regards the Greeks and the cause +of their refusing to fight during these three days the case was +this. As soon as Zat al-Dawahi had slain Sharrkan, she hastened +her march and reached the walls of Constantinople, where she +called out in the Greek tongue to the guards to throw her down a +rope. Quoth they, "Who art thou?"; and quoth she, "I am Zat al- +Dawahi." They knew her and let down a cord to which she tied +herself and they drew her up; and, when inside the city, she went +in to the King Afridun and said to him, "What is this I hear from +the Moslems? They say that my son King Hardub is slain." He +answered, "Yes;" and she shrieked out and wept right grievously +and ceased not weeping thus till she made Afridun and all who +were present weep with her. Then she told the King how she had +slain Sharrkan and thirty of his servants, whereat he rejoiced +and thanked her; and, kissing her hands, exhorted her to +resignation for the loss of her son. Said she, "By the truth of +the Messiah, I will not rest content with killing that dog of the +Moslem dogs in blood revenge for my son, a King of the Kings of +the age! Now there is no help for it but that I work some guile +and I contrive a wile whereby to slay the Sultan Zau al-Makan and +the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain and Rustam and Bahram and +ten thousand cavaliers of the army of Al-Islam; for it shall +never be said that my son's head be paid with the bloodwit of +Sharrkan's head; no, never!" Then said she to King Afridun, +"Know, O King of the Age, that it is my wish to set forth +mourning for my son and to cut my Girdle and to break the +Crosses." Replied Afridun, "Do what thou desire; I will not +gainsay thee in aught. And if thou prolong thy mourning for many +days it were a little thing; for though the Moslems resolve to +beleaguer us years and years, they will never win their will of +us nor gain aught of us save trouble and weariness." Then the +Accursed One (when she had ended with the calamity she had +wrought and the ignominies which in herself she had thought) took +ink case and paper and wrote thereon: "From Shawahi, Zat al- +Dawahi, to the host of the Moslems. Know ye that I entered your +country and duped by my cunning your nobles and at first hand I +slew your King Omar bin al-Nu'uman in the midst of his palace. +Moreover, I slew, in the affair of the mountain pass and of the +cave, many of your men; and the last I killed were Sharrkan and +his servants. And if fortune do not stay me and Satan obey me, I +needs must slay me your Sultan and the Wazir Dandan, for I am she +who came to you in disguise of a Recluse and who heaped upon you +my devices and deceits. Wherefore, an you would be in safety +after this, fare ye forth at once; and if you seek your own +destruction cease not abiding for the nonce; and though ye tarry +here years and years, ye shall not do your desire on us. And so +peace be yours!" After writing her writ she devoted three days to +mourning for King Hardub; arid, on the fourth, she called a +Knight and bade him take the letter and make it fast to a shaft +and shoot it into the Moslem camp. When this was done, she +entered the church and gave herself up to weeping and wailing for +the loss of her son, saying to him who took the kingship after +him, "Nothing will serve me but I must kill Zau al-Makan and all +the nobles of Al-Islam." Such was the case with her; but as +regards what occurred to the Moslems, all passed three days in +trouble and anxiety, and on the fourth when gazing at the walls +behold, they saw a knight holding a bow and about to shoot an +arrow along whose side a letter was bound. So they waited till +he had shot it among them and the Sultan bade the Wazir Dandan +take the missive and read it. He perused it accordingly; and, +when Zau al-Makan heard it to end and understood its purport, his +eyes filled with tears and he shrieked for agony at her perfidy; +and the Minister Dandan said, "By Allah, my heart shrank from +her!" Quoth the Sultan, "How could this whore play her tricks +upon us twice? But by the Almighty I will not depart hence till +I fill her cleft with molten lead and jail her with the jailing +of a bird encaged, then bind her with her own hair and crucify +her over the gate of Constantinople." And he called to mind his +brother and wept with excessive weeping. But when Zat al-Dawahi +arrived amongst the Infidels and related to them her adventures +at length, they rejoiced at her safety and at the slaying of +Sharrkan. There upon the Moslems addressed themselves again to +the siege of the city and the Sultan promised his men that, if it +should be taken, he would divide its treasures among them in +equal parts. But he dried not his tears grieving for his brother +till his body was wasted and sick, growing thin as a tooth pick. +Presently the Wazir Dandan came in to him and said, "Be of good +cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear; in very sooth thy +brother died not but because his hour was come, and there is no +profit in this mourning. How well saith the poet, + +"Whatso is not to be no sleight shall bring to pass; * What is to + be without a failure shall become; +Soon the becoming fortune shall be found to be, * And Folly's + brother[FN#453] shall abide forlorn and glum." + +Wherefore do thou leave this weeping and wailing and hearten thy +heart to bear arms." He replied, "O Wazir, my heart is heavy for +the death of my father and my brother and for our absence from +hearth and home; and my mind is concerned for my subjects." +Thereupon the Wazir and the bystanders wept; but they ceased not +from pushing forward the siege of Constantinople for a length of +days. And they being thus, behold, news arrived from Baghdad, by +one of the Emirs to the effect that the King's wife had been +blessed with a boy, and that his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman, had +named him Knmkn.[FN#454] Moreover, that the boy bid fair to be +famous, already showing wondrous signs and marvellous tokens; and +that she had commanded the Olema and the preachers to pray for +mother and child from the pulpits and bless them in all wise; +furthermore that the twain were well, that the land had enjoyed +abundant rains, and that his comrade the Fireman was established +in all prosperity, with eunuchs and slaves to wait upon him; but +that he was still ignorant of what had befallen him. And she +ended with the greeting of peace. Then quoth Zau al- Makan to +the Wazir Dandan, "Now is my back strengthened for that I have +been blest with a son whose name is Kanmakan."--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Sixth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when they +brought him the news of his wife having borne him a boy child, +Zau al- Makan rejoiced with great joy and cried, "Now is my back +strengthened, for that I have been blessed with a son[FN#455] +whose name is Kanmakan." And he spake to the Wazir Dandan, +saying, "I am minded to leave this mourning and order perfections +of the Koran for my brother and command almsdeeds on his +account." Quoth the Wazir, "Thy design is good." Thereupon he +caused tents to be pitched over his brother's tomb; so they +raised them and gathered together such of the men at arms as +could repeat the Koran; and some began reciting the Holy volume; +whilst others chanted litanies containing the names of Allah, and +thus they did till the morning. Then Zau al-Makan went up to the +grave of his brother Sharrkan and poured forth copious tears, and +improvised these couplets, + +"They bore him bier'd, and all who followed wept * With Moses' + shrieks what day o'erhead shook Tor;[FN#456] +Till reached the grave which Pate had made his home, * Dug in + men's souls who one sole God adore: +Ne'er had I thought before to see my joy * Borne on the bier + which heads of bearers bore: +Ah no! nor ere they homed thee in the dust * That stars of + heaven earth ever covered o'er. +Is the tomb dweller hostage of a stead, * Where light and + splendour o'er thy face shall pour? +Praise to restore his life her word hath pledged: * Cribbed and + confined he shall dispread the more!" + +When Zau al-Makan had made an end of his versifying he wept and +wept with him all the troops; then he came to the grave and threw +himself upon it wild with woe, and the Wazir repeated the words +of the poet, + +"Pain leaving life that fleets thou hast th' eternal won; * Thou + didst as whilom many a doer like thee hath done +Leftest this worldly house without reproach or blame; * Ah, may + th' ex change secure thee every benison! +Thou west from hostile onset shield and firm defence, * For us to + baffle shafts and whistling spears to shun. +I see this world is only cheat and vanity, * Where man naught + else must seek but please the Truthful One: +Th' Empyrean's Lord allow thee bower of heavenly bliss, * And wi' + thy faithful friends The Guide show goodly wone: +I bid thee last good e'en with sigh of bitter grief, * Seeing the + West in woe for lack of Easting Sun." + +When the Wazir Dandan had finished his reciting, he wept with +sore weeping and the tears rained from his eyes like cushioned +pearls. Then came forward one who had been of Sharrkan's boon +companions in his cups and he wept till ran in rills the drops, +and he enumerated the dead man's generous qualities, reciting the +following pentastichs, + +"Where gone is Bounty since thy hand is turned to clay? * And I + in misery lie since thou west ta'en away. +See'st not, O litter guide[FN#457] (Heaven keep thee glad and + gay!), * How tears adorn my cheeks, these furrowed wrinkles + fray? + A sight to joy shine eyes and fill thee with + dismay.[FN#458] +By Allah ne'er this heart within I spoke of thee; * Ah no! nor + dared my sight to see thy brilliancy: +Save that my tear drops sorest wound have garred me dree * Yea! + and if e'er on other rest these eyne of me, + May yearning draw their reins nor suffer sleep to see." + +And when the man stinted reciting, Zau al-Makan and the Minister +Dandan wept and the whole army was moved to tears; after which +all retired to their tents, and the King turning to the Wazir +took counsel with him concerning the conduct of the campaign. On +this wise the two passed days and nights, while Zau al-Makan was +weighed down with grief and mourning till at last he said, "I +long to hear stories and adventures of Kings and tales of lover +folk enslaved by love; haply Allah may make this to solace that +which is on my heart of heavy anxiety, and stint and stay my +weeping and wailing." Quoth the Wazir, "If naught can dispel thy +trouble but hearing curious tales of Kings and people long gone +before and stories of folk enslaved by love of yore, and so +forth, this thing were easy, for I had no other business, in the +lifetime of thy father (who hath found mercy) than to relate +stories and to repeat verses to him. This very night I will tell +thee a tale of a lover and his beloved, so shall thy breast be +broadened." When Zau al-Makan heard these words from the +Minister, his heart was set upon that which had been promised to +him and he did nothing but watch for the coming of the night, +that he might hear what the Wazir Dandan had to tell of the Kings +of yore and distracted lovers long gone before. And hardly would +he believe that night had fallen ere he bade light the wax +candles and the lamps and bring all that was needful of meat and +drink and perfume gear, and what not; and when all was in +presence, he summoned the Wazir Dandan, and the Emirs Rustam and +Bahram and Tarkash and the Grand Chamberlain; then waited till +the whole party was seated before him; whereupon he turned to the +Minister and said, "Know, O Wazir, that night is come and hath +let down over us its veil of gloom, and we desire that thou tell +us those tales which thou promisedst us." Replied the Wazir, +"With joy and good will."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Seventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King +Zau Al-Makan summoned the Wazir and the Chamberlain and Rustam +and Bahram, he turned towards the Minister Dandan and said, +"Know, O Wazir, that night is come and hath let down over us its +veil of gloom, and we desire that thou tell us those tales which +thou promisedst us." Replied the Wazir, "With love and gladness! +Know, O auspicious King, that there reached my ears a relation of +a lover and a loved one and of the discourse between them and +what befel them of things rare and fair, a story such as +repelleth care from the heart and dispelleth sorrow like unto +that of the patriarch Jacob[FN#459]; and it is as follows": + +Tale of Taj al-Muluk and the Princess Dunya +(The Lover and the Loved). + +There stood in times long gone by behind the Mountains of +Ispahn, a city highs the Green City, wherein dwelt a King named +Sulyman Shh. Now he was a man of liberality and beneficence, +of justice and integrity, of generosity and sincerity, to whom +travellers repaired from every country, and his name was noised +abroad in all regions and cities and he reigned many a year in +high worship and prosperity, save that he owned neither wives nor +children. He had a Minister who rivalled him in goodness and +generosity and it so happened that one day, he sent for him and +when he came into the presence said to him, "O my Wazir, my heart +is heavy and my patience is past and my force faileth me, for +that I have neither wife nor child. This is not the way of Kings +who rule over all men, princes. and paupers; for they rejoice in +leaving behind them children and successors whereby are doubled +their number and their strength. Quoth the Prophet (whom Allah +bless and keep!); 'Marry ye, increase ye, and multiply ye, that I +may boast me of your superiority over the nations on the Day of +Resurrection.' So what is thy rede, O Wazir? Advise me of what +course and contrivance be advisable!" When the Minister heard +these words, the tears sprang from his eyes in streams, and he +replied, "Far be it from me, O King of the Age, that I debate on +that which appertaineth to the Compassionate One! Wilt thou have +me cast into the fire by the All powerful King's wrath and ire? +Buy thee a concubine." Rejoined the King, "Know, O Wazir, that +when a sovereign buyeth a female slave, he knoweth neither her +rank nor her lineage and thus he cannot tell if she be of simple +origin that he may abstain from her, or of gentle strain that he +may be intimate in her companionship. So, if he have commerce +with her, haply she will conceive by him and her son be a +hypocrite, a man of wrath and a shedder of blood. Indeed the +like of such woman may be instanced by a salt and marshy soil, +which if one till for ever it yieldeth only worthless growth and +no endurance show eth; for it may be that her son will be +obnoxious to his Lord's anger, doing not what He biddeth him or +abstaining from what He for biddeth him. Wherefore will I never +become the cause of this through the purchase of a concubine; and +it is my desire that thou demand for me in marriage the daughter +of some one of the Kings, whose lineage is known and whose +loveliness hath renown. If thou can direct me to some maiden of +birth and piety of the daughters of Moslem Sovranty, I will ask +her in marriage and wed her in presence of witnesses, so may +accrue to me the favour of the Lord of all Creatures." Said the +Wazir, "O King, verily Allah hath fulfilled thy wish and hath +brought thee to thy desire;" presently adding, "Know, O King, it +hath come to my knowledge that King Zahr Shah,[FN#460] Lord of +the White Land, hath a daughter of surpassing loveliness whose +charms talk and tale fail to express: she hath not her equal in +this age, for she is perfect in proportion and symmetry, black +eyed as if Kohl dyed and long locked, wee of waist and heavy of +hip. When she draweth nigh she seduceth and when she turneth her +back[FN#461] she slayeth; she ravisheth heart and view and she +looketh even as saith of her the poet, + +'A thin waist maid who shames the willow wand; * Nor sun nor moon + can like her rising shine: +'Tis as her honey dew of lips were blent * With wine, and pearls + of teeth were bathed in wine: +Her form, like heavenly Houri's, graceful slim; * Fair face; and + ruin dealt by glancing eyne: +How many a dead done man her eyes have slain * Upon her way of + love in ruin li'en: +An live I she's my death! I'll say no more * But dying without + her vain were life of mine.' " + +Now when the Wazir had made an end of describing that maiden, he +said to Sulayman Shah, "It is my counsel, O King, that thou +despatch to her father an ambassador, sagacious, experienced and +trained in the ways of the world, who shall courteously demand +her in marriage for thee of her sire; for in good sooth she hath +not her equal in the far parts of the world nor in the near. So +shalt thou enjoy her lovely face in the way of grace, and the +Lord of Glory be content with thy case; for it is reported of the +Prophet (whom Allah bless and preserve!) that he said, 'There be +no monkery in Al-Islam."' At this the King was transported to +perfect joy; his breast was broadened and lightened; care and +cark ceased from him and he turned to the Wazir and said, "Know +thou, O Minister, that none shall fare about this affair save +thou, by reason of thy consummate intelligence and good breeding; +wherefore hie thee home and do all thou hast to do and get thee +ready by the morrow and depart and demand me in marriage this +maiden, with whom thou hast occupied my heart and thought; and +return not to me but with her." Replied the Wazir, "I hear and I +obey." Then he tried to his own house and bade make ready +presents befitting Kings, of precious stones and things of price +and other matters light of load but weighty of worth, besides +Rabite steeds and coats of mail, such as David made[FN#462] and +chests of treasure for which speech hath no measure. And the +Wazir loaded the whole on camels and mules, and set out attended +by an hundred slave girls with flags and banners flaunting over +his head. The King charged him to return to him after a few +days; and, when he was gone, Sulayman Shah lay on coals of fire, +engrossed night and day with desire; while the envoy fared on +without ceasing through gloom and light, spanning fertile field +and desert site, till but a day's march remained between him and +the city whereto he was bound. Here he sat him down on the banks +of a river and, summoning one of his confidants, bade him wend +his way to King Zahr Shah and announce his approach without +delay. Quoth the messenger, "I hear and I obey!" And he rode on +in haste to that city and, as he was about to enter therein, it +so chanced that the King, who was sitting in one of his +pleasaunces before the city gate, espied him as he was passing +the doors, and knowing him for a stranger, bade bring him before +the presence. So the messenger coming forward informed him of +the approach of the Wazir of the mighty King Sulayman Shah, Lord +of the Green Land and of the Mountains of Ispahan: whereat King +Zahr Shah rejoiced and welcomed him. Then he carried him to his +palace and asked him, "Where leavedst thou the Wazir?"; and he +answered, "I left him in early day on the banks of such a river +and tomorrow he will reach thee, Allah continue his favours to +thee and have mercy upon thy parents!" Thereupon King Zahr Shah +commanded one of his Wazirs to take the better part of his +Grandees and Chamberlains and Lieutenants and Lords of the land, +and go out to meet the ambassador in honour of King Sulayman +Shah; for that his dominion extended over the country. Such was +the case with Zahr Shah; but as regards the Wazir he abode in his +stead till night was half spent[FN#463] and then set out for the +city; but when morning shone and the sun rose upon hill and down, +of a sudden he saw King Zahr Shah's Wazir approaching him, with +his Chamberlains and high Lords and Chief Officers of the +kingdom; and the two parties joined company at some parasangs' +distance from the city.[FN#464] Thereat the Wazir made sure of +the success of his errand and saluted the escort, which ceased +not preceding him till they reached the King's palace and passed +in before him through the gate to the seventh vestibule, a place +where none might enter on horseback, for it was near to where the +King sat. So the Minister alighted and fared on a foot till he +came to a lofty saloon, at whose upper end stood a marble couch, +set with pearls and stones of price, and having for legs four +elephant's tusks. Upon it was a coverlet of green satin purfled +with red gold, and above it hung a canopy adorned with pearls and +gems, whereon sat King Zahr Shah, whilst his officers of state +stood in attendance before him. When the Wazir went in to him, +he composed his mind and, unbinding his tongue, displayed the +oratory of Wazirs and saluted the King in the language of +eloquence.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say, + + When it was the One Hundred and Eighth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the +Wazir of King Sulayman Shah entered the presence of King Zahr +Shah he composed his mind and, unbinding his tongue, displayed +the oratory of Wazirs and saluted the King in the language of +eloquence and improvised these couplets, + +"He cometh robed and bending gracefully: * O'er crop and cropper + dews of grace sheds he: +He charms; nor characts, spells nor gramarye * May fend the + glances of those eyne from thee: +Say to the blamer, "Blame me not, for I * From love of him will + never turn to flee": +My heart hath played me false while true to him, * And Sleep, in + love with him, abhorreth me: +O heart! th'art not the sole who loveth him, * So bide with him + while I desertion dree: +There's nought to joy mine ears with joyous sound * Save praise + of King Zahr Shah in jubilee: +A King albeit thou leave thy life to win * One look, that look + were all sufficiency: +And if a pious prayer thou breathe for him, * Shall join all + Faithfuls in such pious gree: +Folk of his realm! If any shirk his right * For other hoping, + gross Unfaith I see." + +When the Wazir had ended his poetry, King Zahr Shah bade him draw +near and honoured him with the highmost honours; then, seating +him by his own side, smiled in his face and favoured him with a +gracious reply. They ceased not on this wise till the time of +the under meal when the attendants brought forward the tables of +food in that saloon and all ate till they were sated; after which +the tables were removed and those who were in the assembly +withdrew, leaving only the chief officers. Now when the Minister +saw this, he rose to his feet and, after complimenting the King a +second time and kissing the ground before him, spake as follows, +"O mighty King and dread Lord! I have travelled hither and have +visited thee upon a matter which shall bring thee peace, profit +and prosperity: and it is this, that I come as ambassador to +thee, seeking in marriage thy daughter, the noble and illustrious +maid, from Sulayman Shah, a Prince famed for justice and +integrity, sincerity and generosity, Lord of the Green Land and +of the Mountains of Ispahan, who sendeth thee of presents a +store, and gifts of price galore, ardently desiring to become thy +son in law. But art thou inclined to him as he to thee?" He then +kept silence, awaiting a reply. When King Zahr Shah heard these +words, he sprang to his feet and kissed the ground respectfully +before the Wazir, while the bystanders were confounded at his +condescension to the ambassador and their minds were amazed. +Then he praised Him who is the Lord of Honour and Glory and +replied (and he still standing), "O mighty Wazir and illustrious +Chief; hear thou what I say! Of a truth we are to King Sulayman +Shah of the number of his subjects, and we shall be ennobled by +his alliance and we covet it ardently; for my daughter is a +handmaid of his handmaidens, and it is my dearest desire that he +may become my stay and my reliable support." Then he summoned the +Kazis and the witnesses, who should bear testimony that King +Sulayman Shah had despatched his Wazir as proxy to conclude the +marriage, and that King Zahr Shah joyfully acted and officiated +for his daughter. So the Kazis concluded the wedding contract +and offered up prayers for the happiness and prosperity of the +wedded feres; after which the Wazir arose and, fetching the gifts +and rarities and precious things, laid them all before the King. +Then Zahr Shah occupied himself anent the fitting out of his +daughter and honourably entertained the Wazir and feasted his +subjects all, great and small; and for two months they held high +festival, omitting naught that could rejoice heart and eye. Now +when all things needful for the bride were ready, the King caused +the tents to be carried out and they pitched the camp within +sight of the city, where they packed the bride's stuffs in chests +and get ready the Greek handmaids and Turkish slave girls, and +provided the Princess with great store of precious treasures and +costly jewels. Then he had made for her a litter of red gold, +inlaid with pearls and stones of price, and set apart two mules +to carry it; a litter which was like one of the chambers of a +palace, and within which she seemed as she were of the loveliest +Houris and it became as one of the pavilions of Paradise. And +after they had made bales of the treasures and monies, and had +loaded them upon the mules and camels, King Zahr Shah went forth +with her for a distance of three parasangs; after which he bade +farewell to her and the Wazir and those with him, and returned to +his home in gladness and safety. Thereupon the Wazir, faring +with the King's daughter, pushed on and ceased not his stages +over desert ways,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Ninth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir +fared on with the King's daughter and ceased not forcing his +stages over desert ways and hastened his best through nights and +days, till there remained between him and his city but three +marches. Thereupon he sent forward to King Sulayman Shah one who +should announce the coming of the bride. The King rejoiced +thereat and bestowed on the messenger a dress of honour; and bade +his troops march forth in grand procession to meet the Princess +and her company for due worship and honour, and don their richest +apparel with banners flying over their heads. And his orders +were obeyed. He also commanded to cry throughout the city that +neither curtained damsel nor honoured lady nor time-ruptured +crone should fail to fare forth and meet the bride. So they all +went out to greet her and the grandest of them vied in doing her +service and they agreed to bring her to the King's palace by +night. More over, the chief officers decided to decorate the +road and to stand in espalier of double line, whilst the bride +should pass by preceded by her eunuchs and serving women and clad +in the gear her father had given her. So when she made her +appearance, the troops surrounded her, these of the right wing +and those of the left, and the litter ceased not advancing with +her till she approached the palace; nor remained any but came +forth to gaze upon the Princess. Drums were beaten and spears +were brandished and horns blared and flags fluttered and steeds +pranced for precedence and scents shed fragrance till they +reached the Palace gate and the pages entered with the litter +through the Harim wicket. The place shone with its splendours +and the walls glittered for the glamour of its gear. Now when +night came, the eunuchs threw open the doors of the bridal +chamber and stood surrounding the chief entrance whereupon the +bride came forward and amid her damsels she was like the moon +among stars or an union shining on a string of lesser pearls, and +she passed into the bridal closet where they had set for her a +couch of alabaster inlaid with unions and jewels. As soon as she +had taken seat there, the King came in to her and Allah filled +his heart with her love so he abated her maidenhead and ceased +from him his trouble and disquiet. He abode with her well nigh a +month but she had conceived by him the first night; and, when the +month was ended, he went forth and sat on his sofa of state, and +dispensed justice to his subjects, till the months of her +pregnancy were accomplished. On the last day of the ninth month, +towards day break, the Queen was seized with the pangs of labour; +so she sat down on the stool of delivery and Allah made the +travail easy to her and she gave birth to a boy child, on whom +appeared auspicious signs. When the King heard of this, he joyed +with exceeding joy and rewarded the bearer of the good tidings +with much treasure; and of his gladness he went in to the child +and kissed him between the eyes and wondered at his brilliant +loveliness; for in him was approved the saying of the poet, + +"In the towering forts Allah throned him King, * A lion, a star + in the skies of reign: +At his rising the spear and the throne rejoiced, * The gazelle, + the ostrich, The men of main:[FN#465] +Mount him not on the paps, for right soon he'll show * That to + throne on the war steed's loins he's fain: +And wean him from sucking of milk, for soon * A sweeter drink, + the foe's blood, he'll drain." + +Then the midwives took the newborn child and cut the navel cord +and darkened his eyelids with Kohl powder[FN#466] and named him +Tj al-Mulk Khrn.[FN#467] He was suckled at the breast of +fond indulgence and was reared in the lap of happy fortune; and +thus his days ceased not running and the years passing by till he +reached the age of seven. Thereupon Sulayman Shah summoned the +doctors and learned men and bade them teach his son writing and +science and belle-lettres. This they continued to do for some +years, till he had learnt what was needful; and, when the King +saw that he was well grounded in whatso he desired, he took him +out of the teachers' and professors' hands and engaged for him a +skilful master, who taught him cavalarice and knightly exercises +till the boy attained the age of fourteen; and when he fared +abroad on any occasion, all who saw him were ravished by his +beauty and made him the subject of verse; and even pious men were +seduced by his brilliant loveliness.--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Tenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, That when Taj +al-Muluk Kharan, son of Sulayman Shah, became perfect in riding +craft and excelled all those of his time, his excessive beauty, +when he fared abroad on any occasion, caused all who saw him to +be ravished and to make him the subject of verse; and even pious +men were seduced by his brilliant loveliness. Quoth the poet of +him, + +"I clipt his form and wax'd drunk with his scent, * Fair branch + to whom Zephyr gave nutriment: +Nor drunken as one who drinks wine, but drunk * With night + draught his lips of the honey dew lent: +All beauty is shown in the all of him, * Hence all human hearts + he in hand hath hens: +My mind, by Allah! shall ne'er unmind * His love, while I wear + life's chains till spent: +If I live, in his love I'll live; if I die * For pine and + longing, 'O blest!' I'll cry + +When he reached the eighteenth year of his age, tender +down[FN#468] sprouted, on his side face fresh with youth, from a +mole upon one rosy cheek and a second beauty spot, like a grain +of ambergris adorned the other; and he won the wits and eyes of +every wight who looked on him, even as saith the poet, + +"He is Caliph of Beauty in Ysufs lieu, * And all lovers fear + when they sight his grace: +Pause and gaze with me; on his cheek thou'lt sight * The + Caliphate's banner of sable hue."[FN#469] + +And as saith another, + +"Thy sight hath never seen a fairer sight, * Of all things men + can in the world espy, +Than yon brown mole, that studs his bonny cheek * Of rosy red + beneath that jet black eye." + +And as saith another, + +"I marvel seeing yon mole that serves his cheeks' bright flame * + Yet burneth not in fire albeit Infidel[FN#470] +I wonder eke to see that apostolic glance, * Miracle working, + though it work by magic spell: +How fresh and bright the down that decks his cheek, and yet * + Bursten gall bladders feed which e'en as waters well." + +And as saith another, + +"I marvel hearing people questioning of * The Fount of Life and + in what land 'tis found: +I see it sprung from lips of dainty fawn, * Sweet rosy mouth with + green mustachio down'd: +And wondrous wonder 'tis when Moses viewed * That Fount, he + rested not from weary round."[FN#471] + +Now having developed such beauty, when he came to man's estate +his loveliness increased, and it won for him many comrades and +intimates; while every one who drew near to him wished that Taj +al-Muluk Kharan might become Sultan after his father's death, and +that he himself might be one of his Emirs. Then took he +passionately to chasing and hunting which he would hardly leave +for a single hour. His father, King Sulayman Shah, would have +forbidden him the pursuit fearing for him the perils of the waste +and the wild beasts; but he paid no heed to his warning voice. +And it so chanced that once upon a time he said to his attendants +"Take ye ten days food and forage;" and, when they obeyed his +bidding, he set out with his suite for sport and disport. They +rode on into the desert and ceased not riding four days, till +they came to a place where the ground was green, and they saw in +it wild beasts grazing and trees with ripe fruit growing and +springs flowing. Quoth Taj al-Muluk to his followers, "Set up +the nets here and peg them in a wide ring and let our trysting +place be at the mouth of the fence, in such a spot." So they +obeyed his words and staked out a wide circle with toils; and +there gathered together a mighty matter of all kinds of wild +beasts and gazelles, which cried out for fear of the men and +threw themselves for fright in the face of the horses. Then they +loosed on to them the hounds and lynxes[FN#472] and +hawks;[FN#473] and they shot the quarry down with shafts which +pierced their vitals; and, by the time they came to the further +end of the net ring, they had taken a great number of the wild +beasts, and the rest fled. Then Taj al-Muluk dismounted by the +water side and bade the game be brought before himself, and +divided it, after he had set apart the best of the beasts for his +father, King Sulayman Shah, and despatched the game to him; and +some he distributed among the officers of his court. He passed +the night in that place, and when morning dawned there came up a +caravan of merchants conveying negro slaves and white servants, +and halted by the water and the green ground. When Taj al-Muluk +saw them, he said to one of his companions, "Bring me news of +yonder men and question them why they have halted in this +place."[FN#474] So the messenger went up to them and addressed +them, "Tell me who ye be, and answer me an answer without delay." +Replied they, "We are merchants and have halted to rest, for that +the next station is distant and we abide here because we have +confidence in King Sulayman Shah and his son, Taj al-Muluk, and +we know that all who alight in his dominions are in peace and +safety; more over we have with us precious stuffs which we have +brought for the Prince." So the messenger returned and told these +news to the King's son who, hearing the state of the case and +what the merchants had replied, said, "If they have brought stuff +on my account I will not enter the city nor depart hence till I +see it shown to me." Then he mounted horse and rode to the +caravan and his Mamelukes followed him till he reached it. +Thereupon the merchants rose to receive him and invoked on him +Divine aid and favour with continuance of glory and virtues; +after which they pitched him a pavilion of red satin, embroidered +with pearls and jewels, wherein they spread him a kingly divan +upon a silken carpet worked at the upper end with emeralds set in +gold. There Taj al-Muluk seated himself whilst his white +servants stood in attendance upon him, and sent to bid the +merchants bring out all that they had with them. Accordingly, +they produced their merchandise, and displayed the whole and he +viewed it and took of it what liked him, paying them the price. +Then he looked about him at the caravan, and remounted and was +about to ride onwards, when his glance fell on a handsome youth +in fair attire, and a comely and shapely make, with flower white +brow and moon like face, save that his beauty was wasted and that +yellow hues had overspread his cheeks by reason of parting from +those he loved;--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Eleventh Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Taj Al- +Muluk, when he looked about him at the caravan, saw a handsome +youth in neat attire and of shapely make, with flower like +forehead and moon like face, save that his beauty was wasted and +yellow hues had overspread his cheeks by reason of parting from +those he loved; and great was his groaning and moaning, and the +tears streamed from his eyelids as he repeated these couplets, + +"Longsome is Absence; Care and Fear are sore, * And ceaseless + tears, O friend, mine eyes outpour: +Yea, I farewelled my heart on parting day * And heartless, + hopeless, now I bide forlore: +Pause, O my friend, with me farewelling one * Whose words my cure + can work, my health restore!" + +Now when the youth ended his poetry he wept awhile and fell down +in a fainting fit, whilst Taj al-Muluk looked at him and wondered +at his case. Then, coming to himself, he stared with distracted +air, and versified in these couplets, + +"Beware her glance I rede thee, 'tis like wizard wight, * None + can escape unscathed those eye shafts' glancing flight: +In very sooth black eyes, with languorous sleepy look, * Pierce + deeper than white swords however these may bite. +Be not thy senses by her sweets of speech beguiled, * Whose + brooding fever shall ferment in thought and sprite: +Soft sided Fair[FN#475] did silk but press upon her skin, * + 'Twould draw red blood from it, as thou thyself canst sight. +Chary is she of charms twixt neck and anklets dwell, * And ah! + what other scent shall cause me such delight?[FN#476]" + +Then he sobbed a loud sob and swooned away. But when Taj al- +Muluk saw him in this case, he was perplexed about his state and +went up to him; and, as the youth came to his senses and saw the +King's son standing at his head, he sprang to his feet and kissed +the ground between his hands. Taj al-Muluk asked him, 'Why didst +thou not show us thy merchandise?" end he answered, O my lord, +there is naught among my stock worthy of thine august highness." +Quoth the Prince, "Needs must thou show me what thou hast and +acquaint me with thy circumstance; for I see thee weeping eyed +and heavyhearted. If thou have been oppressed, we will end thine +oppression, and if thou be in debt, we will pay thy debt; for of +a truth my heart burneth to see thee, since I first set eyes on +thee."[FN#477] Then Taj al-Muluk bade the seats be set, and they +brought him a chair of ivory and ebony with a net work of gold +and silk, and spread him a silken rug for his feet. So he sat +down on the chair and bidding the youth seat himself on the rug +said to him, "Show me thy stock in trade!" The young merchant +replied, "O my Lord, do not name this to me, for my goods be +unworthy of thee." Rejoined Taj al-Muluk "It needs must be +thus!"; and bade some of the pages fetch the goods. So they +brought them in despite of him; and, when he saw them, the tears +streamed from his eyes and he wept and sighed and lamented: sobs +rose in his throat and he repeated these couplets, + +"By what thine eyelids show of Kohl and coquetry! * By what thy + shape displays of lissome symmetry! +By what thy liplets store of honey dew and wine! * By what thy + mind adorns of gracious kindly gree! +To me thy sight dream-visioned, O my hope! exceeds * The + happiest escape from horriblest injury." + +Then the youth opened his bales and displayed his merchandise to +Taj Al-Muluk in detail, piece by piece, and amongst them he +brought out a gown of satin brocaded with gold, worth two +thousand dinars. When he opened the gown there fell a piece of +linen from its folds. As soon as the young merchant saw this he +caught up the piece of linen in haste and hid it under his thigh; +and his reason wandered, and he began versifying, + +"When shall be healed of thee this heart that ever bides in woe? + * Than thee the Pleiad-stars more chance of happy meeting + show +Parting and banishment and longing pain and lowe of love, * + Procrastinating[FN#478] and delay these ills my life lay + low: +Nor union bids me live in joy, nor parting kills by grief, * Nor + travel draws me nearer thee nor nearer comest thou: +Of thee no justice may be had, in thee dwells naught of rush, * + Nor gain of grace by side of thee, nor flight from thee I + know: +For love of thee all goings forth and comings back are strait * + On me, and I am puzzled sore to know where I shall go." + +Taj al-Muluk wondered with great wonder at his verse, and could +not comprehend the cause. But when the youth snatched up the bit +of linen and placed it under thigh, he asked him, "What is that +piece of linen?" "O my Lord," answered the merchant, "thou hast +no concern with this piece." Quoth the King's son, "Show it me;" +and quoth the merchant, "O my lord, I refused to show thee my +goods on account of this piece of linen; for I cannot let thee +look upon it."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say, + + When it was the One Hundred and Twelfth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant said to Taj al-Muluk, "I did not refuse to show thee my +goods save on this account, for I cannot let thee look upon it." +Whereupon Taj al Muluk retorted, "Perforce I must and will see +it;" and insisted and became angry. So the youth drew it out +from under his thigh, and wept and moaned and redoubled his sighs +and groans, and repeated these verses, + +"Now blame him not; for blame brings only irk and pain! * Indeed, + I spake him sooth but ne'er his ear could gain: +May Allah guard my moon which riseth in the vale * Beside our + camp, from loosed robe like skyey plain:[FN#479] +I left him but had Love vouchsafed to leave for me * Some peace + in life such leave of him I ne'er had ta'en: +How long he pleaded for my sake on parting morn, * While down his + cheeks and mine tears ran in railing rain: +Allah belie me not: the garb of mine excuse * This parting rent, + but I will Mend that garb again! +No couch is easy to my side, nor on such wise * Aught easeth him, + when all alone without me lain: +Time with ill omened hand hath wrought between us two, * And made + my waxing joys to wane and his to wane, +And poured mere grief and woe, what time Time fain had crowned * + The bowl he made me drink and gave for him to drain." + +When he ended his recitation, quoth Taj al-Muluk, "I see thy +conduct without consequence; tell me then why weepest thou at the +sight of this rag!" When the young merchant heard speak of the +piece of linen, he sighed and answered, "O my lord, my story is a +strange and my case out of range, with regard to this piece of +linen and to her from whom I brought it and to her who wrought on +it these figures and emblems." Hereupon, he spread out the piece +of linen, and behold, thereon was the figure of a gazelle wrought +in silk and worked with red gold, and facing it was another +gazelle traced in silver with a neck ring of red gold and three +bugles[FN#480] of chrysolite upon the ring. When Taj al-Muluk +saw the beauty of these figures, he exclaimed, "Glory be to Allah +who teacheth man that which he knoweth not!"[FN#481] And his +heart yearned to hear the youth's story; so he said to him, "Tell +me thy story with her who owned these gazelles." Replied the +young man: "Hear, O my Lord, the + + + + + + Tale of Aziz and Azizah.[FN#482] + + + +My father was a wealthy merchant and Allah had vouchsafed him no +other child than myself; but I had a cousin, Azzah highs, +daughter of my paternal uncle and we twain were brought up in one +house; for her father was dead and before his death, he had +agreed with my father that I should marry her. So when I reached +man's estate and she reached womanhood, they did not separate her +from me or me from her, till at last my father spoke to my mother +and said, "This very year we will draw up the contract of +marriage between Aziz and Azizah." So having agreed upon this he +betook himself to preparing provision for the wedding feast. +Still we ceased not to sleep on the same carpet knowing naught of +the case, albeit she was more thoughtful, more intelligent and +quicker witted than I. Now when my father had made an end of his +preparations, and naught remained for him but to write out the +contract and for me but to consummate the marriage with my +cousin, he appointed the wedding for a certain Friday, after +public prayers; and, going round to his intimates among the mer +chants and others, he acquainted them with that, whilst my mother +went forth and invited her women friends and summoned her kith +and kin. When the Friday came, they cleaned the saloon and +prepared for the guests and washed the marble floor; then they +spread tapestry about our house and set out thereon what was +needful, after they had hung its walls with cloth of gold. Now +the folk had agreed to come to us after the Friday prayers; so my +father went out and bade them make sweetmeats and sugared dishes, +and there remained nothing to do but to draw up the contract. +Then my mother sent me to the bath and sent after me a suit of +new clothes of the richest; and, when I came out of the Hammam, I +donned those habits which were so perfumed that as I went along, +there exhaled from them a delicious fragrance scenting the +wayside. I had designed to repair to the Cathedral mosque when I +bethought me of one of my friends and returned in quest of him +that he might be present at the writing of the contract; and +quoth I to myself, "This matter will occupy me till near the time +of congregational prayer." So I went on and entered a by street +which I had never before entered, perspiring profusely from the +effects of the bath and the new clothes on my body; and the sweat +streamed down whilst the scents of my dress were wafted abroad: I +therefore sat me at the upper end of the street resting on a +stone bench, after spreading under me an embroidered kerchief I +had with me. The heat oppressed me more and more, making my +forehead perspire and the drops trickled along my cheeks; but I +could not wipe my face with my kerchief because it was dispread +under me. I was about to take the skirt of my robe and wipe my +cheeks with it, when unexpectedly there fell on me from above a +white kerchief, softer to the touch than the morning breeze and +pleasanter to the sight than healing to the diseased. I hent it +in hand and raised my head to see whence it had fallen, when my +eyes met the eyes of the lady who owned these gazelles.--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say + + When it was the One Hundred and Thirteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth +continued to Taj al-Muluk: "So I raised my head to see whence +this kerchief had fallen, when my eyes met those of the lady who +owned these gazelles. And lo! she was looking out of a wicket in +a lattice of brass and never saw my eyes a fairer than she, and +in fine my tongue faileth to describe her beauty. When she +caught sight of me looking at her, she put her forefinger into +her mouth, then joined her middle finger and her witness +finger[FN#483] and laid them on her bosom, between her breasts; +after which she drew in her head and closed the wicket shutter +and went her ways. There upon fire broke out in and was heaped +upon my heart, and greater grew my smart; the one sight cost me a +thousand sighs and I abode perplexed, for that I heard no word by +her spoken, nor understood the meaning of her token. I looked at +the window a second time, but found it shut and waited patiently +till sundown, but sensed no sound and saw no one in view. So +when I despaired of seeing her again, I rose from my place and +taking up the handkerchief, opened it, when there breathed from +it a scent of musk which caused me so great delight I became as +one in Paradise.[FN#484] Then I spread it before me and out +dropped from it a delicate little scroll; whereupon I opened the +paper which was perfumed with a delicious perfume, and therein +were writ these couplets, + +"I sent to him a scroll that bore my plaint of love, * Writ in + fine delicate hand; for writing proves man's skill: +Then quoth to me my friend, 'Why is thy writing thus; * So fine, + so thin drawn 'tis to read unsuitable?' +Quoth I, 'for that I'm fine-drawn wasted, waxed thin, * Thus + lovers' writ Should be, for so Love wills his will. + +And after casting my eyes on the beauty of the kerchief,[FN#485] +I saw upon one of its two borders the following couplets worked +in with the needle, + +"His cheek down writeth (O fair fall the goodly scribe!) * Two + lines on table of his face in Rayhn-hand:[FN#486] +O the wild marvel of the Moon when comes he forth! * And when he + bends, O shame to every Willow wand!" + +And on the opposite border these two couplets were traced, + +"His cheek down writeth on his cheek with ambergris on pearl * + Two lines, like jet on apple li'en, the goodliest design: +Slaughter is in those languid eyne whene'er a glance they deal, * + And drunkenness in either cheek and not in any wine." + +When I read the poetry on the handkerchief the flames of love +darted into my heart, and yearning and pining redoubled their +smart. So I took the kerchief and the scroll and went home, +knowing no means to win my wish, for that I was incapable of +conducting love affairs and inexperienced in interpreting hints +and tokens. Nor did I reach my home ere the night was far spent +and I found the daughter of my uncle sitting in tears. But as +soon as she saw me she wiped away the drops and came up to me, +and took off my walking dress and asked me the reason of my +absence, saying, "All the folk, Emirs and notables and merchants +and others, assembled in our house; and the Kazi and the +witnesses were also present at the appointed time. They ate and +tarried awhile sitting to await thine appearance for the writing +of the contract; and, when they despaired of thy presence, they +dispersed and went their ways. And indeed," she added, "thy +father raged with exceeding wrath by reason of this, and swore +that he would not celebrate our marriage save during the coming +year, for that he hath spent on these festivities great store of +money." And she ended by asking, "What hath befallen thee this +day to make thee delay till now?; and why hast thou allowed that +to happen which happened because of thine absence?" Answered I, +"O daughter of mine uncle, question me not concerning what hath +befallen me."[FN#487] Then I told her all that had passed from +beginning to end, and showed her the handkerchief. She took the +scroll and read what was written therein; and tears ran down her +cheeks and she repeated these cinquains, + +"Who saith that Love at first of free will came, * Say him: Thou + liest! Love be grief and grame: +Yet shall such grame and grief entail no shame; * All annals + teach us one thing and the same + Good current coin clips coin we may not crepe! + +An please thou, say there's pleasure in thy pain, * Find + Fortune's playful gambols glad and fain: +Or happy blessings in th' unhappy's bane, * That joy or grieve, + with equal might and main: + Twixt phrase and antiphrase I'm all a heap! + +But he, withal, whose days are summer bright, * Whom maids e'er + greet with smiling lips' delight; +Whom spicey breezes fan in every site * And wins whate'er he + wills, that happy wight + White blooded coward heart should never keep!" + +Then she asked me, "What said she, and what signs made she to +thee?" I answered, "She uttered not a word, but put her fore +finger in her mouth, then joining it to her middle finger, laid +both fingers on her bosom and pointed to the ground. Thereupon +she withdrew her head and shut the wicket; and after that I saw +her no more. However, she took my heart with her, so I sat till +sun down, expecting her again to look out of the window; but she +did it not; and, when I despaired of her, I rose from my seat and +came home. This is my history and I beg thee to help me in this +my sore calamity." Upon this she raised her face to me and said, +"O son of mine uncle, if thou soughtest my eye, I would tear it +for thee from its eyelids, and perforce I cannot but aid thee to +thy desire and aid her also to her desire; for she is whelmed in +passion for thee even as thou for her." Asked I, "And what is the +interpretation of her signs?"; and Azizah answered, "As for the +putting her finger in her mouth,[FN#488] it showed that thou art +to her as her soul to her body and that she would bite into union +with thee with her wisdom teeth. As for the kerchief, it +betokeneth that her breath of life is bound up in thee. As for +the placing her two fingers on her bosom between her breasts, its +explanation is that she saith; 'The sight of thee may dispel my +grief.' For know, O my cousin, that she loveth thee and she +trusteth in thee. This is my interpretation of her signs and, +could I come and go at Will, I would bring thee and her together +in shortest time, and curtain you both with my skirt." Hearing +these words I thanked her (continued the young merchant) for +speaking thus, and said to myself, "I will wait two days." So I +abode two days in the house, neither going out nor coming in; +neither eating nor drinking but I laid my head on my cousin's +lap, whilst she comforted me and said to me, "Be resolute and of +good heart and hope for the best!"--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say, + + When it was the One Hundred and Fourteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth +pursued to Taj al-Muluk:--"And when the two days were past she +said to me, "Be of good cheer and clear thine eyes of tears and +take courage to dress thyself and go to her, according to thy +tryst." Then she rose and changed my clothes and perfumed me with +incense smoke. So I braced myself up and heartened my heart and +went out and walked on till I came to the by-street, where I sat +down on the bench awhile. And behold, the wicket suddenly opened +and I looked up and seeing her, fell down in a swoon. When I +revived, I called up resolution and took courage and gazed again +at her and again became insensible to the world around me. Then +I came to myself and looking at her, saw that she held in hand a +mirror and a red kerchief. Now when she caught my glance, she +bared her forearms and opened her five fingers and smote her +breast with palm and digits; and after this she raised her hands +and, holding the mirror outside the wicket, she took the red +kerchief and retired into the room with it, but presently +returned and putting out her hand with the kerchief, let it down +towards the lane three several times, dipping it and raising it +as often. Then she wrung it out and folded it in her hands, +bending down her head the while; after which she drew it in from +the lattice and, shutting the wicket shutter, went away without a +single word; nay, she left me confounded and knowing not what +signified her signs.[FN#489]. I tarried sitting there till +supper time and did not return home till near midnight; and there +I found the daughter of my uncle with her cheek props in her hand +and her eyelids pouring forth tears; and she was repeating these +couplets, + +"Woe's me! why should the blamer gar thee blaming bow? * How be + consoled for thee that art so tender bough? +Bright being! on my vitals cost thou prey, and drive * My heart + before platonic passion's[FN#490] force to bow. +Thy Turk like[FN#491] glances havoc deal in core of me, * As + furbished sword thin ground at curve could never show: +Thou weigh's" me down with weight of care, while I have not * + Strength e'en to bear my shift, so weakness lays me low: +Indeed I weep blood tears to hear the blamer say; * 'The lashes + of thy lover's eyne shall pierce thee through!' +Thou hast, my prince of loveliness! an Overseer,[FN#492] * Who + wrongs me, and a Groom[FN#493] who beats me down with brow. +He foully lies who says all loveliness belonged * To Joseph, in + thy loveliness is many a Joe: +I force myself to turn from thee, in deadly fright * Of spies; + and what the force that turns away my sight!" + +When I heard her verse, cark increased and care redoubled on me +and I fell down in a corner of our house; whereupon she arose in +haste and, coming to me lifted me up and took off my outer +clothes and wiped my face with her sleeve. Then she asked me +what had befallen me, and I described all that had happened from +her. Quoth she, "O my cousin, as for her sign to thee with her +palm and five fingers its interpretation is, Return after five +days; and the putting forth of her head out of the window, and +her gestures with the mirror and the letting down and raising up +and wringing out of the red kerchief,[FN#494] signify, Sit in the +dyer's shop till my messenger come to thee." When I heard her +words fire flamed up in my heart and I exclaimed, "O daughter of +my uncle, thou sayest sooth in this thine interpretation; for I +saw in the street the shop of a Jew dyer." Then I wept, and she +said, "Be of good cheer and strong heart: of a truth others are +occupied with love for years and endure with constancy the ardour +of passion, whilst thou hast but a week to wait; why then this +impatience?" Thereupon she went on cheering me with comfortable +talk and brought me food: so I took a mouthful and tried to eat +but could not; and I abstained from meat and drink and estranged +myself from the solace of sleep, till my colour waxed yellow and +I lost my good looks; for I had never been in love before nor had +I ever savoured the ardour of passion save this time. So I fell +sick and my cousin also sickened on my account; but she would +relate to me, by way of consolation, stories of love and lovers +every night till I fell asleep; and when ever I awoke, I found +her wakeful for my sake with tears running down her cheeks. This +ceased not till the five days were past, when my cousin rose and +warmed some water and bathed me with it. Then she dressed me in +my best and said to me, "Repair to her and Allah fulfil thy wish +and bring thee to thy desire of thy beloved!" So I went out and +ceased not walking on till I came to the upper end of the by +street. As it was the Sabbath[FN#495] I found the dyer's shop +locked and sat before it, till I heard the call to mid afternoon +prayer. Then the sun yellowed and the Mu'ezzins[FN#496] chanted +the call to sundown prayer and the night came; but I saw no sign +nor heard one word, nor knew any news of her. So I feared for my +life sitting there alone; and at last I arose and walked home +reeling like a drunken man. When I reached the house, I found my +cousin Azizah standing, with one hand grasping a peg driven into +the wall and the other on her breast; and she was sighing and +groaning and repeating these couplets, + +"The longing of an Arab lass forlorn of kith and kin * (Who to + Hijazian willow wand and myrtle[FN#497] cloth incline, +And who, when meeting caravan, shall with love-lowe set light * + To bivouac fire, and bang for conk her tears of pain and + pine) +Exceeds not mine for him nor more devotion shows, but he * Seeing + my heart is wholly his spurns love as sin indign." + +Now when she had finished her verse she turned to me and, seeing +me, wiped away her tears and my tears with her sleeve. Then she +smiled in my face and said, "O my cousin, Allah grant thee +enjoyment of that which He hath given thee! Why didst thou not +pass the night by the side of thy beloved and why hast thou not +fulfilled thy desire of her?" When I heard her words, I gave her +a kick in the breast and she fell down in the saloon and her brow +struck upon the edge of the raised pavement and hit against a +wooden peg therein. I looked at her and saw that her forehead +was cut open and the blood running,--And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Fifteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: "Now when I kicked the +daughter of my uncle in the breast she fell on the edge of the +raised pavement in the saloon and her brow struck upon a wooden +peg. Thereby her forehead was cut open and the blood ran down, +but she was silent and did not utter a single sound.[FN#498] +Presently she rose up, and made some tinder of rags, then +staunching with it the bleeding wound, bound her forehead with a +bandage; after which she wiped up the blood that had fallen on +the carpet, and it was as if nothing had been. Presently she +came up to me and smiling in my face, said with gentle voice, "By +Allah, O son of my uncle, I spake not these words to mock at thee +or at her! But I was troubled with an ache in my head and was +minded to be blooded, but now thou hast eased my head and +lightened my brow; so tell me what hath befallen thee to day." +Thereupon I told her all that had passed between me and her that +day; and she wept as she heard my words and said, "O son of my +uncle, rejoice at the good tidings of thy desire being fulfilled +and thine aim being attained. Of a truth this is a sign of +acceptance; for that she stayed away only because she wisheth to +try thee and know if thou be patient or not, and sincere in thy +love for her or otherwise. Tomorrow, repair to her at the old +place and see what sign she maketh to thee; for indeed thy +gladness is near and the end of thy sadness is at hand." And she +went on to comfort me; but my cark and care ceased not to +increase on me. Presently she brought me food which I kicked +away with my foot so that the contents of every saucer were +scattered in all directions, and I said, "Every lover is a +madman; he inclineth not to food neither enjoyeth he sleep." And +my cousin Azizah rejoined, "By Allah, O son of my uncle, these be +in very deed the signs of love!" And the tears streamed down her +cheeks whenas she gathered the fragments of the saucers and wiped +up the food; then she took seat and talked to me, whilst I prayed +Allah to hasten the dawn. At last, when morning arose with its +sheen and shine, I went out to seek her and hastening to her by +street sat down on that bench, when lo! the wicket opened and +she put out her head laughing. Then she disappeared within and +returned with a mirror, a bag; and a pot full of green plants and +she held in hand a lamp. The first thing she did was to take the +mirror and, putting it into the bag, tie it up and throw it back +into the room; then she let down her hair over her face and set +the lamp on the pot of flowers during the twinkling of an eye; +then she took up all the things and went away shutting the window +without saying a word. My heart was riven by this state of the +case, and by her secret signals, her mysterious secrets and her +utter silence; and thereby my longing waxed more violent and my +passion and distraction redoubled on me. So I retraced my steps, +tearful-eyed and heavy hearted, and returned home, where I found +the daughter of my uncle sitting with her face to the wall; for +her heart was burning with grief and galling jealousy; albeit her +affection forbade her to acquaint me with what she suffered of +passion and pining when she saw the excess of my longing and +distraction. Then I looked at her and saw on her head two +bandages, one on account of the accident to her forehead and the +other over her eye in consequence of the pain she endured for +stress of weeping; and she was in miserable plight shedding tears +and repeating these couplets, + +"I number nights; indeed I count night after night; * Yet lived I + long ere learnt so sore accompt to see, ah! +Dear friend, I compass not what Allah pleased to doom * For + Layl, nor what Allah destined for me, ah! +To other giving her and unto me her love, * What loss but Layla's + loss would He I ever dree, ah!" + +And when she had finished her reciting, she looked towards me and +seeing me through her tears, wiped them away and came up to me +hastily, but could not speak for excess of love. So she remained +silent for some while and then said, "O my cousin, tell me what +befel thee with her this time." I told her all that had passed +and she said, "Be patient, for the time of thy union is come and +thou hast attained the object of thy hopes. As for her signal to +thee with the mirror which she put in the bag, it said to thee, +When the sun is set; and the letting down of her hair over her +face signified, When night is near and letteth fall the blackness +of the dark and hath starkened the daylight, come hither. As for +her gesture with the pot of green plants it meant, When thou +comest, enter the flower garden which is behind the street; and +as for her sign with the lamp it denoted, When thou enterest the +flower garden walk down it and make for the place where thou +seest the lamp shining; and seat thyself beneath it and await me; +for the love of thee is killing me." When I heard these words +from my cousin, I cried out from excess of passion and said, "How +long wilt thou promise me and I go to her, but get not my will +nor find any true sense in thine interpreting." Upon this she +laughed and replied, "It remaineth for thee but to have patience +during the rest of this day till the light darken and the night +starker and thou shalt enjoy union and accomplish thy hopes; and +indeed all my words be without leasing." Then she repeated these +two couplets, + +"Let days their folds and plies deploy, * And shun the house that + deals annoy! +Full oft when joy seems farthest far * Thou nighmost art to hour + of joy."' + +Then she drew near to me and began to comfort me with soothing +speech, but dared not bring me aught of food, fearing lest I be +angry with her and hoping I might incline to her; so when coming +to me she only took off my upper garment and said to me, "Sit O +my cousin, that I may divert thee with talk till the end of the +day and, Almighty Allah willing, as soon as it is night thou +shalt be with thy beloved." But I paid no heed to her and ceased +not looking for the approach of darkness, saying, "O Lord, hasten +the coming of the night!" And when night set in, the daughter of +my uncle wept with sore weeping and gave me a crumb of pure musk, +and said to me, "O my cousin, put this crumb in thy mouth, and +when thou hast won union with thy beloved and hast taken thy will +of her and she hath granted thee thy desire, repeat to her this +couplet, + +'Ho, lovers all! by Allah say me sooth * What shall he do when + love sore vexeth youth?'"[FN#499] + +And she kissed me and swore me not to repeat this couplet till I +should be about to leave my lover and I said, "Hearing is +obeying!" And when it was supper-tide I went out and ceased not +walking on till I came to the flower garden whose door I found +open. So I entered and, seeing a light in the distance, made +towards it and reaching it, came to a great pavilion vaulted over +with a dome of ivory and ebony, and the lamp hung from the midst +of the dome. The floor was spread with silken carpets +embroidered in gold and silver, and under the lamp stood a great +candle, burning in a candelabrum of gold. In mid pavilion was a +fountain adorned with all manner of figures;[FN#500] and by its +side stood a table covered with a silken napkin, and on its edge +a great porcelain bottle full of wine, with a cup of crystal +inlaid with gold. Near all these was a large tray of silver +covered over, and when I uncovered it I found therein fruits of +every kind, figs and pomegranates, grapes and oranges, citrons +and shaddocks[FN#501] disposed amongst an infinite variety of +sweet scented flowers, such as rose, jasmine, myrtle, eglantine, +narcissus and all sorts of sweet smelling herbs. I was charmed +with the place and I joyed with exceeding joy, albeit I found not +there a living soul and my grief and anxiety ceased from me.--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her +permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Sixteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: "I was charmed with the place +and joyed with great joy albeit there I found not a living soul +of Almighty Allah's creatures, and saw nor slave nor hand maid to +oversee these things or to watch and ward these properties. So I +sat down in the pavilion to await the coming of the beloved of my +heart; but the first hour of the night passed by, and the second +hour, and the third hour, and still she came not. Then hunger +grew sore upon me, for that it was long since I had tasted food +by reason of the violence of my love: but when I found the place +even as my cousin had told me, and saw the truth of her in +terpretation of my beloved's signs, my mind was set at rest and I +felt the pangs of hunger; moreover, the odour of the viands on +the table excited me to eat. So making sure of attaining my +desire, and being famished for food I went up to the table and +raised the cover and found in the middle a china dish containing +four chickens reddened with roasting and seasoned with spices, +round the which were four saucers, one containing sweetmeats, +another conserve of pomegranate seeds, a third almond +pastry[FN#502] and a fourth honey fritters; and the contents of +these saucers were part sweet and part sour. So I ate of the +fritters and a piece of meat, then went on to the almond cakes +and ate what I could; after which I fell upon the sweetmeats, +whereof I swallowed a spoonful or two or three or four, ending +with part of a chicken and a mouthful of something beside. Upon +this my stomach became full and my joints loose and I waxed too +drowsy to keep awake; so I laid my head on a cushion, after +having washed my hands, and sleep over came me; I knew not what +happened to me after this, and I awoke not till the sun's heat +scorched me, for that I had never once tasted sleep for days +past. When I awoke I found on my stomach a piece of salt and a +bit of charcoal; so I stood up and shook my clothes and turned to +look right and left, but could see no one; and discovered that I +had been sleeping on the marble pavement without bedding beneath +me. I was perplexed thereat and afflicted with great affliction; +the tears ran down my cheeks and I mourned for myself. Then I +returned home, and when I entered, I found my cousin beating her +hand on her bosom and weeping tears like rain shedding clouds; +and she versified with these couplets, + +"Blows from my lover's land a Zephyr cooly sweet, * And with its + every breath makes olden love new glow: +O Zephyr of the morning hour, come show to us * Each lover hath + his lot, his share of joy and woe: +Could I but win one dearest wish, we had embraced * With what + embrace and clip of breast fond lovers know. +Allah forbids, while bides unseen my cousin's face, * All joys + the World can give or hand of Time bestow. +Would Heaven I knew his heart were like this heart of me, * + Melted by passion-flame and charged with longing owe." + +When she saw me, she rose in haste and wiped away her tears and +addressed me with her soft speech, saying, "O son of my uncle, +verily Allah hath been gracious to thee in thy love, for that she +whom thou lovest loveth thee, whilst I pass my time in weeping +and bewailing my severance from thee who blamest me and chidest +me; but may Allah not punish thee for my sake!" Thereupon she +smiled in my face a smile of reproach and caressed me; then +taking off my walking clothes, she spread them out and said, "By +Allah, this is not the scent of one who hath enjoyed his lover! +So tell me what hath befallen thee, O my cousin." I told her all +that had passed, and she smiled again a smile of reproach and +said, "Verily, my heart is full of pain; but may he not live who +would hurt thy heart! Indeed, this woman maketh herself +inordinately dear and difficult to thee, and by Allah, O son of +my uncle, I fear for thee from her.[FN#503] Know, O my cousin, +that the meaning of the salt is thou west drowned in sleep like +insipid food, disgustful to the taste; and it is as though she +said to thee; 'It behoveth thou be salted lest the stomach eject +thee; for thou professes to be of the lovers noble and true; but +sleep is unlawful and to a lover undue; therefore is thy love but +a lie.' However, it is her love for thee that lieth; for she saw +thee asleep yet aroused thee not and were her love for thee true, +she had indeed awoken thee. As for the charcoal, it means 'Allah +blacken thy face'[FN#504] for thou makest a lying presence of +love, whereas thou art naught but a child and hast no object in +life other than eating and drinking and sleeping! such is the +interpretation of her signs, and may Allah Almighty deliver thee +from her!" When I heard my cousin's words, I beat my hand upon my +breast and cried out, "By Allah, this is the very truth, for I +slept and lovers sleep not! Indeed I have sinned against myself, +for what could have wrought me more hurt than eating and +sleeping? Now what shall I do?" Then I wept sore and said to the +daughter of my uncle, "Tell me how to act and have pity on me, so +may Allah have pity on thee: else I shall die." As my cousin +loved me with very great love,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Seventeenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued his tale to Taj al-Muluk: "Thereupon quoth I +to the daughter of my uncle, "Tell me what to do and have pity on +me, so may Allah have pity on thee!" As the daughter of my uncle +loved me with great love, she replied, "On my head and eyes! +But, O my cousin, I repeat what I have told thee oftentimes, if I +could go in and out at will, I would at once bring you two +together and cover you both with my skirt: nor would I do this +but hoping to win thy favour. Inshallah, I will do my utmost +endeavour to unite you; but hear my words and do my bidding. Go +thou to the very same place and sit down where thou sattest +before and at supper tide look thou eat not, for eating induceth +sleep; and have a care-thou slumber not, for she will not come to +thee till a fourth part of the night be passed. And the Almighty +avert her mischief from thee!" Now when I heard these words I +rejoiced and besought Allah to hasten the night; and, as soon as +it was dark, I was minded to go, and my cousin said to me, "When +thou shalt have met her, repeat to her the couplet I taught thee +before, at the time of thy leave taking." Replied I, "On my head +and eyes!" and went out and repaired to the garden, where I found +all made ready in the same state as on the previous night, with +every requisite of meat and drink, dried fruits, sweet scented +flowers and so forth. I went up into the pavilion and smelt the +odour of the viands and my spirit lusted after them; but I +possessed my soul in patience for a while, till at last I could +no longer withstand temptation. So I arose from my seat and went +up to the table and, raising its cover, found a dish of fowls, +surrounded by four saucers containing four several meats. I ate +a mouthful of each kind and as much as I would of the sweetmeats +and a piece of meat: then I drank from the saucer a sauce +yellowed with saffron[FN#505] and as it pleased me, I supped it +up by the spoonful till I was satisfied and my stomach was full. +Upon this, my eyelids drooped; so I took a cushion and set it +under my head, saying, "Haply I can recline upon it without going +to sleep." Then I closed my eyes and slept, nor did I wake till +the sun had risen, when I found on my stomach a cube of +bone,[FN#506] a single tip-cat stick,[FN#507] the stone of a +green date[FN#508] and a carob pod. There was no furniture nor +aught else in the place, and it was as if there had been nothing +there yesterday. So I rose and shaking all these things off me, +fared forth in fury; and, going home, found my cousin groaning +and versifying with these couplets, + +"A wasted body, heart enpierced to core, * And tears that down my + poor cheeks pour and pour: +And lover cure of access; but, but still * Naught save what's + fair can come from fairest flow'r: +O cousin mine thou fill'st my soul with pate, * And from these + tears mine eyelids ache full sore!" + +I chid the daughter of my uncle and abused her, whereat she wept; +then, wiping away her tears, she came up to me and kissed me and +began pressing me to her bosom, whilst I held back from her +blaming myself. Then said she to me, "O my cousin, it seemeth +thou sleptest again this night?" Replied I, "Yes; and when I +awoke, I found on my stomach a cube of bone, a single tip-cat +stick, a stone of a green date and a carob pod, and I know not +why she did this." Then I wept and went up to her and said, +"Expound to me her meaning in so doing and tell me how shall I +act and aid me in my sore strait." She answered, "On my head and +eyes! By the single tip cat stick and the cube of bone which she +placed upon thy stomach she saith to thee 'Thy body is present +but thy heart is absent'; and she meaneth, 'Love is not thus: so +do not reckon thyself among lovers.' As for the date stone, it is +as if she said to thee, 'An thou wert in love thy heart would be +burning with passion and thou wouldst not taste the delight of +sleep; for the sweet of love is like a green date[FN#509] which +kindleth a coal of fire in the vitals.' As for the carob +pod[FN#510] it signifieth to thee, 'The lover's heart is +wearied'; and thereby she saith, 'Be patient under our separation +with the patience of Job.' " When I heard this interpretation, +fires darted into my vitals like a dart and grief redoubled upon +my heart and I cried out, saying, "Allah decreed sleep to me for +my ill fortune." Then I said to her, "O my cousin, by my life, +devise me some device whereby I may win my will of her!" She wept +and answered, "O Aziz, O son of my uncle, verily my heart is full +of sad thought which I cannot speak: but go thou again to night +to the same place and beware thou sleep not, and thou shalt +surely attain thy desire. This is my counsel and peace be with +thee!" Quoth I, "If Allah please I will not sleep, but will do as +thou biddest me." Then my cousin rose, and brought me food, +saying, "Eat now what may suffice thee, that nothing may divert +thy heart." So I ate my fill and, when night came, my cousin rose +and bringing me a sumptuous suit of clothes clad me therein. +Then she made me swear I would repeat to my lover the verse +aforesaid and bade me beware of sleeping. So I left her and +repaired to the garden and went up into that same pavilion where +I occupied myself in holding my eyelids open with my fingers and +nodding my head as the night darkened on me."--And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Eighteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued to Taj al Muluk: "So I repaired to the garden +and went up into that same pavilion and occupied myself in gazing +upon the flower beds and in holding my eyelids open with my +fingers and nodding my head as the night darkened on me. And +presently I grew hungry with watching and the smell of the meats +being wafted towards me, my appetite increased: so I went up to +the table and took off the cover and ate a mouthful of every dish +and a bit of meat; after which I turned to the flagon of wine, +saying to myself, I will drink one cup. I drank it, and then I +drank a second and a third, till I had drunk full ten, when the +cool air smote me and I fell to the earth like a felled man. I +ceased not to lie thus till day arose, when I awoke and found +myself out side the garden, and on my stomach were a butcher's +knife and a dram-weight of iron.[FN#511] Thereat I trembled and, +taking them with me, went home, where I found my cousin saying, +"Verily, I am in this house wretched and sorrowful, having no +helper but weeping." Now when I entered, I fell down at full +length and throwing the knife and the dram weight from my hand, I +fainted clean away. As soon as I came to myself, I told her what +had befallen me and said, Indeed, I shall never enjoy my desire." +But when she saw my tears and my passion, they redoubled her +distress on my account, and she cried, "Verily, I am helpless! I +warned thee against sleeping; but thou wouldst not hearken to my +warning, nor did my words profit thee aught." I rejoined, "By +Allah, I conjure thee to explain to me the meaning of the knife +and the iron dram-weight." "By the dram weight," replied my +cousin, "she alludeth to her right eye,[FN#512] and she sweareth +by it and saith, 'By the Lord of all creatures and by my right +eye! if thou come here again and sleep, I will cut thy throat +with this very knife.' And indeed I fear for thee, O my cousin, +from her malice; my heart is full of anguish for thee and I +cannot speak. Nevertheless, if thou can be sure of thyself not +to sleep when thou returnest to her, return to her and beware of +sleeping and thou shalt attain thy desire; but if when returning +to her thou wilt sleep, as is thy wont, she will surely slaughter +thee." Asked I, "What shall I do, O daughter of my uncle: I beg +thee, by Allah, to help me in this my calamity." Answered she, +"On my head and eyes! if thou wilt hearken to my words and do my +bidding, thou shalt have thy will." Quoth I, "I will indeed +hearken to thy words and do thy bidding;" and quoth she, "When it +is time for thee to go, I will tell thee." Then she pressed me to +her bosom and laying me on the bed, shampoo'd my feet, till +drowsiness overcame me and I was drowned in sleep, then she took +a fan and seated herself at my head with the fan in her hand and +she was weeping till her clothes were wet with tears. Now when +she saw that I was awake, she wiped away the drops and fetched me +some food and set it before me. I refused it, but she said to +me, "Did I not tell thee that thou must do my bidding? Eat!" So +I ate and thwarted her not and she proceeded to put the food into +my mouth and I to masticate it, till I was full. Then she made +me drink jujube sherbet[FN#513] and sugar and washed my hands and +dried them with a kerchief; after which she sprinkled me with +rose water, and I sat with her awhile in the best of spirits. +When the darkness had closed in, she dressed me and said to me, +"O son of my uncle, watch through the whole night and sleep not; +for she will not come to thee this tide till the last of the dark +hours and, Allah willing, thou shalt be at one with her this +night; but forget not my charge." Then, she wept, and my heart +was pained for her by reason of her over much weeping, and I +asked, "What is the charge thou gayest me?" She answered, "When +thou takest leave of her repeat to her the verse before +mentioned." So, full of joy I left her and repairing to the +garden, went up into the pavilion where, being satiated with +food, I sat down and watched till a fourth part of the dark hours +was past. That night seemed longsome to me as it were a year: +but I remained awake till it was three quarters spent and the +cocks crew and I was famished for long watching. Accordingly I +went up to the table and ate my fill, whereupon my head grew +heavy and I wanted to sleep, when behold, a light appeared making +towards me from afar. I sprang up and washed my hands and mouth +and roused myself; and before long she came with ten damsels, in +whose midst she was like the full moon among the stars. She was +clad in a dress of green satin purfled with red gold, and she was +as saith the poet, + +"She lords it o'er our hearts in grass green gown, * With + buttons[FN#514] loose and locks long flowing down. +Quoth I, 'What is thy name?' Quoth she, 'I'm she, * Who burns the + lover-heart live coals upon:' +I made my plaint to her of loving lowe; * Laughed she, 'To stone + thou moanest useless moan!' +Quoth I, 'An be of hardest stone thy heart, * Allah drew sweetest + spring from hardest stone.' " + +When she saw me she laughed and said, "How is it that thou art +awake and that sleep overcame thee not? Forasmuch as thou hast +watched through the night, I know that thou art a lover; for +night watching is the mark of lovers displaying brave endurance +of their desires." Then she turned to her women and signed to +them and they went away from her, whereupon she came up to me and +strained me to her breast and kissed me, whilst I kissed her, and +she sucked my upper lip whilst I sucked her lower lip. I put my +hand to her waist and pressed it and we came not to the ground +save at the same moment. Then she undid her petticoat trousers +which slipped down to her anklets, and we fell to clasping and +embracing and toying and speaking softly and biting and inter +twining of legs and going round about the Holy House and the +corners thereof,[FN#515] till her joints became relaxed for love +delight and she swooned away. I entered the sanctuary, and +indeed that night was a joy to the sprite and a solace to the +sight even as saith the poet, + +"Sweetest of nights the world can show to me, that night * When + cups went round and round as fed by ceaseless spring: +There utter severance made I 'twixt mine eyes and sleep, * And + joined, re joined mine ear drop with the anklet + ring."[FN#516] + +We lay together in close embrace till the morning when I would +have gone away, but she stopped me and said, "Stay till I tell +thee something"--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Nineteenth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued his recital to Taj al Muluk: "When I would +have gone away, she stopped me and said, "Stay, till I tell thee +something and charge thee with a charge." So I stayed whilst she +unfolded a kerchief and drew out this piece of linen and spread +it open before me. I found worked on it these two figures of +gazelles and admired it with great admiration. Then I took the +piece of linen and went away, joyful, after we had agreed that I +should visit her every night in the garden; but in my joy I +forgot to repeat to her the verse my cousin had taught me. For +when giving me the piece of linen with the gazelles she had said +to me, "Keep this carefully, as it is my sister's handiwork." I +asked her, "What is thy sister's name?"; and she answered, "Her +name is Nr al-Hud." When I went to my cousin, I found her lying +down; but as soon as she saw me, she rose, with the tears running +from her eyes, and came up to me, and kissed me on the breast and +said, "Didst thou do as I enjoined thee? and repeat the verse to +her?" "I forgot it," replied I; "and nothing drove it out of my +mind but these two figured gazelles." And I threw the piece of +linen on the floor before her. She rose and sat down again, but +was unable to contain herself for impatience, and her eyes ran +over with tears, whilst she repeated these two couplets, + +"O thou who seekest parting, softly fare! * Let not the Pair + delude with cunning art: +Pare softly, Fortune's nature is to 'guile, * And end of every + meeting is to part." + +And when she ended her recitation she said, "O my cousin, give me +this piece of linen." So I gave it to her and she took it and +unfolding it, saw what was therein. When the tryst time came for +my going to my lover, the daughter of my uncle said to me, "Go, +and peace attend thee; and when thou art about to leave her, +recite to her the verse I taught thee long ago and which thou +didst forget." Quoth I, "Tell it me again"; and she repeated it. +Then I went to the garden and entered the pavilion, where I found +the young lad, awaiting me. When she saw me, she rose and kissed +me and made me sit in her lap; and we ate and drank and did our +desire as before. In the morning, I repeated to her my cousin's +verse which was this, + +"Ho, lovers all! by Allah say me sooth * What shall he do when + Love sor' vexeth youth?" + +When she heard this, her eyes filled with tears and she answered +and said, + +"Strive he to cure his case, to hide the truth, * Patiently + humble self and sue for rush!" + +I committed it to memory and returned home rejoicing at having +done my cousin's bidding. When I entered the house I found her +lying down and my mother at her head weeping over her case; but +as soon as I went in to her my mother said to me, "A foul plague +on such a cousin! How couldst thou leave the daughter of thy +uncle ailing and not ask what ailed her?" But when my cousin saw +me she raised her head and sat up and asked me, "O Aziz, didst +thou repeat to her the couplet I taught thee?" I answered, "Yes, +and when she heard it she wept and recited in answer another +couplet which I committed to memory." Quoth my cousin, "Tell it +me." I did so; and when she heard it she wept with much weeping +and repeated the following verses, + +'How shall youth cure the care his life undo'th, * And every day + his heart in pieces hew'th? +In sooth he would be patient, but he findeth * Naught save a + heart which love with pains imbu'th." + +Then added my cousin, "When thou goest to her as of wont, repeat +to her also these two couplets which thou hast heard." I replied, +"Hearkening and obedience!" and I went at the wonted time, to the +garden, where there passed between my mistress and myself what +tongue faileth to describe. When I was about to leave her, I +repeated to her those two couplets of my cousin's; whereupon the +tears streamed from her eyes and she replied, + +"If he of patience fail the truth to hide * For him no cure save + Death my vision view'th!" + +I committed them to memory and returned home, and when I went in +to my cousin I found her fallen into a fit and my mother sitting +at her head. When she heard my voice, she opened her eyes and +asked, "O Aziz! didst thou repeat the two couplets to her?" +whereto I answered, "Yes; but she wept on hearing them and she +replied with this couplet beginning, If he of patience fail, to +the end." And I repeated it; whereupon my cousin swooned again, +and when she came to herself, she recited these two couplets, + +"Hearkening, obeying, with my dying mouth * I greet who joy of + union ne'er allow'th: +Pair fall all happy loves, and fair befal * The hapless lover + dying in his drowth!" + +Again when it was night, I repaired to the garden as usual where +I found the young lady awaiting me. We sat down and ate and +drank, after which we did all we wanted and slept till the +morning; and, as I was going away, I repeated to her the saying +of my cousin. When she heard the couplet she cried out with a +loud cry and was greatly moved and exclaimed, "Awh! +Awh![FN#517] By Allah, she who spake these lines is dead!" Then +she wept and said to me, "Woe to thee! How is she who spoke thus +related to thee?" Replied I, "She is the daughter of my father's +brother." "Thou liest," rejoined she; "by Allah, were she thy +cousin, thou hadst borne her the same love as she bore thee! It +is thou who hast slain her and may the Almighty kill thee as thou +killedst her! By Allah, hadst thou told me thou hadst a cousin, +I would not have admitted thee to my favours!" Quoth I, "Verily +it was she who interpreted to me the signs thou madest and it was +she who taught me how to come to thee and how I should deal with +thee; and, but for her, I should never have been united to thee." +She then asked me, "Did thy cousin then know of us?"; and I +answered, "Yes;" whereupon she exclaimed, "Allah give thee sorrow +of thy youth, even as thou hast sorrowed her youth!" Then she +cried to me, "Go now and see after her." So I went away troubled +at heart, and ceased not walking till I reached our street, when +I heard sounds of wailing, and asking about it, was answered, +"Azizah, we found her dead behind the door." I entered the house, +and when my mother saw me, she said, "Her death lieth heavy on +thy neck and may Allah not acquit thee of her blood!"--And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Twentieth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: "So I entered the house and +when my mother saw me she said, "Her death lieth heavy on thy +neck and may Allah not acquit thee of her blood! A plague on +such a cousin!" Then came my father, and we laid her out and get +ready her bier and buried her; and we had recitations of the +whole Koran over her tomb and we abode by her grave three days, +after which we returned to our home, and I grieving for her +grievously. Then my mother came to me and said, "I would fain +know what thou didst to her, to break her heart[FN#518] for, O my +son, I questioned her at all times of the cause of her complaint, +but she would tell me nothing nor let me know aught of it. So +Allah upon thee, tell me what thou hast been doing to her that +she died." Quoth I, "I did nothing." Quoth my mother, "Allah +avenge her on thee! Verily she told me naught, but kept her +secret till she died of her love longings for thee; but when she +died I was with her and she opened her eyes and said to me; 'O +wife of my uncle may Allah hold thy son guiltless of my blood and +punish him not for what he hath done by me! And now Allah +transporteth me from the house of the world which is perishable +to the house of the other world which is eternal.' Said I, 'O my +daughter, Allah preserve thee and preserve thy youth!' And as I +questioned her of the cause of her illness, she made me no +answer; but she smiled and said, 'O wife of my uncle, bid thy +son, whenever he would go whither he goeth every day, repeat +these two saws at his going away; 'Faith is fair! Unfaith is +foul!' For this is of my tender affection to him, that I am +solicitous concerning him during my lifetime and after my death.' +Then she gave me somewhat for thee and sware me that I would not +give it until I see thee weeping for her and lamenting her death. +The thing is with me; and, when I have seen thy case as I have +said, I will make it over to thee." "Show it me," cried I: but +she would not. Then I gave myself up to love delights and +thought no more of my cousin's death: for my mind was unsettled +and fain would I have been with my lover the livelong day and +night.[FN#519] So hardly had I perceived the darkness fall when +I betook myself to the garden, where I found the young lady +sitting on coals of fire for much impatience. As soon as she was +sure that she saw me, she ran to me and throwing her arms about +my neck, enquired of the daughter of my uncle. I replied, "Sooth +to say she is dead, and we have caused Zikr- litanies and +recitations of the Koran to be performed for her; and it is now +four nights and this be the fifth since she is gone." When she +heard that, she shrieked aloud and wept and said, "Did I not tell +thee that thou hast slain her? Hadst thou let me know of her +before her death, I would have requited her the kindness she did +me, in that she served me and united thee to me; for without her, +we had never foregathered, we twain, and I fear lest some +calamity befal thee because of thy sin against her." Quoth I, +"She acquitted me of offence ere she died;" and I repeated to her +what my mother had told me. Quoth she, "Allah upon thee! when +thou returnest to thy mother, learn what thing she keepeth for +thee." I rejoined, "My mother also said to me; 'Before the +daughter of thy uncle died, she laid a charge upon me, saying, +Whenever thy son would go whither he is wont to go, teach him +these two saws, 'Faith is fair; Unfaith is foul!' " When my lady +heard this she exclaimed, "The mercy of Almighty Allah be upon +her! Indeed, she hath delivered thee from me, for I minded to do +thee a mischief, but now I will not harm thee nor trouble thee." +I wondered at this and asked her, "What then west thou minded to +do with me in time past and we two being in bond of love?" +Answered she, "Thou art infatuated with me; for thou art young in +life and a raw laddie; thy heart is void of guile and thou +weetest not our malice and deceit. Were she yet alive, she would +protect thee; for she is the cause of thy preservation and she +hath delivered thee from destruction. And now I charge thee +speak not with any woman, neither accost one of our sex, be she +young or be she old; and again I say Beware! for thou art simple +and raw and knowest not the wiles of women and their malice, and +she who interpreted the signs to thee is dead. And indeed I fear +for thee, lest thou fall into some disgrace and find none to +deliver thee from it, now that the daughter of thy uncle is no +more."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say +her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-first Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: "Then the young lady said to +me, "I fear for thee lest thou fall into some disgrace and find +none to deliver thee from it. Alas for thy cousin and ah, the +pity of her! Would I had known her before her death, that I +might have requited by waiting upon her the fair service she did +me. The mercy of Allah Almighty be upon her, for she kept her +secret and revealed not what she suffered, and but for her thou +hadst never foregathered with me; no, never! But there is one +thing I desire of thee." I asked, "What is it?"; and she +answered, "It is that thou bring me to her grave, that I may +visit her in the tomb wherein she is and write some couplets +thereon." I rejoined, "To morrow, if Allah please!"[FN#520] I +slept with her that night, and she ceased not saying after every +hour, "Would thou hadst told me of thy cousin before her death!" +And I asked her, "What is the meaning of the two saws she taught +me? 'Faith is fair! Unfaith is foul!'" But she made no answer. +As soon as it was day she rose and, taking a purse of gold +pieces, said to me, "Come, show me her tomb, that I may visit it +and grave some verses thereon and build a dome over it and +commend her to Allah's mercy and bestow these diners in alms for +her soul." I replied, "To hear is to obey!"; and walked on before +her, whilst she followed me, giving alms as she went and saying +to all upon whom she lavisht bounty, "This is an alms for the +soul of Azizah, who kept her counsel till she drank the cup of +death and never told the secret of her love." And she stinted not +thus to give alms and say, "for Azizah's soul," till the purse +was empty and we came to the grave. And when she looked at the +tomb, she wept and threw herself on it; then, pulling out a +chisel of steel and a light hammer, she graved therewith upon the +head stone in fine small characters these couplets, + +"I past by a broken tomb amid a garth right sheen, * Whereon + seven blooms of Nu'uman[FN#521] glowed with cramoisie; +Quoth I, 'Who sleepeth in this tomb?' Quoth answering Earth * + 'Before a lover Hades-tombed[FN#522] bend reverently!' +Quoth I, 'May Allah help thee, O thou slain of Love, * And grant + thee home in Heaven and Paradise height to see!' +Hapless are lovers all e'en tombed in their tombs, * Where amid + living folk the dust weighs heavily! +Pain would I plant a garden blooming round thy grave, * And water + every flower with tear drops flowing free!" + +Then she turned away in tears and I with her and returned to the +garden where she said to me, "By Allah! I conjure thee never +leave me!" "To hear is to obey," replied I. Then I gave myself +wholly up to her and paid her frequent visits: she was good and +generous to me; and as often as I passed the night with her, she +would make much of me and would ask me of the two saws my cousin +Azizah told my mother and I would repeat them to her. And +matters ceased not to be on this wise and I continued for a whole +year eating and drinking and enjoying dalliance and wearing +change of rich raiment until I waxed gross and fat, so that I +lost all thought of sorrowing and mourning, and I clean forgot my +cousin Azizah. And on New Year's day I went to the bath, where I +refreshed myself and put on a suit of sumptuous clothes; then +coming out I drank a cup of wine and smelt the scent of my new +gear which was perfumed with various essences; and my breast was +broadened thereby, for I knew not the tricks of Pate nor the +changing ways of Time. When the hour of night prayer came, I was +minded to repair to my lover; but, being the worse for wine, I +knew not when going to her whither I went, so my drunkenness +turned me into a by street called Syndic Street;[FN#523] and the +while I walked up that street behold, I caught sight of an old +woman faring with a lighted taper in one hand, and in the other a +folded letter.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-second Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant, whose name was Aziz, continued to Taj al-Muluk:--And +when I entered the street called Syndic Street behold, I caught +sight of an old woman walking with a lighted taper in one hand +and in the other a folded letter and I drew near her and lo! she +was weeping and repeating these couplets, + +"O glad news bearer well come! Welcome! Hail! * How sweet thy + speech to me, what treat thy tale: +O messenger from him whose weal I love, * God bless thee long as + breathes soft morning-gale!" + +Now when she saw me she asked, "O my son! canst thou read?"; and +I answered, of my officiousness, "Yes, old naunty!" Rejoined she, +"Then take this letter and read it to me." And when she handed it +to me, I took it and unfolding it read it to her and behold it +was from an absent man to his friends and lovers whom he greeted; +and, when she heard its purport, she rejoiced at the good tidings +and blessed me, saying, "Allah dispel thine anxiety, even as thou +hast dispelled mine!" Then she took the letter and walked on. +Meanwhile, I was urged by a call of nature and sat down on my +heels to make water.[FN#524] When I had ended I stood up and +wiped the orifice with a pebble and then, letting down my +clothes, I was about to wend my way, when suddenly the old woman +came up to me again and, bending down over my hand, kissed it and +said, "O my master! the Lord give thee joy of thy youth! I +entreat thee to walk with me a few steps as far as yonder door, +for I told them what thou didst read to me of the letter, and +they believe me not, so come with me two steps and read them the +letter from behind the door and accept the prayers of a righteous +woman." I enquired, "What is the history of this letter?", and +she replied, "O my son, this letter is from my son, who hath been +absent for a term of ten years. He set out with a stock of +merchandise and tarried long in foreign parts, till we lost hope +of him and supposed him to be dead. Now after all that delay +cometh this letter from him, and he hath a sister who weepeth for +him night and day; so I said to her, 'He is well and all right.' +But she will not believe me and declares, 'There is no help but +thou bring me one who will read this letter in my presence, that +my heart may be at rest and my mind at ease.' Thou knowest, O my +son, that all who love are wont to think evil: so be good enough +to go with me and read to her this letter, standing behind the +curtain, whilst I call his sister to listen within the door, so +shalt thou dispel our heed and fulfil our need. Verily quoth the +Apostle of Allah (whom Allah bless and preserve!), 'Whoso easeth +the troubled of one of the troubles of this troublous world, +Allah will ease him of an hundred troubles'; and according to +another tradition, 'Whoso easeth his brother of one of the +troubles of this troublous world, Allah shall relieve him of +seventy and two troubles on the Day of Resurrection.' And I have +betaken myself to thee; so disappoint me not." Replied I, "To +hear is to obey: do thou go before me!" So she walked on +devancing me and I followed her a little way, till she came to +the gate of a large and handsome mansion whose door was plated +with copper.[FN#525] I stood behind the door, whilst the old +woman cried out in Persian, and ere I knew it a damsel ran up +with light and nimble step. She had tucked up her trousers to +her knees, so that I saw a pair of calves that confounded thinker +and lighter, and the maid herself was as saith the poet +describing her, + +"O thou who barest leg calf, better to suggest * For passion + madded amourist better things above! +Towards its lover cloth the bowl go round and run; * Cup[FN#526] + and cup bearer only drive us daft with love."[FN#527] + +Now these legs were like two pillars of alabaster adorned with +anklets of gold, wherein were set stones of price. And the +damsel had tucked up the end of her gown under her arm pit and +had rolled up her sleeves to the elbow, so that I could see her +white wrists whereon were two pairs of bracelets with clasps of +great pearls; and round her neck was a collar of costly gems. +Her ears were adorned with pendants of pearls and on her head she +wore a kerchief[FN#528] of brocade, brand new and broidered with +jewels of price. And she had thrust the skirt of her shift into +her trousers string being busy with some household business. So +when I saw her in this undress, I was confounded at her beauty, +for she was like a shining sun. Then she said, with soft, choice +speech, never heard I sweeter, "O my mother! is this he who +cometh to read the letter?" "It is," replied the old woman; and +she put out her hand to me with the letter. Now between her and +the door was a distance of about half a rod[FN#529]; so I +stretched forth my hand to take the letter from her and thrust +head and shoulders within the door, thinking to draw near her and +read the letter when, before I knew what her design was, the old +woman butted her head against my back and pushed me forwards with +the letter in my hand, so that ere I could take thought I found +myself in the middle of the hall far beyond the vestibule. Then +she entered, faster than a flash of blinding leven, and had +naught to do but to shut the door. And Shahrazed perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-third Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth +Aziz pursued to Taj al Muluk: "When the old woman pushed me +forwards I found myself, ere I could think, inside the vestibule; +and the old woman entered faster than a flash of blinding levee +and had naught to do but to shut the door. When the girl saw me +in the vestibule, she came up to me and strained me to her bosom, +and threw me to the floor; then she sat astraddle upon my breast +and kneaded my belly with her fingers, till I well nigh lost my +senses. Thereupon she took me by the hand and led me, unable to +resist for the violence of her pressure, through seven +vestibules, whilst the old woman forewent us with the lighted +candle, till we came to a great saloon with four estrades whereon +a horseman might play Polo.[FN#530] Here she released me, saying, +"Open thine eyes." So I opened them still giddy for the excess of +her embracing and pressing, and saw that the whole saloon was +built of the finest marbles and alabasters, and all its furniture +was of silk and brocade even to the cushions and mattresses. +Therein also were two benches of yellow brass and a couch of red +gold, set with pearls and precious stones, befitting none save +Kings like thyself. And off the saloon were smaller sitting +rooms; and the whole place was redolent of wealth. Then she +asked, "O Aziz, which is liefer to thee life or death?" "Life," +answered I; and she said, "If life be liefer to thee, marry me." +Quoth I, "Indeed I should hate to marry the like of thee." Quoth +she, "If thou marry me thou wilt at least be safe from the +daughter of Dallah the Wily One."[FN#531] I asked, "And who be +that daughter of the Wily One?" Whereupon she laughed and +replied, " 'Tis she who hath companied with thee this day for a +year and four months (may the Almighty destroy and afflict her +with one worse than herself!) By Allah, there liveth not a more +perfidious than she. How many men hath she not slain before thee +and what deeds hath she not done. Nor can I understand how thou +hast been all the time in her company, yet she hath not killed +thee nor done thee a mischief." When I heard her words, I +marvelled with exceeding marvel and said, "O my lady, who made +thee to know her?" Said she, "I know her as the age knoweth its +calamities; but now I would fain have thee tell me all that hath +passed between you two, that I may ken the cause of thy +deliverance from her." So I told her all that had happened +between us, including the story of my cousin Azizah. She +expressed her pity when she heard of the death, and her eyes ran +over with tears and she claps hand on hand and cried out, Her +youth was lost on Allah's way,[FN#532] and may the Lord bless +thee for her good works! By Allah, O Aziz, she who died for thee +was the cause of thy preservation from the daughter of Dalia the +Wily; and, but for her, thou hadst been lost. And now she is +dead I fear for thee from the Crafty One's perfidy and mischief; +but my throat is choking and I cannot speak." Quoth I Ay, by +Allah: all this happened even as thou sayest." And she shook her +head and cried, "There liveth not this day the like of Azizah. I +continued, "And on her death bed she bade me repeat to my lover +these two saws, 'Faith is fair! Unfaith is foul'" When she heard +me say this, she exclaimed, "O Aziz, by Allah those same words +saved thee from dying by her hand; and now my heart is at ease +for thee from her, for she will never kill thee and the daughter +of thy uncle preserved thee during her lifetime and after her +death. By Allah, I have desired thee day after day but could not +get at thee till this time when I tricked thee and outwitted +thee; for thou art a raw youth[FN#533] and knowest not the wiles +of young women nor the deadly guile of old women." Rejoined I, +No, by Allah!" Then said she to me, "Be of good cheer and eyes +clear; the dead hath found Allah's grace, and the live shall be +in good case. Thou art a handsome youth and I do not desire thee +but according to the ordinance of Allah and His Apostle (on whom +be salutation and salvation!). Whatever thou requirest of money +and stuff, thou shalt have forthright without stint, and I will +not impose any toil on thee, no, never!, for there is with me +always bread baked hot and water in pot. All I need of thee is +that thou do with me even as the cock doth." I asked "And what +doth the cock?" Upon this she laughed and clapped her hands and +fell over on her back for excess of merriment then she sat up and +smiled and said, "O light of my eyes, really dost thou not know +what cock's duty is?" "No, by Allah!" replied I, and she, "The +cock's duty is to eat and drink and tread.' I was abashed at her +words and asked, "Is that the cock's duty? Yes, answered she; +"and all I ask of thee now is to gird thy loins and strengthen +thy will and futter thy best." Then she clapped her hands and +cried out, saying, "O my mother, bring forward those who are with +thee." And behold, in came the old woman accompanied by four +lawful witnesses, and carrying a veil of silk. Then she lighted +four candles, whilst the witnesses saluted me and sat down; and +the girl veiled herself with the veil and deputed one of them to +execute the contract on her behalf. So they wrote out the +marriage bond and she testified to have received the whole sum +settled upon her, both the half in advance and the half in +arrears; and that she was indebted to me in the sum of ten +thousand dirhams.--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. + + When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night, + +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young +merchant continued to Taj al-Muluk: When they wrote out the +marriage contract, she testified to having received the whole sum +settled upon her, the half in advance and the half in arrears and +that she was indebted to me in the sum of ten thousand dirhams. +She paid the witnesses their wage and they withdrew whence they +came. Thereupon she arose and cast off her clothes and stood in +a chemise of fine silk edged with gold lace, after which she took +off her trousers and seized my hand and led me up to the couch, +saying, "There is no sin in a lawful put in." She lay down on the +couch outspread upon her back; and, drawing me on to her breast, +heaved a sigh and followed it up with a wriggle by way of being +coy. Then she pulled up the shift above her breasts, and when I +saw her in this pose, I could not withhold myself from thrusting +it into her, after I had sucked her lips, whilst she whimpered +and shammed shame and wept when no tears came, and then said she, +"O my beloved, do it, and do thy best!" Indeed the case reminded +me of his saying, who said, + +"When I drew up her shift from the roof of her coynte, * I found + it as strait* as my mind and my money: +So I drove it half-way, and she sighed a loud sigh * Quoth I, + 'Why this sigh?': 'For the rest of it, honey!'" + +And she repeated, "O my beloved, let the finish be made for I am +thine handmaid. My life on thee, up with it! give it me, all of +it! that I may take it in my hand and thrust it into my very +vitals!" And she ceased not to excite me with sobs and sighs and +amorous cries in the intervals of kissing and clasping until amid +our murmurs of pleasure we attained the supreme delight and the +term we had in sight. We slept together till the morning, when I +would have gone out; but lo! she came up to me, laughing, and +said, "So! So! thinkest thou that going into the Hammam is the +same as going out?[FN#534] Dost thou deem me to be the like of +the daughter of Dalilah the Wily One? Beware of such a thought, +for thou art my husband by contract and according to law. If +thou be drunken return to thy right mind, and know that the house +wherein thou art openeth but one day in every year. Go down and +look at the great door." So I arose and went down and found the +door locked and nailed up and returned and told her of the +locking and nailing. "O Aziz," said she, "We have in this house +flour, grain, fruits and pomegranates; sugar, meat, sheep, +poultry and so forth enough for many years; and the door will not +be opened till after the lapse of a whole twelvemonth and well I +weet thou shalt not find thyself without this house till then." +Quoth I "There is no Majesty, and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" "And how can this harm thee," +rejoined she; "seeing thou knowest cock's duty, whereof I told +thee?" Then she laughed and I laughed too, and I conformed to +what she said and abode with her, doing cock's duty and eating +and drinking and futtering for a year of full twelve months, +during which time she conceived by me, and I was blessed with a +babe by her. On the New Year's day I heard the door opened and +behold, men came in with cakes and flour and sugar. Upon this, I +would have gone out but my wife said, "Wait till supper tide and +go out even as thou camest in." So I waited till the hour of +night prayer and was about to go forth in fear and trembling, +when she stopped me, saying, "By Allah, I will not let thee go +until thou swear to come back this night before the closing of +the door." I agreed to this, and she swore me a solemn oath on +Blade and Book,[FN#535] and the oath of divorce to boot, that I +would return to her. Then I left her and going straight to the +garden, found the door open as usual; where at I was angry and +said to myself, "I have been absent this whole year and come here +unawares and find the place open as of wont! I wonder is the +damsel still here as before? I needs must enter and see before I +go to my mother, more by reason that it is now nightfall." So I +entered the flower garden,--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. + + + + +End of Vol. 2. + + Volume 2 Footnotes + +[FN#1] Supplementarily to note 2, p. 2, [FN#2 Vol 1]and note 2, +p. 14, [FN#21 Vol 1] vol. i., I may add that "Shahrzd," in the +Shams al-Loghat, is the P.N. of a King. L. Langls (Les Voyages +de Sindibd Le Marin et La Ruse des Femmes, first appended to +Savary's Grammar and reprinted 12 mot pp. 161 + 113, Imprimerie +Royale, Paris, M.D.CCC.XIV) explains it by Le cyprs, la beaut +de la ville; and he is followed by (A. de Biberstein) Kazimirski +(Ends el-Djelis Paris, Barrois, 1847). Ouseley (Orient. Collect.) +makes Shahrzd=town-born; and others an Arabisation of Chehr-zd +(free of face, ingenuous of countenance) the petit nom of Queen +Humay, for whom see the Terminal Essay. The name of the sister, +whom the Fihrist converts into a Kahramnah, or nurse, vulgarly +written Dnr-zd, would= child of gold pieces, freed by gold +pieces, or one who has no need of gold pieces: Dnzd=child of +faith and Daynzd, proposed by Langls, "free from debt (!)" I +have adopted Macnaghten's Dunyazad. "Shahryar," which Scott +hideously writes "Shier ear," is translated by the Shams, King of +the world, absolute monarch and the court of Anushir wan while +the Burhn-i-Kti'a renders it a King of Kings, and P.N. of a +town. Shahr-bz is also the P.N. of a town in Samarcand. + +[FN#2] Arab. "Malik," here used as in our story-books: "Pompey +was a wise and powerful King" says the Gesta Romanorum. This King +is, as will appear, a Regent or Governor under Harun al-Rashid. +In the next tale he is Viceroy of Damascus, where he is also +called "Sultan." + +[FN#3] The Bull Edit. gives the lines as follows:--- + + The lance was his pen, and the hearts of his foes * + His paper, and dipped he in blood for ink; + Hence our sires entitled the spear Khattyah, * + Meaning that withal man shall write, I think. + +The pun is in "Khattyah" which may mean a writer (feminine) and +also a spear, from Khatt Hajar, a tract in the province +Al-Bahrayn (Persian Gulf), and Oman, where the best Indian +bamboos were landed and fashioned into lances. Imr al-Keys +(Mu'allakah v. 4.) sings of "our dark spears firmly wrought of +Khattiyan cane;" Al-Busr of "the brown lances of Khatt;" also +see Lebid v. 50 and Hamsah pp. 26, 231, Antar notes the "Spears +of Khatt" and "Rudaynian lances." Rudaynah is said to have been +the wife of one Samhr, the Ferrara of lances; others make her +the wife of Al-Ka'azab and hold Sambr to be a town in Abyssinia +where the best weapons were manufactured The pen is the Calamus +or Kalam (reed cut for pen) of which the finest and hardest are +brought from Java: they require the least ribbing. The rhetorical +figure in the text is called Husn al-Ta'all, our aetiology; and +is as admirable to the Arabs as it appears silly to us. + +[FN#4] "He loves folk" is high praise, meaning something more +than benevolence and beneficence.. Like charity it covers a host +of sins. + +[FN#5] The sentence is euphuistic. + +[FN#6] Arab. "Rubb"=syrup a word Europeanised by the "Rob +Laffecteur." + +[FN#7] The Septentriones or four oxen and their wain. + +[FN#8] The list fatally reminds us of "astronomy and the use of +the globes" . . . "Shakespeare and the musical glasses." + +[FN#9] The octave occurs in Night xv. I quote Torrens (p. 360) by +way of variety. + +[FN#10] A courteous formula of closing with the offer. + +[FN#11] To express our "change of climate" Easterns say, "change +of water and air," water coming first. + +[FN#12] "The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by +night" (Psalm cxxi. 6). Easterns still believe in the blighting +effect of the moon's rays, which the Northerners of Europe, who +view it under different conditions, are pleased to deny. I have +seen a hale and hearty Arab, after sitting an hour in the +moonlight, look like a man fresh from a sick bed; and I knew an +Englishman in India whose face was temporarily paralysed by +sleeping with it exposed to the moon. + +[FN#13] The negroids and negroes of Zanzibar. + +[FN#14] i.e. Why not make thy heart as soft as thy sides! The +converse of this was reported at Paris during the Empire, when a +man had by mistake pinched a very high personage: "Ah, Madame! if +your heart be as hard as (what he had pinched) I am a lost man." + +[FN#15] "Na'man" is said to one after bathing or head-shaving: +the proper reply, for in the East every sign of ceremony has its +countersign, is "Allah benefit thee!" (Pilgrimage i. 11, iii. +285; Lane M. E. chaps. viii.; Caussin de Perceval's Arabic +Grammar, etc., etc.) I have given a specimen (Pilgrimage i., 122) +not only of sign and countersign, but also of the rhyming +repartee which rakes love. Hanien ! (pleasant to thee! said when +a man drinks). Allah pleasure thee (Allah yuhannk which Arnauts +and other ruffians perverted to Allah yank, Allah copulate with +thee); thou drinkest for ten! I am the cock and thou art the hen! +(i.e. a passive catamite) Nay, I am the thick one (the penis +which gives pleasure) and thou art the thin! And so forth with +most unpleasant pleasantries. + +[FN#16] In the old version she is called "The Fair Persian," +probably from the owner: her name means "The Cheerer of the +Companion." + +[FN#17] Pronounce "Nooraddeen." I give the name written in +Arabic. + +[FN#18] Amongst Moslems, I have said, it is held highly +disgraceful when the sound of women's cries can be heard by +outsiders. + +[FN#19] In a case like this, the father would be justified by +Rasm (or usage) not by Koranic law, in playing Brutus with his +son. The same would be the case in a detected intrigue with a +paternal concubine and, in very strict houses, with a slave-girl. + +[FN#20] Orientals fear the "Zug" or draught as much as Germans; +and with even a better reason. Draughts are most dangerous in hot +climates. + +[FN#21] The Unity of the Godhead and the Apostleship of Mohammed. + +[FN#22] This would be done only in the case of the very poor. + +[FN#23] Prayers over the dead are not universal in Al-Islam; but +when they are recited they lack the "sijdah" or prostration. + +[FN#24] Or, "Of the first and the last," i.e. Mohammed, who +claimed (and claimed justly) to be the "Seal" or head and end of +all Prophets and Prophecy. For note that whether the Arab be held +inspired or a mere imposter, no man making the same pretension +has moved the world since him. Mr. J. Smith the Mormon (to +mention one in a myriad) made a bold attempt and failed. + +[FN#25] i.e. flatterers. + +[FN#26] In one matter Moslems contrast strongly with Christians, +by most scrupulously following the example of their law-giver: +hence they are the model Conservatives. But (European) +Christendom is here, as in other things, curiously contradictory: +for instance, it still keeps a "Feast of the Circumcision," and +practically holds circumcision in horror. Eastern Christians, +however, have not wholly abolished it, and the Abyssinians, who +find it a useful hygenic precaution, still practise it. For +ulcers, syphilis and other venereals which are readily cured in +Egypt become dangerous in the Highlands of Ethiopia. + +[FN#27] Arab. "Sabab," the orig. and material sense of the word; +hence "a cause," etc. + +[FN#28] Thus he broke his promise to his father, and it is +insinuated that retribution came upon him. + +[FN#29] "O Pilgrim" (Ya Hjj) is a polite address even to those +who have not pilgrimaged. The feminine "Hjjah" (in Egypt +pronounced "Hggeh") is similarly used. + +[FN#30] Arab. "usl"=roots, i.e. I have not forgotten my +business. + +[FN#31] Moslems from Central and Western North Africa. +(Pilgrimage i. 261; iii. 7, etc); the "Jabarti" is the Moslem +Abyssinian. + +[FN#32] This is a favourite bit of chaff and is to be lengthened +out almost indefinitely e.g. every brown thing is not civet nor +every shining thing a diamond; every black thing is not charcoal +nor every white chalk; every red thing is not a ruby nor every +yellow a topaz; every long-necked thing is not a camel, etc., +etc., etc. + +[FN#33] He gives him the name of his grandfather; a familiar +usage. + +[FN#34] Arab. "Ma'janah," a place for making unbaked bricks +(Tob=Span. Adobe) with chaff and bruised or charred straw. The +use of this article in rainless lands dates from ages immemorial, +and formed the outer walls of the Egyptian temple. + +[FN#35] Arab. "Barsh," a bit of round matting used by the poor as +a seat. The Wazir thus showed that he had been degraded to the +condition of a mat-maker. + +[FN#36] The growth (a Poa of two species) which named Wady Half +(vulg. "Halfah"), of which the home public has of late heard +perhaps a trifle too much. Burckhardt (Prov. 226) renders it "dry +reeds"-incorrectly enough. + +[FN#37] This "Hshimi" vein, as they call it, was an abnormal +development between the eyes of the house of Abbas, inherited +from the great- grandfather of the Prophet; and the latter had it +remarkably large, swelling in answer and battle-rage. The text, +however, may read "The sweat of wrath," etc. + +[FN#38] Torrens and Payne prefer "Ilm"=knowledge. Lane has more +correctly "Alam"=a sign, a flag. + +[FN#39] The lines were in Night xi.: I have quoted Torrens (p. +379) for a change. + +[FN#40] Still customary in Tigris-Euphrates land, where sea-craft +has not changed since the days of Xisisthrus-Noah, and long +before. + +[FN#41] To cool the contents. + +[FN#42] Hence the Khedivial Palace near Cairo "Kasr al-Nuzhah;" +literally, "of Delights;" one of those flimsy new-Cairo buildings +which contrast so marvellously with the architecture of ancient +and even of medival Egypt, and which are covering the land with +modern ruins. Compare Mohammed Ali's mosque in the citadel with +the older Sultan Hasan. A popular tale is told that, when the +conquering Turk, Ywz Sultan Selim, first visited Cairo, they +led him to Mosque Al-Ghr. "This is a splendid K'ah (saloon)!" +quoth he. When he entered Sultan Hasan, he exclaimed, "This is a +citadel!"; but after inspecting the Mosque Al-Mu'ayyad he cried, +"'Tis a veritable place of prayer, a fit stead for the Faithful +to adore the Eternal!" + +[FN#43] Arab. gardeners are very touchy on this point. A friend +of mine was on a similar occasion addressed, in true Egyptian +lingo, by an old Adam-son, "Ya ibn al-Kalb! beta'mil ay?" (O dog- +son, what art thou up to?). + +[FN#44] "The green palm-stick is of the trees of Paradise;" say +the Arabs in Solomonic style but not Solomonic words: so our +"Spare the rod," etc. + +[FN#45] Wayfarers, travellers who have a claim on the kindness of +those at home: hence Abd al-Rahman al-Burai sings in his famous +Ode:-- + + He hath claim on the dwellers in the places of their birth, * +Whoso wandereth the world, for he lacketh him a home. + +It is given in my "First Footsteps in East Africa" (pp. 53-55). + +[FN#46] The good old man treated the youth like a tired child. + +[FN#47] In Moslem writings the dove and turtle-dove are mostly +feminine, whereas the female bird is always mute and only the +male sings to summon or to amuse his mate. + +[FN#48] An unsavoury comparison of the classical Narcissus with +the yellow white of a nigger's eyes. + +[FN#49] A tree whose coals burn with fierce heat: Al-Hariri (Vth +Seance). This Artemisia is like the tamarisk but a smaller growth +and is held to be a characteristic of the Arabian Desert. A +Badawi always hails with pleasure the first sight of the Ghaz, +after he has sojourned for a time away from his wilds. Mr. +Palgrave (i. 38) describes the "Ghad" as an Euphorbia with a +woody stem often 5-6 feet high and slender, flexible green twigs +(?), "forming a feathery tuft, not ungraceful to the eye, while +it affords some shelter to the traveller, and food to his +camels." + +[FN#50] Arab. "Sal'am"=S(alla) A(llah) a(layhi) was S(allam); +A(llah) b(less) h(im) a(nd) k(eep)=Allah keep him and assain! + +[FN#51] The ass is held to be ill-omened. I have noticed the +braying elsewhere. According to Mandeville the Devil did not +enter the Ark with the Ass, but he left it when Noah said +"Benedicite." In his day (A.D. 1322) and in that of Benjamin of +Tudela, people had seen and touched the ship on Ararat, the Judi +(Gordii) mountains; and this dates from Berosus (S.C. 250) who, +of course, refers to the Ark of Xisisthrus. See Josephus Ant. i. +3, 6; and Rodwell (Koran, pp. 65, 530). + +[FN#52] As would happen at a "Zikr," rogation or litany. Those +who wish to see how much can be made of the subject will read +"Pearls of the Faith, or Islam's Rosary, being the ninety-nine +beautiful names of Allah" (Asm-el-Husna) etc. by Edwin Arnold: +London, Trbner, 1883. + +[FN#53] i.e. the Ski, cup-boy or cup-bearer. "Moon-faced," as I +have shown elsewhere, is no compliment in English, but it is in +Persian and Arabic. + +[FN#54] He means we are "Zhir," plain honest Moslems, not +"Btin," gnostics (ergo reprobates) and so forth, who disregard +all appearances and external ordinances. This suggests his +opinion of Shaykh Ibrahim and possibly refers to Ja'afar's +suspected heresy. + +[FN#55] This worthy will be noticed in a subsequent page. + +[FN#56] Arab. "Lism," the end of the "Kufiyah," or head-kerchief +passed over the face under the eyes and made fast on the other +side. This mouth-veil serves as a mask (eyes not being +recognisable) and defends from heat, cold and thirst. I also +believe that hooding the eyes with this article, Badawi-fashion, +produces a sensation of coolness, at any rate a marked difference +of apparent temperature; somewhat like a pair of dark spectacles +or looking at the sea from a sandy shore. (Pilgrimage i., 210 and +346.) The woman's "Lism" (chin-veil) or Yashmak is noticed in +i., 337. + +[FN#57] Most characteristic is this familiarity between the +greatest man then in the world and his pauper subject. The +fisherman alludes to a practise of Al-Islman, instituted by +Caliph Omar, that all rulers should work at some handicraft in +order to spare the public treasure. Hence Sultan Mu'ayyad of +Cairo was a calligrapher who sold his handwriting, and his +example was followed by the Turkish Sultans Mahmd, Abd al-Majd +and Abd al-Azz. German royalties prefer carpentering and Louis +XVI, watch-making. + +[FN#58] There would be nothing singular in this request. The +democracy of despotism levels all men outside the pale of +politics and religion. + +[FN#59] "Wa'llhi tayyib!" an exclamation characteristic of the +Egyptian Moslem. + +[FN#60] The pretended fisherman's name Karm=the Generous. + +[FN#61] Such an act of generosity would appear to Europeans well- +nigh insanity, but it is quite in Arab manners. Witness the oft- +quoted tale of Hatim and his horse. As a rule the Arab is the +reverse of generous, contrasting badly, in this point, with his +cousin the Jew: hence his ideal of generosity is of the very +highest. "The generous (i.e. liberal) is Allah's friend, aye, +though he be a sinner; and the miser is Allah's foe, aye, though +he be a saint!" Indian Moslems call a skin-flint Makhi-chs = +fly-sucker. (Pilgrimage i. 242.) + +[FN#62] Arab. "Amm ba'ad" or (Wa ba'ad), an initiatory formula +attributed to Koss ibn Sa'idat al-Iyadi, bishop of Najrn (the +town in Al-Yaman which D'Herbelot calls Negiran) and a famous +preacher in Mohammed's day, hence "more eloquent than Koss" +(Maydn, Arab. Prov., 189). He was the first who addressed +letters with the incept, "from A. to B."; and the first who +preached from a pulpit and who leant on a sword or a staff when +discoursing. Many Moslems date Amm ba'ad from the Prophet David, +relying upon a passage of the Koran (xxxviii. 19). + +[FN#63] Arab. "Nusf"=half (a dirham): vulgarly pronounced "nuss," +and synonymous with the Egypt. "Faddah" (=silver), the Greek +"Asper," and the Turkish "parh." It is the smallest Egyptian +coin, made of very base metal and, there being forty to the +piastre, it is worth nearly a quarter of a farthing. + +[FN#64] The too literal Torrens and Lane make the Caliph give the +gardener-lad the clothes in which he was then clad, forgetting, +like the author or copier, that he wore the fisherman's lousy +suit. + +[FN#65] In sign of confusion, disappointment and so forth: not +"biting his nails," which is European and utterly un-Asiatic. + +[FN#66] See lines like these in Night xiii. (i. 136); the +sentiment is trite. + +[FN#67] The Arab will still stand under his ruler's palace and +shout aloud to attract his attention. Sayyid Sa'd known as the +"Imn of Muskat" used to encourage the patriarchal practice. +Mohammed repeatedly protested against such unceremonious conduct +(Koran xciv. 11, etc.). The "three times of privacy" (Koran cv. +57) are before the dawn prayer, during the Siesta (noon) and +after the even-prayer. + +[FN#68] The Judges of the four orthodox schools. + +[FN#69] That none might see it or find it ever after. + +[FN#70] Arab. "Khatt Sharf"=a royal autographical letter: the +term is still preserved in Turkey, but Europeans will write +"Hatt." + +[FN#71] Meaning "Little tom-cat;" a dim. of "Kitt" vulg. Kutt or +Gutt. + +[FN#72] Arab. "Matmrah"-the Algerine "Matamor"-a "silo," made +familiar to England by the invention of "Ensilage." + +[FN#73] The older "Mustapha"=Mohammed. This Intercession-doctrine +is fiercely disputed. (Pilgrimage ii. 77.) The Apostle of Al- +Islam seems to have been unable to make up his mind upon the +subject: and modern opinion amongst Moslems is apparently +borrowed from the Christians. + +[FN#74] Lane (i. 486) curiously says, "The place of the +stagnation of blood:" yet he had translated the word aright in +the Introduction (i. 41). I have noticed that the Nat'a is made +like the "Sufrah," of well-tanned leather, with rings in the +periphery, so that a thong passed through turns it into a bag. +The Sufrah used for provisions is usually yellow, with a black +border and small pouches for knives or spoons. (Pilgrimage i. +111.) + +[FN#75] This improbable detail shows the Caliph's greatness. + +[FN#76] "Cousin" is here a term of familiarity, our "coz." + +[FN#77] i.e. without allowing them a moment's delay to change +clothes. + +[FN#78] i.e. according to my nature, birth, blood, de race. + +[FN#79] Our "Job." The English translators of the Bible, who +borrowed Luther's system of transliteration (of A.D. 1522), +transferred into English the German "j" which has the sound of +"i" or "y"; intending us to pronounce Yacob (or Yakob), Yericho, +Yimnites, Yob (or Hiob) and Yudah. Tyndall, who copied Luther +(A.D. 1525-26), preserved the true sound by writing lacob, Ben +Iamin and Iudas. But his successors unfortunately returned to the +German; the initial I, having from the xiii century been +ornamentally lengthened and bent leftwards, became a consonant. +The public adopted the vernacular sound of "j" (da) and hence our +language and our literature are disgraced by such barbarisms as +"Jehovah" and "Jesus"; Dgehovah and Dgeesus for Yehovah and +Yesus. Future generations of school-teachers may remedy the evil; +meanwhile we are doomed for the rest of our days to hear + + Gee-rusalem! Gee-rusalem! etc. + +Nor is there one word to be said in favour of the corruption +except that, like the Protestant mispronunciation of Latin and +the Erasmian ill-articulation of Greek, it has become English, +and has lent its little aid in dividing the Britons from the rest +of the civilised world. + +[FN#80] The moon, I repeat, is masculine in the so-called +"Semitic" tongues. + +[FN#81] i.e. camel loads, about lbs. 300; and for long journeys +lbs. 250. + +[FN#82] Arab. "Janzah," so called only when carrying a corpse; +else Na'ash, Sarr or Tbt: Irn being the large hearse on which +chiefs are borne. It is made of plank or stick work; but there +are several varieties. (Lane, M. E. chaps. xxviii.) + +[FN#83] It is meritorious to accompany the funeral cortge of a +Moslem even for a few paces. + +[FN#84] Otherwise he could not have joined in the prayers. + +[FN#85] Arab. "Halw" made of sugar, cream, almonds, etc. That of +Maskat is famous throughout the East. + +[FN#86] i.e. "Camphor" to a negro, as we say "Snowball," by the +figure antiphrase. + +[FN#87] "Little Good Luck," a dim. form of "bakht"=luck, a +Persian word naturalized in Egypt. + +[FN#88] There are, as I have shown, not a few cannibal tribes in +Central Africa and these at times find their way into the slave +market. + +[FN#89] i.e. After we bar the door. + +[FN#90] Arab. "Jwsh" from Turk. Chwsh, Chiaoosh, a sergeant, +poursuivant, royal messenger. I would suggest that this is the +word "Shlish" or "Jlish" in Al-Siynti's History of the Caliphs +(p. 501) translated by Carlyle "milites," by Schultens +"Sagittarius" and by Jarett "picked troops." + +[FN#91] This familiarity with blackamoor slave-boys is common in +Egypt and often ends as in the story: Egyptian blood is +sufficiently mixed with negro to breed inclination for +miscegenation. But here the girl was wickedly neglected by her +mother at such an age as ten. + +[FN#92] Arab. "Farj"; hence a facetious designation of the other +sex is "Zawi'l-furuj" (grammatically Zawtu'l- furj)=habentes +rimam, slit ones. + +[FN#93] This ancient and venerable practice of inspecting the +marriage-sheet is still religiously preserved in most parts of +the East, and in old-fashioned Moslem families. It is publicly +exposed in the Harem to prove that the "domestic calamity" (the +daughter) went to her husband a clean maid. Also the general idea +is that no blood will impose upon the exerts, or jury of matrons, +except that of a pigeon-poult which exactly resembles hymeneal +blood-- when not subjected to the microscope. This belief is +universal in Southern Europe and I have heard of it in England. +Further details will be given in Night ccxi. + +[FN#94] "Agha" Turk.=sir, gentleman, is, I have said, politely +addressed to a eunuch. + +[FN#95] As Bukhayt tells us he lost only his testes, consequently +his erectio et distensio penis was as that of a boy before +puberty and it would last as long as his heart and circulation +kept sound. Hence the eunuch who preserves his penis is much +prized in the Zenanah where some women prefer him to the entire +man, on account of his long performance of the deed of kind. Of +this more in a future page. + +[FN#96] It is or rather was the custom in Egypt and Syria to +range long rows of fine China bowls along the shelves running +round the rooms at the height of six or seven feet, and they +formed a magnificent cornice. I bought many of them at Damascus +till the people, learning their value, asked prohibitive prices. + +[FN#97] The tale is interesting as well as amusing, excellently +describing the extravagance still practiced in middle-class +Moslem families on the death of the pater familias. I must again +note that Arab women are much more unwilling to expose the back +of the head covered by the "Tarhah" (head-veil) than the face, +which is hidden by the "Burke" or nose bag. + +[FN#98] The usual hysterical laughter of this nervous race. + +[FN#99] Here the slave refuses to be set free and starve. For a +master so to do without ample reasons is held disgraceful. I well +remember the weeping and wailing throughout Sind when an order +from Sir Charles Napier set free the negroes whom British +philanthropy thus doomed to endure if not to die of hunger. + +[FN#100] Manumission, which is founded upon Roman law, is an +extensive subject discussed in the Hidyah and other canonical +works. The slave here lays down the law incorrectly but his claim +shows his truly "nigger" impudence. + +[FN#101] This is quite true to nature. The most remarkable thing +in the wild central African is his enormous development of +"destructiveness." At Zanzibar I never saw a slave break a glass +or plate without a grin or a chuckle of satisfaction. + +[FN#102] Arab. "Khass-ni"; Khusyatni (vulg.) being the +testicles, also called "bayzatn" the two eggs) a double entendre +which has given rise to many tales. For instance in the witty +Persian book "Dozd o Kazi" (The Thief and the Judge) a footpad +strips the man of learning and offers to return his clothes if he +can ask him a puzzle in law or religion. The Kazi (in folk-lore +mostly a fool) fails, and his wife bids him ask the man to supper +for a trial of wits on the same condition. She begins with +compliments and ends by producing five eggs which she would have +him distribute equally amongst the three; and, when he is +perplexed, she gives one to each of the men taking three for +herself. Whereupon the "Dozd" wends his way, having lost his +booty as his extreme stupidity deserved. In the text the eunuch, +Kafur, is made a "Sandal" or smooth-shaven, so that he was of no +use to women. + +[FN#103] Arab. "Khara," the lowest possible word: Y Khara! is +the commonest of insults, used also by modest women. I have heard +one say it to her son. + +[FN#104] Arab. "Kmah," a measure of length, a fathom, also +called "B'a." Both are omitted in that sadly superficial book, +Lane's Modern Egyptians, App. B. + +[FN#105] Names of her slave-girls which mean (in order), +Garden-bloom, Dawn (or Beautiful), Tree o' Pearl (P. N. of +Saladin's wife), Light of (right) Direction, Star o' the Morn +Lewdness (= Shahwah, I suppose this is a chaff), Delight, +Sweetmeat and Miss Pretty. + +[FN#106] This mode of disposing of a rival was very common in +Harems. But it had its difficulties and on the whole the river +was (and is) preferred. + +[FN#107] An Eastern dislikes nothing more than drinking in a dim +dingy place: the brightest lights seem to add to his +"drinkitite." + +[FN#108] He did not sleep with her because he suspected some +palace-mystery which suggested prudence, she also had her +reasons. + +[FN#109] This as called in Egypt "Allah." (Lane M. E. chaps. i.) + +[FN#110] It would be a broad ribbon-like band upon which the +letters could be worked. + +[FN#111] In the Arab. "he cried." These "Yes, Yes!" and "No! No!" +trifles are very common amongst the Arabs. + +[FN#112] Arab. "Maragha" lit. rubbed his face on them like a +fawning dog. Ghanim is another "softy" lover, a favourite +character in Arab tales; and by way of contrast, the girl is +masterful enough. + +[FN#113] Because the Abbaside Caliphs descend from Al-Abbas, +paternal uncle of Mohammed, text means more explicitly, "O +descendant of the Prophet's uncle!" + +[FN#114] The most terrible part of a belle passion in the East is +that the beloved will not allow her lover leave of absence for an +hour. + +[FN#115] It is hard to preserve these wretched puns. In the +original we have "O spray (or branch) of capparis-shrub (arki) +which has been thinned of leaf and fruit (tujna, i.e., whose +fruit, the hymen, has been plucked before and not by me) I see +thee (arka) against me sinning (tajn). + +[FN#116] Apparently the writer forgets that the Abbaside banners +and dress were black, originally a badge of mourning for the Imm +Ibrahim bin Mohammed put to death by the Ommiade Caliph +Al-Marwan. The modern Egyptian mourning, like the old Persian, is +indigo-blue of the darkest; but, as before noted, the custom is +by no means universal. + +[FN#117] Koran, chaps. iv. In the East as elsewhere the Devil +quotes Scripture. + +[FN#118] A servant returning from a journey shows his master due +honour by appearing before him in travelling suit and uncleaned. + +[FN#119] The first name means "Rattan", the second "Willow wand," +from the "Bn" or "Khilf" the Egyptian willow (Salix gyptiaca +Linn.) vulgarly called "Safsf." Forskal holds the "Bn" to be a +different variety. + +[FN#120] Arab. "Ta'm," which has many meanings: in mod. parlance +it would signify millet holcus seed. + +[FN#121] i.e. "I well know how to deal with him." + +[FN#122] The Pen (title of the Koranic chaps. Ixviii.) and the +Preserved Tablet (before explained). + +[FN#123] These plunderings were sanctioned by custom. But a few +years ago, when the Turkish soldiers mutinied about arrears of +pay (often delayed for years) the governing Pasha would set fire +to the town and allow the men to loot what they pleased during a +stated time. Rochet (soi-disant D'Hericourt) amusingly describes +this manoeuvre of the Turkish Governor of Al-Hodaydah in the last +generation. (Pilgrimage iii. 381.) + +[FN#124] Another cenotaph whose use was to enable women to +indulge in their pet pastime of weeping and wailing in company. + +[FN#125] The lodging of pauper travellers, as the chapel in +Iceland is of the wealthy. I have often taken benefit of the +mosque, but as a rule it is unpleasant, the matting being not +only torn but over-populous. Juvenal seems to allude to the +Jewish Synagogue similarly used: "in qu te quro proseuch"? +(iii. 296) and in Acts iii. we find the lame, blind and impotent +in the Temple-porch. + +[FN#126] This foul sort of vermin is supposed to be bred by +perspiration. It is an epoch in the civilised traveller's life +when he catches his first louse. + +[FN#127] The Moslem peasant is a kind hearted man and will make +many sacrifices for a sick stranger even of another creed. It is +a manner of "pundonor" with the village. + +[FN#128] Such treatment of innocent women was only too common +under the Caliphate and in contemporary Europe. + +[FN#129] This may also mean, "And Heaven will reward thee," but +camel-men do not usually accept any drafts upon futurity. + +[FN#130] He felt that he was being treated like a corpse. + +[FN#131] This hatred of the Hospital extends throughout Southern +Europe, even in places where it is not justified. + +[FN#132] The importance of the pillow (wisdah or makhaddah) to +the sick man is often recognised in The Nights. "He took to his +pillow" is = took to his bed. + +[FN#133] i.e in order that the reverend men, who do not render +such suit and service gratis, might pray for him. + +[FN#134] The reader will notice in The Nights the frequent +mention of these physical prognostications, with which mesmerists +are familiar. + +[FN#135] The Pers. name of the planet Saturn in the Seventh +Heaven. Arab. "Zuhal"; the Kiun or Chiun of Amos vi. 26. + +[FN#136] i.e. "Pardon me if I injured thee"-- a popular phrase. + +[FN#137] A "seduction," a charmer. The double-entendre has before +been noticed. + +[FN#138] This knightly tale, the longest in the Nights (xliv.-- +cxlv.), about one-eighth of the whole, does not appear in the +Bres. Edit. Lane, who finds it "objectionable," reduces it to two +of its episodes, Azz-cum-Azzah and Tj al-Mulk. On the other +hand it has been converted into a volume (8vo, pp. 240) +"Scharkan, Conte Arabe," etc. Traduit par M. Asselan Riche, etc. +Paris: Dondey-Dupr. 1829. It has its longueurs and at times is +longsome enough; but it is interesting as a comparison between +the chivalry of Al-Islam and European knight-errantry. Although +all the characters are fictitious the period is evidently in the +early crusading days. Csarea, the second capital of Palestine, +taken during the Caliphate of Omar (A.H. 19) and afterwards +recovered, was fortified in A.H. 353 = 963 as a base against the +Arabs by the Emperor Phocas, the Arab. "Nakfr" i.e. Nicephorus. +In A.H. 498=1104, crusading craft did much injury by plundering +merchantmen between Egypt and Syria, to which allusion is found +in the romance. But the story teller has not quite made up his +mind about which Csarea he is talking, and M. Riche tells us +that Csare is a "ville de la Mauritanie, en Afrique" (p. 20). + +[FN#139] The fifth Ommiade Caliph reign. A.H. 65-86 = 685-704. + +[FN#140] This does not merely mean that no one was safe from his +wrath: or, could approach him in the heat of fight: it is a +reminiscence of the masterful "King Kulayb," who established +game-laws in his dominions and would allow no man to approach his +camp-fire. Moreover the Jinn lights a fire to decoy travellers, +but if his victim be bold enough to brave him, he invites him to +take advantage of the heat. + +[FN#141] China. + +[FN#142] The Jaxartes and the Bactrus (names very loosely +applied). + +[FN#143] In full "Sharrun kna" i.e. an evil (Sharr) has come to +being (kna) that is, "bane to the foe" a pagan and knightly +name. The hero of the Romance "Al-Dalhamah" is described as a +bitter gourd (colocynth), a viper, a calamity. + +[FN#144] This is a Moslem law (Koran chaps. iv. bodily borrowed +from the Talmud) which does not allow a man to marry one wife +unless he can carnally satisfy her. Moreover he must distribute his +honours equally and each wife has a right to her night unless she +herself give it up. This was the case even with the spouses of the +Prophet; and his biography notices several occasions when his wives +waived their rights in favour of one another M. Riche kindly +provides the King with la piquante francaise (p. 15). + +[FN#145] So the celebrated mosque in Stambul, famed for being the +largest church in the world is known to the Greeks as "Agia (pron. +Aya) Sophia" and to Moslems as "Aye Sofyeh" (Holy Wisdom) i.e. the +Logos or Second Person of the Trinity (not a Saintess). The sending +a Christian girl as a present to a Moslem would, in these days, be +considered highly scandalous. But it was done by the Mukaukis or +Coptic Governor of Egypt (under Heraclius) who of course hated the +Greeks. This worthy gave two damsels to Mohammed; one called Srn +and the other Mriyah (Maria) whom the Prophet reserved for his +especial use and whose abode is still shown at Al-Medinah. The Rev. +Doctor Badger (loc. cit. p. 972) gives the translation of an +epistle by Mohammed to this Mukaukis, written in the Cufic +character ( ? ?) and sealed "Mohammed, The Apostle of Allah." My +friend seems to believe that it is an original, but upon this +subject opinions will differ. It is, however, exceedingly +interesting, beginning with "Bismillah," etc., and ending (before +the signature) with a quotation from the Koran (iii. 57); and it +may be assumed as a formula addressee to foreign potentates by a +Prophet who had become virtually "King of Arabia." + +[FN#146] This prayer before "doing the deed of kind" is, I have +said, Moslem as well Christian. + +[FN#147] Exodus i. 16, quoted by Lane (M. E., chaps. xxvii.). +Torrens in his Notes cites Drayton's "Moon-calf':-- + + Bring forth the birth-stool--no, let it alone; + She is so far beyond all compass grown, + Some other new device us needs must stead, + Or else she never can be brought to bed. + +It is the "groaning-chair" of Poor Robin's Almanac (1676) and we +find it alluded to in Boccaccio, the classical sedile which +according to scoffers has formed the papal chair (a curule seat) +ever since the days of Pope Joan, when it has been held advisable +for one of the Cardinals to ascertain that His Holiness possesses +all the instruments of virility. This "Kurs al-wildah" is of +peculiar form on which the patient is seated. A most interesting +essay might be written upon the various positions preferred during +delivery, e.g. the wild Irish still stand on all fours, like the +so-called "lower animals." Amongst the Moslems of Waday, etc., a +cord is hung from the top of the hut, and the woman in labour holds +on to it standing with her legs apart, till the midwife receives +the child. + +[FN#148] Some Orientalists call "lullilooing" the trilling cry, +which is made by raising the voice to its highest pitch and +breaking it by a rapid succession of touches on the palate with the +tongue-tip, others "Ziraleet" and Zagaleet, and one traveller tells +us that it began at the marriage-festival of Isaac and Rebecca (!). +Arabs term it classically "Tahll" and vulgarly "Zaghrutah" (Plur. +Zaghrit) and Persians "Kil." Finally in Don Quixote we have +"Lelilies," the battle-cry of the Moors (Duffield iii. 289). Dr. +Buchanan likens it to a serpent uttering human sounds, but the good +missionary heard it at the festival of Jagannath. (Pilgrimage iii. +197 ) + +[FN#149] i.e. "Light of the Place" (or kingdom) and "Delight of the +Age." + +[FN#150] It is utterly absurd to give the old heroic Persian name +Afridun or Furaydun, the destroyer of Zohk or Zahhk to a Greek, +but such anachronisms are characteristic of The Nights and are +evidently introduced on purpose. See Boccaccio, ix. 9. + +[FN#151] Arab. "Yunn" lit. Ionia, which applies to all Greece, +insular and continental, especially to ancient Greece. + +[FN#152] In 1870 I saw at Sidon a find of some hundreds of gold +"Philippi" and "Alexanders." + +[FN#153] M. Riche has (p. 21), "Ces talismans travaills par le +ciseau du clbre Califaziri," adding in a note, "Je pense que +c'est un sculpteur Arabe." + +[FN#154] This periphrase, containing what seems to us a useless +negative, adds emphasis in Arabic. + +[FN#155] This bit of geographical information is not in the Bull +Edit. + +[FN#156] In Pers. = a tooth, the popular word. + +[FN#157] This preliminary move, called in Persian Nakl-i Safar, is +generally mentioned. So the Franciscan monks in California, when +setting out for a long journey through the desert, marched three +times round the convent and pitched tents for the night under its +walls. + +[FN#158] In Arab. "Khazinah" or "Khaznah" lit. a treasure, +representing 1,000 "Ks" or purses (each=5). The sum in the text +is 7,000 purses X 5=35,000. + +[FN#159] Travellers often prefer such sites because they are +sheltered from the wind, and the ground is soft for pitching tents; +but many have come to grief from sudden torrents following rain. + +[FN#160] Arab "Ghbah" not a forest in our sense of the word, but +a place where water sinks and the trees (mostly Mimosas), which +elsewhere are widely scattered, form a comparatively dense growth +and collect in thickets. These are favourite places for wild beasts +during noon-heats. + +[FN#161] At various times in the East Jews and Christians were +ordered to wear characteristic garments, especially the Zunnr or +girdle. + +[FN#162] The description is borrowed from the Coptic Convent, which +invariably has an inner donjon or keep. The oldest monastery in the +world is Mar Antonios (St. Anthony the Hermit) not far from Suez. +(Gold Mines of Midian, p. 85.) + +[FN#163] "Dawh," plur. of Dhiyah = a mishap. The title means +"Mistress of Misfortunes" or Queen of Calamities (to the enemy); +and the venerable lady, as will be seen, amply deserved her name, +which is pronounced Zt al-Dawh. + +[FN#164] Arab. "Kunfuz"=hedgehog or porcupine. + +[FN#165] These flowers of speech are mere familiarities, not +insults. In societies where the sexes are separated speech becomes +exceedingly free. "tourdie que vous tes," says M. Riche, toning +down the text. + +[FN#166] Arab. "Zirt," a low word. The superlative "Zarrt" +(fartermost) or, "Abu Zirt" (Father of farts) is a facetious term +among the bean-eating Fellahs and a deadly insult amongst the +Badawin (Night ccccx.). The latter prefer the word Tagga +(Pilgrimage iii. 84). We did not disdain the word in +farthingale=pet en air. + +[FN#167] Arab. "kicked" him, i.e. with the sharp corner of the +shovel-stirrup. I avoid such expressions as "spurring" and +"pricking over the plain," because apt to give a wrong idea. + +[FN#168] Arab. "Allaho Akbar!" the classical Moslem slogan. + +[FN#169] Arab horses are never taught to leap, so she was quite +safe on the other side of a brook nine feet broad. + +[FN#170] "Batrk" (vulg. Bitrk)=patricius, a title given to +Christian knights who commanded ten thousand men; the Tarkhan (or +Nobb) heading four thousand, and the Kaumas (Arab. Kid) two +hundred. It must not be confounded with Batrak (or +Batrik)=patriarcha. (Lane's Lex.) + +[FN#171] Arab. "Kzi al-Kuzt," a kind of Chief Justice or +Chancellor. The office wag established under the rule of Harun al +Rashid, who so entitled Ab Ysuf Ya'akab al-Ansri: therefore the +allusion is anachronistic. The same Caliph also caused the Olema to +dress as they do still. + +[FN#172] The allusion is Koranic: "O men, if ye be in doubt +concerning the resurrection, consider that He first created you of +the dust of the ground (Adam), afterwards of seed" (chaps. xxii.). +But the physiological ideas of the Koran are curious. It supposes +that the Mani or male semen is in the loins and that of women in +the breast bone (chaps Ixxxvi.); that the mingled seed of the two +(chaps. Ixxvi.) fructifies the ovary and that the child is fed +through the navel with menstruous blood, hence the cessation of the +catamenia. Barzoi (Kalilah and Dmnah) says:-- "Man's seed, falling +into the woman's womb, is mixed with her seed and her blood: when +it thickens and curdles the Spirit moves it and it turns about like +liquid cheese; then it solidifies, its arteries are formed, its +limbs constructed and its joints distinguished. If the babe is a +male, his face is placed towards his mother's back; if a female, +towards her belly." (P. 262, Mr. L G.N. Keith- Falconer's +translation.) But there is a curious prolepsis of the +spermatozoa-theory. We read (Koran chaps. vii.), "Thy Lord drew +forth their posterity from the loins of the sons of Adam;" and the +commentators say that Allah stroked Adam's back and extracted from +his loins all his posterity, which shall ever be, in the shape of +small ants; these confessed their dependence on God and were +dismissed to return whence they came." From this fiction it appears +(says Sale) that the doctrine of pre-existence is not unknown to +the Mohammedans, and there is some little conformity between it and +the modern theory of generatio ex animalculis in semine marium. The +poets call this Yaum-i-Alast = the Day of Am-I-not (-your Lord)? +which Sir William Jones most unhappily translated "Art thou not +with thy Lord ?" (Alasta bi Rabbi- kum); fand they produce a grand +vision of unembodied spirits appearing in countless millions before +their Creator. + +[FN#173] The usual preliminary of a wrestling bout. + +[FN#174] In Eastern wrestling this counts as a fair fail. So Ajax +fell on his back with Ulysses on his breast. (Iliad xxxii., 700, +etc.) + +[FN#175] So biting was allowed amongst the Greeks in the + , the final struggle on the ground. + +[FN#176] Supposed to be names of noted wrestlers. "Kayim" (not +El-Kim as Torrens has it) is a term now applied to a juggler or +"professor" of legerdemain who amuses people in the streets with +easy tricks. (Lane, M. E., chaps. xx.) + +[FN#177] Lit. "laughed in his face" which has not the unpleasant +meaning it bears in English. + +[FN#178] Arab. "Abu riyh"=a kind of child's toy. It is our +"bull-roarer" well known in Australia and parts of Africa. + +[FN#179] The people of the region south of the Caspian which is +called "Sea of Daylam." It has a long history; for which see +D'Herbelot, s.v. "Dilem." + +[FN#180] Coptic convents in Egypt still affect these drawbridges +over the keep-moat. + +[FN#181] Koran iv., xxii. etc., meaning it is lawful to marry women +taken in war after the necessary purification although their +husbands be still living. This is not permitted with a free woman +who is a True Believer. I have noted that the only concubine +slave-girl mentioned in the Koran are these "captives possessed by +the right hand." + +[FN#182] The Amazonian dame is a favourite in folk-lore and is an +ornament to poetry from the Iliad to our modern day. Such heroines, +apparently unknown to the Pagan Arabs, were common in the early +ages of Al-Islam as Ockley and Gibbon prove, and that the race is +not extinct may be seen in my Pilgrimage (iii. 55) where the sister +of Ibn Rumi resolved to take blood revenge for her brother. + +[FN#183] And Solomon said, "O nobles, which of you will bring me +her throne ?" A terrible genius (i.e. an If rit of the Jinn named +Dhakwan or the notorious Sakhr) said, " I will bring it unto thee +before thou arise from thy seat (of justice); for I am able to +perform it, and may be trusted" (Koran, xxvii. 38-39). Balks or +Bilks (says the Durrat al-Ghawws) daughter of Hozd bin +Sharhabl, twenty-second in the list of the rulers of Al- Yaman, +according to some murdered her husband, and became, by Moslem +ignorance, the Biblical " Queen of Sheba." The Abyssinians transfer +her from Arabian Saba to Ethiopia and make her the mother by +Solomon of Menelek, their proto-monarch; thus claiming for their +royalties an antiquity compared with which all reigning houses in +the world are of yesterday. The dates of the Tabbi'ah or Tobbas +prove that the Bilkis of history ruled Al-Yaman in the early +Christian era. + +[FN#184] Arab. "Fass," fiss or fuss; the gem set in a ring; also +applied to a hillock rounded en cabochon. In The Nights it is used +to signify "a fine gem." + +[FN#185] This prominence of the gluti muscles is always insisted +upon, because it is supposed to promise well in a bed-fellow. In +Somali land where the people are sub- steatopygous, a rich young +man, who can afford such luxury, will have the girls drawn up in +line and choose her to wife who projects furthest behind + +[FN#186] The "bull" is only half mine. + +[FN#187] A favourite Arab phrase, the "hot eye" is one full of +tears. + +[FN#188] i.e., "Coral," coral branch, a favourite name for a +slave-girl, especially a negress. It is the older "Morgiana." I do +not see why Preston in Al-Harni's "Makamah (Sance) of Singar" +renders it pearls, because Golius gives "small pearls," when it is +evidently "coral." Richardson (Dissert. xlviii.) seems to me +justified in finding the Pari (fairy) Marjan of heroic Persian +history reflected in the Fairy Morgain who earned off King Arthur +after the battle of Camelon. + +[FN#189] Arab. "'Ud Jalaki"=Jalak or Jalik being a poetical and +almost obsolete name of Damascus. + +[FN#190] The fountain in Paradise whose water shall be drunk with +"pure" wine mixed and sealed with musk (for clay). It is so called +because it comes from the "Sanam" (Sanima, to be high) boss or +highest ridge of the Moslem Heaven (Koran lv. 78 and lxxxiii. 27). +Mr. Rodwell says "it is conveyed to the highest apartments in the +Pavilions of Paradise." (?) + +[FN#191] This "hysterical" temperament is not rare even amongst the +bravest Arabs. + +[FN#192] An idea evidently derived from the olipyla (olla +animatoria) the invention of Hero Alexandrinus, which showed that +the ancient Egyptians could apply the motive force of steam. + +[FN#193] Kuthayyir ibn Abi Jumah, a poet and far-famed Rw or +Tale-reciter, mentioned by Ibn Khallikan he lived at Al-Medinah and +sang the attractions of one Azzah, hence his soubriquet Shib +(lover of) Azzah. As he died in A. H. 105 (=726), his presence here +is a gross anachronism the imaginary Sharrkan flourished before the +Caliphate of Abd al-Malik bin Marwn A. H. 65-86. + +[FN#194] Jaml bin Ma'amar, a poet and lover contemporary with +Al-Kuthayrir. + +[FN#195] Arab. "Tafazzal," a word of frequent use in +conversation="favour me," etc. + +[FN#196] The word has a long history. From the Gr. or +is the Lat. stibium; while the Low Latin "antimonium" and the Span. +Althimod are by metathesis for Al-Ithmid. The dictionaries define +the substance as a stone from which antimony is prepared, but the +Arabs understand a semi-mythical mineral of yellow colour which +enters into the veins of the eyes and gives them Iynx-like vision. +The famous Anz nicknamed Zark (the blue eyed) of Yammah +(Province) used it; and, according to some, invented Kohl. When her +(protohistoric) tribe Jadis had destroyed all the rival race of +Tasm, except Ribh ibn Murrah; the sole survivor fled to the Tobba +of Al-Yaman, who sent a host to avenge him. The king commanded his +Himyarites to cut tree-boughs and use them as screens (again Birnam +wood). Zark from her Utum, or peel-tower, saw the army three +marches off and cried, "O folk, either trees or Himyar are coming +upon you!" adding, in Rajaz verse:-- + +I swear by Allah that trees creep onward, or that Himyar beareth +somewhat which he draweth along! + +She then saw a man mending his sandal. But Jadis disbelieved; +Cassandra was slain and, when her eyes were cut out the vessels +were found full of Ithmid. Hence Al-Mutanabbi sang: + + "Sharper-sighted than Zark of Jau" (Yammah). + +See C. de Perceval i. 101; Arab. Prov. i. 192; and Chenery p. 381. +(The Assemblies of Al-Hariri; London, Williams and Norgate, 1867). +I have made many enquiries into the true nature of Ithmid and +failed to learn anything: on the Upper Nile the word is=Kohl. + +[FN#197] The general colour of chessmen in the East, where the game +is played on a cloth more often than a board. + +[FN#198] Arab. "Al-fil," the elephant=the French fol or fou and our +bishop. I have derived "elephant" from Pl (old Persian, Sansk. +Pilu) and Arab. Fil, with the article Al-Fil, whence the Greek + the suffix--as being devoted to barbarous words as Obod-as +(Al Ubayd), Aretas (Al-Hris), etc. Mr. Isaac Taylor (The Alphabet +i. 169), preserves the old absurdity of "eleph-ant or ox-like (!) +beast of Africa." Prof. Sayce finds the word al-ab (two distinct +characters) in line 3, above the figure of an (Indian) elephant, on +the black obelisk of Nimrod Mound, and suggests an Assyrian +derivation. + +[FN#199] Arab. "Shaukat" which may also mean the "pride" or +"mainstay" (of the army). + +[FN#200] Lit. "smote him on the tendons of his neck." This is the +famous shoulder-cut (Tawash shuh) which, with the leg-cut (Kalam), +formed, and still forms, the staple of Eastern attack with the +sword. + +[FN#201] Arab. "Dirs." Easterns do not thresh with flails. The +material is strewed over a round and smoothed floor of dried mud in +the open air and threshed by different connivances. In Egypt the +favourite is a chair-like machine called "Norag," running on iron +plates and drawn by bulls or cows over the corn. Generally, +however, Moslems prefer the old classical , the Tribulum of +Virgil and Varro, a slipper-shaped sled of wood garnished on the +sole with large-headed iron nails, or sharp fragments of flint or +basalt. Thus is made the "Tibn" or straw, the universal hay of the +East, which our machines cannot imitate. + +[FN#202] These numbers appear to be grossly exaggerated, but they +were possible in the days of sword and armour: at the battle of +Saffayn the Caliph Ali is said to have cut down five hundred and +twenty-three men in a single night. + +[FN#203] Arab. "Bika'": hence the "Buka'ah" or Clesyria. + +[FN#204] Richardson in his excellent dictionary (note 103) which +modern priggism finds "unscientific " wonderfully derives this word +from Arab. "Khattf," a snatcher (i.e. of women), a ravisher. It is +an evident corruption of "captivus" through Italian and French + +[FN#205] These periodical and fair-like visitations to convents are +still customary; especially amongst the Christians of Damascus. + +[FN#206] Camphor being then unknown. + +[FN#207] The "wrecker" is known all over the world; and not only +barbarians hold that ships driven ashore become the property of the +shore + +[FN#208] Arab. "Jokh": it is not a dictionary word, but the only +term in popular use for European broadcloth. + +[FN#209] The second person plural is used because the writer would +involve the subjects of his correspondent in the matter. + +[FN#210] This part of the phrase, which may seem unnecessary to the +European, is perfectly intelligible to all Orientalists. You may +read many an Eastern letter and not understand it. Compare Boccacoo +iv. 1. + +[FN#211] i.e. he was greatly agitated + +[FN#212] In text "Li-ajal a al-Taudi'a," for the purpose of +farewelling, a low Egyptianism; emphatically a "Kalm wti." +(Pilgrimage thee iii. 330.) + +[FN#213] In the Mac. Edit. Sharrkan speaks, a clerical error. + +[FN#214] The Farsakh (Germ. Stunde) a measure of time rather than +distance, is an hour's travel or its equivalent, a league, a +meile=three English stat. miles. The word is still used in Persia +its true home, but not elsewhere. It is very old, having been +determined as a lineal measure of distance by Herodotus (ii. 5 and +6 ; v. 53), who computes it at 30 furlongs (=furrow-lengths, 8 to +the stat. mile). Strabo (xi.) makes it range from 40 to 60 stades +(each=606 feet 9 inches), and even now it varies between 1,500 to +6,000 yards. Captain Francklin (Tour to Persia) estimates it = +about four miles. (Pilgrimage ii. 113.) + +[FN#215] Arab. "Ashhab." Names of colours are few amongst semi +civilised peoples, but in Arabia there is a distinct word for every +shade of horseflesh. + +[FN#216] She had already said to him "Thou art beaten in +everything!" + +[FN#217] Showing that she was still a Christian. + +[FN#218] This is not Badawi sentiment: the honoratioren amongst +wild people would scorn such foul play; but amongst the settled +Arabs honour between men and women is unknown and such "hocussing" +would be held quite fair. + +[FN#219] The table of wine, in our day, is mostly a japanned tray +with glasses and bottles, saucers of pickles and fruits and, +perhaps, a bunch of flowers and aromatic herbs. During the +Caliphate the "wine-service" was on a larger scale. + +[FN#220] Here the "Bhang" (almost a generic term applied to +hellebore, etc.) may be hyoscyamus or henbane. Yet there are +varieties of Cannabis, such as the Dakha of South Africa capable of +most violent effect. I found the use of the drug well known to the +negroes of the Southern United States and of the Brazil, although +few of their owners had ever heard of it. + +[FN#221] Amongst Moslems this is a reference to Adam who first +"sinned against himself,' and who therefore is called " +Safyu'llah," the Pure of Allah. (Pilgrimage iii. 333.) + +[FN#222] Meaning, an angry, violent man. + +[FN#223] Arab. "Inshd," which may mean reciting the verse of +another or improvising one's own. In Modern Egypt "Munshid" is the +singer or reciter of poetry at Zikrs (Lane M. E. chaps. xxiv.). +Here the verses are quite bad enough to be improvised by the +hapless Princess. + +[FN#224] The negro skin assumes this dust colour in cold, fear, +concupiscence and other mental emotions. + +[FN#225] He compares her glance with the blade of a Yamani sword, +a lieu commun of Eastern poetry. The weapons are famous in The +Nights; but the best sword-cutlery came from Persia as the +porcelain from China to Sana'. Here, however, is especial allusion +as to the sword "Samsam" or "Samsamah." It belonged to the +Himyarite Tobba, Amru bin Ma'ad Kurb, and came into the hands of +Harun al-Rashid. When the Emperor of the Greeks sent a present of +superior sword-blades to him by way of a brave, the Caliph, in the +presence of the Envoys, took "Samsam" in hand and cut the others in +twain as if they were cabbages without the least prejudice to the +edge of "Samsam." + +[FN#226] This touch of pathos is truly Arab. So in the "Romance of +Dalhamah" (Lane, M. E. xxiii.) the infant Gundubah sucks the breast +of its dead mother and the King exclaims, "If she had committed +this crime she would not be affording the child her milk after she +was dead." + +[FN#227] Arab. "Sadda'l-Aktr," a term picturesque enough to be +preserved in English. "Sadd," I have said, is a wall or dyke, the +term applied to the great dam of water- plants which obstructs the +navigation of the Upper Nile, the lilies and other growths floating +with the current from the (Victoria) Nyanza Lake. I may note that +we need no longer derive from India the lotus-llily so extensively +used by the Ancient Egyptians and so neglected by the moderns that +it has well nigh disappeared. All the Central African basins abound +in the Nympha and thence it found its way down the Nile Valley. + +[FN#228] Arab. "Al Marhmah": equivalent to our "late lamented." + +[FN#229] Vulgarly pronounced "Mahmal," and by Egyptians and Turks +"Mehmel." Lane (M. E. xxiv.) has figured this queenly litter and I +have sketched and described it in my Pilgrimage (iii. 12). + +[FN#230] For such fits of religious enthusiasm see my Pilgrimage +(iii. 254). + +[FN#231] "Irk" (Mesopotamia) means "a level country beside the +banks of a ever." + +[FN#232] "Al Kuds," or "Bays al-Mukaddas," is still the popular +name of Jerusalem, from the Heb. Yerushalaim ha-Kadushah (legend on +shekel of Simon Maccabeus). + +[FN#233] "Follow the religion of Abraham" says the Koran (chaps. +iii. 89). Abraham, titled "Khallu'llah," ranks next in dignity to +Mohammed, preceding Isa, I need hardly say that his tomb is not in +Jerusalem nor is the tomb itself at Hebron ever visited. Here +Moslems (soi disant) are allowed by the jealousies of Europe to +close and conceal a place which belongs to the world, especially to +Jews and Christians. The tombs, if they exist, lie in a vault or +cave under the Mosque. + +[FN#234] Ab, or Abyah, vulg. Abayah, is a cloak of hair, goat's +or camel's; too well known to require description. + +[FN#235] Arab. "Al-Wakkd," the man who lights and keeps up the +bath-fires. + +[FN#236] Arab. "M al-Khalf" (or "Khilf") a sickly perfume but +much prized, made from the flowers of the Salix gyptiaca. + +[FN#237] Used by way of soap; like glasswort and other plants. + +[FN#238] i.e., "Thou art only just recovered." + +[FN#239] To "Nakh" is to gurgle "Ikh! Ikh!" till the camel kneels. +Hence the space called "Barr al-Mankhah" in Al-Medinah (Pilgrimage +i. 222, ii. 91). There is a regular camel vocabulary amongst the +Arabs, made up like our "Gee" (go ye!), etc. of significant words +worn down. + +[FN#240] Arab. "Laza," the Second Hell provided for Jews. + +[FN#241] The word has been explained (vol. i. 112).[see Volume 1, +note 199] It is trivial, not occurring in the Koran which uses +"Arabs of the Desert ;" "Arabs who dwell in tents," etc. (chaps. +ix. and xxxiii.). "A'arbi" is the classical word and the origin of +"Arab" is disputed. According to Pocock (Not Spec. Hist. Arab.): +"Diverse are the opinions concerning the denomination of the Arabs; +but the most certain of all is that which draws it from Arabah, +which is part of the region of Tehama (belonging to Al-Medinah +Pilgrimage ii. 118), which their father Ismail afterwards +inhabited." Tehamah (sierra caliente) is the maritime region of Al +Hijaz, the Moslems Holy Land; and its "Arabah," a very small tract +which named a very large tract, must not be confounded, as some +have done, with the Wady Arabah, the ancient outlet of the Dead +Sea. The derivation of "Arab" from "Ya'arab" a fancied son of +Joktan is mythological. In Heb. Arabia may be called "Eretz Ereb" +(or "Arab")=land of the West; but in Arabic "Gharb" (not Ereb) is +the Occident and the Arab dates long before the Hebrew. + +[FN#242] "When thine enemy extends his hand to thee, cut it off if +thou can, or kiss it," wisely said Caliph al-Mansur. + +[FN#243] The Tartur was a peculiar turban worn by the Northern +Arabs and shown in old prints. In modern Egypt the term is applied +to the tall sugar-loaf caps of felt affected mostly by regular +Dervishes. Burckhardt (Proverbs 194 and 398) makes it the high cap +of felt or fur proper to the irregular cavalry called Dely or +Delaty. In Dar For (Darfour) "Tartur" is a conical cap adorned with +beads and cowries worn by the Manghwah or buffoon who corresponds +with the Egyptian "Khalbs" or "Maskharah" and the Turkish +"Sutari." For an illustration see Plate iv. fig. 10 of Voyage au +Darfour par Mohammed El Tounsy (The Tunisian), Paris, Duprat, 1845. + +[FN#244] The term is picturesque and true; we say "gnaw," which is +not so good. + +[FN#245] Here, meaning an Elder, a Chief, etc.; the word has been +almost naturalised in English. I have noted that Abraham was the +first "Shaykh." + +[FN#246] This mention of weighing suggests the dust of Dean Swift +and the money of the Gold Coast It was done, I have said, because +the gold coin, besides being "sweated" was soft and was soon worn +down. + +[FN#247] Fem. of Nj (a deliverer, a saviour)=Salvadora. + +[FN#248] This, I have noted, is according to Koranic command +(chaps. iv. 88). "When you are saluted with a salutation, salute +the person with a better salutation." The longer answer to "Peace +be with (or upon) thee! " is still universally the custom. The +"Salem" is so differently pronounced by every Eastern nation that +the observant traveller will easily make of it a Shibboleth. + +[FN#249] The Badawi, who was fool as well as rogue, begins to fear +that he has kidnapped a girl of family. + +[FN#250] These examinations being very indecent are usually done in +strictest privacy. The great point is to make sure of virginity. + +[FN#251] This is according to strict Moslem law: the purchaser may +not look at the girl's nakedness till she is his, and he ought to +manage matters through an old woman. + +[FN#252] Lit. wrath; affliction which chokes; in Hindustani it +means simply anger. + +[FN#253] i.e. Heaven forbid I be touched by a strange man. + +[FN#254] Used for fuel and other purposes, such as making "doss +stick." + +[FN#255] Arab "Yaftah'Allah" the offer being insufficient. The +rascal is greedy as a Badaw and moreover he is a liar, which the +Badawi is not. + +[FN#256] The third of the four great Moslem schools of Theology, +taking its name from the Imam al-Shfi' (Mohammed ibn Idrs) who +died in Egypt A.H. 204, and lies buried near Cairo. (Sale's Prel. +Disc. sect. viii.) + +[FN#257] The Moslem form of Cabbala, or transcendental philosophy +of the Hebrews. + +[FN#258] Arab. "Bakh" the word used by the Apostle to Ali his +son-in-law. It is the Latin "Euge." + +[FN#259] Readers, who read for amusement, will do well to "skip" +the fadaises of this highly educated young woman. + +[FN#260] There are three Persian Kings of this name (Artaxerxes) +which means "Flour and milk," or "high lion." The text alludes to +Ardeshir Babegan, so called because he married the daughter of +Babak the shepherd, founder of the Sassanides in A.D. 202. See +D,Herberot, and the Dabistan. + +[FN#261] Alluding to the proverb, "Folk follow their King's faith," +"Cujus regio ejus religio" etc. + +[FN#262] Second Abbaside, A.H. 136-158 (=754-775). + +[FN#263] The celebrated companion of Mohammed who succeeded Abu +Bakr in the Caliphate (A.H. 13-23=634-644). The Sunnis know him as +Al-Adil the Just, and the Shiahs detest him for his usurpation, his +austerity and harshness. It is said that he laughed once and wept +once. The laugh was caused by recollecting how he ate his +dough-gods (the idols of the Hanifah tribe) in The Ignorance. The +tears were drawn by remembering how he buried alive his baby +daughter who, while the grave was being dug, patted away the dust +from his hair and beard. Omar was doubtless a great man, but he is +one of the most ungenial figures in Moslem history which does not +abound in genialities. To me he suggests a Puritan, a Covenanter of +the sourest and narrowest type; and I cannot wonder that the +Persians abhor him, and abuse him on all occasions. + +[FN#264] The austere Caliph Omar whose scourge was more feared than +the sword was the - author of the celebrated saying "Consult them +(feminines) and do clear contrary-wise." + +[FN#265] Our "honour amongst thieves." + +[FN#266] The sixth successor of Mohammed and founder of the Banu +Umayyah or Ommiades, called the "sons of the little mother" from +their eponymus (A.H. 41-60=661-680). For his Badawi wife Maysun, +and her abuse of her husband, see Pilgrimage iii. 262. + +[FN#267] Shaykh of the noble tribe, or rather nation, Banu Tamm +and a notable of the day, surnamed, no one knows why, "Sire of the +Sea." + +[FN#268] This is essential for cleanliness in hot lands: however +much the bath may be used, the body-pile and lower hair, if +submitted to a microscope, will show more or less sordes adherent. +The axilla-hair is plucked because if shaved the growing pile +causes itching and the depilatories are held deleterious. At first +vellication is painful but the skin becomes used to it. The pecten +is shaved either without or after using depilatories, of which more +presently. The body-pile is removed by "Takhff"; the Libn Shmi +(Syrian incense), a fir- gum imported from Scio, is melted and +allowed to cool in the form of a pledget. This is passed over the +face and all the down adhering to it is pulled up by the roots +(Burckhardt No. 420). Not a few Anglo-Indians have adopted these +precautions + +[FN#269] This Caliph was a tall, fair, handsome man of +awe-inspiring aspect. Omar used to look at him and say, "This is +the Csar of the Arabs," while his wife called him a "fatted ass." + +[FN#270] The saying is attributed to Abraham when "exercised" by +the unkindly temper of Sarah; "woman is made hard and crooked like +a rib;" and the modern addition is, "whoso would straighten her, +breaketh her." + +[FN#271] i.e. "When ready and in erection." + +[FN#272] "And do first (before going in to your wives) some act +which may be profitable unto your souls" or, for you: soul's good. +(Koran, chaps. ii. 223.) Hence Ahnaf makes this prayer. + +[FN#273] It was popularly said that "Truth-speaking left Omar +without a friend." Entitled "The Just" he was murdered by Abu +Llah, alias Frz, a (Magian ?) slave of Al-Maghrah for denying +him justice. + +[FN#274] Governor of Bassorah under the first four Caliphs. See +D'Herbelot s.v. "Aschri." + +[FN#275] Ziyad bin Abi Sufyan, illegitimate brother of the Caliph +Mu'awiyah afterwards governor of Bassorah, Cufa and Al-Hijaz. + +[FN#276] The seditions in Kufah were mainly caused by the wilful +nepotism of Caliph Othman bin Askir which at last brought about +his death. His main quality seems to have been personal beauty: +"never was seen man or woman of fairer face than he and he was the +most comely of men:" he was especially famed for beautiful teeth +which in old age he bound about with gold wire. He is described as +of middling stature, large- limbed, broad shouldered, fleshy of +thigh and long in the fore-arm which was hairy. His face inclined +to yellow and was pock-marked; his beard was full and his curly +hair, which he dyed yellow, fell below his ears. He is called +"writer of the Koran" from his edition of the M.S., and "Lord of +the two Lights" because he married two of the Prophet's daughters, +Rukayyah and Umm Kulthum; and, according to the Shi'ahs who call +him Othman-i-Lang or" limping Othman," he vilely maltreated them. +They justify his death as the act of an Ijm' al-Muslimn, the +general consensus of Moslems which ratifies "Lynch law." Altogether +Othman is a mean figure in history. + +[FN#277] "Nr" (fire) is a word to be used delicately from its +connection with Gehenna. You say, e.g. "bring me a light, a coal +(bassah)" etc.; but if you say "bring me fire! " the enemy will +probably remark "He wanteth fire even before his time!" The slang +expression would be "bring the sweet." (Pilgrimage i. 121.) + +[FN#278] Omar is described as a man of fair complexion, and very +ruddy, but he waxed tawny with age, when he also became bald and +grey. He had little hair on the cheeks but a long mustachio with +reddish ends. In stature he overtopped the people and was stout as +he was tall. A popular saying of Mohammed's is, "All (very) long +men are fools save Omar, and all (very) short men are knaves save +Ali." The Persians, who abhor Omar, compare every lengthy, +ungainly, longsome thing with him; they will say, "This road never +ends, like the entrails of Omar." We know little about Ali's +appearance except that he was very short and stout, broad and +full-bellied with a tawny complexion and exceedingly hairy, his +long beard, white as cotton, filling all the space between his +shoulders. He was a "pocket. Hercules," and incredible tales, like +that about the gates of Khaybar, are told of his strength. Lastly, +he was the only Caliph who bequeathed anything to literature: his +"Cantiloquium" is famous and he has left more than one mystical and +prophetic work. See Ockley for his "Sentences" and D'Herbelot s. D. +"Ali" and "Gebr." Ali is a noble figure in Moslem history. + +[FN#279] The emancipation from the consequences of his sins; or it +may mean a holy death. + +[FN#280] Battle fought near Al-Medinah A.D. 625. The word is +derived from "shad" (one). I have described the site in my +Pilgrimage, (vol. ii. 227). + +[FN#281] "Haphsa" in older writers; Omar's daughter and one of +Mohammed's wives, famous for her connection with the manuscripts of +the Koran. From her were (or claimed to be) descended the Hafsites +who reigned in Tunis and extended their power far and wide over the +Maghrib (Mauritania), till dispossessed by the Turks. + +[FN#282] i.e. humbly without the usual strut or swim: it +corresponds with the biblical walking or going softly. (I Kings +xxi. 27; Isaiah xxxviii. 15, etc.) + +[FN#283] A theologian of the seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#284] i.e. to prepare himself by good works, especially +alms-giving, for the next world. + +[FN#285] A theologian of the eighth century. + +[FN#286] Abd al-Aziz was eighth Ommiade (regn. A.H. 99=717) and the +fifth of the orthodox, famed for a piety little known to his house. +His most celebrated saying was, " Be constant in meditation on +death: if thou bein straitened case 'twill enlarge it, and if in +affluence 'twill straiten it upon thee." He died. poisoned, it is +said, in A.H 101, + +[FN#287] Abu Bakr originally called Abd al-Ka'abah (slave of the +Ka'abah) took the name of Abdullah and was surnamed Abu Bakr +(father of the virgin) when Mohammed, who before had married only +widows, took to wife his daughter, the famous or infamous Ayishah. +"Bikr" is the usual form, but "Bakr," primarily meaning a young +camel, is metaphorically applied to human youth (Lane's Lex. s. +c.). The first Caliph was a cloth-merchant, like many of the Meccan +chiefs. He is described as very fair with bulging brow, deep set +eyes and thin-checked, of slender build and lean loined, stooping +and with the backs of his hands fleshless. He used tinctures of +Henna and Katam for his beard. The Persians who hate him, call him +"Pir-i-Kaftr," the old she-hyaena, and believe that he wanders +about the deserts of Arabia in perpetual rut which the males must +satisfy. + +[FN#288] The second, fifth, sixth and seventh Ommiades. + +[FN#289] The mother of Omar bin Abd al-Aziz was a granddaughter of +Omar bin al-Khattab. + +[FN#290] Brother of this Omar's successor, Yezid II. + +[FN#291] So the Turkish proverb "The fish begins to stink at the +head." + +[FN#292] Calling to the slaves. + +[FN#293] When the "Day of Arafat" (9th of Z'l-Hijjah) falls upon +a Friday. For this Hajj al- Akbar see my Pilgrimage iii. 226. It is +often confounded by writers (even by the learned M. Caussin de +Perceval) with the common Pilgrimage as opposed to the Umrah, or " +Lesser Pilgrimage" (ibid. iii. 342, etc.). The latter means +etymologically cohabiting with a woman in her father's house as +opposed to 'Ars or leading her to the husband's home: it is applied +to visiting Meccah and going through all the pilgrim-rites but not +at the Pilgrimage-season. Hence its title "Hajj al-Asghar" the +"Lesser Hajj." But "Umrah" is also applied to a certain ceremony +between the hills Saf (a large hard rock) and Marwah (stone full +of flints), which accompanies the Hajj and which I have described +(ibid. iii. 344). At Meccah I also heard of two places called +Al-Umrah, the Greater in the Wady Ftimah and the Lesser half way +nearer the city (ibid. iii. 344). + +[FN#294] A fair specimen of the unworthy egoism which all religious +systems virtually inculcate Here a pious father leaves his children +miserable to save his own dirty soul. + +[FN#295] Chief of the Ban Tamn, one of the noblest of tribes, +derived from Tamm, the uncle of Kuraysh (Koreish); hence the poets +sang:-- + + There cannot be a son nobler than Kuraysh, + Nor an uncle nobler than Tamm. + +The high minded Tamn is contrasted with the mean-spirited Kays, +who also gave rise to a tribe; and hence the saying concerning one +absolutely inconsistent, "Art thou now Tamn and then Kays?" + +[FN#296] Surnamed Al-Sakafi, Governor of Al-Yaman and Irak. + +[FN#297] Tenth Ommiade (regn. A H. 105-125 = 724-743). + +[FN#298] Or "clothe thee in worn-out clothes" i.e. "Become a Fakir" +or religious mendicant. + +[FN#299] This gratuitous incest in ignorance injures the tale and +is as repugnant to Moslem as to Christian taste. + +[FN#300] The child is named either on the day of its birth or on +that day week. The father whispers it in the right ear, often +adding the Azn or prayer-call, and repeating in the left ear the +"Ikmah" or Friday sentence. There are many rules for choosing +names according to the week-day, the ascendant planet, the "Sortes +Coranic," etc. + +[FN#301] Amongst Moslems as amongst Christians there are seven +deadly sins: idolatry, murder, falsely charging modest women with +unchastity, robbing orphans, usury, desertion in Holy War and +disobedience to parents. The difference between the two creeds is +noteworthy. And the sage knows only three, intemperance, ignorance +and egoism. + +[FN#302] Meaning, "It was decreed by Destiny; so it came to pass," +appropriate if not neat. + +[FN#303] The short, stout, dark, long-haired and two-bunched camel +from "Bukhtar" (Bactria), the "Eastern" (Bakhtar) region on the Amu +or Jayhun (Oxus) River; afterwards called Khorasan. The two-humped +camel is never seen in Arabia except with northern caravans, and to +speak of it would be a sore test of Badawi credulity. + +[FN#304] "Kayllah" is the "forty-winks" about noon: it is a Sunnat +or Practice of the Prophet who said, "Make the mid-day siesta, for +verily at this hour the devils sleep not." "Ayllain" is slumbering +after morning prayers (our "beauty-sleep"), causing heaviness andid +leness: "Ghayllah" is dozing about 9 a.m. engendering poverty and +wretchedness: "Kayllah" (with the guttural Kaf) is sleeping before +evening prayers and "Fayllah" is slumbering after sunset--both +held to be highly detrimental. (Pilgrimage ii 49.) + +[FN#305] The Biblical "Hamath" (Hightown) too well known to require +description. It is still famous for the water-wheels mentioned by +al-Hariri (assembly of the Banu Harm). + +[FN#306] When they say, "The levee flashes bright on the hills of +Al-Yaman," the allusion is to the south quarter, where +summer-lightning is seen. Al-Yaman (always with the article) means, +I have said, the right-hand region to one facing the rising sun and +Al-Sham (Syria) the left-hand region. + +[FN#307] Again "he" for "she," in delicacy and jealousy of making +public the beauty or conditions of the "veiled sex." Even public +singers would hesitate to use a feminine pronoun. As will be seen +however, the rule is not invariably kept and hardly ever in Badawi +poetry. + +[FN#308] The normal pun on "Nuzhat al-Zaman" = Delight of the Age +or Time. + +[FN#309] The reader will find in my Pilgrimage (i. 305) a sketch of +the Takht-rawan or travelling-litter, in which pilgrimesses are +wont to sleep. + +[FN#310] In poetry it holds the place of our Zephyr; end the "Bd- +i-Sab"=Breeze o' the morn, Is much addressed by Persian poets. + +[FN#311] Here appears the nervous, excitable, hysterical Arab +temperament which is almost phrensied by the neighbourhood of a +home from which he had run away. + +[FN#312] Zau al-Makan and Nuzhat al-Zaman. + +[FN#313] The idea is essentially Eastern, "A lion at home and a +lamb abroad" is the popular saying. + +[FN#314] Arab. "Hubb al-Watan" (= love of birthplace, patriotism) +of which the Tradition says "Min al-Imn" (=is part of man's +religion). + +[FN#315] He is supposed to speak en prince; and he yields to a +prayer when he spurns a command. + +[FN#316] In such caravans each party must keep its own place under +pain of getting into trouble with the watchmen and guards. + +[FN#317] Mr. Payne (ii. 109) borrows this and the next quotation +from the Bull Edit. i. 386. + +[FN#318] For the expiation of inconsiderate oaths see Koran (chaps. +v.). I cannot but think that Al-Islam treats perjury too lightly: +all we can say is-that it improves upon Hinduism which practically +seems to leave the punishment to the gods. + +[FN#319] "Kausar," as has been said, represents the classical +nectar, the Amrita of the Hindus. + +[FN#320] From Bull Edit. i. 186. The couplet in the Mac. Edit. i. +457 is very wildly applied. + +[FN#321] The "insula" of Sancho Panza. + +[FN#322] This should have assured him that he stood in no danger. + +[FN#323] Here ends the wearisome tale of the brother and sister, +and the romance of chivalry begins once more with the usual Arab +digressions. + +[FN#324] I have derived this word from the Persian "rang"=colour, +hue, kind. + +[FN#325] Otherwise all would be superseded, like U. S. officials +under a new President. + +[FN#326] Arab. "Nmshah" from the Pers. Nmchah, a "half-sword," a +long dagger worn in the belt. Richardson derives it from Namsh, +being freckled (damasked). + +[FN#327] The Indian term for a tent large enough to cover a troop +of cavalry. + +[FN#328] Arab. "Marhm" a formula before noticed. It is borrowed +from the Jewish, "of blessed memory" (after the name of the +honoured dead, Prov. x. 17.); with the addition of "upon whom be +peace," as opposed to the imprecation, "May the name of the wicked +rot!" + +[FN#329] The speeches of the five damsels should be read only by +students. + +[FN#330] i.e. Those who look for "another and a better." + +[FN#331] The title of Caliph Abu Bakr because he bore truthful +witness to the Apostle's mission or, others say, he confirmed the +"Mi'rj" or nocturnal journey to Heaven. + +[FN#332] All this is Koranic (chaps. ii., etc.). + +[FN#333] This may have applied more than once to "hanging judges" +in the Far West. + +[FN#334] A traditionist and jurisconsult of Al-Medinah in the +seventh and eighth centuries. + +[FN#335] The Alexander of the Koran and Eastern legends, not to be +confounded with the Alexander of Macedon. He will be noticed in a +future Night. + +[FN#336] sop, according to the Arabs: of him or rather of the two +Lukmans, more presently. + +[FN#337] Koran ii. 185. + +[FN#338] Mohammed. + +[FN#339] One of the Ashb or Companions of Mohammed. + +[FN#340] A noted traditionist at Cufa in the seventh century. + +[FN#341] Koran, chaps. lxxiv. I (and verse 8 follows). The +Archangel Gabriel is supposed to address Mohammed and not a few +divines believe this Surah (chapter) to have been first revealed. +Mr. Rodwell makes it No. ii. following the Fatrah or silent +interval which succeeded No. xcvi. "Clots of Blood." See his 2nd +Edit. p. 3 for further details. + +[FN#342] i.e. dangerous to soul-health. + +[FN#343] In the Mac. Edit. "Abd" for "Sa'id." The latter was a +black and a native of Cufa during the first century (A.H ) and is +still famous as a traditionist. + +[FN#344] Arab. "Shirk," giving a partner to Allah, attending +chiefly to Christians and idolaters and in a minor degree to Jews +and Guebres. We usually English it by "polytheism," which is clumsy +and conveys a wrong idea + +[FN#345] Grandson of the Caliph Ali. He is one of the Imams +(High-priests) of the Shi'ah school. + +[FN#346] An eminent traditionist of the eighth century (A.D.). + +[FN#347] The prayers of the Fast-month and Pilgrimage-month are +often said in especial places outside the towns and cities; these +are the Indian Id(Eed-)gh. They have a screen of wall about a +hundred yards long with a central prayer-niche and the normal three +steps for the preacher; and each extremity is garnished with an +imitation minaret. They are also called Namz-gah and one is +sketched by Herklots (Plate iii. fig. 2). The object of the trips +thither in Zu'l-Ka'adah and Zu'l-Hijjah is to remind Moslems of the +"Ta'arf," or going forth from Meccah to Mount Arafat. + +[FN#348] Arab. "Al-Hfi," which in Egyptian means sore-footed as +well. He was an ascetic of the eighth and ninth centuries (A.D.). +He relates a tradition of the famous soldier saint Khlid bin Wald +who lies buried like the poet Ka'ab al-Ahbr near Hums (Emessa) +once the Botia, Phrygia, Abdera, Suabia of Syria now Halbun +(pronounced Halbun) near Damascus. I cannot explain how this +Kuraysh noble (a glorious figure in Moslem history) is claimed by +the Afghans as one of their countrymen and made to speak Pukhtu or +Pushtu, their rough old dialect of Persian. The curious reader will +consult my Pilgrimage iii. 322 for the dialogue between Mohammed +and Khalid. Again there is general belief in Arabia that the +English sent a mission to the Prophet, praying that Khalid might be +despatched to proselytise them: unfortunately Mohammed was dead and +the "Ingrz" ratted. It is popularly held that no armed man can +approach Khalid's grave; but I suppose my revolver did not count. + +[FN#349] When he must again wash before continuing prayer. + +[FN#350] Bin Adham; another noted ascetic of the eighth century. +Those curious about these unimportant names will consult the great +Biographical Dictionary of Ibn Khallikan, translated by Baron +MacGuckin de Slane (1842-45). + +[FN#351] Thus making Bishr the "Imm" (artistes) lit. one who +stands in front. In Koran xvii. 74 it means "leader": in ii. 118 +Allah makes Abraham an "Imam to mankind." + +[FN#352] A favourite sentiment in the East: we find it at the very +beginning of Sa'di's Gulistan: better a weal-bringing lie than a +harm-dealing truth. + +[FN#353] A penny, one sixth of the drachma. + +[FN#354] Founder of the Hanbali, fourth (in date) of the four +orthodox Moslem schools. The Caliph al-Mu'atasim bi'llah, son of +Harun al-Rashid, who believed the Koran to have been created and +not a Logos (whatever that may be), co-eternal with Allah, scourged +this Imam severely for "differing in opinion" (A.H. 220=833). In +fact few of the notable reverends of that day escaped without a +caress of the scourge or the sword. + +[FN#355] A learned man of the eighth century at Bassorah (A.D.). + +[FN#356] A traditionist of Khorasan in the ninth century (A.D.). + +[FN#357] "Azal," opp. to "Abad," eternity without end, infinity. + +[FN#358] Koran lxvi. 6. + +[FN#359] A traditionist of Al-Medinah, eighth century (A.D.). + +[FN#360] Arab. "Ms": the Egyptian word was "Mesu," the "child" or +the "boy" (brought up in the palace?), and the Hebrews made it +"Mosheh" or "one drawn out of the water;" "Mu" in Egypt being +water, the Arab "Ma"; whence probably the moderns have derived the +dim. "Moyeh ," vulg. Egyptian for water. + +[FN#361] Koran, chaps. xxviii.: Shu'ayb is our Jethro: Koran, +chaps. vii. and xi. Mr. Rodwell suggests (p. 101) that the name has +been altered from Hobab (Numb. x. 29). + +[FN#362] Arab. "Taub" (Saub), the long shirt popularly written in +English Tobe and pronounced so by Egyptians. It is worn by both +sexes (Lane, M. E. chaps. i. "Tob") in Egypt, and extends into the +heart of Moslem Africa: I can compare it with nothing but a long +nightgown dyed a dirty yellow by safflower and about as picturesque +as a carter's smock-frock. + +[FN#363] There is nothing of this in the Koran; and it is a most +unhappy addition, as Moses utterly and pretentiously ignored a +"next world." + +[FN#364] Koran xxviii. 22-27. Mohammed evidently confounded the +contract between Laban and Jacob. (Gen. xxix. 15-39.) + +[FN#365] So says Al-Hariri (Ass. of Sasan), "The neighbour before +the house and the traveller before the journey." In certain cities +the neighbourhood is the real detective police, noting every action +and abating scandals (such as orgies, etc.) with a strong hand and +with the full consent of public opinion and of the authorities. +This loving the neighbour shows evident signs of being borrowed +from Christianity. + +[FN#366] Al-Asamm a theologian of Balkh, ninth century (A.D.). + +[FN#367] The founder of the Senior School, for which see Sale Prel. +Disc. sect. viii. + +[FN#368] Thus serving the Lord by sinning against his own body. + +[FN#369] An Egyptian doctor of the law (ninth century). + +[FN#370] Koran lxxvii. 35, 36. This is one of the earliest and most +poetical chapters of the book. + +[FN#371] Abu Hanifah was scourged for refusing to take office and +was put to death in prison, it is said by poison (A.H. 150=A.D. +767), for a judicial sentence authorising rebellion against the +second Abbaside, Al-Mansur, surnamed Abu'l-Dawnik (Father of +Pence) for his exceeding avarice. + +[FN#372] "L rayba f-hi" says the Koran (ii. 1) of itself; and the +saying is popularly applied to all things of the Faith. + +[FN#373] Arab. "Rivl al-Ghayb," somewhat like the "Himalayan +Brothers" of modern superstition. See Herklots (Qanoon-e-Islam) for +a long and careful description of these "Mardn-i-Ghayb" (Pers.), +a "class of people mounted on clouds," invisible, but moving in a +circular orbit round the world, and suggesting the Hindu +"Lokaplas." They should not be in front of the traveller nor on +his right, but either behind or on his left hand. Hence tables, +memorial couplets and hemistichs are required to ascertain the +station, without which precaution journeys are apt to end badly. + +[FN#374] A sweetmeat before noticed. + +[FN#375] Door hinges in the east are two projections for the top +and bottom of the leaf playing in hollows of the lintel and +threshold. It appears to be the primitive form, for we find it in +the very heart of Africa. In the basaltic cities of the Hauran, +where the doors are of thick stone, they move easily on these pins. +I found them also in the official (not the temple)City of Palmyra, +but all broken. + +[FN#376] The effect of the poison and of the incantation which +accompanied it. + +[FN#377] King Omar who had raped her. My sympathies are all with +the old woman who nightly punished the royal lecher. + +[FN#378] Arab. "Zunnr," the Gr. . Christians and Jews were +compelled by the fanatical sumptuary laws of the Caliph Al- +Mutawakkil (AD. 856) to wear a broad leather belt in public, hence +it became a badge of the Faith. Probably it was confounded with the +"Janeo" (Brahmanical thread) and the Parsi sacred girdle called +Kashti. (Dabistan i, 297, etc.). Both Mandeville and La Brocquire +speak of "Christians of the Girdle, because they are all girt +above," intending Jacobites or Nestorians. + +[FN#379] "Silh dr" (Arab. and Pers.)=a military officer of high +rank; literally an "armour-bearer," chosen for velour and +trustworthiness. So Jonathan had a "young man" (brave) who bare his +armour (I Sam. xiv. 1, 6 and 7); and Goliath had a man that bare +the shield before him (ibid. xvii. 7, 41). Men will not readily +forget the name of Sulayman Agha, called the Silahdar, in Egypt. +(Lane M. E. chaps. iv.) + +[FN#380] It will be told afterwards. + +[FN#381] The elder brother thus showed himself a vassal and proved +himself a good Moslem by not having recourse to civil war. + +[FN#382] Arab. "Ghazwah," the corrupt Gallicism, now +Europeanised=raid, foray. + +[FN#383] Turk in modern parlance means a Turkoman, a pomade: the +settled people call themselves Osmanli or Othmanli. Turkoman=Turk- +like. + +[FN#384] Arab. "Nims;" southern Germans, Austrians; from the Slav. +"Nemica" (any Germans), literally meaning "The dumb" (nemac), +because they cannot speak Slav. + +[FN#385] Arab. "Dubr" from the Slav. "Dubrovnik," from "Dub" (an +oak) and "Dubrava" (an oak forest). Ragusa, once a rival of Venice, +gave rise to the word "Argosy." D'Herbelot calls it "Dobravenedik" +or "Good Venice," the Turkish name, because it paid tribute when +Venice would not (?). + +[FN#386] Arab. "Jawarnah," or, "Jrnah" evidently Zara, a place of +many names, Jadera (Hirtius de Bell. Alex. cap. 13), Jadra, Zadra +(whence the modern term), Diadora, Diadosca and Jadrossa. This +important Liburnian city sent forth many cruisers in crusading +days; hence the Arabs came to know its name. + +[FN#387] Arab. "Banu'l-Asfar;" which may mean "Pale faces," in the +sense of "yeller girls" (New Orleans) and that intended by North +American Indians, or, possibly, the peoples with yellow (or rather +tow-coloured) hair we now call Russians. The races of Hindostan +term the English not "white men," but "red men;" and the reason +will at once be seen by comparing a Britisher with a high-caste +Ngar Brahman whose face is of parchment colour as if he had drunk +exsangue cuminum. The Yellow-faces of the text correspond with the +Sansk. "Svetadvipa"--Whiteman's Land. + +[FN#388] Arab. "Al-Musakhkham." No Moslem believes that Isa was +crucified and a favourite fancy is that Judas, changed to the +likeness of Jesus, thus paid for his treason. (Evangel. Barnab.) +Hence the resurrection is called not "Kiymah" but +"Kummah"=rubbish. This heresy about the Cross they share with the +Docetes, "certain beasts in the shape of men" (says Ignatius), who +held that a phantom was crucified. So far the Moslems are logical, +for "Isa," being angelically, miraculously and immaculately +conceived, could not be; but they contradict themselves when they +hold a vacant place near Mohammed's tomb for the body of Isa after +his second coming as a forerunner to Mohammed and Doomday. +(Pilgrimage ii. 89.) + +[FN#389] A diviner, priest, esp. Jewish, and not belonging to the +tribe of Levi. + +[FN#390] Again the coarsest word "Khara." The allusion is to the +vulgar saying, "Thou eatest skite!" (i.e. thou talkest nonsense). +Decent English writers modify this to, "Thou eatest dirt:" and Lord +Beaconsfield made it ridiculous by turning it into "eating sand." + +[FN#391] These silly scandals, which cause us only to smile, excite +Easterns to fury. I have seen a Moslem wild with rage on hearing a +Christian parody the opening words of the Koran, "Bismillahi 'l- +Rahmni 'l-Rahm, Mismish wa Kamar al-din," roughly translated, + + "In the name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate! +Apricots and marmalede." The idea of the Holy Merde might have been +suggested by the Hindus: see Mandeville, of the archiprotopapaton +(prelate) carrying ox-dung and urine to the King, who therewith +anoints his brow and breast, &c. And, incredible to relate, this is +still practiced after a fashion by the Parsis, one of the most +progressive and the sharpest witted of Asiatic races. + +[FN#392] Meaning that he had marked his brow with a cross (of +ashes?) as certain do on Ash Wednesday. + +[FN#393] Syria, the "left-hand land" as has before been explained. +The popular saying about its people is "Shmi shmi!"--the Syrian +is small potatoes (to render the sense Americanic). Nor did Syrus, +the slave in Roman days, bear the best of names. In Al-Hijaz the +Syrian is addressed "Ab Shm" (Father of Syria) and insulted as +"Abuser of the Salt" (a traitor). Yet many sayings of Mohammed are +recorded in honour of Syria, and he sometimes used Syriac words. +Such were "Bakh, bakh" (=euge, before noticed), and "Kakh," a +congener of the Latin Cacus and Caca which our day has docked to +"cack." (Pilgrimage iii. 115) + +[FN#394] Koran xiv. 34. "They (Unbelievers) shall be thrown therein +(i.e., the House of Perdition=Hell); and an unhappy dwelling shall +it be." + +[FN#395] The leg-cut is a prime favourite with the Eastern Sworder, +and a heavy two-handed blade easily severs a horse's leg. + +[FN#396] Mohammed repeatedly declared (Koran lxi.) that the +Christians had falsified the passage ("I go to my Father and the +Paraclete shall come," John xvi. 7) promising the advent of the +Comforter, (ibid. xiv. 20; xv. 26) by substituting the +latter word for glorious, renowned, i.e., Ahmed or +Mohammed=the praised one. This may have been found in the Arabic +translation of the Gospels made by Warakah, cousin to Mohammed's +first wife; and hence in Koran lxi. we find Jesus prophesying of an +Apostle "whose name shall be Ahmad." The word has consequently been +inserted into the Arabic Gospel of Saint Barnabas (Dabistan iii. +67). Moslems accept the Pentateuch, the Psalter and the Gospel; but +assert (Koran, passim.) that all extant copies have been hopelessly +corrupted, and they are right. Moses, to whom the Pentateuch is +attributed, notices his own death and burial--"the mair the +miracle," said the old Scotch lady. The "Psalms of David" range +over a period of some five hundred years, and there are three +Isaiahs who pass with the vulgar for one. The many apocryphal +Gospels, all of which have been held genuine and canonical at +different times and in different places, prove that the four, which +are still in use, were retained because they lack the manifest +absurdities of their discarded rivals. + +[FN#397] Arab. " Labbayka; " the Pilgrimage-cry (Night xxii.) which +in Arabic is, + + Labbayk' Allahumma, Labbayk'! + L Sharka lake, Labbayk'! + Inna 'l-hamda w'al ni'amata lake wa'l mulk! + Labbayk' Allahumma, Labbayk'! + +Some add "Here am I, and I honour Thee, the son of Thy two slaves; +beneficence and good are all between Thy hands."With the "Talbiyah" +the pilgrims should bless the Prophet, pray Allah to grant Heaven +and exclaim, "By Thy mercy spare us from the pains of Hell-fire!" +(Pilgrimage iii. 232.) Labbayka occurs in the verses attributed to +Caliph Ali; so labba=he faced, and yalubbu=it faces (as one house +faces another); lastly, he professed submission to Allah; in which +sense, together with the verbal noun "Talbiyah," it is used by Al- +Hanri (Pref. and Ass. of Su'adah). + +[FN#398] Arab. "Kisss" (plur. Kuss) from . + +[FN#399] Koran ii. The "red cow" is evidently the "red heifer" of +Barnabas, chaps. vii. + +[FN#400] Arab. "Al-Jsalk"= . + +[FN#401] This is from the first "Gospel of Infancy," wherein Jesus +said to his mother, "Verily I am Jesus, the Son of God, the Word +which thou hast brought forth, as the Angel Gabriel did declare +unto thee; and my Father hath sent me to save the world" (chaps. i. +2.). The passage is virtually quoted in the Koran (chaps. iii. +141), of course omitting " the Son of God" + +[FN#402] Mohammed allowed his locks to grow down to his ear-lobes +but never lower. + +[FN#403] Arab. "Lism" I have explained as a covering for the lower +face, made by drawing over it the corner of the head-kerchief +(Pilgrimage i. 346). The Lism of the African Tawrik hoods the +eyes so that a man must turn up his face to see, and swathes all +the lower half, leaving only the nose exposed. And this is worn by +many men by night as well as by day, doubtless to avoid the evil +eye. The native Sultans of Darfur, like those of Bornu and others +further west, used white muslin as a face-wrap: hence, too, the +ceremonies when spitting, etc., etc. The Kfiyah or head-kerchief +of the Arabs soon reached Europe and became in Low Latin Cuphia; in +Spanish Escofia; in Ital. Cuffia or Scuffia; in French Escoffion, +Scofion (Reine Marguerite) Coffe (une pellicule, marque de +bonheur) Coiffe and Coife, &c.; the Scotch Curch or Coif, opposed +to the maiden snood, and, lastly our Sergeant-at-Law's Coif. +Littr, the Learned, who in erudition was n coiff, has missed +this obvious derivation. + +[FN#404] "Cutting," throughout the book, alludes to the scymitar +with which Arabs never give point; and "thrusting" to the footman's +spear and the horseman's lance. + +[FN#405] A popular phrase, I repeat, for extreme tenor and +consternation. + +[FN#406] The name usually applies to a well-known district and city +of Al Yaman, where "Koss the eloquent" was bishop in Mohammed's +day: the Negiran of D'Herbelot. Here, however, it is the Syrian +Najrn (Nejrn of Missionary Porter's miserable Handbook), now a +wretched village near the volcanic Lajj, about one hundred and +twenty miles direct south of Damascus and held by Druzes and +Christians. + +[FN#407] The Kantr (quintal) of 100 ratls (Ibs.) =98-99 Ibs. +avoir. + +[FN#408] Arab. "Jurb (bag) mi'adat- ih (of his belly)," the +"curdling of the testicles" in fear is often mentioned. + +[FN#409] Clearly alluding to the magic so deeply studied by +medival Jews. + +[FN#410] Arab. "Sahkah," lit. rubbing. The Moslem Harem is a great +school for this "Lesbian (which I would call Atossan) love "; but +the motive of the practice lies deeper. As amongst men the mixture +of the feminine with the masculine temperament leads to sodomy, so +the reverse makes women prefer their own sex. These tribades are +mostly known by peculiarities of form and features, hairy cheeks +and upper lips, gruff voices, hircine odour and the large +projecting clitoris with erectile powers known to the Arabs as +"bazar" hence Tabzr=circumcision or amputation of such clitoris. +Burckhardt (Prov. 436) translates " Bazarah" by slut or wench. He +adds " it originally signifies the labia which the Cairenes also +entice Zambr and which are cut off in girlhood." See also Lane, +Lex. s.v.; Tabzr. Both writers confuse excision of the nymph with +circumcision of the clitoris (Zambr) Al-Siyti (Kitab al-Iz' +fi'Ilm al-Nikah) has a very interesting chapter on Sapphic venery, +which is well known to Europe as proved by such works as "Gamiani," +and "Anandria ou Confessions de Mademoiselle Sappho, avec la Clef," +Lesbos, 1718. Onanism is fatally prevalent: in many Harems and +girls' schools tallow candles and similar succedanea are vainly +forbidden and bananas when detected are cut into four so as to be +useless; of late years, however, China has sent some marvellous +artificial phalli of stuffed bladder, horn and even caoutchouc, the +latter material of course borrowed from Europe. + +[FN#411] This is considered a powerful aphrodisiac in the East. +Hence male devotees are advised to avoid tile "two reds," i.e. meat +and wine; while the "two reds," which corrupt women, are gold and +saffron, that is perfumery. Hence also the saying of Mohammed:-- +"Perfumes for men should have scent and not colour; for women +should have colour and not scent." (Mishkt al-Masbh ii. 361.) + +[FN#412] These are the "Hibs" or thin cords of wool which the +Badawi binds round his legs, I believe to keep off cramp. +(Pilgrimage iii. 78). + +[FN#413] Crying out "La ilha illa 'llah." (There is no god but the +God.); technically called "Tahll." + +[FN#414] i.e. Men, angels and devils, the "Triloka" (triple people) +of the Hindus. Alamn (plur.), never Alamayn (dual), is the +Triregno denoted by the papal Tiara, the three Christian kingdoms +being Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. + +[FN#415] Matrahinna or Mit-Rahinah is a well-known village near +Memphis, the name being derived from the old Egyptian Minat-ro- +hinnu, the port at the mouth of the canal. Let me remark that two +of these three words, "Minat" and "Ru," are still common in " +Aryan" Persian. + +[FN#416] Kirmat, a sign, a prodigy, opposed to Mu'ujizah, a +miracle wrought by a prophet. The Sufis explain this thaumaturgy by +Allah changing something of Nature's ordinary course in favour of +an especial worshipper, and, after a fashion, this is Catholic +doctrine (See Dabistan, iii. 173). + +[FN#417] Koran, x. 25, "until the earth receive its vesture and be +adorned with various plants." + +[FN#418] i.e. the young hair sprouting on the boy's cheek. + +[FN#419] A fighter for the faith and now a title which follows the +name, e.g. Osmn Psh Ghz, whom the English press dubbed "Ghazi +Osman." + +[FN#420] That is the King of Constantinople. + +[FN#421] Cassia fistularis, a kind of carob: " Shambar" is the +Arab. form of the Persian " Chambar." + +[FN#422] Koran, ii. 149. Hence the vulgar idea that Martyrs are +still alive in the flesh. See my Pilgrimage (ii. 110 and elsewhere) +for the romantic and picturesque consequences of that belief. The +Commentators (Jall al-Dn, etc.) play tricks with the Koranic +words, " they (martyrs) are not dead but living" (iii. 179) by +placing the happy souls in the crops of green birds which eat of +the fruits and drink of the waters of Paradise; whereas the +reprobates and the (very) wicked are deposited in black birds which +drain the sanies and the boiling waters of Hell. Amongst the Greeks +a body remaining entire long after death suggests Anathema +Maranatha: it is the contrary with Catholic Christians (Boccaccio +iv. 5, of the Pot of Basil). Concerning this creed see Maundrell, +Letter of 1698. + +[FN#423] Tor is "Mount Sinai" in the Koran (xcv. 1). I have only to +repeat my opinion concerning the present site so called: "It is +evident that Jebel Serbal dates only from the early days of Coptic +Christianity; that Jebel Musa, its Greek rival, rose after the +visions of Helena in the fourth century; whilst the building of the +Convent by Justinian belongs to A.D 527. Ras Safsfah, its rival to +the north, is an affair of yesterday, and may be called the +invention of Robinson; and Jebel Katerina, to the south is the +property of Rppell" (Midian Revisited i., 237). I would therefore +call the "Sinaitic" Peninsula, Peninsula of Paran in old days and +Peninsula of Tor (from its chief port) in our time. It is still my +conviction that the true Mount Sinai will be found in Jabal Arif, +or some such unimportant height to the north of the modern Hajj- +road from Suez to Akabah. Even about the name (which the Koran +writes "Sain" and "Snn") there is a dispute: It is usually +derived from the root "Sanah"=sentis, a bush; but this is not +satisfactory. Our eminent Assyriologist, Professor Sayce, would +connect it with "Sin," the Assyrian Moon- god as Mount Nebo with +the Sun-god and he expects to find there the ruins of a Lunar +temple as a Solar fane stands on Ba'al Zapuna (Baal Zephon) or the +classical Mount Casius. + +[FN#424] Alluding to the miracle of Aaron's rod (the gift of +Jethro) as related in the Koran (chapts. vii. 1., xx., etc.), where +the Egyptian sorcerers threw down thick ropes which by their magic +twisted and coiled like serpents. + +[FN#425] Arab. "Ayt" lit. "signs," here "miracles of the truth," +1. c. Koranic versets as opposed to chapters. The ranks of the +enemy represent the latter, sword-cuts the former--a very +persuasive mode of preaching. + +[FN#426] Lane (M. E. chapt.. iii.) shows by a sketch the position +of the worshipper during this "Salm" which is addressed, some say, +to the guardian angels, others suppose to all brother-believers and +angels. + +[FN#427] i.e., where the Syrians found him. + +[FN#428] i.e., Dedianus Arabised; a name knightly and plebian. + +[FN#429] In such tales the Wazir is usually the sharp-witted man, +contrasting with the "dummy," or master. + +[FN#430] Carrier-pigeons were extensively used at this time. The +Caliph Al-Nsir li-Dni llh (regn. A.H. 575=1180) was, according +to Ibn Khaldn, very fond of them. The moderns of Damascus still +affect them. My successor, Mr. Consul Kirby Green, wrote an +excellent report on pigeon-fancying at Damascus. The so-called +Maundeville or Mandeville in A. D. 1322 speaks of carrier-pigeons +in Syria as a well-known mode Of intercourse between lord and lord. + +[FN#431] Mohammed who declared "There is no monkery in Al-Islam," +and who virtually abolished the priest, had an especial aversion to +the shaveling (Ruhbn). But the "Gens terna in qu nemo nascitur" +(Pliny v. 17) managed to appear even in Al-lslam, as Fakirs,, +Dervishes, Sfis, etc. Of this more hereafter. + +[FN#432] i.e. her holiness would act like a fascinating talisman. + +[FN#433] The "smoking out" practice is common amongst the Arabs: +hence Marshal Pelissier's so- called " barbarity." The Public is +apt to forget that on a campaign the general's first duty is to +save his own men by any practice which the laws of fair warfare do +not absolutely forbid. + +[FN#434] i.e. Mohammed, who promised Heaven and threatened Hell. + +[FN#435] Arab. "Ahr" or "ihr," fornication or adultery, i.e., +irreligion, infidelity as amongst the Hebrews (Isaiah xxiii.17). + +[FN#436] A sign of defeat. + +[FN#437] In English "last night": I have already noted that the +Moslem day, like the Jewish and the Scandinavian, begins at +sundown; and "layl " a night, is often used to denote the twenty- +four hours between sunset and sunset, whilst "yaum," a day, would +by us be translated in many cases "battle-day." + +[FN#438] Iterum the "Himalayan Brothers." + +[FN#439] Again, Mohammed who promised Good to the Good, and vice +vers. + +[FN#440] They are sad doggrel like most of the pices d'occasion +inserted in The Nights. + +[FN#441] Here "Kahwah" (coffee) is used in its original sense of +strong old wine. The derivation is "Akh"=fastidire fecit, causing +disinclination for food, the Matambre (kill- hunger) of the +Iberians. In old days the scrupulous called coffee "Kihwah" in +order to distinguish it from 'Kakwah," wine. + +[FN#442] i.e. Mohammed, a common title. + +[FN#443] That is, fatal to the scoffer and the impious. + +[FN#444] Equivalent to our "The Devil was sick," etc. + +[FN#445] i.e. to the enemy: the North American Indians (so called) +use similar forms of "inverted speech"; and the Australian +aborigines are in no way behind them. + +[FN#446] See Vol. i., p. 154 (Night xvi.). + +[FN#447] Arab. "Sauf," a particle denoting a near future whereas +"Sa-" points to one which may be very remote. + +[FN#448] From the root "Shanh"=having a fascinating eye, +terrifying. The Irish call the fascinater "eybitter" and the victim +(who is also rhymed to death) "eybitten." + +[FN#449] i.e., not like the noble-born, strong in enduring the +stress of fight. + +[FN#450] i.e., of Abraham. For the Well Zemzem and the Place of +Abraham see my Pilgrimage (iii. 171-175, etc.), where I described +the water as of salt-bitter taste, like that of Epsom (iii. 203). +Sir William Muir (in his excellent life of Mahomet, I. cclviii.) +remarks that "the flavour of stale water bottled up for months +would not be a criterion of the same water freshly drawn;" but +soldered tins-full of water drawn a fortnight before are to be had +in Calcutta and elsewhere after Pilgrimage time; and analysis would +at once detect the salt. + +[FN#451] Racing was and is a favourite pastime with those +hippomanists, the Arabs; but it contrasts strongly with our +civilised form being a trial of endurance rather than of speed. The +Prophet is said to have limited betting in these words, "There +shall be no wagering save on the Kuff (camel's foot), the Hafir +(hoof of horse, ass, etc.) or the Nasal (arrow-pile or lance +head)." + +[FN#452] In the Mac. Edit. "Arman"=Armenia, which has before +occurred. The author or scribe here understands by "Csarea" not +the old Turris Stratonis, Herod's city called after Augustus, but +Csareia the capital of Cappadocia (Pliny, vi. 3), the royal +residence before called Mazaca (Strabo). + +[FN#453] An idiom meaning "a very fool." + +[FN#454] i.e. Kna (was) m (that which) was (kna). + +[FN#455] A son being "the lamp of a dark house." + +[FN#456] When the Israelites refused to receive the Law (the souls +of all the Prophets even those unborn being present at the +Covenant), Allah tore up the mountain (Sinai which is not +mentioned) by the roots and shook it over their heads to terrify +them, saying, "Receive the Law which we have given you with a +resolution to keep it" (Koran chaps. xlx. 170). Much of this story +is from the Talmud (Abodah Sar. 2, 2, Tract Sabbath, etc.) whence +Al-Islam borrowed so much of its Judaism, as it took Christianity +from the Apocryphal New Testament. This tradition is still held by +the Israelites, says Mr. Rodwell (p. 333) who refers it to a +misunderstanding of Exod. xix. 17, rightly rendered in the E. +version "at the nether part of the mountain." + +[FN#457] Arab. "Azghn" = the camel-litters in which women travel. + +[FN#458] i.e. to joy foes and dismay friends. + +[FN#459] Whose eyes became white (i.e. went blind) with mourning +for his son Joseph (Koran, chaps. xii. 84). He recovered his sight +when his face was covered with the shirt which Gabriel had given to +the youth after his brethren had thrown him into the well. + +[FN#460] "Poison King" (Persian); or "Flower-King" (Arabic). + +[FN#461] A delicate allusion to the size of her hips and back +parts, in which volume is, I have said, greatly admired for the +best of reasons. + +[FN#462] All Prophets had some manual trade and that of David was +making coats of mail, which he invented, for before his day men +used plate-armour. So "Allah softened the iron for him" and in his +hands it became like wax (Koran xxi. xxxiv., etc.). Hence a good +coat of mail is called "Davidean." I have noticed (First Footsteps, +p. 33 and elsewhere) the homage paid to the blacksmith on the +principle which made Mulciber (Malik Kabir) a god. The myth of +David inventing mail possibly arose from his peculiarly fighting +career. Moslems venerate Dd on account of his extraordinary +devotion, nor has this view of his character ceased : a modern +divine preferred him to "all characters in history." + +[FN#463] "Travel by night," said the Prophet, "when the plagues of +earth (scorpions, serpents, etc.) afflict ye not." Yet the night- +march in Arabia is detestable (Pilgrimage iii.). + +[FN#464] This form of ceremony is called "Istikbl" (coming forth +to greet) and is regulated by the severest laws of etiquette. As a +rule the greater the distance (which may be a minimum of one step) +the higher the honour. Easterns infinitely despise strangers who +ignore these vitals of politeness. + +[FN#465] i.e. he will be a desert Nimrod and the game will delight +to be killed by him. + +[FN#466] This serves to keep the babe's eyes free from +inflammation. + +[FN#467] i.e. Crown of the Kings of amorous Blandishment. + +[FN#468] Lane (i. 531) translates "the grey down." The Arabs use +"Akhzar" (prop. "green") in many senses, fresh, gray-hued, etc. + +[FN#469] Allusion to the well-known black banners of the house of +Abbas. The Persians describe the growth of hair on a fair young +face by, "His cheeks went into mourning for the loss of their +charms." + +[FN#470] Arab. "Kfir" a Koranic word meaning Infidel, the active +participle of Kufr= Infidelity i.e. rejecting the mission of +Mohammed. It is insulting and in Turkish has been degraded to +"Giaour." Here it means black, as Hafiz of Shiraz terms a cheek +mole "Hindu" i.e. dark-skinned and idolatrous. + +[FN#471] Alluding to the travel of Moses (Koran chaps. xviii.) with +Al-Khizr (the "evergreen Prophet") who had drunk of the Fountain of +Life and enjoyed flourishing and continual youth. Moses is +represented as the external and superficial religionist; the man of +outsight; Al-Khizr as the spiritual and illuminated man of insight. + +[FM#472] The lynx was used like the lion in Ancient Egypt and the +Chita-leopard in India: I have never seen or heard of it in these +days. + +[FN#473] Arab. "Sukr," whence our "Saker" the falcon, not to be +confounded with the old Falco Sacer, the Gr. . Falconry which, +like all arts, began in Egypt, is an extensive subject throughout +Moslem lands. I must refer my readers to "Falconry in the Valley of +the Indus" (Van Voorst, 1852) and a long note in Pilgrimage iii. +71. + +[FN#474] It was not respectful to pitch their camp within dog-bark. + +[FN#475] Easterns attach great importance to softness and +smoothness of skin and they are right: a harsh rough epidermis +spoils sport with the handsomest woman. + +[FN#476] Canticles vii. 8: Hosea xiv. 6. + +[FN#477] The mesmeric attraction of like to like. + +[FN#478] Arab. "Taswif"=saying "Sauf," I will do it soon. It is a +beautiful wordetymologically. + +[FN#479] A very far fetched allusion. The face of the beloved +springing from an unbuttoned robe is the moon rising over the camp +in the hollow (bat'h). + +[FN#480] Arab. "Kasabt" = "canes," long beads, bugles. + +[FN#481] Koran, xcvi. 5. + +[FN#482] Both words (masc. and fem.) mean "dear, excellent, highly- +prized." The tale is the Arab form of the European "Patient +Griselda" and shows a higher conception of womanly devotion, +because Azizah, despite her wearisome weeping, is a girl of high +intelligence and Aziz is a vicious zany, weak as water and wilful +as wind. The phenomenon (not rare in life) is explained by the +couplet:-- + + I love my love with an S + Because he is stupid and not intellectual. + +This fond affection of clever women for fools can be explained only +by the law of unlikeness which mostly governs sexual unions in +physical matters; and its appearance in the story gives novelty and +point. Aziz can plead only the violence of his passion which +distinguished him as a lover among the mob of men who cannot love +anything beyond themselves. And none can pity him for losing a +member which he so much abused. + +[FN#483] Arab. "Shhid," the index, the pointer raised in +testimony: the comparison of the Eastern and the Western names is +curious. + +[FN#484] Musk is one of the perfumes of the Moslem Heaven; and +"musky" is much used in verse to signify scented and dark-brown. + +[FN#485] Arab. "Mandl": these kerchiefs are mostly oblong, the +shore sides being worked with gold and coloured silk, and often +fringed, while the two others are plain. + +[FN#486] Arab. "Rayhn," of the Ocymum Basilicum or sweet basil: +a delicate handwriting, so called from the pen resembling a leaf +(?) See vol. i. p. 128. [Volume 1, note 229 & 230] + +[FN#487] All idiom meaning "something unusual happened." + +[FN#488] An action common in grief and regret: here the lady would +show that she sighs for union with her beloved. + +[FN#489] Lane (i. 608) has a valuable note on the language of +signs, from M. du Vigneau's "Secretaire Turc," etc. (Paris, 1688), +Baron von Hammer-Purgstall ("Mines de ['Orient," No. 1, Vienna, +1809) and Marcel's "Comes du Cheykh El-Mohdy" (Paris, 1833). It is +practiced in Africa as well as in Asia. At Abeokuta in Yoruba a man +will send a symbolical letter in the shape of cowries, palm-nuts +and other kernels strung on rice- straw, and sharp wits readily +interpret the meaning. A specimen is given in p. 262 of Miss +Tucker's "Abbeokuta; or Sunrise within the Tropics." + +[FN#490] Mr. Payne (ii. 227) translates "Haw al-'Urz" by "the +love of the Beni Udhra, an Arabian tribe famous for the passion and +devotion with which love was practiced among them." See Night +dclxxxiii. I understand it as "excusable love" which, for want of +a better term, is here translated "platonic." It is, however, more +like the old "bundling" of Wales and Northern England; and allows +all the pleasures but one, the toyings which the French call les +plaisirs de la petite ode; a term my dear old friend Fred. Hankey +derived from la petite voie. The Afghans know it as "Nmzad-bz" +or betrothed play (Pilgrimage, ii. 56); the Abyssinians as eye- +love; and the Kafirs as Slambuka a Shlabonka, for which see The +traveller Delegorgue. + +[FN#491] "Turk" in Arabic and Persian poetry means a plunderer, a +robber. Thus Hafiz: "Agar n Turk-i-Shirzi ba-dast rad dil-i- +mr," If that Shirazi (ah, the Turk!) would deign to take my heart +in hand, etc. + +[FN#492] Arab. "Nzir," a steward or an eye (a "looker"). The idea +is borrowed from Al-Hariri (Assemblies, xiii.), and,-- + +[FN#493] Arab. "Hjib," a groom of the chambers, a chamberlain; +also an eyebrow. See Al-Hariri, ibid. xiii. and xxii. + +[FN#494] This gesture speaks for itself: it is that of a dyer +staining a cloth. The "Sabbgh's" shop is the usual small recess, +open to the street and showing pans of various dyes sunk like "dog- +laps" in the floor. + +[FN#495] The Arab. "Sabt" (from sabata, he kept Sabt) and the Heb. +"Sabbath" both mean Saturn's day, Saturday, transferred by some +unknown process throughout Christendom to Sunday. The change is one +of the most curious in the history of religions. If there be a +single command stronger than all others it is "Keep the Saturday +holy." It was so kept by the Founder of Christianity; the order was +never abrogated and yet most Christians are not aware that Sabbath, +or "Sawbath," means Saturn's day, the "Shiyr" of the older Arabs. +And to complete its degradation "Sabbat" in French and German means +a criaillerie, a "row," a disorder, an abominable festival of Hexen +(witches). This monstrous absurdity can be explained only by +aberrations of sectarian zeal, of party spirit in religion. + +[FN#496] The men who cry to prayer. The first was Bill, the +Abyssinian slave bought and manumitted by Abu Bakr. His simple cry +was "I testify there is no Ilh (god) but Allah (God)! Come ye to +prayers!" Caliph Omar, with the Prophet's permission, added, "I +testify that Mohammed is the Apostle of Allah." The prayer-cry +which is beautiful and human, contrasting pleasantly with the +brazen clang of the bell. now is + + Allah is Almighty (bis). + I declare no god is there but Allah (bis). + Hie ye to Rogation (Hayya=halumma). + Hie ye to Salvation (Falh=prosperity, Paradise). + ("Hie ye to Edification," a Shi'ah adjunct). + Prayer is better than sleep (in the morning, also bis). + No god is there but Allah + +This prayer call is similarly worded and differently pronounced and +intoned throughout Al-Islam. + +[FN#497] i.e. a graceful youth of Al-Hijaz, the Moslem Holy Land, +whose "sons" claim especial privileges. + +[FN#498] Arab. "harf'= a letter, as we should say a syllable. + +[FN#499] She uses the masculine "fat," in order to make the +question more mysterious. + +[FN#500] The fountain-bowl is often ornamented by a rude mosaic of +black and white marble with enlivenments of red stone or tile in +complicated patterns. + +[FN#501] Arab. "Kubd" = shaddock (citrus decumana): the huge +orange which Captain Shaddock brought from the West Indies; it is +the Anglo-Indian pompelmoose, vulg. pummelo. An excellent bitter is +made out of the rind steeped in spirits. Citronworts came from +India whence they spread throughout the tropics: they were first +introduced into Europe by the heroic Joam de Castro and planted in +his garden at Cintra where their descendants are still seen. + +[FN#502] Arab. "Baklwah," Turk. "Baklv," a kind of pastry with +blanched almonds bruised small between layers of dough, baked in +the oven and cut into lozenges. It is still common + +[FN#503] Her just fear was that the young woman might prove "too +clever by half" for her simpleton cousin. + +[FN#504] The curse is pregnant with meaning. On Judgment-day the +righteous shall arise with their faces shining gloriously: hence +the blessing, "Bayyaz' Allaho wajh-ak" (=Allah whiten thy +countenance!). But the wicked shall appear with faces scorched +black and deformed by horror (Koran xxiv.): hence "God blacken thy +brow!" I may observe that Easterns curse, the curse being +everywhere the language of excited destructiveness; but only +Westerns, and these chiefly English, swear, a practice utterly +meaningless. "Damn it" without specifying what the "it" is, sounds +like the speech of a naughty child anxious only to use a "wicked +word." "Damn you!" is intelligible all the world over. It has given +rise to "les goddams" in France, "Godmes" in the Brazil and +"Gotma" amongst the Somal of Eastern Africa, who learn it in Aden, + +[FN#505] Arab. "Zardah," usually rice dressed with saffron and +honey, from Pers. "Zard," saffron, yellow. See Night dcxii. + +[FN#506] Vulgarly called "knuckle-bone," concerning which I shall +have something to say. + +[FN#507] A bit of wood used in the children's game called "Tb" +which resembles our tip-cat (Lane M. E. chaps. xvii.). + +[FN#508] Arab. "Balah," the unripened date, which is considered a +laxative and eaten in hot weather. + +[FN#509] Lane (i. 611), quoting Al-Kazwn, notes that the date- +stone is called "Naw" (dim. "Nawyah") which also means distance, +absence, severance. Thus the lady threatens to cast off her greedy +and sleepy lover. + +[FN#510] The pad of the carob-bean which changes little after being +plucked is an emblem of constancy. + +[FN#511] This dirham=48 grains avoir. + +[FN#512] The weight would be round: also "Hadd" (=iron) means +sharp or piercing (Koran chaps. Vi]. 21). The double "swear" is +intended to be very serious. Moreover iron conjures away fiends: +when a water-spout or a sand-devil (called Shaytn also in Arabia) +approaches, you point the index at the Jinn and say, "Iron, O thou +ill-omened one!" Amongst the Ancient Egyptians the metal was ill- +omened being the bones of Typhon, 80 here, possibly, we have an +instance of early homopathy--similia similibus. + +[FN#513] Probably fermented to a kind of wine. The insipid fruit +(Unnb) which looks like an apple in miniature, is much used in +stews, etc. It is the fruit (Nabak classically Nabik) of Rhamnus +Nabeca (or Sidrat) also termed Zizyphus Jujuba, seu Spina Christi +because fabled to have formed the crown of thorns: in the English +market this plum is called Chinese Japonica. I have described it in +Pilgrimage ii. 205, and have noticed the infusion of the leaves for +washing the dead (ibid. ii. 105): this is especially the use of the +"Ber" in India, where the leaves are superstitiously held +peculiarly pure. Our dictionaries translate "Sidr" by "Lote-tree"; +and no wonder that believers in Homeric writ feel their bile +aroused by so poor a realisation of the glorious myth. The Homerids +probably alluded to Hashish or Bhang. + +[FN#514] Arab. "Azrr": the open collar of the Saub ("Tobe") or +long loose dress is symptomatic. The Eastern button is on the same +principle as ours (both having taken the place of the classical +fibula); but the Moslem affects a loop (like those to which we +attach our "frogs") and utterly ignores a button-hole. + +[FN#515] Alluding to the ceremonious circumambulation of the Holy +House at Meccah: a notable irreverence worthy of Kneph-town +(Canopus). + +[FN#516] The ear-drop is the penis and the anklet its crown of +glory. + +[FN#517] Equivalent to our "Alas! Alas!" which, by the by, no one +ever says. "Awah," like "Yauh," is now a woman's word although used +by Al-Hariri (Assembly of Basrah) and so Al-awwh=one who cries +from grief "Awh." A favourite conversational form is "Yehh" with +the aspirate exasperated, but it is an expression of astonishment +rather than sorrow. It enters into Europe travel-books. + +[FN#518] In the text "burst her gall-bladder." + +[FN#519] The death of Azizah is told with true Arab pathos and +simplicity: it still draws tear. *from the eyes of the Badawi, and +I never read it without a "lump in the throat." + +[FN#520] Arab. "Inshallah bukra!" a universal saying which is the +horror of travellers. + +[FN#521] I have explained "Nu'uman's flower" as the anemone which +in Grecised Arabic is "Anmiy." Here they are strewed over the +tomb; often the flowers are planted in a small bed of mould sunk in +the upper surface. + +[FN#522] Arab. "Barzakh" lit. a bar, a partition: in the Koran +(chapts. xxiii. and xxxv.) the space or the place between death and +resurrection where souls are stowed away. It corresponds after a +fashion with the classical Hades and the Limbus (Limbo) of +Christendom, e.g.. Limbus patrum, infantum, fatuorum. But it must +not be confounded with Al-A'arf, The Moslem purgatory. + +[FN#523] Arab. "Zukk al-Nakb," the latter word has been explained +as a chief, leader, head man. + +[FN#524] Moslems never stand up at such times, for a spray of urine +would make their clothes ceremonially impure: hence the scrupulous +will break up with stick or knife the hard ground in front of them. +A certain pilgrim was reported to have made this blunder which is +hardly possible in Moslem dress. A high personage once asked me if +it was true that he killed a man who caught him in a standing +position; and I found to my surprise that the absurd scandal was +already twenty years old. After urinating the Moslem wipes the os +penis with one to three bits of stone, clay or handfuls of earth, +and he must perform Wuzu before he can pray. Tournefort (Voyage au +Levant iii. 335) tells a pleasant story of certain Christians at +Constantinople who powdered with "Poivre-d'Inde" the stones in a +wall where the Moslems were in the habit of rubbing the os penis by +way of wiping The same author (ii. 336) strongly recommends a +translation of Rabelais' Torcheculative chapter (Lib i., chaps. 13) +for the benefit of Mohammedans. + +[FN#525] Arab. "Nuhs ahmar," lit. red brass. + +[FN#526] The cup is that between the lady's legs. + +[FN#527] A play upon "Sk" = calf, or leg, and "Sk," a cup- +bearer. The going round (Tawf) and the running (Sa'i) allude to +the circumambulation of the Ka'abah, and the running between Mount +Saf and Marwah (Pilgrimage ii. 58, and iii. 343). A religious +Moslem would hold the allusion highly irreverent. + +[FN#528] Lane (i. 614) never saw a woman wearing such kerchief +which is deshabille. It is either spread over the head or twisted +turband-wise. + +[FN#529] The "Kasabah" was about two fathoms of long measure, and +sometimes 12 feet; but the length has been reduced. + +[FN#530] "Bat and ball," or hockey on horseback (Polo) is one of +the earliest Persian games as shown by every illustrated copy of +Firdausi's "Shahnmeh." This game was played with a Kurrah or small +hand-ball and a long thin bat crooked at the end called in Persian +Chaugn and in Arabic Saulajn. Another sense of the word is given +in the Burhn-i-Kti translated by Vullers (Lex. Persico-Latinum), +a large bandy with bent head to which is hung an iron ball, also +called Kaukabah (our "morning-star") and like the umbrella it +denotes the grandees of the court. The same Kaukabah particularly +distinguished one of the Marquesses of Waterford. This Polo +corresponds with the folliculus, the pallone, the baloun-game +(moyen ge) of Europe, where the horse is not such a companion of +man; and whereof the classics sang:-- + + Folle decet pueros ludere, folle senes. + +In these days we should spell otherwise the "folle" of seniors +playing at the ball or lawn-tennis. + +[FN#531] "Dall" means a guide; `'Dallah," a woman who misguides, +a bawd. See the Tale of Dallah the Crafty, Night dcxcviii. + +[FN#532] i.e. she was a martyr. + +[FN#533] Arab. "Ghashm" a popular and insulting term, our "Johnny +Raw." Its use is shown in Pilgrimage i. 110. + +[FN#534] Bathers pay on leaving the Hammam; all enter without +paying. + +[FN#535] i.e. she swore him upon his sword and upon the Koran: a +loaf of bread is sometimes added. See Lane (i. 615). + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, V2 + diff --git a/old/3436-h-2022-01-08.htm b/old/3436-h-2022-01-08.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c64775 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/3436-h-2022-01-08.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14934 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 2, by Richard F. 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Burton</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 2</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Richard F. Burton</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: April 4, 2001 [eBook #3436]<br /> +[Most recently updated: January 8, 2022]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: J.C. Byers, Laura Shaffer, Lan Wang and Doris Ringbloom</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS ***</div> + +<h1>THE BOOK OF THE<br/> THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT</h1> + +<h4>A Plain and Literal Translation<br/> +of the Arabian Nights Entertainments<br/></h4> + +<h2>Translated and Annotated by<br/> Richard F. Burton </h2> + +<h3>VOLUME TWO</h3> + +<h5>Privately Printed By The Burton Club</h5> + +<p> +To John Payne, Esq. +</p> + +<p> +My Dear Sir, +</p> + +<p> +Allow me thus publicly to express my admiration of your magnum opus, "The +Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night;" and to offer you my cordial +thanks for honouring me with the dedication of that scholar-like and +admirable version. +</p> + +<p> +Ever yours sincerely, +</p> + +<p> +Richard F. Burton. +</p> + +<p> +Queen's College, Oxford,<br/> + August 1, 1885. +</p> + +<h3> +Contents of the Second Volume +</h3> + +<table summary="" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: auto"> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">7. Nur Al-Din Ali and the Damsel Anis Al-Jalis</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap02">8. Tale of Ghanim Bin Ayyub, The Distraught, The Thrall O' Love</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">a. Tale of the First Eunuch, Bukhayt</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">b. Tale of the Second Eunuch, Kafur</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">9. Tale of King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman and His Sons Sharrkan and Zau Al-Makan</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap06">a. Tale of Taj Al-Muluk and the Princess Dunya</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap07">aa. Tale of Aziz and Azizah</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3> +The Book Of The<br/> +THOUSAND NIGHTS AND A NIGHT<br/> +</h3> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap01"></a>Nur Al-Din Ali and the Damsel Anis Al-Jalis</h2> + +<p class="noindent"> +Quoth Shahrazad [FN#1]:—It hath reached me, O auspicious King of intelligence +penetrating, that there was, amongst the Kings of Bassorah[FN#2], a King who +loved the poor and needy and cherished his lieges, and gave of his wealth to +all who believed in Mohammed (whom Allah bless and assain!), and he was even as +one of the poets described him, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"A King who when hosts of the foe invade, * Receives them with lance-lunge and sabre-sway;<br/> +Writes his name on bosoms in thin red lines, * And scatters the horsemen in wild dismay."[FN#3] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +His name was King Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, and he had two Wazirs, one +called Al-Mu'ín, son of Sáwí and the other Al-Fazl son of Khákán. Now Al-Fazl +was the most generous of the people of his age, upright of life, so that all +hearts united in loving him and the wise flocked to him for counsel; whilst the +subjects used to pray for his long life, because he was a compendium of the +best qualities, encouraging the good and lief, and preventing evil and +mischief. But the Wazir Mu'ín bin Sáwí on the contrary hated folk [FN#4] and +loved not the good and was a mere compound of ill; even as was said of him, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Hold to nobles, sons of nobles! 'tis ever Nature's test * That nobles born of nobles shall excel in noble deed:<br/> +And shun the mean of soul, meanly bred, for 'tis the law, * Mean deeds come of men who are mean of blood and breed." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And as much as the people loved and fondly loved Al-Fazl bin Khákán, so they +hated and thoroughly hated the mean and miserly Mu'ín bin Sáwí. It befel one +day by the decree of the Decreer, that King Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, +being seated on his throne with his officers of state about him, summoned his +Wazir Al-Fazl and said to him, "I wish to have a slave-girl of passing beauty, +perfect in loveliness, exquisite in symmetry and endowed with all praiseworthy +gifts." Said the courtiers, "Such a girl is not to be bought for less than ten +thousand gold pieces:" whereupon the Sultan called out to his treasurer and +said, "Carry ten thousand dinars to the house of Al-Fazl bin Khákán." The +treasurer did the King's bidding; and the Minister went away, after receiving +the royal charge to repair to the slave-bazar every day, and entrust to brokers +the matter aforesaid. Moreover the King issued orders that girls worth above a +thousand gold pieces should not be bought or sold without being first displayed +to the Wazir. Accordingly no broker purchased a slave-girl ere she had been +paraded before the minister; but none pleased him, till one day a dealer came +to the house and found him taking horse and intending for the palace. So he +caught hold of his stirrup saying, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"O thou, who givest to royal state sweet savour, * Thou'rt a Wazir shalt never fail of favour!<br/> +Dead Bounty thou hast raised to life for men; * Ne'er fail of Allah's grace such high endeavour!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then quoth he, "O my lord, that surpassing object for whom the gracious mandate +was issued is at last found; [FN#5]" and quoth the Wazir, "Here with her to +me!" So he went away and returned after a little, bringing a damsel in richest +raiment robed, a maid spear-straight of stature and five feet tall; budding of +bosom with eyes large and black as by Kohl traced, and dewy lips sweeter than +syrup or the sherbet one sips, a virginette smooth cheeked and shapely faced, +whose slender waist with massive hips was engraced; a form more pleasing than +branchlet waving upon the top-most trees; and a voice softer and gentler than +the morning breeze, even as saith one of those who have described her, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Strange is the charm which dights her brows like Luna's disk that shine; * O sweeter taste than sweetest Robb[FN#6] or raisins of the vine.<br/> +A throne th'Empyrean keeps for her in high and glorious state, * For wit and wisdom, wandlike form and graceful bending line:<br/> +She in the Heaven of her face[FN#7] the seven-fold stars displays, * That guard her cheeks as satellites against the spy's design:<br/> +If man should cast a furtive glance or steal far look at her, * His heart is burnt by devil-bolts shot by those piercing eyne." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When the Wazir saw her she made him marvel with excess of admiration, so he +turned, perfectly pleased, to the broker and asked, "What is the price of this +girl?"; whereto he answered, "Her market-value stands at ten thousand dinars, +but her owner swears that this sum will not cover the cost of the chickens she +hath eaten, the wine she hath drunken and the dresses of honour bestowed upon +her instructor: for she hath learned calligraphy and syntax and etymology; the +commentaries of the Koran; the principles of law and religion; the canons of +medicine, and the calendar and the art of playing on musical +instruments."[FN#8] Said the Wazir, "Bring me her master." So the broker +brought him at once and, behold, he was a Persian of whom there was left only +what the days had left; for he was as a vulture bald and scald and a wall +trembling to its fall. Time had buffetted him with sore smart, yet was he not +willing this world to depart; even as said the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Time hath shattered all my frame, * Oh! how time hath shattered me.<br/> +Time with lordly might can tame * Manly strength and vigour free.<br/> +Time was in my youth, that none * Sped their way more fleet and fast:<br/> +Time is and my strength is gone, * Youth is sped, and speed is past.[FN#9]" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +The Wazir asked him, "Art thou content to sell this slave-girl to the Sultan +for ten thousand dinars?"; and the Persian answered, "By Allah, if I offer her +to the King for naught, it were but my devoir."[FN#10] So the Minister bade +bring the monies and saw them weighed out to the Persian, who stood up before +him and said, "By the leave of our lord the Wazir, I have somewhat to say;" and +the Wazir replied, "Out with all thou hast!" "It is my opinion," continued the +slave-dealer, "that thou shouldst not carry the maid to the King this day; for +she is newly off a journey; the change of air[FN#11] hath affected her and the +toils of trouble have fretted her. But keep her quiet in thy palace some ten +days, that she may recover her looks and become again as she was. Then send +her to the Hammam and clothe her in the richest of clothes and go up with her +to the Sultan: this will be more to thy profit." The Wazir pondered the +Persian's words and approved of their wisdom; so he carried her to his palace, +where he appointed her private rooms, and allowed her every day whatever she +wanted of meat and drink and so forth. And on this wise she abode a while. +Now the Wazir Al-Fazl had a son like the full moon when sheeniest dight, with +face radiant in light, cheeks ruddy-bright, and a mole like a dot of ambergris +on a downy site; as said of him the poet and said full right, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"A moon which blights you[FN#12] if you dare behold; * A branch which folds you in its waving fold:<br/> +Locks of the Zanj[FN#13] and golden glint of hair; * Sweet gait and form a spear to have and hold:<br/> +Ah! hard of heart with softest slenderest waist, * That evil to this weal why not remould?[FN#14]<br/> +Were thy form's softness placed in thy heart, * Ne'er would thy lover find thee harsh and cold:<br/> +Oh thou accuser! be my love's excuser, * Nor chide if love-pangs deal me woes untold!<br/> +I bear no blame: 'tis all my hear and eyne; * So leave thy blaming, let me yearn and pine." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now the handsome youth knew not the affair of the damsel; and his father had +enjoined her closely, saying, "Know, O my daughter, that I have bought thee as +a bedfellow for our King, Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni; and I have a son who +is a Satan for girls and leaves no maid in the neighbourhood without taking her +maidenhead; so be on thy guard against him and beware of letting him see thy +face or hear thy voice." "Hearkening and obedience," said the girl; and he +left her and fared forth. Some days after this it happened by decree of +Destiny, that the damsel repaired to the baths in the house, where some of the +slave women bathed her; after which she arrayed herself in sumptuous raiment; +and her beauty and loveliness were thereby redoubled. Then she went in to the +Wazir's wife and kissed her hand; and the dame said to her, "Naiman! May it +benefit thee,[FN#15] O Anis al- Jalis![FN#16] Are not our baths handsome?" "O +my mistress," she replied, "I lacked naught there save thy gracious presence." +Thereupon the lady said to her slave-women, "Come with us to the Hammam, for it +is some days since we went there:" they answered, "To hear is to obey!" and +rose and all accompanied her. Now she had set two little slave-girls to keep +the door of the private chamber wherein was Anis al-Jalis and had said to them, +"Suffer none go in to the damsel." Presently, as the beautiful maiden sat +resting in her rooms, suddenly came in the Wazir's son whose name was Nur +al-Din Ali,[FN#17] and asked after his mother and her women, to which the two +little slave-girls replied, "They are in the Hammam." But the damsel, Anis +al-Jalis, had heard from within Nur al-Din Ali's voice and had said to herself, +"O would Heaven I saw what like is this youth against whom the Wazir warned me, +saying that he hath not left a virgin in the neighbourhood without taking her +virginity: by Allah, I do long to have sight of him!" So she sprang to her +feet with the freshness of the bath on her and, stepping to the door, looked at +Nur al-Din Ali and saw a youth like the moon in its full and the sight +bequeathed her a thousand sighs. The young man also glanced at her and the look +make him heir to a thousand thoughts of care; and each fell into Love's ready +snare. Then he stepped up to the two little slave-girls and cried aloud at +them; whereupon both fled before him and stood afar off to see what he would +do. And behold, he walked to the door of the damsel's chamber and, opening it, +went in and asked her "Art thou she my father bought for me?" and she answered +"Yes." Thereupon the youth, who was warm with wine, came up to her and embraced +her; then he took her legs and passed them round his waist and she wound her +arms about his neck, and met him with kisses and murmurs of pleasure and +amorous toyings. Next he sucked her tongue and she sucked his, and lastly, he +loosed the strings of her petticoat-trousers and abated her maidenhead. When +the two little slave-girls saw their young master get in unto the damsel, Anis +al-Jalis, they cried out and shrieked; so as soon as the youth had had his +wicked will of her, he rose and fled forth fearing the consequences of his +ill-doing. When the Wazir's wife heard the slave-girls' cries, she sprang up +and came out of the baths with the perspiration pouring from her face, saying, +"What is this unseemly clamour in the house[FN#18]?" Then she came up to the +two little slave- girls and asked them saying, "Fie upon you! what is the +matter?"; and both answered, "Verily our lord Nur al-Din came in and beat us, +so we fled; then he went up to Anis al-Jalis and threw his arms round her and +we know not what he did after that; but when we cried out to thee he ran away." +Upon this the lady went to Anis al-Jalis and said to her, "What tidings?" "O +my lady," she answered, "as I was sitting here lo! a handsome young man came in +and said to me:—Art thou she my father bought for me?; and I answered Yes; for, +by Allah, O mistress mine, I believed that his words were true; and he +instantly came in and embraced me." "Did he nought else with thee but this?" +quoth the lady, and quoth she, "Indeed he did! But he did it only three +times." "He did not leave thee without dishonouring thee!" cried the Wazir's +wife and fell to weeping and buffetting her face, she and the girl and all the +handmaidens, fearing lest Nur al-Din's father should kill him.[FN#19] Whilst +they were thus, in came the Wazir and asked what was the matter, and his wife +said to him, "Swear that whatso I tell thee thou wilt attend to it." "I will," +answered he. So she related to him what his son had done, whereat he was much +concerned and rent his raiment and smote his face till his nose bled, and +plucked out his beard by the handful. "Do not kill thyself," said his wife, "I +will give thee ten thousand dinars, her price, of my own money." But he raised +his head and cried, "Out upon thee! I have no need of her purchase-money: my +fear is lest life as well as money go." "O my lord, and how is that?" "Wottest +thou not that yonder standeth our enemy Al Mu'ín bin Sáwí who, as soon as he +shall hear of this matter, will go up to the Sultan"—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Thirty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir said to +his wife, "Wottest thou not that yonder standeth our enemy Al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí +who, as soon as he hears of this matter will go up to the Sultan and say to +him, 'Thy Wazir who, thou wilt have it loveth thee, took from thee ten thousand +ducats and bought therewith a slave-girl whose like none ever beheld; but when +he saw her, she pleased him and he said to his son, 'Take her: thou art +worthier of her than the Sultan.' So he took her and did away with her +virginity and she is now in his house.' The King will say, 'Thou liest!' to +which he will reply, 'With thy leave I will fall upon him unawares and bring +her to thee.' The King will give him warranty for this and he will come down +upon the house and will take the girl and present her to the Sultan, who will +question her and she will not be able to deny the past. Then mine enemy will +say, 'O my lord, thou wottest that I give thee the best of counsel; but I have +not found favour in thine eyes.' Thereupon the Sultan will make an example of +me, and I shall be a gazing-stock to all the people and my life will be lost." +Quoth his wife, "Let none know of this thing which hath happened privily, and +commit thy case to Allah and trust in Him to save thee from such strait; for He +who knoweth the future shall provide for the future." With this she brought +the Wazir a cup of wine and his heart was quieted, and he ceased to feel wrath +and fear. Thus far concerning him; but as regards his son Nur al-Din Ali, +fearing the consequence of his misdeed he abode his day long in the flower +garden and came back only at night to his mother's apartment where he slept; +and, rising before dawn, returned to the gardens. He ceased not to do thus for +two whole months without showing his face to his parent, till at last his +mother said to his father, "O my lord, shall we lose our boy as well as the +girl? If matters continue long in this way he will flee from us." "And what +to do?" asked he; and she answered, "Do thou watch this night; and, when he +cometh, seize on him and frighten him: I will rescue him from thee and do thou +make peace with him and give him the damsel to wife, for she loveth him as he +loveth her. And I will pay thee her price." So the Minister say up that night +and, when his son came, he seized him and throwing him down knelt on his breast +and showed as thou he would cut his throat; but his mother ran to the youth's +succour and asked her husband, "What wouldest thou do with him?" He answered +her, "I will split his weasand." Said the son to the father, "Is my death, +then, so light a matter to thee?"; and his father's eyes welled with tears, for +natural affection moved him, and he rejoined, "O my son, how light was to thee +the loss of my good and my life!" Quoth Nur al-Din, "Hear, O my father, what +the poet hath said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +‘Forgive me! thee-ward sinned I, but the wise * Ne'er to the sinner shall deny his grace:<br/> +Thy foe may pardon sue when lieth he * In lowest, and thou holdest highest place!'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thereupon the Wazir rose from off his son's breast saying, "I forgive thee!"; +for his heart yearned to him; and the youth kissed the hand of his sire who +said, "O my son, were I sure that thou wouldest deal justly by Anis al-Jalis, I +would give her to thee." "O my father, what justice am I to do to her?" "I +enjoin thee, O my son, not to take another wife or concubine to share with her, +nor sell her." "O my father! I swear to thee that verily I will not do her +injustice in either way." Having sworn to that effect Nur al-Din went in to +the damsel and abode with her a whole year, whilst Allah Almighty caused the +King to forget the matter of the maiden; and Al-Mu'ín, though the affair came +to his ears, dared not divulge it by reason of the high favour in which his +rival stood with the Sultan. At the end of the year Al-Fazl went one day to +the public baths; and, as he came out whilst he was still sweating, the air +struck him[FN#20] and he caught a cold which turned to a fever; then he took to +his bed. His malady gained ground and restlessness was longsome upon him and +weakness bound him like a chain; so he called out, "Hither with my son;" and +when Nur al-Din Ali came he said to him, "O my son, know that man's lot and +means are distributed and decreed; and the end of days by all must be dree'd; +and that every soul drain the cup of death is nature's need." The he repeated +these lines, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I die my death, but He alone is great who dieth not! * And well I wot, soon shall I die, for death was made my lot:<br/> +A King there's not that dies and holds his kingdom in his hand, * For Sovranty the Kingdom is of Him who dieth not." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then he continued, "O my son, I have no charge to leave thee save that thou +fear Allah and look to the issues of thine acts and bear in mind my injunctions +anent Anis al-Jalis." "O my father!" said Nur al-Din, "who is like unto thee? +Indeed thou art famed for well doing and preachers offer prayers for thee in +their pulpits!" Quoth Al-Fazl, "O my son, I hope that Allah Almighty may grant +me acceptance!" Then he pronounced the Two Testimonies,[FN#21] or Professions +of the Faith, and was recorded among the blessed. The palace was filled with +crying and lamentation and the news of his death reached the King, and the +city-people wept, even those at their prayers and women at household cares and +the school-children shed tears for Bin- Khákán. Then his son Nur al-Din Ali +arose and made ready his funeral, and the Emirs and Wazirs and high Officers of +State and city-notables were present, amongst them the Wazir al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí. +And as the bier went forth from the house some one in the crowd of mourners +began to chant these lines, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"On the fifth day I quitted al my friends for evermore, * And they laid me out and washed me on a slab without my door:[FN#22]<br/> +They stripped me of the clothes I was ever wont to wear, * And they clothed me in the clothes which till then I never wore.<br/> +On four men's necks they bore me and carried me from home * To chapel; and some prayed for him on neck they bore:<br/> +They prayed for me a prayer that no prostration knows;[FN#23] * They prayed for me who praisèd me and were my friends of yore;<br/> +And they laid me in a house with a ceiling vaulted o'er, * And Time shall be no more ere it ope to me its door." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When they had shovelled in the dust over him and the crowd had dispersed, Nur +al-Din returned home and he lamented with sobs and tears; and the tongue of the +case repeated these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"On the fifth day at even-tide they went away from me: * I farewelled them as faring they made farewell my lot:<br/> +But my spirit as they went, with them went and so I cried, * 'Ah return ye!' but replied she, 'Alas! return is not<br/> +To a framework lere and lorn that lacketh blood and life, * A frame whereof remaineth naught but bones that rattle and rot:<br/> +Mine eyes are blind and cannot see quencht by the flowing tear! * Mine ears are dull and lost to sense: they have no power to hear!'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +He abode a long time sorrowing for his father till, one day, as he was sitting +at home, there came a knocking at the door; so he rose in haste and opening let +in a man, one of his father's intimates and who had been the Wazir's +boon-companion. The visitor kissed Nur al-Din's hand and said to him, "O my +lord, he who hath left the like of thee is not dead; and this way went also the +Chief of the Ancients and the Moderns. [FN#24] O my lord Ali, be comforted and +leave sorrowing." Thereupon Nur al-Din rose and going to the guest-saloon +transported thither all he needed. Then he assembled his companions and took +his handmaid again; and, collecting round him ten of the sons of the merchants, +began to eat meat and drink wine, giving entertainment after entertainment and +lavishing his presents and his favours. One day his Steward came to him and +said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, hast thou not heard the saying, Whoso spendeth and +reckoneth not, to poverty wendeth and recketh not?" And he repeated what the +poet wrote, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I look to my money and keep it with care, * For right well I wot 'tis my buckler and brand:<br/> +Did I lavish my dirhams on hostilest foes,[FN#25] * I should truck my good luck by mine ill luck trepanned:<br/> +So I'll eat it and drink it and joy in my wealth; * And no spending my pennies on others I'll stand:<br/> +I will keep my purse close 'gainst whoever he be; * And a niggard in grain a true friend ne'er I fand:<br/> +Far better deny him than come to say:—Lend, * And five-fold the loan shall return to thy hand!<br/> +And he turns face aside and he sidles away, * While I stand like a dog disappointed, unmanned.<br/> +Oh, the sorry lot his who hath yellow-boys none, * Though his genius and virtues shine bright as the sun! +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +"O my master," continued the Steward, "this lavish outlay and these magnificent +gifts waste away wealth." When Nur al-Din Ali heard these words he looked at +his servant and cried, "Of all thou hast spoken I will not heed one single +word, for I have heard the saying of the poet who saith, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'An my palm be full of wealth and my wealth I ne'er bestow, * A palsy take my hand and my foot ne'er rise again!<br/> +Show me niggard who by niggardise e'er rose to high degree, * Or the generous in gifts generosity hath slain.'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And he pursued, "Know, O Steward, it is my desire that so long as thou hast +money enough for my breakfast, thou trouble me not with taking thought about my +supper." Thereupon the Steward asked, "Must it be so?"; and he answered, "It +must." So the honest man went his way and Nur al-Din Ali devoted himself to +extravagance; and, if any of his cup-companions chanced to say, "This is a +pretty thing;" he would reply, "'Tis a gift to thee!"; or if another said, "O +my lord, such a house is handsome;" he would answer, "Take it: it is thine!" +After this reckless fashion he continued to live for a whole year, giving his +friends a banquet in the morning and a banquet in the evening and a banquet at +midnight, till one day, as the company was sitting together, the damsel Anis +al-Jalis repeated these lines, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Thou deemedst well of Time when days went well, * And feardest not what ills might deal thee Fate:<br/> +Thy nights so fair and restful cozened thee, * For peaceful nights bring woes of heavy weight." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When she had ended her verse behold, somebody knocked at the door. So Nur +al-Din rose to open it and one of his boon- companions followed him without +being perceived. At the door he found his Steward and asked him, "What is the +matter?"; and he answered, "O my lord, what I dreaded for thee hath come to +pass!" "How so?" "Know that there remains not a dirham's worth, less or more +in my hands. Here are my Daftars and account books showing both income and +outlay and the registers of thine original property." When Nur al-Din heard +these words he bowed his head and said, "There is no Majesty and there is no +Might save in Allah!" When the man who had followed him privily to spy on him +heard the Steward's words, he returned to his friends and warned them saying, +"Look ye well to what ye do: Nur al-Din is penniless;" and, as the young host +came back to his guests, vexation showed itself in his face. Thereupon one of +the intimates rose; and, looking at the entertainer, said to him, "O my lord, +may be thou wilt give me leave to retire?" "And why so early retirement this +day?"; asked he and the other answered him, "My wife is in childbirth and I may +not be absent from her: indeed I must return and see how she does." So he gave +him leave, whereupon another rose and said, "O my lord Nur al-Din, I wish now +to go to my brother's for he circumciseth his son to- day."[FN#26] In short +each and every asked permission to retire on some pretence or other, till all +the ten were gone leaving Nur al-Din alone. Then he called his slave-girl and +said to her, "O Anis al-Jalis, hast thou seen what case is mine?" And he +related to her what the Steward had told him. Then quoth she, "O my lord, for +many nights I had it in my mind to speak with thee of this matter, but I heard +thee repeating, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'When the World heaps favours on thee, pass on * Thy favours to friends ere her hand she stay:<br/> +Largesse never let her when fain she comes, * Nor niggardise kept her from turning away!' +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When I heard these verses I held my peace and cared not to exchange a word with +thee." "O Anis al-Jalis," said Nur al-Din, "thou knowest that I have not +wasted my wealth save on my friends, especially these ten who have now left me +a pauper, and I think they will not abandon and desert me without relief." "By +Allah," replied she, "they will not profit thee with aught of aid." Said he, +"I will rise at once and go to them and knock at their doors; it may be I shall +get from them somewhat wherewith I may trade and leave pastime and pleasuring." +So he rose without stay or delay, and repaired to a street wherein all his ten +friends lived. He went up to the nearest door and knocked; whereupon a +handmaid came out and asked him, "Who art thou?"; and he answered, "Tell thy +master that Nur al-Din Ali standeth at the door and saith to him, 'Thy slave +kisseth thy hand and awaiteth thy bounty.'" The girl went in and told her +master, who cried at her, "Go back and say, 'My master is not at home.'" So +she returned to Nur al-Din, and said to him, "O my lord, my master is out." +Thereupon he turned away and said to himself, "If this one be a whoreson knave +and deny himself, another may not prove himself such knave and whoreson." Then +he went up to the next door and sent in a like message to the house-master, who +denied himself as the first had done, whereupon he began repeating, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"He is gone who when to his gate thou go'st, * Fed thy famisht maw with his +boiled and roast." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When he had ended his verse he said, "By Allah, there is no help but that I +make trial of them all: perchance there be one amongst them who will stand me +in the stead of all the rest." So he went the round of the ten, but not one of +them would open his door to him or show himself or even break a bit of bread +before him; whereupon he recited, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Like a tree is he who in wealth doth wone, * And while fruits he the folk to his fruit shall run:<br/> +But when bared the tree of what fruit it bare, * They leave it to suffer from dust and sun.<br/> +Perdition to all of this age! I find * Ten rogues for every righteous one." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then he returned to his slave-girl and his grief had grown more grievous and +she said to him, "O my lord, did I not tell thee, none would profit thee with +aught of aid?" And he replied, "By Allah, not one of them would show me his +face or know me!" "O my lord," quoth she, "sell some of the moveables and +household stuff, such as pots and pans, little by little; and expend the +proceeds until Allah Almighty shall provide." So he sold all of that was in +the house till nothing remained when he turned to Anis al-Jalis and asked her +"What shall we do now?"; and she answered, "O my lord, it is my advice that +thou rise forthwith and take me down to the bazar and sell me. Thou knowest +that they father bought me for ten thousand dinars: haply Allah may open thee a +way to get the same price, and if it be His will to bring us once more +together, we shall meet again." "O Anis al- Jalis," cried he, "by Allah it is +no light matter for me to be parted from thee for a single hour!" "By Allah, O +my lord," she replied, "nor is it easy to me either, but Need hath its own law, +as the poet said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Need drives a man into devious roads, * And pathways doubtful of trend and scope:<br/> +No man to a rope[FN#27] will entrust his weight, * Save for cause that calleth for case of rope.'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thereupon he rose to his feet and took her,[FN#28] whilst the tears rolled down +his cheek like rain; and he recited with the tongue of the case these lines, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Stay! grant one parting look before we part, * Nerving my heart this severance to sustain:<br/> +But, an this parting deal thee pain and bane, * Leave me to die of love and spare thee pain!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then he went down with her to the bazar and delivered her to the broker and +said to him, "O Hájj Hasan,[FN#29] I pray thee note the value of her thou hast +to cry for sale." "O my lord Nur al- Din," quoth the broker, "the fundamentals +are remembered;"[FN#30] adding, "Is not this the Anis al-Jalis whom thy father +bought of me for ten thousand dinars?" "Yes," said Nur al-Din. Thereupon the +broker went round to the merchants, but found that all had not yet assembled. +So he waited till the rest had arrived and the market was crowded with +slave-girls of all nations, Turks, Franks and Circassians; Abyssinians, Nubians +and Takrúrís;[FN#31] Tartars, Georgians and others; when he came forward and +standing cried aloud, "O merchants! O men of money! every round thing is not a +walnut and every long thing a banana is not; all reds are not meat nor all +whites fat, nor is every brown thing a date![FN#32] O merchants, I have here +this union-pearl that hath no price: at what sum shall I cry her?" "Cry her at +four thousand five hundred dinars," quoth one of the traders. The broker opened +the door of sale at the sum named and, as he was yet calling, lo! the Wazir +Al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí passed through the bazar and, seeing Nur al-Din Ali waiting +at one side, said to himself, "Why is Khákán's son[FN#33] standing about here? +Hath this gallows-bird aught remaining wherewith to buy slave-girls?" Then he +looked round and, seeing the broker calling out in the market with all the +merchants around him, said to himself, "I am sure that he is penniless and hath +brought hither the damsel Anis al-Jalis for sale;" adding, "O how cooling and +grateful is this to my heart!" Then he called the crier, who came up and kissed +the ground before him; and he said to him, "I want this slave-girl whom thou +art calling for sale." The broker dared not cross him, so he answered, "O my +lord, Bismillah! in Allah's name so be it;" and led forward the damsel and +showed her to him. She pleased him much whereat he asked, "O Hasan, what is +bidden for this girl?" and he answered, "Four thousand five hundred dinars to +open the door of sale." Quoth Al-Mu'ín, "Four thousand five hundred is MY bid." +When the merchants heard this, they held back and dared not bid another +dirham, wotting what they did of the Wazir's tyranny, violence and treachery. +So Al-Mu'ín looked at the broker and said to him, "Why stand still? Go and +offer four thousand dinars for me and the five hundred shall be for thyself." +Thereupon the broker went to Nur al-Din and said, "O my lord, thy slave is +going for nothing!" "And how so?" asked he. The broker answered, "We had +opened the biddings for her at four thousand five hundred dinars; when that +tyrant, Al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí, passed through the bazar and, as he saw the damsel +she pleased him, so he cried to me, 'Call me the buyer at four thousand dinars +and thou shalt have five hundred for thyself.' I doubt not but that he knoweth +that the damsel is thine, and if he would pay thee down her price at once it +were well; but I know his injustice and violence; he will give thee a written +order upon some of his agents and will send after thee to say to them, 'Pay him +nothing.' So as often as though shalt go in quest of the coin they will say, +'We'll pay thee presently!' and they will put thee off day after day, and thou +art proud of spirit; till at last, when they are wearied with thine +importunity, they will say, 'Show us the cheque.' Then, as soon as they have +got hold of it they will tear it up and so thou wilt lose the girl's price." +When Nur al-Din heard this he looked at the broker and asked him, "How shall +this matter be managed?"; and he answered, "I will give thee a counsel which, +if thou follow, it shall bring thee complete satisfaction." "And what is that?" +quoth Nur al-Din. Quoth the broker, "Come thou to me anon when I am standing in +the middle of the market and, taking the girl from my hand, give her a sound +cuffing and say to her, 'Thou baggage, I have kept my vow and brought thee down +to the slave-market, because I swore an oath that I would carry thee from home +to the bazar, and make brokers cry thee for sale.' If thou do this, perhaps +the device will impose upon the Wazir and the people, and they will believe +that thou broughtest her not to the bazar but for the quittance of thine +oath." He replied, "Such were the best way." Then the broker left him and, +returning into the midst of the market, took the damsel by the hand, and signed +to the Wazir and said, "O my lord, here is her owner." With this up came Nur +al-Din Ali and, snatching the girl from the broker's hand, cuffed her soundly +and said to her, "Shame on thee, O thou baggage! I have brought thee to the +bazar for quittance of mine oath; now get thee home and thwart me no more as is +thy wont. Woe to thee! do I need thy price, that I should sell thee? The +furniture of my house would fetch thy value many times over!" When Al-Mu'ín saw +this he said to Nur al-Din, "Out on thee! Hast thou anything left for selling +or buying?" And he would have laid violent hands upon him, but the merchants +interposed (for they all loved Nur al-Din), and the young man said to them, +"Here am I in your hands and ye all know his tyranny." "By Allah," cried the +Wazir, "but for you I had slain him!" Then all signed with significant eyes to +Nur al-Din as much as to say, "Take thy wreak of him; not one of us will come +between thee and him." Thereupon Nur al-Din, who was stout of heart as he was +stalwart of limb, went up to the Wazir and, dragging him over the pommel of his +saddle, threw him to the ground. Now there was in that place a puddling- pit +for brick- clay,[FN#34] into the midst of which he fell, and Nur al-Din kept +pummelling and fisti-cuffing him, and one of the blows fell full on his teeth, +and his beard was dyed with his blood. Also there were with the minister ten +armed slaves who, seeing their master entreated after this fashion, laid hand +on sword-hilt and would have bared blades and fallen on Nur al-Din to cut him +down; but the merchants and bystanders said to them, "This is a Wazir and that +is the son of a Wazir; haply they will make friends some time or other, in +which case you will forfeit the favour of both. Or perchance a blow may befal +your lord, and you will all die the vilest of deaths; so it were better for you +not to interfere." Accordingly they held aloof and, when Nur al-Din had made an +end of thrashing the Wazir, he took his handmaid and fared homewards. Al-Mu'ín +also went his ways at once, with his raiment dyed of three colours, black with +mud, red with blood and ash coloured with brick-clay. When he saw himself in +this state, he bound a bit of matting[FN#35] round his neck and, taking in hand +two bundles of coarse Halfah-grass,[FN#36] went up to the palace and standing +under the Sultan's windows cried aloud, "O King of the age, I am a wronged man! +I am foully wronged!" So they brought him before the King who looked at him; +and behold, it was the chief Minister; whereupon he said, "O Wazir who did this +deed by thee?" Al-Mu'ín wept and sobbed and repeated these lines, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Shall the World oppress me when thou art in't? * In the lion's presence shall wolves devour?<br/> +Shall the dry all drink of thy tanks and I * Under rain-cloud thirst for the cooling shower?" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +"O my lord," cried he, "the like will befal every one who loveth and serveth +thee well." "Be quick with thee," quoth the Sultan, "and tell me how this came +to pass and who did this deed by one whose honour is part of my honour." Quoth +the Wazir, "Know, O my lord, that I went out this day to the slave-market to +buy me a cookmaid, when I saw there a damsel, never in my life long saw I a +fairer; and I designed to buy her for our lord the Sultan; so I asked the +broker of her and of her owner, and he answered, "She belongeth to Ali son of +Al-Fazl bin Khákán. Some time ago our lord the Sultan gave his father ten +thousand dinars wherewith to buy him a handsome slave-girl, and he bought this +maiden who pleased him; so he grudged her to our lord the Sultan and gave her +to his own son. When the father died, the son sold all he had of houses and +gardens and household gear, and squandered the price till he was penniless. +Then he brought the girl to the market that he might sell her, and he handed +her over to the broker to cry and the merchants bid higher and higher on her, +until the price reached four thousand dinars; whereupon quoth I to myself, 'I +will buy this damsel for our lord the Sultan, whose money was paid for her.' +So I said to Nur al-Din, 'O my son, sell her to me for four thousand dinars.' +When he heard my words he looked at me and cried, 'O ill-omened oldster, I will +sell her to a Jew or to a Nazarene, but I will not sell her to thee!' 'I do +not buy her for myself,' said I, 'I buy her for our lord and benefactor the +Sultan.' Hearing my words he was filled with rage; and, dragging me off my +horse (and I a very old man), beat me unmercifully with his fists and buffeted +me with his palms till he left me as thou seest, and all this hath befallen me +only because I thought to buy this damsel for thee!" Then the Wazir threw +himself on the ground and lay there weeping and shivering. When the Sultan saw +his condition and heard his story, the vein of rage started out between his +eyes[FN#37] and he turned to his body-guard who stood before him, forty white +slaves, smiters with the sword, and said to them, "Go down forthright to the +house built by the son of Khákán and sack it and raze it and bring to me his +son Nur al-Din with the damsel; and drag them both on their faces with their +arms pinioned behind them." They replied, "To hear is to obey;" and, arming +themselves, they set out for the house of Nur al-Din Ali. Now about the Sultan +was a Chamberlain, Alam[FN#38] al-Din Sanjar hight, who had aforetime been +Mameluke to Al-Fazl; but he had risen in the world and the Sultan had advanced +him to be one of his Chamberlains. When he heard the King's command and saw +the enemies make them ready to slay his old master's son, it was grievous to +him: so he went out from before the Sultan and, mounting his beast, rode to Nur +al- Din's house and knocked at the door. Nur al-Din came out and knowing him +would have saluted him: but he said, "O my master this is no time for greeting +or treating. Listen to what the poet said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + 'Fly, fly with thy life if by ill overtaken!<br/> + Let thy house speak thy death by its builder forsaken!<br/> + For a land else than this land thou may'st reach, my brother,<br/> + But thy life tho'lt ne'er find in this world another.'"[FN#39] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +"O Alam al-Din what cheer?" asked Nur al-Din, and he answered, "Rise quickly +and fly for thy life, thou and the damsel; for Al- Mu'ín hath set a snare for +you both; and, if you fall into his hands, he will slay you. The Sultan hath +despatched forty sworders against you and I counsel you to flee ere harm can +hurt you." Then Sanjar put his hand to his purse and finding there forty gold +pieces took them and gave them to Nur al-Din, saying, "O my lord receive these +and journey with them. Had I more I would give them to thee, but this is not +the time to take exception." Thereupon Nur al-Din went in to the damsel and +told her what had happened, at which she wrung her hands. Then they fared +forth at once from the city, and Allah spread over them His veil of protection, +so that they reached the river-bank where they found a vessel ready for sea. +Her skipper was standing amidships and crying, "Whoso hath aught to do, whether +in the way of provisioning or taking leave of his people; or whoso hath +forgotten any needful thing, let him do it at once and return, for we are about +to sail"; and all of them saying, "There is naught left to be done by us, O +captain!", he cried to his crew, "Hallo there! cast off the cable and pull up +the mooring- pole!"[FN#40] Quoth Nur al-Din, "Whither bound, O captain?" and +quoth he, "To the House of Peace, Baghdad,"—-And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Thirty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the skipper +answered, "To the House of Peace, Baghdad," Nur al-Din Ali and the damsel went +on board, and they launched the craft and shook out the sails, and the ship +sped forth as though she were a bird on wing; even as said one of them and said +right well, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Watch some tall ship, she'll joy the sight of thee, * The breeze outstripping in her haste to flee;<br/> +As when a bird, with widely-spreading wings, * Leaveth the sky to settle on the sea." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +So the vessel sailed on her fastest and the wind to her was fairest. Thus far +concerning them; but as regards the Mamelukes, they went to Nur al-Din's +mansion and, breaking open the doors, entered and searched the whole place, but +could find no trace of him and the damsel; so they demolished the house and, +returning to the Sultan, reported their proceedings; whereupon quoth he, "Make +search for them both, wherever they may be;" and they answered, "Hearing is +obeying." The Wazir Al-Mu'ín had also gone home after the Sultan had bestowed +upon him a robe of honour, and had set his heart at rest by saying, "None shall +take blood-wreak for thee save I;" and he had blessed the King and prayed for +his long life and prosperity. Then the Sultan bade proclaim about the city, +"Oyez, O ye lieges one and all! It is the will of our lord the Sultan that +whoso happeneth on Nur al-Din Ali son of Al- Fazl bin Khákán, and bringeth him +to the Sultan, shall receive a robe of honour and one thousand gold pieces; and +he who hideth him or knoweth his abiding place and informeth not, deserveth +whatsoever pains and penalties shall befal him." So all began to search for +Nur al-Din Ali, but they could find neither trace nor tidings of him. +Meanwhile he and his handmaid sailed on with the wind right aft, till they +arrived in safety at Baghdad, and the captain said to them, "This is Baghdad +and 'tis the city where security is to be had: Winter with his frosts hath +turned away and Prime hath come his roses to display; and the flowers are a- +glowing and the trees are blowing and the streams are flowing." So Nur al-Din +landed, he and his handmaid and, giving the captain five dinars, walked on a +little way till the decrees of Destiny brought them among the gardens, and they +came to a place swept and sprinkled, with benches along the walls and hanging +jars filled with water.[FN#41] Overhead was a trellis of reed-work and canes +shading the whole length of the avenue, and at the upper end was a garden gate, +but this was locked. "By Allah," quoth Nur al-Din to the damsel, "right +pleasant is this place!"; and she replied, "O my lord sit with me a while on +this bench and let us take our ease." So they mounted and sat them down on the +bench, after which they washed their faces and hands; and the breeze blew cool +on them and they fell asleep and glory be to Him who never sleepeth! Now this +garden was named the Garden of Gladness[FN#42] and therein stood a belvedere +hight the Palace of Pleasure and the Pavilion of Pictures, the whole belonging +to the Caliph Harun al-Rashid who was wont, when his breast was straitened with +care, to frequent garden and palace and there to sit. The palace had eighty +latticed windows and fourscore lamps hanging round a great candelabrum of gold +furnished with wax- candles; and, when the Caliph used to enter, he would order +the handmaids to throw open the lattices and light up the rooms; and he would +bid Ishak bin Ibrahim the cup-companion and the slave- girls to sing till his +breast was broadened and his ailments were allayed. Now the keeper of the +garden, Shaykh Ibrahim, was a very old man, and he had found from time to time, +when he went out on any business, people pleasuring about the garden gate with +their bona robas; at which he was angered with exceeding anger.[FN#43] But he +took patience till one day when the Caliph came to his garden; and he +complained of this to Harun al-Rashid who said, "Whomsoever thou surprisest +about the door of the garden, deal with him as thou wilt." Now on this day the +Gardener chanced to be abroad on some occasion and returning found these two +sleeping at the gate covered with a single mantilla; whereupon said he, "By +Allah, good! These twain know not that the Caliph hath given me leave to slay +anyone I may catch at the door; but I will give this couple a shrewd whipping, +that none may come near the gate in future." So he cut a green +palm-frond[FN#44] and went up to them and, raising his arm till the white of +his arm-pit appeared, was about to strike them, when he bethought himself and +said, "O Ibrahim, wilt thou beat them unknowing their case? Haply they are +strangers or of the Sons of the Road,[FN#45] and the decrees of Destiny have +thrown them here. I will uncover their faces and look at them." So he lifted +up the mantilla from their heads and said, "They are a handsome couple; it were +not fitting that I should beat them." Then he covered their faces again and, +going to Nur al-Din's feet, began to rub and shampoo them,[FN#46] whereupon the +youth opened his eyes and, seeing an old man of grave and reverend aspect +rubbing his feet, he was ashamed and drawing them in, sat up. Then he took +Shaykh Ibrahim's hand and kissed it. Quoth the old man, "O my son, whence art +thou?"; and quoth he, "O my lord, we two are strangers," and the tears started +from his eyes. "O my son," said Shaykh Ibrahim, "know that the Prophet (whom +Allah bless and preserve!) hath enjoined honour to the stranger;" and added, +"Wilt not thou arise, O my son, and pass into the garden and solace thyself by +looking at it and gladden thy heart?" "O my lord," said Nur al-Din, "to whom +doth this garden belong?;" and the other replied, "O my son, I have inherited +it from my folk." Now his object in saying this was to set them at their ease +and induce them to enter the garden. So Nur al-Din thanked him and rose, he +and the damsel, and followed him into the garden; and lo! it was a garden, and +what a garden! The gate was arched like a great hall and over walls and roof +ramped vines with grapes of many colours; the red like rubies and the black +like ebonies; and beyond it lay a bower of trelliced boughs growing fruits +single and composite, and small birds on branches sang with melodious recite, +and the thousand-noted nightingale shrilled with her varied shright; the turtle +with her cooing filled the site; the blackbird whistled like human wight[FN#47] +and the ring-dove moaned like a drinker in grievous plight. The trees grew in +perfection all edible growths and fruited all manner fruits which in pairs were +bipartite; with the camphor- apricot, the almond-apricot and the apricot +"Khorasani" hight; the plum, like the face of beauty, smooth and bright; the +cherry that makes teeth shine clear by her sleight, and the fig of three +colours, green, purple and white. There also blossomed the violet as it were +sulphur on fire by night; the orange with buds like pink coral and marguerite; +the rose whose redness gars the loveliest cheeks blush with despight; and +myrtle and gilliflower and lavender with the blood-red anemone from Nu'uman +hight. The leaves were all gemmed with tears the clouds had dight; the +chamomile smiled showing teeth that bite, and Narcissus with his negro[FN#48] +eyes fixed on Rose his sight; the citrons shone with fruits embowled and the +lemons like balls of gold; earth was carpeted with flowers tinctured infinite; +for Spring was come brightening the place with joy and delight; and the streams +ran ringing, to the birds' gay singing, while the rustling breeze upspringing +attempered the air to temperance exquisite. Shaykh Ibrahim carried them up +into the pavilion, and they gazed on its beauty, and on the lamps +aforementioned in the latticed windows; and Nur al-Din, remembering his +entertainments of time past, cried, "By Allah, this is a pleasant place; it +hath quenched in me anguish which burned as a fire of Ghaza-wood.[FN#49]" Then +they sat down and Shaykh Ibrahim set food before them; and they ate till they +were satisfied and washed their hands: after which Nur al-Din went up to one of +the latticed windows, and, calling to his handmaid fell to gazing on the trees +laden with all manner fruits. Presently he turned to the Gardener and said to +him, "O Shaykh Ibrahim hast thou no drink here, for folk are wont to drink +after eating?" The Shaykh brought him sweet water, cool and pleasant, but he +said, "This is not the kind of drink I wanted." "Perchance thou wishest for +wine?" "Indeed I do, O Shaykh!" "I seek refuge from it with Allah: it is +thirteen years since I did this thing, for the Prophet (Abhak[FN#50]) cursed +its drinker, presser, seller and carrier!" "Hear two words of me." "Say on." +"If yon cursed ass[FN#51] which standeth there be cursed, will aught of his +curse alight upon thee?" "By no means!" "Then take this dinar and these two +dirhams and mount yonder ass and, halting afar from the wine-shop, call the +first man thou seest buying liquor and say to him, 'Take these two dirhams for +thyself, and with this dinar buy me some wine and set it on the ass.' So shalt +thou be neither the presser, nor the buyer, nor the carrier; and no part of the +curse will fall upon thee." At this Shaykh Ibrahim laughed and said, "By +Allah, O my son, I never saw one wilier of wit than thou art, nor heard aught +sweeter than thy speech." So he did as he was bidden by Nur al- Din who +thanked him and said, "We two are now dependent on thee, and it is only meet +that thou comply with our wishes; so bring us here what we require." "O my +son," replied he, "this is my buttery before thee" (and it was the store-room +provided for the Commander of the Faithful); "so go in, and take whatso thou +wilt, for there is over and above what thou wantest." Nur al-Din then entered +the pantry and found therein vessels of gold and silver and crystal set with +all kinds of gems, and was amazed and delighted with what he saw. Then he took +out what he needed and set it on and poured the wine into flagons and glass +ewers, whilst Shaykh Ibrahim brought them fruit and flowers and aromatic herbs. +Then the old man withdrew and sat down at a distance from them, whilst they +drank and made merry, till the wine got the better of them, so that their +cheeks reddened and their eyes wantoned like the gazelle's; and their locks +became dishevelled and their brightness became yet more beautiful. Then said +Shaykh Ibrahim to himself, "What aileth me to sit apart from them? Why should +I not sit with them? When shall I ever find myself in company with the like of +these two that favour two moons?" So he stepped forward and sat down on the +edge of the daïs, and Nur al- Din said to him, "O my lord, my life on thee, +come nearer to us!" He came and sat by them, when Nur al-Din filled a cup and +looked towards the Shaykh and said to him, "Drink, that thou mayest try the +taste of it!" "I take refuge from it with Allah!" replied he; "for thirteen +years I have not done a thing of the kind." Nur al-Din feigned to forget he +was there and, drinking off the cup, threw himself on the ground as if the +drink had overcome him; whereupon Anis al-Jalis glanced at him and said, "O +Shaykh Ibrahim see how this husband of mine treateth me;" and he answered, "O +my lady, what aileth him?" "This is how he always serveth me," cried she, "he +drinketh awhile, then falleth asleep and leaveth me alone with none to bear me +company over my cup nor any to whom I may sing when the bowl goeth round." +Quoth the Shaykh (and his mien unstiffened for that his soul inclined towards +her), "By Allah, this is not well!" Then she crowned a cup and looking towards +him said, "By my life thou must take and drink it, and not refuse to heal my +sick heart!" So he put forth his hand and took it and drank it off and she +filled a second and set it on the chandelier and said, "O master mine, there is +still this one left for thee." "By Allah, I cannot drink it;" cried he, "what +I have already drunk is enough for me;" but she rejoined, "By Allah, there is +no help for it." So he took the cup and drank; and she filled him a third +which he took and was about to drink when behold, Nur al-Din rolled round and +sat upright,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Thirty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nur al-Din sat upright +and said, "Ho, Shaykh Ibrahim, what is this? Did I not adjure thee a while ago +and thou refusedst, saying, 'What, I! 'tis thirteen years ago since I have done +such a thing!'" "By Allah," quoth the Shaykh (and indeed he was abashed), "no +sin of mine this, she forced me to do it." Nur al-Din laughed and they sat down +again to wine and wassail, but the damsel turned to her master and said in a +whisper, "O my lord, drink and do not press him, that I may show thee some +sport with him." Then she began to fill her master's cup and he hers and so +they did time after time, till at last Shaykh Ibrahim looked at them and said, +"What fashion of good fellowship is this? Allah curse the glutton who keepeth +the cup to himself! Why dost thou not give me to drink, O my brother? What +manners are these, O blessed one?" At this the two laughed until they fell on +their backs; then they drank and gave him to drink and ceased not their +carousal till a third part of the night was past. Then said the damsel, "O +Shaykh Ibrahim, with thy leave I will get up and light one of these candles." +"Do so," he replied, "but light no more than one." So she sprang to her feet +and, beginning with one candle, lighted all the eighty and sat down again. +Presently Nur al-Din said, "O Shaykh Ibrahim, in what favour am I with thee? +May I not light one of these lamps?" "Light one," replied he, "and bother me no +more in thy turn!" So he rose and lighted one lamp after another, till he had +lighted the whole eight and the palace seemed to dance with brilliancy. Quoth +the Shaykh (and indeed intoxication had overcome him), "Ye two are bolder than +I am." Then he rose to his feet and opened all the lattices and sat down again; +and they fell to carousing and reciting verses till the place rang with their +noisy mirth. Now Allah, the Decreer who decreeth all things and who for every +effect appointeth a cause, had so disposed that the Caliph was at that moment +sitting in the light of the moon at one of the windows of his palace +overlooking the Tigris. He saw the blaze of the lamps and wax candles +reflected in the river and, lifting his eyes, perceived that it came from the +Garden Palace which was all ablaze with brilliancy. So he cried, "Here to me +with Ja'afar the Barmaki!"; and the last word was hardly spoken ere the Wazir +was present before the Commander of the Faithful, who cried at him, "O dog of a +Minister, hast thou taken from me this city of Baghdad without saying aught to +me?" "What words are these words?" asked Ja'afar; and the Caliph answered, "If +Baghdad city were not taken from me, the Palace of Pictures would not be +illuminated with lamps and candles, nor would its windows be thrown open. Woe +to thee! who durst do a deed like this except the Caliphate had been taken from +me?" Quoth Ja'afar (and indeed his side-muscles trembled as he spoke), "Who +told thee that the Palace of Pictures was illuminated and the windows thrown +open?" "Come hither and see," replied the Caliph. Then Ja'afar came close to +the Caliph and, looking towards the garden, saw the palace blazing with +illumination that rayed through the gloom of the night; and, thinking that this +might have been permitted by the keeper for some reason of his own, he wished +to make an excuse for him; so quoth he, "O Commander of the Faithful, Shaykh +Ibrahim said to me last week, 'O my lord Ja'afar, I much wish to circumcise my +sons during the life of the Commander of the Faithful and thy life.' I asked, +'What dost thou want?'; and he answered, 'Get me leave from the Caliph to hold +the festival in the Garden Palace.' So said I to him, 'Go circumcise them and I +will see the Caliph and tell him.' Thereupon he went away and I forgot to let +thee know." "O Ja'afar," said the Caliph, "thou hast committed two offences +against me; first in that thou didst no report to me, secondly, thou didst not +give him what he sought; for he came and told thee this only as excuse to ask +for some small matter of money, to help him with the outlay; and thou gavest +him nothing nor toldest me." "O Commander of the Faithful," said Ja'afar, "I +forgot." "Now by the rights of my forefathers and the tombs of my forbears," +quoth the Caliph, "I will not pass the rest of this night save in company with +him; for truly he is a pious man who frequenteth the Elders of the Faith and +the Fakirs and other religious mendicants and entertaineth them; doubtless they +are not assembled together and it may be that the prayer of one of them will +work us weal both in this world and in the next. Besides, my presence may +profit and at any rate be pleasing to Shaykh Ibrahim." "O Commander of the +Faithful," quoth Ja'afar, "the greater part of the night is passed, and at this +time they will be breaking up." Quoth the Caliph, "It matters not: I needs +must go to them." So Ja'afar held his peace, being bewildered and knowing not +what to do. Then the Caliph rose to his feet and, taking with him Ja'afar and +Masrur the eunuch sworder, the three disguised themselves in merchants' gear +and leaving the City-palace, kept threading the streets till they reached the +garden. The Caliph went up to the gate and finding it wide open, was surprised +and said, "See, O Ja'afar, how Shaykh Ibrahim hath left the gate open at this +hour contrary to his custom!" They went in and walked on till they came under +the pavilion, when the Caliph said, "O Ja'afar, I wish to look in upon them +unawares before I show myself, that I may see what they are about and get sight +of the elders; for hitherto I have heard no sound from them, nor even a Fakir +calling upon the name of Allah.[FN#52]" Then he looked about and, seeing a tall +walnut-tree, said to Ja'afar, "I will climb this tree, for its branches are +near the lattices and so look in upon them." Thereupon he mounted the tree and +ceased not climbing from branch to branch, till he reached a bough which was +right opposite one of the windows, and here he took seat and looked inside the +palace. He saw a damsel and a youth as they were two moons (glory be to Him who +created them and fashioned them!), and by them Shaykh Ibrahim seated cup in +hand and saying, "O Princess of fair ones, drinking without music is nothing +worth; indeed I have heard a poet say, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Round with big and little, the bowl and cup, * Take either that moon[FN#53] in his sheen hath crowned:<br/> +Nor drink without music, for oft I've seen, * The horse drink best to the whistle's sound!'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When the Caliph saw this, the vein of wrath started up between his eyes and he +came down and said to the Wazir, "O Ja'afar, never beheld I yet men of piety in +such case; so do thou mount this tree and look upon them, lest the blessings of +the blest be lost to thee." Ja'afar, hearing the words of the Commander of the +Faithful and being confounded by them, climbed to the tree- top and looking in, +saw Nur al-Din and the damsel, and Shaykh Ibrahim holding in his hand a +brimming bowl. At this sight he made sure of death and, descending, stood +before the Commander of the Faithful, who said to him, "O Ja'afar, praise be to +Allah who hath made us of those that observe external ordinances of Holy Law +and hath averted from us the sin of disguising ourselves after the manner of +hypocrites!"[FN#54] But Ja'afar could not speak a word for excess of +confusion; so the Caliph looked at him and said, "I wonder how they came +hither, and who admitted them into my pavilion! But aught like the beauty of +this youth and this damsel my eyes never yet saw!" "Thou sayest sooth, O our +Lord the Sultan!" replied Ja'afar (and he hoped to propitiate the Caliph Harun +al-Rashid). Then quoth the Caliph, "O Ja'afar, let us both mount the branch +opposite the window, that we may amuse ourselves with looking at them." So the +two climbed the tree and, peering in, heard Shaykh Ibrahim say, "O my lady, I +have cast away all gravity mine by the drinking of wine, but 'tis not sweet +save with the soft sounds of the lute-strings it combine." "By Allah," replied +Anis al-Jalis, "O Shaykh Ibrahim, an we had but some instrument of music our +joyance were complete." Hearing this he rose to his feet and the Caliph said +to Ja'afar, "I wonder what he is about to do!" and Ja'afar answered, "I know +not." The Shaykh disappeared and presently reappeared bringing a lute; and the +Caliph took note of it and knew it for that of Abu Ishak the +Cup-companion.[FN#55] "By Allah," said the Caliph, "if this damsel sing ill I +will crucify all of you; but if she sing well I will forgive them and only +gibbet thee." "O Allah cause her to sing vilely!" quoth Ja'afar. Asked the +Caliph, "Why so?"; and he answered, "If thou crucify us all together, we shall +keep one another company." The Caliph laughed at his speech. Presently the +damsel took the lute and, after looking at it and tuning it, she played a +measure which made all hearts yearn to her; then she sang these lines, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"O ye that can aid me, a wretched lover, * Whom longing burns nor can rest restore me!<br/> +Though all you have done I have well deserved, * I take refuge with you, so exult not o'er me:<br/> +True, I am weak and low and vile, * But I'll bear your will and whatso you bore me:<br/> +My death at your hands what brings it of glory? * I fear but your sin which of life forlore me!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Quoth the Caliph, "By Allah, good! O Ja'afar, never in my life have I heard a +voice so enchanting as this." "Then haply the Caliph's wrath hath passed +away," said Ja'afar, and he replied, "Yes, 'tis gone." Thereupon they +descended from the tree, and the Caliph said to Ja'afar, "I wish to go in and +sit with them and hear the damsel sing before me." "O Commander of the +Faithful," replied Ja'afar, "if thou go in to them they will be terribly +troubled, and Shaykh Ibrahim will assuredly die of fright." But the Caliph +answered, "O Ja'afar, thou must teach me some device wherewith to delude them +and whereby I can foregather with them without their knowing me." So they +walked towards the Tigris pondering the matter, and presently came upon a +fisherman who stood fishing under the pavilion windows. Now some time before +this, the Caliph (being in the pavilion) had called to Shaykh Ibrahim and asked +him, "What noise is this I hear under the windows?" and he had answered, "It is +voices of fisher folk catching fish:" so quoth the Caliph, "Go down and forbid +them this place;" and he forbade them accordingly. However that night a +fisherman named Karim, happening to pass by and seeing the garden gate open, +said to himself, "This is a time of negligence; and I will take advantage of it +to do a bit of fishing." So he took his net and cast it, but he had hardly +done so when behold, the Caliph come up single-handed and, standing hard by, +knew him and called aloud to him, "Ho, Karim!" The fisherman, hearing himself +named, turned round, and seeing the Caliph, trembled and his side-muscles +quivered, as he cried, "By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I did it not in +mockery of the mandate; but poverty and a large family drove me to what thou +seest!" Quoth the Caliph, "Make a cast in my name." At this the fisherman was +glad and going to the bank threw his net, then waiting till it had spread out +at full stretch and settled down, hauled it up and found in it various kinds of +fish. The Caliph was pleased and said, "O Karim, doff thy habit." So he put +off a gaberdine of coarse woollen stuff patched in an hundred places whereon +the lice were rampant, and a turband which had never been untwisted for three +years but to which he had sewn every rag he came upon. The Caliph also pulled +off his person two vests of Alexandrian and Ba'lbak silk, a loose inner robe +and a long-sleeved outer coat, and said to the fisherman, "Take them and put +them on," while he assumed the foul gaberdine and filthy turband and drew a +corner of the head-cloth as a mouth-veil[FN#56] before his face. Then said he +to the fisherman, "Get thee about thy business!"; and the man kissed the +Caliph's feet and thanked him and improvised the following couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Thou hast granted more favours than ever I craved; * Thou hast satisfied needs which my heart enslaved:<br/> +I will thank thee and thank whileas life shall last, * And my bones will praise thee in grave engraved!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Hardly had the fisherman ended his verse, when the lice began to crawl over the +Caliph's skin, and he fell to catching them on his neck with his right and left +and throwing them from him, while he cried, "O fisherman, woe to thee! what be +this abundance of lice on thy gaberdine." "O my lord," replied he, "they may +annoy thee just at first, but before a week is past thou wilt not feel them nor +think of them." The Caliph laughed and said to him, "Out on thee! Shall I +leave this gaberdine of thine so long on my body?" Quoth the fisherman, "I +would say a word to thee but I am ashamed in presence of the Caliph!"; and +quoth he, "Say what thou hast to say." "It passed through my thought, O +Commander of the Faithful," said the fisherman, "that, since thou wishest to +learn fishing so thou mayest have in hand an honest trade whereby to gain thy +livelihood, this my gaberdine besitteth thee right well."[FN#57] The Commander +of the Faithful laughed at this speech, and the fisherman went his way. Then +the Caliph took up the basket of fish and, strewing a little green grass over +it, carried it to Ja'afar and stood before him. Ja'afar thinking him to be +Karim the fisherman feared for him and said, "O Karim, what brought thee +hither? Flee for thy life, for the Caliph is in the garden to-night and, if he +see thee, thy neck is gone." At this the Caliph laughed and Ja'afar recognized +him and asked, "Can it be thou, our lord the Sultan?"; and he answered, "Yes, O +Ja'afar, and thou art my Wazir and I and thou came hither together; yet thou +knowest me not; so how should Shaykh Ibrahim know me, and he drunk? Stay here, +till I came back to thee." "To hear is to obey," said Ja'afar. Then the +Caliph went up to the door of the pavilion and knocked a gentle knock, +whereupon said Nur al-Din," O Shaykh Ibrahim, some one taps at the door." "Who +goes there?" cried the Shaykh and the Caliph replied, "It is I, O Shaykh +Ibrahim!" "Who art thou," quoth he, and quoth the other, "I am Karim the +fisherman: I hear thou hast a feast, so I have brought thee some fish, and of a +truth 'tis good fish." When Nur al-Din heard the mention of fish, he was glad, +he and the damsel, and they both said to the Shaykh, "O our lord, open the door +and let him bring us his fish." So Shaykh Ibrahim opened and the Caliph came in +(and he in fisherman guise), and began by saluting them. Said Shaykh Ibrahim, +"Welcome to the blackguard, the robber, the dicer! Let us see thy fish." So +the Caliph showed them his catch and behold, the fishes were still alive and +jumping, whereupon the damsel exclaimed, "By Allah! O my lord, these are +indeed fine fish: would they were fried!" and Shaykh Ibrahim rejoined, "By +Allah, O my lady, thou art right." Then said he to the Caliph, "O fisherman, +why didst thou not bring us the fish ready fried? Up now and cook them and +bring them back to us." "On my head be thy commands!" said the Caliph, "I will +fry thee a dish and bring it." Said they, "Look sharp." Thereupon he went and +ran till he came up to Ja'afar when he called to him, "Hallo, Ja'afar!"; and he +replied, "Here am I, O Commander of the Faithful, is all well?" "They want the +fish fried," said the Caliph, and Ja'afar answered, "O Commander of the +Faithful, give it to me and I'll fry it for them." "By the tombs of my +forbears," quoth the Caliph, "none shall fry it but I, with mine own hand!" So +he went to the gardener's hut, where he searched and found all that he +required, even to salt and saffron and wild marjoram and else besides. Then he +turned to the brasier and, setting on the frying-pan, fried a right good fry. +When it was done, he laid it on a banana-leaf, and gathering from the garden +wind-fallen fruits, limes and lemons, carried the fish to the pavilion and set +the dish before them. So the youth and the damsel and Shaykh Ibrahim came +forward and ate; after which they washed their hands and Nur al-Din said to the +Caliph, "By Allah, O fisherman, thou hast done us a right good deed this +night." Then he put hand in pouch and, taking out three of the dinars which +Sanjar had given him, said, "O fisherman, excuse me. By Allah had I known thee +before that which hath lately befallen me, I had done away the bitterness of +poverty from thy heart; but take thou this as the best I can do for thee." +Then he threw the gold pieces to the Caliph, who took them and kissed them and +put them in pouch. Now his sole object in doing all this was to hear the damsel +sing; so he said to Nur al-Din, "Thou hast rewarded me most liberally, but I +beg of thy boundless bounty that thou let this damsel sing an air, that I may +hear her."[FN#58] So Nur al- Din said, "O Anis al-Jalis!" and she answered +"Yes!" and he continued, "By my life, sing us something for the sake of this +fisherman who wisheth so much to hear thee." Thereupon she took the lute and +struck the strings, after she had screwed them tight and tuned them, and sang +these improvised verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"The fawn of a maid hent her lute in hand * And her music made us right mettlesome:<br/> +For her song gave hearing to ears stone-deaf, * While Brava! Brava! exclaimed the dumb." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then she played again and played so ravishingly, that she charmed their wits +and burst out improvising and singing these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"You have honoured us visiting this our land, * And your splendour illumined the glooms that blent:<br/> +So 'tis due that for you I perfume my place * With rose-water, musk and the camphor-scent!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Hereupon the Caliph was agitated, and emotion so overpowered him that he could +not command himself for excess of pleasure, and he exclaimed, "By Allah, good! +by Allah, good! by Allah, good!"[FN#59] Asked Nur al-Din, "O fisherman, doth +this damsel please thee?" and the Caliph answered, "Ay, by Allah!" Whereupon +said Nur al-Din, "She is a gift to thee, a gift of the generous who repenteth +him not of his givings and who will never revoke his gift!" Then he sprang to +his feet and, taking a loose robe, threw it over the fisherman and bade him +receive the damsel and be gone. But she looked at him and said, "O my lord, +art thou faring forth without farewell? If it must be so, at least stay till I +bid thee good-bye and make known my case." And she began versifying in these +verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"When love and longing and regret are mine, * Must not this body show of ills a sign?<br/> +My love! say not, 'Thou soon shalt be consoled'; * When state speaks state none shall allay my pine.<br/> +If living man could swim upon his tears, * I first should float on waters of these eyne:<br/> +O thou, who in my heart infusedst thy love, * As water mingles in the cup with wine,<br/> +This was the fear I feared, this parting blow. * O thou whose love my heart-core ne'er shall tyne!<br/> +O Bin Khákán! my sought, my hope, my will, * O thou whose love this breast made wholly thine!<br/> +Against thy lord the King thou sinn'dst for me, * And winnedst exile in lands peregrine:<br/> +Allah ne'er make my lord repent my loss * To cream[FN#60] o' men thou gavest me, one right digne." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When she had ended her verses, Nur al-Din answered her with these lines, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"She bade me farewell on our parting day, * And she wept in the fire of our bane and pains:<br/> +'What wilt thou do when fro' thee I'm gone?' * Quoth I, 'say this to whom life remains!'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When the Caliph heard her saying in her verse, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"To Karim, the cream of men thou gavest me;" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +his inclination for her redoubled and it seemed a hard matter and a grievous to +part them; so quoth he to the youth, "O my lord, truly the damsel said in her +verses that thou didst transgress against her master and him who owned her; so +tell me, against whom didst thou transgress and who is it hath a claim on +thee?" "By Allah, O fisherman," replied Nur al-Din, "there befel me and this +damsel a wondrous tale and a marvellous matter: an 't were graven with +needle-gravers on the eye-corners it would be a warner to whoso would be +warned." Cried the Caliph, "Wilt thou not tell me thy story and acquaint me +with thy case? Haply it may bring thee relief, for Allah's aid is ever +nearhand." "O fisherman," said Nur al-Din, "Wilt thou hear our history in verse +or in prose?" "Prose is a wordy thing, but verses," rejoined the Caliph, "are +pearls on string." Then Nur al-Din bowed his head, and made these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"O my friend! reft of rest no repose I command, * And my grief is edoubled in this far land:<br/> +Erst I had a father, a kinder ne'er was; * But he died and to Death paid the deodand:<br/> +When he went from me, every matter went wrong * Till my heart was nigh-broken, my nature unmanned:<br/> +He bought me a handmaid, a sweeting who shamed * A wand of the willow by Zephyr befanned:<br/> +I lavisht upon her mine heritage, * And spent like a nobleman puissant and grand:<br/> +Then to sell her compelled, my sorrow increased; * The parting was sore but I mote not gainstand:<br/> +Now as soon as the crier had called her, there bid * A wicked old fellow, a fiery brand:<br/> +So I raged with a rage that I could not restrain, * And snatched her from out of his hireling's hand;<br/> +When the angry curmudgeon made ready for blows, * And the fire of a fight kindled he and his band,<br/> +I smote him in fury with right and with left, * And his hide, till well satisfied, curried and tanned:<br/> +Then in fear I fled forth and lay hid in my house, * To escape from the snares which my foeman had spanned:<br/> +So the King of the country proclaimed my arrest; * When access to me a good Chamberlain fand:<br/> +And warned me to flee from the city afar, * Disappear, disappoint what my enemies planned:<br/> +Then we fled from our home 'neath the wing of the night, * And sought us a refuge by Baghdad strand:<br/> +Of my riches I've nothing on thee to bestow, * O Fisher, except the fair gift thou hast scanned:<br/> +The loved of my soul, and when I from her part, * Know for sure that I give thee the blood of my heart."[FN#61] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When he had ended his verse, the Caliph said to him, "O my lord Nur al-Din, +explain to me thy case more fully," So he told him the whole story from +beginning to end, and the Caliph said to him, "Whither dost thou now intend?" +"Allah's world is wide," replied he. Quoth the Caliph, "I will write thee a +letter to carry to the Sultan Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, which when he +readeth, he will not hurt nor harm thee in aught."—-And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Thirty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph said +to Nur al-Din Ali, "I will write thee a letter to carry to the Sultan Mohammed +bin Sulayman al-Zayni, which when he readeth, he will not hurt nor harm thee in +aught," Nur al-Din asked "What! is there in the world a fisherman who writeth +to Kings? Such a thing can never be!"; and the Caliph answered, "Thou sayest +sooth, but I will tell thee the reason. Know that I and he learnt in the same +school under one schoolmaster, and that I was his monitor. Since that time +Fortune befriended him and he is become a Sultan, while Allah hath abased me +and made me a fisherman; yet I never send to him to ask aught but he doeth my +desire; nay, though I should ask of him a thousand favours every day, he would +comply." When Nur al-Din heard this he said, "Good! write that I may see." So +the Caliph took ink-case and reed-pen and wrote as follows,—"In the name of +Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate! But after.[FN#62] This letter +is written by Harun al-Rashid, son of Al-Mahdi, to his highness Mohammed bin +Sulayman al-Zayni, whom I have encompassed about with my favour and made my +viceroy in certain of my dominions. The bearer of these presents is Nur al-Din +Ali, son of Fazl bin Khákán the Wazir. As soon as they come to thy hand divest +thyself forthright of the kingly dignity and invest him therewith; so oppose +not my commandment and peace be with thee." He gave the letter to Nur al-Din, +who took it and kissed it, then put it in his turband and set out at once on +his journey. So far concerning him; but as regards the Caliph, Shaykh Ibrahim +stared at him (and he still in fisher garb) and said, "O vilest of fishermen, +thou hast brought us a couple of fish worth a score of half-dirhams,[FN#63] and +hast gotten three dinars for them; and thinkest thou to take the damsel to +boot?" When the Caliph heard this, he cried out at him, and signed to Masrur +who discovered himself and rushed in upon him. Now Ja'afar had sent one of the +gardener-lads to the doorkeeper of the palace to fetch a suit of royal raiment +for the Prince of the Faithful; so the man went and, returning with the suit, +kissed the ground before the Caliph and gave it him. Then he threw off the +clothes he had on[FN#64] and donned kingly apparel. Shaykh Ibrahim was still +sitting upon his chair and the Caliph tarried to behold what would come next. +But seeing the Fisherman become the Caliph, Shaykh Ibrahim was utterly +confounded and he could do nothing but bite his finger- ends[FN#65] and say, +"Would I knew whether am I asleep or am I awake!" At last the Caliph looked at +him and cried, "O Shaykh Ibrahim, what state is this in which I see thee?" +Thereupon he recovered from his drunkenness and, throwing himself upon the +ground, repeated these verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Pardon the sinful ways I did pursue; * Ruth from his lord to every slave is due:<br/> +Confession pays the fine that sin demands; * Where, then, is that which grace and mercy sue?"[FN#66] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +The Caliph forgave him and bade carry the damsel to the city- palace, where he +set apart for her an apartment and appointed slaves to serve her, saying to +her, "Know that we have sent thy lord to be Sultan in Bassorah and, Almighty +Allah willing, we will dispatch him the dress of investiture and thee with it." +Meanwhile, Nur al-Din Ali ceased not travelling till he reached Bassorah, where +he repaired to the Sultan's palace and he shouted a loud shout.[FN#67] The +Sultan heard him and sent for him; and when he came into his presence, he +kissed the ground between his hands and, producing the letter, presented it to +him. Seeing the superscription in the writing of the Commander of the +Faithful, the Sultan rose to his feet and kissed it three times; and after +reading it said, "I hear and I obey Allah Almighty and the Commander of the +Faithful!" Then he summoned the four Kazis[FN#68] and the Emirs and was about +to divest himself of the rule royal, when behold, in came Al Mu'ín bin Sáwí. +The Sultan gave him the Caliph's letter and he read it, then tore it to pieces +and putting it into his mouth, chewed it[FN#69] and spat it out. "Woe to +thee," quoth the Sultan (and indeed he was sore angered); "what induced thee to +do this deed?" "Now by thy life! O our lord the Sultan," replied Mu'ín, "this +man hath never foregathered with the Caliph nor with his Wazir; but he is a +gallows-bird, a limb of Satan, a knave who, having come upon a written paper in +the Caliph's hand, some idle scroll, hath made it serve his own end. The +Caliph would surely not send him to take the Sultanate from thee without the +imperial autograph[FN#70] and the diploma of investiture, and he certainly +would have despatched with him a Chamberlain or a Minister. But he hath come +alone and he never came from the Caliph, no, never! never! never!" "What is to +be done?" asked the Sultan, and the Minister answered, "Leave him to me and I +will take him and keep him away from thee, and send him in charge of a +Chamberlain to Baghdad-city. Then, if what he says be sooth, they will bring +us back autograph and investiture; and if not, I will take my due out of this +debtor." When the Sultan heard the Minister's words he said, "Hence with thee +and him too." Al Mu'ín took trust of him from the King and, carrying him to his +own house, cried out to his pages who laid him flat and beat him till he +fainted. Then he let put upon his feet heavy shackles and carried him to the +jail, where he called the jailor, one Kutayt,[FN#71] who came and kissed the +ground before him. Quoth the Wazir, "O Kutayt, I wish thee to take this fellow +and throw him into one of the underground cells[FN#72] in the prison and +torture him night and day." "To hear is to obey," replied the jailor and, +taking Nur al-Din into the prison, locked the door upon him. Then he gave +orders to sweep a bench behind the door and, spreading on it a sitting-rug and +a leather-cloth, seated Nur al-Din thereon and loosed his shackles and +entreated him kindly. The Wazir sent every day enjoining the jailor to beat +him, but he abstained from this, and so continued to do for forty days. On the +forty-first day there came a present from the Caliph; which when the Sultan +saw, it pleased him and he consulted his Ministers on the matter, when one of +them said, "Perchance this present was for the new Sultan." Cried Al-Mu'ín, +"We should have done well had we put him to death at his first coming;" and the +Sultan cried "By Allah, thou hast reminded me of him! Go down to the prison +and fetch him, and I will strike off his head." "To hear is to obey," replied +Al-Mu'ín: then he stood up and said, "I will make proclamation in the +city:—Whoso would solace himself with seeing the beheading of Nur al-Din bin +al-Fazl bin Khákán, let him repair to the palace! So follower and followed, +great and small will flock to the spectacle, and I shall heal my heart and harm +my foe." "Do as thou wilt," said the Sultan. The Wazir went off (and he was +glad and gay), and ordered the Chief of Police to make the afore-mentioned +proclamation. When the people heard the crier, they all sorrowed and wept, even +the little ones at school and the traders in their shops; and some strove to +get places for seeing the sight, whilst others went to the prison with the +object of escorting him thence. Presently, the Wazir came with ten Mamelukes +to the jail and Kutayt the jailor asked him, "Whom seekest thou, O our lord the +Wazir?"; whereto he answered, "Bring me out that gallows- bird." But the +jailor said, "He is in the sorriest of plights for the much beating I have +given him." Then he went into the prison and found Nur al-Din repeating these +verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Who shall support me in calamities, * When fail all cures and greater cares arise?<br/> +Exile hath worn my heart, my vitals torn; The World to foes hath turned my firm allies.<br/> +O folk, will not one friend amidst you all * Wail o'er my woes, and cry to hear my cries?<br/> +Death and it agonies seem light to me, * Since life has lost all joys and jollities:<br/> +O Lord of Mustafá,[FN#73] that Science-sea, * Sole Intercessor, Guide all-ware, all-wise!<br/> +I pray thee free me and my fault forego, * And from me drive mine evil and my woe." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +The jailor stripped off his clean clothes and, dressing him in two filthy +vests, carried him to the Wazir. Nur al-Din looked at him and saw it was his +foe that sought to compass his death; so he wept and said, "Art thou, then, so +secure against the World? Hast thou not heard the saying of the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Kisras and Caesars in a bygone day * Stored wealth; where is it, and ah! where +are they?' +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +"O Wazir," he continued, "know that Allah (be He extolled and exalted!) will do +whatso He will!" "O Ali," replied he, "thinkest thou to frighten me with such +talk? I mean this very day to smite thy neck despite the noses of the Bassorah +folk and I care not; let the days do as they please; nor will I turn me to thy +counsel but rather to what the poet saith, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Leave thou the days to breed their ban and bate, * And make thee strong t' +upbear the weight of Fate.' +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And also how excellently saith another, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Whoso shall see the death-day of his foe, * One day surviving, wins his +bestest wish.'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then he ordered his attendants to mount Nur al-Din upon the bare back of a +mule; and they said to the youth (for truly it was irksome to them), "Let us +stone him and cut him down though our lives go for it." But Nur al-Din said to +them, "Do not so: have ye not heard the saying of the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Needs must I bear the term by Fate decreed, * And when that day be dead needs must I die:<br/> +If lions dragged me to their forest-lair, * Safe should I live till draw my death-day nigh.'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then they proceeded to proclaim before Nur al-Din, "This is the least of the +retribution for him who imposeth upon Kings with forgeries." And they ceased +not parading him round about Bassorah, till they made him stand beneath the +palace-windows and set him upon the leather of blood,[FN#74] and the sworder +came up to him and said, "O my lord, I am but a slave commanded in this matter: +an thou have any desire, tell it me that I may fulfil it, for now there +remaineth of they life only so much as may be till the Sultan shall put his +face out of the lattice." Thereupon Nur al-Din looked to the right and to the +left, and before him and behind him and began improvising, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"The sword, the sworder and the blood-skin waiting me I sight, * And cry, Alack, mine evil fate! ah, my calamity!<br/> +How is't I see no loving friend with eye of sense or soul? * What! no one here? I cry to all: will none reply to me?<br/> +The time is past that formed my life, my death term draweth nigh, * Will no man win the grace of God showing me clemency;<br/> +And look with pity on my state, and clear my dark despair, * E'en with a draught of water dealt to cool death's agony?" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +The people fell to weeping over him; and the headsman rose and brought him a +draught of water; but the Wazir sprang up from his place and smote the gugglet +with his hand and broke it: then he cried out at the executioner and bade him +strike off Nur al-Din's head. So he bound the eyes of the doomed man and folk +clamoured at the Wazir and loud wailings were heard and much questioning of man +and man. At this moment behold, rose a dense dust-cloud filling sky and wold; +and when the Sultan, who was sitting in the palace, descried this, he said to +his suite, "Go and see what yon cloud bringeth:" Replied Al Mu'ín, "Not till +we have smitten this fellow's neck;" but the Sultan said, "Wait ye till we see +what this meaneth." Now the dust-cloud was the dust of J'afar the Barmecide, +Wazir to the Caliph, and his host; and the cause of his coming was as follows. +The Caliph passed thirty days without calling to mind the matter of Nur al-Din +Ali,[FN#75] and none reminded him of it, till one night, as he passed by the +chamber of Anis al-Jalis, he heard her weeping and singing with a soft sweet +voice these lines of the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"In thought I see thy form when farthest far or nearest near; * And on my +tongue there dwells a name which man shall ne'er unhear." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then her weeping redoubled; when lo! the Caliph opened the door and, entering +the chamber, found Anis al-Jalis in tears. When she saw him she fell to the +ground and kissing his feet three times repeated these lines, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"O fertile root and noble growth of trunk; * Ripe-fruitful branch of never sullied race;<br/> +I mind thee of what pact thy bounty made; * Far be 't from thee thou should'st forget my case!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Quoth the Caliph, "Who art thou?" and she replied, "I am she whom Ali bin +Khákán gave thee in gift, and I wish the fulfilment of thy promise to send me +to him with the robe of honour; for I have now been thirty days without tasting +the food of sleep." Thereupon the Caliph sent for Ja'afar and said to him, "O +Ja'afar, 'tis thirty days since we have had news of Nur al-Din bin Khákán, and +I cannot but suppose that the Sultan hath slain him; but, by the life of my head +and by the sepulchres of my forefathers, if aught of foul play hath befallen +him, I will surely make an end of him who was the cause of it, though he be the +dearest of all men to myself! So I desire that thou set out for Bassorah within +this hour and bring me tidings of my cousin, King Mohammed bin Sulayman +al-Zayni, and how he had dealt with Nur al-Din Ali bin Khákán;" adding, "If +thou tarry longer on the road than shall suffice for the journey, I will strike +off thy head. Furthermore, do thou tell the son of my uncle the whole story of +Nur al-Din, and how I sent him with my written orders; and if thou find, O my +cousin,[FN#76] that the King hath done otherwise than as I commanded, bring him +and the Wazir Al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí to us in whatsoever guise thou shalt find +them."[FN#77] "Hearing and obedience," replied Ja'afar and, making ready on the +instant, he set out for Bassorah where the news of his coming had foregone him +and had reached to the ears of King Mohammed. When Ja'afar arrived and saw the +crushing and crowding of the lieges, he asked, "What means all this gathering?" +so they told him what was doing in the matter of Nur al-Din; whereupon he +hastened to go to the Sultan and saluting him, acquainted him with the cause +why he came and the Caliph's resolve, in case of any foul play having befallen +the youth, to put to death whoso should have brought it about. Then he took +into custody the King and the Wazir and laid them in ward and, giving order for +the release of Nur al-Din Ali, enthroned him as Sultan in the stead of Mohammed +bin Sulayman. After this Ja'afar abode three days in Bassorah, the usual +guest-time, and on the morning of the fourth day, Nur al-Din Ali turned to him +and said, "I long for the sight of the Commander of the Faithful." Then said +Ja'afar to Mohammed bin Sulayman, "Make ready to travel, for we will say the +dawn-prayer and mount Baghdad-wards;" and he replied, "To hear is to obey." +Then they prayed and they took horse and set out, all of them, carrying with +them the Wazir, Al-Mu'ín bin Sáwí, who began to repent him of what he had done. +Nur al-Din rode by Ja'afar's side and they stinted not faring on till they +arrived at Baghdad, the House of Peace, and going in to the Caliph told him how +they had found Nur al-Din nigh upon death. Thereupon the Caliph said to the +youth, "Take this sword and smite with it the neck of thine enemy." So he took +the sword from his hand and stepped up to Al-Mu'ín who looked at him and said, +"I did according to my mother's milk, do thou according to thine."[FN#78] Upon +this Nur al-Din cast the sword from his hand and said to the Caliph, "O +Commander of the Faithful, he hath beguiled me with his words;" and he repeated +this couplet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"By craft and sleight I snared him when he came; * A few fair words aye trap +the noble-game!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +"Leave him then," cried the Caliph and, turning to Masrur said, "Rise thou and +smite his neck." So Masrur drew his sword and struck off his head. Then quoth +the Caliph to Nur al-Din Ali, "Ask a boon of me." "O my lord," answered he, "I +have no need of the Kingship of Bassorah; my sole desire is to be honoured by +serving thee and by seeing thy countenance." "With love and gladness," said the +Caliph. Then he sent for the damsel, Anis al-Jalis, and bestowed plentiful +favours upon them both and gave them one of his palaces in Baghdad, and +assigned stipends and allowances, and made Nur al-Din Ali bin Fazl bin Khákán, +one of his cup-companions; and he abode with the Commander of the Faithful +enjoying the pleasantest of lives till death overtook him. "Yet (continued +Shahrazad) is not his story in any wise more wondrous than the history of the +merchant and his children." The King asked "And what was that?" and Shahrazad +began to relate the +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap02"></a>Tale of Ghanim bin Ayyub[FN#79], the Distraught, the Thrall o' Love.</h2> + +<p class="noindent"> +It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that in times of yore and in years and +ages long gone before, there lived in Damascus a merchant among the merchants, +a wealthy man who had a son like the moon on the night of his fulness[FN#80] +and withal sweet of speech, who was named Ghánim bin ‘Ayyúb surnamed the +Distraught, the Thrall o' Love. He had also a daughter, own sister to Ghanim, +who was called Fitnah, a damsel unique in beauty and loveliness. Their father +died and left them abundant wealth.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Thirty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the merchant left his two +children abundant wealth and amongst other things an hundred loads[FN#81] of +silks and brocades, musk-pods and mother o' pearl; and there was written on +every bale, "This is of the packages intended for Baghdad," it having been his +purpose to make the journey thither, when Almighty Allah took him to Himself, +which was in the time of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid. After a while his son took +the loads and, bidding farewell to his mother and kindred and townsfolk, went +forth with a company of merchants, putting his trust in Allah Almighty, who +decreed him safety, so that he arrived without let or stay at Baghdad. There he +hired for himself a fair dwelling house which he furnished with carpets and +cushions, curtains and hangings; and therein stored his bales and stabled his +mules and camels, after which he abode a while resting. Presently the merchants +and notables of Baghdad came and saluted him, after which he took a bundle +containing ten pieces of costly stuffs, with the prices written on them, and +carried it to the merchants' bazar, where they welcomed and saluted him and +showed him all honour; and, making him dismount from his beast, seated him in +the shop of the Syndic of the market, to whom he delivered the package. He +opened it and drawing out the pieces of stuff, sold them for him at a profit +of two dinars on every dinar of prime cost. At this Ghanim rejoiced and kept +selling his silks and stuffs one after another, and ceased not to do on this +wise for a full year. On the first day of the following year he went, as was +his wont, to the Exchange which was in the bazar, but found the gate shut; and +enquiring the reason was told, "One of the merchants is dead and all the others +have gone to follow his bier,[FN#82] and why shouldst thou not win the meed of +good deeds by walking with them?"[FN#83] He replied "Yes," and asked for the +quarter where the funeral was taking place, and one directed him thereto. So he +purified himself by the Wuzu-ablution[FN#84] and repaired with the other +merchants to the oratory, where they prayed over the dead, then walked before +the bier to the burial-place, and Ghanim, who was a bashful man, followed them +being ashamed to leave them. They presently issued from the city, and passed +through the tombs until they reached the grave where they found that the +deceased's kith and kin had pitched a tent over the tomb and had brought +thither lamps and wax-candles. So they buried the body and sat down while the +readers read out and recited the Koran over the grave; and Ghanim sat with +them, being overcome with bashfulness and saying to himself "I cannot well go +away till they do." They tarried listening to the Koranic perlection till +nightfall, when the servants set supper and sweetmeats[FN#85] before them and +they ate till they were satisfied; then they washed their hands and again took +their places. But Ghanim's mind was preoccupied with his house and goods, being +in fear of robbers, and he said to himself, "I am a stranger here and supposed +to have money; if I pass the night abroad the thieves will steal my money-bags +and my bales to boot." So when he could no longer control his fear he arose and +left the assembly, having first asked leave to go about some urgent business; +and following the signs of the road he soon came to the city-gate. But it was +midnight and he found the doors locked and saw none going or coming nor heard +aught but the hounds baying and the wolves howling. At this he exclaimed, +"There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! I was in fear for my +property and came back on its account, but now I find the gate shut and I am in +mortal fear for my life!" Then he turned back and, looking out for a place +where he could sleep till morning, presently found a Santon's tomb, a square of +four walls with a date-tree in the central court and a granite gateway. The +door was wide open; so he entered and would fain have slept, but sleep came not +to him; and terror and a sense of desolation oppressed him, for that he was +alone amidst the tombs. So he rose to his feet and, opening the door, looked +out and lo! he was ware of a light afar off in the direction of the city-gate; +then walking a little way towards it, he saw that it was on the road whereby he +had reached the tomb. This made him fear for his life, so he hastily shut the +door and climbed to the top of the date-tree where he hid himself in the heart +of the fronds. The light came nearer and nearer till it was close to the tomb; +then it stopped and he saw three slaves, two bearing a chest and one with a +lanthorn, an adze and a basket containing some mortar. When they reached the +tomb, one of those who were carrying the case said, "What aileth thee O +Sawáb?"; and said the other, "What is the matter O Káfúr?"[FN#86] Quoth he, +"Were we not here at supper-tide and did we not leave the door open?" "Yes," +replied the other, "that is true.'' "See," said Kafur, "now it is shut and +barred." "How weak are your wits!" cried the third who bore the adze and his +name was Bukhayt,[FN#87] "know ye not that the owners of the gardens use to +come out from Baghdad and tend them and, when evening closes upon them, they +enter this place and shut the door, for fear lest the wicked blackmen, like +ourselves, should catch them and roast 'em and eat 'em."[FN#88] "Thou sayest +sooth," said the two others, "but by Allah, however that may be, none amongst +us is weaker of wits than thou." "If ye do not believe me," said Bukhayt, "let +us enter the tomb and I will rouse the rat for you; for I doubt not but that, +when he saw the light and us making for the place, he ran up the date-tree and +hid there for fear of us." When Ghanim heard this, he said in himself, "O +curstest of slaves! May Allah not have thee in His holy keeping for this thy +craft and keenness of wit! There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great! How shall I win free of these blackamoors?" +Then said the two who bore the box to him of the adze, "Swarm up the wall and +open the gate for us, O Bukhayt, for we are tired of carrying the chest on our +necks; and when thou hast opened the gate thou shalt have one of those we catch +inside, a fine fat rat which we will fry for thee after such excellent fashion +that not a speck of his fat shall be lost." But Bukhayt answered, "I am afraid +of somewhat which my weak wits have suggested to me: we should do better to +throw the chest over the gateway; for it is our treasure." "If we throw it +'twill break," replied they; and he said, "I fear lest there be robbers within +who murder folk and plunder their goods, for evening is their time of entering +such places and dividing their spoil." "O thou weak o' wits," said both the +bearers of the box, "how could they ever get in here!"[FN#89] Then they set +down the chest and climbing over the wall dropped inside and opened the gate, +whilst the third slave (he that was called Bukhayt) stood by them holding the +adze, the lanthorn and the hand-basket containing the mortar. After this they +locked the gate and sat down; and presently one of them said, "O my brethren, +we are wearied with walking and with lifting up and setting down the chest, and +with unlocking and locking the gate; and now 'tis midnight, and we have no +breath left to open a tomb and bury the box: so let us rest here two or three +hours, then rise and do the job. Meanwhile each of us shall tell how he came to +be castrated and all that befel him from first to last, the better to pass away +our time while we take our rest." Thereupon the first, he of the lanthorn and +whose name was Bukhayt, said, "I'll tell you my tale." "Say on," replied they; +so he began as follows the +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap03"></a>Tale of the First Eunuch, Bukhayt.</h2> + +<p class="noindent"> +Know, O my brothers, that when I was a little one, some five years old, I was +taken home from my native country by a slave-driver who sold me to a certain +Apparitor.[FN#90] My purchaser had a daughter three years old, with whom I was +brought up, and they used to make mock of me, letting me play with her and +dance for her[FN#91] and sing to her, till I reached the age of twelve and she +that of ten; and even then they did not forbid me seeing her. One day I went in +to her and found her sitting in an inner room, and she looked as if she had +just come out of the bath which was in the house; for she was scented with +essences and reek of aromatic woods, and her face shone like a circle of the +moon on the fourteenth night. She began to sport with me, and I with her. Now I +had just reached the age of puberty; so my prickle stood at point, as it were a +huge key. Then she threw me on my back and, mounting astraddle on my breast, +fell a-wriggling and a-bucking upon me till she had uncovered my yard. When she +saw it standing with head erect, she hent it in hand and began rubbing it upon +the lips of her little slit[FN#92] outside her petticoat-trousers. Thereat hot +lust stirred in me and I threw my arms round her, while she wound hers about my +neck and hugged me to her with all her might, till, before I knew what I did, +my pizzle split up her trousers and entered her slit and did away her +maidenhead. When I saw this, I ran off and took refuge with one of my comrades. +Presently her mother came in to her; and, seeing her in this case, fainted +clean away. However she managed the matter advisedly and hid it from the girl's +father out of good will to me; nor did they cease to call to me and coax me, +till they took me from where I was. After two months had passed by, her mother +married her to a young man, a barber who used to shave her papa, and portioned +and fitted her out of her own monies; whilst the father knew nothing of what +had passed. On the night of consummation they cut the throat of a pigeon-poult +and sprinkled the blood on her shift.[FN#93] After a while they seized me +unawares and gelded me; and, when they brought her to her bridegroom, they made +me her Agha,[FN#94] her eunuch, to walk before her wheresoever she went, +whether to the bath or to her father's house. I abode with her a long time +enjoying her beauty and loveliness by way of kissing and clipping and coupling +with her,[FN#95] till she died, and her husband and mother and father died +also; when they seized me for the Royal Treasury as being the property of an +intestate, and I found my way hither, where I became your comrade. This, then, +O my brethren, is the cause of my cullions being cut off; and peace be with +you! He ceased and his fellow began in these words the +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap04"></a>Tale of the Second Eunuch, Kafur.</h2> + +<p class="noindent"> +Know, O my brothers that, when beginning service as a boy of eight, I used to +tell the slave-dealers regularly and exactly one lie every year, so that they +fell out with one another, till at last my master lost patience with me and, +carrying me down to the market, ordered the brokers to cry, "Who will buy this +slave, knowing his blemish and making allowance for it?" He did so and they +asked him, "Pray, what may be his blemish?" and he answered, "He telleth me one +single lie every year." Now a man that was a merchant came up and said to the +broker, "How much do they allow for him with his blemish?" "They allow six +hundred dirhams," he replied; and said the other, "Thou shalt have twenty +dirhams for thyself." So he arranged between him and the slave-dealer who took +the coin from him and the broker carried me to the merchant's house and +departed, after receiving his brokerage. The trader clothed me with suitable +dress, and I stayed in his service the rest of my twelvemonth, until the new +year began happily. It was a blessed season, plenteous in the produce of the +earth, and the merchants used to feast every day at the house of some one among +them, till it was my master's turn to entertain them in a flower-garden without +the city. So he and the other merchants went to the garden, taking with them +all that they required of provaunt and else beside, and sat eating and +carousing and drinking till mid-day, when my master, having need of some matter +from his home, said to me, "O slave, mount the she-mule and hie thee to the +house and bring from thy mistress such and such a thing and return quickly." I +obeyed his bidding and started for the house but, as I drew near it, I began to +cry out and shed tears, whereupon all the people of the quarter collected, +great and small; and my master's wife and daughters, hearing the noise I was +making, opened the door and asked me what was the matter. Said I, "My master +was sitting with his friends beneath an old wall, and it fell on one and all of +them; and when I saw what had happened to them, I mounted the mule and came +hither in haste to tell you." When my master's daughters and wife heard this, +they screamed and rent their raiment and beat their faces, whilst the +neighbours came around them. Then the wife overturned the furniture of the +house, one thing upon another, and tore down the shelves and broke the windows +and the lattices and smeared the walls with mud and indigo, saying to me, "Woe +to thee, O Kafur! come help me to tear down these cupboards and break up these +vessels and this china ware,[FN#96] and the rest of it." So I went to her and +aided her to smash all the shelves in the house with whatever stood upon them, +after which I went round about the terrace-roofs and every part of the place, +spoiling all I could and leaving no china in the house unbroken till I had laid +waste the whole, crying out the while "Well away! my master!" Then my mistress +fared forth bare-faced wearing a head-kerchief and naught else, and her +daughters and the children sallied out with her, and said to me, "O Kafur, go +thou before us and show us the place where thy master lieth dead, that we may +take him from under the fallen wall and lay him on a bier and bear him to the +house and give him a fine funeral." So I went forth before them crying out, +"Alack, my master!"; and they after me with faces and heads bare and all +shrieking, "Alas! Alas for the man!" Now there remained none in the quarter, +neither man nor woman, nor epicene, nor youth nor maid, nor child nor old trot, +but went with us smiting their faces and weeping bitterly, and I led them +leisurely through the whole city. The folk asked them what was the matter, +whereupon they told them what they had heard from me, and all exclaimed, "There +is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah!" Then said one of them, "He +was a personage of consequence; so let us go to the Governor and tell him what +hath befallen him." When they told the Governor,—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Fortieth Night,[FN#97] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when they told the +Governor, he rose and mounted and, taking with him labourers, with spades and +baskets, went on my track, with many people behind him; and I ran on before +them, howling and casting dust on my head and beating my face, followed by my +mistress and her children keening for the dead. But I got ahead of them and +entered the garden before them, and when my master saw me in this state, I +smiting my face and saying, "Well away! my mistress! Alas! Alas! Alas! who is +left to take pity on me, now that my mistress is gone? Would I had been a +sacrifice for her!", he stood aghast and his colour waxed yellow and he said to +me, "What aileth thee O Kafur! What is the matter?" "O my lord," I replied, +"when thou sentest me to the house, I found that the saloon-wall had given way +and had fallen like a layer upon my mistress and her children!" "And did not +thy mistress escape?" "No, by Allah, O my master; not one of them was saved; +the first to die was my mistress, thine elder daughter!" "And did not my +younger daughter escape?"; "No, she did not!" "And what became of the mare-mule +I use to ride, is she safe?" "No, by Allah, O my master, the house-walls and +the stable-walls buried every living thing that was within doors, even to the +sheep and geese and poultry, so that they all became a heap of flesh and the +dogs and cats are eating them and not one of them is left alive." "And hath not +thy master, my elder son, escaped?" "No, by Allah! not one of them was saved, +and now there is naught left of house or household, nor even a sign of them: +and, as for the sheep and geese and hens, the cats and dogs have devoured +them." When my master heard this the light became night before his sight; his +wits were dazed and he so lost command of his senses that he could not stand +firm on his feet: he was as one struck with a sudden palsy and his back was +like to break. Then he rent his raiment and plucked out his beard and, casting +his turband from off his head, buffeted his face till the blood ran down and he +cried aloud, "Alas, my children! Alas, my wife! Alas, my calamity! To whom ever +befel that which hath befallen me?" The merchants, his friends, also cried +aloud at his crying and wept for his weeping and tore their clothes, being +moved to pity of his case; and so my master went out of the garden, smiting his +face with such violence that from excess of pain he staggered like one drunken +with wine. As he and the merchants came forth from the garden gate, behold, +they saw a great cloud of dust and heard a loud noise of crying and +lamentation; so they looked and lo! it was the Governor with his attendants and +the townsfolk, a world of people, who had come out to look on, and my master's +family following them, all screaming and crying aloud and weeping exceeding +sore weeping. The first to address my owner were his wife and children; and +when he saw them he was confounded and laughed[FN#98] and said to them, "How is +it with all of you and what befel you in the house and what hath come to pass +to you?" When they saw him they exclaimed, "Praise be to Allah for thy +preservation!" and threw themselves upon him and his children hung about him +crying, "Alack, our father! Thanks to Allah for thy safety, O our father!" And +his wife said to him, "Art thou indeed well? Laud to Allah who hath shown us +thy face in safety!" And indeed she was confounded and her reason fled when she +saw him, and she asked, "O, my lord, how didst thou escape, thou and thy +friends the merchants?"; and he answered her, "And how fared it with thee in +the house?" Quoth they, "We were all well, whole and healthy, nor hath aught of +evil befallen us in the house, save that thy slave Kafur came to us, bareheaded +with torn garments and howling, 'Alas, the master! Alas the master!' So we +asked him, 'What tidings, O Kafur?' and he answered 'A wall of the garden hath +fallen on my master and his friends the merchants, and they are all crushed and +dead!''' "By Allah," said my master, "he came to me but now howling, 'Alas, my +mistress! Alas, the children of the mistress!', and said, 'My mistress and her +children are all dead, every one of them!'" Then he looked round and seeing me +with my turband rent in rags round my neck, howling and weeping with exceeding +weeping and throwing dust upon my head, he cried out at me. So I came to him +and he said, "Woe to thee, O ill-omened slave! O whoreson knave! O thou damned +breed! What mischief thou hast wrought? By Allah! I will flog thy skin from thy +flesh and cut thy flesh from thy bones!" I rejoined, "By Allah, thou canst do +nothing of the kind with me, O my lord, for thou boughtest me with my blemish; +and there are honest men to bear witness against thee that thou didst so +accepting the condition, and that thou knewest of my fault which is to tell one +lie every year. Now this is only a half-lie, but by the end of the year I will +tell the other half, then will the lie stand whole and complete." "O dog, son +of a dog!", cried my master, "O most accursed of slaves, is this all of it but +a half-lie? Verily if it be a half-lie 'tis a whole calamity! Get thee from me, +thou art free in the face of Allah!" "By Allah," rejoined I, if thou free me, I +will not free thee till my year is completed and I have told thee the half-lie +which is left. When this is done, go down with me to the slave-market and sell +me as thou boughtest me to whoso will buy me with my blemish; but thou shalt +not manumit me, for I have no handicraft whereby to gain my living;[FN#99] and +this my demand is a matter of law which the doctors have laid down in the +Chapter of Emancipation."[FN#100] While we were at these words, up came the +crowd of people, and the neighbours of the quarter, men, women and children, +together with the Governor and his suite offering condolence. So my master and +the other merchants went up to him and informed him of the adventure, and how +this was but a half-lie, at which all wondered, deeming it a whole lie and a +big one. And they cursed me and reviled me, while I stood laughing and grinning +at them, till at last I asked, "How shall my master slay me when he bought me +with this my blemish?" Then my master returned home and found his house in +ruins, and it was I who had laid waste the greater part of it,[FN#101] having +broken things which were worth much money, as also had done his wife, who said +to him, "'Twas Kafur who broke the vessels and chinaware." Thereupon his rage +redoubled and he struck hand upon hand exclaiming, "By Allah! in my life never +saw I a whoreson like this slave; and he saith this is but a half-lie! How, +then, if he had told me a whole lie? He would ruin a city, aye or even two." +Then in his fury he went to the Governor, and they gave me a neat thing in the +bastinado-line and made me eat stick till I was lost to the world and a +fainting-fit came on me; and, whilst I was yet senseless, they brought the +barber who docked me and gelded me[FN#102] and cauterised the wound. When I +revived I found myself a clean eunuch with nothing left, and my master said to +me, "Even as thou hast burned my heart for the things I held dearest, so have I +burnt thy heart for that of thy members whereby thou settest most store!" Then +he took me and sold me at a profit, for that I was become an eunuch. And I +ceased not bringing trouble upon all, wherever I was sold, and was shifted from +lord to lord and from notable to notable, being sold and being bought, till I +entered the palace of the Commander of the Faithful. But now my spirit is +broken and my tricks are gone from me, so--alas!--are my ballocks. When the two +slaves heard his history, they laughed at him and chaffed him and said, "Truly +thou art skite[FN#103] and skite-son! Thou liedest an odious lie." Then quoth +they to the third slave, "Tell us thy tale." "O sons of my uncle," quoth he, +"all that ye have said is idle: I will tell you the cause of my losing my +testicles, and indeed I deserved to lose even more, for I futtered both my +mistress and my master's eldest son and heir: but my story is a long one and +this is not the time to tell it; for the dawn, O my cousins, draweth near and +if morning come upon us with this chest still unburied, we shall get into sore +disgrace and our lives will pay for it. So up with you and open the door and, +when we get back to the palace, I will tell you my story and the cause of my +losing my precious stones." Then he swarmed up and dropped down from the wall +inside and opened the door, so they entered and, setting down the lantern, dug +between four tombs a hole as long as the chest and of the same breadth. Kafur +plied the spade and Sawab removed the earth by baskets-full till they reached +the depth of the stature of a man;[FN#104] when they laid the chest in the hole +and threw back the earth over it: then they went forth and shutting the door +disappeared from Ghanim's eyes. When all was quiet and he felt sure that he was +left alone in the place, his thought was busied about what the chest contained +and he said to himself, "Would that I knew the contents of that box!" However, +he waited till day broke, when morning shone and showed her sheen: whereupon he +came down from the date-tree and scooped away the earth with his hands, till +the box was laid bare and disengaged from the ground. Then he took a large +stone and hammered at the lock till he broke it and, opening the lid, beheld a +young lady, a model of beauty and loveliness, clad in the richest of garments +and jewels of gold and such necklaces of precious stones that, were the +Sultan's country evened with them, it would not pay their price. She had been +drugged with Bhang, but her bosom, rising and falling, showed that her breath +had not departed. When Ghanim saw her, he knew that some one had played her +false and hocussed her; so he pulled her out of the chest and laid her on the +ground with her face upwards. As soon as she smelt the breeze and the air +entered her nostrils, mouth and lungs, she sneezed and choked and coughed; when +there fell from out her throat a pill of Cretan Bhang, had an elephant smelt it +he would have slept from night to night. Then she opened her eyes and glancing +around said, in sweet voice and gracious words, "Woe to thee O wind! there is +naught in thee to satisfy the thirsty, nor aught to gratify one whose thirst is +satisfied! Where is Zhar al-Bostan?" But no one answered her, so she turned her +and cried out, "Ho Sabíhah! Shajarat al-Durr! Núr al-Hudá! Najmat al-Subh! be +ye awake? Shahwah, Nuzhah, Halwá, Zarífah, out on you, speak![FN#105]'' But no +one answered; so she looked all around and said, "Woe's me! have they entombed +me in the tombs? O Thou who knowest what man's thought enwombs and who givest +compensation on the Day of Doom, who can have brought me from amid hanging +screens and curtains veiling the Harím-rooms and set me down between four +tombs?" All this while Ghanim was standing by: then he said to her, "O my lady, +here are neither screened rooms nor palace-Haríms nor yet tombs; only the slave +henceforth devoted to thy love, Ghanim bin Ayyub, sent to thee by the +Omniscient One above, that all thy troubles He may remove and win for thee +every wish that doth behove!" Then he held his peace. She was reassured by his +words and cried, "I testify that there is no god but the God and I testify that +Mohammed is the Apostle of God!"; then she turned to Ghanim and, placing her +hands before her face, said to him in the sweetest speech, "O blessed youth, +who brought me hither? See, I am now come to myself." "O my lady," he replied, +"three slave-eunuchs came here bearing this chest;" and related to her the +whole of what had befallen him, and how evening having closed upon him had +proved the cause of her preservation, otherwise she had died smothered.[FN#106] +Then he asked her who she was and what was her story, and she answered, "O +youth, thanks be to Allah who hath cast me into the hands of the like of thee! +But now rise and put me back into the box; then fare forth upon the road and +hire the first camel-driver or muleteer thou findest to carry it to thy house. +When I am there, all will be well and I will tell thee my tale and acquaint +thee with my adventures, and great shall be thy gain by means of me." At this +he rejoiced and went outside the tomb. The day was now dazzling bright and the +firmament shone with light and the folk had begun to circulate; so he hired a +man with a mule and, bringing him to the tomb, lifted the chest wherein he had +put the damsel and set it on the mule. Her love now engrossed his heart and he +fared homeward with her rejoicing, for that she was a girl worth ten thousand +gold pieces and her raiment and ornaments would fetch a mint of money. As soon +as he arrived at his house he carried in the chest and opening it,—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Forty-first night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Ghanim son of Ayyub +arrived with the chest at his house, he opened it and took out the young lady, +who looked about her and, seeing that the place was handsome, spread with +carpets and dight with cheerful colours and other deckings; and noting the +stuffs up-piled and packed bales and other else than that, knew that he was a +substantial merchant and a man of much money. Thereupon she uncovered her face +and looked at him, and lo! he was a fair youth; so when she saw him she loved +him and said, "O my lord, bring us something to eat." "On my head and mine +eyes!" replied he; and, going down to the bazar, bought a roasted lamb and a +dish of sweetmeats and with these dry fruits and wax candles, besides wine and +whatsoever was required of drinking materials, not forgetting perfumes. With +all this gear he returned to the house; and when the damsel saw him she laughed +and kissed him and clasped his neck. Then she began caressing him, which made +his love wax hotter till it got the mastery of his heart. They ate and drank +and each had conceived the fondest affection; for indeed the two were one in +age and one in loveliness; and when night came on Ghanim bin Ayyub, the +Distraught, the Thrall o' Love, rose and lit the wax candles and lamps till the +place blazed with light;[FN#107] after which he produced the wine-service and +spread the table. Then both sat down again, he and she, and he kept filling and +giving her to drink, and she kept filling and giving him to drink, and they +played and toyed and laughed and recited verses; whilst their joy increased and +they clove in closer love each to each (glory be to the Uniter of Hearts!). They +ceased not to carouse after this fashion till near upon dawn when drowsiness +overcame them and they slept where they were, apart each from other, till the +morning.[FN#108] Then Ghanim arose and going to the market, bought all they +required of meat and vegetables and wine and what not, and brought them to the +house; whereupon both sat down to eat and ate their sufficiency, when he set on +wine. They drank and each played with each, till their cheeks flushed red and +their eyes took a darker hue and Ghanim's soul longed to kiss the girl and to +lie with her and he said, "O my lady, grant me one kiss of that dear mouth: per +chance 't will quench the fire of my heart." "O Ghanim," replied she, "wait +till I am drunk and dead to the world; then steal a kiss of me, secretly and on +such wise that I may not know thou hast kissed me." Then she rose and taking +off her upper dress sat in a thin shift of fine linen and a silken head +kerchief.[FN#109] At this passion inflamed Ghanim and he said to her, "O my +lady, wilt thou not vouchsafe me what I asked of thee?" "By Allah," she +replied, "that may not be thine, for there is written upon my trouser +string[FN#110] a hard word!" Thereupon Ghanim's heart sank and desire grew on +him as its object offered difficulties; and he improvised these verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I asked the author of mine ills * To heal the wound with one sweet kiss:<br/> +No! No! she cried,[FN#111] for ever no! * But I, soft whispering, urged yes:<br/> +Quoth she, Then take it by my leave, * When smiles shall pardon thine amiss:<br/> +By force, cried I? Nay, she replied * With love and gladness eke I wis.<br/> +Now ask me not what next occurred * Seek grace of God and whist of this!<br/> +Deem what thou wilt of us, for love * By calumnies the sweeter is:<br/> +Nor after this care I one jot * Whether my foe be known or not." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then his affection increased and love fires rose hotter in his heart, while she +refused herself to him saying, "Thou canst not possess me." They ceased not to +make love and enjoy their wine and wassail, whilst Ghanim was drowned in the +sea of love and longing; but she redoubled in coyness and cruelty till the +night brought on the darkness and let fall on them the skirts of sleep. +Thereupon Ghanim rose and lit the lamps and wax candles and refreshed the room +and removed the table; then he took her feet and kissed them and, finding them +like fresh cream, pressed his face[FN#112] on them and said to her, "O my lady, +take pity on one thy love hath ta'en and thine eyes hath slain; for indeed I +were heart-whole but for thy bane!" And he wept somewhat. "O my lord, and light +of my eyes," quoth she, "by Allah, I love thee in very sooth and I trust to thy +truth, but I know that I may not be thine." "And what is the obstacle?" asked +he; when she answered, "To-night I will tell thee my tale, that thou mayst +accept my excuse." Then she threw herself upon him and winding her arms like a +necklace about his neck, kissed him and caressed him and promised him her +favours; and they ceased not playing and laughing till love get the firmest +hold upon both their hearts. And so it continued a whole month, both passing +the night on a single carpet-bed, but whenever he would enjoy her, she put him +off; whilst mutual love increased upon them and each could hardly abstain from +other. One night, as he lay by her side, and both were warm with wine, Ghanim +passed his hand over her breasts and stroked them; then he slipped it down to +her waist as far as her navel. She awoke and, sitting up, put her hand to her +trousers and finding them fast tied, once more fell asleep. Presently, he again +felt her and sliding his hand down to her trouser-string, began pulling at it, +whereupon she awoke and sat upright. Ghanim also sat up by her side and she +asked him, "What dost thou want?" "I want to lie with thee," he answered, "and +that we may deal openly and frankly with each other." Quoth she, "I must now +declare to thee my case, that thou mayst know my quality; then will my secret +be disclosed to thee and my excuse become manifest to thee." Quoth he, "So be +it!" Thereat she opened the skirt of her shift and taking up her trouser +string, said to him, "O my lord, read what is worked on the flat of this +string:" so he took it in hand, and saw these words broidered on it in gold, "I +AM THINE, AND THOU ART MINE, O COUSIN OF THE APOSTLE!''[FN#113] When he read +this, he withdrew his hand and said to her, "Tell me who thou art!" "So be it," +answered she; "know that I am one of the concubines of the Commander of the +Faithful, and my name is Kút al-Kulúb--the Food of Hearts. I was brought up in +his palace and, when I grew to woman's estate, he looked on me and, noting what +share of beauty and loveliness the Creator had given me, loved me with +exceeding love, and assigned me a separate apartment, and gave me ten slave +girls to wait on me and all these ornaments thou seest me wearing. On a certain +day he set out for one of his provinces, and the Lady Zubaydah came to one of +the slave-girls in my service and said to her, 'I have something to require of +thee.' 'What is it, O my lady?' asked she and the Caliph's wife answered, 'When +thy mistress Kut al-Kulub is asleep, put this piece of Bhang into her nostrils +or drop it into her drink, and thou shalt have of me as much money as will +satisfy thee.' 'With love and gladness;' replied the girl and took the Bhang +from her, being a glad woman because of the money and because aforetime she had +been one of Zubaydah's slaves. So she put the Bhang in my drink, and when it +was night I drank, and the drug had no sooner settled in my stomach than I fell +to the ground, my head touching my feet, and knew naught of my life but that I +was in another world. When her device succeeded, she bade put me in this chest, +and secretly brought in the slaves and the doorkeepers and bribed them; and, on +the night when thou wast perched upon the date-tree, she sent the blacks to do +with me as thou sawest. So my delivery was at thy hands, and thou broughtest me +to this house and hast entreated me honourably and with thy kindest. This is my +story, and I wot not what is become of the Caliph during my absence. Know then +my condition and divulge not my case." When Ghanim heard her words and knew +that she was a concubine of the Caliph, he drew back, for awe of the Caliphate +beset him, and sat apart from her in one of the corners of the place, blaming +himself and brooding over his affair and patiencing his heart bewildered for +love of one he could not possess. Then he wept for excess of longing, and +plained him of Fortune and her injuries, and the world and its enmities (and +praise be to Him who causeth generous hearts to be troubled with love and the +beloved, and who endoweth not the minds of the mean and miserly with so much of +it as eveneth a grain-weight!). So he began repeating, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"The lover's heart for his beloved must meet * Sad pain, and from her charms bear sore defeat:<br/> +What is Love's taste? They asked and answered I, * Sweet is the aste but ah! 'tis bitter sweet." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thereupon Kut al-Kulub arose and took him to her bosom and kissed him; for the +love of him was firm fixed in her heart, so that she disclosed to him her +secret and all the affection she felt; and, throwing her arms round Ghanim's +neck like a collar of pearls, kissed him again and yet again. But he held off +from her in awe of the Caliph. Then they talked together a long while (and +indeed both were drowned in the sea of their mutual love); and, as the day +broke, Ghanim rose and donned his clothes and going to the bazar, as was his +wont, took what the occasion required and returned home. He found her weeping; +but when she saw him she checked herself and, smiling through her tears, said, +"Thou hast desolated me, O beloved of my heart. By Allah, this hour of absence +hath been to me like a year![FN#114] I have explained to thee my condition in +the excess of my eager love for thee; so come now near me, and forget the past +and have thy will of me." But he interrupted her crying, "I seek refuge with +Allah! This thing may never be. How shall the dog sit in the lion's stead? What +is the lord's is unlawful to the slave!" So he with-drew from her, and sat down +on a corner of the mat. Her passion for him increased with his forbearance; so +she seated herself by his side and caroused and played with him, till the two +were flushed with wine, and she was mad for her own dishonour. Then she sang +these verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"The lover's heart is like to break in twain: * Till when these coy denials ah! till when?<br/> +O thou who fliest me sans fault of mine, * Gazelles are wont at times prove tame to men:<br/> +Absence, aversion, distance and disdain, * How shall young lover all these ills sustain?" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thereupon Ghanim wept and she wept at his weeping, and they ceased not drinking +till nightfall, when he rose and spread two beds, each in its place. "For whom +is this second bed?" asked she, and he answered her, "One is for me and the +other is for thee: from this night forth we must not sleep save thus, for that +which is the lord's is unlawful to the thrall." "O my master!" cried she, "let +us have done with this, for all things come to pass by Fate and Fortune." But +he refused, and the fire was lighted in her heart and, as her longing waxed +fiercer, she clung to him and cried, "By Allah, we will not sleep save side by +side!" "Allah forefend!" he replied and prevailed against her and lay apart +till the morning, when love and longing redoubled on her and distraction and +eager thirst of passion. They abode after this fashion three full-told months, +which were long and longsome indeed, and every time she made advances to him, +he would refuse himself and say, "Whatever belongeth to the master is unlawful +to the man." Now when time waxed tiresome and tedious to her and anguish and +distress grew on her, she burst out from her oppressed heart with these verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"How long, rare beauty! wilt do wrong to me? * Who was it bade thee not belong to me?<br/> +With outer charms thou weddest inner grace * Comprising every point of piquancy:<br/> +Passion thou hast infused in every heart, * From eyelids driven sleep by deputy:<br/> +Erst was (I wot) the spray made thin of leaf. * O Cassia-spray! Unlief thy sin I see:[FN#115]<br/> +The hart erst hunted I: how is 't I spy * The hunter hunted (fair my hart!) by thee?<br/> +Wondrouser still I tell thee aye that I * Am trapped while never up to trap thou be!<br/> +Ne'er grant my prayer! For if I grudge thyself * To thee, I grudge my me more jealously;<br/> +And cry so long as life belong to me, * Rare beauty how, how long this wrong to me?" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +They abode in this state a long time, and fear kept Ghanim aloof from her. So +far concerning these two; but as regards the Lady Zubaydah, when, in the +Caliph's absence she had done this deed by Kut al-Kulub she became perplexed, +saying to herself, "What shall I tell my cousin when he comes back and asks for +her? What possible answer can I make to him?" Then she called an old woman, who +was about her and discovered her secret to her saying, "How shall I act seeing +that Kut al-Kulub died by such untimely death?" "O my lady," quoth the old +crone, "the time of the Caliph's return is near; so do thou send for a +carpenter and bid him make thee a figure of wood in the form of a corpse. We +will dig a grave for it midmost the palace and there bury it: then do thou +build an oratory over it and set therein lighted candles and lamps, and order +each and every in the palace to be clad in black.[FN#116] Furthermore command +thy handmaids and eunuchs as soon as they know of the Caliph's returning from +his journey, to spread straw over the vestibule-floors and, when the Commander +of the Faithful enters and asks what is the matter, let them say:— Kut al-Kulub +is dead, and may Allah abundantly compensate thee for the loss of her![FN#117]; +and, for the high esteem in which she was held of our mistress, she hath buried +her in her own palace. When he hears this he will weep and it shall be grievous +to him; then will he cause perlections of the Koran to be made for her and he +will watch by night at her tomb. Should he say to himself, 'Verily Zubaydah, +the daughter of my uncle, hath compassed in her jealousy the death of Kut +al-Kulub'; or, if love-longing overcome him and he bid her be taken out of her +tomb, fear thou not; for when they dig down and come to the image in human +shape he will see it shrouded in costly grave-clothes; and, if he wish to take +off the winding-sheet that he may look upon her, do thou forbid him or let some +other forbid him, saying, 'The sight of her nakedness is unlawful.' The fear of +the world to come will restrain him and he will believe that she is dead and +will restore the figure to its place and thank thee for thy doings; and thus +thou shalt escape, please Almighty Allah, from this slough of despond." When +the Lady Zubaydah heard her words, she commended the counsel and gave her a +dress of honour and a large sum of money, ordering her to do all she had said. +So the old woman set about the business forthright and bade the carpenter make +her the aforesaid image; and, as soon as it was finished, she brought it to +the Lady Zubaydah, who shrouded it and buried it and built a sepulchre over it, +wherein they lighted candles and lamps, and laid down carpets about the tomb. +Moreover she put on black and she spread abroad in the Harim that Kut al-Kulub +was dead. After a time the Caliph returned from his journey and went up to the +palace, thinking only of Kut al-Kulub. He saw all the pages and eunuchs and +handmaids habited in black, at which his heart fluttered with extreme fear; +and, when he went in to the Lady Zubaydah, he found her also garbed in black. +So he asked the cause of this and they gave him tidings of the death of Kut +al-Kulub, whereon he fell a-swooning. As soon as he came to himself, he asked +for her tomb, and the Lady Zubaydah said to him, "Know, O Prince of the +Faithful, that for especial honour I have buried her in my own palace." Then he +repaired in his travelling-garb[FN#118] to the tomb that he might wail over +her, and found the carpets spread and the candles and lamps lighted. When he +saw this, he thanked Zubaydah for her good deed and abode perplexed, halting +between belief and unbelief till at last suspicion overcame him and he gave +order to open the grave and take out the body. When he saw the shroud and would +have removed it to look upon her, the fear of Allah Almighty restrained him, +and the old woman (taking advantage of the delay) said, "Restore her to her +place." Then he sent at once for Fakirs and Koran-readers, and caused +perlections to be made over her tomb and sat by the side of the grave, weeping +till he fainted; and he continued to frequent the tomb and sit there for a +whole month,— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Forty-second Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph ceased not to +frequent the tomb for the period of a whole month, at the end of which time it +so happened one day that he entered the Serraglio, after dismissing the Emirs +and Wazirs, and lay down and slept awhile; and there sat at his head a slave +girl fanning him, and at his feet a second rubbing and shampooing them. +Presently he awoke and, opening his eyes, shut them again and heard the +handmaid at his head saying to her who was at his feet, "A nice business this, +O Khayzarán!" and the other answered her "Well, O Kazíb al-Bán?"[FN#119] +"Verily" said the first, "our lord knoweth naught of what hath happened and +sitteth waking and watching by a tomb wherein is only a log of wood carved by +the carpenter's art." "And Kut al-Kulub," quoth the other, "what hath befallen +her?" She replied, "Know that the Lady Zubaydah sent a pellet of Bhang by one +of the slave women who was bribed to drug her; and when sleep overpowered her +she let put her in a chest, and ordered Sawab and Kafur and Bukhayt to throw +her amongst the tombs." "What dost thou say, O Kazib al-Ban;" asked Khayzaran, +"is not the lady Kut al-Kulub dead?" "Nay, by Allah!" she answered "and long +may her youth be saved from death! but I have heard the Lady Zubaydah say that +she is in the house of a young merchant named Ghanim bin Ayyub of Damascus, +hight the Distraught, the Thrall o' Love; and she hath been with him these four +months, whilst our lord is weeping and watching by night at a tomb wherein is +no corpse." They kept on talking this sort of talk, and the Caliph gave ear to +their words; and, by the time they had ceased speaking, he knew right well that +the tomb was a feint and a fraud, and that Kut al-Kulub had been in Ghanim's +house for four months. Whereupon he was angered with exceeding anger and rising +up, he summoned the Emirs of his state; and his Wazir Ja'afar the Barmaki came +also and kissed the ground between his hands. The Caliph said to him in fury, +"Go down, O Ja'afar, with a party of armed men and ask for the house of Ghanim +son of Ayyub: fall upon it and spoil it and bring him to me with my slave girl, +Kut al-Kulub, for there is no help but that I punish him!" "To hear is to +obey," said Ja'afar; and setting out with the Governor and the guards and a +world of people, repaired to Ghanim's house. Now about that time the youth +happened to have brought back a pot of dressed meat and was about to put forth +his hand to eat of it, he and Kut al-Kulub, when the lady, happening to look +out saw calamity surrounding the house on every side; for the Wazir and the +Governor, the night-guard and the Mamelukes with swords drawn had girt it as +the white of the eye girdeth the black. At this she knew that tidings of her +had reached the Caliph, her lord; and she made sure of ruin, and her colour +paled and her fair features changed and her favour faded. Then she turned to +Ghanim and said to him, "O my love? fly for thy life!" "What shall I do," asked +he, "and whither shall I go, seeing that my money and means of maintenance are +all in this house?"; and she answered, "Delay not lest thou be slain and lose +life as well as wealth." "O my loved one and light of mine eyes!" he cried, +"how shall I do to get away when they have surrounded the house?" Quoth she, +"Fear not;" and, stripping off his fine clothes, dressed him in ragged old +garments, after which she took the pot and, putting in it bits of broken bread +and a saucer of meat,[FN#120] placed the whole in a basket and setting it upon +his head said, "Go out in this guise and fear not for me who wotteth right well +what thing is in my hand for the Caliph."[FN#121] So he went out amongst them, +bearing the basket with its contents, and the Protector vouchsafed him His +protection and he escaped the snares and perils that beset him, by the blessing +of his good conscience and pure conduct. Meanwhile Ja'afar dismounted and +entering the house, saw Kut al-Kulub who had dressed and decked herself in +splendid raiments and ornaments and filled a chest with gold and jewellery and +precious stones and rarities and what else was light to bear and of value rare. +When she saw Ja'afar come in, she rose and, kissing the ground before him, +said, "O my lord, the Reed hath written of old the rede which Allah +decreed!''[FN#122] "By Allah, O my lady," answered Ja'afar, "he gave me an +order to seize Ghanim son of Ayyub;" and she rejoined, "O my lord, he made +ready his goods and set out therewith for Damascus and I know nothing more of +him; but I desire thee take charge of this chest and deliver it to me in the +Harim of the Prince of the Faithful." "Hearing and obedience," said Ja'afar, +and bade his men bear it away to the head-quarters of the Caliphate together +with Kut al-Kulub, commanding them to entreat her with honour as one in high +esteem. They did his bidding after they had wrecked and plundered Ghanim's +house. Then Ja'afar went in to the Caliph and told him all that had happened, +and he ordered Kut al-Kulub to be lodged in a dark chamber and appointed an old +women to serve her, feeling convinced that Ghanim had debauched her and slept +with her. Then he wrote a mandate to the Emir Mohammed bin Sulayman al-Zayni, +his viceroy in Damascus, to this effect: "The instant thou shalt receive this +our letter, seize upon Ghanim bin Ayyub and send him to us." When the missive +came to the viceroy, he kissed it and laid it on his head; then he let proclaim +in the bazars, "Whoso is desirous to plunder, away with him to the house of +Ghanim son of Ayyub."[FN#123] So they flocked thither, when they found that +Ghanim's mother and sister had built him a tomb[FN#124] in the midst of the +house and sat by it weeping for him; whereupon they seized the two without +telling them the cause and, after spoiling the house, carried them before the +viceroy. He questioned them concerning Ghanim and both replied, "For a year or +more we have had no news of him." So they restored them to their place. Thus +far concerning them; but as regards Ghanim, when he saw his wealth spoiled and +his ruin utterest he wept over himself till his heart well-nigh brake. Then he +fared on at random till the last of the day, and hunger grew hard on him and +walking wearied him. So coming to a village he entered a mosque[FN#125] where +he sat down upon a mat and propped his back against the wall; but presently he +sank to the ground in his extremity of famine and fatigue. There he lay till +dawn, his heart fluttering for want of food; and, owing to his sweating, the +lice[FN#126] coursed over his skin; his breath waxed fetid and his whole +condition was changed. When the villagers came to pray the dawn-prayer, they +found him prostrate, ailing, hunger-lean, yet showing evident signs of former +affluence. As soon as prayers were over, they drew near him; and, understanding +that he was starved with hunger and cold, they gave him an old robe with ragged +sleeves and said to him, "O stranger, whence art thou and what sickness is upon +thee?" He opened his eyes and wept but returned no answer; whereupon one of +them, who saw that he was starving, brought him a saucer of honey and two +barley scones. He ate a little and they sat with him till sun-rise, when they +went to their work. He abode with them in this state for a month, whilst +sickness and weakliness grew upon him; and they wept for him and, pitying his +condition, took counsel with one another upon his case and agreed to forward +him to the hospital in Baghdad.[FN#127] Meanwhile behold, two beggar-women, who +were none other than Ghanim's mother and sister,[FN#128] came into the mosque +and, when he saw them, he gave them the bread that was at his head; and they +slept by his side that night but he knew them not. Next day the villagers +brought a camel and said to the cameleer, "Set this sick man on thy beast and +carry him to Baghdad and put him down at the Spital-door; so haply he may be +medicined and be healed and thou shalt have thy hire."[FN#129] "To hear is to +comply," said the man. So they brought Ghanim, who was asleep, out of the +mosque and set him, mat and all, on the camel; and his mother and sister came +out among the crowd to gaze upon him, but they knew him not. However, after +looking at him and considering him carefully they said, "Of a truth he favours +our Ghanim, poor boy!; can this sick man be he?" Presently, he woke and finding +himself bound with ropes on a camel's back, he began to weep and +complain,[FN#130] and the village-people saw his mother and sister weeping over +him, albeit they knew him not. Then they fared forth for Baghdad, but the +camel-man forewent them and, setting Ghanim down at the Spital-gate, went away +with his beast. The sick man lay there till dawn and, when the folk began to go +about the streets, they saw him and stood gazing on him, for he had become as +thin as a toothpick, till the Syndic of the bazar came up and drove them away +from him, saying, "I will gain Paradise through this poor creature; for if they +take him into the Hospital, they will kill him in a single day."[FN#131] Then +he made his young men carry him to his house, where they spread him a new bed +with a new pillow,[FN#132] and he said to his wife, "Tend him carefully;" and +she replied, "Good! on my head be it!" Thereupon she tucked up her sleeves and +warming some water, washed his hands, feet and body; after which she clothed +him in a robe belonging to one of her slave-girls and made him drink a cup of +wine and sprinkled rose-water over him. So he revived and complained, and the +thought of his beloved Kut al-Kulub made his grief redouble. Thus far +concerning him; but as regards Kut al-Kulub, when the Caliph was angered +against her,— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Forty-third Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Caliph was +angered against Kut al-Kulub, he ordered her to a dark chamber where she abode +eighty days, at the end of which the Caliph, happening to pass on a certain day +the place where she was, heard her repeating poetry, and after she ceased +reciting her verse, saying, "O my darling, O my Ghanim! how great is thy +goodness and how chaste is thy nature! thou didst well by one who did ill by +thee and thou guardedst his honour who garred thine become dishonour, and his +Harim thou didst protect who to enslave thee and thine did elect! But thou +shalt surely stand, thou and the Commander of the Faithful, before the Just +Judge, and thou shalt be justified of him on the Day when the Lord (to whom be +honour and glory!) shall be Kazi and the Angels of Heaven shall be witnesses!" +When the Caliph heard her complaint, he knew that she had been wronged and, +returning to the palace, sent Masrur the Eunuch for her. She came before him +with bowed head and eyes tearful and heart sorrowful; and he said to her, "O +Kut al-Kulub, I find thou accuses me of tyranny and oppression, and thou +avouchest that I have done ill by one who did well by me. Who is this who hath +guarded my honour while I garred his become dishonour? Who protected my Harim +and whose Harim I wrecked?" "He is Ghanim son of Ayyub," replied she, "for he +never approached me in wantonness or with lewd intent, I swear by thy +munificence, O Commander of the Faithful!" Then said the Caliph, "There is no +Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! Ask what thou wilt of me, O Kut +al-Kulub." "O Prince of the Faithful!", answered she, "I require of thee only +my beloved Ghanim son of Ayyub." He did as she desired, whereupon she said, "O +Lord of the Moslems, if I bring him to thy presence, wilt thou bestow me on +him?"; and he replied, "If he come into my presence, I will give thee to him as +the gift of the generous who revoketh not his largesse." "O Prince of True +Believers," quoth she, "suffer me to go and seek him; haply Allah may unite me +with him:" and quoth he, "Do even as thou wilt." So she rejoiced and, taking +with her a thousand dinars in gold, went out and visited the elders of the +various faiths and gave alms in Ghanim's name.[FN#133] Next day she walked to +the merchants' bazar and disclosed her object to the Syndic and gave him money, +saying, "Bestow this in charity to the stranger!" On the following Friday she +fared to the bazar (with other thousand dinars) and, entering the goldsmiths' +and jewellers' market-street, called the Chief and presented to him a thousand +dinars with these words, "Bestow this in charity to the stranger!" The Chief +looked at her (and he was the Syndic who had taken in Ghanim) and said, "O my +lady, wilt thou come to my house and look upon a youth, a stranger I have there +and see how goodly and graceful he is?" Now the stranger was Ghanim, son of +Ayyub, but the Chief had no knowledge of him and thought him to be some +wandering pauper, some debtor whose wealth had been taken from him, or some +lover parted from his beloved. When she heard his words her heart +fluttered[FN#134] and her vitals yearned, and she said to him, "Send with me +one who shall guide me to thy house." So he sent a little lad who brought her +to the house wherein was the head man's stranger-guest and she thanked him for +this. When she reached the house, she went in and saluted the Syndic's wife, +who rose and kissed the ground between her hands, for she knew her. Then quoth +Kut al-Kulub, "Where is the sick man who is with thee?" She wept and replied, +"Here is he, O my lady; by Allah, he is come of good folk and he beareth the +signs of gentle breeding: you see him lying on yonder bed." So she turned and +looked at him: and she saw something like him, but he was worn and wasted till +he had become lean as a toothpick, so his identity was doubtful to her and she +could not be certain that it was he. Yet pity for him possessed her and she +wept saying, "Verily the stranger is unhappy, even though he be a prince in his +own land!"; and his case was grievous to her and her heart ached for him, yet +she knew him not to be Ghanim. Then she furnished him with wine and medicines +and she sat awhile by his head, after which she mounted and returned to her +palace and continued to visit every bazar in quest of her lover. Meanwhile +Ghanim's mother and sister Fitnah arrived at Baghdad and met the Syndic, who +carried them to Kut al-Kulub and said to her, "O Princess of beneficent ladies, +there came to our city this day a woman and her daughter, who are fair of +favour and signs of good breeding and dignity are apparent in them, though they +be dressed in hair-cloth and have each one a wallet hanging to her neck; and +their eyes are tearful and their hearts are sorrowful. So I have brought them +to thee that thou mayst give them refuge, and rescue them from beggary, for +they are not of asker-folk and, if it please Allah, we shall enter Paradise +through them." "By Allah, O my master," cried she, "thou makest me long to see +them! Where are they?", adding, "Here with them to me!" So he bade the eunuch +bring them in; and, when she looked on them and saw that they were both of +distinguished beauty, she wept for them and said, "By Allah, these are people +of condition and show plain signs of former opulence." "O my lady," said the +Syndic's wife, "we love the poor and the destitute, more especially as reward +in Heaven will recompense our love; and, as for these persons, haply the +oppressor hath dealt hardly with them and hath plundered their property and +harried their houses." Then Ghanim's mother and sister wept with sore weeping, +remembering their former prosperity and contrasting it with their present +poverty and miserable condition; and their thoughts dwelt upon son and brother, +whilst Kut al-Kulub wept for their weeping; and they said, "We beseech Allah to +reunite us with him whom we desire, and he is none other but my son named +Ghanim bin Ayyub!" When Kut al-Kulub heard this, she knew them to be the mother +and sister of her lover and wept till a swoon came over her. When she revived +she turned to them and said, "Have no fear and sorrow not, for this day is the +first of your prosperity and the last of your adversity!"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Forty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Kut al-Kulub had +consoled them she bade the Syndic lead them to his house and let his wife carry +them to the Hammam and dress them in handsome clothes and take care of them and +honour them with all honour; and she gave him a sufficient sum of money. Next +day, she mounted and, riding to his house, went in to his wife who rose up and +kissed her hands and thanked her for her kindness. There she saw Ghanim's +mother and sister whom the Syndic's wife had taken to the Hammam and clothed +afresh, so that the traces of their former condition became manifest upon them. +She sat talking with them awhile, after which she asked the wife about the sick +youth who was in her house and she replied, "He is in the same state." Then +said Kut al-Kulub, "Come, let us go and visit him." So she arose, she and the +Chief's wife and Ghanim's mother and sister, and went in to the room where he +lay and sat down near him. Presently Ghanim bin Ayyub, the Distraught, the +Thrall o' Love, heard them mention the name of Kut al-Kulub; whereupon life +returned to him, emaciated and withered as he was, and he raised his head from +the pillow and cried aloud, "O Kut al-Kulub!" She looked at him and made +certain it was he and shrieked rather than said, "Yes, O my beloved!" "Draw +near to me;" said he, and she replied, "Surely thou art Ghanim bin Ayyub?"; and +he rejoined "I am indeed!" Hereupon a swoon came upon her; and, as soon as +Ghanim's mother and his sister Fitnah heard these words, both cried out "O our +joy'" and fainted clean away. When they all recovered, Kut al-Kulub exclaimed, +"Praise be to Allah who hath brought us together again and who hath reunited +thee with thy mother and thy sister!" And she related to him all that had +befallen her with the Caliph and said, "I have made known the truth to the +Commander of the Faithful, who believed my words and was pleased with thee; and +now he desireth to see thee," adding, "He hath given me to thee." Thereat he +rejoiced with extreme joy, when she said, "Quit not this place till I come +back" and, rising forthwith, betook herself to her palace. There she opened the +chest which she had brought from Ghanim's house and, taking out some of the +dinars, gave them to the Syndic saying, "Buy with this money for each of them +four complete suits of the finest stuffs and twenty kerchiefs, and else beside +of whatsoever they require;" after which she carried all three to the baths and +had them washed and bathed and made ready for them consommés, and +galangale-water and cider against their coming out. When they left the Hammam, +they put on the new clothes, and she abode with them three days feeding them +with chicken meats and bouillis, and making them drink sherbert of sugar candy. +After three days their spirits returned; and she carried them again to the +baths, and when they came out and had changed their raiment, she led them back +to the Syndic's house and left them there, whilst she returned to the palace +and craved permission to see the Caliph. When he ordered her to come in, she +entered and, kissing the ground between his hands, told him the whole story and +how her lord, Ghanim bin Ayyub, yclept the Distraught, the Thrall o' Love, and +his mother and sister were now in Baghdad. When the Caliph heard this, he +turned to the eunuchs and said, "Here with Ghanim to me." So Ja'afar went to +fetch him; but Kut al-Kulub forewent him and told Ghanim, "The Caliph hath sent +to fetch thee before him," and charged him to show readiness of tongue and +firmness of heart and sweetness of speech. Then she robed him in a sumptuous +dress and gave him dinars in plenty, saying, "Be lavish of largesse to the +Caliph's household as thou goest in to him." Presently Ja'afar, mounted on his +Nubian mule, came to fetch him; and Ghanim advanced to welcome the Wazir and, +wishing him long life, kissed the ground before him. Now the star of his good +fortune had risen and shone brightly; and Ja'afar took him; and they ceased not +faring together, he and the Minister, till they went in to the Commander of the +Faithful. When he stood in the presence, he looked at the Wazirs and Emirs and +Chamberlains, and Viceroys and Grandees and Captains, and then at the Caliph. +Hereupon he sweetened his speech and his eloquence and, bowing his head to the +ground, broke out in these extempore couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"May that Monarch's life span a mighty span, * Whose lavish of largesse all lieges scan:<br/> +None other but he shall be Kaysar hight, * Lord of lordly hall and of haught Divan:<br/> +Kings lay their gems on his threshold-dust * As they bow and salam to the mighty man;<br/> +And his glances foil them and all recoil, * Bowing beards aground and with faces wan:<br/> +Yet they gain the profit of royal grace, * The rank and station of high soldan.<br/> +Earth's plain is scant for thy world of men, * Camp there in Kay wan's[FN#135] Empyrean!<br/> +May the King of Kings ever hold thee dear; * Be counsel thine and right steadfast plan,<br/> +Till thy justice spread o'er the wide-spread earth * And the near and the far be of equal worth." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When he ended his improvisation the Caliph was pleased by it and marvelled at +the eloquence of his tongue and the sweetness of his speech,—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Forty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Caliph, after +marvelling at his eloquence of tongue and sweetness of speech, said to him, +"Draw near to me." So he drew near and quoth the King, "Tell me thy tale and +declare to me thy case." So Ghanim sat down and related to him what had +befallen him in Baghdad, of his sleeping in the tomb and of his opening the +chest after the three slaves had departed, and informed him, in short, of +everything that had happened to him from commencement to conclusion--none of +which we will repeat for interest fails in twice told tales. The Caliph was +convinced that he was a true man; so he invested him with a dress of honour, +and placed him near himself in token of favour, and said to him, "Acquit me of +the responsibility I have incurred.''[FN#136] And Ghanim so did, saying, "O our +lord the Sultan, of a truth thy slave and all things his two hands own are his +master's." The Caliph was pleased at this and gave orders to set apart a palace +for him and assigned to him pay and allowances, rations and donations, which +amounted to something immense. So he removed thither with sister and mother; +after which the Caliph, hearing that his sister Fitnah was in beauty a very +"fitnah,"[FN#137] a mere seduction, demanded her in marriage of Ghanim who +replied, "She is thy handmaid as I am thy slave." The Caliph thanked him and +gave him an hundred thousand dinars, then summoned the witnesses and the Kazi, +and on one and the same day they wrote out the two contracts of marriage +between the Caliph and Fitnah and between Ghanim bin Ayyub and Kut al-Kulub; +and the two marriages were consummated on one and the same night. When it was +morning, the Caliph gave orders to record the history of what had befallen +Ghanim from first to last and to deposit it in the royal muniment-rooms, that +those who came after him might read it and marvel at the dealings of Destiny +and put their trust in Him who created the night and the day. Yet, O auspicious +King, this story to which thou hast deigned give ear is on no wise more +wondrous than the +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap05"></a>Tale Of King Omar Bin Al-Nu'uman And His Sons Sharrkan +and Zau Al-Makan, and What Befel Them of Things Seld-Seen and Peregrine.[FN#138]</h2> + +<p class="noindent"> +The King asked her, "And what was their story?" and she answered: It hath +reached me, O auspicious King, that there was in the City of Safety, Baghdad, +before the Caliphate of Abd al-Malik bin Marwán,[FN#139] a King, Omar bin +al-Nu'umán hight, who was of the mighty giants and had subjected the Chosroës +of Persia and the Kaysars of Eastern Rome; for none could warm himself at his +fire;[FN#140] nor could any avail to meet him in the field of foray and fray; +and, when he was angered, there came forth from his nostrils sparks of flame. +He had made himself King over all quarters, and Allah had subjected to him all +His creatures; his word went forth to all great cities and his hosts had +harried the farthest lands. East and West had come under his command with +whatsoever regions lay interspersed between them, Hind and Sind and +Sin,[FN#141] the Holy Land, Al-Hijaz, the rich mountains of Al-Yaman and the +archipelagos of India and China. Moreover, he reigned supreme over the north +country and Diyár Bakr, or Mesopotamia, and over Sudán, the Eastern Negro-land +and the Islands of the Ocean, and all the far famed rivers of the earth, Sayhún +and Jayhún,[FN#142] Nile and Euphrates. He sent envoys and ambassadors to +capitals the most remote, to provide him with true report; and they would bring +back tidings of justice and peace, with assurance of loyalty and obedience and +of prayers in the pulpits for King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; for he was, O Ruler of +the Age, a right noble King; and there came to him presents of rarities and +toll and tribute from all lands of his governing. This mighty monarch had a son +yclept Sharrkan,[FN#143] who was likest of all men to his father and who proved +himself one of the prodigies of his time for subduing the brave and bringing +his contemporaries to bane and ban. For this his father loved him with love so +great none could be greater, and made him heir to the kingdom after himself. +This Prince grew up till he reached man's estate and was twenty years old, and +Allah subjected His servants to him, by reason of his great might and prowess +in battle. Now his father, King Omar, had four wives legally married, but +Allah had vouchsafed him no son by them, save Sharrkan, whom he had begotten +upon one of them, and the rest were barren. Moreover he had three hundred and +sixty concubines, after the number of days in the Coptic year, who were of all +nations; and he had furnished for each and every a private chamber within his +own palace. For he had built twelve pavilions, after the number of the months, +each containing thirty private chambers, which thus numbered three hundred and +three score, wherein he lodged his handmaids: and he appointed according to law +for each one her night, when he lay with her and came not again to her for a +full year;[FN#144] and on this wise he abode for a length of time. Meanwhile +his son Sharrkan was making himself renowned in all quarters of the world and +his father was proud of him and his might waxed and grew mightier; so that he +passed all bounds and bore himself masterfully and took by storm castles and +cities. Presently, by decree of the Decreer, a handmaid among the handmaids of +Omar bin Nu'uman became pregnant; and, her pregnancy being announced to the +Harim, the King was informed thereof; whereupon he rejoiced with exceeding joy +and said, "Haply 't will be a son, and so all my offspring will be males!" Then +he documented the date of her conception and entreated her with all manner of +kindness. But when the tidings came to Sharrkan, he was troubled and the +matter seemed to him a sore one and a grievous; and he said, "Verily one cometh +who shall dispute with me the sovereignty:" so quoth he to himself, "If this +concubine bear a male child I will kill it:" but he kept that intention hidden +in his heart. Such was the case with Sharrkan; but what happened in the matter +of the damsel was as follows. She was a Roumiyah, a Greek girl, by name +Sofiyah or Sophia,[FN#145] whom the King of Roum and Lord of Cæsarea had sent +to King Omar as a present, together with great store of gifts and of rarities: +she was the fairest of favour and loveliest of all his handmaids and the most +regardful of her honour; and she was gifted with a wit as penetrating as her +presence was fascinating. Now she had served the King on the night of his +sleeping with her, saying to him, "O King! I desire of the God of the Heavens +that he bless thee this night with a male child by me, so I may bring him up +with the best of rearing, and enable him to reach man's estate perfect in +intelligence, good manners and prudent bearing"[FN#146]—a speech which much +pleased the King. During her pregnancy she was instant in prayer, fervently +supplicating the Lord to bless her with a goodly male child and make his birth +easy to her; and Allah heard her petition so that after her months were +accomplished she sat safely upon the birth-stool.[FN#147] Now the King had +deputed a eunuch to let him know if the child she should bring forth were male +or female; and in like way his son Sharrkan had sent one to bring him tidings +of the same. In due time Sophia was delivered of a child, which the midwives +examined and found to be a girl with a face sheenier than the moon. So they +announced this to all present in the room, whereupon the King's messenger +carried the news to him; and Sharrkan's eunuch did the like with his master, who +rejoiced with exceeding joy. But, after the two had departed, quoth Sophia to +the midwives, "Wait with me awhile, for I feel as if there were still somewhat +in my womb." Then she cried out and the pains of child-bed again took her; and +Allah made it easy to her and she gave birth to a second child. The wise women +looked at it and found it a boy like the full moon, with forehead flower-white, +and cheek ruddy-bright with rosy light; whereupon the mother rejoiced, as did +the eunuchs and attendants and all the company; and Sophia was delivered of the +after-birth whilst all in the palace sent forth the trill of joy.[FN#148] The +rest of the concubines heard it and envied her lot; and the tidings reached +Omar son of Al- Nu'uman, who was glad and rejoiced at the excellent news. Then +he rose and went to her and kissed her head, after which he looked at the boy; +and, bending over him, kissed him, whilst the damsels struck the tabors and +played on instruments of music; and the King gave order that the boy should be +named Zau al-Makán and his sister Nuzhat al-Zamán.[FN#149] They answered +"Hearing and obedience," and did his bidding; so he appointed wet nurses and +dry nurses and eunuchs and attendants to serve them; and assigned them rations +of sugar and diet-drinks and unguents and else beside, beyond the power of +tongue to rehearse. Moreover the people of Baghdad, hearing that Allah had +blessed their King with issue, decorated the city and made proclamation of the +glad tidings with drum and tom-tom; and the Emirs and Wazirs and high +dignitaries came to the palace and wished King Omar bin al-Nu'uman joy of his +son, Zau al-Makan, and of his daughter Nuzhat al-Zaman, wherefore he thanked +them and bestowed on them dresses of honour and further favoured them with +gifts, and dealt largesse to all, gentle and simple, who were present. After +this fashion he did for four days full told, and he lavished upon Sophia +raiment and ornaments and great store of wealth; and, every few days he would +send a messenger to ask after her and the new-borns. And when four years had +gone by, he provided her with the wherewithal to rear the two children +carefully and educate them with the best of instructions. All this while his +son Sharrkan knew not that a male child had been born to his father, Omar son +of Al-Nu'uman, having news only that he had been blessed with the birth of +Nuzhat al-Zaman; and they hid the intelligence from him, until days and years +had sped by, whilst he was busied in battling with the brave and fighting +single-handed against the knights. One day, as King Omar was sitting in his +palace, his Chamberlains came in to him and, kissing the ground before him, +said, "O King there be come Ambassadors from the King of Roum, Lord of +Constantinople the Great, and they desire admission to thee and submission to +thy decree: if the King command us to introduce them we will so do; and, if +not, there is no disputing his behest." He bade them enter and, when they came +in, he turned to them and, courteously receiving them, asked them of their +case, and what was the cause of their coming. They kissed the ground before +him and said, "O King glorious and strong! O lord of the arm that is long! +know that he who despatched us to thee is King Afrídún,[FN#150] Lord of +Ionia-land[FN#151] and of the Nazarene armies, the sovereign who is firmly +established in the empery of Constantinople, to acquaint thee that he is now +waging fierce war and fell with a tyrant and a rebel, the Prince of Cæsarea; +and the cause of this war is as follows. One of the Kings of the Arabs in past +time, during certain of his conquests, chanced upon a hoard of the time of +Alexander,[FN#152] whence he removed wealth past compute; and, amongst other +things, three round jewels, big as ostrich eggs, from a mine of pure white gems +whose like was never seen by man. Upon each were graven characts in Ionian +characters, and they have many virtues and properties, amongst the rest that if +one of these jewels be hung round the neck of a new-born child, no evil shall +befal him and he shall neither wail, nor shall fever ail him as long as the +jewel remain without fail.[FN#153] When the Arab King laid hands upon them and +learned their secrets, he sent to King Afridun presents of certain rarities and +amongst them the three jewels afore mentioned; and he equipped for the mission +two ships, one bearing the treasure and the other men of might to guard it from +any who might offer hindrance on the high seas, albeit well assured that none +would dare waylay his vessels, for that he was King of the Arabs, and more by +token that their course lay over waters subject to the King of Constantinople +and they were bound to his port; nor were there on the shores of that sea any +save the subjects of the Great King, Afridun. The two ships set out and +voyaged till they drew near our city, when there sallied out on them certain +corsairs from that country and amongst them troops from the Prince of Cæsarea, +who took all the treasures and rarities in the ships, together with the three +jewels, and slew the crews. When our King heard of this, he sent an army +against them, but they routed it; then he marched a second and a stronger but +they put this also to flight,—whereupon the King waxed wroth and swore that he +would not go forth[FN#154] against them save in his own person at the head of +his whole army; nor would he turn back from them till he had left Cæsarea, of +Armenia[FN#155] in ruins and had laid waste all the lands and cities over which +her Prince held sway. So he sent us to the Lord of the age and the time, +Sultan Omar bin al-Nu'uman, King of Baghdad and of Khorasan, desiring that he +aid us with an army, so may honour and glory accrue to him; and he hath also +forwarded by us somewhat of various kinds of presents, and of the King's grace +he beggeth their acceptance and the friendly boon of furtherance." Then the +Ambassadors kissed the ground before him,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Forty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that, after the Ambassadors +and retinue from the Constantinopolitan King had kissed the ground before Omar +and had delivered their embassage, they brought out the presents, which were +fifty damsels of the choicest from Græcia-land, and fifty Mamelukes in tunics +of brocade, belted with girdles of gold and silver, each wearing in his ears +hoops of gold with pendants of fine pearls costing a thousand ducats every one. +The girls were adorned in like fashion and were clad in stuffs worth a +treasury of money. When the King saw them, he rejoiced in them and accepted +them; then he bade the Ambassadors be honourably entreated and, summoning his +Wazirs, took counsel with them of what he should do. Herewith rose up among +them a Wazir, an ancient man, Dandán[FN#156] hight, who kissed the ground +before Omar and said, "O King, there is nothing better to do in this matter +than equip an army valiant and victorious, and set over it thy son Sharrkan +with us as his lieutenants; and this rede commendeth itself to me on two +counts; first, because the King of Roum hath invoked thine assistance and hath +sent thee gifts which thou hast accepted; and, secondly, because while no enemy +dareth attack our country, thine army may go forth safely and, should it +succour the King of Græcia-land and defeat his foe, the glory will be thine. +Moreover, the news of it will be noised abroad in all cities and countries and +especially, when the tidings shall reach the Islands of the Ocean and the Kings +of Mauritania shall hear it, they will send thee offerings of rarities and pay +thee tribute of money." The King, pleased by the Wazir's words and approving his +rede, gave him a dress of honour and said to him, "Of the like of thee should +Kings ask counsel, and it seemeth fit that thou shouldst conduct the van of our +army and our son Sharrkan command the main battle." Then he sent for his son +who came and kissed ground before him and sat down; and he expounded to him the +matter, telling him what the Ambassadors and the Wazir Dandan had said, and he +charged him to take arms and equip himself for the campaign, enjoining him not +to gainsay Dandan in aught he should do. Moreover, he ordered him to pick out +of his army ten thousand horsemen, armed cap-à-pie and inured to onset and +stress of war. Accordingly, Sharrkan arose on the instant, and chose out a +myriad of horsemen, after which he entered his palace and mustered his host and +distributed largesse to them, saying, "Ye have delay of three days." They +kissed the earth before him in obedience to his commands and began at once to +lay in munitions, and provide provisions for the occasion; whilst Sharrkan +repaired to the armouries and took therefrom whatsoever he required of arms and +armour, and thence to the stable where he chose horses of choice blood and +others. When the appointed three days were ended, the army drew out to the +suburbs of Baghdad city;[FN#157] and King Omar came forth to take leave of his +son who kissed the ground before him and received from the King seven parcels +of money.[FN#158] Then he turned to Dandan and commended to his care the army +of his son; and the Wazir kissed the ground before him and answered, "I hear +and I obey;" and lastly he charged Sharrkan that he should consult the Wazir on +all occasions, which he promised to do. After this, the King returned to his +city and Sharrkan ordered the officers to muster their troops in battle-array. +So they mustered them and their number was ten thousand horsemen, besides +footmen and camp-followers. Then they loaded their baggage on their beasts and +the war-drums beat and the trumpets blared and the bannerols and standards were +unfurled, whilst Sharrkan mounted horse, with the Wazir Dandan by his side, and +the colours fluttering over their heads. So the host fared forth and stinted +not faring, with the ambassadors preceding them, till day departed and night +drew nigh, when they alighted and encamped for the night. And as soon as Allah +caused the morn To-morrow, they mounted and hied on, guided by the Ambassadors, +for a space of twenty days; and by the night of the twenty-first they came to a +fine and spacious Wady well grown with trees and shrubbery. Here Sharrkan +ordered them to alight and commanded a three days' halt, so they dismounted and +pitched their tents, spreading their camp over the right and the left slopes of +the extensive valley, whilst the Wazir Dandan and the Ambassadors of King +Afridun pitched in the sole of the Wady.[FN#159] As for Sharrkan, he tarried +behind them for awhile till all had dismounted and had dispersed themselves +over the valley-sides; he then slacked the reins of his steed, being minded to +explore the Wady and to mount guard in his own person, because of his father's +charge and owing to the fact that they were on the frontier of Græcia land and +in the enemy's country. So he rode out alone after ordering his armed slaves +and his body-guard to camp near the Wazir Dandan, and he fared on along the +side of the valley till a fourth part of the night was passed, when he felt +tired and drowsiness overcame him, so that he could no longer urge horse with +heel. Now he was accustomed to take rest on horseback; so when slumber +overpowered him, he slept and the steed ceased not going on with him till half +the night was spent and entered one of the thickets[FN#160] which was dense +with growth; but Sharrkan awoke not until his horse stumbled over wooded +ground. Then he started from sleep and found himself among the trees; and the +moon arose and shone brightly over the two horizons, Eastern and Western. He +was startled when he found himself alone in this place and said the say which +ne'er yet shamed its sayer, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" But as he rode on, in fear of wild beasts, +behold, the moon spread her glad light over a meadow as if 'twere of the meads +of Paradise; and he heard pleasant voices and a loud noise of talk and laughter +captivating the senses of men. So King Sharrkan alighted and, tying his steed +to one of the trees, went over a little way till he came upon a stream and +heard a woman talking in Arabic and saying, "Now by the truth of the Messiah, +this is not well of you! but whoso utters a word, I will throw her and truss +her up with her own girdle[FN#161]!" He kept walking in the direction of the +sound and when he reached the further side he looked and behold, a stream was +gushing and flowing, and antelopes at large were frisking and roving, and wild +cattle amid the pasture moving, and birds expressed joy and gladness in their +divers tongues, and that place was purfled with all manner flowers and green +herbs, even as a poet described it in these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Most beautiful is earth in budding bloom, * When lucid waters course through plain and wood:<br/> +No work but His th' All great, th' All glorious, * Giver of all gifts, Giver of all good!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And as Sharrkan considered the place, he saw in it a Christian Monastery within +whose enceinte a castle towered high in air catching the light of the +moon.[FN#162] Through the midst of the convent passed a stream, the water +flowing amongst its gardens; and upon the bank sat the woman whose voice he had +heard, while before her stood ten handmaids like moons and wearing various +sorts of raiment and ornaments that dazed and dazzled the beholder, +high-bosomed virgins, as saith of them the poet in these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"The mead is bright with what is on't * Of merry maidens debonnair:<br/> +Double its beauty and its grace * Those trooping damsels slender-fair:<br/> +Virgins of graceful swimming gait * Ready with eye and lip to ensnare;<br/> +And like the tendril'd vine they loose * The rich profusion of their hair:<br/> +Shooting their shafts and arrows from * Beautiful eyes beyond compare;<br/> +Overpowering and transpiercing * Every froward adversaire." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Sharrkan gazed upon the ten girls and saw in their midst a lady like the moon +at fullest, with ringleted hair and forehead sheeny-white, and eyes wondrous +wide and black and bright, and temple-locks like the scorpion's tail; and she +was perfect in essence and attributes, as the poet said of her in these +couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"She beamed on my sight with a wondrous glance, * And her straight slender stature enshamed the lance:<br/> +She burst on my sight with cheeks rosy-red, * Where all manner of beauties have habitance:<br/> +And the locks on her forehead were lowering as night * Whence issues a dawn-tide of happiest chance." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then Sharrkan heard her say to the handmaids, "Come ye on, that I may wrestle +with you and gravel you, ere the moon set and the dawn break!" So each came up +to her in turn and she grounded them forthright, and pinioned them with their +girdles, and ceased not wrestling and pitching them until she had overthrown +one and all. Then there turned to her an old woman who was before her, and the +beldam said as in wrath, "O strumpet, dost thou glory in grounding these girls? +Behold I am an old woman, yet have I thrown them forty times! So what hast +thou to boast of? But if thou have the strength to wrestle with me, stand up +that I may grip thee and set thy head between thy heels!" The young lady smiled +at her words, but she was filled with inward wrath, and she jumped up and +asked, "O my lady Zat al-Dawahi,[FN#163] by the truth of the Messiah, wilt thou +wrestle with me in very deed, or dost thou jest with me?"; and she answered, +"Yea,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Forty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the young lady asked +Zat al-Dawahi, "By the truth of the Messiah, wilt wrestle with me or dost +jest?", and she answered, "Yea, I will wrestle with thee in very deed" +(Sharrkan looking on the while), the damsel cried, "Rise up for the fall an +thou have spunk so to do." When the old woman heard this, she raged with +exceeding rage, and her body-hair stood on end like the bristles of a fretful +hedgehog.[FN#164] Then she sprang to her feet, whilst the damsel stood up to +her, and said, "Now by the truth of the Messiah, I will not wrestle with thee +unless I be naked, Mistress whore!"[FN#165] So she loosed her petticoat +trousers and, putting her hand under her clothes, tore them off her body; then +twisted up a silken kerchief into cord-shape, girt it round her middle and +became as she were a scald-head Ifritah or a spotted snake. With this she +inclined towards the damsel and said, "Do thou as I have done." All this time, +Sharrkan was gazing at the twain, and laughing at the beldam's loathly +semblance. So the damsel leisurely rose and, taking a sash of Yamani stuff, +passed it twice round her waist, then she tucked up her trousers and displayed +two calves of alabaster carrying a mound of crystal, smooth and rounded, and a +stomach which exhaled musk from its dimples, as it were a bed of Nu'uman's +anemones; and breasts like double pomegranates. Then the old woman leant +towards her, and the two laid hold either of each, while Sharrkan raised his +head Heavenwards and prayed Allah that the belle might beat the beldam. +Presently the young woman gat beneath the old woman; and, gripping her waist +cloth with the left and circling her neck with the right hand, hoisted her off +the ground with both; whereupon the old woman strove to free herself and, in so +doing fell on her back arsiversy, with her legs high in air and her hairy bush +between them showed manifest in the moonshine; furthermore she let fly two +great farts[FN#166] one of which blew up the dust from the earth's face and the +other steamed up to the gate of Heaven. Sharrkan laughed till he fell back +upon the ground. Then he arose and, baring his brand looked right and left, +but he saw no one save the old woman sprawling on her back, and said to +himself, "He lied not who named thee Lady of Calamities! Verily thou knewest +her prowess by her performance upon the others." So he drew near them to hear +what should pass between them. Then the young lady went up to the old one and, +throwing a wrapper of thin silk upon her nakedness, helped her to don her +clothes and made excuses saying, "O my lady Zat al- Dawahi, I intended only to +throw thee and not all this, but thou triedst to twist out of my hands; so laud +to Allah for safety!" She returned her no answer, but rose in her shame and +walked away till out of sight, leaving the handmaids prostrate and pinioned, +with the fair damsel standing amongst them. Quoth Sharrkan to himself, "Every +luck hath its cause. Sleep did not fall upon me nor the war-horse bear me +hither save for my good fortune; for doubtless this maid and what is with her +shall become booty to me." So he made towards his steed and mounted and +heeled[FN#167] him on, when he sped as the shaft speeds from the bow and in his +hand he still hent his brand bare of sheath, which he brandished shouting the +while his war cry, "Allah is All-mighty[FN#168]!" When the damsel saw him she +sprang to her feet and, taking firm stand on the bank of the stream, whose +breadth was six ells, the normal cubits, made one bound and landed clear on the +farther side,[FN#169] where she turned and cried out with a loud voice, "Who +art thou, O thou fellow, that breakest in upon our privacy and pastime, and +that too hanger in hand as if charging a host? Whence camest thou and whither +art thou going? Speak sooth, for truth will stand thee in good stead, and lie +not, for lies come of villein-breed Doubtless thou hast wandered this night +from thy way, that thou chancedst upon this place whence escape were the +greatest of mercies; for thou art now in an open plain and, did we shout but a +single shout, would come to our rescue four thousand knights.[FN#170] So tell +me what thou wantest; and if thou wouldst only have us set thee on the right +road, we will do so." When Sharrkan heard her words he replied, "I am a +stranger of the Moslems, who fared forth this night single-handed, seeking for +spoil; nor could this moonlight show me a fairer booty than these ten maidens; +so I shall seize them and rejoin my comrades with them." Quoth she, "I would +have thee know that as for the booty thou hast not come at it; and, as for the +handmaids, by Allah, they shall never be thy spoil. Have I not told thee that +to lie is villein-vile?" Quoth he, "The wise man is he who taketh warning by +others." Thereupon quoth she, "By the truth of the Messiah, did I not fear that +thy death would be on my hands, I would shout a shout should fill the mead for +thee with war steeds and with men of might, but I take pity upon the stranger. +So, if thou seek booty, I require of thee that thou alight from thy steed and +swear to me, by thy faith, that thou wilt not advance against me aught like +arms in hand, and we will wrestle, I and thou. If thou throw me, set me on thy +steed and take all of us to thy booty; but if I throw thee, thou shalt become +under my command. Swear this to me, for I fear thy treachery: indeed it hath +become a common saw, 'Where Perfidy is innate there Trust is a weakly mate.' +Now an thou wilt swear I will return and draw near to thee and tackle thee." +Answered Sharrkan (and indeed he lusted to seize her and said in his soul, +"Truly she knoweth not that I am a champion of champions"); "Swear me by what +oath thou wilt and by what thou deemest most binding, and I will not approach +thee with aught till thou hast made thy preparation and sayest, 'Draw near that +I wrestle with thee.' If thou throw me, I have money wherewithal to ransom +myself; and if I throw thee, 'twill be booty and booty enough for me!" Rejoined +the damsel, "I am content herewith!" and Sharrkan was astounded at her words +and said, "And by the truth of the Apostle (whom Allah bless and keep!) I too +am content on the other part!" Then said she, "Swear to me by Him who sprite in +body dight and dealt laws to rule mankind aright, that thou wilt not offer me +aught of violence save by way of wrestling; else mayst thou die without the +pale of Al- Islam." Sharrkan replied, "By Allah! were a Kazi to swear me, even +though he were a Kazi of the Kazis,[FN#171] he would not impose upon me such an +oath as this!" Then he sware to her by all she named and tied his steed to a +tree; but he was drowned in the sea of thought, saying in himself, "Praise be +to Him who fashioned her from dirty water!"[FN#172] Then he girt himself and +made ready for wrestling, and said to her, "Cross the stream to me;" but she +replied, "It is not for me to come over to thee: if thou wilt, pass thou over +here to me." "I cannot do that," quoth he, and quoth she, "O boy, I will come +across to thee." So she tucked up her skirts and, leaping, landed on the other +side of the stream by his side; whereupon he drew near to her and bent him +forwards and clapped palms.[FN#173] But he was confounded by her beauty and +loveliness; for he saw a shape which the Hand of Power had tanned with the +dye-leaves of the Jánn, which had been fostered by the Hand of Beneficence and +fanned by the Zephyrs of fair fortune and whose birth a propitious ascendant +had greeted. Then she called out to him, "O Moslem, come on and let us wrestle +ere the break of morning," and tucked up her sleeves from a forearm like fresh +curd, which illumined the whole place with its whiteness; and Sharrkan was +dazzled by it. Then he bent forwards and clapped his palms by way of +challenge, she doing the like, and caught hold of her, and the two grappled and +gripped and interlocked hands and arms. Presently he shifted his hands to her +slender waist, when his finger tips sank into the soft folds of her middle, +breeding languishment, and he fell a trembling like the Persian reed in the +roaring gale. So she lifted him up and, throwing him to the ground, sat upon +his breast with hips and hinder cheeks like mounds of sand, for his soul had +lost mastery over his senses. Then she asked him, "O Moslem! the slaying of +Nazarenes is lawful to you folk; what then hast thou to say about being slain +thyself?"; and he answered, "O my lady, thy speech as regards slaying me is not +other than unlawful; for our prophet Mohammed (whom Allah bless and preserve!) +prohibited the slaying of women and children, old men and monks!" "As it was +thus revealed to your Prophet," she replied, "it behoveth us to render the +equivalent of his mercy; so rise. I give thee thy life, for generosity is +never lost upon the generous." Then she got off his breast and he rose and +stood shaking the dust from his head against the owners of the curved rib, even +women; and she said to him, "Be not ashamed; but verily one who entereth the +land of Roum in quest of booty, and cometh to assist Kings against Kings, how +happeneth it that he hath not strength enough to defend himself from one made +out of the curved rib?" "'Twas not for lack of strength in me," he answered; +"nor didst thou throw me by thy force; it was thy loveliness overthrew me; so +if thou wilt grant me another bout, it will be of thy courtesy." She laughed +and said, "I grant thee thy request: but these handmaids have long been +pinioned and their arms and sides are weary, and it were only right I should +loose them, for haply this next wrestling bout will be long." Then she went to +the slave-girls and, unbinding them, said to them in the tongue of Greece, "Get +ye to some safe place, till I foil this Moslem's lust and longing for you." So +they went away, whilst Sharrkan kept gazing at them and they kept turning to +look at the two. Then each approached the adversary and he set his breast +against hers, but when he felt waist touch waist, his strength failed him; and +she, waxing ware of this, lifted him with her hands swiftlier than the blinding +leven-flash, and threw him to the ground. He fell on his back,[FN#174] and +then she said to him, "Rise: I give thee thy life a second time. I spared thee +in the first count because of thy Prophet, for that he made unlawful the +slaying of women; and I do so on the second count because of thy weakliness and +the greenness of thine years and thy strangerhood; but I charge thee, if there +be in the Moslem army sent by Omar bin al-Nu'uman to succour the King of +Constantinople, a stronger than thou, send him hither and tell him of me: for +in wrestling there are shifts and trips, catches and holds, such as the feint +or falsing and the snap or first grip, the hug, the feet-catch, the +thigh-bite,[FN#175] the jostle and the leg-lock." "By Allah, O my lady," quoth +Sharrkan (and indeed he was highly incensed against her), "had I been Master +al-Safdí, Master Mohammed Kimál or Ibn al-Saddí,[FN#176] as they were in their +prime, I had kept no note of these shifts thou mentionest; for O my mistress, +by Allah, thou hast not grassed me by thy strength, but by the blandishments of +thy back parts; for we men of Mesopotamia so love a full-formed thigh that nor +sense was left me nor foresight. But now, an thou wish, thou shalt try a third +fall with me while my wits are about me, and this last match is allowed me by +the laws of the game which sayeth the best of three: moreover I have regained +my presence of mind." When she heard his words she said to him, "Hast thou not +had a belly-full of this wrestling, O vanquished one? However come on, an thou +wilt; but know that this must be the last round." Then she bent forward and +challenged him and Sharrkan did likewise, setting to it in real earnest and +being right cautious about the throw: so the two strove awhile and the damsel +found in him a strength such as she had not observed before and said to him, "O +Moslem, thou art now on thy mettle." "Yes," he replied, "thou knowest that +there remaineth to me but this one round, after which each of us will wend a +different way." She laughed and he laughed too;[FN#177] then she overreached at +his thigh and caught firm hold of it unawares, which made him greet the ground +and fall full on his back. She laughed at him and said, "Art thou an eater of +bran? Thou are like a Badawi's bonnet which falleth off with every touch or +else the Father of Winds[FN#178] that droppeth before a puff of air. Fie upon +thee, O thou poor thing!" adding, "Get thee back to the Moslem army and send us +other than thyself, for thou failest of thews; and proclaim for us, among the +Arabs and Persians, the Turks and Daylamites,[FN#179] whoso hath might in him, +let him come to us." Then she made a spring and landed on the other side of the +stream and said to Sharrkan, laughing, "Parting with thee is right grievous to +me, O my lord; but get thee to thy mates before dawn, lest the Knights come +upon thee and pick thee up on their lance-points. Thou hast no strength to +defend thee against a woman, so how couldst thou hold thine own amongst men of +might and Knights?" Sharrkan was confounded and called to her (as she turned +from him making towards the convent), "O my lady, wilt thou go away and leave +the miserable stranger, the broken hearted slave of love?" So she turned to him +laughing and said, "What is thy want? I will grant thee thy prayer." "Have I +set foot in thy country and tasted the sweetness of thy courtesy," replied he, +"and shall I return without eating of thy victual and tasting thy hospitality; +I who have become one of thy servitors!" "None baulk kindliness save the base," +she rejoined, "honour us in Allah's name, on my head and eyes be it! Mount thy +steed and ride along the brink of the stream over against me, for now thou art +my guest." At this Sharrkan was glad and, hastening back to his horse, mounted +and walked him abreast of her, and she kept faring on till they came to a +drawbridge[FN#180] built of beams of the white poplar, hung by pullies and +steel-chains and made fast with hooks and padlocks. When Sharrkan looked, he +saw awaiting her upon the bridge the same ten handmaids whom she had thrown in +the wrestling-bouts; and, as she came up to them, she said to one in the Greek +tongue, "Arise and take the reins of his horse and conduct him across into the +convent." So she went up to Sharrkan and led him over, much puzzled and +perturbed with what he saw, and saying to himself, "O would that the Wazir +Dandan were here with me that his eyes might look upon these fairest of +favours." Then he turned to the young lady and said to her, "O marvel of +loveliness, now I have two claims upon thee; first the claim of good +fellowship, and secondly for that thou hast carried me to thy home and offered +me thy hospitality. I am now under thy commandance and thy guidance; so do me +one last favour by accompanying me to the lands of Al-Islam; where thou shalt +look upon many a lion-hearted warrior and thou shalt learn who I am." When she +heard this she was angered and said to him, "By the truth of the Messiah, thou +hast proved thyself with me a man of keen wit; but now I see what mischief +there is in thy heart, and how thou canst permit thyself a speech which proveth +thy traitorous intent. How should I do as thou sayest, when I wot that if I +came to that King of yours, Omar bin al- Nu'uman, I should never get free from +him? For truly he hath not the like of me or behind his city walls or within +his palace-halls, Lord of Baghdad and of Khorasan though he be, who hath built +for himself twelve pavilions, in number as the months of the year, and in each +a concubine after the number of the days; and if I come to him he would not +prove shy of me, for your folk believe I am lawful to have and to hold as is +said in your writ, 'Or those women whom your right hand shall possess as +slaves.'[FN#181] So how canst thou speak thus to me? As for thy saying, 'Thou +shalt look upon the braves of the Moslems,' by the truth of the Messiah, thou +sayest that which is not true, for I saw your army when it reached our land, +these two days ago; and I did not see that your ordinance was the ordinance of +Kings, but I beheld only a rabble of tribesmen gathered together. And as to +thy words, 'Thou shalt know who I am,' I did not do thee kindness because of +thy dignity but out of pride in myself; and the like of thee should not talk +thus to the like of me, even wert thou Sharrkan, Omar bin al- Nu'uman's son, +the prowest name in these days!" "Knowest thou Sharrkan?" asked he; and she +answered "Yes! and I know of his coming with an army numbering ten thousand +horsemen; also that he was sent by his sire with this force to gain prevalence +for the King of Constantinople." "O my lady," said Sharrkan, "I adjure thee by +thy religion, tell me the cause of all this, that sooth may appear to me clear +of untruth, and with whom the fault lies." "Now by the virtue of thy faith," +she replied, "did I not fear lest the news of me be bruited abroad that I am of +the daughters of Roum, I would adventure myself and sally forth single-handed +against the ten thousand horsemen and slay their leader, the Wazir Dandan and +vanquish their champion Sharrkan.[FN#182] Nor would aught of shame accrue to me +thereby, for I have read books and studied the rules of good breeding in the +language of the Arabs. But I have no need to vaunt my own prowess to thee, +more by token as thou hast proved in thy proper person my skill and strength in +wrestling; and thou hast learnt my superiority over other women. Nor, indeed, +had Sharrkan himself been here this night and it were said to him, 'Clear this +stream,' could he have done it; and I only long and lust that the Messiah would +throw him into my hands in this very convent, that I might go forth to him in +the habit of a man and drag him from his saddle-seat and make him my captive +and lay him in bilboes."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Forty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Nazarene damsel +said to Sharrkan (and he listening impatiently enow), "Verily if Sharrkan fell +into my hands, I would go forth to him in the habit of a man and drag him from +his saddle-seat and make him my captive and lay him in bilboes," pride and +passion and knightly jealousy took possession of him and he desired to discover +and declare himself and to lay on load; but her loveliness restrained him and +he began repeating, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"An faulty of one fault the Beauty prove, * Her charms a thousand advocates +shall move." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +So she went up and Sharrkan after her; and, when he saw the maiden's back and +hinder cheeks that clashed against each other, like rollers in the rolling sea, +he extemporised these couplets:— +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"For her sins is a pleader that brow, * And all hearts its fair pleading must trow:<br/> +When I saw it I cried, "To-night * The moon at its fullest doth show;<br/> +Tho' Balkis' own Ifrit[FN#183] try a bout, * Spite his force she would deal him a throw." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +The two fared on till they reached a gate over which rose a marble archway. +This she opened and ushered Sharrkan into a long vestibule, vaulted with ten +connected arches, from each of which hung a crystal lamp glistening like a +spark of fire. The handmaids met her at the further end bearing wax candles of +goodly perfume, and wearing on their heads golden fillets crusted with all +manner bezel-gems,[FN#184] and went on before her (Sharrkan still following), +till they reached the inner convent. There the Moslem saw couches and sofas +ranged all around, one opposite the other and all overhung with curtains +flowered in gold. The monastery floor was paved with every kind of +vari-coloured marbles and mosaic-work, and in the midst stood a basin that held +four-and-twenty jetting fountains of gold, whence the water ran like molten silver; +whilst at the upper end stood a throne spread with silks fit only for Kings. +Then said the damsel, "Ascend, O my lord, this throne." So he went up to it and +sat down and she withdrew to remain absent for some time. Sharrkan asked of her +from one of the servants who answered him, "She hath gone to her dormitory; but +we will serve thee even as she ordered." So they set before him viands of rare +varieties, and he ate his sufficiency, when they brought him a basin of gold +and an ewer of silver, and he washed his hands. Then his thoughts reverted to +his army, knowing not what had befallen it in his absence and calling to mind +also how he had forgotten his father's injunctions: so he was troubled about +his case, repenting of what he had done till the dawn broke and the day +appeared; when he lamented and sighed and became drowned in sea of sadness and +repeated, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I am not lost to prudence, but indeed * Here I'm bewildered, what shall be my rede?<br/> +Would any aid me in mine ails of love, * By my own might and sleight would I be free'd:<br/> +But ah! my heart is lost and passion-shent: * To none save Allah can I trust my need!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When he ended his verse behold, there came up to him a rare show and a fair, +more than twenty maidens like crescents encompassing the young lady, who shone +in their midst as the full moon among the constellations guarding and girding +her. She was clad in brocades befitting Kings; her breasts were like twin +pomegranates, a woven zone set with all kinds of jewels tightly clasped her +waist which expanded below into jutting hips; and her hinder cheeks stood out +as a mound of crystal[FN#185] supporting a silvern shaft. When Sharrkan looked +at her his wits went nigh to fly away from him with delight; and he forgot army +and Wazir as he gazed on her fair head decked and dight with a net-work of +pearls set off by divers sorts of gems. Handmaids on her right and handmaids +on her left bore her train, as she paced with dainty graceful gait in all the +pride of seemlihead. He sprang to his feet seeing such beauty and loveliness, +and cried aloud, "Beware and beware of that zone rarely fair!" and broke out +into these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"With heavy back parts, high breasts delicate, * And lissome form that sways with swimming gait<br/> +She deftly hides love-longing in her breast; * But I may never hide its ban and bate:<br/> +While hosts of followers her steps precede,[FN#186] * Like pearls now necklaced and now separate." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She gazed upon him for a long time and considered him till she was assured of +him, when she came up to him and said, "In very sooth the place is honoured and +illumined by thee, O Sharrkan! How sped thy night, O hero, after we went away +and left thee?"; adding, "Verily lying is a vile thing and a shameful, +especially in great Kings! and thou art Crown-Prince Sharrkan, son and heir of +King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; so henceforth make no secret of thy rank and +condition, nor let me hear aught from thee but the truth; for leasing +bequeatheth hate and despite. And as thou art pierced by the shaft of Fate, be +resignation thine and abide content to wait." When he heard her words he saw +that artifice availed him naught and he acknowledged the truth, saying, "I am +Sharrkan, bin Omar bin al-Nu'uman, whom fortune hath afflicted and cast into +this place; so whatso thou willest, do it in my case!" She hung her head +groundwards a long while, then turned to him and said, "Be of good cheer and +let thine eyes be cool and clear;[FN#187] for thou art the guest of my +hospitality, and bread-and-salt hath made a tie between me and thee; wherefore +thou art in my ward and under my safeguard. Have no fear for, by the truth of +the Messiah, if all on earth sought to do thee hurt they should not come at +thee, till life had left my body for thy sake: indeed thou art now under the +charge of the Messiah and of me." Hereat she sat her down by his side and fell +to playing with him, till his alarm subsided and he knew that had she desired +to slay him, she would have done so during the past night. Presently she +bespoke in the Grecian tongue, one of her slave-girls, who went away and soon +came back bringing a beaker and a tray of food; but Sharrkan abstained from +eating and said to himself, "Haply she hath put somewhat in this meat." She +knew what was in his thought; so she turned to him and said, "By the truth of +the Messiah, the case is not on such wise, nor is there aught in this meat of +what thou suspectest! Had my mind been set on slaying thee, I had slain thee +ere now." Then she walked up to the tray and ate of every dish a mouthful; +whereupon Sharrkan came forward and ate too. She was pleased at this and both +ate till they were satisfied. They washed their hands and after that she rose +and ordered a handmaid to bring perfumes and herbs of sweet savour, wines of +all colours and kinds and a wine-service with vessels of gold, silver and +crystal. She filled a first goblet and drank it off before offering it to him, +even as she had done with the food: then she crowned a second and handed it to +him. He drank and she said to him, "O Moslem, see how thou art here in all +solace and delight of life!" And she ceased not to drink and ply him with +drink, till he took leave of his wits,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day, and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Forty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the damsel ceased not to +drink and ply Sharrkan with drink till he took leave of his wits, for the wine +and the intoxication of love he bore her. Presently she said to the slave +girl, "O Marjanah[FN#188]! bring us some instruments of music!" "To hear is to +obey," said the handmaid and going out, returned in the twinkling of an eye +with a Damascus lute,[FN#189] a Persian harp, a Tartar pipe, and an Egyptian +dulcimer. The young lady took the lute and, after tuning each several string, +began in gentle undersong to sing, softer than zephyr's wing and sweeter than +Tasmin[FN#190]-spring, with heart safe and secure from everything the couplets +following, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Allah assain those eyne! What streams of blood they shed! * How many an arrowy glance those lids of thine have sped.<br/> +I love all lovers who to lovers show them dure; * 'Twere wrong to rue the love in wrong-head born and bred:<br/> +Haply fall hapless eye for thee no sleeping kens! * Heaven help the hapless heart by force of thee misled!<br/> +Thou doomest me to death who art my king, and I * Ransom with life the deemster who would doom me dead." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thereupon each and every of the maidens rose up and taking an instrument, +played and recited couplets in the Roumi tongue; then their mistress sang also +and seeing Sharrkan in ecstasies asked him, "O Moslem, dost thou understand +what I say?"; and he answered, "Nay, my ecstasy cometh from the beauty of thy +finger-tips." She laughed and continued, "If I sing to thee in Arabic what +wouldst thou do?" "I should no longer," quoth he, "be master of my senses." +Then she took an instrument and, changing the measure, began singing these +verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"The smack of parting's myrrh to me, * How, then, bear patience' aloë?<br/> +I'm girt by ills in trinity * Severance, distance, cruelty!<br/> +My freedom stole that fairest she, * And parting irks me bitterly." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When she ended her verse, she looked at Sharrkan and found him lost to +existence, and he lay for a while stretched at full length and prone among the +maidens.[FN#191] Then he revived and, remembering the songs, again inclined to +mirth and merriment; and the twain returned to their wine and wassail, and +continued their playing and toying, their pastime and pleasure till day ceased +illuminating and night drooped her wing. Then the damsel went off to her +dormitory and when Sharrkan asked after her they answered, "She is gone to her +sleeping-chamber," whereto he rejoined, "Under Allah's ward and His good +guard!" As soon as it was morning, a handmaid came to him and said to him, "My +mistress biddeth thee to her." So he rose and followed her and, as he drew near +her lodging, the damsels welcomed him with smitten tabrets and songs of +greeting, and led him through a great door of ivory studded with pearls and +jewels. Thence they passed with him into a tall and spacious hall, at the +upper end of which was a wide daïs carpeted with all kinds of silks, and round +it open lattices commanding a view of trees and streams. About the saloon were +figures carved in human form, and fashioned on such wise that the air passed +through them and set in motion musical instruments within, so that the beholder +would fancy they spoke.[FN#192] Here sat the young lady, looking at the +figures; but when she saw Sharrkan, she sprang to her feet and, taking him by +the hand, made him sit down by her side, and asked him how he had passed the +night. He blessed her and the two sat talking awhile till she asked him, +"Knowest thou aught touching lovers and slaves of love?"; and he answered "Yes! +I wot somewhat in verse on that matter." "Let me hear it," quoth she, so he +began quoting, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Pleasure and health, good cheer, good appetite * To Azzah, freest with our name and fame!<br/> +By Allah! would I near her off she flies * At tangent, granting less the more I claim:<br/> +I dote on Azzah, but when clear I off * My rivals, clears me too that dearest dame;<br/> +Like wandering wight that chose for shade a cloud * Which, ere siesta done, thin air became." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When she heard this she said, "Verily Al-Kuthayyir[FN#193] was conspicuous for +sweet speech and chaste, and he was superlative in his praise of Azzah when he +sang" (and she began to recite), +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Did Azzah deal behest to Sun o' noon, * The judge had 'judged her beauty's bestest boon;<br/> +And girls who come to me and carp at her, * God make their rosy cheeks her sandal-shoon! +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +"And indeed," quoth she, "'twas said that Azzah boasted exceeding beauty and +loveliness." Then she asked Sharrkan saying, "O Prince, dost thou know aught of +Jamíl's[FN#194] verses to Buthaynah? if so repeat to us somewhat of them;" and +he answered, "Yes, I know them better than any;" whereupon he began repeating +these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Jamil, in Holy war go fight!" to me they say: * What war save fight for fair ones would I e'er essay?<br/> +To me their every word and work are mere delight, * And martyrs clepe I all they slay in fight and fray:<br/> +An ask I, 'O Buthaynah! what's this love, I pray, * Which eats my heart?' quoth she ' 'Twill stay for ever and aye!'<br/> +And when I cry, 'Of wits return some small display * For daily use,' quoth she, 'Far, far 'tis fled away!"<br/> +Thou seekst my death; naught else thy will can satisfy * While I no goal espy save thee and thee alway. +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +"Thou hast spoken right well," said she, "O King's son, and Jamil also spoke +excellently well. But what would Buthaynah have done with him that he saith in +his hemistich, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Thou seekst my death; naught else thy will can satisfy?'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +"O my lady," quoth Sharrkan, "she willed to do him what thou willest to do with +me, and even that will not satisfy thee." She laughed at his opportune reply +and they ceased not carousing till Day put out her light and Night came in +darkness dight. Then she rose and went to her dormitory and slept, while +Sharrkan slept in his place till morning dawned. As soon as he awoke, the +hand-maids came to him with tabrets and other instruments of mirth and merriment, as +wont; and, kissing the ground between his hands, said to him, "Bismillah!--in +Allah's name--be so kind as to come[FN#195]: our mistress biddeth thee to her +presence!" So he rose and accompanied the slave-girls who surrounded him, +playing on tabrets and other instruments of music, till they passed from that +saloon into another and a yet more spacious hall, decorated with pictured +likenesses and figures of birds and beasts, passing all description. Sharrkan +marvelled at the art and artifice of the place and began reciting, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"He pluckt fruits of her necklace in rivalry, * And her breast-pearls that bedded in gold-mine lie.<br/> +Pure water on silvern bars is her brow, * And her cheeks show roses with rubies vie:<br/> +Meseems in her eyne that the violet's hue * Lies purpling set in the Ithmid's[FN#196] dye." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When the lady saw Sharrkan, she stood up to him in honour and,<br/> +taking his hand, seated him by her side and asked, "O son of King<br/> +Omar bin al-Nu'uman, hast thou any cunning in the game of chess?"<br/> +"Yes," he answered, "but do not thou with me as said the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'I speak and longing love upties me and unties me; * Till with her honey-dew of inner lip she plies me:<br/> +I brought the chess-board and my liefest lover plays me * With white and black,[FN#197] but black-cum-white ne'er satisfies me:<br/> +'Twas as if King for Castle I were fain to place me * Till wilful loss of game atwixt two queens surprise me:<br/> +And if I seek to read intent in eyes that eye me * Oh man! that glance askance with hint of wish defies me.'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then she brought the chess-board and played with him; but Sharrkan, instead of +looking at her moves, kept gazing at her fair mouth, and putting knight in +place of elephant and elephant[FN#198] in stead of knight. She laughed and said +to him, "If thy play be after this fashion, thou knowest naught of the game." +"This is only our first," replied he, "judge not by this bout." When she beat +him he replaced the pieces in position and played again with her; but she beat +him a second time, a third, a fourth and a fifth. So she turned to him and +said, "Thou art beaten in everything;" and he replied, "O my lady, how should +one playing with the like of thee avoid being beaten?" Then she bade bring +food, and they ate and washed their hands; after which the wine was set before +them and they drank. Presently, she took the dulcimer, for her hand was +cunning in smiting it, and she began repeating to an accompaniment these +couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Twixt the close-tied and open-wide no medium Fortune knoweth, * Now ebb and flow then flow and ebb this wise her likeness showeth.<br/> +Then drink her wine the syne she's thine and smiling thou dost find her * Anon she'll fall and fare away when all thy good forth goeth." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +They ceased not to carouse till nightfall and this day was pleasanter even than +the first. When darkness set in, the lady betook her to her dormitory, leaving +him alone with the handmaids; so he threw himself on the ground and slept till +dawn, when the damsels came to him with tambourines and other instruments +according to custom. Seeing them he roused him hastily and sat up; and they +carried him to their mistress, who came to meet him and, taking him by the +hand, seated him by her side. Then she asked him how he had passed his night, +whereat he prayed that her life be prolonged; and she took the lute and sang to +it these verses which she improvised, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Ne'er incline thee to part * Which embitters the heart;<br/> +E'en the sun when he sets * Shall in pallor depart." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +While they were solacing themselves after this fashion, behold, there arose a +great and sudden clamour, and a confused crowd of knights and men rushed in, +holding drawn swords that glittered and gleamed in their hands, and cried aloud +in the Grecian tongue, "Thou hast fallen into our hands, O Sharrkan, so make +thee sure of death!" When he heard this, he said to himself, "By Allah, she +hath entrapped me and held me in play, till her men should come. These are the +Knights with whom she threatened me; but 'tis I who have thrown myself into +this strait." Then he turned towards the young lady to reproach her, but saw +that she had changed colour and her face was pale; and she sprang to her feet +and asked the crowd, "Who are ye?" "O most gracious Princess and peerless +union-pearl," answered the leading Knight, "dost thou weet who is yon man by thy +side?" "Not I," she replied, "who may he be?" Quoth the Patrician, "This is of +towns the highwayman! This is he who rideth in the horseman's van! This is +Sharrkan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman! This is he that forceth fortalice +and penetrateth every impregnable place! The news of him reached King Hardub, +thy father, by report of the ancient dame Zat al- Dawahi; and thy sire, our +sovereign, hath made sure that thou hast rendered good service to the army of +the Greeks by taking captive this ominous lion." When she heard this, she +looked at the Knight and asked him, "What be thy name?" and he answered, "I am +Másúrah, son of thy slave Mausúrah bin Káshardah, Knight of Knights." "And +how?" quoth she, "durst thou enter my presence without leave?" Quoth he, "O my +lady, when I came to the gate, none forbade me, neither chamberlain nor porter, +but all the door-keepers rose and forewent us as of wont; although, when others +come, they leave them standing at the gate while they ask permission to admit +them. But this is not a time for long talking, when the King is expecting our +return with this Prince, the scorpion-sting[FN#199] of the Islamitic host, that +he may kill him and drive back his men whither they came, without the bane of +battling with them." "These words be ill words," rejoined the Princess, "and +Dame Zat al-Dawahi lied, avouching an idle thing and a vain, whereof she +weeteth not the truth; for by the virtue of the Messiah, this man who is with +me is not Sharrkan, nor is he a captive, but a stranger who came to us seeking +our hospitality, and I made him my guest. So even were we assured that this be +Sharrkan and were it proved to us that it is he beyond a doubt, I say it would +ill befit mine honour that I should deliver into your hands one who hath +entered under my protection. So make me not a traitor to my guest and a +disgrace among men; but return to the King, my father, and kiss the ground +before him, and inform him that the case is contrariwise to the report of the +Lady Zat al-Dawahi." "O Abrízah," replied Masurah, the Knight, "I cannot return +to the King's majesty without his debtor and enemy." Quoth she (and indeed she +had waxed very wroth), "Out on thee! Return to him with my answer, and no +blame shall befal thee!" Quoth Masurah, "I will not return without him." +Thereupon her colour changed and she exclaimed, "Exceed not in talk and vain +words; for verily this man had not come in to us, were he not assured that he +could of himself and single-handed make head against an hundred riders; and if +I said to him, 'Thou art Sharrkan, son of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman,' he would +answer, 'Yes.' But 'tis not of your competence to let or hinder him; for if you +do so, he will not turn back from you till he hath slain all that are in this +place. Behold, here he is by my side, and I will bring him before you sword +and targe in hand." "Albeit I were safe from thy wrath," answered Masurah the +Knight, "I am not safe from that of thy father, and when I see him, I shall +sign to the Knights to take him captive, and we will carry him to the King +bound and in abject sort." When she heard this, she said, "The matter shall not +pass thus, for 'twould be blazoning mere folly. This man is but one and ye are +an hundred Knights: so if you would attack him come out against him, one after +one, that it may appear to the King which is the valiant amongst you."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Fiftieth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Princess Abrizah said to +the Knight, "This man is but one, and ye are an hundred: so if ye would attack +him, come out against him, one after one, that it may appear to the King which +is the valiant." Quoth Masurah, the Knight, "By the truth of the Messiah, thou +sayest sooth, and none but I shall sally out against him first." Quoth she, +"Wait till I go to him and acquaint him with the case and hear what answer he +will make. If he consent, 'tis well; but if he refuse, ye shall on no wise +come to him, for I and my handmaids and whosoever is in the convent will be +his ransom." So she went to Sharrkan and told him the news, whereat he smiled +and knew that she had not informed any of the Emirs; but that tidings of him +had been bruited and blazed abroad, till the report reached the King, against +her wish and intent. So he again began reproaching himself and said, "How came +I to adventure and play with my life by coming to the country of the Greeks?" +But hearing the young lady's proposal he said to her, "Indeed their onset, one +after one, would be overburdensome to them. Will they not come out against me, +ten by ten?" "That would be villeiny," said she; "Let one have at one." When he +heard this, he sprang to his feet and made for them with his sword and +battle-gear; and Masurah, the Knight, also sprang up and bore down upon him. Sharrkan +met him like a lion and delivered a shoulder-cut[FN#200] which clove him to the +middle, and the blade came out gleaming and glittering from his back and +bowels. When the lady beheld that swashing-blow, Sharrkan's might was magnified +in her sight and she knew that when she overthrew him in the wrestle it was not +by her strength but by her beauty and loveliness. So she turned to the Knights +and said, "Take wreak for your chief!" Thereupon out came the slain man's +brother, a fierce and furious Knight, and rushed upon Sharrkan, who delayed +not, but smote him also with the shoulder-cut and the sword came out glittering +from his vitals. Then cried the Princess, "O ye servants of the Messiah, +avenge your comrade!" So they ceased not charging down upon him, one after one; +and Sharrkan also ceased not playing upon them with the blade, till he had +slain fifty Knights, the lady looking on the while. And Allah cast a panic +into the hearts of the survivors, so that they held back and dared not meet him +in the duello, but fell upon him in a body; and he laid on load with heart +firmer than a rock, and smote them and trod them down like straw under the +threshing-sled,[FN#201] till he had driven sense and soul out of them. Then +the Princess called aloud to her damsels, saying, "Who is left in the +convent?"; and they replied, "None but the gate-keepers;" whereupon she went up +to Sharrkan and took him to her bosom, he doing the same, and they returned to +the palace, after he had made an end of the melée. Now there remained a few of +the Knights hiding from him in the cells of the monastery, and when the +Princess saw this she rose from Sharrkan's side and left him for a while, but +presently came back clad in closely-meshed coat of ring-mail and holding in her +hand a fine Indian scymitar. And she said, "Now by the truth of the Messiah, I +will not be a niggard of myself for my guest; nor will I abandon him though for +this I abide a reproach and a by-word in the land of the Greeks." Then she took +reckoning of the dead and found that he had slain fourscore of the Knights, and +other twenty had taken to flight.[FN#202] When she saw what work he had made +with them she said to him, "Allah bless thee, O Sharrkan! The Cavaliers may +well glory in the like of thee." Then he rose and wiping his blade clean of the +blood of the slain began reciting these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"How oft in the mellay I've cleft the array, * And given their bravest to lions a prey:<br/> +Ask of me and of them when I proved me prow * O'er creation, on days of the foray and fray:<br/> +When I left in the onslaught their lions to lie * On the sands of the low-lands[FN#203] in fieriest day." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When he ended his verse, the Princess came up to him with smiles and kissed his +hand; then she doffed her hauberk and he said to her, "O lady mine, wherefore +didst thou don that coat of mail and bare thy brand?" "To guard thee against +these caitiffs,"[FN#204] she replied. Then she summoned the gate-keepers and +asked them, "How came ye to admit the King's Knights into my dwelling without +leave of me?"; and they answered, "O Princess, it is not our custom to ask +leave of thee for the King's messengers, and especially for the chief of his +Knights." Quoth she, "I think ye were minded only to disgrace me and murder my +guest;" and bade Sharrkan smite their necks. He did so and she cried to the +rest of her servants, "Of a truth, they deserved even more than that!" Then +turning to Sharrkan, she said to him, "Now that there hath become manifest to +thee what was concealed, thou shalt be made acquainted with my history. Know, +then, that I am the daughter of King Hardub of Roum; my name is Abrizah and the +ancient dame, yclept Zat al-Dawahi, is my grandmother by the sword side. She +it certainly is who told my father of thee, and as surely she will compass a +sleight to slay me, more by token as thou hast slain my father's chivalry and +it is noised abroad that I have separated myself from the Nazarenes and have +become no better than I should be with the Moslems. Wherefore it were wiser +that I leave this dwelling while Zat al-Dawahi is on my track; but I require of +thee the like kindness and courtesy I have shown thee, for enmity will +presently befal between me and my father on thine account. So do not thou +neglect to do aught that I shall say to thee, remembering all this betided me +not save by reason of thee." Hearing her words, Sharrkan joyed greatly; his +breast broadened and his wits flew from him for delight, and he said, "By +Allah, none shall come at thee, while life is in my bosom! But hast thou +patience to bear parting from thy parents and thy people?" "Even so," she +answered; and Sharrkan swore to her and the two plighted their troth. Then +said she, "Now is my heart at ease; but there remaineth one other condition for +thee." "What is it?" asked he and she answered, "It is that thou return with +thy host to thine own country." Quoth he, "O lady mine, my father, King Omar +bin al- Nu'uman, sent me to wage war upon thy sire, on account of the treasure +he plundered from the King of Constantinople, and amongst the rest three great +jewels, noted givers of good fortune." Quoth she, "Cheer thy heart and clear +thine eyes: I will tell thee the whole of the tale and the cause of our feud +with the King of Constantinople. Know that we have a yearly festival, hight +the Convent-Feast, whereat Kings from all quarters and the noblest women are +wont to congregate; thither also come merchants and traders with their wives +and families, and the visitors abide there seven days. I was wont to be one of +them; but, when there befel enmity between us, my father forbade me to be +present at the festival for the space of seven years. One year, it chanced that +amongst the daughters of the great who resorted to the patron, as was their +custom, came a daughter of the King of Constantinople, a beautiful girl called +Sophia. They tarried at the monastery six days and on the seventh the folk +went their ways;[FN#205] but Sophia said, 'I will not return to Constantinople +save by water.' So they equipped for her a ship in which she embarked with her +suite; and making sail they put out to sea; but as they were voyaging behold, a +contrary wind caught them and drove the vessel from her course till, as Fate +and Fortune would have it, she fell in with a Nazarene craft from the Camphor +Island[FN#206] carrying a crew of five hundred armed Franks, who had been +cruising about a long time. When they sighted the sails of the ship, wherein +Sophia and her women were, they gave chase in all haste and in less than an +hour they came up with her, then they laid the grappling-irons aboard her and +captured her. Then taking her in tow they made all sail for their own island +and were but a little distant from it when the wind veered round and, splitting +their sails, drove them on to a shoal which lies off our coast. Thereupon we +sallied forth and, looking on them as spoil driven to us by Fate,[FN#207] +boarded and took them; and, slaying the men, made prize of the wreck, wherein +we found the treasures and rarities in question and forty maidens, amongst whom +was the King's daughter, Sophia. After the capture we carried the Princess and +her women to my father, not knowing her to be a daughter of King Afridun of +Constantinople; and he chose out for himself ten including her; and divided the +rest among his dependants. Presently he set apart five damsels, amongst whom +was the King s daughter, and sent them to thy father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, +together with other gifts, such as broadcloth[FN#208] and woollen stuffs and +Grecian silks. Thy father accepted them and chose out from amongst the five +girls Sophia, daughter of King Afridun; nor did we hear more of her till the +beginning of this year, when her father wrote to my father in words unfitting +for me to repeat, rebuking him with menaces and saying to him: Two years ago, +you plundered a ship of ours which had been seized by a band of Frankish +pirates in which was my daughter, Sophia, attended by her maidens numbering +some threescore. Yet ye informed me not thereof by messenger or otherwise; nor +could I make the matter public, lest reproach befal me amongst the Kings, by +reason of my daughter's honour. So I concealed my case till this year, when I +wrote to certain Frankish corsairs and sought news of my daughter from the +Kings of the Isles. They replied, 'By Allah we carried her not forth of thy +realm; but we have heard that King Hardub rescued her from certain pirates. +And they told me the whole tale.' Then he added in the writing which he writ to +my father: 'Except you wish to be at feud with me and design to disgrace me and +dishonour my daughter, you will, the instant my letter reacheth you, send my +daughter back to me. But if you slight my letter and disobey my commandment, I +will assuredly make you full return for your foul dealing and the baseness of +your practices.'[FN#209] When my father read this letter and understood the +contents,[FN#210] it vexed him and he regretted not having known that Sophia, +King Afridun's daughter, was among the captured damsels, that he might have +sent her back to her sire; and he was perplexed about the case because, after +so long a time, he could not send to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and demand her +back from him, especially as he had lately heard that Heaven had granted him +boon of babe by this Sophia. So when we pondered that truth, we knew that this +letter was none other than a grievous calamity; and my father found nothing for +it but to write an answer to King Afridun, making his excuses and swearing to +him by strong oaths that he knew not his daughter to be among the bevy of +damsels in the ship and setting forth how he had sent her to King Omar bin al +Nu'uman, who had gotten the blessing of issue by her. When my father's reply +reached King Afridun he rose up and sat down,[FN#211] and roared and foamed at +the mouth crying:—'What! shall he take captive my daughter and even her with +slave-girls and pass her on from hand to hand sending her for a gift to Kings, +and they lie with her without marriage-contract? By the Messiah and the true +Faith,' said he, 'I will not desist till I have taken my blood-vengeance for +this and have wiped out my shame; and indeed I will do a deed which the +chroniclers shall chronicle after me!' So he bided his time till he devised a +device and laid notable toils and snares, when he sent an embassy to thy +father, King Omar, to tell him that which thou hast heard: accordingly thy +father equipped thee and an army with thee and sent thee to King Afridun, whose +object is to seize thee and thine army to boot. As for the three jewels +whereof he told thy father when asking his aid, there was not one soothfast +word in that matter, for they were with Sophia, his daughter; and my father +took them from her, when he got possession of her and of her maidens, and gave +them to me in free gift, and they are now with me. So go thou to thy host and +turn them back ere they be led deep into, and shut in by, the land of +the Franks and the country of the Greeks; +for as soon as you have come far enough into their interior, they will +stop the roads upon you and there will be no escape for you till the Day of +retribution and retaliation. I know that thy troops are still halting where +thou leftest them, because thou didst order a three days' rest; withal they +have missed thee all this time and they wot not what to do." When Sharrkan +heard her words, he was absent awhile in thought; then he kissed Princess +Abrizah's hand and said, "Praise be to Allah who hath bestowed thee on me and +appointed thee to be the cause of my salvation and the salvation of whoso is +with me! But 'tis grievous to me to part from thee and I know not what will +become of thee after my departure." "Go now to thine army," she replied, "and +turn them back, while ye are yet near your own country. If the envoys be still +with them, lay hands on them and keep them, that the case may be made manifest +to you; and, after three days, I will be with you all and we will enter Baghdad +together." As he turned to depart she said, "Forget not the compact which is +between me and thee;" then she rose to bid[FN#212] him farewell and embrace him +and quench the fire of desire, so she took leave of him and, throwing her arms +round his neck, wept with exceeding weeping, and repeated these verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I bade adieu, my right hand wiped my tears away, * The while my left hand held her in a close embrace:<br/> +'Fearest thou naught,' quoth she, 'of shame?' I answered 'Nay, * The lover's parting day is lover's worst disgrace.'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then Sharrkan left her and walked down from the convent. They brought his +steed, so he mounted and rode down-stream to the drawbridge which he crossed +and presently threaded the woodland paths and passed into the open meadow. As +soon as he was clear of the trees he was aware of horsemen which made him stand +on the alert, and he bared his brand and rode cautiously; but as they drew near +and exchanged curious looks he recognized them and behold, it was the Wazir +Dandan and two of his Emirs. When they saw him and knew him, they dismounted +and saluting him, asked the reason of his absence; whereupon he told them all +that had passed between him and Princess Abrizah from first to last. The Wazir +returned thanks to Almighty Allah for his safety and said,[FN#213] "Let us at +once leave these lands; for the envoys who came with us are gone to inform the +King of our approach, and haply he will hasten to fall on us and take us +prisoners." So Sharrkan cried to his men to saddle and mount, which they did +and, setting out at once, they stinted not faring till they reached the sole of +the valley wherein the host lay. The Ambassadors meanwhile had reported +Sharrkan's approach to their King, who forthright equipped a host to lay hold +of him and those with him. But Sharrkan, escorted by the Wazir Dandan and the +two Emirs, had no sooner sighted the army, than he raised the cry "March! +March!" They took horse on the instant and fared through the first day and +second and third day, nor did they cease faring for five days; at the end of +which time they alighted in a well-wooded valley, where they rested awhile. +Then they again set out and stayed not riding for five and twenty days which +placed them on the frontiers of their own country. Here, deeming themselves +safe, they halted to rest; and the country people came out to them with guest-gifts +for the men and provender and forage for the beasts. They tarried there +two days after which, as all would be making for their homes, Sharrkan put the +Wazir Dandan in command, bidding him lead the host back to Baghdad. But he +himself remained behind with an hundred riders, till the rest of the army had +made one day's march: then he called "To horse!" and mounted with his hundred +men. They rode on two parasangs'[FN#214] space till they arrived at a gorge +between two mountains and lo! there arose before them a dark cloud of sand and +dust. So they checked their steeds awhile till the dust opened and lifted, +discovering beneath it an hundred cavaliers, lion-faced and in mail-coats +cased. As soon as they drew within earshot of Sharrkan and his meiny they +cried out to them, saying, "By the virtue of John and Mary, we have won to our +wish! We have been following you by forced marches, night and day, till we +forewent you to this place. So dismount and lay down your arms and yield +yourselves, that we may grant you your lives." When Sharrkan heard this, his +eyes stood out from his head and his cheeks flushed red and he said 'How is it, +O Nazarene dogs, ye dare enter our country and overmarch our land? And doth +not this suffice you, but ye must adventure yourselves and address us in such +unseemly speech? Do you think to escape out of our hands and return to your +country?" Then he shouted to his hundred horsemen, "Up and at these hounds, for +they even you in number!" So saying, he bared his sabre and bore down on them, +he and his, but the Franks met them with hearts firmer than rocks, and wight +dashed against wight, and knight dashed upon knight, and hot waxed the fight, +and sore was the affright, and nor parley nor cries of quarter helped their +plight; and they stinted not to charge and to smite, right hand meeting right, +nor to hack and hew with blades bright-white, till day turned to night and +gloom oppressed the sight. Then they drew apart and Sharrkan mustered his men +and found none wounded save four only, who showed hurts but not death-hurts. +Said he to them, "By Allah, my life long have I waded in the clashing sea of +fight and I have met many a gallant sprite, but none so unfrightened of the +sword that smites and the shock of men that affrights like these valiant +Knights!" "Know, O King," said they, that there is among them a Frankish +cavalier who is their leader and, indeed, he is a man of valour and fatal is +his spear-thrust: but, by Allah, he spares us great and small; for whoso falls +into his hands he lets him go and forbears to slay him. By Allah, had he +willed he had killed us all." Sharrkan was astounded when he heard what the +Knight had done and such high report of him, so he said, "When the morn shall +morrow, we will draw out and defy them, for we are an hundred to their hundred; +and we will seek aid against them from the Lord of the Heavens." So they rested +that night in such intent; whilst the Franks gathered round their Captain and +said, "Verily this day we did not win our will of these;" and he replied, "At +early dawn when the morrow shall morn, we will draw out and challenge them, one +after one." They also rested in that mind, and both camps kept guard until +Almighty Allah sent the light of day-dawn. Thereupon King Sharrkan and his +hundred riders took horse and rode forth to the plain, where they found the +Franks ranged in line of battle; and Sharrkan said to his followers, "Our foes +have determined like ourselves to do their devoir; so up and at them and lay on +load." Then came forth an Herald of the Franks and cried out, saying, "Let +there be no general engagement betwixt us this day, save by the duello, a +champion of yours against a champion of ours." Whereupon one of Sharrkan's +riders dashed out from the ranks and drave between the two lines crying, "Ho! +who is for smiting? Let no dastard engage me this day nor nidering!" Hardly +had he made an end of his vaunt, when there sallied forth to him a Frankish +cavalier, armed cap-à-pie and clad in a surcoat of gold stuff, riding on a +grey-white steed,[FN#215] and he had no hair on his cheeks. He urged his charger on +to the midst of the battle-plain and the two fell to derring-do of cut and +thrust, but it was not long before the Frank foined the Moslem with the +lance-point; and, toppling him from his steed, took him prisoner and led him off +crestfallen. His folk rejoiced in their comrade and, forbidding him to go out +again to the field, sent forth another, to whom sallied out another Moslem, +brother to the captive, and offered him battle. The two fell to, either +against other, and fought for a little while, till the Frank bore down upon the +Moslem and, falsing him with a feint, tumbled him by a thrust of the lance-heel +from his destrier and took him prisoner. After this fashion the Moslems ceased +not dashing forwards, one after one, and the Franks to unhorse them and take +them captive, till day departed and the night with darkness upstarted. Now +they had captured of the Moslems twenty cavaliers, and when Sharrkan saw this, +it was grievous to him and he mustered his men and said to them, "What is this +thing that hath befallen us? To- morrow, I myself will go forth to the field +and offer singular combat to their chief and learn what is the cause of his +entering our land and warn him against doing battle with our band. If he +persist, we will punish him with death, and if he prove peaceable we will make +peace with him." They righted on this wise till Allah Almighty caused the morn +to dawn, when mounted the twain and drew up for battle fain; and Sharrkan was +going forth to the plain, but behold, more than one half of the Franks +dismounted and remained on foot before one of them who was mounted, till they +reached the midst of the battle-plain. Sharrkan looked at that horseman and +lo! he was their chief. He was clad in a surcoat of blue satin and a close-ringed +mail shirt; his face was as the moon when it rises and no hair was upon +his cheeks. He hent in hand an Indian scymitar and he rode a sable steed with +a white blaze on brow, like a dirham; and he smote the horse with heel till he +stood almost in the midst of the field when, signing to the Moslems, he cried +out in fluent Arab speech, "Ho, Sharrkan! Ho, son of Omar bin al- Nu'uman! Ho, +thou who forcest fortalice and overthrowest cities and countries! up and out +to battle-bout, and blade single-handed wield with one who halves with thee the +field! Thou art Prince of thy people and I am Prince of mine; and whoso +overcometh his adversary, him let the other's men obey and come under his +sway." Hardly had he ended his speech, when out came Sharrkan with a heart full +of fury, and urging his steed into the midst of the field, closed like a raging +lion with the Frank who encountered him with wariness and steadfastness and met +him with the meeting of warriors. Then they fell to foining and hewing, and +they stinted not of onset and offset, and give and take, as they were two +mountains clashing together or two seas together dashing; nor did they cease +fighting until day darkened and night starkened. Then they drew apart and each +returned to his own party; but as soon as Sharrkan foregathered with his +comrades, he said, "Never looked I on the like of this cavalier: he hath one +quality I have not yet seen in any and this it is that, when his foemen +uncovereth a place for the death-blow, he reverseth his weapon and smiteth with +the lance-heel! In very deed I know not what will be the issue 'twixt him and +me; but 'tis my wish that we had in our host his like and the like of his men." +Then he went to his rest for the night and, when morning dawned, the Frank came +forth and rode down to the mid-field, where Sharrkan met him; and they fell to +fighting and to wheeling, left and right; and necks were stretched out to see +the sight, nor did they stint from strife and sword-play and lunge of lance +with main and might, till the day turned to night and darkness overwhelmed the +light. Then the twain drew asunder and returned each to his own camp, where +both related to their comrades what had befallen them in the duello; and at +last the Frank said to his men, "To-morrow shall decide the matter!" So they +both passed that night restfully till dawn; and, as soon as it was day, they +mounted and each bore down on other and ceased not to fight till half the day +was done. Then the Frank bethought him of a ruse; first urging his steed with +heel and then checking him with the rein, so that he stumbled and fell with his +rider; thereupon Sharrkan threw himself on the foe, and would have smitten him +with the sword fearing lest the strife be prolonged, when the Frank cried out +to him, "O Sharrkan, champions are not wont to do thus! This is the act of a +man accustomed to be beaten by a woman."[FN#216] When Sharrkan heard this, he +raised his eyes to the Frank's face and gazing steadfastly at him, recognized +in him Princess Abrizah with whom that pleasant adventure had befallen him in +the convent; whereupon he cast brand from hand and, kissing the earth before +her, asked her, "What moved thee to a deed like this?"; and she answered, "I +desired to prove thy prowess afield and test thy doughtiness in tilting and +jousting. These that are with me are my handmaids, and they are all clean +maids; yet they have vanquished thy horsemen in fair press and stress of plain; +and had not my steed stumbled with me, thou shouldst have seen my might and +prowess in combat." Sharrkan smiled at her speech and said, "Praise be to Allah +for safety and for my reunion with thee, O Queen of the age!" Then she cried +out to her damsels to loose the twenty captives of Sharrkan's troop and +dismount. They did as she bade and came and kissed the earth before her and +Sharrkan who said to them, "It is the like of you that Kings keep in store for +the need-hour." Then he signed to his comrades to salute the Princess; so all +alighted and kissed the earth before her, for they knew the story. After this, +the whole two hundred took horse, and fared on night and day for six days' +space, till they drew near to Baghdad, when they halted and Sharrkan bade +Abrizah and her handmaids doff the Frankish garb that was on them,—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Fifty-first Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan bade Princess +Abrizah and her damsels doff the garb that was on them and don the garments of +daughters of Greece; and thus did they. Then he despatched a company of his +companions to Baghdad to acquaint his father Omar bin al-Nu'uman, with his +arrival and report that he was accompanied by Princess Abrizah, daughter of +King Hardub, Lord of Græcia-land. They halted forthright in the place they +had reached, and Sharrkan also halted and all nighted there; and when Almighty +Allah made morning dawn, Sharrkan and his company and Abrizah and her company +took horse and fared on towards the city; when lo! on the way they met the +Wazir Dandan, who had come out amongst a thousand horse to honour Abrizah and +Sharrkan, by especial commandment of King Omar Son of Al- Nu'uman. When the +two drew near, they turned towards them and kissed ground before them; then +they mounted again and escorted them into the city and went up with them to the +palace. Sharrkan walked in to his father, who rose and embraced him and +questioned him of his case. So he told him all that Abrizah had told him, and +what had passed between them and said, "She hath parted from her sire and +departed from her reign and hath chosen to take part with us and make her abode +with us; "And indeed," he said to his father, "the King of Constantinople hath +plotted to do us a mischief, because of his daughter Sophia, for that the King +of Greece had made known to him her story and the cause of her being given to +thee; and he (the Grecian King) not knowing her to be daughter of King Afridun, +Lord of Constantinople; and, had he known that, he would not have bestowed her +upon thee, but he would have restored her to her parent. And of a verity," he +continued, "we were saved from these perils only by the Lady Abrizah, and never +saw we a more valiant than she." And he went on to tell his father all that had +passed from first to last of the wrestling and the single-fighting. When King +Omar heard the story of Sharrkan, Abrizah was exalted in his eyes, and he +longed to see her and question her. Thereupon Sharrkan went out to her and +said, "The King calleth for thee;" she replied, "I hear and I obey;" and he +took her and brought her in to his father, who was seated on his throne and +who, having dismissed his high officers, was attended only by his eunuchs. The +Princess entered and kissing the ground between his hands, saluted him in +choice terms. He was amazed at her eloquent speech and thanked her for her +dealing with his son Sharrkan and bade her be seated. So she sat down and +unveiled her face;[FN#217] and, when the King saw her beauty, his reason fled +his head and he made her draw near and showed her favour, appointing her an +especial palace for herself and her damsels, and assigning them solde and +allowances. Then began he to ask her of the three jewels aforesaid, and she +answered, "Here be they with me, O King of the age!" So saying, she rose and +going to her lodging, unpacked her baggage and from it brought out a box and +from the box a casket of gold. She opened the casket and taking out those +three jewels, kissed them and gave them to the King. Then she went away +bearing his heart with her. After her going the King sent for his son Sharrkan +and gave him one jewel of the three, and when he enquired of the other two +replied, "O my son! I mean to give one to thy brother Zau al-Makan, and the +other to thy sister Nuzhat al- Zaman." But when Sharrkan heard that he had a +brother (for to that time he knew only of his sister) he turned to his sire and +said to him, "O King, hast thou a son other than myself?" He answered, "Yes, +and he is now six years old;" adding that his name was Zau al- Makan and that +he and Nuzhat al-Zaman were twins, born at a birth. This news was grievous to +Sharrkan, but he kept his secret and said, "The bless- ing of Allah Most High +be upon them!", and he cast the jewel from his hand and shook the dust off his +clothes. Quoth the King, "How do I see thee change thy manner when hearing of +this, considering that after me thou becomest heir of the kingdom. Of a truth +the troops have sworn to thee and the Emirs and Grandees have taken the oath of +succession to thee; and this one of the three jewels is thine." Sharrkan bowed +his head to the ground and was ashamed to bandy words with his parent so he +accepted the jewel and went away, knowing not what to do for exceeding wrath, +and stayed not walking till he had entered Abrizah's palace. As he approached +she stood up to meet him and thanked him for what he had done and prayed for +blessings on him and his sire. Then she sat down and seated him by her side; +but when he had taken his place she saw rage in his face and questioned him, +whereupon he told her that Allah had blessed his father with two children by +Sophia, a boy and a girl, and that he had named the boy Zau al-Makan and the +girl Nuzhat al-Zaman; adding, "He hath kept the other two jewels for them and +hath given me one of thine, so I left it behind; I knew naught of Zau +al-Makan's birth till this day, and the twain are now six years old. So when I +learnt this, wrath possessed me; and I tell thee the reason of my rage and hide +nothing from thee. But now I fear lest my father take thee to wife, for he +loveth thee and I saw in him signs of desire for thee: so what wilt thou say, +if he wish this?" Quoth she, "Know, O Sharrkan, that thy father hath no +dominion over me, nor can he have me without my consent; and if he prevail over +me by force, I will take my own life. As for the three jewels, it was not my +intent that he should give any of them to either of his children and I had no +thought but that he would lay them up in his treasury with his things of price; +but now I desire of thy favour that thou make me a present of the jewel which +he gave thee, if thou have accepted it." "Hearkening and obedience," replied +Sharrkan, and gave it to her. Then said she, "Fear nothing," and talked with +him awhile and continued, "I fear lest my father hear that I am with you and +sit not patiently under my loss, but do his endeavours to find me; and to that +end he may ally himself with King Afridun, on account of his daughter Sophia, +and both come on thee with armies and so there befal great turmoil." When +Sharrkan heard these words, he said to her, "O my lady, if it please thee to +sojourn with us, take no thought of them; though there gather together against +us all that be on land and on sea." " 'Tis well," rejoined she; "if ye entreat +me fair, I will tarry with you, and if ye deal evilly by me, I will depart from +you." Then she bade her slave-maidens bring food; so they set the tables, and +Sharrkan ate a little and went away to his own house, disturbed and perturbed. +Such was his case; but regarding the affairs of his father, Omar bin +al-Nu'uman, after dismissing his son Sharrkan he arose and, taking the other +two jewels, betook himself to the Lady Sophia, who stood up when she saw him +and remained standing till he was seated. Presently, his two children, Zau +al-Makan and Nuzhat al-Zaman, came to him and he kissed them and hung a jewel +round each one's neck, at which they rejoiced and kissed his hands. Then went +they to their mother, who joyed in their joy and wished the King long life; so +he asked her, "Why hast thou not informed me all this time that thou art the +daughter of King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, that I might have honoured +thee still more and enlarged thee in dignity and raised thy rank?" "O King," +answered Sophia, "and what could I desire greater or higher than this my +standing with thee, overwhelmed as I am with thy favours and thy benefits? +And, furthermore, Allah hath blessed me with two children by thee, a son and a +daughter." Her reply pleased the King and after leaving her, he set apart for +her and her children a wondrous fine palace. Moreover, he appointed for them +eunuchs and attendants and doctors of law and doctors of philosophy and +astrologers and physicians and surgeons to do them service; and in every way he +redoubled his favour and entreated them with the best of treatment. And +presently he returned to the palace of his dominion and to his Court where he +distributed justice among the lieges. So far concerning him and Sophia and her +children; but in the matter of Abrizah the King was greatly occupied with love +of her and burnt with desire of her night and day; and every night, he would go +in to her and converse with her and pay his court to her, but she gave him no +answer, only saying, "O King of the age! I have no desire for men at this +present." When he saw her withdraw from him, his passion waxed hotter and his +longing and pining increased until, when weary of this, he summoned his Wazir +Dandan and, opening his very heart to him, told him of his love for Princess +Abrizah, daughter of Hardub, and informed him how she refused to yield to his +wishes and how desire for her was doing him to die, for that he could get no +grace of her. The Wazir, hearing these words, said to the King, "As soon as it +is dark night, take thou a piece of Bhang the measure of a miskal, about an +ounce, and go in to her and drink somewhat of wine with her. When the hour of +ending the carousel shall draw near, fill her a last cup and dropping therein +the Bhang, give it to her to drink, and she will not reach her sleeping-chamber +ere the drug take effect on her. Then do thou go in to her and take thy will +of her; and such is my advice."[FN#218] "Thy rede is aright," quoth the King, +and seeking his treasury, he took thence a piece of concentrated Bhang, if an +elephant smelt it he would sleep from year to year. This he put in his bosom-pocket +and waited till some little of the night went by, when he betook himself +to the palace of Princess Abrizah, who seeing him stood up to receive him; but +he bade her sit down. So she sat down, and he sat by her, and he began to talk +with her of wine and wassail, whereupon she furnished the carousing-table[FN#219] +and placed it before him. Then she set on the drinking vessels +and lighted the candles and ordered to bring dried fruits and sweetmeats and +all that pertaineth to drinking. So they fell to tippling and the King ceased +not to pledge her till drunkenness crept into her head; and seeing this he took +out the bit of Bhang from his pocket and, holding it between his fingers, +filled a cup with his own hand and drank it off. Then filling a second he +said, "To thy companionship!"; and dropped the drug into her cup, she knowing +naught of it. She took it and drank it off; then she rose and went to her +sleeping-chamber. He waited for less than an hour till he was assured that the +dose had taken effect on her and had robbed her of her senses, when he went in +to her and found her thrown on her back: and she had doffed her petticoat +trousers and the air raised the skirt of her shift and discovered what was +between her thighs. When the King saw the state of things and found a lighted +candle at her head and another at her feet, shining upon what her thighs +enshrined he took leave of his five senses for lust and Satan seduced him and +he could not master himself, but put off his trousers and fell upon her and +abated her maidenhead. Then he rose off her and went to one of her women, by +name Marjánah, and said, "Go in to thy lady and speak with her." So she went in +to her mistress and found her lying on her back insensible, with the blood +running down to the calves of her legs, whereupon she took a kerchief and wiped +away the blood and lay by her that night. As soon as Almighty Allah brought +the dawn, the handmaid Marjanah washed her mistress's hands and feet and +brought rose-water and bathed her face and mouth with it, whereupon she +sneezed and yawned and cast up from her inside that bit of Bhang like a +bolus.[FN#220] Then she revived and washed her hands and mouth and said to +Marjanah, "Tell me what hath befallen me." So she told her what had passed and +how she had found her, lying on her back, with the blood running down, +wherefore she knew that King Omar bin al-Nu'uman had lain with her and had +undone her and taken his will of her. At this she grieved with exceeding grief +and retired into privacy, saying to her damsels, "Deny me to whoso would come +in to me and say to him that I am ill, till I see what Allah will do with me." +Presently the news of her sickness came to the King; so he sent her sherbets +and sugar electuaries. Some months she thus passed in solitude, during which +time the King's flame cooled and his desire for her was quenched, so that he +abstained from her. Now she had conceived by him, and when the months of +child-breeding had gone by, her pregnancy appeared and her belly swelled, and the +world was straitened upon her, so she said to her handmaid Marjanah, "Know that +it is not the folk who have wronged me, but I who sinned against my own +self[FN#221] in that I left my father and mother and country. Indeed, I abhor +life, for my spirit is broken and neither courage nor strength is left me. I +used, when I mounted my steed, to have the mastery of him, but now I am unable +to ride. If I be brought to bed among them I shall be dishonoured before my +hand-women and every one in the palace will know that he hath taken my +maidenhead in the way of shame; and if I return to my father, with what face +shall I meet him or with what face shall I have recourse to him? How well +quoth the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Say, what shall solace one who hath nor home nor stable stead * Nor cup-companion, nor a cup, nor place to house his head?'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Marjanah answered her, "It is thine to command; I will obey;" and Abrizah said, +"I desire at once to leave this place secretly, so that none shall know of me +but thou; and return to my father and my mother, for when flesh stinketh, there +is naught for it but its own folk and Allah shall do with me e'en as He will." +"O Princess," Marjanah replied, "what thou wouldest do is well." Then she made +matters ready and kept her secret and waited for some days till the King went +out to chase and hunt, and his son Sharrkan betook himself to certain of the +fortresses to sojourn there awhile. Then said she to Marjanah, "I wish to set +out this night, but how shall I do against my destiny? For already I feel the +pangs of labour and child-birth, and if I abide other four or five days, I +shall be brought to bed here, and I shall be unable to travel to my country. +But this is what was written on my forehead." Then she considered awhile, and +said to Marjanah, "Look us out a man who will go with us and serve us by the +way, for I have no strength to bear arms." "By Allah, O my lady," replied +Marjanah, "I know none but a black slave called Al- Ghazbán,[FN#222] who is one +of the slaves of King Omar bin al- Nu'uman; he is a valiant wight, and he +keepeth guard at our palace-gate. The King appointed him to attend us, and +indeed we have overwhelmed him with our favours; so, lookye, I will go out and +speak with him of this matter, and promise him some monies and tell him that, +if he have a mind to tarry with us, I will marry him to whom he will. He told +me before to-day that he had been a highwayman; so if he consent to us we shall +win our wish and reach to our own land." She rejoined, "Call him, that I may +talk with him;" whereupon Marjanah fared forth and said to the slave, 'O +Ghazban, Allah prosper thee, so thou fall in with what my lady saith to thee!" +Then she took him by the hand and brought him to the Princess, whose hands he +kissed, but as she beheld him, her heart took fright at him. "However," she +said to herself, "of a truth, Need giveth the law;" and she approached to speak +with him, yet her heart started away from him. Presently she said, "O Ghazban, +say me, wilt thou help me against the perfidies of Fortune and conceal my +secret if I discover it to thee?" When the slave saw her, his heart was taken +by storm and he fell in love with her forthright and could not but reply; "O my +mistress, whatsoever thou biddest me do, I will not depart therefrom." Quoth +she, "I would have thee take me at this hour and take this my handmaid and +saddle us two camels and two of the King's horses and set on each horse a +saddle-bag of goods and somewhat of provaunt, and go with us to our own +country; where, if thou desire to abide with us, I will marry thee to her thou +shalt choose of my handmaidens; or, if thou prefer return to thine own land, we +will marry thee and give thee whatso thou desirest after thou hast taken of +money what shall satisfy thee." When Al-Ghazban, heard this, he rejoiced with +great joy and replied, "O my lady, I will serve both of you with mine eyes and +will go at once and saddle the horses." Then he went away gladsome and saying +to himself, "I shall get my will of them and if they will not yield to me, I +will kill them both and take their riches." But he kept this his intent to +himself, and presently returned with two camels and three head of horses, one +of which he rode, and Princess Abrizah made Marjanah mount the second, she +mounting the third, albeit she was in labour-pains and possessed not her soul +for anguish. And the slave ceased not travelling with them night and day +through the passes of the mountains, till there remained but a single march +between them and their own country; when the travail pangs came upon Abrizah +and she could no longer resist; so she said to Al-Ghazban, "Set me down, for +the pains of labour are upon me;" and cried to Marjanah, "Do thou alight and +sit by me and deliver me." Then Marjanah dismounted from her horse, and +Al-Ghazban did in like sort, and they made fast the bridles and helped the +Princess to dismount, for she was aswoon from excess of anguish. When +Al-Ghazban saw her on the ground, Satan entered into him and he drew his +falchion and brandishing it in her face, said "O my lady, vouchsafe me thy +favours." Hearing these words she turned to him and said, "It remaineth for me +only that I yield me to negro slaves, after having refused Kings and +Braves!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Fifty-second Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Princess Abrizah said to +the black slave Al-Ghazban, "It remaineth for me only that I yield me to negro +slaves, after having refused Kings and Braves!" And she was wroth with him and +cried, "Woe to thee! what words are these thou sayest? Out on thee, and talk +not thus in my presence and know that I will never consent to what thou sayest, +though I drink the cup of death. Wait till I have cast my burden and am +delivered of the after-birth, and then, if thou be able thereto, do with me as +thou wilt; but, an thou leave not lewd talk at this time, assuredly I will slay +myself with my own hand and quit the world and be at peace from all this." And +she began reciting extempore,[FN#223] +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"O spare me, thou Ghazban, indeed enow for me * Are heavy strokes of time, mischance and misery!<br/> +Whoredom my Lord forfends to all humanity; * Quoth He, 'Who breaks my bidding Hell for home shall see!'<br/> +And if thou leave not suing me to whoredom's way * Against th' Almighty's choicest gift, my chastity,<br/> +Upon my tribesmen I with might and main will call * And gather all, however far or near they be;<br/> +And with Yamáni blade were I in pieces hewn, * Ne'er shall he sight my face who makes for villeiny,<br/> +The face of free-born come of noble folk and brave; * What then can be to me the seed of whoreson slave?" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When Ghazban heard these lines he was wroth exceedingly; his eyes reddened with +blood and his face became a dusty-grey[FN#224]; his nostrils swelled, his lips +protruded and the repulsiveness of his aspect redoubled. And he repeated these +couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Ho thou, Abrizah, mercy! leave me not for I * Of thy love and Yamáni[FN#225] glance the victim lie<br/> +My heart is cut to pieces by thy cruelty, * My body wasted and my patience done to die:<br/> +From glances ravishing all hearts with witchery * Reason far flies, the while desire to thee draws nigh;<br/> +Though at thy call should armies fill the face of earth * E'en now I'd win my wish and worlds in arms defy!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When Abrizah heard these words, she wept with sore weeping and said to him, +"Woe to thee, O Ghazban! How dareth the like of thee to address me such +demand, O base-born and obscene-bred? Dost thou deem all folk are alike?" When +the vile slave heard this from her, he waxt more enraged and his eyes grew +redder: and he came up to her and smiting her with the sword on her neck +wounded her to the death. Then he drove her horse before him with the treasure +and made off with himself to the mountains. Such was the case with Al-Ghazban; +but as regards Abrizah, she gave birth to a son, like the moon, and Marjanah +took the babe and did him the necessary offices and laid him by his mother's +side; and lo and behold! the child fastened to its mother's breast and she +dying.[FN#226] When Marjanah saw this, she cried out with a grievous cry and +rent her raiment and cast dust on her head and buffeted her cheeks till blood +flowed, saying, "Alas, my mistress! Alas, the pity of it! Thou art dead by +the hand of a worthless black slave, after all thy knightly prowess!" And she +ceased not weeping when suddenly a great cloud of dust arose and walled the +horizon;[FN#227] but, after awhile, it lifted and discovered a numerous +conquering host. Now this was the army of King Hardub, Princess Abrizah's +father, and the cause of his coming was that when he heard of his daughter and +her handmaids having fled to Baghdad, and that they were with King Omar bin al- +Nu'uman, he had come forth, leading those with him, to seek tidings of her from +travellers who might have seen her with the King. When he had gone a single +day's march from his capital, he espied three horse men afar off and made +towards them, intending to ask whence they came and seek news of his daughter. +Now these three whom he saw at a distance were his daughter and Marjanah and +the slave Al- Ghazban; and he made for them to push enquiry. Seeing this the +villain blackamoor feared for himself; so he killed Abrizah and fled for his +life. When they came up, King Hardub saw his daughter lying dead and Marjanah +weeping over her, and he threw himself from his steed and fell fainting to the +ground. All the riders of his company, the Emirs and Wazirs, took foot and +forthright pitched their tents on the mountain and set up for the King a great +pavilion, domed and circular, without which stood the grandees of the realm. +When Marjanah saw her master, she at once recognized him and her tears +redoubled; and, when he came to himself, he questioned her and she told him all +that had passed and said, "Of a truth he that hath slain thy daughter is a +black slave belonging to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, and she informed him how +Sharrkan's father had dealt with the Princess. When King Hardub heard this, +the world grew black in his sight and he wept with sore weeping. Then he +called for a litter and, therein laying his dead daughter, returned to Cæsarea +and carried her into the palace, where he went in to his mother, Zat al-Dawahi, +and said to that Lady of Calamities, "Shall the Moslems deal thus with my girl? +Verily King Omar bin al-Nu'uman despoiled her of her honour by force, and +after this, one of his black slaves slew her. By the truth of the Messiah, I +will assuredly take blood-revenge for my daughter and clear away from mine +honour the stain of shame; else will I kill myself with mine own hand!" And he +wept passing sore. Quoth his mother, "None other than Marjanah killed thy +daughter, for she hated her in secret;" and she continued to her son, "Fret not +for taking the blood-wit of thy daughter, for, by the truth of the Messiah, I +will not turn back from King Omar bin al-Nu'uman till I have slain him and his +sons; and of a very truth I will do with him a deed, passing the power of Sage +and Knight, whereof the chroniclers shall tell chronicles in all countries and +in every place: but needs must thou do my bidding in all I shall direct, for +whoso be firmly set on the object of his desire shall surely compass his +desire." "By the virtue of the Messiah," replied he, "I will not cross thee in +aught thou shalt say." Then quoth she, "Bring me a number of handmaids, +high-bosomed virgins, and summon the wise men of the age and let them teach them +philosophy and the rules of behaviour before Kings, and the art of conversation +and making verses; and let them talk with them of all manner science and +edifying knowledge. And the sages must be Moslems, that they may teach them +the language and traditions of the Arabs, together with the history of the +Caliphs and the ancient annals of the Kings of Al-Islam; and if we persevere in +this for four years' space, we shall gain our case. So possess thy soul in +patience and wait; for one of the Arabs saith, 'If we take man-bote after years +forty the time were short to ye.' When we have taught the girls these things, +we shall be able to work our will with our foe, for he doteth on women and he +hath three hundred and sixty concubines, whereto are now added an hundred of +the flowers of thy handmaidens who were with thy daughter, she that hath found +mercy.[FN#228] As soon as I have made an end of their education, as described +to thee, I will take them and set out with them in person." When King Hardub +heard his mother's words, he rejoiced and arose and kissed her head; and at +once despatched messengers and couriers to lands sundry and manifold to fetch +him Moslem sages. They obeyed his commands and fared to far countries and +thence brought him the sages and the doctors he sought. When these came into +presence, he honoured them with notable honours and bestowed dresses on them +and appointed to them stipends and allowances and promised them much money +whenas they should have taught the damsels. Then he committed the handmaidens +to their hands—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Fifty-third Night. +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the sages and the +doctors stood in presence of King Hardub, he honoured them with notable honours +and committed the handmaidens to their hands, enjoining that these be +instructed in all manner of knowledge, philosophy and polite accomplishments; +and they set themselves to do his bidding. Such was the case with King Hardub; +but as for King Omar bin al Nu'uman, when he returned from coursing and hunting +and entered his palace, he sought Princess Abrizah but found her not, nor any +one knew of her nor could any give him news of her. This was grievous to him +and he said, "How could the lady leave the palace unknown of any? Had my +kingdom been at stake in this case, it were in perilous condition there being +none to govern it! I will never again go to sport and hunt till I have +stationed at the gates those who shall keep good guard over them!" And he was +sore vexed and his breast was straitened for the loss of Princess Abrizah. +Hereupon behold, his son Sharrkan returned from his journey; and the father +told him what had happened, and informed him how the lady had fled, whilst he +was chasing and hunting, whereat he grieved with exceeding grief. Then King +Omar took to visiting his children every day and making much of them and +brought them learned men and doctors to teach them, appointing for them +stipends. When Sharrkan saw this, he raged with exceeding rage and envied +thereupon his brother and sister till the signs of chagrin appeared in his face +and he ceased not to languish by reason of this matter: so one day his father +said to him, "Why do I see thee grown weak in body and yellow of face?" "O my +father," replied Sharrkan, "every time I see thee fondle my brother and sister +and make much of them, jealousy seizeth on me, and I fear lest it grow on me +till I slay them and thou slay me in return. And this is the reason of my +weakness of body and change of complexion. But now I crave of thy favour that +thou give me one of thy castles outlying the rest, that I may abide there the +remnant of my life, for as the sayer of bywords saith, 'Absence from my friend +is better and fitter for me'; and, 'Whatso eye doth not perceive, that garreth +not heart to grieve.'" And he bowed his head towards the ground. When King +Omar bin al-Nu'uman heard his words and knew the cause of his ailment and of +his being broken down, he soothed his heart and said to him, "O my son, I grant +thee this and I have not in my reign a greater than the Castle of Damascus, and +the government of it is thine from this time." Thereupon he forthright summoned +his secretaries of state and bade them write Sharrkan's patent of investiture +to the viceroyalty of Damascus of Syria. And when they had written it, he +equipped him and sent with him the Wazir Dandan, and invested him with the rule +and government and gave him instructions as to policy and regulations; and took +leave of him, and the grandees and officers of state did likewise, and he set +out with his host. When he arrived at Damascus, the townspeople beat the drums +and blew the trumpets and decorated the city and came out to meet him in great +state; whilst all the notables and grandees paced in procession, and those who +stood to the right of the throne walked on his right flank, and the others to +the left. Thus far concerning Sharrkan; but as regards his father, Omar bin +al- Nu'uman, soon after the departure of his son, the children's tutors and +governors presented themselves before him and said to him, "O our lord, thy +children have now learnt knowledge and they are completely versed in the rules +of manners and the etiquette of ceremony." The King rejoiced thereat with +exceeding joy and conferred bountiful largesse upon the learned men, seeing Zau +al- Makan grown up and flourishing and skilled in horsemanship. This Prince had +reached the age of fourteen and he occupied himself with piety and prayers, +loving the poor, the Olema and the Koran-students, so that all the people of +Baghdad loved him, men and women. One day, the procession of the +Mahmil[FN#229] of Irák passed round Baghdad before its departure for the +pilgrimage to Meccah and visitation of the tomb of the Prophet (whom Allah +bless and preserve!). When Zau al-Makan saw the Mahmil procession he was seized +with longing desire to become a pilgrim,[FN#230] so he went in to his sire and +said, "I come to ask thy leave to make the pilgrimage." But his father forbade +him saying, "Wait till next year and I will go and thou too." When the Prince +saw that the matter was postponed, he betook himself to his sister Nuzhat +al-Zaman, whom he found standing at prayer. As soon as she had ended her +devotions he said to her, "I am dying with desire of pilgrimage to the Holy +House of Allah at Meccah and to visit the tomb of the Prophet, upon whom be +peace! I asked my father's leave, but he forbade me that, so I mean to take +privily somewhat of money and set out on the pilgrimage without his knowledge." +"Allah upon thee," exclaimed she, "take me with thee and deprive me not of +visitation to the tomb of the Prophet, whom Allah bless and keep!" And he +answered, "As soon as it is dark night, do thou come forth from this place, +without telling any." Accordingly, when it was the middle of the night she arose +and took somewhat of money and donned a man's habit; and she ceased not walking +to the palace-gate, where she found Zau al-Makan with camels ready for +marching. So he mounted and mounted her; and the two fared on till they were +in the midst of the Iraki[FN#231] pilgrim-party, and they ceased not marching +and Allah wrote safety for them, till they entered Meccah the Holy and stood +upon Arafát and performed the pilgrimage-rites. Then they made a visitation to +the tomb of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and assain!) and thought to return +with the pilgrims to their native land. But Zau al-Makan said to his sister, +"O my sister, it is in my mind to visit the Holy House,[FN#232] Jerusalem, and +Abraham the Friend of Allah[FN#233] (on whom be peace!)." "I also desire so to +do," replied she. So they agreed upon this and he fared forth and took passage +for himself and her and they made ready and set out in the ship with a company +of Jerusalem palmers. That very night the sister fell sick of an aguish chill, +and was grievously ill but presently recovered, after which the brother also +sickened. She tended him during his malady and they ceased not wayfaring till +they arrived at Jerusalem, but the fever increased on him and he grew weaker +and weaker. They alighted at a Khan and there hired a lodging; but Zau al- +Makan's sickness ceased not to increase on him, till he was wasted with +leanness and became delirious. At this, his sister was greatly afflicted and +exclaimed, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the +Glorious, the Great! This is the decree of Allah!" They sojourned in that place +awhile, his weakness ever increasing and she attending him and buying +necessaries for him and for herself, till all the money she had was expended +and she became so poor that she had not so much as a dirham left. Then she +sent a servant of the Khan to the bazar with some of her clothes, and he sold +them and she spent the price upon her brother; then sold she something more and +she ceased not selling all she had, piece by piece, till nothing was left but +an old rug. Whereupon she wept and exclaimed, "Verily is Allah the Orderer of +the past and the future!" Presently her brother said to her, "O my sister, I +feel recovery drawing near and my heart longeth for a little roast meat." "By +Allah! O my brother," replied she, "I have no face to beg; but To-morrow I will +enter some rich man's house and serve him and earn somewhat for our living." +Then she bethought herself awhile and said, "Of a truth 'tis hard for me to +leave thee and thou in this state, but I must despite myself!" He rejoined, +"Allah forbid! Thou wilt be put to shame; but there is no Majesty and there is +no Might save in Allah!" And he wept and she wept too. Then she said, "O my +brother, we are strangers who have dwelt here a full year, but none hath yet +knocked at our door. Shall we then die of hunger? I know no resource but that +I go out and do service and earn somewhat to keep us alive, till thou recover +from thy sickness, when we will travel back to our native land." She sat +weeping awhile and he wept too, propped upon his elbow. Then Nuzhat al-Zaman +arose and, veiling her head with a bit of camlet,[FN#234] which had been of the +cameleer's clothes and which the owner had forgotten and left with them; she +kissed the head of her brother and embraced him and went forth from him, +weeping and knowing not whither she should wend. And she stinted not going and +her brother Zau al-Makan awaiting her return till the supper-time; but she came +not, and he watched for her till the morning morrowed but still she returned +not; and this endured till two days went by. He was greatly troubled thereat +and his heart fluttered for her, and hunger was sore upon him. At last he left +the chamber and, calling the servant of the caravanserai, said, "I wish thee to +bear me to the bazar." So he carried him to the market-street and laid him down +there; and the people of Jerusalem gathered round him and were moved to tears +seeing his condition. He signed to them begging for somewhat to eat; so they +brought him some money from certain of the merchants who were in the bazar, and +bought food and fed him therewith; after which they carried him to a shop, +where they spread him a mat of palm-leaves and set an ewer of water at his +head. When night fell, all the folk went away, sore concerned for him and, in +the middle of the night, he called to mind his sister and his sickness +redoubled on him, so that he abstained from eating and drinking and became +insensible to the world around him. Then the bazar-people arose and took for +him from the merchants thirty-seven dirhams, and hiring a camel, said to the +driver, "Carry this sick man to Damascus and leave him in the hospital; haply +he may be cured and recover health." "On my head be it!" replied the camel-man; +but he said to himself, "How shall I take this sick man to Damascus, and he +nigh upon death?" So he carried him away to a place and hid with him till the +night, when he threw him down on the ash-heap near the fire-hole of a Hammam +and went his way. When morning dawned the Stoker[FN#235] of the bath came to +his work and, finding Zau al-Makan cast on his back, exclaimed, "Why did they +not throw their dead body any where but here?" So saying, he gave him a kick and +he moved; whereupon quoth the Fireman, "Some one of you who hath eaten a bit of +Hashish and hath thrown himself down in whatso place it be!" Then he looked at +his face and saw his hairless cheeks and his grace and comeliness; so he took +pity on him and knew that he was sick and a stranger in the land. And he +cried, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! verily, I +have sinned against this youth, for indeed the Prophet (whom Allah bless and +keep!) enjoineth honour to the stranger, more especially when the stranger is +sick." Then he carried him home and went in with him to his wife and bade her +tend him. So she spread him a sleeping-rug and set a cushion under his head, +then warmed water for him and washed therewith his hands and feet and face. +Meanwhile, the Stoker went to the market and bought some rose-water and sugar, +and sprinkled Zau al-Makan's face with the water and gave him to drink of the +sherbet. Then he fetched a clean shirt and put it on him. With this, Zau +al-Makan sniffed the zephyr of health and recovery returned to him; and he sat +up and leant against the pillow. Hereat the Fireman rejoiced and exclaimed, +"Praise be to Allah for the welfare of this youth! O Allah, I beseech Thee by +Thy knowledge of hidden things, that Thou make the salvation of this youth to +be at my hands!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Fifty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Fireman exclaimed, "O +Allah, I beseech Thee of Thy knowledge of hidden things, that Thou make this +young man's life the work of my hands!" And he ceased not to nurse him for +three days, giving him to drink of sherbet of sugar and willow-flower water and +rose-water; and doing him all manner of service and kindness, till health began +to return to his body and Zau al-Makan opened his eyes. Presently came in the +Fireman and, seeing him sitting up and showing signs of amendment, said to him, +"What is now thy state, O my son?" "Praise be to Allah," replied Zau al-Makan, +"I am well and like to recover, if such be the will of Allah Almighty at this +time." The Stoker praised the Lord of All for this and, wending fast to the +market, bought ten chickens, which he carried to his wife and said, "Kill two +of these for him every day, one at dawn of day and the other at fall of day." +So she rose up and killed a fowl and brought it to him boiled, and fed him with +the flesh and made him drink its broth. When he had done eating, she fetched +hot water and he washed his hands and lay back upon the pillow, whereupon she +covered him up with the coverlet, and he slept till the time of the mid-afternoon +prayer. Then she arose and killed another fowl and boiled it; after +which she cut it up and, bringing it to Zau al-Makan, said, "Eat, O my son!" +While he was eating; behold, her husband entered and seeing her feeding him, +sat down at his head and said to him, "How is it with thee now, O my son?" +"Thanks be to Allah for recovery!" he replied: "may the Almighty requite thee +thy kindness to me." At this the Fireman rejoiced and going out, bought sherbet +of violets and rose-water and made him drink it. Now the Stoker used to work +at the Hammam all day for a wage of five dirhams, whereof he spent every day, +for Zau al-Makan, one dirham upon sugar and sherbet of rose-water and +willow-flower water,[FN#236] and another dirham for fowls; and he ceased not to +entreat him thus kindly during a whole month, till the traces of illness ceased +from him and he was once more sound and whole. Thereupon the Fireman and his +wife rejoiced and asked him, "O my son, wilt thou go with me to the bath?"; +whereto he answered, "Yes!" So the Stoker went to the bazar and fetched a +donkey-boy, and he mounted Zau al-Makan on the ass and supported him in the +saddle till they came to the bath. Then he made him sit down and seated the +donkey-boy in the furnace-room and went forth to the market and bought lote-leaves +and lupin-flour,[FN#237] with which he returned to the bath and said to +Zau al-Makan, "O my master, in Allah's name, walk in and I will wash thy body." +So they entered the inner room of the bath, and the Fireman took to rubbing Zau +al-Makan's legs and began to wash his body with the leaves and meal, when there +came to them a bathman, whom the bath-keeper had sent to Zau al-Makan; and he, +seeing the Stoker washing and rubbing him, said, "This is doing injury to the +keeper's rights." Replied the Fireman, "The master overwhelmeth us with his +favours!" Then the bathman proceeded to shave Zau al-Makan's head, after which +he and the Stoker washed themselves and returned to the house, where he clad +Zau al-Makan in a shirt of fine stuff and a robe of his own; and gave him a +handsome turband and girdle and a light kerchief which he wound about his neck. +Meanwhile the Fireman's wife had killed and cooked two chickens; so, as soon as +Zau al-Makan entered and seated himself on the carpet, the husband arose and, +dissolving sugar in willow-flower water, made him drink of it. Then he brought +the food-tray and, cutting up the chickens, fed him with the flesh and gave him +the broth to drink till he was satisfied; when he washed his hands and praised +Allah for recovery, and said to the Fireman, "Thou art he whom the Almighty +vouchsafed to me and made the cause of my cure!" "Leave this talk," replied the +other, "and tell us the cause of thy coming to this city and whence thou art. +Thy face showeth signs of gentle breeding." "Tell me first how thou camest to +fall in with me," said Zau al-Makan; "and after I will tell thee my story." +Rejoined the Fireman, "As for that, I found thee lying on the rubbish-heap by +the door of the fire-house, as I went to my work near the morning, and knew not +who had thrown thee there. So I carried thee home with me; and this is all my +tale." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "Glory to Him who quickeneth the bones, though they +be rotten! Indeed, O my brother, thou hast not done good save to one worthy of +it, and thou shalt presently gather its fruitage." And he added, "But where am +I now?" "Thou art in the city of Jerusalem," replied the Stoker; whereupon Zau +al-Makan called to mind his strangerhood and remembered his separation from his +sister and wept. Then he discovered his secret to the Fireman and told him his +story and began repeating, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"In love they bore me further than my force would go, * And for them made me suffer resurrection-throe:<br/> +Oh, have compassion, cruel! on this soul of mine * Which, since ye fared, is pitied by each envious foe;<br/> +Nor grudge the tender mercy of one passing glance * My case to lighten, easing this excess of woe:<br/> +Quoth I 'Heart, bear this loss in patience!' Patience cried * 'Take heed! no patience in such plight I'm wont to show.' " +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then he redoubled his weeping, and the Fireman said to him, "Weep not, but +rather praise Allah for safety and recovery." Asked Zau al-Makan, "How far is +it hence to Damascus?" Answered the other, "Six days' journey." Then quoth Zau +al-Makan, "Wilt thou send me thither?" "O my lord," quoth the Stoker, "how can +I allow thee to go alone, and thou a youth and a stranger to boot? If thou +would journey to Damascus, I am one who will go with thee; and if my wife will +listen to and obey me and accompany me, I will take up my abode there; for it +is no light matter to part with thee." Then said he to his wife, "Wilt thou +travel with me to Damascus of Syria or wilt thou abide here, whilst I lead this +my lord thither and return to thee? For he is bent upon going to Damascus of +Syria and, by Allah, it is hard to me to part with him, and I fear for him from +highway men." Replied she, "I will go with you both;" and he rejoined, "Praised +be Allah for accord, and we have said the last word!" Then he rose and selling +all his own goods and his wife's gear,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day +and ceased saying her permitted say, +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Fifty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Fire man and his wife +agreed with Zau al-Makan to travel with him Damascus wards. Then the Stoker +sold his goods and his wife's gear and bought a camel and hired an ass for Zau +al-Makan; and they set out, and ceased not wayfaring for six days till they +reached Damascus. And they arrived there towards eventide; when the Fireman +went forth and, as was his wont, bought some meat and drink. They had dwelt +but five days in Damascus, when his wife sickened and, after a short illness, +was translated to the mercy of Almighty Allah. Her death was a heavy matter to +Zau al-Makan, for he was grown used to her as she had tended him assiduously; +and the Fireman grieved for her with excessive grief. Presently the Prince +turned to the Stoker and finding him mourning, said to him, "Grieve not, for at +this gate we must all go in." Replied he, "Allah make weal thy lot, O my son! +Surely He will compensate us with His favours and cause our mourning to cease. +What sayst thou, O my son, about our walking abroad to view Damascus and cheer +thy spirits?" Replied Zau al-Makan, "Thy will is mine." So the Fireman arose +and placed his hand in that of Zau al- Makan and the two walked on till they +came to the stables of the Viceroy of Damascus, where they found camels laden +with chests and carpets and brocaded stuffs, and horses ready saddled and +Bactrian dromedaries, while Mamelukes and negro slaves and folk in a hubbub +were running to and fro. Quoth Zau al-Makan, "I wonder to whom belong all +these chattels and camels and stuffs!" So he asked one of the eunuchs, "Whither +this dispatching?'' and he answered, "These are presents sent by the Emir of +Damascus to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, with the tribute of Syria." Now when Zau +al-Makan heard his father's name his eyes brimmed over with tears, and he began +repeating, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Oh ye gone from the gaze of these ridded eyne, * Ye whose sight in my spirit shall ever dwell!<br/> +Your charms are gone, but this heart of me * Hath no sweet, and no pleasures its sour dispel;<br/> +If Allah's grace make us meet again, * In long drawn love-tale my love I'll tell." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And when he had ended his verse, he wept and the Fireman said to him, "O my +son, we hardly believed that thy health had returned;[FN#238] so take heart and +do not weep, for I fear a relapse for thee." And he ceased not comforting and +cheering him, whilst Zau al-Makan sighed and moaned over his strangerhood and +separation from his sister and his family; and tears streamed from his eyes and +he recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Get thee provaunt in this world ere thou wend upon thy way, * And know how surely Death descends thy life lot to waylay:<br/> +All thy worldly goods are pride and the painfullest repine; * All thy worldly life is vexing, of thy soul in vain display:<br/> +Say is not worldly wone like a wanderer's place of rest, * Where at night he 'nakhs'[FN#239] his camels and moves off at dawn of day?" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And he continued to weep and wail over his separation; whilst the Fireman also +bewept the loss of his wife, yet ceased not to comfort Zau al-Makan till +morning dawned. When the sun rose, he said to him, "Meseemeth thou yearnest +for thy native land?" "Yes," replied Zau al-Makan, "and I can no longer tarry +here; so I will commend thee to Allah's care and set out with these folk and +journey with them, little by little, till I come to my mother land." Said the +Stoker, "And I with thee; for of a truth I cannot bear to part with thee. I +have done thee kindly service and I mean to complete it by tending thee on thy +travel." At this, Zau al-Makan rejoiced and said, "Allah abundantly requite +thee for me!" and was pleased with the idea of their travelling together. The +Fireman at once went forth and bought another ass, selling the camel; and laid +in his provaunt and said to Zau al-Makan, "This is for thee to ride by the way; +and, when thou art weary of riding, thou canst dismount and walk." Said Zau +al-Makan, "May Allah bless thee and aid me to requite thee! for verily thou +hast dealt with me more lovingly than one with his brother." Then he waited +till it was dark night, when he laid the provisions and baggage on that ass and +set forth upon their journey. This much befel Zau al-Makan and the Fireman; +but as regards what happened to his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman, when she left her +brother in the Khan where they abode and, wrapped in the old camlet, went out +to seek service with some one, that she might earn wherewithal to buy him the +roast meat he longed for, she fared on, weeping and knowing not whither to go, +whilst her mind was occupied with thoughts of her brother and of her family and +her native land. So she implored Allah Almighty to do away with these +calamities from them and began versifying, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Dark falls the night and Passion comes sore pains to gar me dree, * And pine upstirs those ceaseless pangs which work my tormentry,<br/> +And cease not separation flames my vitals to consume, * And drives me on destruction way this sorrow's ecstacy<br/> +And longing breeds me restlessness; desire for ever fires, * And tears to all proclaim what I would keep in secrecy<br/> +No cunning shift is known to me a meeting to secure, * That I may quit this sickly state, may cure my malady:<br/> +The love which blazeth in my heart is fed with fancy fuel, * The lover from its hell of fire must bear Hell's agony![FN#240]<br/> +O thou who blamest me for all befel me, 'tis enough, * Patient I bear what ever wrote the Reed of Doom for me:<br/> +By Love I swear I'll never be consoled, no, never more; * I swear the oath of Love's own slaves who know no perjury:<br/> +O Night, to chroniclers of Love the news of me declare; * That sleep hath fed mine eyelids of thy knowledge witness bear!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then she walked on, weeping and turning right and left as she went, when +behold, there espied her an old Badawi[FN#241] who had come into the town from +the desert with wild Arabs other five. The old man took note of her and saw +that she was lovely, but she had nothing on her head save a piece of camlet, +and, marvelling at her beauty, he said to himself, "This charmer dazzleth men's +wits but she is in squalid condition, and whether she be of the people of this +city or she be a stranger, I needs must have her." So he followed her, little +by little, till he met her face to face and stopped the way before her in a +narrow lane, and called out to her, asking her case, and said, "Tell me, O my +little daughter! art thou a free woman or a slave?" When she heard this, she +said to him, "By thy life, do not add to my sorrows!" Quoth he, "Allah hath +blessed me with six daughters, of whom five died and only one is left me, the +youngest of all; and I came to ask thee if thou be of the folk of this city or +a stranger; that I might take thee and carry thee to her, to bear her company +so as to divert her from pining for her sisters. If thou have no kith and kin, +I will make thee as one of them and thou and she shall be as my two children." +Nuzhat al-Zaman bowed her head in bashfulness when she heard what he said and +communed with herself, "Haply I may trust myself to this old man." Then she +said to him, "O nuncle, I am a maiden of the Arabs and a stranger and I have a +sick brother; but I will go with thee to thy daughter on one condition, which +is, that I may spend only the day with her and at night may return to my +brother. If thou strike this bargain I will fare with thee, for I am a +stranger and I was high in honour among my tribe, and I awoke one morning to +find myself vile and abject. I came with my brother from the land of Al-Hijaz +and I fearless he know not where I am." When the Badawi heard this, he said to +himself, "By Allah, I have got my desire!" Then he turned to her and replied, +"There shall none be dearer to me than thou; I wish thee only to bear my +daughter company by day and thou shalt go to thy brother at earliest nightfall. +Or, if thou wilt, bring him over to dwell with us." And the Badawi ceased not +to console her heart and coax her, till she trusted in him and agreed to serve +him. Then he walked on before her and, when she followed him, he winked to his +men to go in advance and harness the dromedaries and load them with their packs +and place upon them water and provisions, ready for setting out as soon as he +should come up with the camels. Now this Badawi was a base born churl, a +highway thief and a traitor to the friend he held most fief, a rogue in grain, +past master of plots and chicane. He had no daughter and no son and was only +passing through the town when, by the decree of the Decreer, he fell in with +this unhappy one. And he ceased not to hold her in converse on the highway +till they came without the city of Jerusalem and, when outside, he joined his +companions and found they had made ready the dromedaries. So the Badawi +mounted a camel, having seated Nuzhat al-Zaman behind him and they rode on all +night. Then she knew that the Badawi's proposal was a snare and that he had +tricked her; and she continued weeping and crying out the whole night long, +while they journeyed on making for the mountains, in fear any should see them. +Now when it was near dawn, they dismounted from their dromedaries and the +Badawi came up to Nuzhat al-Zaman and said to her, "O city strumpet, what is +this weeping? By Allah, an thou hold not thy peace, I will beat thee to death, +O thou town filth!" When she heard this she loathed life and longed for death; +so she turned to him and said, "O accursed old man, O gray beard of hell, how +have I trusted thee and thou hast played me false, and now thou wouldst torture +me?" When he heard her reply he cried out, "O lazy baggage, dost thou dare to +bandy words with me?" And he stood up to her and beat her with a whip, saying, +"An thou hold not thy peace, I will kill thee!" So she was silent awhile, then +she called to mind her brother and the happy estate she had been in and she +shed tears secretly. Next day, she turned to the Badawi and said to him, "How +couldst thou play me this trick and lure me into these bald and stony +mountains, and what is thy design with me?" When he heard her words he hardened +his heart and said to her, "O lazy baggage of ill omen and insolent! wilt thou +bandy words with me?" and he took the whip and came down with it on her back +till she felt faint. Then she bowed down over his feet and kissed[FN#242] +them; and he left beating her and began reviling her and said, "By the rights +of my bonnet,[FN#243] if I see or hear thee weeping, I will cut out thy tongue +and stuff it up thy coynte, O thou city filth!" So she was silent and made him +no reply, for the beating pained her; but sat down with her arms round her +knees and, bowing her head upon her collar, began to look into her case and her +abasement after her lot of high honour; and the beating she had endured; and +she called to mind her brother and his sickness and forlorn condition, and how +they were both strangers in a far country, which drave her tears down her +cheeks and she wept silently and began repeating, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Time hath for his wont to upraise and debase, * Nor is lasting condition for human race:<br/> +In this world each thing hath appointed turn; * Nor may man transgress his determined place:<br/> +How long these perils and woes? Ah woe * For a life, all woeful in parlous case!<br/> +Allah bless not the days which have laid me low * I' the world, with disgrace after so much grace!<br/> +My wish is baffled, my hopes cast down, * And distance forbids me to greet his face:<br/> +O thou who passeth that dear one's door, * Say for me, these tears shall flow evermore!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When she had finished her verses, the Badawi came up to her and, taking +compassion on her, bespoke her kindly and wiped away her tears. Then he gave +her a barley scone and said, "I love not one who answereth at times when I am +in wrath: so henceforth give me no more of these impertinent words and I will +sell thee to a good man like myself, who will do well with thee, even as I have +done." "Yes; whatso thou doest is right," answered she; and when the night was +longsome upon her and hunger burnt her, she ate very little of that barley +bread. In the middle of the night the Badawi gave orders for departure,—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Fifty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Badawi gave the +barley scone to Nuzhat al-Zaman and promised he would sell her to a good man +like himself, she replied, "Whatso thou doest is right!" and, about midnight +when hunger burned her,[FN#244] she ate a very little of that barley bread and +the Badawi ordered his party to set out; so they loaded their loads and he +mounted a camel setting Nuzhat al-Zaman behind him. Then they journeyed and +ceased not journeying for three days, till they entered the city of Damascus +and alighted at the Sultan's Khan, hard by the Viceroy's Gate. Now she had +lost her colour by grief and the fatigue of such travelling, and she ceased not +to weep over her misfortunes. So the Badawi came up to her and said, "O thou +city filth, by the right of my bonnet, if thou leave not this weeping, I will +sell thee to none but a Jew!" Then he arose and took her by the hand and +carried her to a chamber, and walked off to the bazar, and he went round to, +the merchants who dealt in slave-girls, and began to parley with them, saying, +"I have brought a slave girl whose brother fell ill, and I sent him to my +people about Jerusalem, that they might tend him till he is cured. As for her +I want to sell her, but after the dog her brother fell sick, the separation +from him was grievous to her, and since then she doth nothing but weep, and now +I wish that whoso is minded to buy her of me speak softly to her and say, 'Thy +brother is with me in Jerusalem ill'; and I will be easy with him about her +price." Then one of the merchants came up to him and asked, "How old is she?" +He answered "She is a virgin, just come to marriageable age, and she is endowed +with sense and breeding and wit and beauty and loveliness. But from the day I +sent her brother to Jerusalem, her heart hath been yearning for him, so that +her beauty is fallen away and her value lessened." Now when the merchant heard +this, he set forth with the Badawi and said, "O Shaykh[FN#245] of the Arabs, I +will go with thee and buy of thee this girl whom thou praisest so highly for +wit and manners and beauty and loveliness; and I will pay thee her price but it +must be upon conditions which if thou accept, I will give thee ready money, and +if thou accept not I will return her to thee." Quoth the Badawi, "An thou wilt, +take her up to the Sultan Sharrkan, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman lord of Baghdad +and of the land of Khorasan, and condition me any conditions thou likest, for +when thou hast brought her before King Sharrkan, haply she will please him, and +he will pay thee her price and a good profit for thyself to boot." Rejoined the +merchant, "It happens that I have just now something to ask from him, and it is +this that he write me an order upon the office, exempting me from custom dues +and also that he write me a letter of recommendation to his father, King Omar +bin al-Nu'uman. So if he take the girl, I will weigh[FN#246] thee out her +price at once." "I agree with thee to this condition," answered the Badawi. So +they returned together to the place where Nuzhat al-Zaman was and the wild Arab +stood at the chamber door and called out, saying, "O Nájiyah[FN#247]!" which +was the name wherewith he had named her. When she heard him, she wept and made +no answer. Then he turned to the merchant and said to him, "There she sitteth; +go to her and look at her and speak to her kindly as I enjoined thee." So the +trader went up to her in courteous wise and saw that she was wondrous beautiful +and loveable, especially as she knew the Arabic tongue; and he said to the +Badawi, "If she be even as thou saddest, I shall get of the Sultan what I will +for her." Then he bespake her, "Peace be on thee, my little maid! How art +thou?" She turned to him and replied, "This also was registered in the Book of +Destiny." Then she looked at him and, seeing him to be a man of respectable +semblance with a handsome face, she said to herself, "I believe this one cometh +to buy me;" and she continued, "If I hold aloof from him, I shall abide with my +tyrant and he will do me to death with beating. In any case, this person is +handsome of face and maketh me hope for better treatment from him than from my +brute of a Badawi. May be he cometh only to hear me talk; so I will give him a +fair answer." All this while her eyes were fixed on the ground; then she raised +them to him and said in a sweet voice, "And upon thee be peace, O my lord, and +Allah's mercy and His benediction![FN#248] This is what is commanded of the +Prophet, whom Allah bless and preserve! As for thine enquiry how I am, if thou +wouldst know my case, it is such as thou wouldst not wish but to thy foe." And +she held her peace. When the merchant heard what she said, his fancy took +wings for delight in her and, turning to the Badawi, he asked him, "What is her +price, for indeed she is noble?" Thereupon the Badawi waxed angry and answered, +"Thou wilt turn me the girl's head with this talk! Why dost thou say that she +is noble,[FN#249] while she is of the scum of slave-girls and of the refuse of +folk? I will not sell her to thee!" When the merchant heard this, he knew the +man to be weak of wits and said to him, "Calm thyself, for I will buy her of +thee with these blemishes thou mentionest." "And how much wilt thou give me for +her?" enquired the Badawi. Replied the merchant, "Name thy price for her: none +should name the son save his sire." Rejoined the Badawi, "None shall name it +but thou thyself." Quoth the merchant to himself, "This wildling is a rudesby +and a maggotty head. By Allah, I cannot tell her price, for she hath won my +heart with her fair speech and good looks; and, if she can read and write, it +will be complete fair luck to her and to her purchaser. But this Badawi does +not know her worth." Then he turned and said to him, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, I +will give thee in ready money, clear of the tax and the Sultan's dues, two +hundred gold pieces." Now when the Badawi heard this, he flew into a violent +rage and cried at the merchant, saying, "Get up and go thy ways! By Allah, +wert thou to offer me two hundred dinars for the bit of camlet she weareth, I +would not sell it to thee. And now I will not sell her, but will keep her by +me, to pasture the camels and grind my grist." And he cried out to her, saying, +"Come here, thou stinkard! I will not sell thee." Then he turned to the +merchant and said to him, "I used to think thee a man of judgment; but, by the +right of my bonnet, if thou begone not from me, I will let thee hear what shall +not please thee!" Quoth the merchant to himself, "Of a truth this Badawi is mad +and knoweth not her value, and I will say no more to him about her price at the +present time; for by Allah, were he a man of sense, he would not say, 'By the +rights of my bonnet!' By the Almighty, she is worth the kingdom of the Chosroës +and I have not her price by me, but if he ask even more, I will give him what +he will, though it be all my goods." Then he turned and said to him, "O Shaykh +of the Arabs, take patience and calm thyself and tell me what clothes she hath +with thee?" Cried the Badawi, "And what hath the baggage to do with clothes? +By Allah, this camlet in which she is wrapped is ample for her." "With thy +leave," said the merchant, "I will unveil her face and examine her even as folk +examine slave-girls whom they think of buying."[FN#250] Replied the other, "Up +and do what thou wilt and Allah keep thy youth! Examine her outside and inside +and, if thou wilt, strip off her clothes and look at her when she is naked." +Quoth the trader, "Allah forfend! I will look at naught save her +face."[FN#251] Then he went up to her and was put to shame by her beauty and +loveliness,—And Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Fifty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the merchant went up to +Nuzhat al-Zaman and was put to shame by her beauty and loveliness, so he sat by +her side and asked her, "O my mistress, what is thy name?" She answered, "Doss +thou ask what is my name this day or what it was before this day?" Thereupon +the merchant enquired, "Hast thou then two names: to-day's and yesterday's?" +"Yes," replied she, "my name in the past was Nuzhat al-Zaman, the Delight of +the Age; but my name at this present is Ghussat[FN#252] al-Zaman, the Despight +of the Age." When the merchant heard this his eyes brimmed over with tears and +quoth he to her, "Hast thou not a sick brother?" "Ay by Allah, O my lord, I +have," quoth she, "but fortune hath parted me and him and he lieth sick in +Jerusalem." The merchant's head was confounded at the sweetness of her speech +and he said to himself, "Verily, the Badawi spake the truth of her." Then she +called to mind her brother and his sickness and his strangerhood and her +separation from him in his hour of weakness and her not knowing what had +befallen him; and she thought of all that had happened to her with the Badawi +and of her severance from her mother and father and native land; and the tears +coursed down her cheeks and fast as they started they dropped; and she began +reciting, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Allah, where'er thou be, His aid impart * To thee, who distant dwellest in my heart!<br/> +Allah be near thee how so far thou fare; * Ward off all shifts of Time, all dangers thwart!<br/> +Mine eyes are desolate for thy vanisht sight, * And start my tears-ah me, how fast they start!<br/> +Would Heaven I kenned what quarter or what land * Homes thee, and in what house and tribe thou art<br/> +An fount of life thou drain in greenth of rose, * While drink I tear drops for my sole desert?<br/> +An thou 'joy slumber in those hours, when I * Peel 'twixt my side and couch coals' burning smart?<br/> +All things were easy save to part from thee, * For my sad heart this grief is hard to dree." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When the merchant heard her verses, he wept and put out his hand to wipe away +the tears from her cheeks; but she let down her veil over her face, saying, +"Heaven forbid, O my lord!''[FN#253] Then the Badawi, who was sitting at a +little distance watching them, saw her cover her face from the merchant while +about to wipe the tears from her cheeks; and he concluded that she would have +hindered him from handling her: so he rose and running to her, dealt her, with +a camel's halter he had in his hand, such a blow on the shoulders that she fell +to the ground on her face. Her eyebrow struck a stone which cut it open, and +the blood streamed down her cheeks; whereupon she screamed a loud scream and +felt faint and wept bitterly. The merchant was moved to tears for her and said +in himself, "There is no help for it but that I buy this damsel, though at her +weight in gold, and free her from this tyrant." And he began to revile the +Badawi whilst Nazhat al- Zaman lay in sensible. When she came to herself, she +wiped away the tears and blood from her face; and she bound up her head: then, +raising her glance to heaven, she besought her Lord with a sorrowful heart and +began repeating, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"And pity one who erst in honour throve, * And now is fallen into sore disgrace.<br/> +She weeps and bathes her cheeks with railing tears, * And asks 'What cure can meet this fatal case?'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When she had ended her verse, she turned to the merchant and said in an +undertone, "By the Almighty, do not leave me with a tyrant who knoweth not +Allah the Most High! If I pass this night in his place, I shall kill myself +with my own hand: save me from him, so Allah save thee from Gehenna-fire." Then +quoth the merchant to the Badawi, "O Shaykh of the Arabs, this slave is none of +thine affair; so do thou sell her to me for what thou wilt." "Take her," quoth +the Badawi, "and pay me down her price, or I will carry her back to the camp +and there set her to feed the camels and gather their dung."[FN#254] Said the +merchant, "I will give thee fifty thousand dinars for her." "Allah will +open!"[FN#255] replied the Badawi. "Seventy thousand," said the merchant. +"Allah will open!" repeated the Badawi: "this is not the capital spent upon +her, for she hath eaten with me barley bread to the value of ninety thousand +gold pieces." The merchant rejoined, "Thou and thine and all thy tribe in the +length of your lives have not eaten a thousand ducats' worth of barley; but I +will say thee one word, wherewith if thou be not satisfied, I will set the +Viceroy of Damascus on thee and he will take her from thee by force." The +Badawi continued, "Say on!" "An hundred thousand," quoth the merchant. "I have +sold her to thee at that price," answered the Badawi; "I shall be able to buy +salt with her." The merchant laughed and, going to his lodgings, brought the +money and put it into the hand of the Badawi, who took it and made off, saying +to himself, "Needs must I go to Jerusalem where, haply, I shall happen on her +brother, and I will bring him here and sell him also." So he mounted and +journeyed till he arrived at Jerusalem, where he went to the Khan and asked for +Zau al-Makan, but could not find him. Such was the case with him; but for what +regards the merchant and Nazhat al-Zaman, when he took her he threw some of his +clothes over her and carried her to his lodgings,—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Fifty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the trader saved +Nuzhat al-Zaman from the Badawi and bore her to his lodgings and robed her in +the richest raiment, he went down with her to the bazar, where he bought her +what ornaments she chose and put them in a satin bag, which he set before her, +saying, "All is for thee and I ask nothing of thee in return but that, when I +lead thee to the Sultan, Viceroy of Damascus, thou acquaint him with the price +I paid for thee, albeit it was little compared with thy value: and, if seeing +thee he buy thee of me, thou tell him how I have dealt with thee and ask of him +for me a royal patent, and a written recommendation wherewith I can repair to +his father, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad, to the intent that he +may forbid the tax on my stuffs or any other goods in which I traffic." When +she heard his words, she wept and sobbed, and the merchant said to her, "O my +lady, I observe that, every time I mention Baghdad, thine eyes are tearful: is +there any one there whom thou lovest? If it be a trader or the like, tell me; +for I know all the merchants and so forth there and, if thou wouldst send him a +message, I will bear it for thee." Replied she, "By Allah, I have no +acquaintance among merchant folk and the like! I know none there but King Omar +bin Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad." When the merchant heard her words, he laughed +and rejoiced with exceeding joy and said in himself, "By Allah, I have won my +wish!" Then he said to her, "Hast thou been shown to him in time past?" She +answered, "No, but I was brought up with his daughter and he holdeth me dear +and I have high honour with him; so if thou wouldst have the King grant thee +thy desire, give me ink case and paper and I will write thee a letter; and when +thou reachest the city of Baghdad, do thou deliver it into the hand of King +Omar bin al-Nu'uman and say to him, 'Thy handmaid, Nuzhat al-Zaman, would have +thee to know that the chances and changes of the nights and days have struck +her as with a hammer, and have smitten her so that she hath been sold from +place to place, and she sendeth thee her salams.' And, if he ask further of +her, say that I am now with the Viceroy at Damascus." The merchant wondered at +her eloquence, and his affection for her increased and he said to her I cannot +but think that men have played upon thine understanding and sold thee for +money. Tell me, dost thou know the Koran by heart?" "Yes," answered she; "and +I am also acquainted with philosophy and medicine and the prolegomena of +science and the commentaries of Galen, the physician, on the canons of +Hippocrates; and I have commented him and I have read the Tazkirah and have +commented the Burhán; and I have studied the Simples of Ibn Baytár, and I have +something to say of the canon of Meccah, by Avicenna. I can ree riddles and +can solve ambiguities, and discourse upon geometry and am skilled in anatomy I +have read the books of the Sháfi'í[FN#256] school and the Traditions of the +Prophet and syntax; and I can argue with the Olema and discourse of all manner +learning. Moreover I am skilled in logic and rhetoric and arithmetic and the +making of talismans and almanacs, and I know thoroughly the Spiritual +Sciences[FN#257] and the times appointed for religious duties and I understand +all these branches of knowledge." Then quoth she to the merchant, "Bring me +ink case and paper, that I write thee a letter which shall aid thee on thy +journey to Baghdad and enable thee to do without passports." Now when the +merchant heard this, he cried out "Brava! Brava![FN#258] Then O happy he in +whose palace thou shalt! Thereupon he brought her paper and ink case and a pen +of brass and bussed the earth before her face to do her honour. She took a +sheet and handled the reed and wrote therewith these verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I see all power of sleep from eyes of me hath flown; * Say, did thy parting teach these eyne on wake to wone?<br/> +What makes thy memory light such burnings in my heart? * Hath every lover strength such memories to own?<br/> +How sweet the big dropped cloud which rained on summer day; * 'Tis gone and ere I taste its sweets afar 'tis flown:<br/> +I pray the wind with windy breath to bring some news * From thee, to lover wightwi' love so woe begone<br/> +Complains to thee a lover of all hope forlorn, * For parting pangs can break not only heart but stone." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And when she had ended writing the verses she continued, "These words are from +her who saith that melancholy destroyeth her and that watching wasteth her; in +the murk of whose night is found no light and darkness and day are the same in +her sight. She tosseth on the couch of separation and her eyes are blackened +with the pencils of sleeplessness; she watcheth the stars arise and into the +gloom she strains her eyes: verily, sadness and leanness have consumed her +strength and the setting forth of her case would run to length. No helper hath +she but tears and she reciteth these verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'No ring dove moans from home on branch in morning light, * But shakes my very frame with sorrow's killing might:<br/> +No lover sigheth for his love or gladdeth heart * To meet his mate, but breeds in me redoubled blight<br/> +I bear my plaint to one who has no ruth for me, * Ah me, how Love can part man's mortal frame and sprite!' " +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then her eyes welled over with tears, and she wrote also these two couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Love smote my frame so sore on parting day, * That severance severed sleep and eyes for aye.<br/> +I waxt so lean that I am still a man, * But for my speaking, thou wouldst never say." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then she shed tears and wrote at the foot of the sheet, "This cometh from her +who is far from her folk and her native land, the sorrowful hearted woman +Nuzhat al-Zaman." In fine, she folded the sheet and gave it to the merchant, +who took it and kissed it and understood its contents and exclaimed, "Glory to +Him who fashioned thee!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Fifty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al-Zaman wrote the +letter and gave it to the merchant; and he took it and read it and understood +the contents and exclaimed, "Glory to Him who fashioned thee!" Then he +redoubled his kindness and made himself pleasant to her all that day, and when +night came he sallied out to the bazar and bought some food, wherewith he fed +her; after which he carried her to the Hammam and said to the bath woman, "As +soon as thou hast made an end of washing her head, dress her and send and let +me know of it." And she replied "Hearing is obeying." Meanwhile he fetched food +and fruit and wax candles and set them on the bench in the outer room of the +bath; and when the tire woman had done washing her, she dressed her and led her +out of the bath and seated her on the bench. Then she sent to tell the +merchant, and Nuzhat al-Zaman went forth to the outer room, where she found the +tray spread with food and fruit. So she ate and the tire woman with her, and +gave the rest to the people and keeper of the bath. Then she slept till the +morning, and the merchant lay the night in a place apart from her. When he +aroused himself from sleep he came to her and waking her, presented her with a +shift of fine stuff and a head-kerchief worth a thousand dinars, a suit of +Turkish embroidery and walking boots purfled with red gold and set with pearls +and gems. Moreover, he hung in each of her ears a circlet of gold with a fine +pearl therein, worth a thousand dinars, and threw round her neck a collar of +gold with bosses of garnet and a chain of amber beads that hung down between +her breasts over her navel. Now to this chain were attached ten balls and nine +crescents, and each crescent had in its midst a bezel of ruby, and each ball a +bezel of balass: the value of the chain was three thousand dinars and each of +the balls was priced at twenty thousand dirhams, so that the dress she wore was +worth in all a great sum of money. When she had put these on, the merchant +bade her adorn herself, and she adorned herself to the utmost beauty; then she +let fall her fillet over her eyes and she fared forth with the merchant +preceding her. But when folk saw her, all wondered at her beauty and +exclaimed, "Blessed be Allah, the most excellent Creator! O lucky the man in +whose house the hall be!" And the trader ceased not walking (and she behind +him) till they entered the palace of Sultan Sharrkan; when he sought an +audience and, kissing the earth between his hands, said, "O auspicious King, I +have brought thee a rare gift, unmatched in this time and richly gifted with +beauty and with good qualities." Quoth the King, "Let me see it." So the +merchant went out and brought her, she following him till he made her stand +before King Sharrkan. When he beheld her, blood yearned to blood, though she +had been parted from him in childhood and though he had never seen her, having +only heard a long time after her birth that he had a sister called Nuzhat al- +Zaman and a brother Zau al-Makan, he having been jealous of them, because of +the succession. And such was the cause of his knowing little about them. +Then, having placed her before the presence, the merchant said, "O King of the +age, besides being peerless in her time and beauty and loveliness, she is also +versed in all learning, sacred and profane, including the art of government and +the abstract sciences." Quoth the King to the trader, "Take her price, +according as thou boughtest her, and go thy ways." "I hear and I obey," replied +the merchant; "but first write me a patent, exempting me for ever from paying +tithe on my merchandise." Said the King, "I will do this, but first tell me +what price thou paidest for her." Said the merchant, "I bought her for an +hundred thousand dinars, and her clothes cost me another hundred thousand." +When the Sultan heard these words, he declared, "I will give thee a higher +price than this for her;" and, calling his treasurer, said to him, "Pay this +merchant three hundred and twenty thousand ducats; so will he have an hundred +and twenty thousand dinars profit." Thereupon the Sultan summoned the four +Kazis and paid him the money in their presence and then he said, "I call you to +witness that I free this my slave girl and purpose to marry her." So the Kazis +wrote out the deed of emancipation and the contract of marriage, when the +Sultan scattered much gold on the heads of those present; and the pages and the +eunuchs picked up this largesse. Then, after paying him his monies, Sharrkan +bade them write for the merchant a perpetual patent, exempting him from toll, +tax or tithe upon his merchandise and forbidding each and every in all his +government to molest him, and lastly bestowed on him a splendid dress of +honour.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Sixtieth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Sharrkan bade them +write for the merchant a mandate, after paying him his monies; and they wrote a +perpetual patent, exempting him from the tithe upon his merchandise and +forbidding any in his government to molest him; and lastly bestowed upon him a +splendid dress of honour. Then all about him retired, and none remained save +the Kazis and the merchant, whereupon said he to the judges, "I wish you to +hear such discourse from this damsel as may prove her knowledge and +accomplishments in all aimed for her by this trader, that we ascertain the +truth of his assertions." They answered, "There is no evil in that!"; and he +commanded the curtain to be let down between him and those with him and the +maiden and those with her; and the women about the damsel behind the curtains +began to wish her joy and kiss her hands and feet, when they learned that she +was become the King's wife. Then they came round her and took off her dresses +easing her of the weight of her clothes and began to look upon her beauty and +loveliness. Presently the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs heard that King +Sharrkan had bought a handmaiden unmatched for her beauty and learning and +philosophy and account keeping, and versed in all branches of knowledge, that +he had paid for her three hundred and twenty thousand dinars, and that he had +set her free and had written a marriage-contract with her and had summoned the +four Kazis to make trial of her, how she would answer all their questions and +hold disputetion with them. So they asked leave of their husbands and repaired +to the palace wherein was Nuzhat al- Zaman. When they came in to her, they +found the eunuchs standing before her; and, as soon as she saw the wives of the +Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees of the realm coming to call upon her, she arose +to them on her feet and met them with courtesy, her handmaidens standing behind +her, and she received them saying, "Ye be welcome!" The while she smiled in +their faces so as to win their hearts; and she promised them all manner of good +and seated them in their proper stations, as if she had been brought up with +them; so all wondered at her beauty and loveliness and said to one another, +"This damsel is none other than a Queen, the daughter of a King." Then they sat +down, magnifying her worth and said to her, "O our lady, this our city is +illumined by thee, and our country and abode and birth place and reign are +honoured by thy presence. The kingdom indeed is thy kingdom and the palace is +thy palace, and we all are thy handmaids; so, by Allah, do not shut us out from +thy favours and the sight of thy beauty." And she thanked them for this. All +this while the curtains were let down between Nuzhat al-Zaman and the women +with her, on the one side, and King Sharrkan and the four Kazis and the +merchant seated by him on the other. Presently King Sharrkan called to her and +said, "O Queen, the glory of thine age, this merchant hath described thee as +being learned and accomplished; and he claimeth that thou art skilled in all +branches of knowledge, even to astrology: so let us hear something of all this +he hath mentioned, and favour us with a short discourse on such subjects." She +replied, saying: "O King, to hear is to obey.[FN#259] The first subjects +whereof I will treat are the art of government and the duties of Kings and what +behoveth governors of command meets according to religious law, and what is +incumbent on them in respect of satisfactory speech and manners. Know then, O +King, that all men's works tend either to religious or to laical life, for none +attaineth to religion save through this world, because it is the best road to +futurity. Now the works of this world are not ordered save by the doings of +its people, and men's doings are divided into four divisions, government, +commerce, husbandry and craftsmanship. Now government requireth perfect +administration with just and true judgment; for government is the pivot of the +edifice of the world, which world is the road to futurity; since Allah Almighty +hath made the world for His servants as viaticum to the traveller for the +attainment of his goal; and it befitteth each man that he receive of it such +measure as shall bring him to Allah, and that he follow not herein his own mind +and his individual lust. If folk would take of worldly goods with justice and +equity, all cause of contention would be cut off; but they take thereof with +violence ant after their own desires, and their persistence therein giveth rise +to contentions; so they have need of the Sultan, that he do justice between +them and order their affairs; and, if the King restrain not his folk from one +another, the strong will drive the weak to the wall. Hence Ardeshir[FN#260] +saith, 'Religion and Kingship be twins'; religion is a hidden treasure and the +King is its keeper; and the Divine Ordinances and men's intelligence point out +that it behoveth the people to adopt a Sultan who shall withhold oppressor from +oppressed and do the weak justice against the strong and restrain the violence +of the proud and the rebels against rule. For know, O King, that according to +the measure of the Sultan's good morals, even so will be the time; as saith the +Apostle of Allah (on whom be peace and salvation!), 'There be two classes who, +if they be good, the people will be good; and if they be bad, the people will +be bad, even the Olema and the Emirs.' And it is said by a certain sage, 'There +be three kinds of Kings, the King of the Faith, the King who protecteth things +to which reverence is due, and the King of his own lusts.' The King of the +Faith obligeth his subjects to follow their faith, and it behoveth he be the +most faithful,[FN#261] for it is by him that they take pattern in the things of +the Faith; and it becometh the folk to obey him in whatso he commandeth +according to Divine Ordinance; but he shall hold the discontented in the same +esteem as the contented, because of submission to the decrees of Destiny. As +for the King who protecteth things to be reverenced, he upholdeth the things of +the Faith and of the World and compelleth his folk to follow the Divine Law and +to preserve the rights of humanity; and it fitteth him to unite Pen and Sword; +for whoso declineth from what Pen hath written his feet slip and the King shall +rectify his error with the sharp Sword and dispread his justice over all +mankind. As for the King of his own lusts, he hath no religion but the +following his desire and, as he feareth not the wrath of his Lord who set him +on the throne, so his Kingdom inclineth to deposition and the end of his pride +is in the house of perdition. And sages say, 'The King hath need of many +people, but the people have need of but one King' wherefore it beseemeth that +he be well acquainted with their natures, that he reduce their discord to +concord, that with his justice be encompass them all and with his bounties +overwhelm them all. And know, O King, that Ardeshir, styled Jamr Shadíd, or +the Live Coal, third of the Kings of Persia, conquered the whole world and +divided it into four divisions and, for this purpose, get for himself four seal +rings, one for each division. The first seal was that of the sea and the +police of prohibition and on it was written, Alterna lives. The second was the +seal of tribute and of the receipt of monies, and on it was written, Building +up. The third was the seal of the provisioning department and on it was +written, Plenty. The fourth was the seal of the oppressed, and on it was +written, Justice. And these usages remained valid in Persia until the +revelation of Al-Islam. Chosroës also wrote his son, who was with the army, +'Be not thou too open handed with thy troops, or they will be too rich to need +thee.'—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Sixty-first night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Chosroës wrote his son, +'Be not thou too open handed with thy troops, or they will be too rich to need +thee; nor be thou niggardly with them, or they will murmur against thee. Give +thy giving deliberately and confer thy favours advisedly; open thy hand to them +in time of success and stint them not in time of distress.' There is a legend +that a desert Arab came once to the Caliph Al- Mansúr[FN#262] and said, 'Starve +thy dog and he shall follow thee.' When the Caliph heard his words, he was +enraged with the Arab, but Abu 'l-Abbás of Tús said to him, 'I fear that if +some other than thou should show him a scone, the dog would follow him and +leave thee alone.' Thereupon the Caliph Al-Mansur's wrath subsided and he knew +that the wild Arab had intended no offence and ordered him a present. And +know, O King, that Abd al-Malik bin Marwán wrote to his brother Abd al-Azíz, +when he despatched him to Egypt, as follows, 'Pay heed to thy Secretaries and +thy Chamberlains, for the Secretaries will acquaint thee with estate fished +matters and the Chamberlains with matters of official ceremony, whilst thine +expenditure will make thy troops known to thee.' Omar bin Al-Khattáb[FN#263] +(whom Allah accept!) when engaging a servant was in the habit of conditioning +him with four conditions; the first that he should not ride the baggage beasts, +the second that he should not wear fine clothes, the third that he should not +eat of the spoil and the fourth that he should not put off praying till after +the proper period. It is said that there is no wealth more profitable than +understanding, and there is no understanding like common sense and prudence, +and there is no prudence like piety; that there is no means of drawing near to +God like good morals, no measure like good breeding, no traffic like good works +and no profit like earning the Divine favour; that there is no temperance like +standing within the limits of the law, no science like that of meditation, no +worship like obeying the Divine commends, no faith like modesty, no calculation +like self abasement and no honour like knowledge. So guard the head and what +it containeth and the belly and what it compriseth; and think of death and doom +ere it ariseth. Saith Ali (whose face Allah honour!), 'Beware of the +wickedness of women and be on thy guard against them: consult them not in +aught;[FN#264] but grudge not complaisance to them, lest they greed for +intrigue.' And eke quoth he, 'Whoso leaveth the path of moderation his wits +become perplexed'; and there be rules for this which we will mention, if it be +Allah's will. And Omar (whom Allah accept!) saith, 'There are three kinds of +women, firstly the true believing, Heaven fearing, love full and fruit full, +who helpeth her mate against fate, not helping fate against her mate; secondly, +she who loveth her children but no more and, lastly, she who is a shackle Allah +setteth on the neck of whom He will.' Men be also three: the wise when he +exerciseth his own judgement; the wiser who, when befalleth somewhat whereof he +knoweth not the issue, seeketh folk of good counsel and acteth by their advice; +and the unwise irresolute ignoring the right way nor heeding those who would +guide him straight. Justice is indispensable in all things; even slave-girls +have need of justice; and men quote as an instance highway robbers who live by +violenting mankind, for did they not deal equitably among themselves and +observe justice in dividing their booty, their order would fall to +pieces.[FN#265] In short, for the rest, the Prince of noble qualities is +Beneficence cum Benevolence; and how excellent is the saying of the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +By open hand and ruth the youth rose to his tribe's command; * Go and do +likewise for the same were easy task to thee.' +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And quoth another, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'In ruth and mildness surety lies and mercy wins respect, * And Truth is best asylum for the man of soothfast soul:<br/> +Whoso for wealth of gold would win and wear the world's good word, * On glory's course must ever be the first to gain the goal.'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And Nazhat al-Zaman discoursed upon the policy of Kings till the bystanders +said, "Never have we seen one reason of rule and government like this damsel! +Haply she will let us hear some discourse upon subject other than this." When +she heard their words and understood them she said, "As for the chapter of good +breeding, it is wide of comprehension, being a compend of things perfect. Now +it so happened that one day there came to the Caliph Mu'áwiyah[FN#266] one of +his companions, who mentioned the people of Irak and the goodness of their wit; +and the Caliph's wife Maysún, mother of Yezíd, heard his words. So, when he +was gone, she said to the Caliph, 'O Prince of the Faithful, I would thou let +some of the people of Irak come in and talk to thee, that I may hear their +discourse.' Therewith Mu'awiyah said to his attendants, 'See who is at the +door?' And they answered, 'The Banu Tamim.' 'Let them come in,' said he. So +they came in and with them Al-Ahnáf son of Kays.[FN#267] Then quoth Mu'awiyah, +'Enter, O Abu Bahr,' and drew a curtain between himself and Maysun, that she +might hear what they said without being seen herself; then he said to Al-Ahnaf, +'O Son of the Sea, draw near and tell me what counsel thou hast for me.' Quoth +Al-Ahnaf, 'Part thy hair and trim thy moustachio and pare thy nails and pluck +thine armpits and shave thy pubes[FN#268] and ever use the toothstick because +therein be two and seventy virtues, and make the Ghusl or complete ablution on +Friday, as an expiation for all between the Fridays.'—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Sixty-second Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Ahnaf bin Kays replied to +Al-Mu'awiyah's[FN#269] question, 'And ever use the toothstick, because therein +be two end seventy virtues and make the complete Friday ablution as an +expiation for all between the two Fridays.' Quoth Mu'awiyah, 'What is thy +counsel to thyself?' 'To set my feet firmly on the ground, to move them +deliberately and watch over them with mine eyes!' 'How dost thou order thyself +when thou goest in to one not of the nobles of thy tribe?' 'I lower mine eyes +modestly and I salute first; I avoid what concerneth me not and I spare my +words!' 'And how when thou goest in to thine equals?' 'I give ear to them when +they speak and I do not assail them when they err!' 'When thou goest in to thy +chiefs?' 'I salute without making any sign and await the reply: if they bid me +draw near, I draw near, and if they draw off from me I withdraw!' 'How dost +thou with thy wife?' Quoth Ahnaf, 'Excuse me from answering this, O Commander +of the Faithful!'; but Mu'awiyah cried, 'I conjure thee inform me.' He said, 'I +entreat her kindly and show her familiarity and am large in expenditure, for +woman was created of a crooked rib.'[FN#270] 'And how dost thou when thou hast +a mind to lie with her?' 'I bid her perfume herself and kiss her till she is +moved to desire; then, should it be as thou knowest,[FN#271] I throw her on her +back. If the seed abide in her womb I say, 'O Allah make it blessed and let it +not be a wastrel, but fashion it into the best of fashions!'[FN#272] Then I +rise from her to ablution and first I pour water over my hands and then over my +body and lastly, I praise Allah for the joy He hath given me.' Said Mu'awiyah, +'Thou hast answered right well and now tell me what be thy requirements?' Said +Ahnaf, 'I would have thee rule thy subjects in the fear of Allah and do even +handed justice between them.' Thereupon Ahnaf rose to his feet and left the +Caliph's presence, and when he had gone Maysun said, 'Were there but this man +in Irak, he would suffice to it.' Then continued Nuzhat al-Zaman, "And all this +is a section of the chapter of good breeding, and know O King, that Muaykib was +intendant of the public treasury during the Caliphate of Omar bin +al-Khattáb,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Sixty-third Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman +continued, "Know, O King, that Mu'aykib was intendant of the public treasury +during the Caliphate of Omar bin al-Khattab; and it so befel him that he saw +Omar's son and gave him a dirham out of the treasury. Thereupon, quoth +Mu'aykib, 'I returned to my own house, and while I was sitting there behold, a +messenger came to me from Omar and I was afraid and went to him, and when I +came into his presence, in his hand was the dirham I had given his son. He +said to me, 'Woe to thee Mu'aykib! I have found somewhat concerning thy soul.' +I asked 'And what is that?'; and he answered, 'It is that thou hast shown +thyself a foe to the followers of Mohammed (on whom be peace and salvation!) in +the matter of this dirham, and thou wilt have to account for it on Resurrection +Day.'[FN#273] And Omar also wrote a letter to Abú Músá al-Ashári[FN#274] as +follows, 'When these presents reach thee, give the people what is theirs and +remit to me the rest.' And he did so. Now when Othman succeeded to the +Caliphate, he wrote a like letter to Abu Musa, who did his bidding and sent him +the tribute accordingly, and with it came Ziyád.[FN#275] And when Ziyad laid +the tribute before Othman, the Caliph's son came in and took a dirham, +whereupon Ziyad shed tears. Othman asked 'Why weepest thou?'; and Ziyad +answered, 'I once brought Omar bin al-Khattab the like of this and his son took +a dirham, whereupon Omar bade snatch it from his hand. Now thy son hath taken +of the tribute, yet I have seen none say aught to him or snatch the money from +him.' Then Othman[FN#276] cried, 'And where wilt thou find the like of Omar?' +Again Zayd bin Aslam relates of his father that he said, 'I went out one night +with Omar till we approached a blazing fire. Quoth Omar, 'O Aslam, I think +these must be travellers who are suffering from the cold. Come, let us join +them.' So we walked on till we came to them and behold! we found a woman who +had lighted a fire under a cauldron and by her side were two children, both a +wailing. Said Omar, 'Peace be with you, O folk of light (for it was repugnant +to him to say 'folk of fire'),[FN#277] what aileth you?' Said she, 'The cold +and the night trouble us.' He asked, 'What aileth these little people that they +weep?'; and she answered, 'They are hungry.' He enquired, 'And what is in this +cauldron?'; and she replied, 'It is what I quiet them withal, and Allah will +question Omar bin al- Khattab of them, on the Day of Doom.' He said, 'And what +should Omar know of their case?' 'Why then,' rejoined she, 'should he manage +people's affairs and yet be unmindful of them?' Thereupon Omar turned to me +(continned Aslam) and cried, 'Come with us!' So we set off running till we +reached the pay department of his treasury, where he took out a sack containing +flour and a pot holding fat and said to me, 'Load these on my back!' Quoth I, +'O Commander of the Faithful, I will carry them for thee.' He rejoined, 'Wilt +thou bear my load for me on the Day of Resurrection?' So I put the things on +his back, and we set off, running, till we threw down the sack hard by her. +Then he took out some of the flour and put it in the cauldron; and, saying to +the woman, 'Leave it to me,' he began blowing the fire under the cauldron. Now +he was a long bearded man[FN#278] and I saw the smoke issuing from between the +hairs of his beard till the flour was cooked, when he took some of the fat and +threw it in and said to the woman, 'Bed them while I cool it for them.' So they +fell to eating till they had eaten their fill, and he left the rest with her. +Then he turned to me and said, 'O Aslam, I see it was indeed hunger made them +weep; and I am glad I did not go away ere I found out the cause of the light I +saw.'—And Shahrazad per ceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Sixty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman +continued, "It is related that Omar passed by a flock of sheep, kept by a +Mameluke, and asked him to sell him a sheep. He answered, 'They are not mine.' +'Thou art the man I sought,' said Omar, and bought him and freed him; whereupon +the slave exclaimed, 'O Allah, as thou hast bestowed on me the lesser +emancipation; so vouchsafe me the greater!'[FN#279] It is also said that Omar +bin al- Khattab was wont to give his servants sweet milk and himself eat coarse +fare, and to clothe them softly and himself wear rough garments. He rendered +unto all men their due, and exceeded in his giving to them. He once gave a man +four thousand dirhams and added thereto a thousand, wherefore it was said to +him, 'Why dost thou not increase to thy son as thou increasest to this man?' He +answered, 'This man's father stood firm at the battle day of Ohod.'[FN#280] +Al-Hasan relates that Omar once came back from foray with much money, and that +Hafsah[FN#281] approached him and said, 'O Commander of the Faithful, the due +of kinship!' 'O Hafsah!' replied he, 'verily Allah hath enjoined us to satisfy +the dues of kinship, but not with the monies of the True Believers. Indeed, +thou pleasest" thy family, but thou angerest thy father.' And she went away +trailing her skirts.[FN#282] The son of Omar said, 'I implored the Lord to +show me my father one year after his death, till at last I saw him wiping the +sweat from his brow and asked him, 'How is it with thee, O my father?' He +answered, 'But for my Lord's mercy thy father surely had perished.' Then said +Nuzhat al-Zaman, "Hear, O auspicious King, the second division of the first +chapter of the instances of the followers of the Apostle and other holy men. +Saith Al Hasan al-Basrí,[FN#283] Not a soul of the sons of Adam goeth forth of +the world without regretting three things,- failure to enjoy what he hath +amassed, failure to compass what he hoped, failure to provide himself with +sufficient viaticum for that hereto he goeth.[FN#284] It was said of +Sufyan,[FN#285] 'Can a man be a religious and yet possess wealth?' He replied, +'Yes, so he be patient when grieved and be thankful when he hath received.' +Abdullah bin Shaddád, being about to die, sent for his son Mohammed and +admonished him, saying, 'O my son, I see the Summoner of Death summoning me, +and so I charge thee to fear Allah both in public and private, to praise Allah +and to be soothfastin thy speech, for such praise bringeth increase of +prosperity, and piety in itself is the best of provision for the next world; +even as saith one of the poets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'I see not happiness lies in gathering gold; * The man most pious is man happiest:<br/> +In truth the fear of God is best of stores, * And God shall make the pious choicely blest.' +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman, "Let the King also give ear to these notes from the +second section of the first chapter." He asked her 'What be they?'; and she +answered, "When Omar bin Abd al-Azíz[FN# 286] succeeded to the Caliphate, he +went to his household and laying hands on all that was in their hold, put it +into the public treasury. So the Banu Umayyah flew for aid to his father's +sister, Fátimah, daughter of Marwan, and she sent to him saying, 'I must needs +speak to thee.' So she came to him by night and, when he had made her alight +from her beast and sit down, he said to her, 'O aunt, it is for thee to speak +first, since thou hast some thing to ask: tell me then what thou wouldst with +me.' Replied she, 'O Commander of the Faithful, it is thine to speak first, for +thy judgment perceiveth that which is hidden from the intelligence of others.' +Then said Omar, 'Of a verity Allah Almighty sent Mohammed as a blessing to some +and a bane to others; and He elected for him those with him, and commissioned +him as His Apostle and took him to Himself,'—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Sixty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman +continued thus, "Said Omar, 'Verily Allah commissioned as His Apostle Mohammed +(upon whom be the benediction of Allah and His salvation!), for a blessing to +some and a bane to others; and He elected for him those with him and took him +to Himself, leaving the people a stream whereof they might drink. After him +Abu Bakr[FN#287] the Truth teller became Caliph and he left the river as it +was, doing what was pleasing to Allah. Then arose Omar and worked a work and +strove in holy war and strife where of none might do the like. But when Othman +arose to power he diverted a streamlet from the stream, and Mu'awiyah in his +turn diverted from it several streamlets; and without ceasing in like manner, +Yezid and the Banu Marwán such as Abd al-Malik and Walíd and Sulaymán[FN#288] +drew away water from the stream, and the main course dried up, till rule +devolved upon me, and now I am minded to restore the stream to its normal +condition.' When Fatimah heard this, she said, 'I came wishing only to speak +and confer with thee, but if this be thy word, I have nothing to say to thee.' +Then she returned to the Ommiades and said to them, 'Now take ye the +consequences of your act when ye allied yourselves by marriage with Omar bin +al-Khattab.'[FN#289] And it is also said that when Omar was about to die, he +gathered his children round him, and Maslamah[FN#290] bin Abd al-Malik said to +him, 'O Prince of the Faithful, how wilt thou leave thy children paupers and +thou their protector? None can hinder thee in thy lifetime from giving them +what will suffice them out of the treasury; and this indeed were better than +leaving the good work to him who shall rule after thee.' Omar looked at him +with a look of wrath and wonder and presently replied, 'O Maslamah, I have +defended them from this sin all the days of my life, and shall I make them +miserable after my death? Of a truth my sons are like other men, either +obedient to Almighty Allah who will prosper them, or disobedient and I will not +help them in their disobedience. Know, O Maslamah, that I was present, even as +thou, when such an one of the sons of Marwanwas buried, and I fell asleep by +him and saw him in a dream given over to one of the punishments of Allah, to +whom belong Honour and Glory! This terrified me and made me tremble, and I +vowed to Allah, that if ever I came to power, I would not do such deeds as the +dead man had done. I have striven to fulfil this vow all the length of my life +and I hope to die in the mercy of my Lord.' Quoth Maslamah, 'A certain man died +and I was present at his burial, and when all was over I fell asleep and I saw +him as a sleeper seeth a dream, walking in a garden of flowing waters clad in +white clothes. He came up to me and said: 'O Maslamah, it is for the like of +this that rulers should rule.' Many are the instances of this kind, and quoth +one of the men of authority, 'I used to milk the ewes in the Caliphate of Omar +bin Abd al-Aziz, and one day I met a shepherd, among whose sheep I saw a wolf +or wolves. I thought them to be dogs, for I had never before seen wolves; so I +asked, 'What dost thou with these dogs?' 'They are not dogs, but wolves,' +answered the shepherd. Quoth I, 'Can wolves be with sheep and not hurt them?' +Quoth he, 'When the head is whole, the body is whole.'[FN#291] Omar bin Abd +al-Aziz once preached from a pulpit of clay and, after praising and glorifying +Allah Almighty, said three words as follows, 'O folk, make clean your inmost +hearts, that your outward lives may be dean to your brethren, and abstain ye +from the things of the world. Know that between us and Adam there is no one +man alive among the dead. Dead are Abd al- Malik and those who forewent him, +and Omar also shall die and those who forewent him.' Asked Maslamah, 'O +Commander of the Faithful, an we set a pillow behind thee, wilt thou lean on it +a little while?' But Omar answered, 'I fear lest it be a fault about my neck on +Resurrection Day.' Then he gasped with the death rattle and fell back in a +faint; whereupon Fatimah cried out, saying, 'Ho, Maryam! Ho, Muzahim![FN#292] +Ho, such an one! Look to this man!' And she began to pour water on him +weeping, till he revived from his swoon; and, seeing her in tears said to her, +'What causeth thee to weep, O Fatimah?' She replied, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, I saw thee lying prostrate before us and thought of thy prostration +in death before Almighty Allah, of thy departure from the world and of thy +separation from us. This is what made me weep.' Answered he, 'Enough, O +Fatimah, for indeed thou exceedest.' Then he would have risen, but fell down +and Fatimah strained him to her and said, 'Thou art to me as my father and my +mother, O Commander of the Faithful! We cannot speak to thee, all of us.' Then +quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman to her brother Sharrkan and the four Kazis, "Here endeth +the second section of the first chapter."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Sixty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman said to +her brother Sharrkan and the four Kazis, "Here endeth the second section of the +first chapter. And it so happened that Omar bin Abd al-Aziz wrote to the +people of the festival at Meccah as follows, 'I call Allah to witness, in the +Holy Month, in the Holy City and on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage,[FN#293] +that I am innocent of your oppression and of his wrongs that doth wrong you, in +that I have neither commanded this nor purposed it, neither hath any report of +aught thereof hitherto reached me, nor have I compassed any knowledge thereof; +and I trust that a cause for pardon will be found in that none hath authority +from me to oppress any man, for I shall assuredly be questioned concerning +every one oppress. And if any of my officers swerve from the right and act +otherwise than the Holy Book and the Traditions of the Apostle do authorise, +obey him not so that he may return to the way of righteousness.' He said also +(Allah accept of him!), 'I do not wish to be relieved from death, because it is +the supreme thing for which the True Believer is rewarded.' Quoth one of +authority, 'I went to the Prince of the Faithful, Omarbin Abd al-Aziz, who was +then Caliph, and saw before him twelve dirhams, which he ordered for deposit in +the public treasury. So I said to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, thou +impoverishest thy children and reducest them to beggary having nothing whereon +to live. An thou wouldst appoint somewhat by will to them and to those who are +poor of the people of thy house, it were well.' 'Draw near to me,' answered he: +so I drew near to him and he said, 'Now as for thy saying, 'Thou beggarest thy +children; provide for them and for the poor of thy household,' it is without +reason; for Allah of a truth will replace me to my children and to the poor of +my house, and He will be their guardian. Verily, they are like other men; he +who feareth Allah, right soon will Allah provide for him a happy issue, and he +that is addicted to sins, I will not up hold him in his sin against Allah.' +Then he summoned his sons who numbered twelve, and when he beheld them his eyes +dropped tears and presently he said to them, 'Your Father is between two +things; either ye will be well to do, and your parent will enter the fire, or +ye will be poor and your parent will enter Paradise; and your father's entry +into Paradise is liefer to him than that ye should be well to do.[FN#294] So +arise and go, Allah be your helper, for to Him I commit your affairs!' Khálid +bin Safwán[FN#295] said, 'Yúsuf bin Omar[FN#296] accompanied me to Hishám bin +Abd al-Malik,[FN#297] and as I met him he was coming forth with his kinsmen and +attendants. He alighted and a tent was pitched for him. When the people had +taken their seats, I came up to the side of the carpet whereon he sat reclining +and looked at him; and, waiting till my eyes met his eyes, bespoke him thus, +'May Allah fulfil His bounty to thee, O Commander of the Faithful, I have an +admonition for thee, which hath come down to us from the history of the Kings +preceding thee!' At this, he sat up whenas he had been reclining and said to +me, 'Bring what thou hast, O son of Safwan!' Quoth I, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, one of the Kings before thee went forth in a time before this thy +time, to this very country and said to his companions, 'Saw ye ever any state +like mine and say me, hath such case been given to any man even as it hath been +given unto me?' Now there was with him a man of those who survive to bear +testimony to Truth; upholders of the Right and wayfarers in its highway, and he +said to him, 'O King, thou askest of a grave matter. Wilt thou give me leave +to answer?' 'Yes,' replied the King, and the other said, 'Dost thou judge thy +present state to be short lasting or ever lasting?' 'It is temporary,' replied +the King. 'How then,' rejoined the man, 'do I see thee exulting in that which +thou wilt enjoy but a little while and whereof thou wilt be questioned for a +long while and for the rendering an account whereof thou shalt be as a pledge +which is pawned?' Quoth the King, 'Whither shall I flee and what must I seek +for me?' 'That thou abide in thy kingship,' replied the other, 'or else robe +thee in rags[FN#298] and apply thyself to obey Almighty Allah thy Lord until +thine appointed hour. I will come to thee again at daybreak.' Khalid bin +Safwan further relates that the man knocked at the door at dawn and behold, the +King had put off his crown and resolved to become an anchorite, for the stress +of his exhortation. When Hishám bin Abd al-Malik heard this, he wept till his +beard was wet, and, bidding his rich apparel be put off, shut himself up in his +palace. Then the grandees and dependants came to Khalid and said, 'What is +this thou hast done with the Commander of the Faithful? Thou hast troubled his +pleasure and disturbed his life!' Then quoth Nuzhat al-Zaman, addressing +herself to Sharrkan, "How many instances of admonition are there not in this +chapter! Of a truth I cannot report all appertaining to this head in a single +sitting,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Sixty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman +continued, speaking to Sharrkan, "Know, O King, that in this chapter be so many +instances of admonition that of a truth I cannot report all appertaining to +this head in a single sitting but, with length of days, O King of the age, all +will be well." There said the Kazis, "O King, of a truth this damsel is the +wonder of the world, and of our age the unique pearl! Never heard we her like +in the length of time or in the length of our lives." And they called down +blessings on the King and went away. Then Sharrkan turned to his attendants and +said, "Begin ye to prepare the marriage festival and make ready food of all +kinds." So they forthright did his bidding as regards the viands, and he +commanded the wives of the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees depart not until the +time of the wedding banquet and of the unveiling of the bride. Hardly came the +period of afternoon prayer when the tables were spread with whatso heart can +desire or eye can delight in of roast meats and geese and fowls; and the +subjects ate till they were satisfied. Moreover, Sharrkan had sent for all the +singing women of Damascus and they were present, together with every slave girl +of the King and of the notables who knew how to sing. And they went up to the +palace in one body. When the evening came and darkness starkened they lighted +candles, right and left, from the gate of the citadel to that of the palace; +and the Emirs and Wazirs and Grandees marched past before King Sharrkan, whilst +the singers and the tire women took the damsel to dress and adorn her, but +found she needed no adornment. Meantime King Sharrkan went to the Hammam and +coming out, sat down on his seat of estate, whilst they paraded the bride +before him in seven different dresses: after which they eased her of the weight +of her raiment and ornaments and gave such injunctions as are enjoined upon +virgins on their wedding nights. Then Sharrkan went in unto her and took her +maidenhead;[FN#299] and she at once conceived by him and, when she announced +it, he rejoiced with exceeding joy and commanded the savants to record the date +of her conception. On the morrow he went forth and seated himself on his +throne, and the high officers came in to him and gave him joy. Then he called +his private secretary and bade him write a letter to his father, King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman, saying that he had bought him a damsel, who excels in learning and +good breeding and who is mistress of all kinds of knowledge. Moreover he +wrote, "There is no help but that I send her to Baghdad to visit my brother Zau +al-Makan and my sister Nuzhat al-Zaman. I have set her free and married her +and she hath conceived by me." And he went on to praise her wit and salute his +brother and sister together with the Wazir Dandan and all the Emirs. Then he +sealed the letter and despatched it to his father by a post courier who was +absent a whole month, after which time he returned with the answer and +presented it in the presence. Sharrkan took it and read as follows, "After the +usual Bismillah, this is from the afflicted distracted man, from him who hath +lost his children and home by bane and ban, King Omar bin al- Nu'uman, to his +son Sharrkan. Know that, since thy departure from me, the place is become +contracted upon me, so that no longer I have power of patience nor can I keep +my secret: and the cause thereof is as follows. It chanced that when I went +forth to hunt and course Zau al-Makan sought my leave to fare Hijaz wards, but +I, fearing for him the shifts of fortune, forbade him therefrom until the next +year or the year after. My absence while sporting and hunting endured for a +whole month"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Sixty-eighth night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Omar bin al-Nu'uman +wrote in his letter, "My absence while sporting and hunting endured for a whole +month, and when I returned I found that thy brother and sister had taken +somewhat of money and had set out with the pilgrim caravan for pilgrimage by +stealth. When I knew this, the wide world narrowed on me, O my son! but I +awaited the return of the caravan, hoping that haply they would come back with +it. Accordingly, when the palmers appeared I asked concerning the twain, but +they could give me no news of them; so I donned mourning for them, being heavy +at heart, and in sleep I have no part and I am drowned in the tears of my +eyes." Then he wrote in verse, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"That pair in image quits me not one single hour, * Whom in my heart's most honourable place I keep:<br/> +Sans hope of their return I would not live one hour, * Without my dreams of them I ne'er would stretch me in sleep." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +The letter went on, "And after the usual salutations to thee and thine, I +command thee neglect no manner of seeking news of them for indeed this is a +shame to us." When Sharrkan read the letter he felt grief for his father and +joy for the loss of his brother and sister. Then he took the missive and went +in with it to Nuzhat al-Zaman who knew not that he was her brother, nor he that +she was his sister, albeit he often visited her both by night and by day till +the months were accomplished and she sat down on the stool of delivery. Allah +made the child-birth easy to her and she bare a daughter, whereupon she sent +for Sharrkan and seeing him she said to him, "This is thy daughter: name her as +thou wilt." Quoth he, "It is usual to name children on the seventh day after +birth.[FN#300]" Then he bent over the child to kiss it and he saw, hung about +its neck, a jewel, which he knew at once for one of those which Princess +Abrizah had brought from the land of the Greeks. Now when he saw the jewel +hanging from his babe's neck he recognised it right well, his senses fled and +wrath seized on him; his eyes rolled in rage and he looked at Nuzhat al- Zaman +and said to her, "Whence hadst thou this jewel, O slave girl?" When she heard +this from Sharrkan she replied, "I am thy lady, and the lady of all in thy +palace! Art thou not ashamed to say to me Slave girl? I am a Queen, daughter +of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman." Hearing this, he was seized with trembling and +hung his head earthwards,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Sixty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sharrkan heard these +words, his heart fluttered and his colour waxed yellow and he was seized with +trembling and he hung his head earthwards, for he knew that she was his sister +by the same father. Then he lost his senses; and, when he revived, he abode in +amazement, but did not discover his identity to her and asked, O my lady, say, +art thou in sooth the daughter of King Omar bin al- Nu'uman?" "Yes," answered +she; and he continued, "Tell me the cause of thy leaving thy sire and of thy +being sold for a slave." So she related to him all that had befallen her from +beginning to end, how she had left her brother sick in the Sanctified City, +Jerusalem, and how the Badawi had kidnapped her and had sold her to the trader. +When Sharrkan heard this, he was certified of her being his sister on the +sword side and said to himself, "How can I have my sister to wife? By Allah, +needs must I marry her to one of my chamberlains; and, if the thing get wind, I +will declare that I divorced her before consummation and married her to my +Chief Chamberlain." Then he raised his head and sighing said, "O Nuzhat +al-Zaman, thou art my very sister and I cry: 'I take refuge with Allah from +this sin whereinto we have fallen,' for I am Sharrkan, son of Omar bin +al-Nu'uman." She looked at him and knew he spoke the truth; and, becoming as +one demented, she wept and buffeted her face, exclaiming, "There is no Majesty +and there is no Might save in Allah! Verily have we fallen into mortal +sin![FN#301] What shall I do and what shall I say to my father and my mother +when they ask me, Whence hadst thou thy daughter?" Quoth Sharrkan, "It were +meetest that I marry thee to my Chamberlain and let thee bring up my daughter +in his house, that none may know thou be my sister. This hath befallen us from +Almighty Allah for a purpose of his own, and nothing shall cover us but thy +marriage with this Chamberlain, ere any know." Then he fell to comforting her +and kissing her head and she asked him, "What wilt thou call the girl?" "Call +her Kuzia Fakán,"[FN#302] answered he. Then he gave the mother in marriage to +the Chief Chamberlain, and transferred her to his house with the child, which +they reared on the laps of the slave-girls, and fed with milk and dosed with +powders. Now all this occurred whilst the brother, Zau al-Makan, still tarried +with the Fireman at Damascus. One day there came to King Sharrkan a courier +from his father, with a letter which he took and read and found therein, "After +the Bismillah know, O beloved King, that I am afflicted with sore affliction +for the loss of my children: sleep ever faileth me and wakefulness ever +assaileth me. I send thee this letter that, as soon as thou receivest it, thou +make ready the monies and the tribute, and send them to us, together with the +damsel whom thou hast bought and taken to wife; for I long to see her and hear +her discourse; more especially because there hath come to us from Roumland an +old woman of saintly bearing and with her be five damsels high-bosomed virgins, +endowed with knowledge and good breeding and all arts and sciences befitting +mortals to know; and indeed tongue faileth me to describe this old woman and +these who with her wend; for of a truth they are compendiums of perfections in +learning and accomplishments. As soon as I saw them I loved them, and I wished +to have them in my palace and in the compass of my hand; for none of the Kings +owneth the like of them; so I asked the old woman their price and she answered, +'I will not sell them but for the tribute of Damascus.' And I, by Allah, did +not hold this price exorbitant, indeed it is but little, for each one of them +is worth the whole valuation. So I agreed to that and took them into my +palace, and they remain in my possession. Wherefore do thou forward the +tribute to us that the woman may return to her own country; and send to us the +damsel to the end that she may dispute with them before the doctors; and, if +she prevail over them, I will return her to thee accompanied by the tribute of +Baghdad."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Seventieth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that King Omar son of +Al-Nu'uman said in his letter, "And send to us the damsel to the end that she +may dispute with them before the doctors and, if she prevail over them, I will +return her to thee accompanied with the tribute of Baghdad." As soon as +Sharrkan knew the contents, he went in to his brother in law and said to him, +"Bring the damsel to whom I married thee;" and when she came he showed her the +letter and said, "O my sister! what answer wouldst thou advise me make to this +letter?" Replied she, "Seek advice from thyself!" and presently added (for she +yearned after her people and her native land), "Send me together with my +husband the Chamberlain, to Baghdad, that I may tell my father my tale and let +him know whatso befel me with the Badawi who sold me to the merchant, and that +I also inform him how thou boughtest me of the trader and gavest me in marriage +to the Chamberlain, after setting me free." "Be it so," replied Sharrkan. Then +Sharrkan took his daughter, Kuzia Fakan, and committed her to the charge of the +wet nurses and the eunuchs, and he made ready the tribute in haste, bidding the +Chamberlain travel with the Princess and the treasure to Baghdad. He also +furnished him two travelling litters one for himself and the other for his +wife. And the Chamberlain replied, "To hear is to obey." Moreover Sharrkan +collected camels and mules and wrote a letter to his father and committed it to +the Chamberlain; then he bade farewell to his sister, after he had taken the +jewel from her and hung it round his daughter's neck by a chain of pure gold; +and she and her husband set out for Baghdad the same night. Now it so happened +that Zau al-Makan and his friend the Fireman had come forth from the hut in +which they were, to see the spectacle, and they beheld camels and +Bukhti[FN#303] dromedaries and bât-mules and torches and lanterns alight; and +Zau al-Makan enquired about the loads and their owner and was told that it was +the tribute of Damascus going to King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of the City of +Baghdad. He then asked, "Who be the leader of the caravan?" and they answered, +"The Head Chamberlain who hath married the damsel so famous for learning and +science." Thereupon Zau al-Makan wept with bitter weeping and was minded of his +mother and his father and his sister and his native land, and he said to the +Stoker, "I will join this caravan and, little by little, will journey +homewards." Quoth the Fireman, "I would not suffer thee to travel single-handed +from the Holy City to Damascus, then how shall I be sure of thy safety when +thou farest for Baghdad? But I will go with thee and care for thee till thou +effectest thine object." "With joy and good will," answered Zau al-Makan. Then +the Fireman get him ready for the journey and hired an ass and threw saddle +bags over it and put therein something of provaunt; and, when all was prepared, +he awaited the passage of the caravan. And presently the Chamberlain came by on +a dromedary and his footmen about him. Then Zau al-Ma ken mounted the ass and +said to his companion, "Do thou mount with me." But he replied, "Not so: I will +be thy servant." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "There is no help for it but thou ride +awhile." "'Tis well," quoth the Stoker; "I will ride when I grow tired." Then +said Zau al-Makan, "O my brother, soon shalt thou see how I will deal with +thee, when I come to my own folk." So they fared on till the sun rose and,When +it was the hour of the noonday sleep[FN#304] the Chamberlain called a halt and +they alighted and reposed and watered their camels. Then he gave the signal +for departure and, after five days, they came to the city of Hamáh,[FN#305] +where they set down and made a three days' halt;—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Seventy-first Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they halted in the city +of Hamah three days; they then fared forwards and ceased not travelling till +they reached another city. Here also they halted three days and thence they +travelled till they entered the province Diyár Bakr. Here blew on them the +breezes of Baghdad, and Zau al-Makan bethought him of his father and mother and +native land, and how he was returning to his sire without his sister: so he +wept and sighed and complained, and his regrets grew on him, and he began +improvising these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Sweetheart! How long must I await by so long suffering teed? * Nor cometh messenger to tell me where thou dost abide:<br/> +Ah me! in very sooth our meeting time was short enow: * Would Heaven shorter prove to me the present parting-tide!<br/> +Now trend my hand and open my robe and thou within shall sight * How wasted are the limbs of me and yet the waste I hide:<br/> +When say they 'Comfort take for loss of love' I but reply * 'By Allah, till the Day of Doom no comfort shall betide!' " +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thereupon said to him the Fireman, "Leave this weeping and wailing, for we are +near the Chamberlain's tent." Quoth Zau al- Makan, "Needs must I recite +somewhat of verse; haply it may quench the fire of my heart." "Allah upon +thee," cried the other, "cease this lamentation till thou come to shine own +country; then do what thou wilt, and I will be with thee wherever thou art." +Replied Zau al-Makan, "By Allah! I cannot forbear from this!" Then he turned +his face towards Baghdad and the moon was shining brightly and shedding her +light on the place, and Nuzhat al-Zaman could not sleep that night, but was +restless and called to mind her brother and wept. And while she was in tears, +he heard Zau al-Makan weeping and improvising the following distichs, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Al-Yaman's[FN#306] leven-gleam I see, * And sore despair despaireth me<br/> +For friend who erst abode wi' me * Crowning my cup with gladdest gree:<br/> +It minds me o' one who jilted me * To mourn my bitter liberty.<br/> +Say sooth, thou fair sheet lightning! shall * We meet once more in joy and glee?<br/> +O blamer! spare to me thy blame * My Lord hath sent this dule to dree,<br/> +Of friend who left me, fain to flee; * Of Time that breeds calamity:<br/> +All bliss hath fled the heart of me * Since Fortune proved mine enemy.<br/> +He[FN#307] brimmed a bowl of merest pine, * And made me drain the dregs, did he:<br/> +I see me, sweetheart, dead and gone * Ere I again shall gaze on thee.<br/> +Time! prithee bring our childhood back, * Restore our happy infancy,<br/> +When joy and safety 'joyed we * From shafts that now they shoot at me!<br/> +Who aids the hapless stranger wight, * That nights in fright and misery,<br/> +That wastes his days in lonely grief, * For 'Time's Delight'[FN#308] no more must be?<br/> +Doomed us despite our will to bear * The hands of base bores cark and care." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When he ended his verse he cried out and fell down in a fainting-fit. This is +how it fared with him; but as regards Nuzhat al- Zaman, when she heard that +voice in the night, her heart was at rest and she rose and in her joy she +called the Chief Eunuch, who said to her, "What is thy will?" Quoth she, "Arise +and bring me him who recited verses but now." Replied he, "Of a truth I did not +hear him"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Seventy-second Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nuzhat Al-Zaman +heard her brother reciting, she called the Chief Eunuch and said to him, "Go, +fetch me the man who is repeating this poetry!" Replied he, "Of a truth I heard +him not and I wot him not and folks are all sleeping." But she said, +"Whomsoever thou seest awake, he is the reciter." So he went, yet found none on +wake save the Stoker; for Zau al-Makan was still insensible, and when his +companion saw the Eunuch standing by his head he was afraid of him. Then said +the Eunuch, "Art thou he who repeated poetry but now and my lady heard him?" +The Stoker fancied that the dame was wroth with the reciter; and, being afraid, +he replied, "By Allah, 'twas not I!" Rejoined the Eunuch, "Who then was the +reciter?: point him out to me. Thou must know who it was, seeing that thou art +awake." The Fireman feared for Zau al- Makan and said in himself, "Haply the +Eunuch will do him some hurt"; so he answered, "By Allah, I know not who it +was." Said the Eunuch, "By Allah, thou liest, for there is none on wake here +but thou! So needs must thou know him." "By Allah," replied the Fireman, "I +tell thee the truth!: some passer by, some wayfarer must have recited the +verses and disturbed me and kept me awake; Allah requite him!" Quoth the +Eunuch, "If thou happen upon him, point him out to me and I will lay hands on +him and bring him to the door of our lady's litter[FN#309] or do thou take him +with thine own hand." Said the Fireman, "Go thou back and I will bring him to +thee." So the Eunuch left him and went his ways; and, going in to his mistress, +told her all this and said to her, "None knoweth who it was; it must have been +some passer by, some wayfarer." And she was silent. Meanwhile, Zau al-Makan +came to himself and saw that the moon had reached the middle Heavens; the +breath of the dawn breeze[FN#310] breathed upon him and his heart was moved to +longing and sadness; so he cleared his throat and was about to recite verses, +when the Fire man asked him, "What wilt thou do?" Answered Zau al-Makan, "I +have a mind to repeat somewhat of poetry, that I may quench therewith the fire +of my heart." Quoth the other, "Thou knowest not what befel me whilst thou wast +a faint, and how I escaped death only by beguiling the Eunuch." "Tell me what +happened," quoth Zau al-Makan. Replied the Stoker, "Whilst thou wast aswoon +there came up to me but now an Eunuch, with a long staff of almond tree wood in +his hand, who took to looking in all the people's faces, as they lay asleep, +and asked me who it was recited the verses, finding none awake but myself. I +told him in reply it was some passerby, some wayfarer; so he went away and +Allah delivered me from him; else had he killed me. But first he said to me, +'If thou hear him again, bring him to us.'" When Zau al-Makan heard this he +wept and said, "Who is it would forbid me to recite? I will surely recite, +befal me what may; for I am near mine own land and care for none." Rejoined the +Fireman, "Thy design is naught save to lose thy life;" and Zau al-Makan +retorted, "Needs must I recite verses." "Verily," said the Stoker, "needs must +there be a parting between me and thee in this place, albeit;I had intended not +to leave thee, till I had brought thee to thy native city and reunited thee +with thy mother and father. Thou hast now tarried with me a year and a half +and I have never harmed thee in aught. What ails thee, then, that thou must +needs recite verses, seeing that we are tired out with walking and watching and +all the folk are asleep, for they require sleep to rest them of their fatigue?" +But Zau al-Makan answered, "I will not be turned away from my purpose."[FN#311] +Then grief moved him and he threw off concealment and began repeating these +couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Stand thou by the homes and hail the lords of the ruined stead; * Cry thou for an answer, belike reply to thee shall be sped:<br/> +If the night and absence irk thy spirit kindle a torch * Wi' repine; and illuminate the gloom with a gleaming greed:<br/> +If the snake of the sand dunes hiss, I shall marvel not at all! * Let him bite so I bite those beauteous lips of the luscious red:<br/> +O Eden, my soul hath fled in despite of the maid I love: * Had I lost hope of Heaven my heart in despair were dead." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And he also improvised the two following distichs, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"We were and were the days enthralled to all our wills, * Dwelling in union sweet and homed in fairest site:<br/> +Who shall restore the home of the beloved, where showed * Light of the Place for aye conjoined with Time's Delight?''[FN#312] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And as he ceased his verses, he shrieked three shrieks and fell senseless to +the ground and the Fireman rose and covered him. When Nuzhat al-Zaman heard the +first improvisation, she called to mind her father and her mother and her +brother and their whilome home; then she wept and cried at the Eunuch and said +to him, "Woe to thee! He who recited the first time hath recited a second time +and I heard him hard by. By Allah, an thou fetch him not to me, I will +assuredly rouse the Chamberlain on thee, and he shall beat thee and cast thee +out. But take these hundred dinars and give them to the singer and bring him +to me gently, and do him no hurt. If he refuse, hand to him this purse of a +thousand dinars, then leave him and return to me and tell me, after thou hast +informed thyself of his place and his calling and what countryman he is. +Return quickly and linger not."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Seventy-third Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Nuzhat al- Zaman sent the +Eunuch to make enquiries concerning the singer and said, "Beware how thou come +back to me and report, I could not find him." So the Eunuch went out and laid +about the people and trod in their tents, but found none awake, all being +asleep for weariness, till he came to the Stoker and saw him sitting up, with +his head uncovered. So he drew near and seizing him by the hand, said to him, +"It was thou didst recite the verses!" The Fireman was afeard for his life and +replied, "No, by Allah, O chief of the people, it was not I!" But the Eunuch +said, "I will not leave thee till thou show me who it was that recited the +verses, for I dread returning to my lady without him." Now when the Fireman +heard these words he feared for Zau al-Makan and wept with exceeding weeping +and said to the Eunuch, "By Allah, it was not I, and I know him not. I only +heard some passer by, some wayfarer, recite verses: so do not thou commit sin +on me, for I am a stranger and come from the Holy City of Jerusalem; and +Abraham, the friend of Allah, be with you all." "Rise up and fare with me," +rejoined the Eunuch, "and tell my lady this with thine own mouth, for I have +seen none awake save thyself." Quoth the Stoker, "Hast thou not come and seen +me sitting in the place where I now am, and dost thou not know my station? +Thou wottest none can stir from his place, except the watchman seize him. So +go thou to thy station and if thou again meet any one after this hour reciting +aught of poetry, whether he be near or far, it will be I or some one I know, +and thou shalt not learn of him but by me." Then he kissed the Eunuch's head +and spake him fair till he went away; but the Castrato fetched a round and, +returning secretly, came and stood behind the Fireman, fearing to go back to +his mistress without tidings. As soon as he was gone, the Stoker arose and +aroused Zau al-Makan and said to him, "Come, sit up, that I may tell thee what +hath happened." So Zau al-Makan sat up, and his companion told him what had +passed, and he answered, "Let me alone; I will take no heed of this and I care +for none, for I am mine own country."[FN#313] Quoth the Stoker, "Why wilt thou +obey thy flesh and the devil? If thou fear no one, I fear for thee and for my +life, so Allah upon thee! recite nothing more of verses till thou come to +thine own land. Indeed, I had not deemed thee so ill conditioned. Dost thou +not know that this lady is the wife; of the Chamberlain and is minded to +chastise thee for disturbing her? Belike, she is ill or restless for fatigue +of the journey and the distance of the place from her home, and this is the +second time she hath sent the Eunuch to look for thee." However Zau al-Makan +paid no heed to the Fireman's words but cried out a third time and began +versifying with these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I fly the carper's injury,* Whose carping sorely vexeth me:<br/> +He chides and taunts me, wotting not * He burns me but more grievously.<br/> +The blamer cries 'He is consoled!' * I say, 'My own dear land[FN#314] to see:'<br/> +They ask, 'Why be that land so dear?' * I say, 'It taught me in love to be:'<br/> +They ask, 'What raised its dignity?' * I say, 'What made my ignomy:'<br/> +Whate'er the bitter cup I drain, * Far be fro' me that land to flee:<br/> +Nor will I bow to those who blame, * And for such love would deal me shame. +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Hardly had he made an end of his verses and come to a conclusion, when the +Eunuch (who had heard him from his hiding place at his head) came up to him; +whereupon the Fireman flea end stood afar off to see what passed between them. +Then said the Eunuch to Zau al-Makan, "Peace be with thee, O my lord!" "And on +thee be peace," replied Zau al-Makan, "and the mercy of Allah and His +blessings!" "O my lord," continued the Eunuch—-And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say, +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Seventy-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Eunuch said to Zau +al-Makan, "O my lord, I have sought thee these several times this night, for my +mistress biddeth thee to her." Quoth Zau al- Makan, "And who be this bitch that +seeketh for me? Allah curse her and curse her husband with her!"[FN#315] And he +began to revile the Eunuch, who could make him no answer, because his mistress +had charged him to do Zau al-Makan no hurt, nor bring him save of his own +especial free will; and, if he would not accompany him, to give him the +thousand dinars. So the Castrato began to speak him fair and say to him, "O my +lord, take this purse and go with me. We will do thee no upright, O my son, +nor wrong thee in aught; but our object is that thou bend thy gracious steps +with me to my mistress, to receive her answer and return in weal and safety: +and thou shalt have a handsome present as one who bringeth good news." When Zau +al- Makan heard this, he arose and went with the Eunuch and walked among the +sleeping folk, stepping over them; whilst the Fireman followed after them from +afar, and kept his eye upon him and said to himself, "Alas the pity of his +youth! To-morrow they will hang him." And he ceased not following them till he +approached their station,[FN#316] without any observing him. Then he stood +still and said, "How base it will be of him, if he say it was I who bade him +recite the verses!" This was the case of the Stoker; but as regards what befel +Zau al-Makan, he ceased not walking with the Eunuch till he reached his station +and the Castrato went in to Nuzhat al-Zaman and said, "O my lady, I have +brought thee him whom thou soughtest, and he is a youth, fair of face and +bearing the marks of wealth and gentle breeding." When she heard this, her +heart fluttered and she cried, "Let him recite some verses, that I may hear him +near hand, and after ask him his name and his condition and his native land." +Then the Eunuch went out to Zau al-Makan and said to him, "Recite what verses +thou knowest, for my lady is here hard by, listening to thee, and after I will +ask thee of thy name and thy native country and thy condition." Replied he, +"With love and gladness but, an thou ask my name, it is erased and my trace is +unplaced and my body a waste. I have a story, the beginning of which is not +known nor can the end of it be shown, and behold, I am even as one who hath +exceeded in wine drinking and who hath not spared himself; one who is afflicted +with distempers and who wandereth from his right mind, being perplexed about +his case and drowned in the sea of thought." When Nuzhat al-Zaman heard this, +she broke out into excessive weeping and sobbing, and said to the Eunuch, "Ask +him if he have parted from one he loveth even as his mother or father." The +Castrato asked as she bade him, and Zau al-Makan replied, "Yes, I have parted +from every one I loved: but the dearest of all to me was my sister, from whom +Fate hath separated me." When Nuzhat al- Zaman heard this, she exclaimed, +"Allah Almighty reunite him with what he loveth!"—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Seventy-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Nuzhat al-Zaman +heard his words she said, "Allah reunite him with what he loveth!" Then quoth +she to the Eunuch, "Tell him to let me hear somewhat anent his separation from +his countrymen and his country." The Eunuch did so, and Zau al-Makan sighed +heavily and began repeating these couplets,[FN#317] +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Is not her love a pledge by all mankind confest? * The house that hometh Hinda be forever blest'<br/> +Her love all levels; man can reck of naught beside; * Naught or before or after can for man have zest<br/> +'Tis though the vale is paved with musk and ambergris * That day when Hinda's footstep on its face is prest:<br/> +Hail to the beauty of our camp, the pride of folk, * The dearling who en' Slaves all hearts by her behest:<br/> +Allah on 'Time's Delight' send large dropped clouds that teem * With genial rain but bear no thunder in their breast." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And also these, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I vow to Allah if at home I sight * My sister Nuzhat al-Zamani hight<br/> +I'll pass the days in joyance and delight * Mid bashful minions, maidens soft and white:<br/> +To sound of harps in various modes they smite * Draining the bowl, while eyes rain lively light<br/> +'Neath half closed lids, a sipping lips red bright * By stream bank flowing through my garden site." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When he had finished his verse, Nuzhat al-Zaman lifted up a skirt of the litter +curtain and looked at him. As soon as her eyes fell on his face, she knew him +for certain and cried out, "O my brother! O Zau al-Makan!" He also looked at +her and knew her and cried out, "O my sister! O Nuzhat al-Zaman!" Then she +threw herself upon him and he gathered her to his bosom and the twain fell down +in a fainting-fit. When the Eunuch saw this case, he wondered at them and +throwing over them somewhat to cover them, waited till they should recover. +After a while they came to themselves, and Nuzhat al-Zaman rejoiced with +exceeding joy: oppression and depression left her and gladness took the mastery +of her, and she repeated these verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Time sware my life should fare in woeful waste; * Forsworn art Time, expiate thy sin in haste![FN#318]<br/> +Comes weal and comes a welcome friend to aid; * To him who brings good news, rise, gird thy waist<br/> +I spurned old world tales of Eden bliss; * Till came I Kausar[FN#319] on those lips +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When Zau al-Makan heard this, he pressed his sister to his breast; tears +streamed from his eyes for excess of joy and he repeated these +couplets,[FN#320] +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Long I lamented that we fell apart, * While tears repentant railed from these eyne;<br/> +And sware, if Time unite us twain once more, * 'Severance' shall never sound from tongue of mine:<br/> +Joy hath so overwhelmed me that excess * Of pleasure from mine eyes draws gouts of brine:<br/> +Tears, O mine eyes, have now become your wont * Ye weep for pleasure and you weep for pine!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +They sat awhile at the litter door till she said to him, "Come with me into the +litter and tell me all that hath befallen thee, and I will tell thee what +happened to me." So they entered and Zau al-Maken said, "Do thou begin thy +tale." Accordingly she told him all that had come to her since their separation +at the Khan and what had happened to her with the Badawi; how the merchant had +bought her of him and had taken her to her brother Sharrkan and had sold her to +him; how he had freed her at the time of buying; how he had made a marriage +contract with her and had gone in to her and how the King, their sire, had sent +and asked for her from Sharrkan. Then quoth she, "Praised be Allah who hath +vouchsafed thee to me and ordained that, even as we left our father together, +so together shall we return to him!" And she added, "Of a truth my brother +Sharrkan gave me in marriage to this Chamberlain that he might carry me to my +father. And this is what befel me from first to last; so now tell me how it +hath fared with thee since I left thee." Thereupon he told her all that had +happened to him from beginning to end; and how Allah vouchsafed to send the +Fireman to him, and how he had journeyed with him and spent his money on him +and had served him night and day. She praised the Stoker for this and Zau +al-Makan added, "Of a truth, O my sister, this Fireman hath dealt with me in +such benevolent wise as would not lover with lass nor sire with son, for that +he fasted and gave me to eat, and he walked whilst he made me ride; and I owe +my life to him." Said she, "Allah willing, we will requite him for all this, +according to our power." Then she called the Eunuch, who came and kissed Zau +al- Makan's hand, and she said, "Take thy reward for glad tidings, O face of +good omen! It was thy hand reunited me with my brother; so the purse I gave +thee and all in it are thine. But now go to thy master and bring him quickly +to me." The Castrato rejoiced and, going in to the Chamberlain, him to his +mistress. Accordingly, he came in to his wife and finding Zau al-Makan with +her, asked who he was. So she told him all that had befallen them both, first +and last, and added, "Know, O Chamberlain, that thou hast married no slave +girl; far from it, thou hast taken to wife the daughter of King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman for I am Nuzhat al- Zaman, and this is my brother, Zau al-Makan." +When the Chamberlain heard the story he knew it to be sooth, and its manifest +truth appeared to him and he was certified that he was become King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman's son in law, so he said to himself, " 'Twill be my fate to be made +viceroy of some province."[FN#321] Then he went up to Zau al-Makan and gave him +joy of his safety and reunion with his sister, and bade his servants forthwith +make him ready a tent and one of the best of his own horses to ride. Thereupon +said Nuzhat al-Zaman, "We are now near our country and I would be left alone +with my brother, that we may enjoy each other's company and take our fill of it +ere we reach Baghdad; for we have been parted a long, long time." "Be it as +thou biddest," replied the Chamberlain, and, going forth from them, sent them +wax candles and various kinds of sweetmeats, together with three suits of the +costliest for Zau al-Makan. Then he returned to the litter and related the +good he had done and Nuzhat al-Zaman said to him, "Bid the Eunuch bring me the +Fireman and give him a horse to ride and ration him with a tray of food morning +and evening, and let him be forbidden to leave us." The Chamberlain called the +Castrato and charged him to do accordingly; so he replied, "I hear and I obey;" +and he took his pages with him and went out in search of the Stoker till he +found him in the rear of the caravan, girthing his ass and preparing for +flight. The tears were running adown his cheeks, out of fear for his life and +grief for his separation from Zau al-Makan; and he was saying to himself, +"Indeed, I warned him for the love of Allah, but he would not listen to me; Oh +would I knew what is become of him!" Ere he had done speaking the Eunuch was +standing by his head whilst the pages surrounded him The Fireman turned and +seeing the Eunuch and the pages gathered around him became yellow with +fear,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Seventy-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Stoker girthed +his ass for flight and bespake himself, saying, "Oh would I knew what is become +of him!"; ere he had done speaking the Castrato was standing by his head and +his side muscles quivered for fear and he lifted up his voice and cried, +"Verily he knoweth not the value of the good offices I have done him! I +believe he hath denounced me to the Eunuch (hence these pages et about me) and +he hath made me an accomplice in his crime." Then the effeminated one cried at +him, saying, "Who was it recited the verses? O liar! why didst thou say, 'I +never repeated these couplets, nor do I know who repeated them;' when it was +thy companion? But now I will not leave thee between this place and Baghdad, +and what betideth thy comrade shall betide thee." Quoth the Fireman, "What I +feared hath befallen me." And he repeated this couplet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"'Twas as I feared the coming ills discerning: * But unto Allah we are all +returning." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then the Eunuch cried upon the pages, saying, "Take him off the ass." So they +carried him along with the caravan, surrounded by the pages, as the white +contains the black of the eye; and the Castrato said to them, "If a hair of him +be lost, you will be lost with it." And he bade them privily treat him with +honour and not humiliate him. But when the Stoker saw himself beset by the +pages, he despaired of his life and turning to the Eunuch, said to him, "O +Chief, I am neither this youth's brother nor am I akin to him, nor is he sib to +me; but I was a Fireman in a Hammam and found him cast out, in his sickness, on +the dung heap." Then the caravan fared on and the Stoker wept and imagined in +himself a thousand things, whilst the Eunuch walked by his side and told him +nothing, but said to him, "Thou disturbedst our mistress by reciting verses, +thou and this youth: but fear nothing for thy self;" and kept laughing at him +the while to himself. Whenever the caravan halted, they served him with food, +and he and the Castrato ate from one dish.[FN#322] Then the Eunuch bade his +lads bring a gugglet of sugared sherbet and, after drinking himself, gave it to +the Fireman, who drank; but all the while his tears never dried, out of fear +for his life and grief for his separation from Zau al-Makan and for what had +befallen them in their strangerhood. So they both travelled on with the +caravan, whilst the Chamberlain now rode by the door of his wife's litter, in +attendance on Zau al-Makan and his sister, and now gave an eye to the Fireman; +and Nuzhat al-Zaman and her brother occupied themselves with converse and +mutual condolence; and they ceased not after this fashion till they came within +three days' journey from Baghdad. Here they alighted at eventide and rested +till the morning morrowed; and as they awoke and they were about to load the +beasts, behold, there appeared afar off a great cloud of dust that darkened the +firmament till it became black as gloomiest night.[FN#323] Thereupon the +Chamberlain cried out to them, "Stay, and your loading delay!"; then, mounting +with his Mamelukes, rode forward in the direction of the dust cloud. When they +drew near, suddenly appeared under it a numerous conquering host like the full +tide sea, with flags and standards, drums and kettledrums, horsemen and +footmen. The Chamberlain marvelled at this; and when the troops saw him, there +detached itself from amongst them a plump of five hundred cavaliers, who fell +upon him and his suite and surrounded them, five for one; whereupon said he to +them, "What is the matter and what are these troops, that ye do this with us?" +Asked they, "Who art thou; and whence comest thou, and whither art thou bound?" +and he answered, "I am the Chamberlain of the Emir of Damascus, King Sharrkan, +son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman, Lord of Baghdad and of the land of Khorasan, and I +bring tribute and presents from him to his father in Baghdad." When the +horsemen heard his words they let their head-kerchiefs fall over their faces +and wept, saying, "In very sooth King Omar is dead and he died not but of +poison. So fare ye forwards; no harm shall befal you till you join his Grand +Wazir, Dandan." Now when the Chamberlain heard this, he wept sore and +exclaimed, "Oh for our disappointment in this our journey!" Then he and all his +suite wept till they had come up with the host and sought access to the Wazir +Dandan, who granted an interview and called a halt and, causing his pavilion to +be pitched, sat down on a couch therein and commanded to admit the Chamberlain. +Then he bade him be seated and questioned him; and he replied that he was +Chamberlain to the Emir of Damascus and was bound to King Omar with presents +and the tribute of Syria. The Wazir, hearing the mention of King Omar's name, +wept and said, "King Omar is dead by poison, and upon his dying the folk fell +out amongst themselves as to who should succeed him, until they were like to +slay one another on this account; but the notables and grandees and the four +Kazis interposed and all the people agreed to refer the matter to the decision +of the four judges and that none should gainsay them. So it was agreed that we +go to Damascus and fetch thence the King's son, Sharrkan, and make him Sultan +over his father's realm. And amongst them were some who would have chosen the +cadet, Zau Al-Makan, for, quoth they, his name be Light of the Place, and he +hath a sister Nuzhat al-Zaman hight, the Delight of the Time; but they set out +five years ago for Al-Hijaz and none wotteth what is become of them." When the +Chamberlain heard this, he knew; that his wife had told him the truth of her +adventures; and he grieved with sore grief for the death of King Omar, albeit +he joyed with exceeding joy, especially at the arrival of Zau al-Makan, for +that he would now become Sultan of Baghdad in his father's stead—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Seventy-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sharrkan's +Chamberlain heard of the death of King Omar bin al- Nu'uman he mourned, but he +rejoiced because of his wife and her brother Zau al-Makan who would become +Sultan of Baghdad in his father's stead. So he turned to the Wazir Dandan and +said to him, "Verily your tale is a wonder of wonders! Know, O Chief Wazir, +that here, where you have encountered me, Allah hath given you rest from +fatigue and bringeth you your desire after the easiest of fashions, for that +His Almighty Will restoreth to you Zau al-Makan and his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman; +whereby we will settle the matter as we easily can." When the Minister heard +these words he rejoiced with great joy and said, "O Chamberlain, tell me the +tale of the twain and what befel them and the cause of their long absence." So +he repeated to him the whole story and told him that Nuzhat al-Zaman was his +wife and related to him the adventures of Zau al-Makan from first to last. As +soon as he had ended his tale, the Wazir sent for the Emirs and Wazirs and +Chief Officers and acquainted them with the matter; whereat they rejoiced with +great joy and wondered at the happy chance. Then they gathered in a body and +went in to the Chamberlain and did their service to him, kissing the ground +between his hands; and the Wazir Dandan also rose and went out to meet him and +stood before him in honour. After this, the Chamberlain held on that day a +Divan council; and he and the Wazir sat upon a throne, whilst all the Emirs and +Grandees and Officers of State took their places before them, according to +their several ranks.[FN#324] Then they melted sugar in rose-water and drank, +after which the Emirs sat down to hold council and permitted the rest of the +host to mount and ride forward leisurely, till they should make an end of their +debate and overtake them. So the officers kissed the ground between their +hands and mounting, rode onwards, preceded by the standards of war. When the +grandees had finished their conference, they took horse and rejoined the host; +and the Chamberlain approached the Wazir Dandan and said, "I deem it well to +ride on before you, and precede you, that I may get ready a place for the +Sultan and notify him of your coming and of your choosing him as Sultan over +the head of his brother Sharrkan." "Aright thou reckest," answered the Wazir +Then the Chamberlain rose up in haste and Dandan also stood up to do him honour +and brought him presents, which he conjured him to accept. In similar guise did +all the Emirs and Grandees and Officers of State, bringing him gifts and +calling down blessings on him and saying to him, "Haply thou wilt mention our +case to Sultan Zau al-Makan and speak to him to continue us in our +dignities."[FN#325] The Chamberlain promised all they required and bade his +pages be ready to march, whereupon the Wazir Dandan sent with him tents and +bade the tent pitchers set them up at a day's journey from the city. And they +did his bidding. Then the Chamberlain mounted and rode forward, full of joy +and saying to himself, "How blessed is this gurney!", and indeed his wife was +exalted in his eyes, she and her brother Zau al-Makan. They made all haste +over their wayfare, till they reached a place distant a day's journey from +Baghdad, where the Chamberlain called a halt for rest, and bade his men alight +and make ready a sitting place for the Sultan Zau al-Makan, son of King Omar +bin al-Nu'uman, while he rode forward with his Mamelukes and, alighting at a +distance from Nuzhat al-Zaman's litter, commanded the eunuchs to ask leave of +admission to the presence. They did so and she gave permission; whereupon he +went in to her and conversed with her and her brother; and told them of the +death of their father; and of Zau al-Makan, how the heads of the people had +made him King over them in the stead of his sire; and he gave them joy of the +kingdom. They both wept for their father and asked the manner of his being +killed; but the Chamberlain answered, "The news rests with the Wazir Dandan who +will be here To-morrow leading all the host; and it only remaineth for thee, O +King, to do what they counsel, since they have unanimously chosen thee Sultan; +for if thou do not this, they will choose some one else and thou canst not be +sure of thy life with another Sultan. Haply he will kill thee, or discord may +befal between you twain and the kingdom pass out of the hands of both." Zau +al-Makan bowed his head awhile and then said, "I accept this position;" for +indeed there was no refusing; and he was certified that the Chamberlain had +counselled him well and wisely and set him on the right way. Then he added, "O +my uncle, how shall I do with my brother Sharrkan?" "O my son," replied the +Chamberlain, "thy brother will be Sultan of Damascus and thou Sultan of +Baghdad; so take heart of grace and get ready thy case." Zau al-Makan accepted +this and the Chamberlain presented him with a suit of royal raiment and a +dagger[FN#326] of state, which the Wazir Dandan had brought with him; then +leaving him he bade the tent pitchers choose a spot of rising ground and set up +thereon a spacious pavilion, wherein the Sultan might sit to receive the Emirs +and Grandees. Moreover he ordered the kitcheners to cook rich viands and serve +them and he commanded the water carriers to dispose the water troughs. They +did as he bade them and presently arose a cloud of dust from the ground and +spread till it walled the horizon round. After awhile, the dust dispersed and +there appeared under it the army of Baghdad and Khorasan, a conquering host +like the full tide sea.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Seventy-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Chamberlain bade +the tent pitchers set up a pavilion spacious enough to receive the subjects +flocking to their Sultan, they planted a splendid Sháhmiyánah[FN#327] befitting +Kings. And as they ended their labours behold, a dust cloud spired aloft and +the breeze made it lift and beneath it showed a conquering host; and presently +it appeared that this was the army of Baghdad and Khorasan preceded by the +Wazir Dandan. And in it all rejoiced at the accession of the "Light of the +Place." Now Zau al-Makan had donned robes of royal estate and girt himself with +the sword of state: so the Chamberlain brought him a steed and he mounted +surrounded by the Mamelukes and all the company from the tents on foot, to do +him service, and he rode on until he came to the great pavilion, where he sat +down and he laid the royal dagger across his thighs, whilst the Chamberlain +stood in attendance on him and his armed slaves stationed themselves under the +entrance awning of the Shahmiyanah, with drawn swords in their hands. +Presently, up came the troops and the host and craved admission so the +Chamberlain went in to Zau al-Makan and asked his leave whereupon he bade admit +them, ten by ten. The Chamberlain acquainted them with the King's commands, to +which they replied, "We hear and we obey;" and all drew up before the pavilion +entrance. Then he took ten of them and carried them through the vestibule into +the presence of Sultan Zau al-Makan, whom when they saw, they were awed; but he +received them with most gracious kindness and promised them all good. So they +gave him joy of his safe return and invoked Allah's blessings upon him after +which they took the oath of fealty never to gainsay him in aught and they +kissed ground before him and withdrew. Then other ten entered and he entreated +them as he had entreated the ethers; and they ceased not to enter, ten by ten, +till none was left but the Wazir Dandan. Lastly the Minister went in and +kissed the ground before Zau al-Makan, who rose to meet him, saying, "Welcome, +O Wazir and sire sans peer! Verily, thine acts are those of a counsellor right +dear, and judgement and foreseeing clear are in the hands of the Subtle of +Lere." Then bade he the Chamberlain forthwith go out and cause the tables to be +spread and order all the troops thereto. So they came and ate and drank. +Moreover the Sultan commanded his Wazir Dandan call a ten days' halt of the +army, that he might be private with him and learn from him how and wherefore +his father had been slain. The Wazir obeyed the commands of the Sultan with +submission and wished him eternity of glory and said, "This needs must be!" He +then repaired to the heart of the encampment and ordered the host to halt ten +days. They did as he bade them and, moreover, he gave them leave to divert +themselves and ordered that none of the lords in waiting should attend upon the +King for service during the space of three days. Then the Wazir went to the +Sultan and reported all to him, and Zau al-Makan waited until nightfall, when +he went in to his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman and asked her, "Dost thou know the +cause of my father's murder or not?" "I have no knowledge of the cause," she +answered, and drew a silken curtain before herself, whilst Zau al-Makan seated +himself without the curtain and commanded the Wazir to the presence and, when +he came, said to him, "I desire thou relate to me in detail the cause of the +killing of my sire, King Omar bin al-Nu'uman!" "Know then, O King," replied +Dandan, "that King Omar bin al- Nu'uman, when he returned to Baghdad from his +chasing and hunting and entered the city, enquired for thee and thy sister, but +could not find you and knew that you twain had gone on the Pilgrimage; whereat +he was greatly grieved and much angered, and his breast was straitened and he +abode thus half a year, seeking news of you from all who came and went but none +could give him any tidings. Now while we were in attendance upon him one day, +after a whole year had sped since ye were lost to his sight, lo! there came to +us an ancient dame with signs of being a devotee, accompanied by five damsels, +high-bosomed virgins like moons, endowed with such beauty and loveliness as +tongue faileth to describe; and, to crown their perfections of comeliness, they +could read the Koran and were versed in various kinds of learning and in the +histories of bygone peoples. Then that old woman sought audience of the King, +and he bade admit her; whereupon she entered the presence and kissed the ground +between his hands. I was then sitting by his side and he, seeing in her the +signs of asceticism and devoutness, made her draw near and take seat hard by +him. And when she had sat down she addressed him and said, 'Know, O King, that +with me are five damsels, whose like no King among the Kings possesseth; for +they are endowed with wit and beauty and loveliness and perfection. They read +the Koran—and the Traditions and are skilled in all manner of learning and in +the history of bygone races. They stand here between thy hands to do thee +service, O King of the Age, and it is by trial that folk are prized or +despised. 'Thy father, who hath found mercy;[FN#328] looked at the damsels and +their favour pleased him; so he said to them, Let each and every of you make me +hear something of what she knoweth anent the history of the folk of yore and of +peoples long gone before!'—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Seventy-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan said +unto King Zau al-Makan, "Thy father, who hath found mercy, glanced at the +damsels and their favour pleased him and he said to them, 'Let each and every +of you make me hear something of what she knoweth anent the history of the folk +of yore and of peoples long gone before!' Thereupon one of them came forward +and, kissing the ground before him, spake as follows[FN#329] 'Know, O King, +that it behoveth one of good breeding to eschew impertinence and adorn himself +with excellencies, and observe the Divine injunctions and avoid mortal sins; +and to this he should apply himself with the assiduity of one who, if he stray +therefrom, falleth into perdition; for the foundation of good breeding is +virtuous behaviour. And know that the chief cause and reason of man's +existence is the endeavour after life everlasting, and the right way thereto is +the service of Allah. Wherefore it behoveth thee to deal beneficently with the +people: and swerve not from this canon, for the mightier men are in dignity, +the more their need of prudence and foresight; and indeed Monarchs need this +more than the many, for the general cast themselves into affairs, without +taking thought to the issue thereof. Be thou prodigal of thy life and thy good +in the way of Allah, and know that, if an enemy dispute with thee, thou mayst +dispute with him and refute him with proofs and be proof against him; but as +for thy friend, there is none can judge between thee and him save righteousness +and fair dealing. Choose, therefore, thy friend for thyself, after thou hast +proved him. If he be of the brotherhood of futurity,[FN#330] let him be +zealous in observing the externals of the Holy Law and versed in its inner +meaning, as far as may be; and if he be of the brotherhood of the world, let +him be free-born, sincere, neither a fool nor a perverse, for the fool man is +such that even his parents might well flee from him, and a liar cannot be a +true friend. Indeed the word, Siddík[FN#331] ('friend') deriveth from Sidk +('truth') that welleth up from the bottom of the heart; and how can this be the +case, when falsehood is manifest upon the tongue? And know, that the +observance of the Law profiteth him who practiseth it: so love thy brother, if +he be of this quality and do not cast him off, even if thou see in him that +which irketh thee, for a friend is not I like a wife, whom one can divorce and +re-marry: nay, his heart is like glass: once broken, it may not be mended. And +Allah bless him who saith, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Ware how thou hurtest man with hurt of heart; * 'Tis hard to win thee back the heart offended:<br/> +For hearts indeed, whence love is alien made, * Like broken glass may nevermore be mended.' +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +The maiden continued and concluded with pointing out to us what sages say, 'The +best of brethren is he who is the most constant in good counsel; the best of +action is that which is fairest in its consequence, and the best of praise is +not that which is in the mouths of men. It is also said, 'It behoveth not the +servant to neglect thanking Allah especially for two favours, health and +reason.' Again it is said, 'Whoso honoureth himself, his lust is a light matter +to him, and he who maketh much of his small troubles, Allah afflicteth him with +the greater; he who obeyeth his own inclination neglecteth his duties and he +who listeneth to the slanderer loseth the true friend. He who thinketh well of +thee, do thou fulfill his thought of thee. He who exceedeth in contention +sinneth, and he who against upright standeth not on ward, is not safe from the +sword. Now will I tell thee somewhat of the duties of Kazis and judges. Know, +O King, that no judgement serveth the cause of justice save it be given after +proof positive, and it behoveth the judge to treat all people on the same +level, to the intent that the great may not hunger for oppression nor the small +despair of justice. Furthermore he should extract proof from the complainant +and impose an oath upon the defendant; and mediation is admissible between +Moslems, except it be a compromise sanctioning the unlawful or forbidding the +lawful.[FN#332] If thou shalt have done aught during the day, of which thy +reason is doubtful but thy good intention is proved, thou (O Kazi) shouldst +revert to the right, for to do justice is a religious obligation and to return +to that which is right is better than persistence in wrong. Then (O judge) +thou shouldest study precedents and the law of the case and do equal justice +between the suitors, withal fixing thine eyes upon the truth and committing +thine affair to Allah (be He extolled and exalted!). And require thou proof of +the complainant, and if he adduce evidence let him have due benefit of it; and +if not, put the defendant to his oath; for this is the ordinance of Allah. +Receive thou the testimony of competent Moslem witnesses, one against other, +for Almighty Allah hath commanded judges to judge by externals, He Himself +taking charge of the inner and secret things. It behoveth the judge also to +avoid giving judge meet, whilst suffering from stress of pain or +hunger,[FN#333] and that in his decisions between folk he seek the face of +Allah Almighty for he whose intent is pure and who is at peace with himself, +Allah shall guarantee him against what is between him and the people.' Quoth +al-Zuhri,[FN#334] 'There are three things for which, if they be found in a +Kazi, he should be deposed; namely, if he honour the base, if he love praise +and if he fear dismissal. And Omar bin Abd al-Aziz once deposed a Kazi, who +asked him, 'Why hast thou dismissed me? It hath reached me,' answered Omar, +'that thy converse is greater than thy condition.' It is said also that +Iskandar[FN#335] said to his Kazi, 'I have invested thee with this function and +committed to thee in it my soul and mine honour and my manliness; so do thou +guard it with thy sense and thine understanding.' To his Cook he said, 'Thou +art the Sultan of my body; so look thou tender it as thine own self.' To his +Secretary he said, 'Thou art the controller of my wit: so do thou watch over me +in what thou writest for me and from me.'" Thereupon the first damsel backed +out from the presence and a second damsel came forward.—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Eightieth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +said to Zau al-Makan, "Thereupon the first damsel backed out from the presence +and a second damsel came forward and, kissing the ground seven times before the +King thy father, spake as follows, 'The sage Lukmán[FN#336] said to his son, +'There be three who are known only in three several cases; the merciful man is +unknown save in time of wrath, the brave only in battle, and thy friend in time +of need.' It is said that the oppressor shall be depress though by people +praised, and that the oppress is at rest though by people blamed. Quoth Allah +Almighty,[FN#337] 'Assuredly deem not that those who rejoice in what they have +done, and who love to be praised for what they have not done, shall escape +reckoning of punishment: indeed there is reserved for them a grievous penalty.' +And he said[FN#338] (on whom be salvation and salutation!), 'Works are +according to intention and to each man is attributed that which he intendeth.' +He said also, 'In the body is a part which being sound the rest is sound, and +which being unsound the whole is unsound.' And this is the heart. Now this +heart is the most marvellous of what is in man, since it is that which ordereth +his whole affair: If covetise stir in it, desire destroyeth him, and if +affliction master it, anguish slayeth him; if anger rage in it, danger is hard +upon him; if it be blest with contentment, he is safe from discontent; if fear +surprise it, he is full of mourning; and if calamity overtake it, affliction +betideth him. If a man gain the use of wealth, peradventure he is diverted +thereby from the remembrance of his Lord; if poverty choke him his heart is +distracted by woe, or if disquietude waste his heart, weakness causeth him to +fall. Thus, in any case, nothing profiteth him but that he be mindful of Allah +and occupy himself with gaining his livelihood in this world and securing his +place in the next. It was asked of a certain sage, 'Who is the most ill +conditioned of men?'; and he answered, 'The man whose lusts master his manhood +and whose mind soareth over high, so that his knowledge dispreadeth and his +excuse diminisheth; and how excellently saith the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Freest am I of all mankind fro' meddling wight * Who, seeing others err, self error ne'er can sight:<br/> +Riches and talents are but loans to creature lent, * Each wears the cloak of that he bears in breast and sprite:<br/> +If by mistaken door attempt on aught thou make, * Thou shalt go wrong and if the door be right, go right!' +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Continued the maiden, 'As for anecdotes of devotees, quoth Hisham bin Bashar, +'I asked Omar bin Ubayd, What is true piety?'; and he answered, 'The Apostle of +Allah (to whom be salutation and salvation!) hath explained it when he sayeth, +The pious is he who forgetteth not the grave nor calamity and who preferreth +that which endureth to that which passeth away; who counteth not the morrow as +of his days but reckoneth himself among the dead.' And it is related that Abu +Zarr[FN#339] used to say, Want is dearer to me than wealth, and unheal is +dearer to me than health.' Quoth one of the listeners, 'May Allah have mercy on +Abu Zarr!'. For my part, I say, 'Whoso putteth his trust in the goodness of +the election of Almighty Allah should be content with that condition which +Allah hath chosen for him.' Quoth one of the Companions of the Prophet, 'Ibn +Abi Aufa[FN#340] once prayed with us the dawn-prayer. When he had done, he +recited, 'O Thou Enwrapped!'[FN#341] till he came to where Allah saith, 'When +there shall be a trumping on the trumpet,' and fell down dead. It is said that +Sabit al-Banani wept till he well-nigh lost his eyes. They brought him a man +to medicine him who said to him, 'I will cure thee, provided thou obey my +bidding' Asked Sabit, 'In what matter?' Quoth the leach, 'In that thou leave +weeping!' 'What is the worth of mine eyes?', rejoined Sabit, 'if they do not +weep?' Quoth a man to Mohammed bin Abdillah, 'Exhort thou me!'"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Eighty-first Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +said to Zau al-Makan, "Thus spake the second handmaid to the King who hath +found mercy, Omar bin al-Nu'uman. 'Quoth a man to Mohammed bin Abdillah, Exhort +thou me!' 'I exhort thee,' replied he, 'to be a self ruler, an abstainer in +this world, and in the next a greedy slave.' 'How so?' asked the other and +Mohammed answered, 'The abstinent man in this world conquereth both the world +that is and the world to come.' And quoth Ghaus bin Abdillah, 'There were two +brothers among the sons of Israel, one of whom said to the other, 'What be the +most perilous[FN#342] thing thou hast done?' Replied the brother, 'I once came +upon a nest of young birds; so I took out one and threw it back into the nest; +but among the chickens were some which drew apart from it. This is the most +perilous thing I ever did; now what be the most perilous thing thou hast ever +done?' He rejoined, 'When I arise for prayer I am fearful that it is only for +the sake of the reward.' Now their father heard these words and exclaimed, 'O +Allah, an say they sooth take them to Thyself!' It was declared by one of the +wise men, 'Verily, these were of the most virtuous of children.' Quoth Sa'íd +bin Jubayr,[FN#343] 'I was once in company with Fuzalah bin 'Ubaydand said to +him, 'Exhort thou me!, Replied he, 'Bear in mind these two necessaries, Shun +syntheism[FN#344] and harm not any of Allah's creatures.' And he repeated these +two couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Be as thou wilt, for Allah still is bounteous Lord, * And care dispeller dread not therefore bane and ban<br/> +To two things only never draw thee nigh, nor give * Partner to Allah trouble to thy brother man.' +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And how well saith the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'An thou of pious works a store neglect * And after death meet one who did collect,<br/> +Thou shalt repent thou diddest not as he, * Nor madest ready as he did elect.' +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then the third damsel came forward, after the second had with drawn, and said, +'Of a truth, the chapter of piety is exceeding wide; but I will mention what +occurreth to me thereof, concerning the pious of old. Quoth a certain holy +man, 'I congratulate myself in death, though I am not assured of rest therein, +save that I know death interveneth between a man and his works; so I hope for +the doubling of good works and the docking off of ill works.' And Ita'a al +Salami, when he had made an end of an exhortation, was wont to tremble and +grieve and weep sore; and as they asked him why he did this he answered, 'I +desire to enter upon a grave matter, and it is the standing up before Almighty +Allah to do in accordance with my exhortation.' In similar guise Zayn +al-Abidín,[FN#345] son of Al-Husayn, was wont to tremble when he rose to pray. +Being asked the cause of this, he replied, 'Know ye not before whom I stand and +whom I address?' It is said that there lived near Sufyán al-Thauri[FN#346] a +blind man who, when the month of Ramazan came, went out with the folk to +pray,[FN#347] but remained silent and hung back. Said Sufyan, 'On the Day of +Resurrection he shall come with the people of the Koran and they will be +distinguished by increase of honour from their fellows.' Quoth Sufyan, 'Were +the soul established in the heart as befitteth, it would fly away for joy and +pining for Paradise, and for grief and fear of hell-fire.' It is related also +of Sufyan Al-Thauri that he said, 'To look upon the face of a tyrant is a sin.' +Then the third damsel retired and came for ward the fourth, who said, 'Here am +I to treat of sundry traditions of pious men which suggest themselves to me. +It is related that Bishr Barefoot[FN#348] said, 'I once heard Khálid say, +'Beware of secret polytheism.' I asked, 'What may secret polytheism be?'; and +he answered, 'When one of you in praying prolong his inclinations and +prostrations till a cause of impurity[FN#349] come upon him.' And one of the +sages said, 'Doing works of weal expiateth what is ill.' Quoth Ibrahim,[FN#350] +'I supplicated Bishr Barefoot to acquaint me with some theological mysteries; +but he said, 'O my son, this knowledge it behoveth us not to teach to every +one; of every hundred five, even as the legal alms upon money.' Said Ibrahim, +'I thought his reply excellent and approved of it and while I was praying +behold, Bishr was also praying: so I stood behind him[FN#351] making the prayer +bow till the Mu'ezzin called his call. Then rose a man of tattered appearance +and said, O folk, beware of a truth which bringeth unweal, for there is no harm +in a lie bringing weal,[FN#352] and in time of need no choice we heed: speech +booteth not in the absence of good qualities even as silence hurteth not in the +presence of good. Presently I saw Bishr drop a danik,[FN#353] so I picked it +up and exchanged it for a dirham which I gave him. Quoth he, 'I will not take +it.' Quoth I, 'It is perfectly lawful change'; but he rejoined 'I cannot take +in exchange the riches of the present world for those of the future world.' It +is related also that Bishr Barefoot's sister once went to Ahmad bin +Hanbal"[FN#354]—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Eighty-second Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +continued to bespeak Zau al-Makan on this wise, "And quoth the maiden to thy +father, 'Bishr Barefoot's sister once went to Ahmad bin Hanbal and said to him, +'O Imam of the Faith, we are a family that spin thread by night and work for +our living by day; and oftentimes the cressets of the watch of Baghdad pass by +and we on the roof spinning by their light. Is this forbidden to us?' Asked +Ahmad:'Who are thou?' 'I am the sister of Bishr Barefoot,' answered she. +Rejoined the Iman, 'O household of Bishr, I shall never cease to drink full +draughts of piety from your hearts.' Quoth one of the sages, 'When Allah +willeth well to His servant He openeth upon him the gate of action.' Málik bin +Dinár,[FN#355] when he passed through the bazar and saw aught he desired, was +wont to say, 'O soul, take patience, for I will not accord to thee what thou +desirest.' He said also (Allah accept him!), 'The salvation of the soul lies in +resistance to it and its damnation in submission to it.' Quoth Mansúr bin +Ammár,[FN#356] 'I made a pilgrimage and was faring Meccahwards by way of Cufa, +and the night was overcast, when I heard a voice crying out from the deeps of +the darkness saying, 'O Allah, I swear by Thy Greatness and Thy Glory, I meant +not through my disobedience to transgress against Thee; for indeed I am not +ignorant of Thee; but my fault is one Thou didst foreordain to me from eternity +without beginning;[FN#357] so do Thou pardon my transgression, for indeed I +disobeyed Thee of my ignorance!' When he had made an end of his prayer he +recited aloud the verse, 'O true believers, save your souls and those of your +families from the fire whose fuel is men and stones.'[FN#358] Then I heard a +fall, but not knowing what it was I passed on. When the morning morrowed, as +we went our way, behold, we fell in with a funeral train, followed by an old +woman whose strength had left her. I asked her of the dead, and she answered, +'This is the funeral of a man who passed by us yesterday whilst my son was +standing at prayer and after his prayers he recited a verse from the Book of +Allah Almighty when the man's gall bladder burst and he fell dead.' Therewith +the fourth damsel retired and the fifth came forward and said, 'I here will +also repeat what occurreth to me regarding the acts of devotees in olden time. +Maslamah bin Dinár used to say, 'By making sound the secret thoughts, sins +great and small are covered'; and, 'when the servant of Allah is resolved to +leave sinning, victory cometh to him.' Also quoth he, 'Every worldly good which +doth not draw one nearer to Allah is a calamity, for a little of this world +distracteth from a mickle of the world to come and a mickle of the present +maketh thee forget the whole of the future.' It was asked of Abú Házim,[FN#359] +'Who is the most prosperous of men?'; and he answered, 'Whoso spendeth his life +in submission to Allah.' The other enquired, 'And who is the most foolish of +mankind?' 'Whoso selleth his future for the worldly goods of others,' replied +Abu Hazim. It is reported of Moses[FN#360] (on whom be peace!) that when he +came to the waters of Midian he exclaimed, 'O Lord, verily I stand in need of +the good which thou shalt send down to me.'[FN#361] And he asked of his Lord +and not of his folk. There came two damsels and he drew water for them both +and allowed not the shepherds to draw first. When the twain returned, they +informed their father Shu'ayb (on whom be peace!) who said, 'Haply, he is +hungry,' adding to one of them, 'Go back to him and bid him hither.' Now when +she came to Moses, she veiled her face and said, 'My father biddeth thee to him +that he may pay thee thy wage for having drawn water for us.' Moses was averse +to this and was not willing to follow her. Now she was a woman large in the +back parts, and the wind blowing upon her garment[FN#362] covered the hinder +cheeks to Moses; which when Moses saw, he lowered his eyes and said to her, +'Get thee behind while I walk in front.' So she followed him till he entered +the house of Shu'ayb where supper was ready."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Eighty-third Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +continued to Zau al-Makan, "Now, quoth the fifth damsel to thy sire, 'When +Moses (on whom be peace!) entered the home of Shu'ayb where supper was ready, +Shu'ayb said to him, 'O Moses, I desire to pay thee thy wage for having drawn +water for these two.' But Moses answered, 'I am of a household which selleth +nothing of the fashion of the next world[FN#363] for what is on earth of gold +and silver.' Then quoth Shu'ayb, 'O youth! nevertheless thou art my guest, and +it is my wont and that of my forbears to honour the guest by setting food +before him.' So Moses sat down and ate. Then Shu'ayb hired Moses for eight +pilgrimages, that is to say, eight years, and made his wage marriage with one +of his two daughters, and Moses' service to him was to stand for her dowry. As +saith the Holy Writ of him, 'Verily I will give thee one of these my two +daughters in marriage, on condition that thou serve me for hire eight +pilgrimages: and if thou fulfil ten years, it is in thine own breast; for I +seek not to impose a hardship on thee.'[FN#364] A certain man once said to one +of his friends whom he had not met for many days, 'Thou hast made me desolate, +for that I have not seen thee this long while.' Quoth the other, 'I have been +distracted from thee by Ibn Shiháb: dost thou know him?' Quoth his friend, +'Yes, he hath been my neighbour these thirty years, but I have never spoken to +him.' He replied, 'Verily thou forgettest Allah in forgetting—thy neighbour! If +thou lovedst Allah thou wouldst love thy neighbour. Knowest thou not that a +neighbour hath a claim upon his neighbour,[FN#365] even as the right of kith +and kin?' Said Huzayfah, 'We entered Meccah with Ibráhím bin Adham, and Shakík +al-Balkhí was also making a pilgrimage that year. Now we met whilst +circumambulating the Ka'abah and Ibrahim said to Shakik, 'What is your fashion +in your country?' Replied Shakik, 'When we are blest with our daily bread we +eat, and when we hunger we take patience.' 'This wise,' said Ibrahim, 'do the +dogs of Balkh; but we, when blest with plenty, do honour to Allah and when an +hungered we thank Him.' And Shakik seated himself before Ibrahim and said to +him, 'Thou art my master.' Also said Mohammed bin Imrán, 'A man once asked of +Hátim the Deaf[FN#366] 'What maketh thee to trust in Allah?' 'Two things,' +answered he, 'I know that none save myself shall eat my daily bread, so my +heart is at rest as to that; and I know that I was not created without the +knowledge of Allah, and am abashed before Him.' Then the fifth damsel retired +and the ancient dame came forward and, kissing the ground before thy father +nine times, said, 'Thou hast heard, O King, what these all have spoken on the +subject of piety; and I will follow their example in relating what hath reached +me of the famous men of past times. It is said that the Imam al-Sháfi'í +departed the night into three portions, the first for study, the second for +sleep and the third for prayer. The Imam Abú Hanífah[FN#367] was wont also to +pass half the night in prayer. One day a man pointed him out to another, as he +walked by and remarked, 'Yonder man watcheth the whole night.' When he heard +this Abu Hanifah said, 'I was abashed before Allah to hear myself praised for +what was not in me'; so after this he used to watch the whole night. And one of +the Sages hath said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Who seeketh for pearl in the Deep dives deep; * Who on high would hie robs his +night of sleep.' +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Al-Rabí a relates that Al-Shafi'i used to recite the whole Koran seventy times +during the month of Ramazan, and that in his daily prayers. Quoth Al-Shafi'i +(Allah accept him!), 'During ten years I never ate my fill of barley bread, for +fullness hardeneth the heart and deadeneth the wit and induceth sleep and +enfeebleth one from standing up to pray.'[FN#368] It is reported of Abdullah +bin Mohammed al-Sakrá that he said, 'I was once talking with Omar and he +observed to me, 'Never saw I a more God fearing or eloquent man than Mohammed +bin Idris al-Shafi'i.' It so happened I went out one day with Al-Háris bin +Labíb al-Saffár, who was a disciple of Al-Muzani[FN#369] and had a fine voice +and he read the saying of the Almighty, 'This shall be a day whereon they shall +not speak to any purpose, nor shall they be permitted to excuse +themselves.'[FN#370] I saw Al-Shafi'i's colour change; his skin shuddered with +horripilation, he was violently moved and he fell down in a fainting-fit When +he revived he said, 'I take refuge with Allah from the stead of the liars and +the lot of the negligent! O Allah, before whom the hearts of the wise abase +themselves, O Allah, of Thy bene ficence accord to me the remission of my sins, +adorn me with the curtain of Thy protection and pardon me my shortcomings, by +the magnanimity of Thy Being!' Then I rose and went away. Quoth one of the +pious, 'When I entered Baghdad, Al-Shafi'i was there. So I sat down on the +river bank to make the ablution before prayer; and behold, there passed me one +who said, 'O youth, make thy Wuzu-ablution well and Allah will make it well for +thee in this world and in the next.' I turned and lo! there was a man behind +whom came a company of people. So I hastened to finish my ablution and +followed him. Presently, he turned and asked me, 'Say, dost thou want aught?' +'Yes,' answered I, 'I desire that thou teach me somewhat of that which Allah +Almighty hath taught thee.' He said, 'Know then that whoso believeth in Allah +shall be saved, and whoso jealously loveth his faith shall be delivered from +destruction, and whoso practiseth abstinence in this world, his eyes shall be +solaced on the morrow of death. Shall I tell thee any more?' I replied, +'Assuredly;' and he continued, 'Be thou of the world that is, heedless; and of +the world to come, greediest. Be truthful in all thy dealings, and thou shalt +be saved with the Salvationists.' Then he went on and I asked about him and was +told that he was the Imam Al-Shafi'i. Al-Shafi'i was wont to remark, 'I love +to see folk profit by this learning of mine, on condition that nothing of it be +attributed to me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Eighty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +continued to Zau al-Makan, "The old woman bespake thy sire, saying, 'The Imam +Al-Shafi'i was wont to remark, I love to see folk profit by this learning of +mine on condition that nothing of it be attributed to me.' He also said, 'I +never disputed with any one, but I would that Almighty Allah should give him +the knowledge of the Truth and aid him to dispread it: nor did I ever dispute +with anyone at all but for the showing forth of the Truth, and I reck not +whether Allah manifest it by my tongue or by His.' He said also (whom Allah +accept!), 'If thou fear to grow conceited of thy lore, then bethink thee Whose +grace thou seekest and for what good thou yearnest and what punishment thou +dreadest.' It was told to Abu Hanífah that the Commander of the Faithful, Abú +Ja'afar al-Mansúr, had appointed him Kazi and ordered him a salary of ten +thousand dirhams; but he would not accept of this; and, when the day came on +which the money was to be paid him, he prayed the dawn-prayer, then covered his +head with his robe—and spoke not. When the Caliph's messenger came with the +money, he went in to the Imam and accosted him, but he would not speak to him. +So the messenger said, 'Verily this money is lawfully thine.' 'I know that it +is lawfully mine,' replied he: 'but I abhor that the love of tyrants get a hold +upon my heart.'[FN#371] Asked the other, 'If thou go in to them canst thou not +guard thyself from loving them?' Answered Abu Hanifah, 'Can I look to enter the +sea without my clothes being wet?' Another of Al-Shafi'i's sayings (Allah +accept him!) is, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Oh soul of me, an thou accept my rede, * Thou shalt be wealthy and of grace entire:<br/> +Cast off ambitious hopes and vain desires, * How many a death was done by vain desire!' +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Among the sayings of Sufyán al-Thaurí, with which he admonished Ali bin +al-Hasan al-Salami was, 'Be thou a man of truth and 'ware lies and treachery +and hypocrisy and pride. Be not indebted save to Him who is merciful to His +debtors; and let thine associate be one who shall dissociate thee from the +world. Be ever mindful of death and be constant in craving pardon of Allah and +in beseeching of Allah peace for what remaineth of thy life. Counsel every True +Believer, when he asketh thee concerning the things of his faith; and beware of +betraying a Believer, for whoso betrayeth a Believer, betrayeth Allah and His +Apostle. Avoid dissensions and litigation; and leave that which causeth doubt +in thee for things which breed no doubt:[FN#372] so shalt thou be at peace. +Enjoin beneficence and forbid malevolence: so shalt thou be loved of Allah. +Adorn thine inner man and Allah shall adorn thine outer man. Accept the excuse +of him who excuseth self to thee and hate not any one of the Moslems. Draw +near unto those who withdraw from thee and excuse those that misuse thee: so +shalt thou be the friend of the Prophets. Let thine affairs, both public and +private, be in Allah's charge, and fear Him with the fear of one who knoweth he +is dead and who fareth towards Resurrection and Judgement stead between the +hands of the Lord of Dread; and remember that to one of two houses thou art +sped, either for Heavens eterne or to the Hell fires that burn.' Thereupon the +old woman sat down beside the damsels. Now when thy father, who hath found +mercy, heard their discourse, he knew that they were the most accomplished of +the people of their time; and, seeing their beauty and loveliness and the +extent of their wisdom and lore, he showed them all favour. Moreover, he +turned to the ancient dame and treated her with honour, and set apart for her +and her damsels the palace which had lodged Princess Abrizah, daughter of the +King of Greece, to which he bade carry all the luxuries they needed. They +abode with him ten days and the old woman abode with them; and, whenever the +King visited them, he found her absorbed in prayer, watching by night and +fasting by day; whereby love of her took hold upon his heart and he said to me, +'O Wazir, verily this old woman is of the pious, and awe of her is strong in my +heart.' Now on the eleventh day, the King visited her, that he might pay her +the price of the damsels; but she said to him, 'O King, know that the price of +these maidens surpasseth the competence of men; indeed I seek not for them +either gold or silver or jewels, be it little or much.' Now when thy father +heard these words he wondered and asked her, 'O my lady and what is their +price?'; whereto she answered, 'I will not sill them to thee save on condition +that thou fast, watching by night a whole month, and abstaining by day, all for +the love of Allah Almighty; and, if thou do this, they are thy property to use +in thy palace as thou please.' So the King wondered at the perfection of her +rectitude and piety and abnegation; she was magnified in his eyes and he said, +'Allah make this pious woman to profit us!' Then he agreed with her to fast for +a month as she had stipulated, and she said to him, 'I will help thee with the +prayers I pray for thee and now bring me a gugglet of water.' They brought one +and she took it and recited over it and muttered spells, and sat for an hour +speaking in speech no one understood or knew aught thereof. Lastly she covered +it with a cloth and, sealing it with her signet ring, gave it to thy sire, +saying, 'When thou hast fasted the first ten days, break thy fast on the +eleventh night with what is in this gugglet, for it will root out the love of +the world from thy heart and fill it with light and faith. As for me, To-morrow +I will go forth to my brethren, the Invisible[FN#373] Controuls, for I yearn +after them, and I will return to thee when the first ten days are past. Thy +father took the gugglet and arose and set it apart in a closet of his palace, +then locked the door and put the key in his pocket. Next day the King fasted +and the old woman went her ways."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Eighty-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan thus +continued to Zau al-Makan, "Now when came the day for the Sultan's fast, the +old woman went her ways. And after he had accomplished the ten days thereof, +on the eleventh he opened the gugglet and drank what was therein and found it +cordial to his stomach. Within the second ten days of the month the old woman +returned, bringing sweetmeats wrapped in a green leaf, like no leaf of known +tree. She went in to thy sire and saluted him; and, when he saw her, he rose +to her saying, 'Welcome, O pious lady!' 'O King,' quoth she, 'the Invisible +Controuls salute thee, for I told them of thee, and they rejoiced in thee and +have sent thee their Halwá,[FN#374] which is of the sweetmeats of the other +world. Do thou break thy fast on it at the end of the day.' The King rejoiced +at this with great joy, and exclaimed, 'Praised be Allah, who hath given me +brethren of the Invisible World!' Thereupon he thanked the ancient dame and +kissed her hands; and he honoured her and the damsels with exceeding honour. +She went forth for the twenty days of thy father's fast at the end of which +time she came to him and said, 'Know, O King, that I told the Invisible +Controuls of the love which is between me and thee, and informed them how I had +left the maidens with thee, and they were glad that the damsels should belong +to a King like thee; for they were wont, when they saw them, to be strenuous in +offering on their behalf prayers and petitions ever granted. So I would fain +carry them to the Invisible Controuls that they may benefit by the breath of +their favour, and peradventure, they shall not return to thee without some +treasure of the treasures of the earth, that thou, after completing thy fast, +mayst occupy thyself with their raiment and help thyself by the money they +shall bring thee, to the extent of thy desires.' When thy sire heard her words, +he thanked her for them and said, 'Except that I fear to cross thee, I would +not accept the treasure or aught else; but when wilt thou set out with them?' +Replied she, 'On the seven and twentieth night; and I will bring them back to +thee at the head of the month, by which time thou wilt have accomplished thy +fast and they will have had their courses and be free from impurity; and they +shall become thine and be at thy disposal. By Allah, each damsel of them is +worth many times thy kingdom!' He said, 'I know it, O pious lady!' Then quoth +the old woman, 'There is no help but that thou send with them someone in thy +palace who is dear to thee, that she may find solace and seek a blessing of the +Invisible Controuls.' Quoth he, 'I have a Greek slave called Sophia, by whom I +have been blessed with two children, a girl and a boy; but they were lost; +years ago. Take her with thee that she may get the blessing'"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Eighty-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan +continued to Zau al-Makan, "Quoth thy sire to the ancient woman when she +demanded the handmaids of him, 'I have a Greek slave called Sophia, by whom I +have been blest with two children, a girl and a boy, but they were lost years +ago; so take her with thee, haply she may get the benediction and, belike, the +Invisible Controuls will sue Allah for her that her two children may be +restored to her.' 'Thou hast said well,' replied she; 'for that indeed was her +grievousest want.' Thy sire gave not over finishing his fast till the old +woman said to him, 'O my son, I am going to the Invisible Controuls; so bring +me Sophia.' Accordingly, he summoned her and she came forthright, and he +delivered her to the old woman who mixed her up with the other damsels. Then +she went in to her chamber and bringing out a sealed cup, presented it to the +Sultan saying, 'On the thirtieth day, do thou repair to the Hammam and when +thou comest out, enter one of the closets in thy palace and drink what is in +this cup. Then sleep, and thou shalt attain what thou seekest, and peace be +with thee'! Thereat the King was glad and thanked her and kissed her hands. +Quoth she, 'I commend thee to Allah's care;' whereat quoth he, 'And when shall +I see thee again, O pious lady? In very sooth I love not to part with thee.' +Then she called down blessings on him and departed with the five damsels and +the Queen; whilst the King fasted after her departure other three days, till +the month ended, when he arose and went to the Hammam and coming out shut +himself up in a closet of his palace, commanding that none should go in to +him. There, after making fast the door, he drank what was in the cup and lay +down to sleep; and we sat awaiting him till the end of the day, but he did not +come out and we said, 'Perchance he is tired with the bath and with watching +by night and fasting by day; wherefore he sleepeth.' So we waited till next +day; but still he did not come forth. Then we stood at the closet door and +cried aloud so haply he might awake and ask what was the matter. But nothing +came of that; so at last we lifted up the door;[FN#375] and, going in, found +him dead, with his flesh torn into strips and bits and his bones +broken.[FN#376] When we saw him in this condition it was grievous to us, and +we took up the cup and found within its cover a piece of paper whereon was +inscribed, 'Whoso doeth evil leaveth no regrets, and this be the reward of him +who playeth traitor with the daughters of Kings and who debaucheth them; and +we make known to all who fall upon this scroll that Sharrkan, when he came to +our country, seduced our Queen Abrizah; nor did that suffice him but he must +needs take her from us and bring her to you. Then he[FN#377] sent her away in +company of a black slave who slew her, and we found her lying dead on the +desert sward and thrown out to wild beasts. This be no kingly deed, and he +who did this is requited with naught but what he merited. So do ye suspect +none of having killed him, for no one slew him but the cunning witch, whose +name is Zat al-Dawahi. And behold, I have taken the King's wife, Sophia, and +have carried her to her father, Afridun King of Constantinople. Moreover, +there is no help for it but that we wage war upon you and kill you and take +your country from you, and ye shall be cut off even to the last man, nor shall +a living soul be spared by Death nor one who bloweth fire with his breath, +save he who Cross and Belt[FN#378] worshippeth.' When we read this paper, we +knew that the ancient woman had beguiled us and carried out her plot against +us: whereupon we cried aloud and buffeted our faces and wept sore when weeping +availed us naught. And the troops fell out as to whom they should make +Sultan; some would have thee, and others would have thy brother Sharrkan; and +we ceased not to dispute about this for the space of a month, at the end of +which certain of us drew together and agreed to repair to thy brother +Sharrkan: so we set out and journeyed on till we fell in with thee. And such +is the manner of the death of Sultan Omar bin al-Nu'uman!" Now when the Wazir +Dandan had made an end of his story, Zau al- Makan and his sister, Nuzhat +al-Zaman wept; and the Chamberlain, who wept also, said to Zau al-Makan, "O +King, weeping will avail thee naught; nor shall aught profit thee but that +thou harden thy heart and strengthen thy stress and establish thy sovranty; +for verily whoso leaveth the like of thee is not dead." Thereupon Zau al-Makan +gave over his weeping and caused his throne to be set up without the pavilion, +and then commanded the army to pass in review order before him. And the +Chamberlain sat by his side and all the armour-bearers[FN#379] behind him, +whilst the Wazir Dandan and the rest of the Emirs and Grandees stood each in +his individual stead. Then quoth King Zau al-Makan to the Minister Dandan, +"Inform me concerning my sire's treasures;" and he replied, "I hear and I +obey;" and gave him to know of the late King's hoards and monies, and what was +in the treasury of amassed wealth and jewels, and acquainted him with other +precious things. So Zau al-Makan opened his hand to the army, and gave a +sumptuous robe of honour to the Wazir Dandan, saying, "Thou continues" in +office. Whereupon Dandan kissed the ground before him and wished him long +life. Then he bestowed dresses on the Emirs, after which he said to the +Chamberlain, "Bring out before me the tribute of Damascus that is with thee." +So he was shown the chests of money and rarities and jewels, when he took them +and parted them all amongst the troops,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Eighty-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Zau al- Makan ordered the +Chamberlain to bring out before him what he had brought of the tribute of +Damascus; and, when he was shown the chests of money and rarities and jewels, +he took them and parted them all amongst the troops, till nothing was left. +And the Emirs kissed the ground before him and wished him long life, saying, +"Never saw we a King, who gave the like of these gifts." Then all went away to +their tents and when it was morning he gave orders for marching. So they +marched for three days, till, on the fourth day, they drew near to Baghdad. +When they entered the city, they found it decorated, and Zau al-Makan, the +Sultan, went up to his father's palace and sat down on the throne, whilst the +Emirs of the army and the Wazir Dandan and the Chamberlain of Damascus stood +between his hands. Then he bade his private secretary write a writ to his +brother Sharrkan, acquainting him with all that had passed, from first to last, +and he concluded, "As soon as thou hast read this letter, make ready thine +affair and join us with thine army, that we may turn to Holy War upon the +Infidels and take man-bote for our father and wipe out the stain upon our +honour." Then he folded the letter and sealed it with his seal ring and said to +the Minister Dandan, "None shall carry this letter but thou; and it behoveth +thee speak my brother fair and say to him, 'If thou have a mind to thy father's +kingdom, it is thine, and thy brother shall be Viceroy for thee in Damascus; +for to this effect am I instructed by him.'" So the Wazir went down from before +him and made ready for his march. Then Zau al-Makan bade set apart a +magnificent house for the Fireman and furnished it with the best of furniture +and long is the tale of that Fireman.[FN#380] Presently Zau al-Makan went out +chasing and hunting and, as he was returning to Baghdad, one of the Emirs +presented him with blood horses and with beauteous handmaids whose description +the tongue evades. One of the damsels pleased him: so he went in unto her and +knew her that night, and she conceived by him forthright. After a while, the +Wazir Dandan returned from his journey, bringing him news of his brother +Sharrkan and that he was then on his way to him, and said, "It were fitting +thou go forth to meet him." Zau al- Makan replied, "I hear and I consent;" and +riding forth with his Grandees a day's journey from Baghdad, he pitched his +pavilions there awaiting his brother. Next morning appeared King Sharrkan amid +the army of Syria, a horseman of might, a lion fierce in fight, a prow and +doughty knight. As the squadrons drew nigh and the dust clouds came hard by +and the troops rode up with banners on high, Zau al-Makan and those with him +pushed forward to meet Sharrkan and his men; and when Zau al-Makan saw his +brother, he desired to dismount, but Sharrkan conjured him not to do on this +wise, and himself footed it, and walked a few paces towards him.[FN#381] As +soon as he reached Zau al-Makan, the new Sultan threw himself upon him, and +Sharrkan embraced him and wept with great weeping and the twain condoled with +each other. Then they mounted and rode onward, they and their troops, till +they reached Baghdad, where they alighted and went up to the royal palace and +there they passed that night, and when next morning came, Zau al- Makan went +forth and bade summon the troops from all parts, and proclaimed a Holy War and +a Razzia.[FN#382] They then awaited the coming of the levies from each quarter +of the kingdom, and every one who came they entreated with honour and promised +him all manner of good; till in so doing a full month had sped, and the +fighting men flocked to them in a continuous body. Then Sharrkan said to Zau +al-Makan, "O my brother, tell me thy history." So he told him all that had +befallen him from first to last, including the benevolent dealing of the +Fireman with him. Asked Sharrkan, 'Hast thou requited his kindness?"; and he +answered, "O my brother! I have not rewarded him as yet, but Inshallah! I +will recompense him whenas I return from this raid"—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Eighty-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan asked his +brother Zau al-Makan, "Hast thou requited the Fireman for his kindness?"; and +he answered, "O my brother, I have not rewarded him as yet, but Inshallah! I +will recompense him whenas I return from this raid and find time so to do." +Therewith Sharrkan was certified that his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman, had told him +the whole truth; but he concealed what had passed between them and offered his +salutation to her by her husband the Chamberlain. She sent him back her +greeting, calling down blessings on him and enquiring after her daughter +Kuzia-Fakan, to which he replied that the maiden was well and in the best of +health and safety. whereupon she praised Almighty Allah and gave him thanks. +Then Sharrkan went to his brother to take counsel with him for departure; and +Zau al-Makan said, "O my brother, as soon as the army is complete and the Arabs +have come in from all parts, we will march forth." So he bade make ready the +commissariat and prepare munitions of war and went in to his wife, who was now +five months gone with child; and he put under her astrologers and +mathematicians, to whom he appointed stipends and allowances. Then he set out +three months after the arrival of the army of Syria, and as soon as the Arabs +were come in and the troops were assembled from all directions; and, as he +fared forth, he was followed by the warriors and the united host. Now the name +of the General of the Daylam army was Rustam and that of the General of the +army of the Turks[FN#383] Bahram. And Zau al- Makan marched in mid host and on +his right was his brother Sharrkan, and on his left the Chamberlain his +brother-in-law. So the squadrons broke up and pushed forward and the +battalions and companies filed past in battle-array, till the whole army was in +motion. They ceased not to fare on for the space of a month, and each body +dismounted at its own ground and there rested every week three days (for the +host was great); and they advanced in this order till they came to the country +of the Greeks. Then the people of the villages and hamlets and the poorer sort +took fright at them and fled to Constantinople. But when King Afridun heard +the tidings he arose and betook himself to Zat al-Dawahi, the same who had +contrived the stratagem, and had travelled to Baghdad and had slain King Omar +bin Al-Nu'uman; and who after carrying off her slaves and Queen Sophia, had +returned with them all to her native land. Now when she had been restored to +her son, the King of Greece, and felt herself safe, she said to King Hardub, +"Cool thine eyes; for I have avenged by blood the shame of thy daughter +Abrizah, and have killed Omar bin al-Nu'uman and have brought back Sophia. So +now let us go to the King of Constantinople and carry to him his daughter and +acquaint him with what hath happened, that all of us be on guard and prepare +our forces; and I will fare with thee to King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, +for I opine that the Moslems will not await our attack." Said Hardub, "Tarry +thou till they draw near our country, that we may make us ready meantime and +assemble our power." Accordingly they took to levying their forces and +preparing for war, and, when the news of the Moslems' advance reached them, +they were prepared for defence; and Zat al Dawahi had preceded them. Now when +she and her son arrived at Constantinople, the King of Kings, Afridun, hearing +of the approach of Hardub, King of the Greeks, came forth to meet him and asked +how it was with him and the cause of his visit. So Hardub acquainted him with +the cunning doings of his mother, Zat al-Dawahi, how she had slain the Moslem +King and recovered from him Queen Sophia, and had said, "The Moslems have +assembled their forces and are on their way to attack us, wherefore it behoveth +that we two join hands in single band and meet them." Now King Afridun rejoiced +in the return of his daughter and the killing of King Omar bin al-Nu'uman; and +he sent to all countries seeking succour and acquainting the folk with the +cause of slaying the Moslem King. So the Nazarene troops flocked to him and +three months were not past ere the army of the Greeks was complete, besides +which there joined themselves to him Franks from all their lands, French, +Germans[FN#384] and Ragusans,[FN#385] with men of Zara,[FN#386] Venetians, +Genoese, and all the hosts of the Yellow Faces[FN#387]; and, when the gathering +was at its full, earth was straitened on them by reason of their multitude. +Then Afridun, the Great King, ordered a march; so they set out and ceased not +to defile through the city for ten days. They fared on till they reached the +Wady hight Al-Nu'uman, a broad sided vale hard by the Salt Sea, where they +halted three days; and on the fourth they were about to set out again, when +news came that the army of Al-Islam on them press, and the defenders of the +faith of Mohammed, of Men the Best. So they halted in it other three days, and +on the eighth they espied a dust cloud which towered till it walled the whole +land; nor was an hour of the day past ere that dust began to drift and was torn +to shreds in the lift, and pierced through its shades the starry radiance of +lance and the white leven of blades. Presently there appeared beneath it the +banners Islamitan and the ensigns Mahometan; the horsemen urged forward, like +the letting loose of seas that surged, clad in mail, as they were mackerel-back +clouds which the moon enveil; whereupon the two hosts clashed, like two +torrents on each other dashed. Eyes fell upon eyes; and the first to seek +combat singular was the Wazir Dandan, he and the army of Syria, numbering +thirty thousand bridles, and with him were the General of the Turks, and the +General of Daylam, Rustam and Bahram, amid twenty thousand horse, behind whom +came the men from the shores of the Salt Sea, clad in iron mail, as they were +full moons that past through a night o'ercast. Then the Nazarene host called +out on Jesus and Mary, and the defiled[FN#388] Cross and they heaped themselves +upon the Wazir Dandan and those with him of the Syrian host. Now all this was +in pursuance of a stratagem devised by that ancient woman Zat al-Dawahi; for, +before his departure, King Afridun had gone in to her and asked her, "How shall +I do and what plan shall I pursue?; it is thou hast caused this great distress +to us;" and she had answered, "O great King and mighty Cohen![FN#389] I will +teach thee a trick would baffle Iblis himself, though he summon to his +assistance all his grisly hosts."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Eighty-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, all this was a stratagem of +the ancient woman, for that the King before his departure had gone to her and +asked, "How shall I do and what plan shall I pursue? it is thou hast caused +this great distress to us!" And she had answered, "O great King and mighty +Cohen, I will teach thee a trick would baffle the Devil himself though he +summon to his assistance all his grisly hosts. It is that thou send fifty +thousand men going down in ships, and sailing over the sea to the Mountain of +Smoke; and there let them land and stir not till {he standards of Al-Islam come +upon thee, when do thou up and at them. Then bid the troops from the seaward +sally out upon the Moslems and take them in rear, whilst we confront them from +the landward. So not one of them shall escape, and our sorrows shall tease and +peace abide with us." Now the counsel of this ancient woman commended itself to +King Afridun, and he replied, "Right is the recking thou reckest, O Princess of +wits and recourse of Kings and Cohens warring for their blood-wit!" So when the +army of Al-Islam came upon them in chat valley, before they knew of it the +flames began to burn up the tents and the swords in men's bodies to make rents. +Then hurried up the army of Baghdad and Khorasan who numbered one hundred and +twenty thousand horse, with Zau al-Makan in the front of war. When the host of +the Infidels that lay by the sea saw them, they sallied out against them and +followed in their tracks; and when Zau al- Makan espied this he cried out to +his men, "Turn back to the Infidels, O People of the Chosen Apostle, and slay +those who deny and hate the authority of the Compassionating, the +Compassionate!" So they turned and fought with the Christians. Then Sharrkan +marched up with another corps of the Moslem host, some hundred thousand men, +whilst the Infidels numbered nigh upon a thousand and six hundred thousand men. +When the Moslems were united, their hearts were strengthened and they cried +out, saying, "Verily Allah hath pro mised us victory, and to the Infidels hath +assigned defeat." And they clashed together with sword and spear. Now Sharrkan +tare through rank and row and raged among the masses of the foe, fighting so +fierce a fight as to make children grey grow; nor did he cease tourneying among +the infidel horde and working havoc among them with the keen edged sword, +shouting "Allaho Akbar!" (Allah is Most Great) till he drove back the host to +the coast. Then failed the force of the foe and Allah gave victory to the +faith of Al-Islam, and folk fought folk, drunken without strong drink till they +slew of the Infidels in this affair forty and five thousand, while of the +Moslems but three thousand and five hundred fell. Moreover, the Lion of the +Faith, King Sharrkan, and his brother, Zau al-Makan, slept not that night, but +occupied themselves with congratulating their braves and with looking to the +wounded and with assuring the army of victory and salvation and promise of +reward in the world to come. Thus far concerning the Moslem; but as regards +King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople and Sovran of Roum, and Zat Al-Dawahi, +they assembled the Emirs of the host and said to them, "Verily, we had worked +our will and solaced our hearts, but our over confidence in our numbers, and +that only, defeated us." Then quoth to them the ancient one, the Lady of +Calamities, "In very sooth nought shall profit you, except ye draw you nigh +unto the Messiah and put your trust in the True Belief, for, by the virtue of +the Messiah, the whole strength of the Moslem host lieth in that Satan, King +Sharrkan." "To-morrow," said King Afridun, "I have resolved to draw up in battle +array and to send out against them that redoubtable cavalier, Lúká bin Shamlút; +for if King Sharrkan come forth as a champion to fight single-handed, our man +will slay him and will slay the other Moslem Knights, till not one is left. +And I purpose this night to sacre you all with the Holy Incense." When the +Emirs heard these words they kissed the ground before him. Now the incense +which he designated was the excrement of the Chief Patriarch, the denier, the +defiler of the Truth, and they sought for it with such instance, and they so +highly valued it that the high priests of the Greeks used to send it to all the +countries of the Christians in silken wraps after mixing it with musk and +ambergris. Hearing of it Kings would pay a thousand gold pieces for every dram +and they sent for and sought it to fumigate brides withal; and the Chief +Priests and the great Kings were wont to use a little of it as collyrium for +the eyes and as a remedy in sickness and colic; and the Patriarchs used to mix +their own skite[FN#390] with it, for that the skite of the Chief Patriarch +could not suffice for ten countries.[FN#391] So, as soon as dawn was seen and +the morning shone with its shine and sheen, the horsemen ran to their spears +full keen, and King Afridun,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Ninetieth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, as soon as dawn was seen and +the morning shone with its shine and sheen, the horsemen ran to their spears +full keen and King Afridun summoned his chief Knights and Nobles and invested +them with dresses of honour; and, drawing the sign of the cross on their +brows, incensed them with the incense which as aforesaid was the skite of the +Chief Patriarch, the Cohen, the Heresiarch. This incensing done, he called +for Luka bin Shamlut, surnamed the Sword of the Messiah; and, after fumigating +him and rubbing his palate with the Holy Merde, caused him to snuff it and +smeared his cheeks and anointed his moustaches with the rest. Now there was +no stouter champion in the land of Roum than this accursed Luka, nor any +better at bending of bow or sway of sword or lunge with lance on the day of +devoir; but he was foul of favour, for his face was as the face of an ass, his +shape that of an ape and his look as the look of a malignant snake: his +presence was grievouser than parting from the beloved make; and blacker than +night was his blackness and more fetid than the lion was his breath for +foulness; more crooked than a bow was his crookedness and grimmer than the +leopard was his ugliness, and he was branded with the mark of the Infidels on +face.[FN#392] After this he came up to King Afridun and kissed his feet and +stood before him; and the King said to him, "I desire thou go out against +Sharrkan, King of Damascus, son of Omar bin al-Nu'uman, and deliver us from +this affliction." Quoth Luka, "Hearkening and obedience;" and the King made +the sign of the cross on his forehead and felt assured of help from Heaven +being near hand. Then Luka went out from the presence and the accursed one +mounted a sorrel horse; he was clad in a red robe and a hauberk of gold set +with jewels, and he bore a trident spear, as he were Iblis the damned on the +day of drewing out his hosts war to darraign. Then he rode forward, he and +his horde of Infidels, even as though they were driving to the Fire, preceded +by a herald, crying aloud in the Arabic tongue and saying, "Ho, sect of +Mohammed (upon whom be salutation and salvation!), let none of you come out +but your champion Sharrkan, the Sword of Al-Islam, Lord of Damascus in +Shám[FN#393]!" Nor had he made an end of speaking, when arose a tumult in the +plain; all the people heard the strain and the whole moving bodies of the +armies twain called to mind the Day of Complain. Then the cowards trembled +and all necks turned towards the sound, and lo! it was King Sharrkan, son of +King Omar bin al-Nu'uman. For when his brother, Zau al-Makan, saw that +accursed one push out on the plain, and heard the pursuivant, he turned to +Sharrkan and said to him, "Of a surety they seek for thee." Said he, "Should +it so be, 'twere most pleasing to me." So when they made sure of the matter +and heard the herald crying in the plain, "Let none of you come out against me +save Sharrkan," they knew this cursed Luka to be champion of the land of Roum +who had sworn to sweep the earth clean of Moslems. Now he was one of the +greatest of villains, a wretch who caused hearts to pain; and the DayIamites, +Turks and Kurds dreaded his might and main. Presently Sharrkan drave at him +like a lion angry grim, mounted on a courser like a wild gazelle flying snell +and slim; and coming nigh to him made the spear he hent to shake as it were a +darting snake, and recited these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I have a sorrel steed, whose pride is fain to bear the rein, * Shall give thee what thou likest not and make thee feel his main:<br/> +I have a handy limber spear full bright and keen of point, * Upon whose shaft the dam of Death her throny seat hath ta'en:<br/> +I have a trenchant glaive of Hind; and, when I bare its face * Of scabbard" veil, from out its brow the rays of leven rain." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Luka understood not the sense of his speech nor did he apprehend the vehemence +of the verse; but he smote his forehead with his hand, in honour of the Cross +drawn thereon and kissed it; then he couched his throw spear and ran at +Sharrkan. But first he tossed the javelin with one hand in air to such height +that it was lost to the spectators' sight; and, catching it with the other hand +as do the jugglers, hurled it at Sharrkan. It flew from his grasp like a +shooting star and folk clamoured and feared for Sharrkan; but, as the spear +flew near him, he put out his hand and caught it in full flight to the +amazement of all who saw the sight. Then he shook it with the hand that took it +till it was well-nigh broken, and hurled it so high into the welkin that it +disappeared from view. As it descended, he caught it again with the other +hand, in less than the twinkling of an eye, and cried out from his heart core, +saying, "By the truth of Him who created the sevenfold skies, I will assuredly +make this cursed wight a byword for mankind to despise!" Then threw he the +throw spear at Luka, who thought to do as Sharrkan had done and put forth his +hand to trend it in mid flight; but Sharrkan prevented him, and sped at him a +second throw spear which smote him and the point fell on his forehead, in the +very centre of the sign of the Cross, and Allah hurried his soul to the Fire +and Dwelling place dire.[FN#394] But when the Infidels saw Luka bin Shamlut +fall slain, they buffeted their faces and they cried, "Alas!" and "Woe worth +the day!" and called for aid upon the Abbots of the monasteries,—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Ninety-first Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Infidels saw +Luka bin Shamlut fall slain, they buffeted their faces and cried, "Alas!" and +"Woe worth the day!" and called upon the Abbots of the monasteries and cried, +"Where be the crosses?" So the Religious offered up prayers and the Christians +all drew together against Sharrkan; and, brandishing their scymitars and +lances, rushed forward to the attack. Then army met army and breasts fell +under hoof, whilst spear and sword ruled the day and forearms and wrists grew +weak and the coursers seemed created without legs;[FN#395] nor did the herald +of-war cease calling to fight, till arms were aweary and day took flight and +night came on with darkness dight. So the two hosts drew apart, whilst every +brave staggered like a drunken knave, for that with so much cut and thrust they +strave; and the place was choked with the slain; fell were the wounds and the +hurt knew not by whom they fell. Then Sharrkan joined his brother, Zau +al-Makan, and the Chamberlain and the Wazir Dandan, and said to them, "Verily +Allah hath opened a door for the Infidels to fall, praised be the Lord of the +Worlds one and all!" Replied Zau al-Makan, "Let us never cease to praise Allah, +for that He hath dispelled trouble from the Arab and the Ajam. Indeed the +folk, generation after generation, shall tell of thy derring-do against the +accursed Luka, the falsifier of the Evangel;[FN#396] of thy catching the throng +spear in mid-flight, and how the enemy of Allah among men thou didst smite; and +thy fame shall endure until the end of time." Then said Sharrkan, "Harkye, O +grand Chamberlain and doughty Capitayne!" and he answered, "Adsum!"[FN#397] +Quoth Sharrkan, "Take with thee the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand horse, and +lead them seven parasangs towards the sea, and force the march till ye shall +have come near the shore, and there remain only two parasangs between thee and +the foe. Then ambush ye in the hollows of the ground till ye hear the tumult +of the Infidels disembarking from their ships; and the war cry from every side +strike your ear and ye know that the sabres have begun labour between us and +them; and, whenso ye see our troops falling back, as if defeated, and all the +Infidels following them, as well those in front as those from the seaward and +the tents, do ye still lie in wait for them: but as soon as ye see the standard +with the words, There is no god but the God, and Mohammed is God's Apostle (on +whom be salutation and salvation!), then up with the green banner, and do your +endeavour and fall on their rear and shout, 'Alla ho Akbar! Allah is most +Great!' and circle round that they may not interpose between the retreating +army and the sea." He replied, "To hear is to obey!"; and forthright they +agreed upon this matter and they went forth. Now the Chamberlain took with +himself the Wazir Dandan and twenty thousand men even as Sharrkan had +commanded. As soon as dawned the morn, the troops sprung to horse when they +had donned their armour gear and drawn the scymitar and slung the spear. Then +the Christians dispread themselves over hill and dale and the +Ecclesiasts[FN#398] cried out and all heads were bared, and those in the ships +hoisted the Cross at their mast heads and began making for shore from every +side, and landed their horses and get them ready for fight and fray, whilst the +sword blades glittered bright and the javelins glanced like leven-light on mail +shirt white; and all joined fight and the grind mill of Death whirled round and +ground those who fought from horse and aground: heads from bodies flew end +tongues mute grew and eyes no vision knew. Scymitars strave with utmost strain +and heads flew over the battle-plain; gall bladders clave and wrists were shorn +in twain; steeds plashed in pools of gore and beards were gripped right sore; +the host of Al-Islam called out, saying, "On the Prince of Mankind be blessings +and peace, and to the Compassionate glory and praise, which ne'er shall cease, +for His boons which aye increase;" and the host of the Infidels shouted, "Glory +to the Cross and the Belt and the vine press juice, and the wine presser and +the Priests and the Monks and the Festival of Palms and the Metropolitan!" Now +Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan held back and their troops gave way and feigned +flight from before the enemy, while the Infidel array pressed hard upon them +deeming them in rout, and made ready to foin and hew. Then the meiny of the +Moslems raised their voices, reciting the first verses of the Chapter of the +Cow,[FN#399] whilst the dead were trampled under hoofs of steeds, and the +heralds of the Greeks cried out, "Ho, servants of the Messiah! Ho, people of +the True Faith! Ho, followers of the Primate![FN#400] Verily Divine grace upon +you opes; for see, the hosts of Al Islam like birds with broken wings incline +to elope! So turn ye not to them your backs, but let your swords cleave deep in +their necks and hold not your hands from them, else are ye outcasts from the +Messiah, Mary's son, who spoke even when a cradled one!"[FN#401] Now Afridun, +King of Constantinople, deemed that the Infidels were victorious, knowing not +that this was but a clever stratagem of the Moslems, and sent to King Hardub of +Roum congratulations on success, adding, "Availed us naught but the Holy Merde +of the Arch Patriarch, whose fragrance exhaled from the beards and mustachios +of the slaves of the Cross near and far; and I swear, by the Miracles of the +Messiah; and by thy daughter Abrizah, the Nazarene, the Mariolater; and by the +Waters of Baptism, that I will not leave upon the earth a single defender of +Al- Islam! And to the bitter end will I carry out this plan." So the messenger +betook himself with the address to King Hardub, whilst the Infidels called to +one another saying, "Take we vengeance wreak for Luka!"—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Ninety-second Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Infidels called to +one another, saying, "Take we vengeance wreak for Luka!" while Hardub King of +Greece cried aloud, "Ho, to our revenge for Abrizah!" Thereupon King Zau +al-Makan shouted "Ho, servants of the Requiting King!: smite the children of +denial and disobedience with the blanch of sword and the brown of spear!" So +the Moslems returned to the Infidels and plied them with the keen edged +scymitar, whilst their herald cried aloud, "Up, and at the foes of the Faith, +all ye who love the Prophet Elect, with hope of salvation on the Day of Fear, +to win favour of the Bountiful, the Forgiving One; for verily the Garden of +Paradise is under the shadow of swords!" And behold, Sharrkan and his men +charged down upon the Infidels and cut off their retreat and wheeled and +tourneyed among the ranks; when lo! a knight of goodly presence opened a +passage through the army of Unbelievers and circled hither and thither amongst +the Deniers, cutting and thrusting and covering the ground with heads and +trunks, so that the Faithless feared him and their necks bent under his lunge +and hew. He was girt with two swords, his glances and his brand, and he was +armed with two lances, one of bamboo cane and the other his straight wand like +shape; and his flowing hair stood him in stead of many warriors, even as saith +the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Laud not long hair,[FN#402] except it be dispread * In two fold locks, on day of fight and fray,<br/> +O'er youth who bears his lance 'twixt flank and thigh, * From many a whis kered knight to win the day." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And as singeth another, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I say to him, what while he slings his sword, * 'For sword shall serve those looks that sword like show!'<br/> +Says he, 'My sabre looks for those I love, * My sword for those who sweets of love unknow!'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When Sharrkan saw him, he said to him, "I conjure thee by the Koran and the +attributes of the Compassionate One, O Champion of the Champions! tell me who +thou art: for verily by thy deeds this day thou hast pleased the Requiting +King, whom one thing distracteth not from other thing; in that thou hast been +discomforting the children of impiety and in rebellion revelling." Then cried +the Cavalier to him saying, "Thou art he who madest brother covenant with me +but yesterday: how quickly thou hast forgotten me!" Thereupon he withdrew his +mouth veil,[FN#403] so that what was hidden of his beauty was disclosed, and +lo! it was none other than Zau al-Makan. Then Sharrkan rejoiced in his +brother, save that he feared for him the rush of fighting and the crush of +braves a smiting; and this for two reasons, the first, his tender age and +exposure to the evil eye, and the second, that his safety was to the kingdom +the greater of the two overshadowing wings. So he said to him, "O King! thou +riskest thy life, so join thy steed to mine; in very sooth I fear for thee from +the foe; and better thou stint hazarding thyself forth of these squadrons, that +we may shoot at the enemy thine unerring shaft." Quoth Zau al-Makan, "I desire +to even thee in fray and I will not be niggard of myself before thee in the +melay." Then the host of Al-Islam, heaping itself upon the Infidels, girt them +on all sides, warred on them a right Holy War, and brake the power of the +children of impiety and pride and stowre. But King Afridun sighed when he saw +the evil wreak that had fallen on the Greek, and they turned their backs from +fight and addressed themselves to flight, making for the ships, when lo! there +came out upon them from the seacoast another host, led by the Minister Dandan, +the champion who was wont to make champions bite the dust, and to lay load on +them with cut and thrust. Nor less came forth the Emir Bahram, Lord of the +Provinces of Sham, amid twenty thousand horse doughty of arm; and the host of +Al-Islam pressed them in front and on flank and wrought them grievous harm. +Then a body of the Moslems turned against those who in the ships remained, and +perdition on them rained, till they threw themselves into the main, and they +slew of them many slain, more than a hundred thousand noblemen, nor was one of +their champions, great or small, saved from bale and bane. Moreover, they took +their ships, with all the money and treasure and cargo, save a score of keel, +and the Moslems got that loot whose like was never gotten in by gone years; nor +was such cut and thrust ever heard of by men's ears.[FN#404] Now amongst the +booty were fifty thousand horses, besides treasure and spoil past reckoning and +arithmetic, whereat the Moslems rejoiced with an exceeding joy for that Allah +had given them victory and protection. Such was the case with them; but as +regards the fugitive Infidels they soon reached Constantinople, whither the +tidings preceded them that King Afridun had prevailed over the Moslems; so +quoth the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, "I know that my son Hardub, King of +Roum, is no runagate and that he feareth not the Islamitic hosts, but will +restore the whole world to the Nazarene faith." Then she bade the Great King, +Afridun, give command that the city be decorated, and the people held festival +high and drank their wines drunkenly and knew not the decrees of Destiny. Now +whilst they were in the midst of their rejoicings, behold, the raven of dule +and downfall croaked over them, and up came the twenty fugitive ships wherein +was the King of Cæsarea. So King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, met them on +the sea shore, and they told him all that had befallen them from the Moslem, +and they wept sore and groaned and moaned; and rejoicing at weal was turned +into dismay for unheal; and they informed him concerning Luka son of Shamlut, +how calamity had betided him and how Death had shot him with his shaft. +Thereat the horrors of Doomday rose upon King Afridun,[FN#405] and he knew that +there was no making straight their crook. Then came up from them the sound of +weeping and wailing; the city was full of men mourning and the keepers were +keening, and sighs and cries were heard from all sides. And when King Hardub +of Greece met King Afridun he told him the truth of the case and how the flight +of the Moslems was by way of stratagem and deceit, and said to him, "Look not +to see any of the army, save those who have already reached thee." When King +Afridun heard these words he fell down in a fainting-fit, with his nose under +his feet; and, as soon as he revived, he exclaimed, "Surely the Messiah was +wroth with them that he caused the Moslems to prevail over them!" Then came the +Arch Patriarch sadly to the King who said to him, "O our father, annihilation +hath overtaken our army and the Messiah hath punished us!" Replied the +Patriarch, "Grieve not nor feel concerned, for it cannot be but that one of you +have sinned against the Messiah, and all have been punished for his offence; +but now we will read prayers for you in the churches, that the Mohammeden hosts +may be repelled from you." After which the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, came to +Afridun and said to him, "O King, verily the Moslem hosts are many, and we +shall never overcome them save by wile: wherefore I purpose to work upon them +by guile and repair to this army of Al-Islam, haply I may win my wish of their +leader and slay their champion, even as I slew his father. If my stratagem +succeed in his case, not one of the host he leads shall return to his native +land, for all are strong only because of him; but I desire to have some +Christian dwellers of Syria, such as go out every month and year to sell their +goods, that they may help me (for this they can do) in carrying out my plan." +Replied the King, "Be it so whenever thou wilt." So she bade fetch an hundred +men, natives of Najrán,[FN#406] in Sham, and the King asked them, "Have ye not +heard what hath befallen the Christians with the Moslems?" "Yes," answered +they; and he rejoined, "Know ye that this woman hath devoted her life to the +Messiah and purposeth to go forth with you, disguised as Monotheists and +Mohammedans, to work out a device which shall profit us and hinder the Moslem +from us: say, then, are ye also willing to devote yourselves to the Anointed +and I will give you a quintal of gold?[FN#407] He of you who escapeth shall +have the money, and him of you who dieth will the Messiah reward." "O King," +replied they, "we will devote our lives to the Messiah, and we will be thy +sacrifice." Thereupon the old woman took all she required of aromatic roots and +placed them in water which she boiled over the fire till the black essence of +them was extracted. She waited till the decoction was cold, then dipped the +corner of a long kerchief therein and stained her face therewith. Moreover, +she donned over her clothes a long gaberdine with an embroidered border and +took in her hand a rosary, and afterwards went in to King Afridun, who knew her +not, nor did any of his companions know her, till she discovered herself to +them: and there was none in the assembly but who thanked and praised her for +her cunning; and her son rejoiced and said, "May the Messiah never fail thee!" +Thereupon she took with her the Syrian Christians, and set out for the army of +Baghdad.— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Ninety-third Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Afridun heard +these words, he fell into a fainting-fit with his nose under his feet; and, as +soon as he revived, fear fluttered the scrotum[FN#408] below his belly and he +complained to the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi. Now this accursed old woman was +a witch of the witches, past mistress in sorcery and deception; wanton and +wily, deboshed and deceptious; with foul breath, red eyelids, yellow cheeks, +dull brown face, eyes bleared, mangy body, hair grizzled, back humped, skin +withered and wan and nostrils which ever ran. But she had studied the +scriptures of Al-Islam and had made the Pilgrimage to the Holy House of Meccah +and all this that she might come to the knowledge of the Mohammedan ordinances +and the miraculous versets of the Koran; and she had professed Judaïsm in the +Holy City of Jerusalem[FN#409] for two years' space, that she might master the +magic of men and demons; so that she was a plague of plagues and a pest of +pests, wrong-headed as to belief and to no religion fief. Now the chief reason +of her sojourn with her son, King Hardub of Greece, was on account of the slave +virgins at his court: for she was given to tribadism[FN#410] and could not +exist without sapphism or she went mad: so if any damsel pleased her, she was +wont to teach her the art of rubbing clitoris against clitoris and would anoint +her with saffron[FN#411] till she fainted away for excess of volupty. Whoso +obeyed her she was wont to favour and make her son incline towards her; but +whoso repelled her she would contrive to destroy; and so she abode for a length +of time. This was known to Marjanah and Rayhánah and Utrijah, the handmaids of +Abrizah, and their Princess loathed the old woman and abhorred to lie with her, +because of the rank smell from her armpits, the stench of her fizzles more +fetid than carrion, and the roughness of her hide coarser than palm fibre. She +was wont to bribe those who rubbed parts with her by means of jewels and +instructions; but Abrizah held aloof from her and sought refuge with the +Omnipotent, the Omniscient; for, by Allah, right well quoth the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Ho thou who grovellest low before the great * Nor over fording lesser men dost blench<br/> +Who gildest dross by dirham gathering, * No otter scent disguises carrion stench! +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And now to return to the story of her stratagem and the woes of her working. +Presently she departed, taking the chief Nazarenes with their hosts, and turned +towards the army of the Moslems. Whereupon King Hardub went in to King Afridun +and said to him, "O King, we have no need of the Chief Patriarch nor of his +prayers, but will consult my mother's counsel and observe what she will do with +her craft unending against the Moslem hosts; for these are marching with all +their power, they will soon be upon us and they will encircle us on all sides." +When King Afridun heard this, terror took hold upon his heart and he wrote +letters, without stay or delay, to all the nations of the Nazarenes, saying, +"It behoveth none of the Messiahites or Cross knights to hold back, especially +the folk of the strongholds and forts: but let them all come to us, foot and +horse, women and children, for the Moslem hosts already tread our soil. So +haste! haste ye! ere what we fear to us here appear." Thus much concerning +them; but regarding the work of the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi; when she went +forth from the city with her suite, she clad them in the clothing of Moslem +merchants, having provided herself with an hundred mules carrying stuffs of +Antioch, such as goldwoven satins and royal brocades and so forth. And she had +taken a letter from King Afridun to the following effect: "These be merchantmen +from the land of Sham who have been with us: so it besitteth none to do them +harm or hindrance, nor take tax and tithe of them, till they reach their homes +and safe places, for by merchants a country flourisheth, and these are no men +of war nor of ill faith." Then quoth the accursed Zat al-Dawahi to those with +her, "Verily I wish to work out a plot for the destruction of the Moslem." +Replied they, "O Queen, command us whatso thou wilt; we are at thy disposal and +may the Messiah never disappoint thy dealings!" Then she donned a gown of fine +white wool and rubbed her forehead, till she made a great mark as of a scar and +anointed it with an ointment of her own fashion, so that it shone with +prodigious sheen. Now the old hag was lean bodied and hollow eyed, and she +bound her legs tightly round with cords[FN#412] just above her feet, till she +drew near the Moslem camp, when she unwound them, leaving their marks deeply +embedded in her ankles. Then she anointed the wheels with dragon's blood and +bade her companions beat her with a severe beating, and set her in a chest and, +quoth she, "Cry abroad the Refrain of Unity,[FN#413] nor fear from it aught of +damage!" Replied they, "How can we beat thee, who be our sovereign lady, Zat +al-Dawahi, mother of the King we glory in?" Then said she, "We blame not nor +deal reproach to him who goeth to the jakes, and in need evil becometh good +deed. When ye have set me in the chest, take it and make it one of the bales +and place it on mule back and fare forth with it and the other goods through +the Moslem camp, and fear ye no blame. And if any of the Moslems hinder you, +give up the mules and their lading and be take yourselves to their King, Zau +al-Makan, and implore his protection saying, 'We were in the land of the +Infidels and they took nothing from us, but wrote us a passport, that none +shall do us hindrance or work our mischance.' If he ask you, 'What profit had +ye of your property in the land of Roum?' answer him, 'We profited in the +deliverance of a pious man, who had been bound down in an underground cell nigh +fifteen years, crying out for help yet none helped him. Nay, the Infidels +tortured him night and day. We knew not this; but, after we had tarried in +Constantinople for some time, having sold our goods and bought others in their +stead, we determined on and made ready for a return to our native land. We +spent that night conversing about our journey and when day broke, we saw +figured upon the wall a human form and as we drew nigh it, behold, it moved and +said, 'O Moslems, is there amongst you one who is minded to woo the favour of +the Lord of the three Worlds?'[FN#414] 'How so?' asked we; and the figure +answered, 'Know that Allah hath made me speak to you, to the intent that your +faith be fortified, and that your belief embolden you and that you may go forth +of the country of the Infidels and repair to the Moslem host; for with them +wones the Sword of the Com passionate One, of our Age the Champion, King +Sharrkan, by whom He shall conquer Constantinople town and destroy the sect of +the Nazarene. And when ye shall have journeyed three days, you will find an +hermitage known as the Hermitage of the ascetic Matruhina[FN#415] and +containing a cell; visit it with pure intent and contrive to arrive there by +force of will, for therein is a Religious from the Holy City, Jerusalem, by +name Abdullah, and he is one of the devoutest of mankind, endowed with the +power of working saintly miracles[FN#416] such as dispel doubts and obscurity. +Certain of the monks seized him by fraud and shut him up in a souterrain where +he hath lain a long time. By his deliverance you will please the Lord of +Faithful Men, for such release is better than fighting for the Faith.'" Now +when the ancient dame and those with her had agreed upon such words, she said, +"As soon as that which I impart shall reach the ears of King Sharrkan, say him +further, 'Hearing this from that image we knew that the holy man'"—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Ninety-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old woman, Zat +al-Dawahi, and those with her had agreed upon such words, she said, "Now as +soon as that which I impart shall reach the ears of King Sharrkan say him +further, 'Hearing these words from that image we knew that the holy man was +indeed of the chiefest devotees and Allah's servants of purest qualities; so we +made three days' march till we came in sight of that hermitage, and then we +went up to it and passed the day in buying and selling, as is the wont of +merchants. As soon as day had departed our sight and night was come to darken +light, we repaired to the cell wherein was the dungeon, and we heard the holy +man, after chanting some verses of the Koran, repeat the following couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'My heart disheartened is, my breast is strait, * And sinks my soul in sea of bale and bate<br/> +Unless escape be near I soon shall die; * And Death were better than this doleful strait:<br/> +O Lightning an thou light my home and folk, * An their still brighter charms thy shine abate,<br/> +Say, what my path to meet them, being barred * By wars, and barricado'd succour's gate?' +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +"When once ye have brought me into the Moslem camp, and I mix with them you +shall see," the old woman continued, "how I will make shift to beguile them and +slay them all, even to the last man." The Nazarenes hearing whet she said, +kissed her hands and set her in the chest, after they had beaten her with a +grievous beating in obedience to her commands, for they saw it was incumbent on +them to do her bidding in this; then they all made for the Moslem host as hath +erst been said. Such was the case with the damned hag, Zat al-Dawahi and her +companions; but as regards the Mohammeden army, they indeed, after Allah had +given them victory over their enemies and they had plundered everything in the +ships of money and hoards, all sat down to converse with one another and Zau +al-Makan said to his brother Sharrkan, "Verily, Allah hath granted us to +prevail because of our just dealing and discipline and concord amongst +ourselves; wherefore continue, O Sharrkan, to obey my commandment, in +submission to Allah (be He exalted and extolled!), for I mean to slay ten Kings +in blood-revenge for my sire, to cut the throat of fifty thousand Greeks and to +enter Constantinople." Replied Sharrkan, "My life be thy ransom against death! +Needs must I follow out the Holy War, though I wone many a year in their +country. But I have, O my brother, in Damascus a daughter, named Kuzia Fakan, +whom I love heartily for she is one of the marvels of the time and she will +soon be of age.' Said Zau al-Makan, "And I also have left my wife with child +and near her time, nor do I know what Allah will vouchsafe me by her. But +promise me, O my brother, that if Allah bless me with a son, thou wilt grant me +thy daughter for wife to him, and make covenant with me and pledge me thy faith +thereon." "With love and good will, replied Sharrkan; and, stretching out his +hand to his brother, he said, If she bring thee a son, I will give him my +daughter Kuzia Fakan, to wife." At this Zau al-Makan rejoiced, and they fell to +congratulating each other on the victory over the enemy. And the Wazir Dandan +also congratulated the two brothers and said to them, "Know, O ye Kings, that +Allah hath given us the victory, for that we have devoted our lives to Him (be +He exalted and ex tolled!); and we have left our homes and households; and it +is my counsel that we follow up the foe and press upon him and harass him, so +haply Allah shall enable us to win our wishes, and we shall destroy our +enemies, branch and root. If it please you, do ye go down in these ships and +sail over the sea, whilst we fare forward by land and bear the brunt of battle +and the thrust of fight." And the Minister Dandan ceased not to urge them to +combat and repeated his words who said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"To slay my foes is chiefest bliss I wist, * And on the courser's back be borne a list;<br/> +Comes promising tryst a messenger from friend * Full oft, when comes the friend withouten tryst." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And these words of another, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"War for my mother (an I live) I'll take; * Spear for my brother; scymitar for sire<br/> +With every shag haired brave who meets his death * Smiling, till won from Doom his dear desire!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And when the Wazir ended his verses, he said, "Praise be to Him who aided us +dear victory to uphold and who hath given us spoil of silver and fine gold!" +Then Zau al-Makan commanded the army to depart; and they fared on forcing their +marches for Constantinople, till they came to a wide and spacious champaign, +full of all things fair and fain, with wild cattle frisking and gazelles pacing +to and fro across the plain. Now they had traversed great deserts and drink +had been six days cut off from them, when they drew near this meadow and saw +therein waters founting and ripe fruits daunting and that land as it were +Paradise; for it had donned its adornments and decked itself.[FN#417] Gently +waved the branches of its trees drunken with the new wine of the dew, and +combined with the nectar of Tasnim the soft breathings of the morning breeze. +Mind and gazer were confounded by its beauty, even as saith the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Behold this lovely garden! 'tis as though * Spring o'er its frame her greeny cloak had spread.<br/> +Looking with fleshly eyne, thou shalt but sight * A lake whose waters balance in their bed,<br/> +But look with spirit eyes and lo! shalt see * Glory in every leaf o'erwaves thy head." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And as another saith, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"The stream's a cheek by sunlight rosy dyed, * Whose down[FN#418] is creeping shade of tamarisk stems<br/> +Round legs of tree trunks waveless roll in rings * Silvern, and blossoms are the diadems." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When Zau al-Makan saw this champaign, with its trees bowing and its flowers +blooming and its birds warbling, he called to his brother Sharrkan and said, "O +my brother, verily in Damascus is naught the like of this place. We will not +march from it save after three days, that we may take rest ourselves and that +the army of Al-Islam may regain strength and their souls be fortified to +encounter the blamed Infidels." So they halted therein and while camping +behold, they heard a noise of voices from afar, and Zau al-Makan asked the +cause thereof, and was answered that a caravan of merchants from the Land of +Syria had halted there to rest and that the Moslem troops had come on them and +had haply seized something of the goods which they had brought from the country +of the Infidels. After a while up came the merchants, crying out and appealing +to the King for aidance. When Zau al- Makan saw this, he bade them be brought +before him and, when in presence they said to him, "O King, we have been in the +country of the Infidels and they plundered us of nothing: why then do our +brothers the Moslems despoil our goods, and we in their own land? Of a truth +when we saw your troops, we went up to them and they robbed us of what we had +with us and we have now reported to thee all that hath befallen us." Thereupon +they brought out to him the letter of the King of Constantinople, and Sharrkan +read it and said, "We will presently restore to you what hath been taken from +you; but yet it behoveth you not to carry merchandise to the country of the +Infidels." Replied they, "O our Lord, in very sooth Allah despatched us thither +that we might win what Gházi[FN#419] never won the like of, not even thou in +all thy razzias." Asked Sharrkan, "What was it ye won?" "O King," answered +they, "we will not tell thee save in private; for if this matter be noised +among the folk, haply it may come to the ears of some,[FN#420] and this will be +the cause of our ruin and of the ruin of all Moslems who resort to the land of +the Greeks." Now they had hidden the chest wherein was the damned Zat al- +Dawahi. So Zau al-Makan and his brother brought them to a private place, where +they laid bare to both of them the story of the devotee, and wept till they +made the two Kings weep.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Ninety-fifth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Nazarenes who wore +merchants' weed, when brought to a private place by Zau al-Makan and his +brother Sharrkan, laid bare to both of them the story of the devotee and wept +till they made the two Kings weep and repeated to them all which had been +taught by the old witch Zat al-Dawahi. Thereupon Sharrkan's heart yearned to +the devotee and he was moved to ruth for him and was fired with zeal for the +service of Almighty Allah. So quoth he to them, "Did ye rescue this holy man +or is he still in the hermitage?" Quoth they, "We delivered him and slew the +hermit, fearing for our lives; after which we made haste to fly for dread of +death; but a trusty man told us that in this hermitage are quintals of gold and +silver and stones of price." Then they fetched the chest and brought out the +accursed old woman, as she were a cassia pod[FN#421] for excess of blackness +and leanness, and she was laden with the same fetters and shackles. When Zau +al-Makan and the bystanders saw her, they took her for a man of the best of +Allah's devotees and surpassing in pious qualities, more especially because of +the shining of her forehead for the ointment wherewith she had anointed her +face. So Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan wept sore; then they rose up in honour and +kissed her hands and feet, sobbing aloud: but she signed to them and said, +"Cease this weeping and hear my words. Hereat they dried their tears in +obedience to her bidding, and she said, "Know ye both that I was content to +accept what my Lord did unto me, for I kenned that the affliction which befel +me was a trial from Him (be He exalted and extolled!); and whoso hath not +patience under calamity and tribulation, for him there is no coming to the +delights of Paradise. I had indeed supplicated Him that I might return to my +native land, not as a compensation for the sufferings decreed to me, but that I +might die under the horse hoofs of warriors fighting for the Faith who, being +slain in fray, live again without suffering death."[FN#422] Then she repeated +the following couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Our Fort is Tor,[FN#423] and flames the fire of fight: * Moses art thou and this is time for aid:<br/> +Cast down thy rod, 'twill swallow all they wrought, * Nor dread for men their ropes be vipers made.[FN#424]<br/> +For Chapters read on fight day lines of foes, * And on their necks 'grave versets[FN#425] wi' thy blade!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When the old woman had ended her verse, her eyes overflowed with tears and her +forehead under the unguent shone like gleaming light, and Sharrkan rose and +kissed her hand and caused food be brought before her: but she refused it, +saying, "I have not broken my fast by day for fifteen years; and how should I +break it at such a time when my Lord hath been bountiful to me in delivering me +from the captivity of the Infidels and removing from me that which was more +grievous to me than torment of fire? I will wait till sun down." So when it was +nightfall, Sharrkan and Zau al-Makan came and served her with food and said, +"Eat, O ascetic!" But she said, "This is no time for eating; it is the time for +worshipping the Requiting King." Then she stood up in the prayer niche and +remained praying till the night was spent; and she ceased not to do after this +fashion for three days and nights, sitting not but at the time of the Salám or +salutation[FN#426] ending with several prayers. When Zau al- Makan saw her on +this wise, firm belief in her get hold of his heart and he said to Sharrkan, +"Cause a tent of perfumed leather to be pitched for this Religious, and appoint +a body servant to wait upon him." On the fourth day she called for food; so +they brought her all kinds of meats that could seduce the sense or delight the +sight; but of all this she would eat only a scone with salt. Then she again +turned to her fast and, as the night came, she rose anew to pray; when Sharrkan +said to Zau al-Makan, "Verily, this man carrieth renunciation of the world to +the extreme of renouncing, and, were it not for this Holy War, I would join +myself to him and worship Allah in his service, till I came before His +presence. And now I desire to enter his tent and talk with him for an hour." +Quoth Zau al-Makan, "And I also: To-morrow we sally forth to fight against +Constantinople, and we shall find no time like the present." Said the Wazir +Dandan, "And I no less desire to see this ascetic; haply he will pray for me +that I find death in this Holy War and come to the presence of my Lord, for I +am aweary of the world." So as soon as night had darkened, they repaired to the +tent of that witch, Zat al-Dawahi; and, seeing her standing to pray, they drew +near her and fell a weeping for pity of her; but she paid no heed to them till +midnight was past, when she ended her orisons by pronouncing the salutation. +Then she turned to them and after wishing them long life, asked them "Wherefore +come ye?", whereto they answered, "O thou holy man! diddest thou not hear us +weep around thee?" She rejoined, "To him who standeth in the presence of Allah, +remaineth no existence in time, either for hearing any or for seeing aught +about him." Quoth they, "We would have thee recount to us the cause of thy +captivity and pray for us this night, for that will profit us more than the +possession of Constantinople." Now when she heard their words she said, "By +Allah, were ye not the Emirs of the Moslems, I would not relate to you aught of +this at any time; for I complain not but to Allah alone. However, to you I +will relate the circumstances of my captivity. Know, then, that I was in the +saintly City of Jerusalem with certain ecstatics and inspired men, and did not +magnify myself among them, for that Allah (be He exalted and extolled!) had +endowed me with humility and abnegation, till I chanced to go down to the sea +one night and walked upon the water. Then entered into me pride; whence I know +not, and I said to myself, 'Who like me can walk the water?' And my heart from +that time hardened and Allah afflicted me with the love of travel. So I +journeyed to Roum land and visited every part for a whole year, and left no +place but therein I worshiped Allah. When I came to this spot,[FN#427] I clomb +the mountain and saw there an hermitage, inhabited by a monk called Matrubina, +who, when he sighted me, came out and kissed my hands and feet and said, +'Verily, I have seen thee since thou enteredst the land of the Greeks, and thou +hast filled me with longing for the land of Al-Islam.' Then he took my hand and +carried me into that hermitage, and brought me to a dark room; and, when I +entered it unawares, he locked the door on me and left me there forty days, +without meat or drink; for it was his intent to kill me by delay. It chanced +one day, that a Knight called Dakianús[FN#428] came to the hermitage, +accompanied by ten squires and his daughter Tamásil, a girl whose beauty was +incom parable. When they entered that hermitage, the monk Matruhina told them +of me, and the Knight said, 'Bring him out, for surely there is not on him a +bird's meal of meat.' So they opened the door of the dark room and found me +standing in the niche, praying and reciting the Koran and glorifying Allah and +humbling myself before the Almighty. When they saw me in this state Matrohina +exclaimed, 'This man is indeed a sorcerer of the sorcerers!'; and hearing his +words, they all came in on me, Dakianus and his company withal, and they beat +me with a grievous beating, till I desired death and reproached myself, saying, +'This is his reward who exalteth himself and who prideth himself on that which +Allah hath vouchsafed to him, beyond his own competence! And thou, O my soul, +verily self esteem and arrogance have crept into thee. Dost thou not know that +pride angereth the Lord and hardeneth the heart and bringeth men to the Fire?' +Then they laid me in fetters and returned me to my place which was the dungeon +under ground. Every three days, they threw me down a scone of barley bread and +a draught of water; and every month or two the Knight came to the hermitage. +Now his daughter Tamasil had grown up, for she was nine years old when I first +saw her, and fifteen years passed over me in captivity, so that she had reached +her four and twentieth year. There is not in our land nor in the land of the +Greeks a fairer than she, and her father feared lest the King take her from +him; for she had vowed herself to the Messiah and rode with Dakianus in the +habit of a cavalier, so that albeit none might compare with her in loveliness, +no one who saw her knew her for a woman. And her father had laid up his monies +in this hermitage, every one who had aught of price or treasured hoard being +wont to deposit it therein; and I saw there all manner of gold and silver and +jewels and precious vessels and rarities, none may keep count of them save +Almighty Allah. Now ye are worthier of these riches than those Infidels; so +lay hands on that which is in the hermitage and divide it among the Moslems and +especially on fighters in the Holy War. When these merchants came to +Constantinople and sold their merchandise, that image which is on the wall +spoke to them, by grace of a marvel which Allah granted to me; so they made for +that hermitage and slew Matruhina, after torturing him with most grievous +torments, and dragging him by the beard, till he showed them the place where I +was; when they took me and found no path but flight for dread of death. Now +To-morrow night Tamasil will visit that hermitage as is her habit, and her +father and his squires will come after her, as he feareth for her; so, if ye +would witness these things, take me with you and I will deliver to you the +monies and the riches of the Knight Dakianus which be in that mountain; for I +saw them bring out vessels of gold and silver to drink therefrom, and I heard a +damsel of their company sing to them in Arabic and well-away! that so sweet a +voice should not be busied in chaunting the Koran. If, then, ye will; enter +into that hermitage and hide there against the coming of Dakianus and his +daughter; and take her, for she is fit only for the King of the Age, Sharrkan, +or King Zau al-Makan." Thereat they all rejoiced with the exception of the +Wazir Dandan, who put scant faith in her story, for her words took no hold on +his reason, and signs of doubt in her and disbelief showed in his face.[FN#429] +Yet he was confounded at her discourse, but he feared to speak with her for +awe of the King. Then quoth the ancient dame, Zat al-Dawahi, "Verily, I fear +lest the Knight come and, seeing these troops encamped in the meadow, be afraid +to enter the hermitage." So Zau al-Makan ordered the army to march upon +Constantinople and said, "I have resolved to take with me an hundred horse and +many mules and make for that mountain, where we will load the beasts with the +monies which be in the hermitage." Then he sent at once for the Chief +Chamberlain whom they brought into the presence; and he summoned likewise the +leaders of the Turks and Daylamites and said, "As soon as it is dawn, do ye set +forth for Constantinople; and thou, O Chamberlain, shalt take my place in +council and contrivance, while thou, O Rustam, shalt be my brother's deputy in +battle. But let none know that we are not with you and after three days we +will rejoin you." Then he chose out an hundred of the doughtiest riders, and he +and Sharrkan and the Minister Dandan set out for the hermitage, and the hundred +horsemen led the mules with chests for transporting the treasure.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Ninety-sixth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan and his brother, +Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan set off with an hundred horse for the +hermitage described to them by that accursed Zat al-Dawahi, and they took with +them mules and chests for transporting the treasure. Now as soon as dawned the +morn, the Chamberlain signalled to the host an order for departure, and they +set out thinking that the two Kings and the Wazir were with them; knowing not +that the three had made for the monastery. Such was the case with the host, but +as regards the two Kings and the Minister, they tarried in their place till the +end of that day. Now the Infidels who were with Zat al-Dawahi took their +departure privily, after they had gone in to her and kissed her hands and feet +and obtained her leave to march. So she not only gave them permission but also +taught them all she minded of wile and guile. And when it was dark night, she +arose and went in to Zau al-Makan and his companions and said to them, "Come, +let us set out for the mountain, and take with you a few men at arms." They +obeyed her and left five horsemen at the foot of the mountain, whilst the rest +rode on before Zat al-Dawahi, who gained new strength for excess of joy, so +that Zau al-Makan said, "Glory be to Him who sustaineth this holy man, whose +like we never saw!" Now the witch had written a letter to the King of +Constantinople and despatched it on the wings of a bird,[FN#430] acquainting +him with what had passed and ending, "I wish thee to send me ten thousand +horsemen of the bravest of the Greeks and let them steal along the foot of the +mountains with caution, lest the host of Al-Islam get sight of them; and, when +they reach the hermitage, let them ambush themselves there, till I come to them +with the Moslem King and his brother, for I shall inveigle them and will bring +them thither, together with the Wazir and an hundred horse and no more, that I +may presently deliver to them the crosses which be in the hermitage. I am +resolved to slay the Monk Matruhina, since my scheme cannot be carried out but +by taking his life. If my plot work well, not one of the Moslems shall return +to his own country; no, not a living wight nor one who blows the fire alight; +and Matruhina shall be a sacrifice for the followers of the Nazarene faith and +the servants of the Cross, and praise be to the Messiah, first and last." When +this letter reached Constantinople, the keeper of the carrier pigeons carried +it to King Afridun, who read it and forthwith inspected his host and equipped +ten thousand cavaliers with horses and dromedaries and mules and provaunt and +bade them repair to that hermitage and, after reaching the tower, to hide +therein. Thus far concerning them; but as regards King Zau al-Makan and his +brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan and the escort, when they reached the +hermitage they entered and met the Monk Matruhina, who came out to see who and +what they were; whereupon quoth that pious man Zat al-Dawahi, "Slay this damned +fellow."[FN#431] So they smote him with their swords and made him drink the cup +of death. Then the accursed old woman carried them to the place of offerings +and ex votos, and brought out to them treasures and precious things more than +she had described to them; and after gathering the whole together, they set the +booty in chests and loaded the mules therewith. As for Tamasil, she came not, +she or her father, for fear of the Moslems; so Zau al-Makan tarried there, +awaiting her all that day and the next and a third, till Sharrkan said to him, +"By Allah, I am troubled anent the army of Al-Islam, for I know not what is +become of them." His brother replied, "And I also am concerned for them: we +have come by this great treasure and I do not believe that Tamasil or any one +else will approach the hermitage, after that befel which hath befallen the host +of the Christians. It behoveth us, then, to content ourselves with what Allah +hath given us and depart; so haply He will help us conquer Constantinople." +Accordingly they came down from the mountain, while Zat al-Dawahi was impotent +to oppose their march for fear of betraying her deceit; and they fared forwards +till they reached the head of a defile, where the old woman had laid an ambush +for them with the ten thousand horse. As soon as these saw the Moslems they +encircled them from all sides, couching lance and baring the white sabre blade; +and the Infidels shouted the watch word of their faithless Faith and set the +shafts of their mischief astring. When Zau al-Makan and his brother Sharrkan +and the Minister Dandan looked upon this host, they saw that it was a numerous +army and said, "Who can have given these troops information of us?" Replied +Sharrkan, "O my brother, this be no time for talk; this is the time for smiting +with swords and shooting with shafts) so gird up your courage and hearten your +hearts, for this strait is like a street with two gates; though, by the virtue +of the Lord of Arabs and Ajams, were not the place so narrow I would bring them +to naught, even though they were an hundred thousand men!" Said Zau al-Makan, +"Had we wotted this we would have brought with us five thousand horse;" and the +Wazir Dandan continued, "If we had ten thousand horse they had availed us +naught in these narrows; but Allah will succour us against them. I know this +defile and its straitness, and I know there be many places of refuge in it; for +I have been here on razzia with King Omar bin al-Nu'uman, what while we +besieged Constantinople. We abode in this place, and here is water colder than +snow. So come, let us push out of this defile ere the Infidel host increase on +us and get the start of us to the mountain top, whence they will hurl down +rocks upon us, and we powerless to come at them." So they began hurrying on to +get out of those narrows; but the pious man, Zat al-Dawahi, looked at them and +said, "What is it ye fear, ye who have vowed yourselves to the Lord, and to +working His will? By Allah, I abode imprisoned underground for fifteen years, +yet never gainsaid the Almighty in aught he did with me! Fight ye in Allah's +way; so whoever of you is slain Paradise shall be his abode, and whoso slayeth, +his striving shall be to his honour." When they heard from the ascetic these +words, their care and anxiety ceased from them and they stood firm till the +Infidels charged down from all sides, whilst the swords played upon their necks +and the cup of death went round amongst them. The Moslems fought for the +service of Allah a right good fight, and wrought upon His foes with sway of +sword and lunge of lance; whilst Zau al-Makan smote upon the men and garred the +knights bite the dust and their heads from their bodies take flight, five by +five and ten by ten, till he had done to death a number of them past numbering +and an accompt beyond counting. Now while so doing, he looked at the accursed +old woman who was waving her sword and heartening them, and all who feared fled +to her for shelter; but she was also signing the Infidels to slay Sharrkan. So +troop after troop rushed on him with design to do him die; but each troop that +charged, he charged and drove back; and when another troop attacked him he +repelled the assault with the sword in their backs; for he thought it was the +devotee's blessing that gave him the vic tory, and he said in himself, "Verily +on this holy men Allah looketh with eyes of His favour and strengtheneth my +prowess against the Infidels with the purity of his pious intent: for I see +that they fear me and cannot prevail against me, but every one who assaileth me +turneth tail and taketh flight." So they battled the rest of the day and, when +night fell, the Moslems took refuge in a cave of that defile being weary with +stress of war and cast of stone: and that day were slain of them five and +forty. And when they were gathered together, they sought the devotee, but +could find no trace of him; and this was grievous to them and they said, +"Belike, he hath died a martyr." Quoth Sharrkan, "I saw him heartening the +horsemen with divine instances and using as talisman verses of Holy Writ." Now +while they were talking, behold, the accursed old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, stood +before them, hending in hand the head of the Chief Captain of the ten thousand +horse, a noble knight, a champion fierce in fight and a Satan for blight. One +of the Turks had slain him with an arrow, and Allah hurried his soul to the +fire; and when the Infidels saw what that Moslem had done with their leader, +they all fell on him and wrought his bane and hewed him in pieces with their +swords, and Allah hurried his soul to Heaven. Then the accursed old woman cut +off that Knight's head and brought it and threw it at the feet of Sharrkan and +Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan. Now when Sharrkan sew her, he sprang up +hastily before her and exclaimed, "Praised be Allah for thy safety and for our +sighting thee, O holy man and devout champion of the Religion!" Replied she, O +my son, I have sought martyrdom this day, and have thrown my life away amid the +Infidel array, but they feared me with dismay. When ye dispersed, I waxed +jealous for your honour; so I rushed on the Chief Knight their leader, albeit +he was a match for a thousand horse, and I smote him till I severed head from +trunk. Not one of the Infidels could near me; so I brought his head to +you,"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Ninety-seventh Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the damned witch, +Zat al-Dawahi, took the head of the Knight, the leader of the twenty thousand +Infidels, she brought it and threw it down before Zau al-Makan and his brother +Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan, saying, "When I saw your condition, I waxed +jealous for your honour; so I rushed on the Chief Knight and smote him with the +sword till I severed head from trunk. And none could near me, so I brought his +head to you, that you may be strengthened in Holy War and work out with your +swords the will of the Lord of the Faithful. And now I purpose leaving you to +strive against the Infidels, whilst I go to your army, though they be at the +gates of Constantinople, and return with twenty thousand horse to destroy these +Unfaithfuls." Quoth Sharrkan, "How wilt thou pass to them, O thou holy man, +seeing that the valley is blocked up on all sides by the Miscreants?" Quoth the +accursed hag, "Allah will veil me from their eyes and they shall not sight +me;[FN#432] nor, if any saw me, would he dare to attack me at that time, for I +shall be as one non existing, absorbed in Allah, and He will fend off from me +His foes." "Thou sayest sooth, O holy man," rejoined Sharrkan, "for indeed I +have been witness of that; so, if thou can pass out at the first of the night, +'twill be best for us." Replied she, "I will set out at this very hour and, if +thou desire, thou shalt go with me and none shall see thee. Furthermore if thy +brother also have a mind to go with us we will take him, but none else; for the +shadow of a saint can cover only twain." Sharrkan said, "As for me I will not +leave my comrades; but, if my brother will, there is no harm in his going with +thee and setting us free of this strait; for he is the stronghold of the +Moslems and the sword of the Lord of the three Worlds; and if it be his +pleasure, let him take with him the Wazir Dandan, or whom else he may elect and +send us ten thousand horse to succour us against these caitiffs." So after +debate they agreed on this and the old woman said, "Give me leisure to go +before you and consider the condition of the Infidels, if they be asleep or +awake." Quoth they, "We will not go forth save with thee and trust our affair +to Allah." "If I do your bidding," replied she, "blame me not but blame +yourselves; for it is my rede that you await me till I bring you tidings of the +case." Then said Sharrkan, "Go to them and delay not from us, for we shall be +awaiting thee." Thereupon she fared forth and Sharrkan turned to his brother +addressing him and said, "Were not this holy man a miracle worker, he had never +slain yonder furious knight. This is proof sufficient of the ascetic's power; +and of a truth the pride of the Infidels is laid low by the slaying of this +cavalier, for he was violent, an evil devil and a stubborn." Now whilst they +were thus devising of the mighty works of the devotee, behold, the accursed Zat +al-Dawahi came upon them and promised them victory over the Unbelievers; +wherefor they thanked her (not knowing that all this was wile and guile) and +the damned hag asked, "Where be the King of the Age, Zau al-Makan, and the +Minister Dandan?" Answered he, "Here am I!" Take with thee thy Wazir," said +she, "and follow after me, that we may fare forth to Constantinople." Now she +had acquainted the Infidels with the cheat she had put upon the Moslems, and +they rejoiced with exceeding great joy, and said, Our hearts will not be +contented till we shall have slain their King in return for the Knight's death; +because we had no stouter rider than he;" and they added (bespeaking the ill +omened hag as she told them her plan of faring to the land of the Moslems), +"When thou bringest him to us, we will bear him to King Afridun." Then she went +out and went out with her Zau al-Makan and the Minister Dandan, and she walked +on before the two saying, "Fare forth with the blessing of Almighty Allah!" So +they did her bidding, for the shaft of Pate and Fortune of man's lot had shot +them, and she ceased not leading them both through the midst of the Grecian +camp, till they came to the defile, the narrow pass aforesaid, whilst the +Infidel enemy watched them, but did them no hindrance; for the infernal old +woman had enjoined this. Now when Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan saw that +the Infidel host offered them no let and stay and yet had them in sight, the +Wazir exclaimed, "By Allah, this is one of the holy man's saintly miracles! +and doubtless he be of the elect." Rejoined Zau al-Makan, "By Allah, I think +the Infidels be naught but blind, for we see them and they see us not." And +while they were thus praising the holy man and recounting his mighty works and +his piety and his prayers, behold, the Infidels charged down on them from all +sides and surrounded them and seized them, saying, "Is there anyone else with +you twain, that we may seize upon him too?" And the Wazir Dandan replied, "See +you not yon other man that is before us? ' Replied the Unbelievers, "By the +truth of the Messiah and the Monks, and the Primate and the Metropolitan, we +see none save you two!" Then Zau Al-Makan said, "By Allah, this is a +chastisement decreed to us by Almighty Allah!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn +of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Ninety-eighth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Unfaithful had +seized upon King Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan, they said to the two, "Is +there anyone else with you twain, that we may seize upon him also?" And the +Wazir Dandan replied, "See you not yon other man who be with us?" They +rejoined, "By the truth of the Messiah and the Monks and the Primate and the +Metropolitan, we see none save you two!" Then the Infidels laid shackles on +their feet and set men to guard them during the night, whilst Zat al-Dawahi +fared on and disappeared from their sight. So they fell to lamenting and +saying to each other, "Verily, the opposing of pious men leadeth to greater +distress than this, and we are punished by the strait which hath befallen us." +So far concerning Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan; but as regards King +Sharrkan, he passed that night in the cavern with his comrades, and when dawned +the day and he had prayed the morn prayer, he and his men made ready to do +battle with the Infidel and he heartened them and promised them all good. Then +they sallied out till they were hard upon the Unbelievers and, when these saw +them from afar, they cried out to them, saying, "O Moslems, we have taken +captives your Sultan and your Wazir who hath the ordering of your affairs; and +except ye leave off fighting us, we will slay you to the last man; but an you +yield yourselves we will take you to our King, who will make peace with you on +condition that you quit our country and return home and harm us in naught, and +we will do you no harm in aught. If ye accept, it will be well for you; but if +ye refuse there remaineth nothing for you but death. So we have told you +sooth, and this is our last word to you." Now when Sharrkan heard this and was +certified of the captivity of his brother and the Wazir Dandan, he was weighed +down with woe and wept; his force failed him and, making sure of death, he said +to himself, "Would I knew the cause of their capture! Did they fail of respect +to the holy man or disobey him, or what was the matter?" Then they sprang up to +battle with the Unbelievers and slew great numbers of them. The brave was known +that day from craven men, and sword and spear were dyed with bloody stain; for +the Infidels flocked up on them, as flies flock to drink, from hill and from +plain; but Sharrkan and his men ceased not to wage the fight of those who fear +not to die, nor let death hinder them from the pursuit of victory, till the +valley ran gore and earth was full of the slain she bore. And when night fell +the armies separated each making for his own place; and the Moslems returned to +the cavern where gain and loss were manifest to them: few remained of them and +there was no dependence for them but on Allah and the scymitar. Now there had +been slain of them that day five and thirty men of the chiefest Emirs, and they +had killed thousands of the Infidels, footmen and fighters on horse. When +Sharrkan saw this, the case was grievous to him and he asked his comrades "What +shall we do?"; whereto all answered, "That which Almighty Allah willeth shall +befal us." On the morning of the second day, Sharrkan said to the remnant of +his troop, "If ye go forth to fight, not one of you will remain alive and we +have but little left of food and water; so I deem ye would do better to bare +your brands and go forth and stand at the mouth of this cavern, to hinder any +from entering. Haply the holy man may have reached the Moslem host, and may +return with ten thousand horses to succour us in fight with the Infidels, for +belike the Unfaithful may have failed to see him and those with him." They +said, This were the better course to take, and of its expediency no doubt we +make." So the troop went out and held the cavern mouth standing by its walls; +and every one of the Infidels who sought to enter in, they slew. Thus did they +fend off the foe from the gape of the cave and they patiently supported all +such assaults, till day was done and night came on dusky and dun;—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the Ninety-ninth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the army of the Moslems +held the cavern mouth and stood by its walls and they fended off the foe, and +every one of the Infidels attempted to charge them, him they slew; and they +patiently supported all such assaults till day was done and night came on dusky +and dun, by which time King Sharrkan had only five and twenty men and no more +left. Then quoth the Infidels to one another, "When shall these battle days +have an end? We are weary of warring the Moslems." And quoth one of them, "Up +and at them, for there remain of them but five and twenty men! If we cannot +prevail on them to fight, let us light a fire upon them;[FN#433] and if they +submit themselves and yield to us, we will take them prisoners; but if they +refuse we will leave them for fuel to the fire, so shall they become to men of +foreseeing mind a warning dire. May the Messiah on their fathers have no +grace, and may the sojourn of the Nazarenes be for them no abiding place!" So +they carried fuel to the jaws of the cavern and set fire to it. Thereupon +Sharrkan and his companions made sure of perdition and yielded themselves +prisoners. And while they were in this condition, lo! the knight their +captain said to those who counselled their slaughter, "It is not for any save +for King Afridun to kill them, that he may gratify his wrath; therefore it +behoveth us to keep them in durance by us till the morrow, when we will journey +with them to Constantinople and deliver them to our King, who shall deal with +them as he please." Said they, "This is the right course;" and he commanded to +pinion them and set guards over them. Then, as soon as it was black night, the +Infidels busied themselves with feasting and making festival; and they called +for wine and drank it till all fell upon their backs. Now Sharrkan and his +brother, Zau al-Makan, were in confinement and so also were his companion +knights; whereupon the elder turned to the younger brother and said to him, "O +my brother, how win free?" "By Allah," replied Zau al Makan, "I know not; for +here we be like birds in cage." Then Sharrkan waxed wroth and sighed for excess +of rage and stretched himself, till his pinion bonds brass asunder; whereupon +being free he arose and went up to the Captain of the guard, and taking from +his pocket the keys of the fetters, freed Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan and +the rest of his men. Then he turned to the two and said, "I desire to slay +three of these Infidels and take and don their dress, we three; so that we +shall be guised as Greeks and we will pass through them, with out their knowing +us, and fare forth to our own force." Replied Zau al-Makan, "This is no safe +counsel for if we kill them, I fear some of their comrades may hear their +shrieks and the foe be aroused upon us and kill us. 'Twere the surer way to +pass out of the defile." So they agreed upon this and set out; and, when they +had left the head of the strait a little distance behind, they saw horses +picketed and the riders sleeping: and Sharrkan said to his brother, "Better we +take each one of us a steed." There were five and twenty horsemen, so they took +five and twenty horses, whilst Allah sent sleep upon the Infidels for a purpose +He knew and the Faithful mounted and fared on till they were out of reach. +Meanwhile Sharrkan set to gathering from the Infidels as many weapons, swords, +and spears, as were wanted. And while they took saddle and struck forwards +none of the Infidels supposed that anyone could release Zau al-Makan and his +brother and their men; or that their prisoners had power to escape. Now when +all the captives were safe from the Unfaithful, Sharrkan came up with his +comrades, and found them awaiting his arrival, on coals of flame, expecting him +in anxious grame, so he turned to them and said, "Feel no fear since Allah +protecteth us. I have that to propose which haply shall effect our purpose." +"What is it?" asked they and he answered, "I desire that ye all climb to the +mountain top and cry out with one voice, 'Allaho Akbar!' and ye add, 'The army +of Al Islam is upon you! Allaho Akbar!' This wise their company will surely be +dissolved nor will they find out the trick for they are drunk, but they will +think that the Moslem troops have encompassed them about on all sides and have +mingled with them; so they will fall on one another brand in hand during the +confusion of drunkenness and sleep, and we will cleave them asunder with their +own swords and the scymitar will go round amongst them till dawn." Replied Zau +al-Makan, "This plan is not good; we should do better to make our way to our +army and speak not a word; for if we cry out 'Allaho Akbar,' they will wake and +fall on us and not one of us will escape." Rejoined Sharrkan, "By Allah, though +they should awake tis no matter, and I long that ye fall in with my plan, for +naught save good can come of it!" So they agreed thereon and clomb the mountain +and shouted, "Allaho Akbar!" And hills and trees and rocks reworded their +Allaho Akbar for fear of the Almighty. But when the Kafirs heard this slogan +they cried out to one another,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundredth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan spake thus, "I +long that ye fall in with this my plan, for naught save good can come of it." +So they agreed thereon and clomb the mountain head and shouted, "Allaho +Akbar!"; and hills and trees and rocks re worded their Allaho Akbar for fear of +the Almighty. The Infidels heard it and cried out one to other and donned their +armour and said, "The foe is upon us, by the truth of the Messiah!" Then they +fell on one another and slew of their own men more than any knoweth save +Almighty Allah. As soon as it was dawn, they sought for the captives, but +found no trace of them, and their captains said, "They who did this were the +prisoners in our possession; up, then, and after them in all haste till ye +overtake them, when we will make them quaff the cup of requital; and let not +fright nor the panic of sudden awaking possess you." So they took horse and +rode after the fugitives and it wanted but an eye twinkling before they +overtook them and surrounded them. Now when Zau al-Makan saw this, he was +seized with increase of terror and said to his brother, "What I feared would +come, is come upon us, and now it remaineth only for us to fight for the +Faith." But Sharrkan preferred to hold his peace. Then Zau al- Makan and his +companions rushed down from the hill crest, shouting, "Allaho Akbar!" and his +men repeated the war cry and addressed themselves to fight and to sell their +lives in the service of the Lord of Faithful Men; and while they were in this +case, behold, they heard many voices voicing, "There is no god but the God! +God is most great! Salutation and salvation upon the Apostle, the Bringer of +glad Tidings, the Bearer of bad Tidings!''[FN#434] So they turned towards the +direction of the sound and saw a company of Moslems who believed in one God, +pushing towards them, whereat their hearts were heartened and Sharrkan charged +upon the Infidels crying out, "There is no god but the God! God is most great! +he and those with him, so that earth quaked as with an earthquake and the +Unbeliever host brake asunder and fled into the mountains and the Moslems +followed them with lunge and blow; and Zau al-Makan and his comrades of the +Moslems ceased not to smite the hosts of the Infidel foe, and parted heads from +bodies till day darkened and night coming on starkened sight. Thereupon the +Moslems drew together and passed the night in congratulations, and, when +morning dawned and daybreak shone with its shine and sheen, they saw Bahram, +the captain of the Daylamites, and Rustam, the captain of the Turks, advancing +to join them, with twenty thousand cavaliers like lions grim. As soon as they +saw Zau al-Makan, the riders dismounted and saluted him, and kissed ground +between his hands when he said to them, "Rejoice ye in the glad tidings of the +victory of the Moslem and the discomfiture of the tribe of Unbelievers!" Then +they gave one another joy of their deliverance and of the greatness of their +reward after Resurrection Day. Now the cause of the coming of the succours to +that place was this. When the Emir Bahram and the Emir Rustam and the Chief +Chamberlain, with the Moslem host and flags flaunting high ahead, came in sight +of Constantinople they saw that the Nazarenes had mounted the walls and manned +the towers and the forts, and had set all their defenders in order of defence, +as soon as they learned of the approach of the host of Al-Islam and the banners +Mohammedan, and they heard the clash of arms and the noise of war voices and +tramp of horse hoofs and from their look outs they beheld the Moslems, with +their standards and ensigns of the Faith of Unity under the dust clouds and lo! +they were like a flight of locusts or rain clouds raining rain, and the voices +of the Moslems chanting the Koran and glorifying the Compassionate One, struck +their ears. Now the Infidels knew of the approach of this host through Zat +al-Dawahi with her craft and whoredom,[FN#435] calumny and contrivance. And +the armies of Al-Islam drew near, as it were the swollen sea, for the multitude +of footmen and horsemen and women and children. Then quoth the General of the +Turks to the General of the Daylamites, "O Emir, of a truth, we are in jeopardy +from the multitude of the foe who is on the walls. Look at yonder bulwarks and +at this world of folk like the seas that clash with dashing billows. Indeed +yon Infidel outnumbereth us an hundredfold and we cannot be safe from spies who +may inform them that we are without a Sultan. In very sooth, we run danger +from these enemies, whose numbers may not be told and whose resources none can +withhold, especially in the absence of King Zau al-Makan and his brother +Sharrkan and the illustrious Wazir Dandan. If they know of this, they will be +emboldened to attack us in their absence and with the sword they will +annihilate us to the last man; not one of us safety shall see. So it is my +counsel that thou take ten thousand riders of the allies and the Turks, and +march them to the hermitage of Matruhina and the meadow of Malúkhiná in quest +of our brothers and comrades. If thou act by my advice, it may be we shall +approve ourselves the cause of their deliverance, in case they be hard pressed +by the Infidels; and if thou act not, blame will not attach to me. But, an ye +go, it behoveth that ye return quickly, for ill suspicion is part of prudence." +The Emir aforesaid fell in with his counsel; so they chose twenty thousand +horse and they set out covering the roads and making for the monastery above +mentioned. So much for the cause of their coming; but as regards the ancient +dame, Zat al-Dawahi, as soon as she had delivered Sultan Zau al-Makan and his +brother Sharrkan and the Wazir Dandan into the hands of the Infidels, the foul +whore mounted a swift steed, saying to the Faithless, "I design to rejoin the +Moslem army which is at Constantinople and contrive for their destruction; for +I will inform them that their chiefs are dead, and when they hear that from me, +their joining will be disjointed and the cord of their confederation cut and +their host scattered. Then will I go to King Afridun, Lord of Constantinople, +and to my son Hardub, King of Roum, and relate to them their tidings and they +will sally forth on the Moslems with their troops and will destroy them and +will not leave one of them alive." So she mounted and struck across country on +her good steed all the livelong night; and, when day-dawned, appeared the +armies of Bahram and Rustam advancing towards her. So she turned into a +wayside brake and hid her horse among the trees and she walked a while saying +to herself, "Haply the Moslem hosts be returning, routed, from the assault of +Constantinople." However, as she drew near them she looked narrowly and made +sure that their standards were not reversed,[FN#436] and she knew that they +were coming not as conquered men, but fearing for their King and comrades. +When she was assured of this, she hastened towards them, running at speed, like +a devil of ill rede, till reaching them she cried out, "Haste ye! haste ye! O +soldiers of the Compassionate One, hasten to the Holy War against the hosts of +Satan!" When Bahram saw her he dismounted and kissed the ground before her and +asked her, "O friend of Allah what is behind thee?" Answered she, "Question not +of sad case and sore condition; for when our comrades had taken the treasure +from the hermitage of Matruhina, and designed to win their way Constantinople +wards, thereupon came out on them a driving host and a dreadful of the +Infidels." And the damned witch repeated to them the story to fill them with +trouble and terror, adding, "The most of them are dead, and there are but five +and twenty men left." Said Bahram, "O holy man! when didst thou leave them?" +"But this night,"[FN#437] replied she. He cried, "Glory be to Allah! to Him +who hath rolled up the far distance for thee like a rug, so that thou hast sped +thus walking upon thy feet and props upon a mid-rib of palm-tree! But thou art +one of the saints which fly like birds when inspired and possessed by His +directions."[FN#438] Then he mounted his horse, and he was perplexed and +confounded by what he had heard from the beldam so strong in lies and ill +calumnies, and he said, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in +Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Verily our labour is lost and our hearts are +heavy within us, for our Sultan is a prisoner and those who are with him." Then +they cut across the country, wide and side, night and day, and when morning +dawned they reached the head of the defile and saw Zau al-Makan and Sharrkan +shouting. "There is no god but the God! Allaho Akbar! and Salutation and +Salvation upon the Congratulator, the Comminator."[FN#439] Whereupon he and +his drove at the Unbelievers and whelmed them, as the rain torrent whelms the +waste; and cried out their war cries, till fear get hold of the prowess Knights +and the mountains were cloven in affright. And when shone the day and showed +its shine and sheen, the breeze of morning blew upon them sweet and fragrant, +and each recognised other as hath been said before. Then they kissed the +ground before the King and before his brother Sharrkan, who told them all that +had befallen the party in the cave. Now thereat they marvelled and said to one +another, "Hasten we back to Constantinople, for we left our companions there, +and our hearts are with them." So they hurried departure, commending themselves +to the Subtle, the All-wise, and Zau al-Makan exhorted the Moslems to +steadfast- ness and versified in the following couplets,[FN#440] +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Be praises mine to all praiseworthy Thee, * O Lord, who stinted not mine aid to be!<br/> +Though was I lost abroad, Thou west to me * Strongest support which vouchsafed victory:<br/> +Thou gav'st me wealth and reign and goodly gifts, * And slungest con quering sword of valiancy:<br/> +Thou mad'st me blest beneath Thy kingly shade, * Engraced with generous boons dealt fain and free:<br/> +Thou savedst *from every fear I feared, by aid * Of my Wazir, the Age's noblest he!<br/> +Garred us Thy grace in fight to throw the Greek, * Who yet came back dight in War's cramoisie:<br/> +Then made I feint to fly from out the fight; * But like grim lion turning made them flee,<br/> +And left on valley sole my foemen, drunk * Not with old wine[FN#441] but Death-cup's revelry:<br/> +Then came the Saintly Hermit, and he showed * His marvels wrought for town and wold to see;<br/> +When slew they hero-wights who woke to dwell * In Eden bowers wherein sweet rill-lets well." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +But, when Zau al-Makan had made an end of versifying, his brother Sharrkan +congratulated him on his safety and thanked him for the deeds he had done; +after which both set out forcing their marches to rejoin their army.—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and First Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sharrkan congratulated +his brother, Zau al-Makan, on his safety and thanked him for the deeds he had +done; after which both set out forcing their marches to rejoin their army. +Such was their case; but as regards the old woman, Zat al-Dawahi, after she had +foregathered with the hosts of Rustam and Bahram, she returned to the coppice, +where she took her steed and mounted and sped on at speed, till she drew near +the Moslem army that beleaguered Constantinople, when she lighted down from her +destrier and led it to the pavilion tent of the Chief Chamberlain. And when he +saw her, he stood up to her in honour and signed to her with his right hand and +said, "Welcome O pious recluse!" Then he questioned her of what had befallen, +and she repeated to him her disquieting lies and deluding calumnies, saying, +"In sooth I fear for the Emir Rustam, and the Emir Bahram, for that I met them +and theirs on the way and sent them and their following to relieve the King and +his companions. Now there are but twenty thousand horse and the Unbelievers +outnumber them; so I would have thee at this moment send off the rest of thy +troops at full speed to their suc cour, lest they be slain to the last man." +And she cried to them, "Haste! Haste!" When the Chamberlain and the Moslems +heard these words, their spirits fell and they wept; but Zat al-Dawahi said to +them, "Ask aidance of Allah and bear patiently this triburation; for ye have +the example of those who have been before you of the people of Mohammed; and +Paradise with its palaces is laid out by Allah for those who die martyrs; and +needs must all die, but most praiseworthy is dying while fighting for the +Faith." The Chamberlain, hearing this speech of the accursed old woman, called +for the Emir Bahram's brother, a knight by name Tarkash; and, choosing out for +him ten thousand horse, riders famed for force, bade him set out at once. So +he fared forth and marched all that day and the whole of the next night, till +he neared the Moslems. When daylight dawned, Sharrkan saw the dust cloud about +them and feared for the men of Al-Islam and said, "If these troops which are +coming upon us be Moslem men our victory is assured by them; but, if these be +Nazarenes, there is no gainsaying Destiny's decrees." Then he turned to his +brother, Zau al- Makan, and said, Never fear, for with my life I will ransom +thee from death. If these be Mohammedan troops, then were it an increase of +heavenly favours; but, if they be our foes, there is no help save that we fight +them. Yet do I long to meet the Holy Man ere I die, so I may beg him to pray +that I die not save by death of martyrdom." Whilst the twain were thus +speaking, behold, there appeared the banners inscribed with the words, "There +is no god but the God and Mohammed is the Apostle of God;" and Sharrkan cried +out, "How is it with the Moslems?" "All are sound and safe," replied they, "and +we came not but out of concern for you." Then the Chief of the army dismounted +and, kissing ground before Sharrkan, asked, "O my lord, how be the Sultan and +the Wazir Dandan and Rustam and my brother Bahram; are they all in safety?" He +answered, "All well; but who brought thee tidings of us?" Quoth Tarkash; "It +was the Holy Man who told us that he had met my brother Bahram and Rustam and +had sent them both to you and he also assured us that the Infidels had +encompassed you and out numbered you; but I see not the case save the contrary +thereof and that you are victorious." They questioned him, "And how did the +Holy Man reach you?"; and he replied, "Walking on his feet and he had compassed +in a day and a night, ten days' journey for a well girt horseman." "There is no +doubt but that he is a Saint of Allah," said Sharrkan, "but where is he now?" +They rejoined, "We left him with our troops, the folk of the Faith, moving them +to do battle with the rebels and the Faithless." Thereat Sharrkan rejoiced and +all thanked Allah for their own deliverance and the safety of the Holy Man; and +commended the dead to His mercy saying, "This was writ in the Book." Then they +set out making for Constantinople by forced marches, and whilst they were on +this enterprise, behold, a dust cloud arose to such height that it walled the +two horizons, the eastern and the western, from man's sight and the day was +darkened by it to night. But Sharrkan looked at it and said, "Verily, I fear +lest this be the Infidels who have routed the army of Al-Islam for that this +dust walleth the world, east and west, and hideth the two horizons, north and +south." Presently appeared under the dust a pillar of darkness, blacker than +the blackness of dismal days; nor ceased to come upon them that column more +dreadful than the dread of the Day of Doom. Horse and foot hastened up to look +at it and know the terrors of the case, when behold, they saw it to be the +recluse aforesaid; so they thronged round him to kiss his hands and he cried +out, "O people of the Best of Mankind,[FN#442] the lamp which shineth in +darkness blind, verily the Infidels have outwitted the Moslems by guile, for +they fell upon the host of the One God whilst they deemed themselves safe from +the Faithless, and attacked them in their tents and made a sore slaughter of +them what while they looked for no wile; so hasten to the aid of the Believers +in the unity of God, and deliver them from those who deny Him!" Now when +Sharrkan heard these words, his heart flew from his breast with sore trouble; +and, alighting from his steed in amazement, he kissed the Recluse's hands and +feet. On like wise did his brother, Zau al-Makan, and the rest of the foot and +horse troops; except the Wazir Dandan, who dismounted not but said, "By Allah, +my heart flieth from this devotee, for I never knew show of devotion to +religion that bred not bane. So leave him and rejoin your comrades the +Moslems, for this man is of the outcasts from the gate of the mercy of the Lord +of the Three Worlds! How often have I here made razzias with King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman and trodden the earth of these lands!" Said Sharrkan, "Put away from +thee such evil thought, hast thou not seen this Holy Man exciting the Faithful +to fight, and holding spears and swords light? So slander him not, for +backbiting is blameable and poisoned is the flesh of the pious.[FN#443] Look +how he inciteth us to fight the foe; and, did not Almighty Allah love him, He +had cast him aforetime into fearful torment." Then Sharrkan bade bring a Nubian +mule for the ascetic to ride and said, "Mount, O pious man, devout and +virtuous!" But the devotee refused to ride and feigned self denial, that he +might attain his end; and they knew not that this holy personage was like him +of whom the poet saith, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"He prayeth and he fasteth for an end he doth espy; * When once his end is +safely won then fast and prayer good bye."[FN#444] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +So the devotee ceased not to walk among the horsemen and the footmen, like a +wily fox meditating guile, and began to uplift her voice, chanting the Koran +and praising the Compassionate One. And they continued pressing forward till +they approached the camp of Al-Islam, where Sharrkan found the Moslem in +conquered plight and the Chamberlain upon the brink of falling back in flight, +whilst the sword of Greece havoc dight among the Faithful, the righteous and +those who work upright,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Second Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sharrkan saw the +Moslems in conquered plight and the Chamberlain upon the brink of retreat and +flight and the sword havoc dight among the righteous and the workers of +upright, the cause of this weakness among the Moslems was that the accursed old +woman, Zat al- Dawahi, the foe of the Faith, after seeing that Bahram and +Rustam had set forward with their troops to join Sharrkan and his brother Zau +al-Makan, repaired to the camp of the Mahometans before Constantinople and +caused the mission of the Emir Tarkash, as hath been before said. In this her +purpose was to divide the Moslem forces the better to weaken them. Then she +left them and entered Constantinople, and called with a loud voice on the +knights of the Greeks, saying, "Let me down a cord that I may tie thereto this +letter, and do ye bear it to your King Afridun, that he may read it and to my +son King Hardub that they both do what is written therein of bidding and +forbidding." So they let down for her a string and she tied thereto a letter +whose purport was the following: "From the terriblest of tribulations[FN#445] +and the chiefest of all calamities, Zat al-Dawahi, to King Afridun greeting. +But afterwards, of a truth I have contrived a device for destroying the +Moslems; so bide ye quiet and content. I have cozened and captured their +Sultan and the Wazir Dandan; and then I returned to their camp and acquainted +them therewith, whereby their pride had a fall and their withers were wrung. +And I have so wrought upon the host 'leaguering Constantinople that they have +sent ten thousand men under the Emir Tarkash to succour the capitves, of whom +there be now left but few; it is therefore my object that ye sally forth +against them with all your power while this day endureth; and that ye fall on +them in their tents and that ye leave them not till ye shall have slain them to +the last man; for, verily the Messiah looketh down upon you and the Blessed +Virgin favoureth you; and I hope of the Messiah that he forget not what deed I +have done." When her letter came to King Afridun, he rejoiced with great +joyance; and, sending at once for King Hardub of Greece, son of Zat al-Dawahi, +read the letter to him as soon as he came,whereathe was exceeding glad and +said, "See my mother's craft; verily it dispenseth with swords, and her aspect +standeth in stead of the terrors of the Day of Dread." Rejoined Afridun, "May +the Messiah not bereave us of thy venerable parent nor deprive her of her wile +and guile!" Then he bade the Knights give orders for sallying outside the city, +and the news was noised abroad in Constantinople. So the Nazarenes and the +cohorts of the Cross burst forth and unsheathed their keen sabres in their +numbers, shouting out their professions of impiety and heresies, and +blaspheming the Lord of all Creatures. When the Chamberlain saw the sally, he +said, "Behold, the Greek is upon us and they surely have learned that our +Sultan is far away; and haply they have attacked us, for that the most part of +our troops have marched to the succour of King Zau al-Makan!" Therewith he +waxed wroth and cried out, "Ho, soldiers of Al-Islam and favourers of the True +Faith, an you flee you are lost, but if ye stand fast, ye win! Know ye that +valiancy lieth in endurance of outrance and that no case is so strait but that +the Almighty is able to make it straight; Allah assain you and look upon you +with eyes of compassion fain!" Thereupon the Moslems cried out, "Allaho Akbar!" +and the believer in the One God shouted his slogan, and whirled the mill wheels +of fight with cutting and thrusting in main and might; scymitars and spears +played sore and the plains and valleys were swamped with gore. The priests and +monks priested it, tight girding their girdles and uplifting the Crucifixes, +while the Moslem shouted out the professions of the Requiting King and verses +of the Koran began to sing. The hosts of the Compassion are One fought against +the legions of Satan; and head flew from body of man, while the good Angels +hovered above the people of the Chosen Prophet, nor did the sword cease to +smite till the day darkened and night came on and starkened. Now the miscreants +had encompassed the Moslems and made sure of escaping the pains that awaited +them; and the Faithless greeded for victory over the Faithful until day-dawned +and dazzled. Thereupon the Chamberlain mounted, he and his men, trusting thee +Allah would help them to victory; and host was mingled with host and battle +rose a foot and took post. And heads flew from trunks whilst the brave stood +fast in stead; the craven turned tail and fled; and the Judge of death judged +and sentence sped, so that the champions fell from their saddles slain and +corpses cumbered meadow and plain. Then the Moslem began to give ground and +rearwards bent; and the Greek took possession of some of their tents; whereupon +the Moslems were about to break and retreat and take flight, when meanwhile +behold, up came Sharrkan with the rest of the host of Al-Islam and the +standards of the Believers in Unity. And having come up with them, he charged +the Infidels; and followed him Zau al-Makan and the Wazir Dandan and the Emirs +Bahram and Rustam with his brother Tarkash. When the foe saw this, they lost +head and their reason fled, and the dust clouds towered till they covered the +country whilst the righteous Believers joined their pious comrades. Then +Sharrkan accosted the Chamberlain and praised him for his steadfastness; and he +in turn gave the Prince joy of his timely succour and his gaining the day. +Thereat the Moslems were glad and their hearts were heartened; so they rushed +upon their enemies and devoted themselves to Allah in their Fight for the +Faith. But when the Idolaters beheld the standards Mohammedan and there on the +profession of Faith Islamitan, proclaiming the Unity, they shrieked "Woe!" and +"Ruin!" and besought succour of the Patriarchs of the Monasteries. Then fell +they to calling upon John and Mary and the Cross abhorrent and stayed their +hands from slaughter, whilst King Afridun went up to consult King Hardub of +Greece, for the two Kings stood one at the head of each wing, right and left. +Now there was with them also a famous cavalier, Láwiyá hight, who commanded the +centre; and they drew out in battle-array, but indeed they were full of alarm +and affray. Meanwhile, the Moslems aligned their forces and thereupon Sharrkan +came to his brother, Zau al-Makan, and said, "O King of the Age, doubtless they +mean to champion it, and that is also the object of our desire; but it is my +wish to push forward the stoutest hearted of our fighters, for by forethought +is one half of life wrought." Replied the Sultan, "As thou wilt, O companion of +good counsel!" "It is my wish," added Sharrkan, "to stand in mid line opposite +the Infidel, with the Wazir Dandan on my left and thee on my right, whilst the +Emir Bahram leads the dexter wing and the Emir Rustam leads the wing sinistral; +and thou, O mighty King, shalt be under the standards and the ensigns, for that +thou art the pillar of our defence; upon thee, after Allah, is our dependence +and we will all be thy ransom from aught that can harm thee." Zau al-Makan +thanked him therefor, and the slogan arose and the sabre was drawn; but, as +things stood thus, behold, there came forth a cavalier from the ranks of Roum; +and, as he drew near, they saw that he was mounted on a slow paced she-mule, +fleeing with her master from the shock of swords. Her housings were of white +silk covered by a prayer-carpet of Cash mere stuff, and on her back sat a +Shaykh, an old man of comely presence and reverend aspect, garbed in a gown of +white wool. He stinted not pushing her and hurrying her on till he came near +the Moslem and said, "I am an ambassador to you all, and an ambassador hath +naught to do save to deliver; so give me safe conduct and permit of speech, +that I communicate to you my message." Replied Sharrkan, "Thou art in safety: +fear neither sway of sword nor lunge of lance." Thereupon the old man +dismounted and, taking the Cross from his neck, placed it before the Sultan and +humbled himself with much humility. Then quoth to him the Moslems, "What is +with thee of news?"; and quoth he, "I am an ambassador from King Afridun, for I +counselled him to avert the destruction of all these frames of men and temples +of the Compassionate One; and to him it seemed righteous to stay the shedding +of blood and limit it to the encounter of two knights in shock of fight +singular; so he agreed to that and he saith to you, 'Verily, I will ransom my +army with my life; so let the Moslem King do as I do and with his life ransom +his host. And if he kill me, there will be no stay left in the army of Roum, +and if I kill him, there will be no stability with the Moslems." When Sharrkan +heard this he said, "O monk, I agree to that, for it is just nor may it be +gainsaid; and behold, I will meet him in duello and do with him derring-do, for +I am Champion of the Faithful even as he is Champion of the Faithless; and if +he slay me, he will have won the day and naught will remain for the Moslems +forces save flight. So return to him, O thou monk, and say that the single +combat shall take place to morrow, for this day we have come off our journey +and are aweary; but after rest neither reproach nor blame fear ye." So the monk +returned (and he rejoicing) to King Afridun and King Hardub, and told them both +what Sharrkan had said, whereat King Afridun was glad with exceeding gladness +and fell from him anxiety and sadness, and he said to himself, "No doubt but +this Sharrkan is their doughtiest swayer of the sword and the dourest at lunge +of lance; and when I shall have slain him, their hearts will be disheartened +and their strength will be shattered." Now Zat al-Dawahi had written to King +Afridun of that and had told him how Sharrkan was a Knight of the Braves and +the bravest of knights and had warned him against him; but Afridun was a +stalwart cavalier who fought in many a fashion; he could hurl rocks and throw +spears and smite with the iron mace and he feared not the prowess of the prow. +So when he heard the report of the monk that Sharrkan agreed to the duello, he +was like to fly for exceeding joy because he had self confidence and he knew +that none could with stand him. The Infidels passed that night in joy and +jubilee and wine bibbing; and, as soon as it was dawn, the two armies drew out +with the swart of spear and the blanch of blade. And behold a cavalier rode +single-handed into the plain, mounted on a steed of purest strain, and for +foray and fray full ready and fain. And that Knight had limbs of might and he +was clad in an iron cuirass made for stress of fight. On his breast he wore a +jewelled mirror and in his hand he bore a keen scymitar and his lance of +Khalanj wood,[FN#446] the curious work of the Frank, weighing a quintal. Then +the rider uncovered his face and cried out, saying, "Whoso knoweth me verily +hath enough of me, and whoso knoweth me not right soon[FN#447] shall ken who I +be. I am Afridun the overwhelmed by the well omened Shawáhi,[FN#448] Zat +al-Dawahi." But he had not ended speaking ere Sharrkan, the Champion of the +Moslems, fared forth to meet him, mounted on a sorrel horse worth a thousand +pieces of red gold with accoutrements purfled in pearls and precious stone; and +he bore in baldrick a blade of watered Indian steel that through necks shore +and made easy the hard and sore. He drave his charger between the two hosts in +line whilst the horsemen all fixed on him their eyne, and he cried out to +Afridun, "Woe to thee, O accursed! dost thou deem me one of the horsemen thou +hast overta'en who cannot stand against thee on battle-plain?" Then each rushed +upon other and they bashed together like two mountains crashing or two billows +dash ing and clashing: they advanced and retreated; and drew together and +withdrew; and stinted not of fray and fight and weapon play, and strife and +stay, with stroke of sword and lunge of lance. Of the two armies looking on, +some said, "Sharrkan is victor!" and others, "Afridun will conquer!"; and the +two riders stayed not their hands from the hustle until ceased the clamour and +the bustle; and the dust columns rose and the day waned and the sun waxed +yellow and wan. Then cried out King Afridun to Sharrkan, saying, "By the truth +of the Messiah and the Faith which is no liar, thou art nought save a doughty +rider and a stalwart fighter; but thou art fraudful and thy nature is not that +of the noble. I ken thy work is other than praiseworthy nor is thy prowess +that of a Prince; for thy people behave to thee as though thou wert a +slave;[FN#449] and see! they bring thee out a charger which is not thine, that +thou mayst mount and return to the fight. But by the truth of my Faith, thy +fighting irketh and fatigueth me and I am weary of cutting and thrusting with +thee; and if thou purpose to lay on load with me to night, thou wouldst not +change aught of thy harness nor thy horse, till thou approve to the cavaliers, +thy generous blood and skill in brunt." When Sharrkan heard him say these words +concerning his own folk behaving to him though he were a slave, he waxt wroth +and turned towards his men, meaning to sign to them and bid them not prepare +him change of harness or horse, when lo! Afridun shook his throw spear high in +air and cast it at Sharrkan. Now when the Moslem turned his back, he found +none of the men near him, and he knew this to be a trick of the accursed +Infidel; so he wheeled round in haste and behold, the javelin came at him, so +he swerved from it, till his head was bent low as his saddle bow. The weapon +grazed his breast, and pierced the skin of his chest, for Sharrkan was +high-bosomed: whereupon he gave one cry and swooned away. Thereat the accursed +Afridun was joyful, thinking he had slain him; and shouted to the Infidels +bidding them rejoice, whereat the Faithless were encouraged and the Faithful +wept. When Zau al-Makan saw his brother reeling in selle so that he well-nigh +fell, he despatched cavaliers towards him and the braves hurried to his aid and +came up with him. Thereupon the Infidels drove at the Moslems; the two hosts +joined battle and the two lines were mingled, whilst the keen scymitar of +Al-Yaman did good work. Now the first to reach Sharrkan was the Wazir +Dandan,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Third Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Zau al-Makan +saw that the accursed Infidel had struck with javelin his brother Sharrkan, he +deemed him dead, and despatched cavaliers towards him; and the first to reach +him were the Wazir Dandan and the Emir of the Turks, Bahram, and the Emir of +the Daylamites, Rustam. They found him falling from his horse; so they stayed +him in his saddle and returned with him to his brother, Zau al-Makan; then they +gave him in charge to his pages, and went again to do the work of cut and +thrust. So the strife redoubled and the weapons together clashed and ceased +not bate and debate and naught was to be seen but blood flowing and necks +bowing; nor did the swords cease on the napes of men to make play nor the +strife to rage with more and more affray, till the most part of the night was +past away and the two hosts were aweary of the mellay. So they called a truce +and each army returned to its tents, whilst all the Infidels repaired to King +Afridun and kissed the ground before him, and the priests and monks wished him +joy of his victory over Sharrkan. Then the King fared for Constantinople and +sat upon the throne of his realm, when King Hardub came to him and said, "May +the Messiah strengthen thy fore arm and never cease to be thy helper and +hearken to what prayers my pious mother, Zat al-Dawahi, shall pray for thee! +Know that the Moslems can make no stay without Sharrkan." Replied Afridun, "To +morrow shall end the affair when to fight I fare: I will seek Zau al-Makan and +slay him, and their army shall turn tail and of flight shall avail." Such was +the case with the Kafirs; but as regards the host of Al-Islam, when Zau +al-Makan returned to his tent, he thought of naught but his brother and, going +into the pavilion, found him in evil case and sore condition; whereupon he +summoned for counsel the Wazir Dandan and Rustam and Bahram. When they entered, +they opined to assemble the physicians that they might medicine Sharrkan, and +they wept and said, "The world will not readily afford his like!" and they +watched by him all that night, and about the later hours came to them the +Recluse in tears. When Zau al-Makan saw him, he rose in honour; and the +Religious stroked Sharrkan's wound with his hand, chanting somewhat of the +Koran and repeating by way of talisman some of the verses of the Compassionate +One. And the pretender ceased not to watch over him till dawn, when he came to +himself and, opening his eyes, moved his tongue in his mouth and spake. At +this Zau al-Makan rejoiced, saying, "Of a truth the blessing of the Holy Man +hath taken effect on him!" And Sharrkan said, "Praised be Allah for recovery; +indeed, I am well at this hour. That accursed one played me false; and, but +that I swerved aside lighter than lightening, the throw spear had pierced +through my breast. So praised be Allah for saving me! And how is it with the +Moslems?" Answered Zau al-Makan, "All are weeping for thee." Quoth Sharrkan, "I +am well and in good case; but where is the Holy Man?" Now he was sitting by him +and said, "At thy head." So the Prince turned to him and kissed his hand when +he said, "O my son! Be of good patience and Allah shall increase thy reward; +for the wage is measured by the work." Sharrkan rejoined, "Pray for me," and he +prayed for him. As soon as morning dawned and day brake in shine and sheen, +the Moslems sallied out to the plain and the Kafirs made ready to thrust and +cut. Then the Islamite host advanced and offered fight with weapons ready +dight, and King Zau al-Makan and Afridun made to charge one at other. But when +Zau al-Makan fared forth into the field, there came with him the Wazir Dandan +and the Chamberlain and Bahram, saying, "We will be thy sacrifice." He replied, +"By the Holy House and Zemzem and the Place![FN#450] I will not be stayed from +going forth against these wild asses." And when he rode out into the field he +played with sword and spear till riders marvelled and both armies wondered; +then he rushed upon the foe's right wing and of it slew two knights and in like +manner he dealt with the left wing. Presently he stayed his steed in the midst +of the field and cried out, "Where is Afridun, that I may make him taste the +cup of disgrace?" But when King Hardub saw the case he conjured Afridun not to +attack him, saying, "O King, yesterday it was thy turn to fight: it is mine to +day. I care naught for his prowess." So he rushed out towards Zau al-Makan +brand in hand and under him a stallion like Abjar, which was Antar's charger +and its coat was jet black even as saith the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"On the glancing racer outracing glance * He speeds, as though he would collar Doom:<br/> +His steed's black coat is of darkest jet, * And likest Night in her nightliest gloom:<br/> +Whose neigh sounds glad to the hearer's ears * Like thunders rolling in thun d'rous boom:<br/> +If he race the wind he will lead the way, * And the lightning flash will behind him loom.''[FN#451] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then each rushed upon the opponent, parrying blows and proving the marvellous +qualities were stored in him; and they fell to drawing on and withdrawing till +the breasts of the bystanders were straitened and they were weary of waiting +for the event. At last Zau al-Makan cried out his war cry and rushed upon +Hardub, King of Cæsarea,[FN#452] and struck him a stroke that shore head from +trunk and slew him on the spot. When the Infidels saw this, they charged in a +body, compact and united, upon Zau al-Makan, who met them amidfield, and they +engaged in hewing and foining, till blood ran in rills. Then the Moslems cried +out, "Allaho Akbar!" (God is most Great) and "There is no god but the God!", +and invoked salvation for the Prophet, the Bringer of Glad Tidings, the Bearer +of Bad Tidings. And there befel a great fight, but Allah assigned victory to +the Faithful and defeat to the Faithless. The Wazir Dandan shouted, "Take your +blood-revenge for King Omar bin al Nu'uman and his son Sharrkan!"; and bared +his head and cried out to the Turks. Now there were by his side more than +twenty thousand horse, and all charged with him as men, when the Faithless +found naught to save their lives but flight. So they turned tail to fly while +the biting sabre wrought its havoc and the Moslems slew of them that day some +fifty thousand horse and took more than that number: much folk also were slain +while going in at the gates, for the flock was great. Then the Greeks hove to +the doors and swarmed up the walls to await the assault; and in fine the Moslem +hosts returned to their tents aided to glory and victory, and King Zau al-Makan +went in to his brother whom he found in most joyous case. So he made a +prostration of thanks to the Bountiful and the Exalted; and then he came +forward and gave Sharrkan joy of his recovery. Answered he, "Verily we are all +under the benediction of this Religious, holy and righteous, nor would you have +been victorious, but for his accepted orisons; indeed all day he remained at +prayer to invoke victory on the Moslems."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Fourth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Zau al- Makan went +in to his brother Sharrkan, he found him sitting with the Holy Man by his side; +so he rejoiced and drew near him and gave him joy of his recovery. Answered +he, "Verily we are all under the benediction of this Recluse nor would you have +been victorious but for his prayers, indeed he felt no fear this day and he +ceased not supplication for the Moslems. I found strength return to me, when I +heard your 'Allaho Akbar,' for then I knew you to be victorious over your +enemies. But now recount to me, O my brother, what befel thee." So he told him +all that had passed between him and the accursed Hardub and related how he had +slain him and sent him to the malediction of Allah; and Sharrkan praised him +and thanked him for his prowess. When Zat al-Dawahi heard tell of her son's +death (and she still drest as a devotee), her face waxed yellow and her eyes +ran over with railing tears: she kept her counsel, however, and feigned to the +Moslems that she was glad and wept for excess of joy. But she said to herself, +"By the truth of the Messiah, there remaineth no profit of my life, if I burn +not his heart for his brother, Sharrkan, even as he hath burned my heart for +King Hardub, the mainstay of Christendom and the hosts of Crossdom!" Still she +kept her secret. And the Wazir Dandan and King Zau al-Makan and the +Chamberlain remained sitting with Sharrkan till they had dressed and salved his +wound; after which they gave him medicines and he began to recover strength; +whereat they joyed with exceeding joy and told the troops who congratulated +themselves, saying, "To morrow he will ride with us and do manly devoir in the +siege." Then said Sharrkan to them, "Ye have fought through all this day and +are aweary of fight; so it behoveth that you return to your places and sleep +and not sit up." They accepted his counsel and then each went away to his own +pavilion, and none remained with Sharrkan but a few servants and the old woman +Zat al-Dawahi. He talked with her through part of the night, then he stretched +himself to rest: and his servants did likewise and presently sleep overcame +them all and they lay like the dead. Such was the case with Sharrkan and his +men; but as regards the old woman she alone abode awake while they slumbered in +the tent and, looking at Sharrkan she presently saw that he was drowned in +sleep. Thereupon she sprang to her feet, as she were a scald she bear or a +speckled snake, and drew from her waist-cloth a dagger so poisoned that if laid +thereon it would have melted a rock. Then she unsheathed the poniard and went +up to Sharrkan's head and she drew the knife across his throat and severed his +weasand and hewed off his head from his body. And once more she sprang to her +feet; and, going the round of the sleeping servants, she cut off their heads +also, lest they should awake. Then she left the tent and made for the Sultan's +pavilion, but finding the guards on the alert, turned to that of the Wazir +Dandan. Now she found him reading the Koran and when his sight fell upon her +he said, "Welcome to the Holy Man!" Hearing this from the Wazir, her heart +trembled and she said, "The reason of my coming hither at this time is that I +heard the voice of a saint amongst Allah's Saints and am going to him." Then +she turned her back, but the Wazir said to himself, "By Allah, I will follow +our Devotee this night!" So he rose and walked after her; but when the accursed +old woman sensed his footsteps, she knew that he was following her: wherefore +she feared the disgrace of discovery and said in herself, "Unless I serve some +trick upon him he will disgrace me." So she turned and said to him from afar, +"Ho, thou Wazir, I am going in search of this Saint that I may learn who he is; +and, after learning this much, I will ask his leave for thee to visit him. +Then I will come back and tell thee: for I fear thine accompanying me, without +having his permission, lest he take umbrage at me seeing thee in my society." +Now when the Wazir heard these words, he was ashamed to answer her; so he left +her and returned to his tent, and would have slept; but sleep was not +favourable to him and the world seemed heaped upon him. Presently he rose and +went forth from the tent saying in himself, "I will go to Sharrkan and chat +with him till morning." But when he entered into Sharrkan's pavilion, he found +the blood running like an aqueduct and saw the servants lying with their +throats cut like beasts for food. At this he cried a cry which aroused all who +were asleep; the folk hastened to him and, seeing the blood streaming, set up a +clamour of weeping and wailing. Then the noise awoke the Sultan, who enquired +what was the matter, and it was said to him, "Sharrkan thy brother and his +servants are murthered." So he rose in haste and entered the tent, and found +the Wazir Dandan shrieking aloud and he saw his brother's body without a head. +Thereat he swooned away and all the troops crowded around him, weeping and +crying out, and so remained for a while, till he came to himself, when he +looked at Sharrkan and wept with sore weeping, while the Wazir and Rustam and +Bahram did the like. But the Chamberlain cried and lamented more than the rest +and asked leave to absent himself, such was his alarm. Then said Zau al-Makan, +"Know ye who did this deed and how is it I see not the Devotee, him who the +things of this world hath put away?" Quoth the Wazir, "And who should have been +the cause of this affliction, save that Devotee, that Satan? By Allah, my +heart abhorred him from the first, because I know that all who pretend to be +absorbed in practices religious are vile and treacherous!" And he repeated to +the King the tale of how he would have followed the Religious, but he forbade +him, whereupon the folk broke out into a tumult of weeping and lamentation and +humbled themselves before Him who is ever near, Him who ever answereth prayer, +supplicating that He would cause the false Devotee who denied Allah's testimony +to fall into their hands. Then they laid Sharrkan out and buried him in the +mountain aforesaid and mourned over his far-famed virtues.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Fifth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that they laid Sharrkan out +and buried him in the mountain aforesaid and mourned over his far-famed +virtues. Then they looked for the opening of the city-gate; but it opened not +and no sign of men appeared to them on the walls; whereat they wondered with +exceeding wonder. But King Zau al-Makan said, "By Allah, I will not turn back +from them, though I sit here for years and years, till I take blood-revenge for +my brother Sharrkan and waste Constantinople and kill the King of the +Nazarenes, even if death overcome me and I be at rest from this woeful world!" +Then he bade be brought out the treasure taken from the Monastery of Matruhina; +and mustered the troops and divided the monies among them, and he left not one +of them but he gave him gifts which contented him. Moreover, he assembled in +the presence three hundred horse of every division and said to them, "Do ye +send supplies to your households, for I am resolved to abide by this city, year +after year, till I have taken man-bote for my brother Sharrkan, even if I die +in this stead." And when the army heard these words and had received his gifts +of money they replied, "To hear is to obey!" Thereupon he summoned couriers and +gave them letters and charged them to deliver the same, together with the +monies, to the soldiers' families and inform them that all were safe and +satisfied, and acquaint them saying, "We are encamped before Constantinople and +we will either destroy it or die; and, albeit we be obliged to abide here +months and years, we will not depart hence till we take it." Moreover, he bade +the Wazir Dandan write to his sister, Nuzhat al-Zaman, and said to him, +"Acquaint her with what hath befallen us, and what be our situation and commend +my child to her care since that, when I went out to war, my wife was near her +delivery and by this time she must needs have been brought to bed; and if she +hath given birth to a boy, as I have heard say, hasten your return and bring me +the acceptable news." Then he gave them somewhat of money, which they pouched +and set out at once; and all the people flocked forth to take leave of them and +entrust them with the monies and the messages. After they had departed, Zau +al-Makan turned to the Wazir Dandan and commanded him to advance with the army +against the city walls. So the troops pushed forward, but found none on the +ramparts, whereat they marvelled, while Zau al-Makan was troubled at the case, +for he deeply mourned the severance from his brother Sharrkan and he was sore +perturbed about that traitor the Ascetic. In this condition they abode three +days without seeing anyone. So far concerning the Moslems; but as regards the +Greeks and the cause of their refusing to fight during these three days the +case was this. As soon as Zat al-Dawahi had slain Sharrkan, she hastened her +march and reached the walls of Constantinople, where she called out in the +Greek tongue to the guards to throw her down a rope. Quoth they, "Who art +thou?"; and quoth she, "I am Zat al- Dawahi." They knew her and let down a cord +to which she tied herself and they drew her up; and, when inside the city, she +went in to the King Afridun and said to him, "What is this I hear from the +Moslems? They say that my son King Hardub is slain." He answered, "Yes;" and +she shrieked out and wept right grievously and ceased not weeping thus till she +made Afridun and all who were present weep with her. Then she told the King +how she had slain Sharrkan and thirty of his servants, whereat he rejoiced and +thanked her; and, kissing her hands, exhorted her to resignation for the loss +of her son. Said she, "By the truth of the Messiah, I will not rest content +with killing that dog of the Moslem dogs in blood-revenge for my son, a King of +the Kings of the age! Now there is no help for it but that I work some guile +and I contrive a wile whereby to slay the Sultan Zau al-Makan and the Wazir +Dandan and the Chamberlain and Rustam and Bahram and ten thousand cavaliers of +the army of Al-Islam; for it shall never be said that my son's head be paid +with the bloodwit of Sharrkan's head; no, never!" Then said she to King +Afridun, "Know, O King of the Age, that it is my wish to set forth mourning for +my son and to cut my Girdle and to break the Crosses." Replied Afridun, "Do +what thou desire; I will not gainsay thee in aught. And if thou prolong thy +mourning for many days it were a little thing; for though the Moslems resolve +to beleaguer us years and years, they will never win their will of us nor gain +aught of us save trouble and weariness." Then the Accursed One (when she had +ended with the calamity she had wrought and the ignominies which in herself she +had thought) took ink case and paper and wrote thereon: "From Shawahi, Zat al- +Dawahi, to the host of the Moslems. Know ye that I entered your country and +duped by my cunning your nobles and at first hand I slew your King Omar bin +al-Nu'uman in the midst of his palace. Moreover, I slew, in the affair of the +mountain pass and of the cave, many of your men; and the last I killed were +Sharrkan and his servants. And if fortune do not stay me and Satan obey me, I +needs must slay me your Sultan and the Wazir Dandan, for I am she who came to +you in disguise of a Recluse and who heaped upon you my devices and deceits. +Wherefore, an you would be in safety after this, fare ye forth at once; and if +you seek your own destruction cease not abiding for the nonce; and though ye +tarry here years and years, ye shall not do your desire on us. And so peace be +yours!" After writing her writ she devoted three days to mourning for King +Hardub; arid, on the fourth, she called a Knight and bade him take the letter +and make it fast to a shaft and shoot it into the Moslem camp. When this was +done, she entered the church and gave herself up to weeping and wailing for the +loss of her son, saying to him who took the kingship after him, "Nothing will +serve me but I must kill Zau al-Makan and all the nobles of Al-Islam." Such was +the case with her; but as regards what occurred to the Moslems, all passed +three days in trouble and anxiety, and on the fourth when gazing at the walls +behold, they saw a knight holding a bow and about to shoot an arrow along whose +side a letter was bound. So they waited till he had shot it among them and the +Sultan bade the Wazir Dandan take the missive and read it. He perused it +accordingly; and, when Zau al-Makan heard it to end and understood its purport, +his eyes filled with tears and he shrieked for agony at her perfidy; and the +Minister Dandan said, "By Allah, my heart shrank from her!" Quoth the Sultan, +"How could this whore play her tricks upon us twice? But by the Almighty I +will not depart hence till I fill her cleft with molten lead and jail her with +the jailing of a bird encaged, then bind her with her own hair and crucify her +over the gate of Constantinople." And he called to mind his brother and wept +with excessive weeping. But when Zat al-Dawahi arrived amongst the Infidels +and related to them her adventures at length, they rejoiced at her safety and +at the slaying of Sharrkan. Thereupon the Moslems addressed themselves again +to the siege of the city and the Sultan promised his men that, if it should be +taken, he would divide its treasures among them in equal parts. But he dried +not his tears grieving for his brother till his body was wasted and sick, +growing thin as a tooth pick. Presently the Wazir Dandan came in to him and +said, "Be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear; in very sooth thy +brother died not but because his hour was come, and there is no profit in this +mourning. How well saith the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Whatso is not to be no sleight shall bring to pass; * What is to be without a failure shall become;<br/> +Soon the becoming fortune shall be found to be, * And Folly's brother[FN#453] shall abide forlorn and glum." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Wherefore do thou leave this weeping and wailing and hearten thy heart to bear +arms." He replied, "O Wazir, my heart is heavy for the death of my father and +my brother and for our absence from hearth and home; and my mind is concerned +for my subjects." Thereupon the Wazir and the bystanders wept; but they ceased +not from pushing forward the siege of Constantinople for a length of days. And +they being thus, behold, news arrived from Baghdad, by one of the Emirs to the +effect that the King's wife had been blessed with a boy, and that his sister, +Nuzhat al-Zaman, had named him Kánmákán.[FN#454] Moreover, that the boy bid +fair to be famous, already showing wondrous signs and marvellous tokens; and +that she had commanded the Olema and the preachers to pray for mother and child +from the pulpits and bless them in all wise; furthermore that the twain were +well, that the land had enjoyed abundant rains, and that his comrade the +Fireman was established in all prosperity, with eunuchs and slaves to wait upon +him; but that he was still ignorant of what had befallen him. And she ended +with the greeting of peace. Then quoth Zau al- Makan to the Wazir Dandan, "Now +is my back strengthened for that I have been blest with a son whose name is +Kanmakan."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Sixth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when they brought him the +news of his wife having borne him a boy child, Zau al- Makan rejoiced with +great joy and cried, "Now is my back strengthened, for that I have been blessed +with a son[FN#455] whose name is Kanmakan." And he spake to the Wazir Dandan, +saying, "I am minded to leave this mourning and order perlections of the Koran +for my brother and command almsdeeds on his account." Quoth the Wazir, "Thy +design is good." Thereupon he caused tents to be pitched over his brother's +tomb; so they raised them and gathered together such of the men at arms as +could repeat the Koran; and some began reciting the Holy volume; whilst others +chanted litanies containing the names of Allah, and thus they did till the +morning. Then Zau al-Makan went up to the grave of his brother Sharrkan and +poured forth copious tears, and improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"They bore him bier'd, and all who followed wept * With Moses' shrieks what day o'erhead shook Tor;[FN#456]<br/> +Till reached the grave which Pate had made his home, * Dug in men's souls who one sole God adore:<br/> +Ne'er had I thought before to see my joy * Borne on the bier which heads of bearers bore:<br/> +Ah no! nor ere they homed thee in the dust * That stars of heaven earth ever covered o'er.<br/> +Is the tomb dweller hostage of a stead, * Where light and splendour o'er thy face shall pour?<br/> +Praise to restore his life her word hath pledged: * Cribbed and confined he shall dispread the more!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When Zau al-Makan had made an end of his versifying he wept and wept with him +all the troops; then he came to the grave and threw himself upon it wild with +woe, and the Wazir repeated the words of the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Pain leaving life that fleets thou hast th' eternal won; * Thou didst as whilom many a doer like thee hath done<br/> +Leftest this worldly house without reproach or blame; * Ah, may th' ex change secure thee every benison!<br/> +Thou west from hostile onset shield and firm defence, * For us to baffle shafts and whistling spears to shun.<br/> +I see this world is only cheat and vanity, * Where man naught else must seek but please the Truthful One:<br/> +Th' Empyrean's Lord allow thee bower of heavenly bliss, * And wi' thy faithful friends The Guide show goodly wone:<br/> +I bid thee last good e'en with sigh of bitter grief, * Seeing the West in woe for lack of Easting Sun." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When the Wazir Dandan had finished his reciting, he wept with sore weeping and +the tears rained from his eyes like cushioned pearls. Then came forward one +who had been of Sharrkan's boon companions in his cups and he wept till ran in +rills the drops, and he enumerated the dead man's generous qualities, reciting +the following pentastichs, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Where gone is Bounty since thy hand is turned to clay? * And I in misery lie since thou west ta'en away.<br/> +See'st not, O litter guide[FN#457] (Heaven keep thee glad and gay!), * How tears adorn my cheeks, these furrowed wrinkles fray?<br/> +A sight to joy shine eyes and fill thee with dismay.[FN#458]<br/> +By Allah ne'er this heart within I spoke of thee; * Ah no! nor dared my sight to see thy brilliancy:<br/> +Save that my tear drops sorest wound have garred me dree * Yea! and if e'er on other rest these eyne of me,<br/> +May yearning draw their reins nor suffer sleep to see." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And when the man stinted reciting, Zau al-Makan and the Minister Dandan wept +and the whole army was moved to tears; after which all retired to their tents, +and the King turning to the Wazir took counsel with him concerning the conduct +of the campaign. On this wise the two passed days and nights, while Zau +al-Makan was weighed down with grief and mourning till at last he said, "I long +to hear stories and adventures of Kings and tales of lover folk enslaved by +love; haply Allah may make this to solace that which is on my heart of heavy +anxiety, and stint and stay my weeping and wailing." Quoth the Wazir, "If +naught can dispel thy trouble but hearing curious tales of Kings and people +long gone before and stories of folk enslaved by love of yore, and so forth, +this thing were easy, for I had no other business, in the lifetime of thy +father (who hath found mercy) than to relate stories and to repeat verses to +him. This very night I will tell thee a tale of a lover and his beloved, so +shall thy breast be broadened." When Zau al-Makan heard these words from the +Minister, his heart was set upon that which had been promised to him and he did +nothing but watch for the coming of the night, that he might hear what the +Wazir Dandan had to tell of the Kings of yore and distracted lovers long gone +before. And hardly would he believe that night had fallen ere he bade light +the wax candles and the lamps and bring all that was needful of meat and drink +and perfume gear, and what not; and when all was in presence, he summoned the +Wazir Dandan, and the Emirs Rustam and Bahram and Tarkash and the Grand +Chamberlain; then waited till the whole party was seated before him; whereupon +he turned to the Minister and said, "Know, O Wazir, that night is come and hath +let down over us its veil of gloom, and we desire that thou tell us those tales +which thou promisedst us." Replied the Wazir, "With joy and good will."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Seventh Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when King Zau Al-Makan +summoned the Wazir and the Chamberlain and Rustam and Bahram, he turned towards +the Minister Dandan and said, "Know, O Wazir, that night is come and hath let +down over us its veil of gloom, and we desire that thou tell us those tales +which thou promisedst us." Replied the Wazir, "With love and gladness! Know, O +auspicious King, that there reached my ears a relation of a lover and a loved +one and of the discourse between them and what befel them of things rare and +fair, a story such as repelleth care from the heart and dispelleth sorrow like +unto that of the patriarch Jacob[FN#459]; and it is as follows": +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap06"></a>Tale of Taj al-Muluk and the Princess Dunya<br/> +(The Lover and the Loved). +</h2> + +<p class="noindent"> +There stood in times long gone by behind the Mountains of Ispahán, a city hight +the Green City, wherein dwelt a King named Suláyman Sháh. Now he was a man of +liberality and beneficence, of justice and integrity, of generosity and +sincerity, to whom travellers repaired from every country, and his name was +noised abroad in all regions and cities and he reigned many a year in high +worship and prosperity, save that he owned neither wives nor children. He had +a Minister who rivalled him in goodness and generosity and it so happened that +one day, he sent for him and when he came into the presence said to him, "O my +Wazir, my heart is heavy and my patience is past and my force faileth me, for +that I have neither wife nor child. This is not the way of Kings who rule over +all men, princes. and paupers; for they rejoice in leaving behind them +children and successors whereby are doubled their number and their strength. +Quoth the Prophet (whom Allah bless and keep!); 'Marry ye, increase ye, and +multiply ye, that I may boast me of your superiority over the nations on the +Day of Resurrection.' So what is thy rede, O Wazir? Advise me of what course +and contrivance be advisable!" When the Minister heard these words, the tears +sprang from his eyes in streams, and he replied, "Far be it from me, O King of +the Age, that I debate on that which appertaineth to the Compassionate One! +Wilt thou have me cast into the fire by the All powerful King's wrath and ire? +Buy thee a concubine." Rejoined the King, "Know, O Wazir, that when a sovereign +buyeth a female slave, he knoweth neither her rank nor her lineage and thus he +cannot tell if she be of simple origin that he may abstain from her, or of +gentle strain that he may be intimate in her companionship. So, if he have +commerce with her, haply she will conceive by him and her son be a hypocrite, a +man of wrath and a shedder of blood. Indeed the like of such woman may be +instanced by a salt and marshy soil, which if one till for ever it yieldeth +only worthless growth and no endurance show eth; for it may be that her son +will be obnoxious to his Lord's anger, doing not what He biddeth him or +abstaining from what He for biddeth him. Wherefore will I never become the +cause of this through the purchase of a concubine; and it is my desire that +thou demand for me in marriage the daughter of some one of the Kings, whose +lineage is known and whose loveliness hath renown. If thou can direct me to +some maiden of birth and piety of the daughters of Moslem Sovranty, I will ask +her in marriage and wed her in presence of witnesses, so may accrue to me the +favour of the Lord of all Creatures." Said the Wazir, "O King, verily Allah +hath fulfilled thy wish and hath brought thee to thy desire;" presently adding, +"Know, O King, it hath come to my knowledge that King Zahr Shah,[FN#460] Lord +of the White Land, hath a daughter of surpassing loveliness whose charms talk +and tale fail to express: she hath not her equal in this age, for she is +perfect in proportion and symmetry, black eyed as if Kohl dyed and long locked, +wee of waist and heavy of hip. When she draweth nigh she seduceth and when she +turneth her back[FN#461] she slayeth; she ravisheth heart and view and she +looketh even as saith of her the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'A thin waist maid who shames the Willow-wand; * Nor sun nor moon can like her rising shine:<br/> +'Tis as her honey-dew of lips were blent * With wine, and pearls of teeth were bathed in wine:<br/> +Her form, like heavenly Houri's, graceful slim; * Fair face; and ruin dealt by glancing eyne:<br/> +How many a dead done man her eyes have slain * Upon her way of love in ruin li'en:<br/> +An live I she's my death! I'll say no more * But dying without her vain were life of mine.' " +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now when the Wazir had made an end of describing that maiden, he said to +Sulayman Shah, "It is my counsel, O King, that thou despatch to her father an +ambassador, sagacious, experienced and trained in the ways of the world, who +shall courteously demand her in marriage for thee of her sire; for in good +sooth she hath not her equal in the far parts of the world nor in the near. So +shalt thou enjoy her lovely face in the way of grace, and the Lord of Glory be +content with thy case; for it is reported of the Prophet (whom Allah bless and +preserve!) that he said, 'There be no monkery in Al-Islam."' At this the King +was transported to perfect joy; his breast was broadened and lightened; care +and cark ceased from him and he turned to the Wazir and said, "Know thou, O +Minister, that none shall fare about this affair save thou, by reason of thy +consummate intelligence and good breeding; wherefore hie thee home and do all +thou hast to do and get thee ready by the morrow and depart and demand me in +marriage this maiden, with whom thou hast occupied my heart and thought; and +return not to me but with her." Replied the Wazir, "I hear and I obey." Then he +tried to his own house and bade make ready presents befitting Kings, of +precious stones and things of price and other matters light of load but weighty +of worth, besides Rabite steeds and coats of mail, such as David made[FN#462] +and chests of treasure for which speech hath no measure. And the Wazir loaded +the whole on camels and mules, and set out attended by an hundred slave-girls +with flags and banners flaunting over his head. The King charged him to return +to him after a few days; and, when he was gone, Sulayman Shah lay on coals of +fire, engrossed night and day with desire; while the envoy fared on without +ceasing through gloom and light, spanning fertile field and desert site, till +but a day's march remained between him and the city whereto he was bound. Here +he sat him down on the banks of a river and, summoning one of his confidants, +bade him wend his way to King Zahr Shah and announce his approach without +delay. Quoth the messenger, "I hear and I obey!" And he rode on in haste to +that city and, as he was about to enter therein, it so chanced that the King, +who was sitting in one of his pleasaunces before the city-gate, espied him as +he was passing the doors, and knowing him for a stranger, bade bring him before +the presence. So the messenger coming forward informed him of the approach of +the Wazir of the mighty King Sulayman Shah, Lord of the Green Land and of the +Mountains of Ispahan: whereat King Zahr Shah rejoiced and welcomed him. Then +he carried him to his palace and asked him, "Where leavedst thou the Wazir?"; +and he answered, "I left him in early day on the banks of such a river and +To-morrow he will reach thee, Allah continue his favours to thee and have mercy +upon thy parents!" Thereupon King Zahr Shah commanded one of his Wazirs to take +the better part of his Grandees and Chamberlains and Lieutenants and Lords of +the land, and go out to meet the ambassador in honour of King Sulayman Shah; +for that his dominion extended over the country. Such was the case with Zahr +Shah; but as regards the Wazir he abode in his stead till night was half +spent[FN#463] and then set out for the city; but when morning shone and the sun +rose upon hill and down, of a sudden he saw King Zahr Shah's Wazir approaching +him, with his Chamberlains and high Lords and Chief Officers of the kingdom; +and the two parties joined company at some parasangs' distance from the +city.[FN#464] Thereat the Wazir made sure of the success of his errand and +saluted the escort, which ceased not preceding him till they reached the King's +palace and passed in before him through the gate to the seventh vestibule, a +place where none might enter on horseback, for it was near to where the King +sat. So the Minister alighted and fared on a foot till he came to a lofty +saloon, at whose upper end stood a marble couch, set with pearls and stones of +price, and having for legs four elephant's tusks. Upon it was a coverlet of +green satin purfled with red gold, and above it hung a canopy adorned with +pearls and gems, whereon sat King Zahr Shah, whilst his officers of state stood +in attendance before him. When the Wazir went in to him, he composed his mind +and, unbinding his tongue, displayed the oratory of Wazirs and saluted the King +in the language of eloquence.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say, +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Eighth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Wazir of King +Sulayman Shah entered the presence of King Zahr Shah he composed his mind and, +unbinding his tongue, displayed the oratory of Wazirs and saluted the King in +the language of eloquence and improvised these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"He cometh robed and bending gracefully: * O'er crop and cropper dews of grace sheds he:<br/> +He charms; nor characts, spells nor gramarye * May fend the glances of those eyne from thee:<br/> +Say to the blamer, "Blame me not, for I * From love of him will never turn to flee":<br/> +My heart hath played me false while true to him, * And Sleep, in love with him, abhorreth me:<br/> +O heart! th'art not the sole who loveth him, * So bide with him while I desertion dree:<br/> +There's nought to joy mine ears with joyous sound * Save praise of King Zahr Shah in jubilee:<br/> +A King albeit thou leave thy life to win * One look, that look were all sufficiency:<br/> +And if a pious prayer thou breathe for him, * Shall join all Faithfuls in such pious gree:<br/> +Folk of his realm! If any shirk his right * For other hoping, gross Unfaith I see." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When the Wazir had ended his poetry, King Zahr Shah bade him draw near and +honoured him with the highmost honours; then, seating him by his own side, +smiled in his face and favoured him with a gracious reply. They ceased not on +this wise till the time of the under meal when the attendants brought forward +the tables of food in that saloon and all ate till they were sated; after which +the tables were removed and those who were in the assembly withdrew, leaving +only the chief officers. Now when the Minister saw this, he rose to his feet +and, after complimenting the King a second time and kissing the ground before +him, spake as follows, "O mighty King and dread Lord! I have travelled hither +and have visited thee upon a matter which shall bring thee peace, profit and +prosperity: and it is this, that I come as ambassador to thee, seeking in +marriage thy daughter, the noble and illustrious maid, from Sulayman Shah, a +Prince famed for justice and integrity, sincerity and generosity, Lord of the +Green Land and of the Mountains of Ispahan, who sendeth thee of presents a +store, and gifts of price galore, ardently desiring to become thy son in law. +But art thou inclined to him as he to thee?" He then kept silence, awaiting a +reply. When King Zahr Shah heard these words, he sprang to his feet and kissed +the ground respectfully before the Wazir, while the bystanders were confounded +at his condescension to the ambassador and their minds were amazed. Then he +praised Him who is the Lord of Honour and Glory and replied (and he still +standing), "O mighty Wazir and illustrious Chief; hear thou what I say! Of a +truth we are to King Sulayman Shah of the number of his subjects, and we shall +be ennobled by his alliance and we covet it ardently; for my daughter is a +handmaid of his handmaidens, and it is my dearest desire that he may become my +stay and my reliable support." Then he summoned the Kazis and the witnesses, +who should bear testimony that King Sulayman Shah had despatched his Wazir as +proxy to conclude the marriage, and that King Zahr Shah joyfully acted and +officiated for his daughter. So the Kazis concluded the wedding contract and +offered up prayers for the happiness and prosperity of the wedded feres; after +which the Wazir arose and, fetching the gifts and rarities and precious things, +laid them all before the King. Then Zahr Shah occupied himself anent the +fitting out of his daughter and honourably entertained the Wazir and feasted +his subjects all, great and small; and for two months they held high festival, +omitting naught that could rejoice heart and eye. Now when all things needful +for the bride were ready, the King caused the tents to be carried out and they +pitched the camp within sight of the city, where they packed the bride's stuffs +in chests and get ready the Greek handmaids and Turkish slave-girls, and +provided the Princess with great store of precious treasures and costly jewels. +Then he had made for her a litter of red gold, inlaid with pearls and stones +of price, and set apart two mules to carry it; a litter which was like one of +the chambers of a palace, and within which she seemed as she were of the +loveliest Houris and it became as one of the pavilions of Paradise. And after +they had made bales of the treasures and monies, and had loaded them upon the +mules and camels, King Zahr Shah went forth with her for a distance of three +parasangs; after which he bade farewell to her and the Wazir and those with +him, and returned to his home in gladness and safety. Thereupon the Wazir, +faring with the King's daughter, pushed on and ceased not his stages over +desert ways,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Ninth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir fared on with +the King's daughter and ceased not forcing his stages over desert ways and +hastened his best through nights and days, till there remained between him and +his city but three marches. Thereupon he sent forward to King Sulayman Shah +one who should announce the coming of the bride. The King rejoiced thereat and +bestowed on the messenger a dress of honour; and bade his troops march forth in +grand procession to meet the Princess and her company for due worship and +honour, and don their richest apparel with banners flying over their heads. +And his orders were obeyed. He also commanded to cry throughout the city that +neither curtained damsel nor honoured lady nor time-ruptured crone should fail +to fare forth and meet the bride. So they all went out to greet her and the +grandest of them vied in doing her service and they agreed to bring her to the +King's palace by night. More over, the chief officers decided to decorate the +road and to stand in espalier of double line, whilst the bride should pass by +preceded by her eunuchs and serving women and clad in the gear her father had +given her. So when she made her appearance, the troops surrounded her, these +of the right wing and those of the left, and the litter ceased not advancing +with her till she approached the palace; nor remained any but came forth to +gaze upon the Princess. Drums were beaten and spears were brandished and horns +blared and flags fluttered and steeds pranced for precedence and scents shed +fragrance till they reached the palace-gate and the pages entered with the +litter through the Harim wicket. The place shone with its splendours and the +walls glittered for the glamour of its gear. Now when night came, the eunuchs +threw open the doors of the bridal chamber and stood surrounding the chief +entrance whereupon the bride came forward and amid her damsels she was like the +moon among stars or an union shining on a string of lesser pearls, and she +passed into the bridal closet where they had set for her a couch of alabaster +inlaid with unions and jewels. As soon as she had taken seat there, the King +came in to her and Allah filled his heart with her love so he abated her +maidenhead and ceased from him his trouble and disquiet. He abode with her +well-nigh a month but she had conceived by him the first night; and, when the +month was ended, he went forth and sat on his sofa of state, and dispensed +justice to his subjects, till the months of her pregnancy were accomplished. +On the last day of the ninth month, towards day break, the Queen was seized +with the pangs of labour; so she sat down on the stool of delivery and Allah +made the travail easy to her and she gave birth to a boy child, on whom +appeared auspicious signs. When the King heard of this, he joyed with +exceeding joy and rewarded the bearer of the good tidings with much treasure; +and of his gladness he went in to the child and kissed him between the eyes and +wondered at his brilliant loveliness; for in him was approved the saying of the +poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"In the towering forts Allah throned him King, * A lion, a star in the skies of reign:<br/> +At his rising the spear and the throne rejoiced, * The gazelle, the ostrich, The men of main:[FN#465]<br/> +Mount him not on the paps, for right soon he'll show * That to throne on the war steed's loins he's fain:<br/> +And wean him from sucking of milk, for soon * A sweeter drink, the foe's blood, he'll drain." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then the midwives took the newborn child and cut the navel cord and darkened +his eyelids with Kohl powder[FN#466] and named him Táj al-Mulúk Khárán.[FN#467] +He was suckled at the breast of fond indulgence and was reared in the lap of +happy fortune; and thus his days ceased not running and the years passing by +till he reached the age of seven. Thereupon Sulayman Shah summoned the doctors +and learned men and bade them teach his son writing and science and +belle-lettres. This they continued to do for some years, till he had learnt +what was needful; and, when the King saw that he was well grounded in whatso he +desired, he took him out of the teachers' and professors' hands and engaged for +him a skilful master, who taught him cavalarice and knightly exercises till the +boy attained the age of fourteen; and when he fared abroad on any occasion, all +who saw him were ravished by his beauty and made him the subject of verse; and +even pious men were seduced by his brilliant loveliness.—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Tenth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, That when Taj al-Muluk Kharan, +son of Sulayman Shah, became perfect in riding craft and excelled all those of +his time, his excessive beauty, when he fared abroad on any occasion, caused +all who saw him to be ravished and to make him the subject of verse; and even +pious men were seduced by his brilliant loveliness. Quoth the poet of him, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I clipt his form and wax'd drunk with his scent, * Fair branch to whom Zephyr gave nutriment:<br/> +Nor drunken as one who drinks wine, but drunk * With night draught his lips of the honey-dew lent:<br/> +All beauty is shown in the all of him, * Hence all human hearts he in hand hath hens:<br/> +My mind, by Allah! shall ne'er unmind * His love, while I wear life's chains till spent:<br/> +If I live, in his love I'll live; if I die * For pine and longing, 'O blest!' I'll cry +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When he reached the eighteenth year of his age, tender down[FN#468] sprouted, +on his side face fresh with youth, from a mole upon one rosy cheek and a second +beauty spot, like a grain of ambergris adorned the other; and he won the wits +and eyes of every wight who looked on him, even as saith the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"He is Caliph of Beauty in Yúsufs lieu, * And all lovers fear when they sight his grace:<br/> +Pause and gaze with me; on his cheek thou'lt sight * The Caliphate's banner of sable hue."[FN#469] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And as saith another, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Thy sight hath never seen a fairer sight, * Of all things men can in the world espy,<br/> +Than yon brown mole, that studs his bonny cheek * Of rosy-red beneath that jet black eye." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And as saith another, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I marvel seeing yon mole that serves his cheeks' bright flame * Yet burneth not in fire albeit Infidel[FN#470]<br/> +I wonder eke to see that apostolic glance, * Miracle working, though it work by magic spell:<br/> +How fresh and bright the down that decks his cheek, and yet * Bursten gall bladders feed which e'en as waters well." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And as saith another, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I marvel hearing people questioning of * The Fount of Life and in what land 'tis found:<br/> +I see it sprung from lips of dainty fawn, * Sweet rosy mouth with green mustachio down'd:<br/> +And wondrous wonder 'tis when Moses viewed * That Fount, he rested not from weary round."[FN#471] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now having developed such beauty, when he came to man's estate his loveliness +increased, and it won for him many comrades and intimates; while every one who +drew near to him wished that Taj al-Muluk Kharan might become Sultan after his +father's death, and that he himself might be one of his Emirs. Then took he +passionately to chasing and hunting which he would hardly leave for a single +hour. His father, King Sulayman Shah, would have forbidden him the pursuit +fearing for him the perils of the waste and the wild beasts; but he paid no +heed to his warning voice. And it so chanced that once upon a time he said to +his attendants "Take ye ten days food and forage;" and, when they obeyed his +bidding, he set out with his suite for sport and disport. They rode on into +the desert and ceased not riding four days, till they came to a place where the +ground was green, and they saw in it wild beasts grazing and trees with ripe +fruit growing and springs flowing. Quoth Taj al-Muluk to his followers, "Set +up the nets here and peg them in a wide ring and let our trysting place be at +the mouth of the fence, in such a spot." So they obeyed his words and staked +out a wide circle with toils; and there gathered together a mighty matter of +all kinds of wild beasts and gazelles, which cried out for fear of the men and +threw themselves for fright in the face of the horses. Then they loosed on to +them the hounds and lynxes[FN#472] and hawks;[FN#473] and they shot the quarry +down with shafts which pierced their vitals; and, by the time they came to the +further end of the net ring, they had taken a great number of the wild beasts, +and the rest fled. Then Taj al-Muluk dismounted by the water side and bade the +game be brought before himself, and divided it, after he had set apart the best +of the beasts for his father, King Sulayman Shah, and despatched the game to +him; and some he distributed among the officers of his court. He passed the +night in that place, and when morning dawned there came up a caravan of +merchants conveying negro slaves and white servants, and halted by the water +and the green ground. When Taj al-Muluk saw them, he said to one of his +companions, "Bring me news of yonder men and question them why they have halted +in this place."[FN#474] So the messenger went up to them and addressed them, +"Tell me who ye be, and answer me an answer without delay." Replied they, "We +are merchants and have halted to rest, for that the next station is distant and +we abide here because we have confidence in King Sulayman Shah and his son, Taj +al-Muluk, and we know that all who alight in his dominions are in peace and +safety; more over we have with us precious stuffs which we have brought for the +Prince." So the messenger returned and told these news to the King's son who, +hearing the state of the case and what the merchants had replied, said, "If +they have brought stuff on my account I will not enter the city nor depart +hence till I see it shown to me." Then he mounted horse and rode to the caravan +and his Mamelukes followed him till he reached it. Thereupon the merchants rose +to receive him and invoked on him Divine aid and favour with continuance of +glory and virtues; after which they pitched him a pavilion of red satin, +embroidered with pearls and jewels, wherein they spread him a kingly divan upon +a silken carpet worked at the upper end with emeralds set in gold. There Taj +al-Muluk seated himself whilst his white servants stood in attendance upon him, +and sent to bid the merchants bring out all that they had with them. +Accordingly, they produced their merchandise, and displayed the whole and he +viewed it and took of it what liked him, paying them the price. Then he looked +about him at the caravan, and remounted and was about to ride onwards, when his +glance fell on a handsome youth in fair attire, and a comely and shapely make, +with flower-white brow and moon like face, save that his beauty was wasted and +that yellow hues had overspread his cheeks by reason of parting from those he +loved;—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Eleventh Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Taj Al- Muluk, when he +looked about him at the caravan, saw a handsome youth in neat attire and of +shapely make, with flower like forehead and moon like face, save that his +beauty was wasted and yellow hues had overspread his cheeks by reason of +parting from those he loved; and great was his groaning and moaning, and the +tears streamed from his eyelids as he repeated these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Longsome is Absence; Care and Fear are sore, * And ceaseless tears, O friend, mine eyes outpour:<br/> +Yea, I farewelled my heart on parting day * And heartless, hopeless, now I bide forlore:<br/> +Pause, O my friend, with me farewelling one * Whose words my cure can work, my health restore!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now when the youth ended his poetry he wept awhile and fell down in a fainting +fit, whilst Taj al-Muluk looked at him and wondered at his case. Then, coming +to himself, he stared with distracted air, and versified in these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Beware her glance I rede thee, 'tis like wizard wight, * None can escape unscathed those eye shafts' glancing flight:<br/> +In very sooth black eyes, with languorous sleepy look, * Pierce deeper than white swords however these may bite.<br/> +Be not thy senses by her sweets of speech beguiled, * Whose brooding fever shall ferment in thought and sprite:<br/> +Soft sided Fair[FN#475] did silk but press upon her skin, * 'Twould draw red blood from it, as thou thyself canst sight.<br/> +Chary is she of charms twixt neck and anklets dwell, * And ah! what other scent shall cause me such delight?[FN#476]" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then he sobbed a loud sob and swooned away. But when Taj al- Muluk saw him in +this case, he was perplexed about his state and went up to him; and, as the +youth came to his senses and saw the King's son standing at his head, he sprang +to his feet and kissed the ground between his hands. Taj al-Muluk asked him, +'Why didst thou not show us thy merchandise?" end he answered, O my lord, there +is naught among my stock worthy of thine august highness." Quoth the Prince, +"Needs must thou show me what thou hast and acquaint me with thy circumstance; +for I see thee weeping eyed and heavyhearted. If thou have been oppressed, we +will end thine oppression, and if thou be in debt, we will pay thy debt; for of +a truth my heart burneth to see thee, since I first set eyes on thee."[FN#477] +Then Taj al-Muluk bade the seats be set, and they brought him a chair of ivory +and ebony with a net-work of gold and silk, and spread him a silken rug for his +feet. So he sat down on the chair and bidding the youth seat himself on the +rug said to him, "Show me thy stock in trade!" The young merchant replied, "O +my Lord, do not name this to me, for my goods be unworthy of thee." Rejoined +Taj al-Muluk "It needs must be thus!"; and bade some of the pages fetch the +goods. So they brought them in despite of him; and, when he saw them, the +tears streamed from his eyes and he wept and sighed and lamented: sobs rose in +his throat and he repeated these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"By what thine eyelids show of Kohl and coquetry! * By what thy shape displays of lissome symmetry!<br/> +By what thy liplets store of honey-dew and wine! * By what thy mind adorns of gracious kindly gree!<br/> +To me thy sight dream-visioned, O my hope! exceeds * The happiest escape from horriblest injury." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then the youth opened his bales and displayed his merchandise to Taj Al-Muluk +in detail, piece by piece, and amongst them he brought out a gown of satin +brocaded with gold, worth two thousand dinars. When he opened the gown there +fell a piece of linen from its folds. As soon as the young merchant saw this +he caught up the piece of linen in haste and hid it under his thigh; and his +reason wandered, and he began versifying, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"When shall be healed of thee this heart that ever bides in woe? * Than thee the Pleiad-stars more chance of happy meeting show<br/> +Parting and banishment and longing pain and lowe of love, * Procrastinating[FN#478] and delay these ills my life lay low:<br/> +Nor union bids me live in joy, nor parting kills by grief, * Nor travel draws me nearer thee nor nearer comest thou:<br/> +Of thee no justice may be had, in thee dwells naught of rush, * Nor gain of grace by side of thee, nor flight from thee I know:<br/> +For love of thee all goings forth and comings back are strait * On me, and I am puzzled sore to know where I shall go." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Taj al-Muluk wondered with great wonder at his verse, and could not comprehend +the cause. But when the youth snatched up the bit of linen and placed it under +thigh, he asked him, "What is that piece of linen?" "O my Lord," answered the +merchant, "thou hast no concern with this piece." Quoth the King's son, "Show +it me;" and quoth the merchant, "O my lord, I refused to show thee my goods on +account of this piece of linen; for I cannot let thee look upon it."—And +Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say, +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Twelfth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant said +to Taj al-Muluk, "I did not refuse to show thee my goods save on this account, +for I cannot let thee look upon it." Whereupon Taj al Muluk retorted, "Perforce +I must and will see it;" and insisted and became angry. So the youth drew it +out from under his thigh, and wept and moaned and redoubled his sighs and +groans, and repeated these verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Now blame him not; for blame brings only irk and pain! * Indeed, I spake him sooth but ne'er his ear could gain:<br/> +May Allah guard my moon which riseth in the vale * Beside our camp, from loosed robe like skyey plain:[FN#479]<br/> +I left him but had Love vouchsafed to leave for me * Some peace in life such leave of him I ne'er had ta'en:<br/> +How long he pleaded for my sake on parting morn, * While down his cheeks and mine tears ran in railing rain:<br/> +Allah belie me not: the garb of mine excuse * This parting rent, but I will Mend that garb again!<br/> +No couch is easy to my side, nor on such wise * Aught easeth him, when all alone without me lain:<br/> +Time with ill-omened hand hath wrought between us two, * And made my waxing joys to wane and his to wane,<br/> +And poured mere grief and woe, what time Time fain had crowned * The bowl he made me drink and gave for him to drain." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When he ended his recitation, quoth Taj al-Muluk, "I see thy conduct without +consequence; tell me then why weepest thou at the sight of this rag!" When the +young merchant heard speak of the piece of linen, he sighed and answered, "O my +lord, my story is a strange and my case out of range, with regard to this piece +of linen and to her from whom I brought it and to her who wrought on it these +figures and emblems." Hereupon, he spread out the piece of linen, and behold, +thereon was the figure of a gazelle wrought in silk and worked with red gold, +and facing it was another gazelle traced in silver with a neck ring of red gold +and three bugles[FN#480] of chrysolite upon the ring. When Taj al-Muluk saw +the beauty of these figures, he exclaimed, "Glory be to Allah who teacheth man +that which he knoweth not!"[FN#481] And his heart yearned to hear the youth's +story; so he said to him, "Tell me thy story with her who owned these +gazelles." Replied the young man: "Hear, O my Lord, the +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap07"></a>Tale of Aziz and Azizah.[FN#482]</h2> + +<p class="noindent"> +My father was a wealthy merchant and Allah had vouchsafed him no other child +than myself; but I had a cousin, Azízah hight, daughter of my paternal uncle +and we twain were brought up in one house; for her father was dead and before +his death, he had agreed with my father that I should marry her. So when I +reached man's estate and she reached womanhood, they did not separate her from +me or me from her, till at last my father spoke to my mother and said, "This +very year we will draw up the contract of marriage between Aziz and Azizah." So +having agreed upon this he betook himself to preparing provision for the +wedding feast. Still we ceased not to sleep on the same carpet knowing naught +of the case, albeit she was more thoughtful, more intelligent and quicker +witted than I. Now when my father had made an end of his preparations, and +naught remained for him but to write out the contract and for me but to +consummate the marriage with my cousin, he appointed the wedding for a certain +Friday, after public prayers; and, going round to his intimates among the mer +chants and others, he acquainted them with that, whilst my mother went forth +and invited her women friends and summoned her kith and kin. When the Friday +came, they cleaned the saloon and prepared for the guests and washed the marble +floor; then they spread tapestry about our house and set out thereon what was +needful, after they had hung its walls with cloth of gold. Now the folk had +agreed to come to us after the Friday prayers; so my father went out and bade +them make sweetmeats and sugared dishes, and there remained nothing to do but +to draw up the contract. Then my mother sent me to the bath and sent after me a +suit of new clothes of the richest; and, when I came out of the Hammam, I +donned those habits which were so perfumed that as I went along, there exhaled +from them a delicious fragrance scenting the wayside. I had designed to repair +to the Cathedral mosque when I bethought me of one of my friends and returned +in quest of him that he might be present at the writing of the contract; and +quoth I to myself, "This matter will occupy me till near the time of +congregational prayer." So I went on and entered a by street which I had never +before entered, perspiring profusely from the effects of the bath and the new +clothes on my body; and the sweat streamed down whilst the scents of my dress +were wafted abroad: I therefore sat me at the upper end of the street resting +on a stone bench, after spreading under me an embroidered kerchief I had with +me. The heat oppressed me more and more, making my forehead perspire and the +drops trickled along my cheeks; but I could not wipe my face with my kerchief +because it was dispread under me. I was about to take the skirt of my robe and +wipe my cheeks with it, when unexpectedly there fell on me from above a white +kerchief, softer to the touch than the morning breeze and pleasanter to the +sight than healing to the diseased. I hent it in hand and raised my head to +see whence it had fallen, when my eyes met the eyes of the lady who owned these +gazelles.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her +permitted say +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Thirteenth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth continued to +Taj al-Muluk: "So I raised my head to see whence this kerchief had fallen, when +my eyes met those of the lady who owned these gazelles. And lo! she was +looking out of a wicket in a lattice of brass and never saw my eyes a fairer +than she, and in fine my tongue faileth to describe her beauty. When she +caught sight of me looking at her, she put her forefinger into her mouth, then +joined her middle finger and her witness finger[FN#483] and laid them on her +bosom, between her breasts; after which she drew in her head and closed the +wicket shutter and went her ways. Thereupon fire broke out in and was heaped +upon my heart, and greater grew my smart; the one sight cost me a thousand +sighs and I abode perplexed, for that I heard no word by her spoken, nor +understood the meaning of her token. I looked at the window a second time, but +found it shut and waited patiently till sundown, but sensed no sound and saw no +one in view. So when I despaired of seeing her again, I rose from my place and +taking up the handkerchief, opened it, when there breathed from it a scent of +musk which caused me so great delight I became as one in Paradise.[FN#484] Then +I spread it before me and out dropped from it a delicate little scroll; +whereupon I opened the paper which was perfumed with a delicious perfume, and +therein were writ these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I sent to him a scroll that bore my plaint of love, * Writ in fine delicate hand; for writing proves man's skill:<br/> +Then quoth to me my friend, 'Why is thy writing thus; * So fine, so thin drawn 'tis to read unsuitable?'<br/> +Quoth I, 'for that I'm fine-drawn wasted, waxed thin, * Thus lovers' writ Should be, for so Love wills his will. +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And after casting my eyes on the beauty of the kerchief,[FN#485] I saw upon one +of its two borders the following couplets worked in with the needle, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"His cheek down writeth (O fair fall the goodly scribe!) * Two lines on table of his face in Rayhán-hand:[FN#486]<br/> +O the wild marvel of the Moon when comes he forth! * And when he bends, O shame to every Willow-wand!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And on the opposite border these two couplets were traced, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"His cheek down writeth on his cheek with ambergris on pearl * Two lines, like jet on apple li'en, the goodliest design:<br/> +Slaughter is in those languid eyne whene'er a glance they deal, * And drunkenness in either cheek and not in any wine." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When I read the poetry on the handkerchief the flames of love darted into my +heart, and yearning and pining redoubled their smart. So I took the kerchief +and the scroll and went home, knowing no means to win my wish, for that I was +incapable of conducting love affairs and inexperienced in interpreting hints +and tokens. Nor did I reach my home ere the night was far spent and I found +the daughter of my uncle sitting in tears. But as soon as she saw me she wiped +away the drops and came up to me, and took off my walking dress and asked me +the reason of my absence, saying, "All the folk, Emirs and notables and +merchants and others, assembled in our house; and the Kazi and the witnesses +were also present at the appointed time. They ate and tarried awhile sitting +to await thine appearance for the writing of the contract; and, when they +despaired of thy presence, they dispersed and went their ways. "And indeed," +she added, "thy father raged with exceeding wrath by reason of this, and swore +that he would not celebrate our marriage save during the coming year, for that +he hath spent on these festivities great store of money." And she ended by +asking, "What hath befallen thee this day to make thee delay till now?; and why +hast thou allowed that to happen which happened because of thine absence?" +Answered I, "O daughter of mine uncle, question me not concerning what hath +befallen me."[FN#487] Then I told her all that had passed from beginning to +end, and showed her the handkerchief. She took the scroll and read what was +written therein; and tears ran down her cheeks and she repeated these +cinquains, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Who saith that Love at first of free will came, * Say him: Thou liest! Love be grief and grame:<br/> +Yet shall such grame and grief entail no shame; * All annals teach us one thing and the same<br/> +Good current coin clips coin we may not crepe! +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +An please thou, say there's pleasure in thy pain, * Find Fortune's playful gambols glad and fain:<br/> +Or happy blessings in th' unhappy's bane, * That joy or grieve, with equal might and main:<br/> +Twixt phrase and antiphrase I'm all a heap! +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +But he, withal, whose days are summer bright, * Whom maids e'er greet with smiling lips' delight;<br/> +Whom spicey breezes fan in every site * And wins whate'er he wills, that happy wight<br/> +White blooded coward heart should never keep!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then she asked me, "What said she, and what signs made she to thee?" I +answered, "She uttered not a word, but put her fore finger in her mouth, then +joining it to her middle finger, laid both fingers on her bosom and pointed to +the ground. Thereupon she withdrew her head and shut the wicket; and after +that I saw her no more. However, she took my heart with her, so I sat till sun +down, expecting her again to look out of the window; but she did it not; and, +when I despaired of her, I rose from my seat and came home. This is my history +and I beg thee to help me in this my sore calamity." Upon this she raised her +face to me and said, "O son of mine uncle, if thou soughtest my eye, I would +tear it for thee from its eyelids, and perforce I cannot but aid thee to thy +desire and aid her also to her desire; for she is whelmed in passion for thee +even as thou for her." Asked I, "And what is the interpretation of her signs?"; +and Azizah answered, "As for the putting her finger in her mouth,[FN#488] it +showed that thou art to her as her soul to her body and that she would bite +into union with thee with her wisdom teeth. As for the kerchief, it betokeneth +that her breath of life is bound up in thee. As for the placing her two +fingers on her bosom between her breasts, its explanation is that she saith; +'The sight of thee may dispel my grief.' For know, O my cousin, that she loveth +thee and she trusteth in thee. This is my interpretation of her signs and, +could I come and go at Will, I would bring thee and her together in shortest +time, and curtain you both with my skirt." Hearing these words I thanked her +(continued the young merchant) for speaking thus, and said to myself, "I will +wait two days." So I abode two days in the house, neither going out nor coming +in; neither eating nor drinking but I laid my head on my cousin's lap, whilst +she comforted me and said to me, "Be resolute and of good heart and hope for +the best!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her +permitted say, +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Fourteenth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth pursued to Taj +al-Muluk:—"And when the two days were past she said to me, "Be of good cheer +and clear thine eyes of tears and take courage to dress thyself and go to her, +according to thy tryst." Then she rose and changed my clothes and perfumed me +with incense smoke. So I braced myself up and heartened my heart and went out +and walked on till I came to the by-street, where I sat down on the bench +awhile. And behold, the wicket suddenly opened and I looked up and seeing her, +fell down in a swoon. When I revived, I called up resolution and took courage +and gazed again at her and again became insensible to the world around me. +Then I came to myself and looking at her, saw that she held in hand a mirror +and a red kerchief. Now when she caught my glance, she bared her forearms and +opened her five fingers and smote her breast with palm and digits; and after +this she raised her hands and, holding the mirror outside the wicket, she took +the red kerchief and retired into the room with it, but presently returned and +putting out her hand with the kerchief, let it down towards the lane three +several times, dipping it and raising it as often. Then she wrung it out and +folded it in her hands, bending down her head the while; after which she drew +it in from the lattice and, shutting the wicket shutter, went away without a +single word; nay, she left me confounded and knowing not what signified her +signs.[FN#489]. I tarried sitting there till supper-time and did not return +home till near midnight; and there I found the daughter of my uncle with her +cheek props in her hand and her eyelids pouring forth tears; and she was +repeating these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Woe's me! why should the blamer gar thee blaming bow? * How be consoled for thee that art so tender bough?<br/> +Bright being! on my vitals dost thou prey, and drive * My heart before platonic passion's[FN#490] force to bow.<br/> +Thy Turk like[FN#491] glances havoc deal in core of me, * As furbished sword thin ground at curve could never show:<br/> +Thou weigh's" me down with weight of care, while I have not * Strength e'en to bear my shift, so weakness lays me low:<br/> +Indeed I weep blood tears to hear the blamer say; * 'The lashes of thy lover's eyne shall pierce thee through!'<br/> +Thou hast, my prince of loveliness! an Overseer,[FN#492] * Who wrongs me, and a Groom[FN#493] who beats me down with brow.<br/> +He foully lies who says all loveliness belonged * To Joseph, in thy loveliness is many a Joe:<br/> +I force myself to turn from thee, in deadly fright * Of spies; and what the force that turns away my sight!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When I heard her verse, cark increased and care redoubled on me and I fell down +in a corner of our house; whereupon she arose in haste and, coming to me lifted +me up and took off my outer clothes and wiped my face with her sleeve. Then +she asked me what had befallen me, and I described all that had happened from +her. Quoth she, "O my cousin, as for her sign to thee with her palm and five +fingers its interpretation is, Return after five days; and the putting forth of +her head out of the window, and her gestures with the mirror and the letting +down and raising up and wringing out of the red kerchief,[FN#494] signify, Sit +in the dyer's shop till my messenger come to thee." When I heard her words fire +flamed up in my heart and I exclaimed, "O daughter of my uncle, thou sayest +sooth in this thine interpretation; for I saw in the street the shop of a Jew +dyer." Then I wept, and she said, "Be of good cheer and strong heart: of a +truth others are occupied with love for years and endure with constancy the +ardour of passion, whilst thou hast but a week to wait; why then this +impatience?" Thereupon she went on cheering me with comfortable talk and +brought me food: so I took a mouthful and tried to eat but could not; and I +abstained from meat and drink and estranged myself from the solace of sleep, +till my colour waxed yellow and I lost my good looks; for I had never been in +love before nor had I ever savoured the ardour of passion save this time. So I +fell sick and my cousin also sickened on my account; but she would relate to +me, by way of consolation, stories of love and lovers every night till I fell +asleep; and when ever I awoke, I found her wakeful for my sake with tears +running down her cheeks. This ceased not till the five days were past, when my +cousin rose and warmed some water and bathed me with it. Then she dressed me +in my best and said to me, "Repair to her and Allah fulfil thy wish and bring +thee to thy desire of thy beloved!" So I went out and ceased not walking on +till I came to the upper end of the by street. As it was the Sabbath[FN#495] I +found the dyer's shop locked and sat before it, till I heard the call to mid-afternoon +prayer. Then the sun yellowed and the Mu'ezzins[FN#496] chanted the +call to sundown prayer and the night came; but I saw no sign nor heard one +word, nor knew any news of her. So I feared for my life sitting there alone; +and at last I arose and walked home reeling like a drunken man. When I reached +the house, I found my cousin Azizah standing, with one hand grasping a peg +driven into the wall and the other on her breast; and she was sighing and +groaning and repeating these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"The longing of an Arab lass forlorn of kith and kin * (Who to Hijazian Willow-wand and myrtle[FN#497] doth incline,<br/> +And who, when meeting caravan, shall with love-lowe set light * To bivouac fire, and bang for conk her tears of pain and pine)<br/> +Exceeds not mine for him nor more devotion shows, but he * Seeing my heart is wholly his spurns love as sin indign." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now when she had finished her verse she turned to me and, seeing me, wiped away +her tears and my tears with her sleeve. Then she smiled in my face and said, +"O my cousin, Allah grant thee enjoyment of that which He hath given thee! Why +didst thou not pass the night by the side of thy beloved and why hast thou not +fulfilled thy desire of her?" When I heard her words, I gave her a kick in the +breast and she fell down in the saloon and her brow struck upon the edge of the +raised pavement and hit against a wooden peg therein. I looked at her and saw +that her forehead was cut open and the blood running,—And Shahrazad perceived +the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Fifteenth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued to Taj al-Muluk: "Now when I kicked the daughter of my uncle in the +breast she fell on the edge of the raised pavement in the saloon and her brow +struck upon a wooden peg. Thereby her forehead was cut open and the blood ran +down, but she was silent and did not utter a single sound.[FN#498] Presently +she rose up, and made some tinder of rags, then staunching with it the bleeding +wound, bound her forehead with a bandage; after which she wiped up the blood +that had fallen on the carpet, and it was as if nothing had been. Presently +she came up to me and smiling in my face, said with gentle voice, "By Allah, O +son of my uncle, I spake not these words to mock at thee or at her! But I was +troubled with an ache in my head and was minded to be blooded, but now thou +hast eased my head and lightened my brow; so tell me what hath befallen thee to +day." Thereupon I told her all that had passed between me and her that day; and +she wept as she heard my words and said, "O son of my uncle, rejoice at the +good tidings of thy desire being fulfilled and thine aim being attained. Of a +truth this is a sign of acceptance; for that she stayed away only because she +wisheth to try thee and know if thou be patient or not, and sincere in thy love +for her or otherwise. To-morrow, repair to her at the old place and see what +sign she maketh to thee; for indeed thy gladness is near and the end of thy +sadness is at hand." And she went on to comfort me; but my cark and care ceased +not to increase on me. Presently she brought me food which I kicked away with +my foot so that the contents of every saucer were scattered in all directions, +and I said, "Every lover is a madman; he inclineth not to food neither enjoyeth +he sleep." And my cousin Azizah rejoined, "By Allah, O son of my uncle, these +be in very deed the signs of love!" And the tears streamed down her cheeks +whenas she gathered the fragments of the saucers and wiped up the food; then +she took seat and talked to me, whilst I prayed Allah to hasten the dawn. At +last, when morning arose with its sheen and shine, I went out to seek her and +hastening to her by street sat down on that bench, when lo! the wicket opened +and she put out her head laughing. Then she disappeared within and returned +with a mirror, a bag; and a pot full of green plants and she held in hand a +lamp. The first thing she did was to take the mirror and, putting it into the +bag, tie it up and throw it back into the room; then she let down her hair over +her face and set the lamp on the pot of flowers during the twinkling of an eye; +then she took up all the things and went away shutting the window without +saying a word. My heart was riven by this state of the case, and by her secret +signals, her mysterious secrets and her utter silence; and thereby my longing +waxed more violent and my passion and distraction redoubled on me. So I +retraced my steps, tearful-eyed and heavy hearted, and returned home, where I +found the daughter of my uncle sitting with her face to the wall; for her heart +was burning with grief and galling jealousy; albeit her affection forbade her +to acquaint me with what she suffered of passion and pining when she saw the +excess of my longing and distraction. Then I looked at her and saw on her head +two bandages, one on account of the accident to her forehead and the other over +her eye in consequence of the pain she endured for stress of weeping; and she +was in miserable plight shedding tears and repeating these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I number nights; indeed I count night after night; * Yet lived I long ere learnt so sore accompt to see, ah!<br/> +Dear friend, I compass not what Allah pleased to doom * For Laylá, nor what Allah destined for me, ah!<br/> +To other giving her and unto me her love, * What loss but Layla's loss would He I ever dree, ah!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And when she had finished her reciting, she looked towards me and seeing me +through her tears, wiped them away and came up to me hastily, but could not +speak for excess of love. So she remained silent for some while and then said, +"O my cousin, tell me what befel thee with her this time." I told her all that +had passed and she said, "Be patient, for the time of thy union is come and +thou hast attained the object of thy hopes. As for her signal to thee with the +mirror which she put in the bag, it said to thee, When the sun is set; and the +letting down of her hair over her face signified, When night is near and +letteth fall the blackness of the dark and hath starkened the daylight, come +hither. As for her gesture with the pot of green plants it meant, When thou +comest, enter the flower-garden which is behind the street; and as for her sign +with the lamp it denoted, When thou enterest the flower-garden walk down it and +make for the place where thou seest the lamp shining; and seat thyself beneath +it and await me; for the love of thee is killing me." When I heard these words +from my cousin, I cried out from excess of passion and said, "How long wilt +thou promise me and I go to her, but get not my will nor find any true sense in +thine interpreting." Upon this she laughed and replied, "It remaineth for thee +but to have patience during the rest of this day till the light darken and the +night starker and thou shalt enjoy union and accomplish thy hopes; and indeed +all my words be without leasing." Then she repeated these two couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Let days their folds and plies deploy, * And shun the house that deals annoy!<br/> +Full oft when joy seems farthest far * Thou nighmost art to hour of joy."' +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then she drew near to me and began to comfort me with soothing speech, but +dared not bring me aught of food, fearing lest I be angry with her and hoping I +might incline to her; so when coming to me she only took off my upper garment +and said to me, "Sit O my cousin, that I may divert thee with talk till the end +of the day and, Almighty Allah willing, as soon as it is night thou shalt be +with thy beloved." But I paid no heed to her and ceased not looking for the +approach of darkness, saying, "O Lord, hasten the coming of the night!" And +when night set in, the daughter of my uncle wept with sore weeping and gave me +a crumb of pure musk, and said to me, "O my cousin, put this crumb in thy +mouth, and when thou hast won union with thy beloved and hast taken thy will of +her and she hath granted thee thy desire, repeat to her this couplet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'Ho, lovers all! by Allah say me sooth * What shall he do when love sore +vexeth youth?'"[FN#499] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And she kissed me and swore me not to repeat this couplet till I should be +about to leave my lover and I said, "Hearing is obeying!" And when it was +supper-tide I went out and ceased not walking on till I came to the flower +garden whose door I found open. So I entered and, seeing a light in the +distance, made towards it and reaching it, came to a great pavilion vaulted +over with a dome of ivory and ebony, and the lamp hung from the midst of the +dome. The floor was spread with silken carpets embroidered in gold and silver, +and under the lamp stood a great candle, burning in a candelabrum of gold. In +mid pavilion was a fountain adorned with all manner of figures;[FN#500] and by +its side stood a table covered with a silken napkin, and on its edge a great +porcelain bottle full of wine, with a cup of crystal inlaid with gold. Near +all these was a large tray of silver covered over, and when I uncovered it I +found therein fruits of every kind, figs and pomegranates, grapes and oranges, +citrons and shaddocks[FN#501] disposed amongst an infinite variety of sweet +scented flowers, such as rose, jasmine, myrtle, eglantine, narcissus and all +sorts of sweet smelling herbs. I was charmed with the place and I joyed with +exceeding joy, albeit I found not there a living soul and my grief and anxiety +ceased from me.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day, and ceased to say her +permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Sixteenth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued to Taj al-Muluk: "I was charmed with the place and joyed with great +joy albeit there I found not a living soul of Almighty Allah's creatures, and +saw nor slave nor handmaid to oversee these things or to watch and ward these +properties. So I sat down in the pavilion to await the coming of the beloved +of my heart; but the first hour of the night passed by, and the second hour, +and the third hour, and still she came not. Then hunger grew sore upon me, for +that it was long since I had tasted food by reason of the violence of my love: +but when I found the place even as my cousin had told me, and saw the truth of +her in terpretation of my beloved's signs, my mind was set at rest and I felt +the pangs of hunger; moreover, the odour of the viands on the table excited me +to eat. So making sure of attaining my desire, and being famished for food I +went up to the table and raised the cover and found in the middle a china dish +containing four chickens reddened with roasting and seasoned with spices, round +the which were four saucers, one containing sweetmeats, another conserve of +pomegranate seeds, a third almond pastry[FN#502] and a fourth honey fritters; +and the contents of these saucers were part sweet and part sour. So I ate of +the fritters and a piece of meat, then went on to the almond cakes and ate what +I could; after which I fell upon the sweetmeats, whereof I swallowed a spoonful +or two or three or four, ending with part of a chicken and a mouthful of +something beside. Upon this my stomach became full and my joints loose and I +waxed too drowsy to keep awake; so I laid my head on a cushion, after having +washed my hands, and sleep over came me; I knew not what happened to me after +this, and I awoke not till the sun's heat scorched me, for that I had never +once tasted sleep for days past. When I awoke I found on my stomach a piece of +salt and a bit of charcoal; so I stood up and shook my clothes and turned to +look right and left, but could see no one; and discovered that I had been +sleeping on the marble pavement without bedding beneath me. I was perplexed +thereat and afflicted with great affliction; the tears ran down my cheeks and I +mourned for myself. Then I returned home, and when I entered, I found my +cousin beating her hand on her bosom and weeping tears like rain shedding +clouds; and she versified with these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Blows from my lover's land a Zephyr cooly sweet, * And with its every breath makes olden love new glow:<br/> +O Zephyr of the morning hour, come show to us * Each lover hath his lot, his share of joy and woe:<br/> +Could I but win one dearest wish, we had embraced * With what embrace and clip of breast fond lovers know.<br/> +Allah forbids, while bides unseen my cousin's face, * All joys the World can give or hand of Time bestow.<br/> +Would Heaven I knew his heart were like this heart of me, * Melted by passion-flame and charged with longing owe." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When she saw me, she rose in haste and wiped away her tears and addressed me +with her soft speech, saying, "O son of my uncle, verily Allah hath been +gracious to thee in thy love, for that she whom thou lovest loveth thee, whilst +I pass my time in weeping and bewailing my severance from thee who blamest me +and chidest me; but may Allah not punish thee for my sake!" Thereupon she +smiled in my face a smile of reproach and caressed me; then taking off my +walking clothes, she spread them out and said, "By Allah, this is not the scent +of one who hath enjoyed his lover! So tell me what hath befallen thee, O my +cousin." I told her all that had passed, and she smiled again a smile of +reproach and said, "Verily, my heart is full of pain; but may he not live who +would hurt thy heart! Indeed, this woman maketh herself inordinately dear and +difficult to thee, and by Allah, O son of my uncle, I fear for thee from +her.[FN#503] Know, O my cousin, that the meaning of the salt is thou west +drowned in sleep like insipid food, disgustful to the taste; and it is as +though she said to thee; 'It behoveth thou be salted lest the stomach eject +thee; for thou professes to be of the lovers noble and true; but sleep is +unlawful and to a lover undue; therefore is thy love but a lie.' However, it is +her love for thee that lieth; for she saw thee asleep yet aroused thee not and +were her love for thee true, she had indeed awoken thee. As for the charcoal, +it means 'Allah blacken thy face'[FN#504] for thou makest a lying presence of +love, whereas thou art naught but a child and hast no object in life other than +eating and drinking and sleeping! such is the interpretation of her signs, and +may Allah Almighty deliver thee from her!" When I heard my cousin's words, I +beat my hand upon my breast and cried out, "By Allah, this is the very truth, +for I slept and lovers sleep not! Indeed I have sinned against myself, for +what could have wrought me more hurt than eating and sleeping? Now what shall +I do?" Then I wept sore and said to the daughter of my uncle, "Tell me how to +act and have pity on me, so may Allah have pity on thee: else I shall die." As +my cousin loved me with very great love,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of +day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Seventeenth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued his tale to Taj al-Muluk: "Thereupon quoth I to the daughter of my +uncle, "Tell me what to do and have pity on me, so may Allah have pity on +thee!" As the daughter of my uncle loved me with great love, she replied, "On +my head and eyes! But, O my cousin, I repeat what I have told thee oftentimes, +if I could go in and out at will, I would at once bring you two together and +cover you both with my skirt: nor would I do this but hoping to win thy favour. +Inshallah, I will do my utmost endeavour to unite you; but hear my words and +do my bidding. Go thou to the very same place and sit down where thou sattest +before and at supper-tide look thou eat not, for eating induceth sleep; and +have a care-thou slumber not, for she will not come to thee till a fourth part +of the night be passed. And the Almighty avert her mischief from thee!" Now +when I heard these words I rejoiced and besought Allah to hasten the night; +and, as soon as it was dark, I was minded to go, and my cousin said to me, +"When thou shalt have met her, repeat to her the couplet I taught thee before, +at the time of thy leave taking." Replied I, "On my head and eyes!" and went +out and repaired to the garden, where I found all made ready in the same state +as on the previous night, with every requisite of meat and drink, dried fruits, +sweet scented flowers and so forth. I went up into the pavilion and smelt the +odour of the viands and my spirit lusted after them; but I possessed my soul in +patience for a while, till at last I could no longer withstand temptation. So +I arose from my seat and went up to the table and, raising its cover, found a +dish of fowls, surrounded by four saucers containing four several meats. I ate +a mouthful of each kind and as much as I would of the sweetmeats and a piece of +meat: then I drank from the saucer a sauce yellowed with saffron[FN#505] and as +it pleased me, I supped it up by the spoonful till I was satisfied and my +stomach was full. Upon this, my eyelids drooped; so I took a cushion and set it +under my head, saying, "Haply I can recline upon it without going to sleep." +Then I closed my eyes and slept, nor did I wake till the sun had risen, when I +found on my stomach a cube of bone,[FN#506] a single tip-cat stick,[FN#507] the +stone of a green date[FN#508] and a carob pod. There was no furniture nor +aught else in the place, and it was as if there had been nothing there +yesterday. So I rose and shaking all these things off me, fared forth in fury; +and, going home, found my cousin groaning and versifying with these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"A wasted body, heart enpierced to core, * And tears that down my poor cheeks pour and pour:<br/> +And lover cure of access; but, but still * Naught save what's fair can come from fairest flow'r:<br/> +O cousin mine thou fill'st my soul with pate, * And from these tears mine eyelids ache full sore!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +I chid the daughter of my uncle and abused her, whereat she wept; then, wiping +away her tears, she came up to me and kissed me and began pressing me to her +bosom, whilst I held back from her blaming myself. Then said she to me, "O my +cousin, it seemeth thou sleptest again this night?" Replied I, "Yes; and when I +awoke, I found on my stomach a cube of bone, a single tip-cat stick, a stone of +a green date and a carob pod, and I know not why she did this." Then I wept and +went up to her and said, "Expound to me her meaning in so doing and tell me how +shall I act and aid me in my sore strait." She answered, "On my head and eyes! +By the single tip cat stick and the cube of bone which she placed upon thy +stomach she saith to thee 'Thy body is present but thy heart is absent'; and +she meaneth, 'Love is not thus: so do not reckon thyself among lovers.' As for +the date stone, it is as if she said to thee, 'An thou wert in love thy heart +would be burning with passion and thou wouldst not taste the delight of sleep; +for the sweet of love is like a green date[FN#509] which kindleth a coal of +fire in the vitals.' As for the carob pod[FN#510] it signifieth to thee, 'The +lover's heart is wearied'; and thereby she saith, 'Be patient under our +separation with the patience of Job.' " When I heard this interpretation, fires +darted into my vitals like a dart and grief redoubled upon my heart and I cried +out, saying, "Allah decreed sleep to me for my ill fortune." Then I said to +her, "O my cousin, by my life, devise me some device whereby I may win my will +of her!" She wept and answered, "O Aziz, O son of my uncle, verily my heart is +full of sad thought which I cannot speak: but go thou again to night to the +same place and beware thou sleep not, and thou shalt surely attain thy desire. +This is my counsel and peace be with thee!" Quoth I, "If Allah please I will +not sleep, but will do as thou biddest me." Then my cousin rose, and brought me +food, saying, "Eat now what may suffice thee, that nothing may divert thy +heart." So I ate my fill and, when night came, my cousin rose and bringing me a +sumptuous suit of clothes clad me therein. Then she made me swear I would +repeat to my lover the verse aforesaid and bade me beware of sleeping. So I +left her and repaired to the garden and went up into that same pavilion where I +occupied myself in holding my eyelids open with my fingers and nodding my head +as the night darkened on me."—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and +ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Eighteenth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued to Taj al Muluk: "So I repaired to the garden and went up into that +same pavilion and occupied myself in gazing upon the flower beds and in holding +my eyelids open with my fingers and nodding my head as the night darkened on +me. And presently I grew hungry with watching and the smell of the meats being +wafted towards me, my appetite increased: so I went up to the table and took +off the cover and ate a mouthful of every dish and a bit of meat; after which I +turned to the flagon of wine, saying to myself, I will drink one cup. I drank +it, and then I drank a second and a third, till I had drunk full ten, when the +cool air smote me and I fell to the earth like a felled man. I ceased not to +lie thus till day arose, when I awoke and found myself out side the garden, and +on my stomach were a butcher's knife and a dram-weight of iron.[FN#511] +Thereat I trembled and, taking them with me, went home, where I found my cousin +saying, "Verily, I am in this house wretched and sorrowful, having no helper +but weeping." Now when I entered, I fell down at full length and throwing the +knife and the dram weight from my hand, I fainted clean away. As soon as I +came to myself, I told her what had befallen me and said, Indeed, I shall never +enjoy my desire." But when she saw my tears and my passion, they redoubled her +distress on my account, and she cried, "Verily, I am helpless! I warned thee +against sleeping; but thou wouldst not hearken to my warning, nor did my words +profit thee aught." I rejoined, "By Allah, I conjure thee to explain to me the +meaning of the knife and the iron dram-weight." "By the dram weight," replied +my cousin, "she alludeth to her right eye,[FN#512] and she sweareth by it and +saith, 'By the Lord of all creatures and by my right eye! if thou come here +again and sleep, I will cut thy throat with this very knife.' And indeed I fear +for thee, O my cousin, from her malice; my heart is full of anguish for thee +and I cannot speak. Nevertheless, if thou can be sure of thyself not to sleep +when thou returnest to her, return to her and beware of sleeping and thou shalt +attain thy desire; but if when returning to her thou wilt sleep, as is thy +wont, she will surely slaughter thee." Asked I, "What shall I do, O daughter of +my uncle: I beg thee, by Allah, to help me in this my calamity." Answered she, +"On my head and eyes! if thou wilt hearken to my words and do my bidding, thou +shalt have thy will." Quoth I, "I will indeed hearken to thy words and do thy +bidding;" and quoth she, "When it is time for thee to go, I will tell thee." +Then she pressed me to her bosom and laying me on the bed, shampoo'd my feet, +till drowsiness overcame me and I was drowned in sleep, then she took a fan and +seated herself at my head with the fan in her hand and she was weeping till her +clothes were wet with tears. Now when she saw that I was awake, she wiped away +the drops and fetched me some food and set it before me. I refused it, but she +said to me, "Did I not tell thee that thou must do my bidding? Eat!" So I ate +and thwarted her not and she proceeded to put the food into my mouth and I to +masticate it, till I was full. Then she made me drink jujube sherbet[FN#513] +and sugar and washed my hands and dried them with a kerchief; after which she +sprinkled me with rose-water, and I sat with her awhile in the best of spirits. +When the darkness had closed in, she dressed me and said to me, "O son of my +uncle, watch through the whole night and sleep not; for she will not come to +thee this tide till the last of the dark hours and, Allah willing, thou shalt +be at one with her this night; but forget not my charge." Then, she wept, and +my heart was pained for her by reason of her over much weeping, and I asked, +"What is the charge thou gayest me?" She answered, "When thou takest leave of +her repeat to her the verse before mentioned." So, full of joy I left her and +repairing to the garden, went up into the pavilion where, being satiated with +food, I sat down and watched till a fourth part of the dark hours was past. +That night seemed longsome to me as it were a year: but I remained awake till +it was three quarters spent and the cocks crew and I was famished for long +watching. Accordingly I went up to the table and ate my fill, whereupon my +head grew heavy and I wanted to sleep, when behold, a light appeared making +towards me from afar. I sprang up and washed my hands and mouth and roused +myself; and before long she came with ten damsels, in whose midst she was like +the full moon among the stars. She was clad in a dress of green satin purfled +with red gold, and she was as saith the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"She lords it o'er our hearts in grass green gown, * With buttons[FN#514] loose and locks long flowing down.<br/> +Quoth I, 'What is thy name?' Quoth she, 'I'm she, * Who burns the lover-heart live coals upon:'<br/> +I made my plaint to her of loving lowe; * Laughed she, 'To stone thou moanest useless moan!'<br/> +Quoth I, 'An be of hardest stone thy heart, * Allah drew sweetest spring from hardest stone.' " +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When she saw me she laughed and said, "How is it that thou art awake and that +sleep overcame thee not? Forasmuch as thou hast watched through the night, I +know that thou art a lover; for night watching is the mark of lovers displaying +brave endurance of their desires." Then she turned to her women and signed to +them and they went away from her, whereupon she came up to me and strained me +to her breast and kissed me, whilst I kissed her, and she sucked my upper lip +whilst I sucked her lower lip. I put my hand to her waist and pressed it and +we came not to the ground save at the same moment. Then she undid her +petticoat-trousers which slipped down to her anklets, and we fell to clasping +and embracing and toying and speaking softly and biting and inter twining of +legs and going round about the Holy House and the corners thereof,[FN#515] till +her joints became relaxed for love delight and she swooned away. I entered the +sanctuary, and indeed that night was a joy to the sprite and a solace to the +sight even as saith the poet, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Sweetest of nights the world can show to me, that night * When cups went round and round as fed by ceaseless spring:<br/> +There utter severance made I 'twixt mine eyes and sleep, * And joined, re joined mine ear drop with the anklet ring."[FN#516] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +We lay together in close embrace till the morning when I would have gone away, +but she stopped me and said, "Stay till I tell thee something"—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Nineteenth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued his recital to Taj al Muluk: "When I would have gone away, she +stopped me and said, "Stay, till I tell thee something and charge thee with a +charge." So I stayed whilst she unfolded a kerchief and drew out this piece of +linen and spread it open before me. I found worked on it these two figures of +gazelles and admired it with great admiration. Then I took the piece of linen +and went away, joyful, after we had agreed that I should visit her every night +in the garden; but in my joy I forgot to repeat to her the verse my cousin had +taught me. For when giving me the piece of linen with the gazelles she had +said to me, "Keep this carefully, as it is my sister's handiwork." I asked her, +"What is thy sister's name?"; and she answered, "Her name is Núr al-Hudá." When +I went to my cousin, I found her lying down; but as soon as she saw me, she +rose, with the tears running from her eyes, and came up to me, and kissed me on +the breast and said, "Didst thou do as I enjoined thee? and repeat the verse +to her?" "I forgot it," replied I; "and nothing drove it out of my mind but +these two figured gazelles." And I threw the piece of linen on the floor before +her. She rose and sat down again, but was unable to contain herself for +impatience, and her eyes ran over with tears, whilst she repeated these two +couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"O thou who seekest parting, softly fare! * Let not the Pair delude with cunning art:<br/> +Pare softly, Fortune's nature is to 'guile, * And end of every meeting is to part." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And when she ended her recitation she said, "O my cousin, give me this piece of +linen." So I gave it to her and she took it and unfolding it, saw what was +therein. When the tryst time came for my going to my lover, the daughter of my +uncle said to me, "Go, and peace attend thee; and when thou art about to leave +her, recite to her the verse I taught thee long ago and which thou didst +forget." Quoth I, "Tell it me again"; and she repeated it. Then I went to the +garden and entered the pavilion, where I found the young lad, awaiting me. +When she saw me, she rose and kissed me and made me sit in her lap; and we ate +and drank and did our desire as before. In the morning, I repeated to her my +cousin's verse which was this, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Ho, lovers all! by Allah say me sooth * What shall he do when Love sor' vexeth youth?" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When she heard this, her eyes filled with tears and she answered and said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Strive he to cure his case, to hide the truth, * Patiently humble self and sue for rush!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +I committed it to memory and returned home rejoicing at having done my cousin's +bidding. When I entered the house I found her lying down and my mother at her +head weeping over her case; but as soon as I went in to her my mother said to +me, "A foul plague on such a cousin! How couldst thou leave the daughter of +thy uncle ailing and not ask what ailed her?" But when my cousin saw me she +raised her head and sat up and asked me, "O Aziz, didst thou repeat to her the +couplet I taught thee?" I answered, "Yes, and when she heard it she wept and +recited in answer another couplet which I committed to memory." Quoth my +cousin, "Tell it me." I did so; and when she heard it she wept with much +weeping and repeated the following verses, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +'How shall youth cure the care his life undo'th, * And every day his heart in pieces hew'th?<br/> +In sooth he would be patient, but he findeth * Naught save a heart which love with pains imbu'th." +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then added my cousin, "When thou goest to her as of wont, repeat to her also +these two couplets which thou hast heard." I replied, "Hearkening and +obedience!" and I went at the wonted time, to the garden, where there passed +between my mistress and myself what tongue faileth to describe. When I was +about to leave her, I repeated to her those two couplets of my cousin's; +whereupon the tears streamed from her eyes and she replied, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"If he of patience fail the truth to hide * For him no cure save Death my vision view'th!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +I committed them to memory and returned home, and when I went in to my cousin I +found her fallen into a fit and my mother sitting at her head. When she heard +my voice, she opened her eyes and asked, "O Aziz! didst thou repeat the two +couplets to her?" whereto I answered, "Yes; but she wept on hearing them and +she replied with this couplet beginning, If he of patience fail, to the end." +And I repeated it; whereupon my cousin swooned again, and when she came to +herself, she recited these two couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"Hearkening, obeying, with my dying mouth * I greet who joy of union ne'er allow'th:<br/> +Pair fall all happy loves, and fair befal * The hapless lover dying in his drowth!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Again when it was night, I repaired to the garden as usual where I found the +young lady awaiting me. We sat down and ate and drank, after which we did all +we wanted and slept till the morning; and, as I was going away, I repeated to +her the saying of my cousin. When she heard the couplet she cried out with a +loud cry and was greatly moved and exclaimed, "Awáh! Awáh![FN#517] By Allah, +she who spake these lines is dead!" Then she wept and said to me, "Woe to thee! +How is she who spoke thus related to thee?" Replied I, "She is the daughter of +my father's brother." "Thou liest," rejoined she; "by Allah, were she thy +cousin, thou hadst borne her the same love as she bore thee! It is thou who +hast slain her and may the Almighty kill thee as thou killedst her! By Allah, +hadst thou told me thou hadst a cousin, I would not have admitted thee to my +favours!" Quoth I, "Verily it was she who interpreted to me the signs thou +madest and it was she who taught me how to come to thee and how I should deal +with thee; and, but for her, I should never have been united to thee." She then +asked me, "Did thy cousin then know of us?"; and I answered, "Yes;" whereupon +she exclaimed, "Allah give thee sorrow of thy youth, even as thou hast sorrowed +her youth!" Then she cried to me, "Go now and see after her." So I went away +troubled at heart, and ceased not walking till I reached our street, when I +heard sounds of wailing, and asking about it, was answered, "Azizah, we found +her dead behind the door." I entered the house, and when my mother saw me, she +said, "Her death lieth heavy on thy neck and may Allah not acquit thee of her +blood!"—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted +say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Twentieth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued to Taj al-Muluk: "So I entered the house and when my mother saw me +she said, "Her death lieth heavy on thy neck and may Allah not acquit thee of +her blood! A plague on such a cousin!" Then came my father, and we laid her +out and get ready her bier and buried her; and we had recitations of the whole +Koran over her tomb and we abode by her grave three days, after which we +returned to our home, and I grieving for her grievously. Then my mother came +to me and said, "I would fain know what thou didst to her, to break her +heart[FN#518] for, O my son, I questioned her at all times of the cause of her +complaint, but she would tell me nothing nor let me know aught of it. So Allah +upon thee, tell me what thou hast been doing to her that she died." Quoth I, "I +did nothing." Quoth my mother, "Allah avenge her on thee! Verily she told me +naught, but kept her secret till she died of her love-longings for thee; but +when she died I was with her and she opened her eyes and said to me; 'O wife of +my uncle may Allah hold thy son guiltless of my blood and punish him not for +what he hath done by me! And now Allah transporteth me from the house of the +world which is perishable to the house of the other world which is eternal.' +Said I, 'O my daughter, Allah preserve thee and preserve thy youth!' And as I +questioned her of the cause of her illness, she made me no answer; but she +smiled and said, 'O wife of my uncle, bid thy son, whenever he would go whither +he goeth every day, repeat these two saws at his going away; 'Faith is fair! +Unfaith is foul!' For this is of my tender affection to him, that I am +solicitous concerning him during my lifetime and after my death.' Then she gave +me somewhat for thee and sware me that I would not give it until I see thee +weeping for her and lamenting her death. The thing is with me; and, when I have +seen thy case as I have said, I will make it over to thee." "Show it me," cried +I: but she would not. Then I gave myself up to love delights and thought no +more of my cousin's death: for my mind was unsettled and fain would I have been +with my lover the livelong day and night.[FN#519] So hardly had I perceived +the darkness fall when I betook myself to the garden, where I found the young +lady sitting on coals of fire for much impatience. As soon as she was sure +that she saw me, she ran to me and throwing her arms about my neck, enquired of +the daughter of my uncle. I replied, "Sooth to say she is dead, and we have +caused Zikr- litanies and recitations of the Koran to be performed for her; and +it is now four nights and this be the fifth since she is gone." When she heard +that, she shrieked aloud and wept and said, "Did I not tell thee that thou hast +slain her? Hadst thou let me know of her before her death, I would have +requited her the kindness she did me, in that she served me and united thee to +me; for without her, we had never foregathered, we twain, and I fear lest some +calamity befal thee because of thy sin against her." Quoth I, "She acquitted me +of offence ere she died;" and I repeated to her what my mother had told me. +Quoth she, "Allah upon thee! when thou returnest to thy mother, learn what +thing she keepeth for thee." I rejoined, "My mother also said to me; 'Before +the daughter of thy uncle died, she laid a charge upon me, saying, Whenever thy +son would go whither he is wont to go, teach him these two saws, 'Faith is +fair; Unfaith is foul!' " When my lady heard this she exclaimed, "The mercy of +Almighty Allah be upon her! Indeed, she hath delivered thee from me, for I +minded to do thee a mischief, but now I will not harm thee nor trouble thee." I +wondered at this and asked her, "What then west thou minded to do with me in +time past and we two being in bond of love?" Answered she, "Thou art infatuated +with me; for thou art young in life and a raw laddie; thy heart is void of +guile and thou weetest not our malice and deceit. Were she yet alive, she +would protect thee; for she is the cause of thy preservation and she hath +delivered thee from destruction. And now I charge thee speak not with any +woman, neither accost one of our sex, be she young or be she old; and again I +say Beware! for thou art simple and raw and knowest not the wiles of women and +their malice, and she who interpreted the signs to thee is dead. And indeed I +fear for thee, lest thou fall into some disgrace and find none to deliver thee +from it, now that the daughter of thy uncle is no more."—And Shahrazad +perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-first Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued to Taj al-Muluk: "Then the young lady said to me, "I fear for thee +lest thou fall into some disgrace and find none to deliver thee from it. Alas +for thy cousin and ah, the pity of her! Would I had known her before her +death, that I might have requited by waiting upon her the fair service she did +me. The mercy of Allah Almighty be upon her, for she kept her secret and +revealed not what she suffered, and but for her thou hadst never foregathered +with me; no, never! But there is one thing I desire of thee." I asked, "What +is it?"; and she answered, "It is that thou bring me to her grave, that I may +visit her in the tomb wherein she is and write some couplets thereon." I +rejoined, "To morrow, if Allah please!"[FN#520] I slept with her that night, +and she ceased not saying after every hour, "Would thou hadst told me of thy +cousin before her death!" And I asked her, "What is the meaning of the two saws +she taught me? 'Faith is fair! Unfaith is foul!'" But she made no answer. As +soon as it was day she rose and, taking a purse of gold pieces, said to me, +"Come, show me her tomb, that I may visit it and grave some verses thereon and +build a dome over it and commend her to Allah's mercy and bestow these dinars +in alms for her soul." I replied, "To hear is to obey!"; and walked on before +her, whilst she followed me, giving alms as she went and saying to all upon +whom she lavisht bounty, "This is an alms for the soul of Azizah, who kept her +counsel till she drank the cup of death and never told the secret of her love." +And she stinted not thus to give alms and say, "for Azizah's soul," till the +purse was empty and we came to the grave. And when she looked at the tomb, she +wept and threw herself on it; then, pulling out a chisel of steel and a light +hammer, she graved therewith upon the head stone in fine small characters these +couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"I past by a broken tomb amid a garth right sheen, * Whereon seven blooms of Nu'uman[FN#521] glowed with cramoisie;<br/> +Quoth I, 'Who sleepeth in this tomb?' Quoth answering Earth * 'Before a lover Hades-tombed[FN#522] bend reverently!'<br/> +Quoth I, 'May Allah help thee, O thou slain of Love, * And grant thee home in Heaven and Paradise height to see!'<br/> +Hapless are lovers all e'en tombed in their tombs, * Where amid living folk the dust weighs heavily!<br/> +Pain would I plant a garden blooming round thy grave, * And water every flower with tear drops flowing free!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then she turned away in tears and I with her and returned to the garden where +she said to me, "By Allah! I conjure thee never leave me!" "To hear is to +obey," replied I. Then I gave myself wholly up to her and paid her frequent +visits: she was good and generous to me; and as often as I passed the night +with her, she would make much of me and would ask me of the two saws my cousin +Azizah told my mother and I would repeat them to her. And matters ceased not +to be on this wise and I continued for a whole year eating and drinking and +enjoying dalliance and wearing change of rich raiment until I waxed gross and +fat, so that I lost all thought of sorrowing and mourning, and I clean forgot +my cousin Azizah. And on New Year's day I went to the bath, where I refreshed +myself and put on a suit of sumptuous clothes; then coming out I drank a cup of +wine and smelt the scent of my new gear which was perfumed with various +essences; and my breast was broadened thereby, for I knew not the tricks of +Pate nor the changing ways of Time. When the hour of night prayer came, I was +minded to repair to my lover; but, being the worse for wine, I knew not when +going to her whither I went, so my drunkenness turned me into a by street +called Syndic Street;[FN#523] and the while I walked up that street behold, I +caught sight of an old woman faring with a lighted taper in one hand, and in +the other a folded letter.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased +saying her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-second Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant, whose +name was Aziz, continued to Taj al-Muluk:—And when I entered the street called +Syndic Street behold, I caught sight of an old woman walking with a lighted +taper in one hand and in the other a folded letter and I drew near her and lo! +she was weeping and repeating these couplets, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"O glad news bearer well come! Welcome! Hail! * How sweet thy speech to me, what treat thy tale:<br/> +O messenger from him whose weal I love, * God bless thee long as breathes soft morning-gale!" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now when she saw me she asked, "O my son! canst thou read?"; and I answered, of +my officiousness, "Yes, old naunty!" Rejoined she, "Then take this letter and +read it to me." And when she handed it to me, I took it and unfolding it read +it to her and behold it was from an absent man to his friends and lovers whom +he greeted; and, when she heard its purport, she rejoiced at the good tidings +and blessed me, saying, "Allah dispel thine anxiety, even as thou hast +dispelled mine!" Then she took the letter and walked on. Meanwhile, I was urged +by a call of nature and sat down on my heels to make water.[FN#524] When I had +ended I stood up and wiped the orifice with a pebble and then, letting down my +clothes, I was about to wend my way, when suddenly the old woman came up to me +again and, bending down over my hand, kissed it and said, "O my master! the +Lord give thee joy of thy youth! I entreat thee to walk with me a few steps as +far as yonder door, for I told them what thou didst read to me of the letter, +and they believe me not, so come with me two steps and read them the letter +from behind the door and accept the prayers of a righteous woman." I enquired, +"What is the history of this letter?", and she replied, "O my son, this letter +is from my son, who hath been absent for a term of ten years. He set out with +a stock of merchandise and tarried long in foreign parts, till we lost hope of +him and supposed him to be dead. Now after all that delay cometh this letter +from him, and he hath a sister who weepeth for him night and day; so I said to +her, 'He is well and all right.' But she will not believe me and declares, +'There is no help but thou bring me one who will read this letter in my +presence, that my heart may be at rest and my mind at ease.' Thou knowest, O my +son, that all who love are wont to think evil: so be good enough to go with me +and read to her this letter, standing behind the curtain, whilst I call his +sister to listen within the door, so shalt thou dispel our heed and fulfil our +need. Verily quoth the Apostle of Allah (whom Allah bless and preserve!), +'Whoso easeth the troubled of one of the troubles of this troublous world, +Allah will ease him of an hundred troubles'; and according to another +tradition, 'Whoso easeth his brother of one of the troubles of this troublous +world, Allah shall relieve him of seventy and two troubles on the Day of +Resurrection.' And I have betaken myself to thee; so disappoint me not." +Replied I, "To hear is to obey: do thou go before me!" So she walked on +devancing me and I followed her a little way, till she came to the gate of a +large and handsome mansion whose door was plated with copper.[FN#525] I stood +behind the door, whilst the old woman cried out in Persian, and ere I knew it a +damsel ran up with light and nimble step. She had tucked up her trousers to +her knees, so that I saw a pair of calves that confounded thinker and lighter, +and the maid herself was as saith the poet describing her, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"O thou who barest leg calf, better to suggest * For passion madded amourist better things above!<br/> +Towards its lover doth the bowl go round and run; * Cup[FN#526] and cup bearer only drive us daft with love."[FN#527] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now these legs were like two pillars of alabaster adorned with anklets of gold, +wherein were set stones of price. And the damsel had tucked up the end of her +gown under her arm pit and had rolled up her sleeves to the elbow, so that I +could see her white wrists whereon were two pairs of bracelets with clasps of +great pearls; and round her neck was a collar of costly gems. Her ears were +adorned with pendants of pearls and on her head she wore a kerchief[FN#528] of +brocade, brand new and broidered with jewels of price. And she had thrust the +skirt of her shift into her trousers string being busy with some household +business. So when I saw her in this undress, I was confounded at her beauty, +for she was like a shining sun. Then she said, with soft, choice speech, never +heard I sweeter, "O my mother! is this he who cometh to read the letter?" "It +is," replied the old woman; and she put out her hand to me with the letter. +Now between her and the door was a distance of about half a rod[FN#529]; so I +stretched forth my hand to take the letter from her and thrust head and +shoulders within the door, thinking to draw near her and read the letter when, +before I knew what her design was, the old woman butted her head against my +back and pushed me forwards with the letter in my hand, so that ere I could +take thought I found myself in the middle of the hall far beyond the vestibule. +Then she entered, faster than a flash of blinding leven, and had naught to do +but to shut the door. And Shahrazed perceived the dawn of day and ceased to +say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-third Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the youth Aziz pursued to +Taj al Muluk: "When the old woman pushed me forwards I found myself, ere I +could think, inside the vestibule; and the old woman entered faster than a +flash of blinding leven and had naught to do but to shut the door. When the +girl saw me in the vestibule, she came up to me and strained me to her bosom, +and threw me to the floor; then she sat astraddle upon my breast and kneaded my +belly with her fingers, till I well-nigh lost my senses. Thereupon she took me +by the hand and led me, unable to resist for the violence of her pressure, +through seven vestibules, whilst the old woman forewent us with the lighted +candle, till we came to a great saloon with four estrades whereon a horseman +might play Polo.[FN#530] Here she released me, saying, "Open thine eyes." So I +opened them still giddy for the excess of her embracing and pressing, and saw +that the whole saloon was built of the finest marbles and alabasters, and all +its furniture was of silk and brocade even to the cushions and mattresses. +Therein also were two benches of yellow brass and a couch of red gold, set with +pearls and precious stones, befitting none save Kings like thyself. And off +the saloon were smaller sitting rooms; and the whole place was redolent of +wealth. Then she asked, "O Aziz, which is liefer to thee life or death?" +"Life," answered I; and she said, "If life be liefer to thee, marry me." Quoth +I, "Indeed I should hate to marry the like of thee." Quoth she, "If thou marry +me thou wilt at least be safe from the daughter of Dalílah the Wily +One."[FN#531] I asked, "And who be that daughter of the Wily One?" Whereupon +she laughed and replied, " 'Tis she who hath companied with thee this day for a +year and four months (may the Almighty destroy and afflict her with one worse +than herself!) By Allah, there liveth not a more perfidious than she. How many +men hath she not slain before thee and what deeds hath she not done. Nor can I +understand how thou hast been all the time in her company, yet she hath not +killed thee nor done thee a mischief." When I heard her words, I marvelled with +exceeding marvel and said, "O my lady, who made thee to know her?" Said she, +"I know her as the age knoweth its calamities; but now I would fain have thee +tell me all that hath passed between you two, that I may ken the cause of thy +deliverance from her." So I told her all that had happened between us, +including the story of my cousin Azizah. She expressed her pity when she heard +of the death, and her eyes ran over with tears and she claps hand on hand and +cried out, Her youth was lost on Allah's way,[FN#532] and may the Lord bless +thee for her good works! By Allah, O Aziz, she who died for thee was the cause +of thy preservation from the daughter of Dalia the Wily; and, but for her, thou +hadst been lost. And now she is dead I fear for thee from the Crafty One's +perfidy and mischief; but my throat is choking and I cannot speak." Quoth I Ay, +by Allah: all this happened even as thou sayest." And she shook her head and +cried, "There liveth not this day the like of Azizah. I continued, "And on her +death bed she bade me repeat to my lover these two saws, 'Faith is fair! +Unfaith is foul'" When she heard me say this, she exclaimed, "O Aziz, by Allah +those same words saved thee from dying by her hand; and now my heart is at ease +for thee from her, for she will never kill thee and the daughter of thy uncle +preserved thee during her lifetime and after her death. By Allah, I have +desired thee day after day but could not get at thee till this time when I +tricked thee and outwitted thee; for thou art a raw youth[FN#533] and knowest +not the wiles of young women nor the deadly guile of old women." Rejoined I, +No, by Allah!" Then said she to me, "Be of good cheer and eyes clear; the dead +hath found Allah's grace, and the live shall be in good case. Thou art a +handsome youth and I do not desire thee but according to the ordinance of Allah +and His Apostle (on whom be salutation and salvation!). Whatever thou +requirest of money and stuff, thou shalt have forthright without stint, and I +will not impose any toil on thee, no, never!, for there is with me always bread +baked hot and water in pot. All I need of thee is that thou do with me even as +the cock doth." I asked "And what doth the cock?" Upon this she laughed and +clapped her hands and fell over on her back for excess of merriment then she +sat up and smiled and said, "O light of my eyes, really dost thou not know what +cock's duty is?" "No, by Allah!" replied I, and she, "The cock's duty is to eat +and drink and tread.' I was abashed at her words and asked, "Is that the cock's +duty? Yes, answered she; "and all I ask of thee now is to gird thy loins and +strengthen thy will and futter thy best." Then she clapped her hands and cried +out, saying, "O my mother, bring forward those who are with thee." And behold, +in came the old woman accompanied by four lawful witnesses, and carrying a veil +of silk. Then she lighted four candles, whilst the witnesses saluted me and +sat down; and the girl veiled herself with the veil and deputed one of them to +execute the contract on her behalf. So they wrote out the marriage bond and +she testified to have received the whole sum settled upon her, both the half in +advance and the half in arrears; and that she was indebted to me in the sum of +ten thousand dirhams.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying +her permitted say. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +When it was the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the young merchant +continued to Taj al-Muluk: When they wrote out the marriage-contract, she +testified to having received the whole sum settled upon her, the half in +advance and the half in arrears and that she was indebted to me in the sum of +ten thousand dirhams. She paid the witnesses their wage and they withdrew +whence they came. Thereupon she arose and cast off her clothes and stood in a +chemise of fine silk edged with gold lace, after which she took off her +trousers and seized my hand and led me up to the couch, saying, "There is no +sin in a lawful put in." She lay down on the couch outspread upon her back; +and, drawing me on to her breast, heaved a sigh and followed it up with a +wriggle by way of being coy. Then she pulled up the shift above her breasts, +and when I saw her in this pose, I could not withhold myself from thrusting it +into her, after I had sucked her lips, whilst she whimpered and shammed shame +and wept when no tears came, and then said she, "O my beloved, do it, and do +thy best!" Indeed the case reminded me of his saying, who said, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"When I drew up her shift from the roof of her coynte, * I found it as strait* as my mind and my money:<br/> +So I drove it half-way, and she sighed a loud sigh * Quoth I, 'Why this sigh?': 'For the rest of it, honey!'" +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And she repeated, "O my beloved, let the finish be made for I am thine +handmaid. My life on thee, up with it! give it me, all of it! that I may +take it in my hand and thrust it into my very vitals!" And she ceased not to +excite me with sobs and sighs and amorous cries in the intervals of kissing and +clasping until amid our murmurs of pleasure we attained the supreme delight and +the term we had in sight. We slept together till the morning, when I would +have gone out; but lo! she came up to me, laughing, and said, "So! So! +thinkest thou that going into the Hammam is the same as going out?[FN#534] +Dost thou deem me to be the like of the daughter of Dalilah the Wily One? +Beware of such a thought, for thou art my husband by contract and according to +law. If thou be drunken return to thy right mind, and know that the house +wherein thou art openeth but one day in every year. Go down and look at the +great door." So I arose and went down and found the door locked and nailed up +and returned and told her of the locking and nailing. "O Aziz," said she, "We +have in this house flour, grain, fruits and pomegranates; sugar, meat, sheep, +poultry and so forth enough for many years; and the door will not be opened +till after the lapse of a whole twelvemonth and well I weet thou shalt not find +thyself without this house till then." Quoth I "There is no Majesty, and there +is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" "And how can this harm +thee," rejoined she; "seeing thou knowest cock's duty, whereof I told thee?" +Then she laughed and I laughed too, and I conformed to what she said and abode +with her, doing cock's duty and eating and drinking and futtering for a year of +full twelve months, during which time she conceived by me, and I was blessed +with a babe by her. On the New Year's day I heard the door opened and behold, +men came in with cakes and flour and sugar. Upon this, I would have gone out +but my wife said, "Wait till supper-tide and go out even as thou camest in." So +I waited till the hour of night prayer and was about to go forth in fear and +trembling, when she stopped me, saying, "By Allah, I will not let thee go until +thou swear to come back this night before the closing of the door." I agreed to +this, and she swore me a solemn oath on Blade and Book,[FN#535] and the oath of +divorce to boot, that I would return to her. Then I left her and going +straight to the garden, found the door open as usual; where at I was angry and +said to myself, "I have been absent this whole year and come here unawares and +find the place open as of wont! I wonder is the damsel still here as before? +I needs must enter and see before I go to my mother, more by reason that it is +now nightfall." So I entered the flower-garden,—And Shahrazad perceived the +dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say. +</p> + +<p> +End of Vol. 2. +</p> + +<h5>Volume 2 Footnotes</h5> + +<p> +[FN#1] Supplementarily to note 2, p. 2, [FN#2 Vol 1]and note 2, p. 14, [FN#21 +Vol 1] vol. i., I may add that "Shahrázád," in the Shams al-Loghat, is the P.N. +of a King. L. Langlès (Les Voyages de Sindibâd Le Marin et La Ruse des Femmes, +first appended to Savary's Grammar and reprinted 12mo. pp. 161 + 113, +Imprimerie Royale, Paris, M.D.CCC.XIV) explains it by Le cyprès, la beauté de +la ville; and he is followed by (A. de Biberstein) Kazimirski (Enis el-Djelis +Paris, Barrois, 1847). Ouseley (Orient. Collect.) makes Shahrzád=town-born; and +others an Arabisation of Chehr-ázád (free of face, ingenuous of countenance) +the petit nom of Queen Humay, for whom see the Terminal Essay. The name of the +sister, whom the Fihrist converts into a Kahramánah, or nurse, vulgarly written +Dínár-zád, would= child of gold pieces, freed by gold pieces, or one who has no +need of gold pieces: Dínzád=child of faith and Daynázád, proposed by Langlès, +"free from debt (!)" I have adopted Macnaghten's Dunyazad. "Shahryar," which +Scott hideously writes "Shier-ear," is translated by the Shams, King of the +world, absolute monarch and the court of Anushirwan while the Burhán-i-Káti'a +renders it a King of Kings, and P.N. of a town. Shahr-báz is also the P.N. of a +town in Samarcand. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#2] Arab. "Malik," here used as in our story-books: "Pompey was a wise and +powerful King" says the Gesta Romanorum. This King is, as will appear, a Regent +or Governor under Harun al-Rashid. In the next tale he is Viceroy of Damascus, +where he is also called "Sultan." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#3] The Bull Edit. gives the lines as follows:—- +</p> + +<p> + The lance was his pen, and the hearts of his foes *<br/> + His paper, and dipped he in blood for ink;<br/> + Hence our sires entitled the spear Khattíyah, *<br/> + Meaning that withal man shall write, I think. +</p> + +<p> +The pun is in "Khattíyah" which may mean a writer (feminine) and also a spear, +from Khatt-Hajar, a tract in the province Al-Bahrayn (Persian Gulf), and Oman, +where the best Indian bamboos were landed and fashioned into lances. Imr +al-Kays (Mu'allakah v. 4.) sings of "our dark spears firmly wrought of +Khattiyan cane;" Al-Busírí of "the brown lances of Khatt;" also see Lebid v. 50 +and Hamásah pp. 26, 231, Antar notes the "Spears of Khatt" and "Rudaynian +lances." Rudaynah is said to have been the wife of one Samhár, the Ferrara of +lances; others make her the wife of Al-Ka'azab and hold Samhár to be a town in +Abyssinia where the best weapons were manufactured The pen is the Calamus or +Kalam (reed cut for pen) of which the finest and hardest are brought from Java: +they require the least nibbing. The rhetorical figure in the text is called +Husn al-Ta'alíl, our aetiology; and is as admirable to the Arabs as it appears +silly to us. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#4] "He loves folk" is high praise, meaning something more than benevolence +and beneficence.. Like charity it covers a host of sins. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#5] The sentence is euphuistic. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#6] Arab. "Rubb"=syrup a word Europeanised by the "Rob<br/> +Laffecteur." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#7] The Septentriones or four oxen and their wain. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#8] The list fatally reminds us of "astronomy and the use of the globes" . . +. "Shakespeare and the musical glasses." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#9] The octave occurs in Night xv. I quote Torrens (p. 360) by way of +variety. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#10] A courteous formula of closing with the offer. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#11] To express our "change of climate" Easterns say, "change of water and +air," water coming first. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#12] "The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night" (Psalm +cxxi. 6). Easterns still believe in the blighting effect of the moon's rays, +which the Northerners of Europe, who view it under different conditions, are +pleased to deny. I have seen a hale and hearty Arab, after sitting an hour in +the moonlight, look like a man fresh from a sick bed; and I knew an Englishman +in India whose face was temporarily paralysed by sleeping with it exposed to +the moon. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#13] The negroids and negroes of Zanzibar. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#14] i.e. Why not make thy heart as soft as thy sides! The converse of this +was reported at Paris during the Empire, when a man had by mistake pinched a +very high personage: "Ah, Madame! if your heart be as hard as (what he had +pinched) I am a lost man." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#15] "Na'íman" is said to one after bathing or head-shaving: the proper +reply, for in the East every sign of ceremony has its countersign, is "Allah +benefit thee!" (Pilgrimage i. 11, iii. 285; Lane M. E. chaps. viii.; Caussin de +Perceval's Arabic Grammar, etc., etc.) I have given a specimen (Pilgrimage i., +122) not only of sign and countersign, but also of the rhyming repartee which +rakes love. Hanien ! (pleasant to thee! said when a man drinks). Allah pleasure +thee (Allah yuhanník which Arnauts and other ruffians perverted to Allah yaník, +Allah copulate with thee); thou drinkest for ten! I am the cock and thou art +the hen! (i.e. a passive catamite) Nay, I am the thick one (the penis which +gives pleasure) and thou art the thin! And so forth with most unpleasant +pleasantries. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#16] In the old version she is called "The Fair Persian," probably from the +owner: her name means "The Cheerer of the Companion." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#17] Pronounce "Nooraddeen." I give the name as written in<br/> +Arabic. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#18] Amongst Moslems, I have said, it is held highly disgraceful when the +sound of women's cries can be heard by outsiders. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#19] In a case like this, the father would be justified by Rasm (or usage) +not by Koranic law, in playing Brutus with his son. The same would be the case +in a detected intrigue with a paternal concubine and, in very strict houses, +with a slave-girl. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#20] Orientals fear the "Zug" or draught as much as Germans; and with even a +better reason. Draughts are most dangerous in hot climates. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#21] The Unity of the Godhead and the Apostleship of Mohammed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#22] This would be done only in the case of the very poor. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#23] Prayers over the dead are not universal in Al-Islam; but when they are +recited they lack the "sijdah" or prostration. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#24] Or, "Of the first and the last," i.e. Mohammed, who claimed (and +claimed justly) to be the "Seal" or head and end of all Prophets and Prophecy. +For note that whether the Arab be held inspired or a mere impostor, no man +making the same pretension has moved the world since him. Mr. J. Smith the +Mormon (to mention one in a myriad) made a bold attempt and failed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#25] i.e. flatterers. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#26] In one matter Moslems contrast strongly with Christians, by most +scrupulously following the example of their law-giver: hence they are the model +Conservatives. But (European) Christendom is here, as in other things, +curiously contradictory: for instance, it still keeps a "Feast of the +Circumcision," and practically holds circumcision in horror. Eastern +Christians, however, have not wholly abolished it, and the Abyssinians, who +find it a useful hygienic precaution, still practise it. For ulcers, syphilis +and other venereals which are readily cured in Egypt become dangerous in the +Highlands of Ethiopia. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#27] Arab. "Sabab," the orig. and material sense of the word; hence "a +cause," etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#28] Thus he broke his promise to his father, and it is insinuated that +retribution came upon him. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#29] "O Pilgrim" (Ya Hájj) is a polite address even to those who have not +pilgrimaged. The feminine "Hájjah" (in Egypt pronounced "Hággeh") is similarly +used. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#30] Arab. "usúl"=roots, i.e. I have not forgotten my business. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#31] Moslems from Central and Western North Africa.<br/> +(Pilgrimage i. 261; iii. 7, etc); the "Jabarti" is the Moslem<br/> +Abyssinian. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#32] This is a favourite bit of chaff and is to be lengthened out almost +indefinitely e.g. every brown thing is not civet nor every shining thing a +diamond; every black thing is not charcoal nor every white chalk; every red +thing is not a ruby nor every yellow a topaz; every long-necked thing is not a +camel, etc., etc., etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#33] He gives him the name of his grandfather; a familiar usage. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#34] Arab. "Ma'janah," a place for making unbaked bricks (Tob=Span. Adobe) +with chaff and bruised or charred straw. The use of this article in rainless +lands dates from ages immemorial, and formed the outer walls of the Egyptian +temple. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#35] Arab. "Barsh," a bit of round matting used by the poor as a seat. The +Wazir thus showed that he had been degraded to the condition of a mat-maker. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#36] The growth (a Poa of two species) which named Wady Halfá (vulg. +"Halfah"), of which the home public has of late heard perhaps a trifle too +much. Burckhardt (Prov. 226) renders it "dry reeds"—-incorrectly enough. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#37] This "Háshimi" vein, as they call it, was an abnormal development +between the eyes of the house of Abbas, inherited from the great- grandfather +of the Prophet; and the latter had it remarkably large, swelling in answer and +battle-rage. The text, however, may read "The sweat of wrath," etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#38] Torrens and Payne prefer "Ilm"=knowledge. Lane has more correctly +"Alam"=a sign, a flag. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#39] The lines were in Night xi.: I have quoted Torrens (p. 379) for a +change. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#40] Still customary in Tigris-Euphrates land, where sea-craft has not +changed since the days of Xisisthrus-Noah, and long before. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#41] To cool the contents. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#42] Hence the Khedivial Palace near Cairo "Kasr al-Nuzhah;" literally "of +Delights;" one of those flimsy new-Cairo buildings which contrast so +marvellously with the architecture of ancient and even of mediæval Egypt, and +which are covering the land with modern ruins. Compare Mohammed Ali's mosque in +the citadel with the older Sultan Hasan. A popular tale is told that, when the +conquering Turk, Yáwúz Sultan Selim, first visited Cairo, they led him to +Mosque Al-Ghúrí. "This is a splendid Ká'ah (saloon)!" quoth he. When he entered +Sultan Hasan, he exclaimed, "This is a citadel!"; but after inspecting the +Mosque Al-Mu'ayyad he cried, "'Tis a veritable place of prayer, a fit stead for +the Faithful to adore the Eternal!" +</p> + +<p> +[FN#43] Arab. gardeners are very touchy on this point. A friend of mine was on +a similar occasion addressed, in true Egyptian lingo, by an old Adam-son, "Ya +ibn al-Kalb! beta'mil ay?" (O dog- son, what art thou up to?). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#44] "The green palm-stick is of the trees of Paradise;" say the Arabs in +Solomonic style but not Solomonic words: so our "Spare the rod," etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#45] Wayfarers, travellers who have a claim on the kindness of those at +home: hence Abd al-Rahman al-Burai sings in his famous Ode:— +</p> + +<p> + He hath claim on the dwellers in the places of their birth, *<br/> +Whoso wandereth the world, for he lacketh him a home. +</p> + +<p> +It is given in my "First Footsteps in East Africa" (pp. 53-55). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#46] The good old man treated the youth like a tired child. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#47] In Moslem writings the dove and turtle-dove are mostly feminine, +whereas the female bird is always mute and only the male sings to summon or to +amuse his mate. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#48] An unsavoury comparison of the classical Narcissus with the yellow +white of a nigger's eyes. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#49] A tree whose coals burn with fierce heat: Al-Hariri (Vth Séance). This +Artemisia is like the tamarisk but a smaller growth and is held to be a +characteristic of the Arabian Desert. A Badawi always hails with pleasure the +first sight of the Ghazá, after he has sojourned for time away from his +wilds. Mr. Palgrave (i. 38) describes the "Ghadá" as an Euphorbia with a woody +stem often 5-6 feet high and slender flexible green twigs (?), "forming a +feathery tuft, not ungraceful to the eye, while it affords some shelter to the +traveller, and food to his camels." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#50] Arab. "Sal'am"=S(alla) A(llah) a(layhi) wa S(allam); A(llah) b(less) +h(im) a(nd) k(eep)=Allah keep him and assain! +</p> + +<p> +[FN#51] The ass is held to be ill-omened. I have noticed the braying elsewhere. +According to Mandeville the Devil did not enter the Ark with the Ass, but he +left it when Noah said "Benedicite." In his day (A.D. 1322) and in that of +Benjamin of Tudela, people had seen and touched the ship on Ararat, the Judi +(Gordiæi) mountains; and this dates from Berosus (S.C. 250) who, of course, +refers to the Ark of Xisisthrus. See Josephus Ant. i. 3, 6; and Rodwell (Koran, +pp. 65, 530). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#52] As would happen at a "Zikr," rogation or litany. Those who wish to see +how much can be made of the subject will read "Pearls of the Faith, or Islam's +Rosary, being the ninety-nine beautiful names of Allah" (Asmá-el-Husna) etc. by +Edwin Arnold: London, Trübner, 1883. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#53] i.e. the Sáki, cup-boy or cup-bearer. "Moon-faced," as I have shown +elsewhere, is no compliment in English, but it is in Persian and Arabic. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#54] He means we are "Záhirí," plain honest Moslems, not "Bátiní," gnostics +(ergo reprobates) and so forth, who disregard all appearances and external +ordinances. This suggests his opinion of Shaykh Ibrahim and possibly refers to +Ja'afar's suspected heresy. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#55] This worthy will be noticed in a subsequent page. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#56] Arab. "Lisám," the end of the "Kufiyah," or head-kerchief passed over +the face under the eyes and made fast on the other side. This mouth-veil serves +as a mask (eyes not being recognisable) and defends from heat, cold and thirst. +I also believe that hooding the eyes with this article, Badawi-fashion, +produces a sensation of coolness, at any rate a marked difference of apparent +temperature; somewhat like a pair of dark spectacles or looking at the sea from +a sandy shore. (Pilgrimage i., 210 and 346.) The woman's "Lisám" (chin-veil) or +Yashmak is noticed in i., 337. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#57] Most characteristic is this familiarity between the greatest man then +in the world and his pauper subject. The fisherman alludes to a practise of +Al-Islam, instituted by Caliph Omar, that all rulers should work at some +handicraft in order to spare the public treasure. Hence Sultan Mu'ayyad of +Cairo was a calligrapher who sold his handwriting, and his example was followed +by the Turkish Sultans Mahmúd, Abd al-Majíd and Abd al-Azíz. German royalties +prefer carpentering and Louis XVI, watch-making. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#58] There would be nothing singular in this request. The democracy of +despotism levels all men outside the pale of politics and religion. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#59] "Wa'lláhi tayyib!" an exclamation characteristic of the<br/> +Egyptian Moslem. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#60] The pretended fisherman's name Karím=the Generous. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#61] Such an act of generosity would appear to Europeans well- nigh +insanity, but it is quite in Arab manners. Witness the oft- quoted tale of +Hatim and his horse. As a rule the Arab is the reverse of generous, contrasting +badly, in this point, with his cousin the Jew: hence his ideal of generosity is +of the very highest. "The generous (i.e. liberal) is Allah's friend, aye, +though he be a sinner; and the miser is Allah's foe, aye, though he be a +saint!" Indian Moslems call a skin-flint Makhi-chús = fly-sucker. (Pilgrimage +i. 242.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#62] Arab. "Ammá ba'ad" (or Wa ba'ad), an initiatory formula attributed to +Koss ibn Sa'idat al-Iyadi, bishop of Najrán (the town in Al-Yaman which +D'Herbelot calls Negiran) and a famous preacher in Mohammed's day, hence "more +eloquent than Koss" (Maydání, Arab. Prov., 189). He was the first who addressed +letters with the incept, "from A. to B."; and the first who preached from a +pulpit and who leant on a sword or a staff when discoursing. Many Moslems date +Ammá ba'ad from the Prophet David, relying upon a passage of the Koran +(xxxviii. 19). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#63] Arab. "Nusf"=half (a dirham): vulgarly pronounced "nuss," and +synonymous with the Egypt. "Faddah" (=silver), the Greek "Asper," and the +Turkish "paráh." It is the smallest Egyptian coin, made of very base metal and, +there being forty to the piastre, it is worth nearly a quarter of a farthing. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#64] The too literal Torrens and Lane make the Caliph give the gardener-lad +the clothes in which he was then clad, forgetting, like the author or copier, +that he wore the fisherman's lousy suit. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#65] In sign of confusion, disappointment and so forth: not "biting his +nails," which is European and utterly un-Asiatic. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#66] See lines like these in Night xiii. (i. 136); the sentiment is trite. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#67] The Arab will still stand under his ruler's palace and shout aloud to +attract his attention. Sayyid Sa'íd known as the "Imán of Muskat" used to +encourage the patriarchal practice. Mohammed repeatedly protested against such +unceremonious conduct (Koran xciv. 11, etc.). The "three times of privacy" +(Koran cv. 57) are before the dawn-prayer, during the Siesta (noon) and after +the even-prayer. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#68] The Judges of the four orthodox schools. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#69] That none might see it or find it ever after. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#70] Arab. "Khatt Sharíf"=a royal autographical letter: the term is still +preserved in Turkey, but Europeans will write "Hatt." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#71] Meaning "Little tom-cat;" a dim. of "Kitt" vulg. Kutt or<br/> +Gutt. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#72] Arab. "Matmúrah"—-the Algerine "Matamor"—-a "silo," made familiar to +England by the invention of "Ensilage." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#73] The older "Mustapha"=Mohammed. This Intercession-doctrine is fiercely +disputed. (Pilgrimage ii. 77.) The Apostle of Al- Islam seems to have been +unable to make up his mind upon the subject: and modern opinion amongst Moslems +is apparently borrowed from the Christians. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#74] Lane (i. 486) curiously says, "The place of the stagnation of blood:" +yet he had translated the word aright in the Introduction (i. 41). I have +noticed that the Nat'a is made like the "Sufrah," of well-tanned leather, with +rings in the periphery, so that a thong passed through turns it into a bag. The +Sufrah used for provisions is usually yellow, with a black border and small +pouches for knives or spoons. (Pilgrimage i. 111.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#75] This improbable detail shows the Caliph's greatness. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#76] "Cousin" is here a term of familiarity, our "coz." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#77] i.e. without allowing them a moment's delay to change clothes. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#78] i.e. according to my nature, birth, blood, de race. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#79] Our "Job." The English translators of the Bible, who borrowed Luther's +system of transliteration (of A.D. 1522), transferred into English the German +"j" which has the sound of "i" or "y"; intending us to pronounce Yacob (or +Yakob), Yericho, Yimnites, Yob (or Hiob) and Yudah. Tyndall, who copied Luther +(A.D. 1525-26), preserved the true sound by writing lacob, Ben Iamin and Iudas. +But his successors unfortunately returned to the German; the initial I, having +from the xiii century been ornamentally lengthened and bent leftwards, became a +consonant. The public adopted the vernacular sound of "j" (da) and hence our +language and our literature are disgraced by such barbarisms as "Jehovah" and +"Jesus"; Dgehovah and Dgeesus for Yehovah and Yesus. Future generations of +school-teachers may remedy the evil; meanwhile we are doomed for the rest of +our days to hear +</p> + +<p> +Gee-rusalem! Gee-rusalem! etc. +</p> + +<p> +Nor is there one word to be said in favour of the corruption except that, like +the Protestant mispronunciation of Latin and the Erasmian ill-articulation of +Greek, it has become English, and has lent its little aid in dividing the +Britons from the rest of the civilised world. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#80] The moon, I repeat, is masculine in the so-called<br/> +"Semitic" tongues. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#81] i.e. camel loads, about lbs. 300; and for long journeys lbs. 250. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#82] Arab. "Janázah," so called only when carrying a corpse; else Na'ash, +Sarír or Tábút: Irán being the large hearse on which chiefs are borne. It is +made of plank or stick-work; but there are several varieties. (Lane, M. E. +chaps. xxviii.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#83] It is meritorious to accompany the funeral cortège of a<br/> +Moslem even for a few paces. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#84] Otherwise he could not have joined in the prayers. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#85] Arab. "Halwá" made of sugar, cream, almonds, etc. That of<br/> +Maskat is famous throughout the East. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#86] i.e. "Camphor" to a negro, as we say "Snowball," by the figure +antiphrase. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#87] "Little Good Luck," a dim. form of "bakht"=luck, a<br/> +Persian word naturalized in Egypt. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#88] There are, as I have shown, not a few cannibal tribes in Central Africa +and these at times find their way into the slave-market. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#89] i.e. After we bar the door. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#90] Arab. "Jáwísh" from Turk. Cháwúsh, Chiaoosh, a sergeant, poursuivant, +royal messenger. I would suggest that this is the word "Shálish" or "Jálish" in +Al-Siyuti's History of the Caliphs (p. 501) translated by Carlyle "milites," by +Schultens "Sagittarius" and by Jarett "picked troops." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#91] This familiarity with blackamoor slave-boys is common in Egypt and +often ends as in the story: Egyptian blood is sufficiently mixed with negro to +breed inclination for miscegenation. But here the girl was wickedly neglected +by her mother at such an age as ten. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#92] Arab. "Farj"; hence a facetious designation of the other sex is +"Zawi'l-furuj" (grammatically Zawátu'l- furúj)=habentes rimam, slit ones. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#93] This ancient and venerable practice of inspecting the marriage-sheet is +still religiously preserved in most parts of the East; and in old-fashioned +Moslem families it is publicly exposed in the Harem to prove that the +"domestic calamity" (the daughter) went to her husband a clean maid. Also the +general idea is that no blood will impose upon the exerts, or jury of matrons, +except that of a pigeon-poult which exactly resembles hymeneal blood— when not +subjected to the microscope. This belief is universal in Southern Europe and I +have heard of it in England. Further details will be given in Night ccxi. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#94] "Agha" Turk.=sir, gentleman, is, I have said, politely addressed to a +eunuch. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#95] As Bukhayt tells us he lost only his testes, consequently his erectio +et distensio penis was as that of a boy before puberty and it would last as +long as his heart and circulation kept sound. Hence the eunuch who preserves +his penis is much prized in the Zenanah where some women prefer him to the +entire man, on account of his long performance of the deed of kind. Of this +more in a future page. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#96] It is or rather was the custom in Egypt and Syria to range long rows of +fine China bowls along the shelves running round the rooms at the height of six +or seven feet, and they formed a magnificent cornice. I bought many of them at +Damascus till the people, learning their value, asked prohibitive prices. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#97] The tale is interesting as well as amusing, excellently describing the +extravagances still practised in middle-class Moslem families on the death of +the pater familias. I must again note that Arab women are much more unwilling +to expose the back of the head covered by the "Tarhah" (head-veil) than the +face, which is hidden by the "Burka" or nose bag. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#98] The usual hysterical laughter of this nervous race. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#99] Here the slave refuses to be set free and starve. For a master so to do +without ample reasons is held disgraceful. I well remember the weeping and +wailing throughout Sind when an order from Sir Charles Napier set free the +negroes whom British philanthropy thus doomed to endure if not to die of +hunger. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#100] Manumission, which is founded upon Roman law, is an extensive subject +discussed in the Hidáyah and other canonical works. The slave here lays down +the law incorrectly but his claim shows his truly "nigger" impudence. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#101] This is quite true to nature. The most remarkable thing in the wild +central African is his enormous development of "destructiveness." At Zanzibar I +never saw a slave break a glass or plate without a grin or a chuckle of +satisfaction. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#102] Arab. "Khassá-ni"; Khusyatáni (vulg.) being the testicles, also called +"bayzatán" (the two eggs) a double entendre which has given rise to many tales. +For instance in the witty Persian book "Dozd o Kazi" (The Thief and the Judge) +a footpad strips the man of learning and offers to return his clothes if he can +ask him a puzzle in law or religion. The Kazi (in folk-lore mostly a fool) +fails, and his wife bids him ask the man to supper for a trial of wits on the +same condition. She begins with compliments and ends by producing five eggs +which she would have him distribute equally amongst the three; and, when he is +perplexed, she gives one to each of the men taking three for herself. Whereupon +the "Dozd" wends his way, having lost his booty as his extreme stupidity +deserved. In the text the eunuch, Kafur, is made a "Sandali" or smooth-shaven, +so that he was of no use to women. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#103] Arab. "Khara," the lowest possible word: Yá Khara! is the commonest of +insults, used also by modest women. I have heard one say it to her son. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#104] Arab. "Kámah," a measure of length, a fathom, also called "Bá'a." Both +are omitted in that sadly superficial book, Lane's Modern Egyptians, App. B. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#105] Names of her slave-girls which mean (in order),<br/> +Garden-bloom, Dawn (or Beautiful), Tree o' Pearl (P. N. of<br/> +Saladin's wife), Light of (right) Direction, Star o' the Morn,<br/> +Lewdness (= Shahwah, I suppose this is a chaff), Delight,<br/> +Sweetmeat and Miss Pretty. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#106] This mode of disposing of a rival was very common in Harems. But it +had its difficulties and on the whole the river was (and is) preferred. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#107] An Eastern dislikes nothing more than drinking in a dim dingy place: +the brightest lights seem to add to his "drinkitite." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#108] He did not sleep with her because he suspected some palace-mystery +which suggested prudence, she also had her reasons. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#109] This as called in Egypt "Allah." (Lane M. E. chaps. i.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#110] It would be a broad ribbon-like band upon which the letters could be +worked. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#111] In the Arab. "he cried." These "Yes, Yes! and No! No!" trifles are +very common amongst the Arabs. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#112] Arab. "Maragha" lit. rubbed his face on them like a fawning dog. +Ghanim is another "softy" lover, a favourite character in Arab tales; and by +way of contrast, the girl is masterful enough. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#113] Because the Abbaside Caliphs descend from Al-Abbas, paternal uncle of +Mohammed, text means more explicitly, "O descendant of the Prophet's uncle!" +</p> + +<p> +[FN#114] The most terrible part of a belle passion in the East is that the +beloved will not allow her lover leave of absence for an hour. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#115] It is hard to preserve these wretched puns. In the original we have "O +spray (or branch) of capparis-shrub (aráki) which has been thinned of leaf and +fruit (tujna, i.e., whose fruit, the hymen, has been plucked before and not by +me) I see thee (aráka) against me sinning (tajní). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#116] Apparently the writer forgets that the Abbaside banners and dress were +black, originally a badge of mourning for the Imám Ibrahim bin Mohammed put to +death by the Ommiade Caliph Al-Marwan. The modern Egyptian mourning, like the +old Persian, is indigo-blue of the darkest; but, as before noted, the custom is +by no means universal. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#117] Koran, chaps. iv. In the East as elsewhere the Devil quotes Scripture. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#118] A servant returning from a journey shows his master due honour by +appearing before him in travelling suit and uncleaned. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#119] The first name means "Rattan", the second "Willow-wand," from the +"Bán" or "Khiláf" the Egyptian willow (Salix Ægyptiaca Linn.) vulgarly called +"Safsáf." Forskal holds the "Bán" to be a different variety. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#120] Arab. "Ta'ám," which has many meanings: in mod. parlance it would +signify millet, holcus-seed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#121] i.e. "I well know how to deal with him." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#122] The Pen (title of the Koranic chaps. Ixviii.) and the<br/> +Preserved Tablet (before explained). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#123] These plunderings were sanctioned by custom. But a few years ago, when +the Turkish soldiers mutinied about arrears of pay (often delayed for years) +the governing Pasha would set fire to the town and allow the men to loot what +they pleased during a stated time. Rochet (soi-disant D'Héricourt) amusingly +describes this manoeuvre of the Turkish Governor of Al-Hodaydah in the last +generation. (Pilgrimage iii. 381.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#124] Another cenotaph whose use was to enable women to indulge in their pet +pastime of weeping and wailing in company. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#125] The lodging of pauper travellers, as the chapel in Iceland is of the +wealthy. I have often taken benefit of the mosque, but as a rule it is +unpleasant, the matting being not only torn but over-populous. Juvenal seems to +allude to the Jewish Synagogue similarly used: "in quâ te quæro proseuchâ"? +(iii. 296) and in Acts iii. we find the lame, blind and impotent in the +Temple-porch. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#126] This foul sort of vermin is supposed to be bred by perspiration. It is +an epoch in the civilised traveller's life when he catches his first louse. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#127] The Moslem peasant is a kind-hearted man and will make many sacrifices +for a sick stranger even of another creed. It is a manner of "pundonor" with +the village. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#128] Such treatment of innocent women was only too common under the +Caliphate and in contemporary Europe. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#129] This may also mean, "And Heaven will reward thee," but camel-men do +not usually accept any drafts upon futurity. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#130] He felt that he was being treated like a corpse. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#131] This hatred of the Hospital extends throughout Southern<br/> +Europe, even in places where it is not justified. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#132] The importance of the pillow (wisádah or makhaddah) to the sick man is +often recognised in The Nights. "He took to his pillow" is = took to his bed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#133] i.e in order that the reverend men, who do not render such suit and +service gratis, might pray for him. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#134] The reader will notice in The Nights the frequent mention of these +physical prognostications, with which mesmerists are familiar. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#135] The Pers. name of the planet Saturn in the Seventh<br/> +Heaven. Arab. "Zuhal"; the Kiun or Chiun of Amos vi. 26. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#136] i.e. "Pardon me if I injured thee"— a popular phrase. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#137] A "seduction," a charmer. The double-entendre has before been noticed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#138] This knightly tale, the longest in the Nights (xliv.— cxlv.), about +one-eighth of the whole, does not appear in the Bres. Edit. Lane, who finds it +"objectionable," reduces it to two of its episodes, Azíz-cum-Azízah and Táj +al-Mulúk. On the other hand it has been converted into a volume (8vo, pp. 240) +"Scharkan, Conte Arabe," etc. Traduit par M. Asselan Riche, etc. Paris: +Dondey-Dupré. 1829. It has its longueurs and at times is longsome enough; but +it is interesting as a comparison between the chivalry of Al-Islam and European +knight-errantry. Although all the characters are fictitious the period is +evidently in the early crusading days. Cæsarea, the second capital of +Palestine, taken during the Caliphate of Omar (A.H. 19) and afterwards +recovered, was fortified in A.H. 353 = 963 as a base against the Arabs by the +Emperor Phocas, the Arab. "Nakfúr" i.e. Nicephorus. In A.H. 498=1104, crusading +craft did much injury by plundering merchantmen between Egypt and Syria, to +which allusion is found in the romance. But the story-teller has not quite made +up his mind about which Cæsarea he is talking, and M. Riche tells us that +Césarée is a "ville de la Mauritanie, en Afrique" (p. 20). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#139] The fifth Ommiade Caliph reign. A.H. 65-86 = 685-704. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#140] This does not merely mean that no one was safe from his wrath: or, +could approach him in the heat of fight: it is a reminiscence of the masterful +"King Kulayb," who established game-laws in his dominions and would allow no +man to approach his camp-fire. Moreover the Jinn lights a fire to decoy +travellers; but if his victim be bold enough to brave him, he invites him to +take advantage of the heat. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#141] China. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#142] The Jaxartes and the Bactrus (names very loosely applied). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#143] In full "Sharrun kána" i.e. an evil (Sharr) has come to being (kána), +that is, "bane to the foe" a pagan and knightly name. The hero of the Romance +"Al-Dalhamah" is described as a bitter gourd (colocynth), a viper, a calamity. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#144] This is a Moslem law (Koran chaps. iv. bodily borrowed from the +Talmud) which does not allow a man to marry one wife unless he can carnally +satisfy her. Moreover he must distribute his honours equally and each wife has +a right to her night unless she herself give it up. This was the case even with +the spouses of the Prophet; and his biography notices several occasions when +his wives waived their rights in favour of one another M. Riche kindly provides +the King with la piquante francaise (p. 15). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#145] So the celebrated mosque in Stambul, famed for being the largest +church in the world is known to the Greeks as "Agia (pron. Aya) Sophia" and to +Moslems as "Aya Sofíyeh" (Holy Wisdom) i.e. the Logos or Second Person of the +Trinity (not a Saintess). The sending a Christian girl as a present to a Moslem +would, in these days, be considered highly scandalous. But it was done by the +Mukaukis or Coptic Governor of Egypt (under Heraclius) who of course hated the +Greeks. This worthy gave two damsels to Mohammed; one called Sírín and the +other Máriyah (Maria) whom the Prophet reserved for his especial use and whose +abode is still shown at Al-Medinah. The Rev. Doctor Badger (loc. cit. p. 972) +gives the translation of an epistle by Mohammed to this Mukaukis, written in +the Cufic character ( ? ?) and sealed "Mohammed, The Apostle of Allah." My +friend seems to believe that it is an original, but upon this subject opinions +will differ. It is, however, exceedingly interesting, beginning with +"Bismillah," etc., and ending (before the signature) with a quotation from the +Koran (iii. 57); and it may be assumed as a formula addressee to foreign +potentates by a Prophet who had become virtually "King of Arabia." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#146] This prayer before "doing the deed of kind" is, I have said, Moslem as +well as Christian. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#147] Exodus i. 16, quoted by Lane (M. E., chaps. xxvii.).<br/> +Torrens in his Notes cites Drayton's "Moon-calf':— +</p> + +<p> + Bring forth the birth-stool—no, let it alone;<br/> + She is so far beyond all compass grown,<br/> + Some other new device us needs must stead,<br/> + Or else she never can be brought to bed. +</p> + +<p> +It is the "groaning-chair" of Poor Robin's Almanac (1676) and we find it +alluded to in Boccaccio, the classical sedile which according to scoffers has +formed the papal chair (a curule seat) ever since the days of Pope Joan, when +it has been held advisable for one of the Cardinals to ascertain that His +Holiness possesses all the instruments of virility. This "Kursí al-wiládah" is +of peculiar form on which the patient is seated. A most interesting essay might +be written upon the various positions preferred during delivery, e.g. the wild +Irish still stand on all fours, like the so-called "lower animals." Amongst the +Moslems of Waday, etc., a cord is hung from the top of the hut, and the woman +in labour holds on to it standing with her legs apart, till the midwife +receives the child. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#148] Some Orientalists call "lullilooing" the trilling cry, which is made +by raising the voice to its highest pitch and breaking it by a rapid succession +of touches on the palate with the tongue-tip, others "Ziraleet" and Zagaleet, +and one traveller tells us that it began at the marriage-festival of Isaac and +Rebecca (!). Arabs term it classically "Tahlíl" and vulgarly "Zaghrutah" (Plur. +Zaghárit) and Persians "Kil." Finally in Don Quixote we have "Lelilies," the +battle-cry of the Moors (Duffield iii. 289). Dr. Buchanan likens it to a +serpent uttering human sounds, but the good missionary heard it at the festival +of Jagannath. (Pilgrimage iii. 197 ) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#149] i.e. "Light of the Place" (or kingdom) and "Delight of the<br/> +Age." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#150] It is utterly absurd to give the old heroic Persian name Afridun or +Furaydun, the destroyer of Zohák or Zahhák, to a Greek, but such anachronisms +are characteristic of The Nights and are evidently introduced on purpose. See +Boccaccio, ix. 9. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#151] Arab. "Yunán" lit. Ionia, which applies to all Greece, insular and +continental, especially to ancient Greece. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#152] In 1870 I saw at Sidon a find of some hundreds of gold<br/> +"Philippi" and "Alexanders." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#153] M. Riche has (p. 21), "Ces talismans travaillés par le ciseau du +célèbre Califaziri," adding in a note, "Je pense que c'est un sculpteur Arabe." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#154] This periphrase, containing what seems to us a useless negative, adds +emphasis in Arabic. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#155] This bit of geographical information is not in the Bull<br/> +Edit. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#156] In Pers. = a tooth, the popular word. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#157] This preliminary move, called in Persian Nakl-iiSafar, is generally +mentioned. So the Franciscan monks in California, when setting out for a long +journey through the desert, marched three times round the convent and pitched +tents for the night under its walls. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#158] In Arab. "Khazinah" or "Khaznah" lit. a treasure, representing 1,000 +"Kís" or purses (each=£5). The sum in the text is 7,000 purses X 5=£35,000. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#159] Travellers often prefer such sites because they are sheltered from the +wind, and the ground is soft for pitching tents; but many have come to grief +from sudden torrents following rain. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#160] Arab "Ghábah" not a forest in our sense of the word, but a place where +water sinks and the trees (mostly Mimosas), which elsewhere are widely +scattered, form a comparatively dense growth and collect in thickets. These are +favourite places for wild beasts during noon-heats. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#161] At various times in the East Jews and Christians were ordered to wear +characteristic garments, especially the Zunnár or girdle. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#162] The description is borrowed from the Coptic Convent, which invariably +has an inner donjon or keep. The oldest monastery in the world is Mar Antonios +(St. Anthony the Hermit) not far from Suez. (Gold Mines of Midian, p. 85.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#163] "Dawáhí," plur. of Dáhiyah = a mishap. The title means "Mistress of +Misfortunes" or Queen of Calamities (to the enemy); and the venerable lady, as +will be seen, amply deserved her name, which is pronounced Zát al-Dawáhí. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#164] Arab. "Kunfuz"=hedgehog or porcupine. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#165] These flowers of speech are mere familiarities, not insults. In +societies where the sexes are separated speech becomes exceedingly free. +"Étourdie que vous êtes," says M. Riche, toning down the text. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#166] Arab. "Zirt," a low word. The superlative "Zarrát" (fartermost) or, +"Abu Zirt" (Father of farts) is a facetious term among the bean-eating Fellahs +and a deadly insult amongst the Badawin (Night ccccx.). The latter prefer the +word Taggáa (Pilgrimage iii. 84). We did not disdain the word in +farthingale=pet en air. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#167] Arab. "kicked" him, i.e. with the sharp corner of the shovel-stirrup. +I avoid such expressions as "spurring" and "pricking over the plain," because +apt to give a wrong idea. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#168] Arab. "Allaho Akbar!" the classical Moslem slogan. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#169] Arab horses are never taught to leap, so she was quite safe on the +other side of a brook nine feet broad. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#170] "Batrík" (vulg. Bitrík)=patricius, a title given to<br/> +Christian knights who commanded ten thousand men; the Tarkhan (or<br/> +Nobb) heading four thousand, and the Kaumas (Arab. Káid) two<br/> +hundred. It must not be confounded with Batrak (or<br/> +Batrik)=patriarcha. (Lane's Lex.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#171] Arab. "Kázi al-Kuzát," a kind of Chief Justice or Chancellor. The +office wag established under the rule of Harun al-Rashid, who so entitled Abú +Yúsuf Ya'akub al-Ansári: therefore the allusion is anachronistic. The same +Caliph also caused the Olema to dress as they do still. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#172] The allusion is Koranic: "O men, if ye be in doubt concerning the +resurrection, consider that He first created you of the dust of the ground +(Adam); afterwards of seed" (chaps. xxii.). But the physiological ideas of the +Koran are curious. It supposes that the Mani or male semen is in the loins and +that of women in the breast bone (chaps Ixxxvi.); that the mingled seed of the +two (chaps. Ixxvi.) fructifies the ovary and that the child is fed through the +navel with menstruous blood, hence the cessation of the catamenia. Barzoi +(Kalilah and Dímnah) says:— "Man's seed, falling into the woman's womb, is +mixed with her seed and her blood: when it thickens and curdles the Spirit +moves it and it turns about like liquid cheese; then it solidifies, its +arteries are formed, its limbs constructed and its joints distinguished. If the +babe is a male, his face is placed towards his mother's back; if a female, +towards her belly." (P. 262, Mr. L G.N. Keith- Falconer's translation.) But +there is a curious prolepsis of the spermatozoa-theory. We read (Koran chaps. +vii.), "Thy Lord drew forth their posterity from the loins of the sons of +Adam;" and the commentators say that Allah stroked Adam's back and extracted +from his loins all his posterity, which shall ever be, in the shape of small +ants; these confessed their dependence on God and were dismissed to return +whence they came." From this fiction it appears (says Sale) that the doctrine +of pre-existence is not unknown to the Mohammedans, and there is some little +conformity between it and the modern theory of generatio ex animalculis in +semine marium. The poets call this Yaum-i-Alast = the Day of Am-I-not (-your +Lord)? which Sir William Jones most unhappily translated "Art thou not with thy +Lord ?" (Alasta bi Rabbi- kum); fand they produce a grand vision of unembodied +spirits appearing in countless millions before their Creator. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#173] The usual preliminary of a wrestling bout. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#174] In Eastern wrestling this counts as a fair fail. So Ajax fell on his +back with Ulysses on his breast. (Iliad xxxii., 700, etc.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#175] So biting was allowed amongst the Greeks in the ἀνακλινοπάλη, +the final struggle on the ground. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#176] Supposed to be names of noted wrestlers. "Kayim" (not El-Kim as +Torrens has it) is a term now applied to a juggler or "professor" of +legerdemain who amuses people in the streets with easy tricks. (Lane, M. E., +chaps. xx.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#177] Lit. "laughed in his face" which has not the unpleasant meaning it +bears in English. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#178] Arab. "Abu riyáh"=a kind of child's toy. It is the "Ρόμβος" +of the Greeks, our "bull-roarer" well known in Australia and parts of Africa. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#179] The people of the region south of the Caspian which is called "Sea of +Daylam." It has a long history; for which see D'Herbelot, s.v. "Dilem." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#180] Coptic convents in Egypt still affect these drawbridges over the +keep-moat. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#181] Koran iv., xxii. etc., meaning it is lawful to marry women taken in +war after the necessary purification although their husbands be still living. +This is not permitted with a free woman who is a True Believer. I have noted +that the only concubine slave-girl mentioned in the Koran are these "captives +possessed by the right hand." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#182] The Amazonian dame is a favourite in folk-lore and is an ornament to +poetry from the Iliad to our modern day. Such heroines, apparently unknown to +the Pagan Arabs, were common in the early ages of Al-Islam as Ockley and Gibbon +prove, and that the race is not extinct may be seen in my Pilgrimage (iii. 55) +where the sister of Ibn Rumi resolved to take blood-revenge for her brother. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#183] And Solomon said, "O nobles, which of you will bring me her throne ?" +A terrible genius (i.e. an If rit of the Jinn named Dhakwan or the notorious +Sakhr) said, " I will bring it unto thee before thou arise from thy seat (of +justice); for I am able to perform it, and may be trusted" (Koran, xxvii. +38-39). Balkís or Bilkís (says the Durrat al-Ghawwás) daughter of Hozád bin +Sharhabíl, twenty-second in the list of the rulers of Al- Yaman, according to +some murdered her husband, and became, by Moslem ignorance, the Biblical " +Queen of Sheba." The Abyssinians transfer her from Arabian Saba to Ethiopia and +make her the mother by Solomon of Menelek, their proto-monarch; thus claiming +for their royalties an antiquity compared with which all reigning houses in the +world are of yesterday. The dates of the Tabábi'ah or Tobbas prove that the +Bilkis of history ruled Al-Yaman in the early Christian era. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#184] Arab. "Fass," fiss or fuss; the gem set in a ring; also applied to a +hillock rounded en cabochon. In The Nights it is used to signify "a fine gem." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#185] This prominence of the glutæi muscles is always insisted upon, because +it is supposed to promise well in a bed-fellow. In Somali-land, where the people +are sub- steatopygous, a rich young man, who can afford such luxury, will have +the girls drawn up in line and choose her to wife who projects furthest behind +</p> + +<p> +[FN#186] The "bull" is only half mine. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#187] A favourite Arab phrase, the "hot eye" is one full of tears. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#188] i.e., "Coral," coral branch, a favourite name for a slave-girl, +especially a negress. It is the older "Morgiana." I do not see why Preston in +Al-Haríni's "Makamah (Séance) of Singar" renders it pearls, because Golius +gives "small pearls," when it is evidently "coral." Richardson (Dissert. +xlviii.) seems to me justified in finding the Pari (fairy) Marjan of heroic +Persian history reflected in the Fairy Morgain who earned off King Arthur after +the battle of Camelon. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#189] Arab. "'Ud Jalaki"=Jalak or Jalik being a poetical and almost obsolete +name of Damascus. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#190] The fountain in Paradise whose water shall be drunk with "pure" wine +mixed and sealed with musk (for clay). It is so called because it comes from +the "Sanam" (Sanima, to be high) boss or highest ridge of the Moslem Heaven +(Koran lv. 78 and lxxxiii. 27). Mr. Rodwell says "it is conveyed to the highest +apartments in the Pavilions of Paradise." (?) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#191] This "hysterical" temperament is not rare even amongst the bravest +Arabs. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#192] An idea evidently derived from the Æolipyla (olla animatoria) the +invention of Hero Alexandrinus, which showed that the ancient Egyptians could +apply the motive force of steam. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#193] Kuthayyir ibn Abi Jumah, a poet and far-famed Ráwí or Tale-reciter, +mentioned by Ibn Khallikan he lived at Al-Medinah and sang the attractions of +one Azzah, hence his soubriquet Sáhib (lover of) Azzah. As he died in A. H. 105 +(=726), his presence here is a gross anachronism the imaginary Sharrkan +flourished before the Caliphate of Abd al-Malik bin Marwán A. H. 65-86. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#194] Jamíl bin Ma'amar, a poet and lover contemporary with<br/> +Al-Kuthayrir. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#195] Arab. "Tafazzal," a word of frequent use in conversation="favour me," +etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#196] The word has a long history. From the Gr. στίμμι or στίβι is the Lat. +stibium; while the Low Latin "antimonium" and the Span. Althimod are by +metathesis for Al-Ithmid. The dictionaries define the substance as a stone from +which antimony is prepared, but the Arabs understand a semi-mythical mineral of +yellow colour which enters into the veins of the eyes and gives them Iynx-like +vision. The famous Anz nicknamed Zarká (the blue eyed) of Yamámah (Province) +used it; and, according to some, invented Kohl. When her (protohistoric) tribe +Jadis had destroyed all the rival race of Tasm, except Ribáh ibn Murrah; the +sole survivor fled to the Tobba of Al-Yaman, who sent a host to avenge him. The +king commanded his Himyarites to cut tree-boughs and use them as screens (again +Birnam wood). Zarká from her Utum, or peel-tower, saw the army three marches +off and cried, "O folk, either trees or Himyar are coming upon you!" adding, in +Rajaz verse:— +</p> + +<p> +I swear by Allah that trees creep onward, or that Himyar beareth somewhat which +he draweth along! +</p> + +<p> +She then saw a man mending his sandal. But Jadis disbelieved; Cassandra was +slain and, when her eyes were cut out the vessels were found full of Ithmid. +Hence Al-Mutanabbi sang: +</p> + +<p> +"Sharper-sighted than Zarká of Jau" (Yamámah). +</p> + +<p> +See C. de Perceval i. 101; Arab. Prov. i. 192; and Chenery p. 381.<br/> +(The Assemblies of Al-Hariri; London, Williams and Norgate, 1867).<br/> +I have made many enquiries into the true nature of Ithmid and<br/> +failed to learn anything: on the Upper Nile the word is=Kohl. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#197] The general colour of chessmen in the East, where the game is played +on a cloth more often than a board. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#198] Arab. "Al-fil," the elephant=the French fol or fou and our bishop. I +have derived "elephant" from Píl (old Persian, Sansk. Pilu) and Arab. Fil, with +the article Al-Fil, whence the Greek ἐλέφας the suffix—as being devoted to barbarous +words as Obod-as (Al Ubayd), Aretas (Al-Háris), etc. Mr. Isaac Taylor (The +Alphabet i. 169), preserves the old absurdity of "eleph-ant or ox-like (!) +beast of Africa." Prof. Sayce finds the word al-ab (two distinct characters) in +line 3, above the figure of an (Indian) elephant, on the black obelisk of +Nimrod Mound, and suggests an Assyrian derivation. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#199] Arab. "Shaukat" which may also mean the "pride" or "mainstay" (of the +army). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#200] Lit. "smote him on the tendons of his neck." This is the famous +shoulder-cut (Tawash shuh) which, with the leg-cut (Kalam), formed, and still +forms, the staple of Eastern attack with the sword. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#201] Arab. "Dirás." Easterns do not thresh with flails. The material is +strewed over a round and smoothed floor of dried mud in the open air and +threshed by different connivances. In Egypt the favourite is a chair-like +machine called "Norag," running on iron plates and drawn by bulls or cows over +the corn. Generally, however, Moslems prefer the old classical Τρίβολον, the +Tribulum of Virgil and Varro, a slipper-shaped sled of wood garnished on the +sole with large-headed iron nails, or sharp fragments of flint or basalt. Thus +is made the "Tibn" or straw, the universal hay of the East, which our machines +cannot imitate. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#202] These numbers appear to be grossly exaggerated, but they were possible +in the days of sword and armour: at the battle of Saffayn the Caliph Ali is +said to have cut down five hundred and twenty-three men in a single night. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#203] Arab. "Bika'á": hence the "Buka'ah" or Cœlesyria. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#204] Richardson in his excellent dictionary (note 103) which modern +priggism finds "unscientific " wonderfully derives this word from Arab. +"Khattáf," a snatcher (i.e. of women), a ravisher. It is an evident corruption +of "captivus" through Italian and French +</p> + +<p> +[FN#205] These periodical and fair-like visitations to convents are still +customary; especially amongst the Christians of Damascus. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#206] Camphor being then unknown. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#207] The "wrecker" is known all over the world; and not only barbarians +hold that ships driven ashore become the property of the shore +</p> + +<p> +[FN#208] Arab. "Jokh": it is not a dictionary word, but the only term in +popular use for European broadcloth. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#209] The second person plural is used because the writer would involve the +subjects of his correspondent in the matter. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#210] This part of the phrase, which may seem unnecessary to the European, +is perfectly intelligible to all Orientalists. You may read many an Eastern +letter and not understand it. Compare Boccacoo iv. 1. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#211] i.e. he was greatly agitated +</p> + +<p> +[FN#212] In text "Li-ajal a al-Taudi'a," for the purpose of farewelling, a low +Egyptianism; emphatically a "Kalám wáti." (Pilgrimage iii. 330.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#213] In the Mac. Edit. Sharrkan speaks, a clerical error. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#214] The Farsakh (Germ. Stunde) a measure of time rather than distance, is +an hour's travel or its equivalent, a league, a meile=three English stat. +miles. The word is still used in Persia its true home, but not elsewhere. It is +very old, having been determined as a lineal measure of distance by Herodotus +(ii. 5 and 6 ; v. 53), who computes it at 30 furlongs (=furrow-lengths, 8 to +the stat. mile). Strabo (xi.) makes it range from 40 to 60 stades (each=606 +feet 9 inches), and even now it varies between 1,500 to 6,000 yards. Captain +Francklin (Tour to Persia) estimates it = about four miles. (Pilgrimage ii. +113.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#215] Arab. "Ashhab." Names of colours are few amongst semi civilised +peoples, but in Arabia there is a distinct word for every shade of horseflesh. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#216] She had already said to him "Thou art beaten in everything!" +</p> + +<p> +[FN#217] Showing that she was still a Christian. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#218] This is not Badawi sentiment: the honoratioren amongst wild people +would scorn such foul play; but amongst the settled Arabs honour between men +and women is unknown and such "hocussing" would be held quite fair. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#219] The table of wine, in our day, is mostly a japanned tray with glasses +and bottles, saucers of pickles and fruits and, perhaps, a bunch of flowers and +aromatic herbs. During the Caliphate the "wine-service" was on a larger scale. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#220] Here the "Bhang" (almost a generic term applied to hellebore, etc.) +may be hyoscyamus or henbane. Yet there are varieties of Cannabis, such as the +Dakha of South Africa capable of most violent effect. I found the use of the +drug well known to the negroes of the Southern United States and of the Brazil, +although few of their owners had ever heard of it. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#221] Amongst Moslems this is a reference to Adam who first "sinned against +himself,' and who therefore is called " Safíyu'llah," the Pure of Allah. +(Pilgrimage iii. 333.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#222] Meaning, an angry, violent man. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#223] Arab. "Inshád," which may mean reciting the verse of another or +improvising one's own. In Modern Egypt "Munshid" is the singer or reciter of +poetry at Zikrs (Lane M. E. chaps. xxiv.). Here the verses are quite bad enough +to be improvised by the hapless Princess. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#224] The negro skin assumes this dust colour in cold, fear, concupiscence +and other mental emotions. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#225] He compares her glance with the blade of a Yamani sword, a lieu commun +of Eastern poetry. The weapons are famous in The Nights; but the best +sword-cutlery came from Persia as the porcelain from China to Sana'á. Here, +however, is especial allusion as to the sword "Samsam" or "Samsamah." It +belonged to the Himyarite Tobba, Amru bin Ma'ad Kurb, and came into the hands +of Harun al-Rashid. When the Emperor of the Greeks sent a present of superior +sword-blades to him by way of a brave, the Caliph, in the presence of the +Envoys, took "Samsam" in hand and cut the others in twain as if they were +cabbages without the least prejudice to the edge of "Samsam." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#226] This touch of pathos is truly Arab. So in the "Romance of Dalhamah" +(Lane, M. E. xxiii.) the infant Gundubah sucks the breast of its dead mother +and the King exclaims, "If she had committed this crime she would not be +affording the child her milk after she was dead." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#227] Arab. "Sadda'l-Aktár," a term picturesque enough to be preserved in +English. "Sadd," I have said, is a wall or dyke, the term applied to the great +dam of water- plants which obstructs the navigation of the Upper Nile, the +lilies and other growths floating with the current from the (Victoria) Nyanza +Lake. I may note that we need no longer derive from India the lotus-llily so +extensively used by the Ancient Egyptians and so neglected by the moderns that +it has well-nigh disappeared. All the Central African basins abound in the +Nymphæa and thence it found its way down the Nile Valley. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#228] Arab. "Al Marhúmah": equivalent to our "late lamented." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#229] Vulgarly pronounced "Mahmal," and by Egyptians and Turks "Mehmel." +Lane (M. E. xxiv.) has figured this queenly litter and I have sketched and +described it in my Pilgrimage (iii. 12). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#230] For such fits of religious enthusiasm see my Pilgrimage (iii. 254). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#231] "Irák" (Mesopotamia) means "a level country beside the banks of a +ever." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#232] "Al Kuds," or "Bays al-Mukaddas," is still the popular name of +Jerusalem, from the Heb. Yerushalaim ha-Kadushah (legend on shekel of Simon +Maccabeus). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#233] "Follow the religion of Abraham" says the Koran (chaps. iii. 89). +Abraham, titled "Khalílu'llah," ranks next in dignity to Mohammed, preceding +Isa, I need hardly say that his tomb is not in Jerusalem nor is the tomb itself +at Hebron ever visited. Here Moslems (soi disant) are allowed by the jealousies +of Europe to close and conceal a place which belongs to the world, especially +to Jews and Christians. The tombs, if they exist, lie in a vault or cave under +the Mosque. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#234] Abá, or Abáyah, vulg. Abayah, is a cloak of hair, goat's or camel's; +too well known to require description. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#235] Arab. "Al-Wakkád," the man who lights and keeps up the bath-fires. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#236] Arab. "Má al-Khaláf" (or "Khiláf") a sickly perfume but much prized, +made from the flowers of the Salix Ægyptiaca. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#237] Used by way of soap; like glasswort and other plants. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#238] i.e., "Thou art only just recovered." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#239] To "Nakh" is to gurgle "Ikh! Ikh!" till the camel kneels. Hence the +space called "Barr al-Manákhah" in Al-Medinah (Pilgrimage i. 222, ii. 91). +There is a regular camel vocabulary amongst the Arabs, made up like our "Gee" +(go ye!), etc. of significant words worn down. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#240] Arab. "Laza," the Second Hell provided for Jews. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#241] The word has been explained (vol. i. 112).[see Volume 1, note 199] It +is trivial, not occurring in the Koran which uses "Arabs of the Desert ;" +"Arabs who dwell in tents," etc. (chaps. ix. and xxxiii.). "A'arábi" is the +classical word and the origin of "Arab" is disputed. According to Pocock (Notæ +Spec. Hist. Arab.): "Diverse are the opinions concerning the denomination of +the Arabs; but the most certain of all is that which draws it from Arabah, +which is part of the region of Tehama (belonging to Al-Medinah Pilgrimage ii. +118), which their father Ismail afterwards inhabited." Tehamah (sierra +caliente) is the maritime region of Al Hijaz, the Moslems Holy Land; and its +"Arabah," a very small tract which named a very large tract, must not be +confounded, as some have done, with the Wady Arabah, the ancient outlet of the +Dead Sea. The derivation of "Arab" from "Ya'arab" a fancied son of Joktan is +mythological. In Heb. Arabia may be called "Eretz Ereb" (or "Arab")=land of the +West; but in Arabic "Gharb" (not Ereb) is the Occident and the Arab dates long +before the Hebrew. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#242] "When thine enemy extends his hand to thee, cut it off if thou can, or +kiss it," wisely said Caliph al-Mansur. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#243] The Tartur was a peculiar turban worn by the Northern Arabs and shown +in old prints. In modern Egypt the term is applied to the tall sugar-loaf caps +of felt affected mostly by regular Dervishes. Burckhardt (Proverbs 194 and 398) +makes it the high cap of felt or fur proper to the irregular cavalry called +Dely or Delaty. In Dar For (Darfour) "Tartur" is a conical cap adorned with +beads and cowries worn by the Manghwah or buffoon who corresponds with the +Egyptian "Khalbús" or "Maskharah" and the Turkish "Sutari." For an illustration +see Plate iv. fig. 10 of Voyage au Darfour par Mohammed El Tounsy (The +Tunisian), Paris, Duprat, 1845. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#244] The term is picturesque and true; we say "gnaw," which is not so good. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#245] Here, meaning an Elder, a Chief, etc.; the word has been almost +naturalised in English. I have noted that Abraham was the first "Shaykh." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#246] This mention of weighing suggests the dust of Dean Swift and the money +of the Gold Coast It was done, I have said, because the gold coin, besides +being "sweated" was soft and was soon worn down. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#247] Fem. of Nájí (a deliverer, a saviour)=Salvadora. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#248] This, I have noted, is according to Koranic command (chaps. iv. 88). +"When you are saluted with a salutation, salute the person with a better +salutation." The longer answer to "Peace be with (or upon) thee! " is still +universally the custom. The "Salem" is so differently pronounced by every +Eastern nation that the observant traveller will easily make of it a +Shibboleth. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#249] The Badawi, who was fool as well as rogue, begins to fear that he has +kidnapped a girl of family. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#250] These examinations being very indecent are usually done in strictest +privacy. The great point is to make sure of virginity. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#251] This is according to strict Moslem law: the purchaser may not look at +the girl's nakedness till she is his, and he ought to manage matters through an +old woman. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#252] Lit. wrath; affliction which chokes; in Hindustani it means simply +anger. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#253] i.e. Heaven forbid I be touched by a strange man. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#254] Used for fuel and other purposes, such as making "doss stick." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#255] Arab "Yaftah'Allah" the offer being insufficient. The rascal is greedy +as a Badaw and moreover he is a liar, which the Badawi is not. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#256] The third of the four great Moslem schools of Theology, taking its +name from the Imam al-Sháfi'í (Mohammed ibn Idrís) who died in Egypt A.H. 204, +and lies buried near Cairo. (Sale's Prel. Disc. sect. viii.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#257] The Moslem form of Cabbala, or transcendental philosophy of the +Hebrews. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#258] Arab. "Bakh" the word used by the Apostle to Ali his son-in-law. It is +the Latin "Euge." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#259] Readers, who read for amusement, will do well to "skip" the fadaïses +of this highly educated young woman. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#260] There are three Persian Kings of this name (Artaxerxes)<br/> +which means "Flour and milk," or "high lion." The text alludes to<br/> +Ardeshir Babegan, so called because he married the daughter of<br/> +Babak the shepherd, founder of the Sassanides in A.D. 202. See<br/> +D,Herberot, and the Dabistan. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#261] Alluding to the proverb, "Folk follow their King's faith,"<br/> +"Cujus regio ejus religio" etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#262] Second Abbaside, A.H. 136-158 (=754-775). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#263] The celebrated companion of Mohammed who succeeded Abu Bakr in the +Caliphate (A.H. 13-23=634-644). The Sunnis know him as Al-Adil the Just, and +the Shiahs detest him for his usurpation, his austerity and harshness. It is +said that he laughed once and wept once. The laugh was caused by recollecting +how he ate his dough-gods (the idols of the Hanifah tribe) in The Ignorance. +The tears were drawn by remembering how he buried alive his baby daughter who, +while the grave was being dug, patted away the dust from his hair and beard. +Omar was doubtless a great man, but he is one of the most ungenial figures in +Moslem history which does not abound in genialities. To me he suggests a +Puritan, a Covenanter of the sourest and narrowest type; and I cannot wonder +that the Persians abhor him, and abuse him on all occasions. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#264] The austere Caliph Omar whose scourge was more feared than the sword +was the - author of the celebrated saying "Consult them (feminines) and do +clear contrary-wise." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#265] Our "honour amongst thieves." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#266] The sixth successor of Mohammed and founder of the Banu Umayyah or +Ommiades, called the "sons of the little mother" from their eponymus (A.H. +41-60=661-680). For his Badawi wife Maysun, and her abuse of her husband, see +Pilgrimage iii. 262. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#267] Shaykh of the noble tribe, or rather nation, Banu Tamím and a notable +of the day, surnamed, no one knows why, "Sire of the Sea." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#268] This is essential for cleanliness in hot lands: however much the bath +may be used, the body-pile and lower hair, if submitted to a microscope, will +show more or less sordes adherent. The axilla-hair is plucked because if shaved +the growing pile causes itching and the depilatories are held deleterious. At +first vellication is painful but the skin becomes used to it. The pecten is +shaved either without or after using depilatories, of which more presently. The +body-pile is removed by "Takhfíf"; the Libán Shámi (Syrian incense), a fir- gum +imported from Scio, is melted and allowed to cool in the form of a pledget. +This is passed over the face and all the down adhering to it is pulled up by +the roots (Burckhardt No. 420). Not a few Anglo-Indians have adopted these +precautions +</p> + +<p> +[FN#269] This Caliph was a tall, fair, handsome man of awe-inspiring aspect. +Omar used to look at him and say, "This is the Cæsar of the Arabs," while his +wife called him a "fatted ass." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#270] The saying is attributed to Abraham when "exercised" by the unkindly +temper of Sarah; "woman is made hard and crooked like a rib;" and the modern +addition is, "whoso would straighten her, breaketh her." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#271] i.e. "When ready and in erection." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#272] "And do first (before going in to your wives) some act which may be +profitable unto your souls" or, for you: soul's good. (Koran, chaps. ii. 223.) +Hence Ahnaf makes this prayer. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#273] It was popularly said that "Truth-speaking left Omar without a +friend." Entitled "The Just" he was murdered by Abu Lúlúah, alias Fírúz, a +(Magian ?) slave of Al-Maghírah for denying him justice. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#274] Governor of Bassorah under the first four Caliphs. See<br/> +D'Herbelot s.v. "Aschári." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#275] Ziyad bin Abi Sufyan, illegitimate brother of the Caliph<br/> +Mu'awiyah afterwards governor of Bassorah, Cufa and Al-Hijaz. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#276] The seditions in Kufah were mainly caused by the wilful nepotism of +Caliph Othman bin Asákir which at last brought about his death. His main +quality seems to have been personal beauty: "never was seen man or woman of +fairer face than he and he was the most comely of men:" he was especially famed +for beautiful teeth which in old age he bound about with gold wire. He is +described as of middling stature, large- limbed, broad shouldered, fleshy of +thigh and long in the fore-arm which was hairy. His face inclined to yellow and +was pock-marked; his beard was full and his curly hair, which he dyed yellow, +fell below his ears. He is called "writer of the Koran" from his edition of the +M.S., and "Lord of the two Lights" because he married two of the Prophet's +daughters, Rukayyah and Umm Kulthum; and, according to the Shi'ahs who call him +Othman-i-Lang or" limping Othman," he vilely maltreated them. They justify his +death as the act of an Ijmá' al-Muslimín, the general consensus of Moslems +which ratifies "Lynch law." Altogether Othman is a mean figure in history. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#277] "Nár" (fire) is a word to be used delicately from its connection with +Gehenna. You say, e.g. "bring me a light, a coal (bassah)" etc.; but if you say +"bring me fire! " the enemy will probably remark "He wanteth fire even before +his time!" The slang expression would be "bring the sweet." (Pilgrimage i. +121.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#278] Omar is described as a man of fair complexion, and very ruddy, but he +waxed tawny with age, when he also became bald and grey. He had little hair on +the cheeks but a long mustachio with reddish ends. In stature he overtopped the +people and was stout as he was tall. A popular saying of Mohammed's is, "All +(very) long men are fools save Omar, and all (very) short men are knaves save +Ali." The Persians, who abhor Omar, compare every lengthy, ungainly, longsome +thing with him; they will say, "This road never ends, like the entrails of +Omar." We know little about Ali's appearance except that he was very short and +stout, broad and full-bellied with a tawny complexion and exceedingly hairy, +his long beard, white as cotton, filling all the space between his shoulders. +He was a "pocket. Hercules," and incredible tales, like that about the gates of +Khaybar, are told of his strength. Lastly, he was the only Caliph who +bequeathed anything to literature: his "Cantiloquium" is famous and he has left +more than one mystical and prophetic work. See Ockley for his "Sentences" and +D'Herbelot s. D. "Ali" and "Gebr." Ali is a noble figure in Moslem history. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#279] The emancipation from the consequences of his sins; or it may mean a +holy death. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#280] Battle fought near Al-Medinah A.D. 625. The word is derived from +"shad" (one). I have described the site in my Pilgrimage, (vol. ii. 227). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#281] "Haphsa" in older writers; Omar's daughter and one of Mohammed's +wives, famous for her connection with the manuscripts of the Koran. From her +were (or claimed to be) descended the Hafsites who reigned in Tunis and +extended their power far and wide over the Maghrib (Mauritania), till +dispossessed by the Turks. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#282] i.e. humbly without the usual strut or swim: it corresponds with the +biblical walking or going softly. (I Kings xxi. 27; Isaiah xxxviii. 15, etc.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#283] A theologian of the seventh and eighth centuries. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#284] i.e. to prepare himself by good works, especially alms-giving, for the +next world. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#285] A theologian of the eighth century. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#286] Abd al-Aziz was eighth Ommiade (regn. A.H. 99=717) and the fifth of +the orthodox, famed for a piety little known to his house. His most celebrated +saying was, " Be constant in meditation on death: if thou bein straitened case +'twill enlarge it, and if in affluence 'twill straiten it upon thee." He died. +poisoned, it is said, in A.H 101, +</p> + +<p> +[FN#287] Abu Bakr originally called Abd al-Ka'abah (slave of the Ka'abah) took +the name of Abdullah and was surnamed Abu Bakr (father of the virgin) when +Mohammed, who before had married only widows, took to wife his daughter, the +famous or infamous Ayishah. "Bikr" is the usual form, but "Bakr," primarily +meaning a young camel, is metaphorically applied to human youth (Lane's Lex. s. +c.). The first Caliph was a cloth-merchant, like many of the Meccan chiefs. He +is described as very fair with bulging brow, deep set eyes and thin-checked, of +slender build and lean loined, stooping and with the backs of his hands +fleshless. He used tinctures of Henna and Katam for his beard. The Persians who +hate him, call him "Pir-i-Kaftár," the old she-hyaena, and believe that he +wanders about the deserts of Arabia in perpetual rut which the males must +satisfy. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#288] The second, fifth, sixth and seventh Ommiades. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#289] The mother of Omar bin Abd al-Aziz was a granddaughter of<br/> +Omar bin al-Khattab. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#290] Brother of this Omar's successor, Yezid II. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#291] So the Turkish proverb "The fish begins to stink at the head." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#292] Calling to the slaves. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#293] When the "Day of Arafat" (9th of Zú'l-Hijjah) falls upon a Friday. For +this Hajj al- Akbar see my Pilgrimage iii. 226. It is often confounded by +writers (even by the learned M. Caussin de Perceval) with the common Pilgrimage +as opposed to the Umrah, or " Lesser Pilgrimage" (ibid. iii. 342, etc.). The +latter means etymologically cohabiting with a woman in her father's house as +opposed to 'Ars or leading her to the husband's home: it is applied to visiting +Meccah and going through all the pilgrim-rites but not at the +Pilgrimage-season. Hence its title "Hajj al-Asghar" the "Lesser Hajj." But +"Umrah" is also applied to a certain ceremony between the hills Safá (a large +hard rock) and Marwah (stone full of flints), which accompanies the Hajj and +which I have described (ibid. iii. 344). At Meccah I also heard of two places +called Al-Umrah, the Greater in the Wady Fátimah and the Lesser half way nearer +the city (ibid. iii. 344). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#294] A fair specimen of the unworthy egoism which all religious systems +virtually inculcate Here a pious father leaves his children miserable to save +his own dirty soul. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#295] Chief of the Banú Tamín, one of the noblest of tribes, derived from +Tamím, the uncle of Kuraysh (Koreish); hence the poets sang:— +</p> + +<p> + There cannot be a son nobler than Kuraysh,<br/> + Nor an uncle nobler than Tamím. +</p> + +<p> +The high minded Tamín is contrasted with the mean-spirited Kays, who also gave +rise to a tribe; and hence the saying concerning one absolutely inconsistent, +"Art thou now Tamín and then Kays?" +</p> + +<p> +[FN#296] Surnamed Al-Sakafi, Governor of Al-Yaman and Irak. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#297] Tenth Ommiade (regn. A H. 105-125 = 724-743). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#298] Or "clothe thee in worn-out clothes" i.e. "Become a Fakir" or +religious mendicant. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#299] This gratuitous incest in ignorance injures the tale and is as +repugnant to Moslem as to Christian taste. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#300] The child is named either on the day of its birth or on that day week. +The father whispers it in the right ear, often adding the Azán or prayer-call, +and repeating in the left ear the "Ikámah" or Friday sentence. There are many +rules for choosing names according to the week-day, the ascendant planet, the +"Sortes Coranicæ," etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#301] Amongst Moslems as amongst Christians there are seven deadly sins: +idolatry, murder, falsely charging modest women with unchastity, robbing +orphans, usury, desertion in Holy War and disobedience to parents. The +difference between the two creeds is noteworthy. And the sage knows only three, +intemperance, ignorance and egoism. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#302] Meaning, "It was decreed by Destiny; so it came to pass," appropriate +if not neat. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#303] The short, stout, dark, long-haired and two-bunched camel from +"Bukhtar" (Bactria), the "Eastern" (Bakhtar) region on the Amu or Jayhun (Oxus) +River; afterwards called Khorasan. The two-humped camel is never seen in Arabia +except with northern caravans, and to speak of it would be a sore test of +Badawi credulity. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#304] "Kaylúlah" is the "forty-winks" about noon: it is a Sunnat or Practice +of the Prophet who said, "Make the mid-day siesta, for verily at this hour the +devils sleep not." "Aylúlain" is slumbering after morning prayers (our +"beauty-sleep"), causing heaviness andid leness: "Ghaylúlah" is dozing about 9 +a.m. engendering poverty and wretchedness: "Kaylúlah" (with the guttural Kaf) +is sleeping before evening prayers and "Faylúlah" is slumbering after +sunset—both held to be highly detrimental. (Pilgrimage ii 49.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#305] The Biblical "Hamath" (Hightown) too well known to require +description. It is still famous for the water-wheels mentioned by al-Hariri +(assembly of the Banu Harám). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#306] When they say, "The leven flashes bright on the hills of<br/> +Al-Yaman," the allusion is to the south quarter, where<br/> +summer-lightning is seen. Al-Yaman (always with the article) means,<br/> +I have said, the right-hand region to one facing the rising sun and<br/> +Al-Sham (Syria) the left-hand region. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#307] Again "he" for "she," in delicacy and jealousy of making public the +beauty or conditions of the "veiled sex." Even public singers would hesitate to +use a feminine pronoun. As will be seen however, the rule is not invariably +kept and hardly ever in Badawi poetry. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#308] The normal pun on "Nuzhat al-Zaman" = Delight of the Age or Time. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#309] The reader will find in my Pilgrimage (i. 305) a sketch of the +Takht-rawan or travelling-litter, in which pilgrimesses are wont to sleep. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#310] In poetry it holds the place of our Zephyr; end the "Bád- +i-Sabá"=Breeze o' the morn, Is much addressed by Persian poets. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#311] Here appears the nervous, excitable, hysterical Arab temperament which +is almost phrensied by the neighbourhood of a home from which he had run away. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#312] Zau al-Makan and Nuzhat al-Zaman. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#313] The idea is essentially Eastern, "A lion at home and a lamb abroad" is +the popular saying. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#314] Arab. "Hubb al-Watan" (= love of birthplace, patriotism) of which the +Tradition says "Min al-Imán" (=is part of man's religion). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#315] He is supposed to speak en prince; and he yields to a prayer when he +spurns a command. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#316] In such caravans each party must keep its own place under pain of +getting into trouble with the watchmen and guards. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#317] Mr. Payne (ii. 109) borrows this and the next quotation from the Bull +Edit. i. 386. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#318] For the expiation of inconsiderate oaths see Koran (chaps. v.). I +cannot but think that Al-Islam treats perjury too lightly: all we can say +is-that it improves upon Hinduism which practically seems to leave the +punishment to the gods. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#319] "Kausar," as has been said, represents the classical nectar, the +Amrita of the Hindus. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#320] From Bull Edit. i. 186. The couplet in the Mac. Edit. i. 457 is very +wildly applied. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#321] The "insula" of Sancho Panza. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#322] This should have assured him that he stood in no danger. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#323] Here ends the wearisome tale of the brother and sister, and the +romance of chivalry begins once more with the usual Arab digressions. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#324] I have derived this word from the Persian "rang"=colour, hue, kind. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#325] Otherwise all would be superseded, like U. S. officials under a new +President. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#326] Arab. "Nímshah" from the Pers. Nímchah, a "half-sword," a long dagger +worn in the belt. Richardson derives it from Namsh, being freckled (damasked). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#327] The Indian term for a tent large enough to cover a troop of cavalry. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#328] Arab. "Marhúm" a formula before noticed. It is borrowed from the +Jewish, "of blessed memory" (after the name of the honoured dead, Prov. x. +17.); with the addition of "upon whom be peace," as opposed to the imprecation, +"May the name of the wicked rot!" +</p> + +<p> +[FN#329] The speeches of the five damsels should be read only by students. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#330] i.e. Those who look for "another and a better." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#331] The title of Caliph Abu Bakr because he bore truthful witness to the +Apostle's mission or, others say, he confirmed the "Mi'ráj" or nocturnal +journey to Heaven. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#332] All this is Koranic (chaps. ii., etc.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#333] This may have applied more than once to "hanging judges" in the Far +West. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#334] A traditionist and jurisconsult of Al-Medinah in the seventh and +eighth centuries. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#335] The Alexander of the Koran and Eastern legends, not to be confounded +with the Alexander of Macedon. He will be noticed in a future Night. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#336] Æsop, according to the Arabs: of him or rather of the two<br/> +Lukmans, more presently. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#337] Koran ii. 185. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#338] Mohammed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#339] One of the Asháb or Companions of Mohammed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#340] A noted traditionist at Cufa in the seventh century. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#341] Koran, chaps. lxxiv. I (and verse 8 follows). The Archangel Gabriel is +supposed to address Mohammed and not a few divines believe this Surah (chapter) +to have been first revealed. Mr. Rodwell makes it No. ii. following the Fatrah +or silent interval which succeeded No. xcvi. "Clots of Blood." See his 2nd +Edit. p. 3 for further details. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#342] i.e. dangerous to soul-health. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#343] In the Mac. Edit. "Abd" for "Sa'id." The latter was a black and a +native of Cufa during the first century (A.H ) and is still famous as a +traditionist. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#344] Arab. "Shirk," giving a partner to Allah, attending chiefly to +Christians and idolaters and in a minor degree to Jews and Guebres. We usually +English it by "polytheism," which is clumsy and conveys a wrong idea +</p> + +<p> +[FN#345] Grandson of the Caliph Ali. He is one of the Imams<br/> +(High-priests) of the Shi'ah school. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#346] An eminent traditionist of the eighth century (A.D.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#347] The prayers of the Fast-month and Pilgrimage-month are often said in +especial places outside the towns and cities; these are the Indian Id(Eed-)gáh. +They have a screen of wall about a hundred yards long with a central +prayer-niche and the normal three steps for the preacher; and each extremity is +garnished with an imitation minaret. They are also called Namáz-gah and one is +sketched by Herklots (Plate iii. fig. 2). The object of the trips thither in +Zu'l-Ka'adah and Zu'l-Hijjah is to remind Moslems of the "Ta'aríf," or going +forth from Meccah to Mount Arafat. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#348] Arab. "Al-Háfi," which in Egyptian means sore-footed as well. He was +an ascetic of the eighth and ninth centuries (A.D.). He relates a tradition of +the famous soldier saint Khálid bin Walíd who lies buried like the poet Ka'ab +al-Ahbár near Hums (Emessa) once the Bœotia, Phrygia, Abdera, Suabia of Syria +now Halbun (pronounced Halbáun) near Damascus. I cannot explain how this +Kuraysh noble (a glorious figure in Moslem history) is claimed by the Afghans +as one of their countrymen and made to speak Pukhtu or Pushtu, their rough old +dialect of Persian. The curious reader will consult my Pilgrimage iii. 322 for +the dialogue between Mohammed and Khalid. Again there is general belief in +Arabia that the English sent a mission to the Prophet, praying that Khalid +might be despatched to proselytise them: unfortunately Mohammed was dead and +the "Ingríz" ratted. It is popularly held that no armed man can approach +Khalid's grave; but I suppose my revolver did not count. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#349] When he must again wash before continuing prayer. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#350] Bin Adham; another noted ascetic of the eighth century.<br/> +Those curious about these unimportant names will consult the great<br/> +Biographical Dictionary of Ibn Khallikan, translated by Baron<br/> +MacGuckin de Slane (1842-45). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#351] Thus making Bishr the "Imám" (artistes) lit. one who stands in front. +In Koran xvii. 74 it means "leader": in ii. 118 Allah makes Abraham an "Imam to +mankind." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#352] A favourite sentiment in the East: we find it at the very beginning of +Sa'di's Gulistan: better a weal-bringing lie than a harm-dealing truth. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#353] A penny, one sixth of the drachma. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#354] Founder of the Hanbali, fourth (in date) of the four orthodox Moslem +schools. The Caliph al-Mu'atasim bi'llah, son of Harun al-Rashid, who believed +the Koran to have been created and not a Logos (whatever that may be), +co-eternal with Allah, scourged this Imam severely for "differing in opinion" +(A.H. 220=833). In fact few of the notable reverends of that day escaped +without a caress of the scourge or the sword. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#355] A learned man of the eighth century at Bassorah (A.D.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#356] A traditionist of Khorasan in the ninth century (A.D.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#357] "Azal," opp. to "Abad," eternity without end, infinity. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#358] Koran lxvi. 6. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#359] A traditionist of Al-Medinah, eighth century (A.D.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#360] Arab. "Músá": the Egyptian word was "Mesu," the "child" or the "boy" +(brought up in the palace?), and the Hebrews made it "Mosheh" or "one drawn out +of the water;" "Mu" in Egypt being water, the Arab "Ma"; whence probably the +moderns have derived the dim. "Moyeh ," vulg. Egyptian for water. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#361] Koran, chaps. xxviii.: Shu'ayb is our Jethro: Koran, chaps. vii. and +xi. Mr. Rodwell suggests (p. 101) that the name has been altered from Hobab +(Numb. x. 29). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#362] Arab. "Taub" (Saub), the long shirt popularly written in English Tobe +and pronounced so by Egyptians. It is worn by both sexes (Lane, M. E. chaps. i. +"Tob") in Egypt, and extends into the heart of Moslem Africa: I can compare it +with nothing but a long nightgown dyed a dirty yellow by safflower and about as +picturesque as a carter's smock-frock. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#363] There is nothing of this in the Koran; and it is a most unhappy +addition, as Moses utterly and pretentiously ignored a "next world." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#364] Koran xxviii. 22-27. Mohammed evidently confounded the contract +between Laban and Jacob. (Gen. xxix. 15-39.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#365] So says Al-Hariri (Ass. of Sasan), "The neighbour before the house and +the traveller before the journey." In certain cities the neighbourhood is the +real detective police, noting every action and abating scandals (such as +orgies, etc.) with a strong hand and with the full consent of public opinion +and of the authorities. This loving the neighbour shows evident signs of being +borrowed from Christianity. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#366] Al-Asamm a theologian of Balkh, ninth century (A.D.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#367] The founder of the Senior School, for which see Sale Prel.<br/> +Disc. sect. viii. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#368] Thus serving the Lord by sinning against his own body. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#369] An Egyptian doctor of the law (ninth century). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#370] Koran lxxvii. 35, 36. This is one of the earliest and most poetical +chapters of the book. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#371] Abu Hanifah was scourged for refusing to take office and was put to +death in prison, it is said by poison (A.H. 150=A.D. 767), for a judicial +sentence authorising rebellion against the second Abbaside, Al-Mansur, surnamed +Abu'l-Dawánik (Father of Pence) for his exceeding avarice. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#372] "Lá rayba fí-hi" says the Koran (ii. 1) of itself; and the saying is +popularly applied to all things of the Faith. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#373] Arab. "Rivál al-Ghayb," somewhat like the "Himalayan Brothers" of +modern superstition. See Herklots (Qanoon-e-Islam) for a long and careful +description of these "Mardán-i-Ghayb" (Pers.), a "class of people mounted on +clouds," invisible, but moving in a circular orbit round the world, and +suggesting the Hindu "Lokapálas." They should not be in front of the traveller +nor on his right, but either behind or on his left hand. Hence tables, memorial +couplets and hemistichs are required to ascertain the station, without which +precaution journeys are apt to end badly. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#374] A sweetmeat before noticed. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#375] Door hinges in the east are two projections for the top and bottom of +the leaf playing in hollows of the lintel and threshold. It appears to be the +primitive form, for we find it in the very heart of Africa. In the basaltic +cities of the Hauran, where the doors are of thick stone, they move easily on +these pins. I found them also in the official (not the temple)City of Palmyra, +but all broken. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#376] The effect of the poison and of the incantation which accompanied it. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#377] King Omar who had raped her. My sympathies are all with the old woman +who nightly punished the royal lecher. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#378] Arab. "Zunnár," the Gr. . Christians and Jews were compelled by +the fanatical sumptuary laws of the Caliph Al- Mutawakkil (AD. 856) to wear a +broad leather belt in public, hence it became a badge of the Faith. Probably it +was confounded with the "Janeo" (Brahmanical thread) and the Parsi sacred +girdle called Kashti. (Dabistan i, 297, etc.). Both Mandeville and La +Brocquière speak of "Christians of the Girdle, because they are all girt +above," intending Jacobites or Nestorians. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#379] "Siláh dár" (Arab. and Pers.)=a military officer of high rank; +literally an "armour-bearer," chosen for velour and trustworthiness. So +Jonathan had a "young man" (brave) who bare his armour (I Sam. xiv. 1, 6 and +7); and Goliath had a man that bare the shield before him (ibid. xvii. 7, 41). +Men will not readily forget the name of Sulayman Agha, called the Silahdar, in +Egypt. (Lane M. E. chaps. iv.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#380] It will be told afterwards. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#381] The elder brother thus showed himself a vassal and proved himself a +good Moslem by not having recourse to civil war. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#382] Arab. "Ghazwah," the corrupt Gallicism, now<br/> +Europeanised=raid, foray. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#383] Turk in modern parlance means a Turkoman, a pomade: the settled people +call themselves Osmanli or Othmanli. Turkoman=Turk- like. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#384] Arab. "Nimsá;" southern Germans, Austrians; from the Slav. "Nemica" +(any Germans), literally meaning "The dumb" (nemac), because they cannot speak +Slav. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#385] Arab. "Dubárá" from the Slav. "Dubrovnik," from "Dub" (an oak) and +"Dubrava" (an oak forest). Ragusa, once a rival of Venice, gave rise to the +word "Argosy." D'Herbelot calls it "Dobravenedik" or "Good Venice," the Turkish +name, because it paid tribute when Venice would not (?). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#386] Arab. "Jawarnah," or, "Júrnah" evidently Zara, a place of many names, +Jadera (Hirtius de Bell. Alex. cap. 13), Jadra, Zadra (whence the modern term), +Diadora, Diadosca and Jadrossa. This important Liburnian city sent forth many +cruisers in crusading days; hence the Arabs came to know its name. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#387] Arab. "Banu'l-Asfar;" which may mean "Pale faces," in the sense of +"yeller girls" (New Orleans) and that intended by North American Indians, or, +possibly, the peoples with yellow (or rather tow-coloured) hair we now call +Russians. The races of Hindostan term the English not "white men," but "red +men;" and the reason will at once be seen by comparing a Britisher with a +high-caste Nágar Brahman whose face is of parchment colour as if he had drunk +exsangue cuminum. The Yellow-faces of the text correspond with the Sansk. +"Svetadvipa"—Whiteman's Land. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#388] Arab. "Al-Musakhkham." No Moslem believes that Isa was crucified and a +favourite fancy is that Judas, changed to the likeness of Jesus, thus paid for +his treason. (Evangel. Barnabæ.) Hence the resurrection is called not "Kiyámah" +but "Kumámah"=rubbish. This heresy about the Cross they share with the Docetes, +"certain beasts in the shape of men" (says Ignatius), who held that a phantom +was crucified. So far the Moslems are logical, for "Isa," being angelically, +miraculously and immaculately conceived, could not be; but they contradict +themselves when they hold a vacant place near Mohammed's tomb for the body of +Isa after his second coming as a forerunner to Mohammed and Doomday. +(Pilgrimage ii. 89.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#389] A diviner, priest, esp. Jewish, and not belonging to the tribe of +Levi. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#390] Again the coarsest word "Khara." The allusion is to the<br/> +vulgar saying, "Thou eatest skite!" (i.e. thou talkest nonsense).<br/> +Decent English writers modify this to, "Thou eatest dirt:" and Lord<br/> +Beaconsfield made it ridiculous by turning it into "eating sand." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#391] These silly scandals, which cause us only to smile, excite<br/> +Easterns to fury. I have seen a Moslem wild with rage on hearing a<br/> +Christian parody the opening words of the Koran, "Bismillahi 'l-<br/> +Rahmáni 'l-Rahím, Mismish wa Kamar al-din," roughly translated, +</p> + +<p> +"In the name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate! Apricots and +marmalede." The idea of the Holy Merde might have been suggested by the +Hindus: see Mandeville, of the archiprotopapaton (prelate) carrying ox-dung +and urine to the King, who therewith anoints his brow and breast, &c. And, +incredible to relate, this is still practised after a fashion by the Parsis, +one of the most progressive and the sharpest witted of Asiatic races. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#392] Meaning that he had marked his brow with a cross (of ashes?) as +certain do on Ash Wednesday. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#393] Syria, the "left-hand land" as has before been explained. The popular +saying about its people is "Shámi shúmi!"—the Syrian is small potatoes (to +render the sense Americanicè). Nor did Syrus, the slave in Roman days, bear the +best of names. In Al-Hijaz the Syrian is addressed "Abú Shám" (Father of Syria) +and insulted as "Abuser of the Salt" (a traitor). Yet many sayings of Mohammed +are recorded in honour of Syria, and he sometimes used Syriac words. Such were +"Bakh, bakh" (=euge, before noticed), and "Kakh," a congener of the Latin Cacus +and Caca which our day has docked to "cack." (Pilgrimage iii. 115) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#394] Koran xiv. 34. "They (Unbelievers) shall be thrown therein (i.e., the +House of Perdition=Hell); and an unhappy dwelling shall it be." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#395] The leg-cut is a prime favourite with the Eastern Sworder, and a heavy +two-handed blade easily severs a horse's leg. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#396] Mohammed repeatedly declared (Koran lxi.) that the Christians had +falsified the passage ("I go to my Father and the Paraclete shall come," John +xvi. 7) promising the advent of the Comforter, (ibid. xiv. 20; xv. +26) by substituting the latter word for glorious, renowned, i.e., +Ahmed or Mohammed=the praised one. This may have been found in the Arabic +translation of the Gospels made by Warakah, cousin to Mohammed's first wife; +and hence in Koran lxi. we find Jesus prophesying of an Apostle "whose name +shall be Ahmad." The word has consequently been inserted into the Arabic Gospel +of Saint Barnabas (Dabistan iii. 67). Moslems accept the Pentateuch, the +Psalter and the Gospel; but assert (Koran, passim.) that all extant copies have +been hopelessly corrupted, and they are right. Moses, to whom the Pentateuch is +attributed, notices his own death and burial—"the mair the miracle," said the +old Scotch lady. The "Psalms of David" range over a period of some five hundred +years, and there are three Isaiahs who pass with the vulgar for one. The many +apocryphal Gospels, all of which have been held genuine and canonical at +different times and in different places, prove that the four, which are still +in use, were retained because they lack the manifest absurdities of their +discarded rivals. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#397] Arab. " Labbayka; " the Pilgrimage-cry (Night xxii.) which in Arabic +is, +</p> + +<p> + Labbayk' Allahumma, Labbayk'!<br/> + Lá Sharíka lake, Labbayk'!<br/> + Inna 'l-hamda w'al ni'amata lake wa'l mulk!<br/> + Labbayk' Allahumma, Labbayk'! +</p> + +<p> +Some add "Here am I, and I honour Thee, the son of Thy two slaves; beneficence +and good are all between Thy hands."With the "Talbiyah" the pilgrims should +bless the Prophet, pray Allah to grant Heaven and exclaim, "By Thy mercy spare +us from the pains of Hell-fire!" (Pilgrimage iii. 232.) Labbayka occurs in the +verses attributed to Caliph Ali; so labba=he faced, and yalubbu=it faces (as +one house faces another); lastly, he professed submission to Allah; in which +sense, together with the verbal noun "Talbiyah," it is used by Al- Hanri (Pref. +and Ass. of Su'adah). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#398] Arab. "Kissís" (plur. Kusús) from ‘ . +</p> + +<p> +[FN#399] Koran ii. The "red cow" is evidently the "red heifer" of<br/> +Barnabas, chaps. vii. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#400] Arab. "Al-Jásalík"= . +</p> + +<p> +[FN#401] This is from the first "Gospel of Infancy," wherein Jesus said to his +mother, "Verily I am Jesus, the Son of God, the Word which thou hast brought +forth, as the Angel Gabriel did declare unto thee; and my Father hath sent me +to save the world" (chaps. i. 2.). The passage is virtually quoted in the Koran +(chaps. iii. 141), of course omitting " the Son of God" +</p> + +<p> +[FN#402] Mohammed allowed his locks to grow down to his ear-lobes but never +lower. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#403] Arab. "Lisám" I have explained as a covering for the lower face, made +by drawing over it the corner of the head-kerchief (Pilgrimage i. 346). The +Lisám of the African Tawárik hoods the eyes so that a man must turn up his face +to see, and swathes all the lower half, leaving only the nose exposed. And this +is worn by many men by night as well as by day, doubtless to avoid the evil +eye. The native Sultans of Darfur, like those of Bornu and others further west, +used white muslin as a face-wrap: hence, too, the ceremonies when spitting, +etc., etc. The Kúfiyah or head-kerchief of the Arabs soon reached Europe and +became in Low Latin Cuphia; in Spanish Escofia; in Ital. Cuffia or Scuffia; in +French Escoffion, Scofion (Reine Marguerite) Coëffe (une pellicule, marque de +bonheur) Coiffe and Coife, &c.; the Scotch Curch or Coif, opposed to the +maiden snood, and, lastly our Sergeant-at-Law's Coif. Littré, the Learned, who +in erudition was né coiffé, has missed this obvious derivation. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#404] "Cutting," throughout the book, alludes to the scymitar with which +Arabs never give point; and "thrusting" to the footman's spear and the +horseman's lance. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#405] A popular phrase, I repeat, for extreme tenor and consternation. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#406] The name usually applies to a well-known district and city of Al +Yaman, where "Koss the eloquent" was bishop in Mohammed's day: the Negiran of +D'Herbelot. Here, however, it is the Syrian Najrán (Nejrân of Missionary +Porter's miserable Handbook), now a wretched village near the volcanic Lajjá, +about one hundred and twenty miles direct south of Damascus and held by Druzes +and Christians. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#407] The Kantár (quintal) of 100 ratls (Ibs.) =98-99 Ibs. avoir. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#408] Arab. "Juráb (bag) mi'adat- ih (of his belly)," the "curdling of the +testicles" in fear is often mentioned. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#409] Clearly alluding to the magic so deeply studied by mediæval Jews. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#410] Arab. "Sahákah," lit. rubbing. The Moslem Harem is a great school for +this "Lesbian (which I would call Atossan) love "; but the motive of the +practice lies deeper. As amongst men the mixture of the feminine with the +masculine temperament leads to sodomy, so the reverse makes women prefer their +own sex. These tribades are mostly known by peculiarities of form and features, +hairy cheeks and upper lips, gruff voices, hircine odour and the large +projecting clitoris with erectile powers known to the Arabs as "bazar" hence +Tabzír=circumcision or amputation of such clitoris. Burckhardt (Prov. 436) +translates " Bazarah" by slut or wench. He adds " it originally signifies the +labia which the Cairenes also entice Zambúr and which are cut off in girlhood." +See also Lane, Lex. s.v.; Tabzír. Both writers confuse excision of the nymphæ +with circumcision of the clitoris (Zambúr) Al-Siyúti (Kitab al-Izá' fi'Ilm +al-Nikah) has a very interesting chapter on Sapphic venery, which is well known +to Europe as proved by such works as "Gamiani," and "Anandria ou Confessions de +Mademoiselle Sappho, avec la Clef," Lesbos, 1718. Onanism is fatally prevalent: +in many Harems and girls' schools tallow candles and similar succedanea are +vainly forbidden and bananas when detected are cut into four so as to be +useless; of late years, however, China has sent some marvellous artificial +phalli of stuffed bladder, horn and even caoutchouc, the latter material of +course borrowed from Europe. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#411] This is considered a powerful aphrodisiac in the East. Hence male +devotees are advised to avoid tile "two reds," i.e. meat and wine; while the +"two reds," which corrupt women, are gold and saffron, that is perfumery. Hence +also the saying of Mohammed:— "Perfumes for men should have scent and not +colour; for women should have colour and not scent." (Mishkát al-Masábíh ii. +361.) +</p> + +<p> +[FN#412] These are the "Hibás" or thin cords of wool which the<br/> +Badawi binds round his legs, I believe to keep off cramp.<br/> +(Pilgrimage iii. 78). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#413] Crying out "La iláha illa 'llah." (There is no god but the<br/> +God.); technically called "Tahlíl." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#414] i.e. Men, angels and devils, the "Triloka" (triple people) of the +Hindus. Alamín (plur.), never Alamayn (dual), is the Triregno denoted by the +papal Tiara, the three Christian kingdoms being Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#415] Matrahinna or Mit-Rahinah is a well-known village near Memphis, the +name being derived from the old Egyptian Minat-ro- hinnu, the port at the mouth +of the canal. Let me remark that two of these three words, "Minat" and "Ru," +are still common in " Aryan" Persian. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#416] Kirámat, a sign, a prodigy, opposed to Mu'ujizah, a miracle wrought by +a prophet. The Sufis explain this thaumaturgy by Allah changing something of +Nature's ordinary course in favour of an especial worshipper, and, after a +fashion, this is Catholic doctrine (See Dabistan, iii. 173). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#417] Koran, x. 25, "until the earth receive its vesture and be adorned with +various plants." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#418] i.e. the young hair sprouting on the boy's cheek. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#419] A fighter for the faith and now a title which follows the name, e.g. +Osmán Páshá Ghází, whom the English press dubbed "Ghazi Osman." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#420] That is the King of Constantinople. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#421] Cassia fistularis, a kind of carob: " Shambar" is the<br/> +Arab. form of the Persian " Chambar." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#422] Koran, ii. 149. Hence the vulgar idea that Martyrs are still alive in +the flesh. See my Pilgrimage (ii. 110 and elsewhere) for the romantic and +picturesque consequences of that belief. The Commentators (Jalál al-Dín, etc.) +play tricks with the Koranic words, " they (martyrs) are not dead but living" +(iii. 179) by placing the happy souls in the crops of green birds which eat of +the fruits and drink of the waters of Paradise; whereas the reprobates and the +(very) wicked are deposited in black birds which drain the sanies and the +boiling waters of Hell. Amongst the Greeks a body remaining entire long after +death suggests Anathema Maranatha: it is the contrary with Catholic Christians +(Boccaccio iv. 5, of the Pot of Basil). Concerning this creed see Maundrell, +Letter of 1698. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#423] Tor is "Mount Sinai" in the Koran (xcv. 1). I have only to repeat my +opinion concerning the present site so called: "It is evident that Jebel Serbal +dates only from the early days of Coptic Christianity; that Jebel Musa, its +Greek rival, rose after the visions of Helena in the fourth century; whilst the +building of the Convent by Justinian belongs to A.D 527. Ras Safsáfah, its +rival to the north, is an affair of yesterday, and may be called the invention +of Robinson; and Jebel Katerina, to the south is the property of Rüppell" +(Midian Revisited i., 237). I would therefore call the "Sinaitic" Peninsula, +Peninsula of Paran in old days and Peninsula of Tor (from its chief port) in +our time. It is still my conviction that the true Mount Sinai will be found in +Jabal Aráif, or some such unimportant height to the north of the modern Hajj- +road from Suez to Akabah. Even about the name (which the Koran writes "Sainá" +and "Sínín") there is a dispute: It is usually derived from the root +"Sanah"=sentis, a bush; but this is not satisfactory. Our eminent +Assyriologist, Professor Sayce, would connect it with "Sin," the Assyrian Moon- +god as Mount Nebo with the Sun-god and he expects to find there the ruins of a +Lunar temple as a Solar fane stands on Ba'al Zapuna (Baal Zephon) or the +classical Mount Casius. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#424] Alluding to the miracle of Aaron's rod (the gift of Jethro) as related +in the Koran (chapts. vii. 1., xx., etc.), where the Egyptian sorcerers threw +down thick ropes which by their magic twisted and coiled like serpents. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#425] Arab. "Ayát" lit. "signs," here "miracles of the truth," 1. c. Koranic +versets as opposed to chapters. The ranks of the enemy represent the latter, +sword-cuts the former—a very persuasive mode of preaching. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#426] Lane (M. E. chapt.. iii.) shows by a sketch the position of the +worshipper during this "Salám" which is addressed, some say, to the guardian +angels, others suppose to all brother-believers and angels. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#427] i.e., where the Syrians found him. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#428] i.e., Dedianus Arabised; a name knightly and plebian. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#429] In such tales the Wazir is usually the sharp-witted man, contrasting +with the "dummy," or master. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#430] Carrier-pigeons were extensively used at this time. The Caliph +Al-Násir li-Díni ‘lláh (regn. A.H. 575=1180) was, according to Ibn Khaldún, +very fond of them. The moderns of Damascus still affect them. My successor, Mr. +Consul Kirby Green, wrote an excellent report on pigeon-fancying at Damascus. +The so-called Maundeville or Mandeville in A. D. 1322 speaks of carrier-pigeons +in Syria as a well-known mode Of intercourse between lord and lord. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#431] Mohammed who declared "There is no monkery in Al-Islam," and who +virtually abolished the priest, had an especial aversion to the shaveling +(Ruhbán). But the "Gens æterna in quâ nemo nascitur" (Pliny v. 17) managed to +appear even in Al-lslam, as Fakirs,, Dervishes, Súfis, etc. Of this more +hereafter. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#432] i.e. her holiness would act like a fascinating talisman. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#433] The "smoking out" practice is common amongst the Arabs: hence Marshal +Pelissier's so- called " barbarity." The Public is apt to forget that on a +campaign the general's first duty is to save his own men by any practice which +the laws of fair warfare do not absolutely forbid. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#434] i.e. Mohammed, who promised Heaven and threatened Hell. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#435] Arab. "Ahr" or "ihr," fornication or adultery, i.e., irreligion, +infidelity as amongst the Hebrews (Isaiah xxiii.17). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#436] A sign of defeat. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#437] In English "last night": I have already noted that the Moslem day, +like the Jewish and the Scandinavian, begins at sundown; and "layl " a night, +is often used to denote the twenty- four hours between sunset and sunset, +whilst "yaum," a day, would by us be translated in many cases "battle-day." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#438] Iterum the "Himalayan Brothers." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#439] Again, Mohammed who promised Good to the Good, and vice versâ. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#440] They are sad doggrel like most of the pièces d'occasion inserted in +The Nights. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#441] Here "Kahwah" (coffee) is used in its original sense of strong old +wine. The derivation is "Akhá"=fastidire fecit, causing disinclination for +food, the Matambre (kill- hunger) of the Iberians. In old days the scrupulous +called coffee "Kihwah" in order to distinguish it from 'Kakwah," wine. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#442] i.e. Mohammed, a common title. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#443] That is, fatal to the scoffer and the impious. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#444] Equivalent to our "The Devil was sick," etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#445] i.e. to the enemy: the North American Indians (so called) use similar +forms of "inverted speech"; and the Australian aborigines are in no way behind +them. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#446] See Vol. i., p. 154 (Night xvi.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#447] Arab. "Sauf," a particle denoting a near future whereas<br/> +"Sa-" points to one which may be very remote. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#448] From the root "Shanh"=having a fascinating eye, terrifying. The Irish +call the fascinater "eybitter" and the victim (who is also rhymed to death) +"eybitten." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#449] i.e., not like the noble-born, strong in enduring the stress of fight. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#450] i.e., of Abraham. For the Well Zemzem and the Place of Abraham see my +Pilgrimage (iii. 171-175, etc.), where I described the water as of salt-bitter +taste, like that of Epsom (iii. 203). Sir William Muir (in his excellent life +of Mahomet, I. cclviii.) remarks that "the flavour of stale water bottled up +for months would not be a criterion of the same water freshly drawn;" but +soldered tins-full of water drawn a fortnight before are to be had in Calcutta +and elsewhere after Pilgrimage time; and analysis would at once detect the +salt. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#451] Racing was and is a favourite pastime with those hippomanists, the +Arabs; but it contrasts strongly with our civilised form being a trial of +endurance rather than of speed. The Prophet is said to have limited betting in +these words, "There shall be no wagering save on the Kuff (camel's foot), the +Hafir (hoof of horse, ass, etc.) or the Nasal (arrow-pile or lance head)." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#452] In the Mac. Edit. "Arman"=Armenia, which has before occurred. The +author or scribe here understands by "Cæsarea" not the old Turris Stratonis, +Herod's city called after Augustus, but Cæsareia the capital of Cappadocia +(Pliny, vi. 3), the royal residence before called Mazaca (Strabo). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#453] An idiom meaning "a very fool." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#454] i.e. Kána (was) má (that which) was (kána). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#455] A son being "the lamp of a dark house." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#456] When the Israelites refused to receive the Law (the souls of all the +Prophets even those unborn being present at the Covenant), Allah tore up the +mountain (Sinai which is not mentioned) by the roots and shook it over their +heads to terrify them, saying, "Receive the Law which we have given you with a +resolution to keep it" (Koran chaps. xlx. 170). Much of this story is from the +Talmud (Abodah Sar. 2, 2, Tract Sabbath, etc.) whence Al-Islam borrowed so much +of its Judaïsm, as it took Christianity from the Apocryphal New Testament. This +tradition is still held by the Israelites, says Mr. Rodwell (p. 333) who refers +it to a misunderstanding of Exod. xix. 17, rightly rendered in the E. version +"at the nether part of the mountain." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#457] Arab. "Azghán" = the camel-litters in which women travel. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#458] i.e. to joy foes and dismay friends. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#459] Whose eyes became white (i.e. went blind) with mourning for his son +Joseph (Koran, chaps. xii. 84). He recovered his sight when his face was +covered with the shirt which Gabriel had given to the youth after his brethren +had thrown him into the well. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#460] "Poison King" (Persian); or "Flower-King" (Arabic). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#461] A delicate allusion to the size of her hips and back parts, in which +volume is, I have said, greatly admired for the best of reasons. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#462] All Prophets had some manual trade and that of David was making coats +of mail, which he invented, for before his day men used plate-armour. So "Allah +softened the iron for him" and in his hands it became like wax (Koran xxi. +xxxiv., etc.). Hence a good coat of mail is called "Davidean." I have noticed +(First Footsteps, p. 33 and elsewhere) the homage paid to the blacksmith on the +principle which made Mulciber (Malik Kabir) a god. The myth of David inventing +mail possibly arose from his peculiarly fighting career. Moslems venerate Dáúd +on account of his extraordinary devotion, nor has this view of his character +ceased : a modern divine preferred him to "all characters in history." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#463] "Travel by night," said the Prophet, "when the plagues of earth +(scorpions, serpents, etc.) afflict ye not." Yet the night- march in Arabia is +detestable (Pilgrimage iii.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#464] This form of ceremony is called "Istikbál" (coming forth to greet) and +is regulated by the severest laws of etiquette. As a rule the greater the +distance (which may be a minimum of one step) the higher the honour. Easterns +infinitely despise strangers who ignore these vitals of politeness. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#465] i.e. he will be a desert Nimrod and the game will delight to be killed +by him. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#466] This serves to keep the babe's eyes free from inflammation. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#467] i.e. Crown of the Kings of amorous Blandishment. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#468] Lane (i. 531) translates "the grey down." The Arabs use<br/> +"Akhzar" (prop. "green") in many senses, fresh, gray-hued, etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#469] Allusion to the well-known black banners of the house of Abbas. The +Persians describe the growth of hair on a fair young face by, "His cheeks went +into mourning for the loss of their charms." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#470] Arab. "Káfir" a Koranic word meaning Infidel, the active participle of +Kufr= Infidelity i.e. rejecting the mission of Mohammed. It is insulting and in +Turkish has been degraded to "Giaour." Here it means black, as Hafiz of Shiraz +terms a cheek mole "Hindu" i.e. dark-skinned and idolatrous. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#471] Alluding to the travel of Moses (Koran chaps. xviii.) with Al-Khizr +(the "evergreen Prophet") who had drunk of the Fountain of Life and enjoyed +flourishing and continual youth. Moses is represented as the external and +superficial religionist; the man of outsight; Al-Khizr as the spiritual and +illuminated man of insight. +</p> + +<p> +[FM#472] The lynx was used like the lion in Ancient Egypt and the Chita-leopard +in India: I have never seen or heard of it in these days. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#473] Arab. "Sukúr," whence our "Saker" the falcon, not to be confounded +with the old Falco Sacer, the Gr. . Falconry which, like all arts, began +in Egypt, is an extensive subject throughout Moslem lands. I must refer my +readers to "Falconry in the Valley of the Indus" (Van Voorst, 1852) and a long +note in Pilgrimage iii. 71. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#474] It was not respectful to pitch their camp within dog-bark. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#475] Easterns attach great importance to softness and smoothness of skin +and they are right: a harsh rough epidermis spoils sport with the handsomest +woman. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#476] Canticles vii. 8: Hosea xiv. 6. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#477] The mesmeric attraction of like to like. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#478] Arab. "Taswif"=saying "Sauf," I will do it soon. It is a beautiful +word–etymologically. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#479] A very far fetched allusion. The face of the beloved springing from an +unbuttoned robe is the moon rising over the camp in the hollow (bat'há). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#480] Arab. "Kasabát" = "canes," long beads, bugles. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#481] Koran, xcvi. 5. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#482] Both words (masc. and fem.) mean "dear, excellent, highly- prized." +The tale is the Arab form of the European "Patient Griselda" and shows a higher +conception of womanly devotion, because Azizah, despite her wearisome weeping, +is a girl of high intelligence and Aziz is a vicious zany, weak as water and +wilful as wind. The phenomenon (not rare in life) is explained by the couplet:— +</p> + +<p> + I love my love with an S—<br/> + Because he is stupid and not intellectual. +</p> + +<p> +This fond affection of clever women for fools can be explained only by the law +of unlikeness which mostly governs sexual unions in physical matters; and its +appearance in the story gives novelty and point. Aziz can plead only the +violence of his passion which distinguished him as a lover among the mob of men +who cannot love anything beyond themselves. And none can pity him for losing a +member which he so much abused. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#483] Arab. "Sháhid," the index, the pointer raised in testimony: the +comparison of the Eastern and the Western names is curious. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#484] Musk is one of the perfumes of the Moslem Heaven; and "musky" is much +used in verse to signify scented and dark-brown. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#485] Arab. "Mandíl": these kerchiefs are mostly oblong, the shore sides +being worked with gold and coloured silk, and often fringed, while the two +others are plain. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#486] Arab. "Rayhání," of the Ocymum Basilicum or sweet basil: a delicate +handwriting, so called from the pen resembling a leaf (?) See vol. i. p. 128. +[Volume 1, note 229 & 230] +</p> + +<p> +[FN#487] All idiom meaning "something unusual happened." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#488] An action common in grief and regret: here the lady would show that +she sighs for union with her beloved. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#489] Lane (i. 608) has a valuable note on the language of signs, from M. du +Vigneau's "Secretaire Turc," etc. (Paris, 1688), Baron von Hammer-Purgstall +("Mines de ['Orient," No. 1, Vienna, 1809) and Marcel's "Comes du Cheykh +El-Mohdy" (Paris, 1833). It is practised in Africa as well as in Asia. At +Abeokuta in Yoruba a man will send a symbolical letter in the shape of cowries, +palm-nuts and other kernels strung on rice- straw, and sharp wits readily +interpret the meaning. A specimen is given in p. 262 of Miss Tucker's +"Abbeokuta; or Sunrise within the Tropics." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#490] Mr. Payne (ii. 227) translates "Hawá al-'Urzí" by "the love of the +Beni Udhra, an Arabian tribe famous for the passion and devotion with which +love was practised among them." See Night dclxxxiii. I understand it as +"excusable love" which, for want of a better term, is here translated +"platonic." It is, however, more like the old "bundling" of Wales and Northern +England; and allows all the pleasures but one, the toyings which the French +call les plaisirs de la petite ode; a term my dear old friend Fred. Hankey +derived from la petite voie. The Afghans know it as "Námzad-bází" or betrothed +play (Pilgrimage, ii. 56); the Abyssinians as eye- love; and the Kafirs as +Slambuka a Shlabonka, for which see The traveller Delegorgue. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#491] "Turk" in Arabic and Persian poetry means a plunderer, a robber. Thus +Hafiz: "Agar án Turk-i-Shirázi ba-dast árad dil-i- márá," If that Shirazi (ah, +the Turk!) would deign to take my heart in hand, etc. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#492] Arab. "Názir," a steward or an eye (a "looker"). The idea is borrowed +from Al-Hariri (Assemblies, xiii.), and,— +</p> + +<p> +[FN#493] Arab. "Hájib," a groom of the chambers, a chamberlain; also an +eyebrow. See Al-Hariri, ibid. xiii. and xxii. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#494] This gesture speaks for itself: it is that of a dyer staining a cloth. +The "Sabbágh's" shop is the usual small recess, open to the street and showing +pans of various dyes sunk like "dog- laps" in the floor. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#495] The Arab. "Sabt" (from sabata, he kept Sabt) and the Heb. "Sabbath" +both mean Saturn's day, Saturday, transferred by some unknown process +throughout Christendom to Sunday. The change is one of the most curious in the +history of religions. If there be a single command stronger than all others it +is "Keep the Saturday holy." It was so kept by the Founder of Christianity; the +order was never abrogated and yet most Christians are not aware that Sabbath, +or "Sawbath," means Saturn's day, the "Shiyár" of the older Arabs. And to +complete its degradation "Sabbat" in French and German means a criaillerie, a +"row," a disorder, an abominable festival of Hexen (witches). This monstrous +absurdity can be explained only by aberrations of sectarian zeal, of party +spirit in religion. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#496] The men who cry to prayer. The first was Bilál, the Abyssinian slave +bought and manumitted by Abu Bakr. His simple cry was "I testify there is no +Iláh (god) but Allah (God)! Come ye to prayers!" Caliph Omar, with the +Prophet's permission, added, "I testify that Mohammed is the Apostle of Allah." +The prayer-cry which is beautiful and human, contrasting pleasantly with the +brazen clang of the bell. now is +</p> + +<p> + Allah is Almighty (bis).<br/> + I declare no god is there but Allah (bis).<br/> + Hie ye to Rogation (Hayya=halumma).<br/> + Hie ye to Salvation (Faláh=prosperity, Paradise).<br/> + ("Hie ye to Edification," a Shi'ah adjunct).<br/> + Prayer is better than sleep (in the morning, also bis).<br/> + No god is there but Allah +</p> + +<p> +This prayer call is similarly worded and differently pronounced and intoned +throughout Al-Islam. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#497] i.e. a graceful youth of Al-Hijaz, the Moslem Holy Land, whose "sons" +claim especial privileges. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#498] Arab. "harf'= a letter, as we should say a syllable. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#499] She uses the masculine "fatá," in order to make the question more +mysterious. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#500] The fountain-bowl is often ornamented by a rude mosaic of black and +white marble with enlivenments of red stone or tile in complicated patterns. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#501] Arab. "Kubád" = shaddock (citrus decumana): the huge orange which +Captain Shaddock brought from the West Indies; it is the Anglo-Indian +pompelmoose, vulg. pummelo. An excellent bitter is made out of the rind steeped +in spirits. Citronworts came from India whence they spread throughout the +tropics: they were first introduced into Europe by the heroic Joam de Castro +and planted in his garden at Cintra where their descendants are still seen. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#502] Arab. "Bakláwah," Turk. "Baklává," a kind of pastry with blanched +almonds bruised small between layers of dough, baked in the oven and cut into +lozenges. It is still common +</p> + +<p> +[FN#503] Her just fear was that the young woman might prove "too clever by +half" for her simpleton cousin. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#504] The curse is pregnant with meaning. On Judgment-day the righteous +shall arise with their faces shining gloriously: hence the blessing, "Bayyaz' +Allaho wajh-ak" (=Allah whiten thy countenance!). But the wicked shall appear +with faces scorched black and deformed by horror (Koran xxiv.): hence "God +blacken thy brow!" I may observe that Easterns curse, the curse being +everywhere the language of excited destructiveness; but only Westerns, and +these chiefly English, swear, a practice utterly meaningless. "Damn it" without +specifying what the "it" is, sounds like the speech of a naughty child anxious +only to use a "wicked word." "Damn you!" is intelligible all the world over. It +has given rise to "les goddams" in France, "Godámes" in the Brazil and "Gotáma" +amongst the Somal of Eastern Africa, who learn it in Aden, +</p> + +<p> +[FN#505] Arab. "Zardah," usually rice dressed with saffron and honey, from +Pers. "Zard," saffron, yellow. See Night dcxii. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#506] Vulgarly called "knuckle-bone," concerning which I shall have +something to say. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#507] A bit of wood used in the children's game called "Táb" which resembles +our tip-cat (Lane M. E. chaps. xvii.). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#508] Arab. "Balah," the unripened date, which is considered a laxative and +eaten in hot weather. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#509] Lane (i. 611), quoting Al-Kazwíní, notes that the date- stone is +called "Nawá" (dim. "Nawáyah") which also means distance, absence, severance. +Thus the lady threatens to cast off her greedy and sleepy lover. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#510] The pad of the carob-bean which changes little after being plucked is +an emblem of constancy. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#511] This dirham=48 grains avoir. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#512] The weight would be round: also "Hadíd" (=iron) means sharp or +piercing (Koran chaps. Vi]. 21). The double "swear" is intended to be very +serious. Moreover iron conjures away fiends: when a water-spout or a sand-devil +(called Shaytán also in Arabia) approaches, you point the index at the Jinn and +say, "Iron, O thou ill-omened one!" Amongst the Ancient Egyptians the metal was +ill- omened being the bones of Typhon, 80 here, possibly, we have an instance +of early homœopathy—similia similibus. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#513] Probably fermented to a kind of wine. The insipid fruit (Unnáb) which +looks like an apple in miniature, is much used in stews, etc. It is the fruit +(Nabak classically Nabik) of Rhamnus Nabeca (or Sidrat) also termed Zizyphus +Jujuba, seu Spina Christi because fabled to have formed the crown of thorns: in +the English market this plum is called Chinese Japonica. I have described it in +Pilgrimage ii. 205, and have noticed the infusion of the leaves for washing the +dead (ibid. ii. 105): this is especially the use of the "Ber" in India, where +the leaves are superstitiously held peculiarly pure. Our dictionaries translate +"Sidr" by "Lote-tree"; and no wonder that believers in Homeric writ feel their +bile aroused by so poor a realisation of the glorious myth. The Homerids +probably alluded to Hashish or Bhang. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#514] Arab. "Azrár": the open collar of the Saub ("Tobe") or long loose +dress is symptomatic. The Eastern button is on the same principle as ours (both +having taken the place of the classical fibula); but the Moslem affects a loop +(like those to which we attach our "frogs") and utterly ignores a button-hole. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#515] Alluding to the ceremonious circumambulation of the Holy<br/> +House at Meccah: a notable irreverence worthy of Kneph-town<br/> +(Canopus). +</p> + +<p> +[FN#516] The ear-drop is the penis and the anklet its crown of glory. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#517] Equivalent to our "Alas! Alas!" which, by the by, no one ever says. +"Awah," like "Yauh," is now a woman's word although used by Al-Hariri (Assembly +of Basrah) and so Al-awwáh=one who cries from grief "Awáh." A favourite +conversational form is "Yehh" with the aspirate exasperated, but it is an +expression of astonishment rather than sorrow. It enters into Europe +travel-books. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#518] In the text "burst her gall-bladder." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#519] The death of Azizah is told with true Arab pathos and simplicity: it +still draws tear. *from the eyes of the Badawi, and I never read it without a +"lump in the throat." +</p> + +<p> +[FN#520] Arab. "Inshallah bukra!" a universal saying which is the horror of +travellers. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#521] I have explained "Nu'uman's flower" as the anemone which in Grecised +Arabic is "Anúmiyá." Here they are strewed over the tomb; often the flowers are +planted in a small bed of mould sunk in the upper surface. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#522] Arab. "Barzakh" lit. a bar, a partition: in the Koran (chapts. xxiii. +and xxxv.) the space or the place between death and resurrection where souls +are stowed away. It corresponds after a fashion with the classical Hades and +the Limbus (Limbo) of Christendom, e.g.. Limbus patrum, infantum, fatuorum. But +it must not be confounded with Al-A'aráf, The Moslem purgatory. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#523] Arab. "Zukák al-Nakíb," the latter word has been explained as a chief, +leader, head man. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#524] Moslems never stand up at such times, for a spray of urine would make +their clothes ceremonially impure: hence the scrupulous will break up with +stick or knife the hard ground in front of them. A certain pilgrim was reported +to have made this blunder which is hardly possible in Moslem dress. A high +personage once asked me if it was true that he killed a man who caught him in a +standing position; and I found to my surprise that the absurd scandal was +already twenty years old. After urinating the Moslem wipes the os penis with +one to three bits of stone, clay or handfuls of earth, and he must perform Wuzu +before he can pray. Tournefort (Voyage au Levant iii. 335) tells a pleasant +story of certain Christians at Constantinople who powdered with "Poivre-d'Inde" +the stones in a wall where the Moslems were in the habit of rubbing the os +penis by way of wiping The same author (ii. 336) strongly recommends a +translation of Rabelais' Torcheculative chapter (Lib i., chaps. 13) for the +benefit of Mohammedans. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#525] Arab. "Nuhás ahmar," lit. red brass. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#526] The cup is that between the lady's legs. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#527] A play upon "Sák" = calf, or leg, and "Sákí," a cup- bearer. The going +round (Tawáf) and the running (Sa'i) allude to the circumambulation of the +Ka'abah, and the running between Mount Safá and Marwah (Pilgrimage ii. 58, and +iii. 343). A religious Moslem would hold the allusion highly irreverent. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#528] Lane (i. 614) never saw a woman wearing such kerchief which is +deshabille. It is either spread over the head or twisted turband-wise. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#529] The "Kasabah" was about two fathoms of long measure, and sometimes 12 +½ feet; but the length has been reduced. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#530] "Bat and ball," or hockey on horseback (Polo) is one of the earliest +Persian games as shown by every illustrated copy of Firdausi's "Shahnámeh." +This game was played with a Kurrah or small hand-ball and a long thin bat +crooked at the end called in Persian Chaugán and in Arabic Saulaján. Another +sense of the word is given in the Burhán-i-Káti translated by Vullers (Lex. +Persico-Latinum), a large bandy with bent head to which is hung an iron ball, +also called Kaukabah (our "morning-star") and like the umbrella it denotes the +grandees of the court. The same Kaukabah particularly distinguished one of the +Marquesses of Waterford. This Polo corresponds with the folliculus, the +pallone, the baloun-game (moyen âge) of Europe, where the horse is not such a +companion of man; and whereof the classics sang:— +</p> + +<p> +Folle decet pueros ludere, folle senes. +</p> + +<p> +In these days we should spell otherwise the "folle" of seniors playing at the +ball or lawn-tennis. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#531] "Dalíl" means a guide; `'Dalílah," a woman who misguides, a bawd. See +the Tale of Dalílah the Crafty, Night dcxcviii. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#532] i.e. she was a martyr. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#533] Arab. "Ghashím" a popular and insulting term, our "Johnny<br/> +Raw." Its use is shown in Pilgrimage i. 110. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#534] Bathers pay on leaving the Hammam; all enter without paying. +</p> + +<p> +[FN#535] i.e. she swore him upon his sword and upon the Koran: a loaf of bread +is sometimes added. See Lane (i. 615). +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law 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™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. 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