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diff --git a/5100.txt b/5100.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0b2ab2e --- /dev/null +++ b/5100.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7117 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp, by John Payne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp + +Author: John Payne + +Posting Date: March 23, 2009 +Release Date: February, 2004 [EBook #5100] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALAEDDIN AND THE ENCHANTED LAMP *** + + + + +Produced by JC Byers + + + + + +ALAEDDIN and the ENCHANTED LAMP; + +Zein Ul Asnam and the King of the Jinn: Two Stories Done into English +from the Recently Discovered Arabic Text + +By John Payne + +London 1901 + + + + + To + Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton, K.C.M.G., + H.B.M. CONSUL, TRIESTE. + + My Dear Burton, + + I give myself the pleasure of placing your name in the forefront + of another and final volume of my translation of the Thousand and + One Nights, which, if it have brought me no other good, has at + least been the means of procuring me your friendship. + + Believe me, + + Yours always, + + John Payne. + + + + + + Twelve years this day,--a day of winter, dreary + With drifting snows, when all the world seemed dead + To Spring and hope,--it is since, worn and weary + Of doubt within and strife without, I fled + + From the mean workday miseries of existence, + From spites that slander and from hates that lie, + Into the dreamland of the Orient distance + Under the splendours of the Syrian sky, + + And in the enchanted realms of Eastern story, + Far from the lovelessness of modern times, + + Garnered the rainbow-remnants of old glory + That linger yet in those ancestral climes; + + And now, the tong task done, the journey over, + From that far home of immemorial calms, + Where, as a mirage, on the sky-marge hover + The desert and its oases of palms, + + Lingering, I turn me back, with eyes reverted + To this stepmother world of daily life, + As one by some long pleasant dream deserted, + That wakes anew to dull unlovely strife: + + Yet, if non' other weal the quest have wrought me. + The long beloved labour now at end, + This gift of gifts the untravelled East hath brought me, + The knowledge of a new and valued friend. + +5th Feb. 1889. + + + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + +I. + +The readers of my translation of the Book of the Thousand Nights and One +Night will remember that, in the terminal essay (1884) on the history +and character of the collection, I expressed my conviction that the +eleven (so-called) "interpolated" tales, [1] though, in my judgment, +genuine Oriental stories, had (with the exception of the Sleeper +Awakened and Aladdin) no connection with the original work, but had been +procured by Galland from various (as yet) unidentified sources, for the +purpose of supplying the deficiencies of the imperfect MS. of the Nights +from which he made his version. [2] My opinion as to these talcs has +now been completely confirmed by the recent discovery (by M. Zotenberg, +Keeper of Oriental MSS. in the Bibliotheque Nationale at Paris) of two +Arabic MSS. of the Nights, both containing three of the missing stories, +i.e. (1) Zeyn Alasnam, (3) The Sleeper Awakened and (4) Aladdin, and +by the publication (also by M. Zotenberg) of certain extracts from +Galland's diary, giving particulars of the circumstances under which +the "interpolated" tales were incorporated with his translation of the +Arabian Nights. The Arabic text of the Story of Aladdin, as given by the +completer and more authentic of the newly-discovered MSS., has recently +been made by M. Zotenberg the subject of a special publication, [3] +in the preface to which (an exhaustive bibliographical essay upon the +various Texts of the Thousand and One Nights, considered in relation to +Galland's translation) he gives, in addition to the extracts in question +from Galland's Diary, a detailed description of the two MSS. aforesaid, +the more interesting particulars of which I now proceed to abstract for +the benefit of my readers. + + + + II. + + + +The first MS. commences precisely where the third volume of Galland's +MS. ends, to wit, (see my Terminal essay, p. 265, note1) with the 281st +Night, in the middle of the story of Camaralzaman [4] and contains, +(inter alia) besides the continuation of this latter (which ends +with Night CCCXXIX), the stories of the Sleeper Awakened (Nights +CCCXXX-CCCC), Ganem (Nights CCCCXXVIII-CCCCLXX1V), Zeyn Alasnam (Nights +CCCCLXXV-CCCCXCI), Aladdin (Nights CCCCXCII-DLXIX) and three others +not found in Galland's version. The MS. ends in the middle of the 631st +night with the well-known Story of King Bekhtzad (Azadbekht) and his son +or the Ten Viziers, (which will be found translated in my "Tales from +the Arabic," Vol. I. pp. 61 et seq.) and contains, immediately after +Night CCCCXXVII and before the story of Ganem, a note in Arabic, of +which the following is a translation: + +"The fourth volume of the wonders and marvels of the stories of the +Thousand Nights and One Night was finished by the hand of the humblest +of His' servants in the habit of a minister of religion (Kahin, lit. +a diviner, Cohen), the [Christian] priest Dionysius Shawish, a scion +(selil) of the College of the Romans (Greeks, Europeans or Franks, er +Roum), by name St. Athanasius, in Rome the Greatest [5] (or Greater, utsma, +fem. of aatsem, qu re Constantinople?) on the seven-and-twentieth of the +month Shubat (February) of the year one thousand seven hundred fourscore +and seven, [he being] then teacher of the Arabic tongue in the Library +of the Sultan, King of France, at Paris the Greatest." + +From this somewhat incoherent note we may assume that the MS. was +written in the course of the year 1787 by the notorious Syrian +ecclesiastic Dom Denis Chavis, the accomplice of Cazotte in the +extraordinary literary atrocity shortly afterward perpetrated by the +latter under the name of a sequel or continuation of the Thousand and +One Nights [6] (v. Cabinet des Fees, vols. xxxviii--xli), [7] and in all +probability (cf. the mention in the above note of the first part, i.e. +Nights CCLXXXI-CCCCXXVII, as the fourth volume) to supply the place of +Galland's missing fourth volume for the Bibliotheque Royale; but there. +is nothing, except a general similarity of style and the occurrence +in the former of the rest of Camaralzaman and (though not in the same +order) of four of the tales supposed to have been contained in the +latter, to show that Dom Chavis made his copy from a text identical +with that used by the French savant. In the notes to his edition of the +Arabic text of Aladdin, M. Zotenberg gives a number of extracts from +this MS., from which it appears that it is written in a very vulgar +modern Syrian style and abounds in grammatical errors, inconsistencies +and incoherences of every description, to say nothing of the fact that +the Syrian ecclesiastic seems, with the characteristic want of taste +and presumption which might be expected from the joint-author of "Les +Veillees Persanes," to have, to a considerable extent, garbled the +original text by the introduction of modern European phrases and turns +of speech a la Galland. For the rest, the MS. contains no note or other +indication, on which we can found any opinion as to the source from +which the transcriber (or arranger) drew his materials; but it can +hardly be doubted, from internal evidence, that he had the command of +some genuine text of the Nights, similar to, if not identical with, +that of Galland, which he probably "arranged" to suit his own (and his +century's) distorted ideas of literary fitness. The discovery of the +interpolated tales contained in this MS. (which has thus presumably lain +unnoticed for a whole century, under, as one may say, the very noses of +the many students of Arabic literature who would have rejoiced in such a +find) has, by a curious freak of fortune, been delayed until our own day +in consequence of a singular mistake made by a former conservator of +the Paris Bibliotheque, the well-known Orientalist, M. Reinaud, who, in +drawing up the Catalogue of the Arabic MSS. in the collection described +(or rather misdescribed) it under the following heading: + +"Supplement Arabe 1716. Thousand and One Nights, 3rd and 4th parts. This +volume begins with Night CCLXXXII and ends with Night DCXXXI. A copy in +the handwriting of Chavis. It is from this copy and in accordance with +the instructions (d'apres la indications) of this Syrian monk that +Cazotte composed (redigea) the Sequel to the Thousand and One Nights, +Cabinet des Fees, xxxvii et xl (should be tt. xxxviii-xli)." + +It is of course evident that M. Reinaud had never read the MS. in +question nor that numbered 1723 in the Supplement Arabe, or he would at +once have recognized that the latter, though not in the handwriting of +the Syrian ecclesiastic, was that which served for the production of the +"Sequel" in question; but, superficial as was the mistake, it sufficed +to prevent the examination by students of the MS. No. 1716 and so +retarded the discovery of the Arabic originals of Aladdin and its +fellows till the acquisition (some two years ago) by the Bibliotheque +Nationale of another (and complete) MS. of the Thousand and One Nights, +which appears to have belonged to the celebrated Orientalist M. Caussin +de Perceval, although the latter could not have been acquainted with it +at the time (1806) he published his well-known edition and continuation +of Galland's translation, in the eighth and ninth volumes of which, by +the by, he gives a correct version of the tales so fearfully garbled by +Chavis and Cazotte in their so-called translation as well nigh to defy +recognition and to cause Orientalists in general to deny the possibility +of their having been derived from an Oriental source until the discovery +of the actual Arabic originals so barbarously maltreated [8] + +This MS. is in the handwriting of of Sebbagh, the well-known Syrian +collaborator of Silvestre de Sacy, and is supposed to have been copied +by him at Paris between the years 1805 and 1810 for some European +Orientalist (probably de Perceval himself) from a Baghdad MS. of the +early part of the 18th century, of which it professes to be an exact +reproduction, as appears from a terminal note, of which the following is +a translation: + +"And the finishing of it was in the first tenth (decade) of Jumada the +Latter [in the] year one thousand one hundred and fifteen of the Hegira +(October, 1703) in the handwriting of the neediest of the faithful [9] +unto God [10] the Most High, Ahmed ibn Mohammed et Teradi, in the city +of Baghdad, and he the Shafiy by sect and the Mosuli by birth and the +Baghdadi by sojourn, and indeed he wrote it for himself and set upon it +his seal, and God bless and keep our lord Mohammed and his companions! +Kebikej [11] (ter)." + +This MS. contains the three "interpolated" tales aforesaid, i.e. +the Sleeper Awakened (Nights CCCXXXVII-LXXXVI), Zeyn Alasnam (Nights +CCCCXCVII-DXIII) and Aladdin (Nights DXIV-XCI), the last two bearing +traces of a Syrian origin, especially Aladdin, which is written in a +much commoner and looser style than Zeyn Alasnam. The two tales are +evidently the work of different authors, Zeyn Alasnam being incomparably +superior in style and correctness to Aladdin, which is defaced by all +kinds of vulgarisms and solecisms and seems, moreover, to have been less +correctly copied than the other. Nevertheless, the Sebbagh text is in +every respect preferable to that of Shawish (which appears to abound +in faults and errors of every kind, general and particular,) and M. +Zotenberg has, therefore, exercised a wise discretion in selecting the +former for publication. + + + + + III. + + + +Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of M. Zorenberg's long and +interesting introduction is a series of extracts from the (as yet +unpublished) MS. Diary regularly kept by Galland, the last four volumes +(1708-15) of which are preserved in the Bibliotheque Nationale. +These extracts effectually settle the question of the origin of the +interpolated tales, as will be seen from the following abstract. + +On the 25th March, 1709, Galland records having that day made the +acquaintance of a Maronite scholar, by name Youhenna Diab, [12] who +had been brought from Aleppo to Paris by Paul Lucas, the celebrated +traveller, and with whom he evidently at once broached the question +of the Nights, [13] probably complaining to him of the difficulty (or +rather impossibility) of obtaining a perfect copy of the work; whereupon +Hanna (as he always calls him) appears to have volunteered to help him +to fill the lacune by furnishing him with suitable Oriental stories for +translation in the same style as those already rendered by him and then +and there (says Galland) "told me some very fine Arabian tales, which +he promised to put into writing for me." There is no fresh entry on the +subject till May 5 following, when (says Galland) "The Maronite Hanna +finished telling me the tale of the Lamp." [14] + +Hanna appears to have remained in Paris till the autumn of the year 1709 +and during his stay, Galland's Diary records the communication by him to +the French savant of the following stories, afterwards included in the +ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth volumes of the latter's translation, +(as well as of several others which he probably intended to translate, +had he lived,) [15] i.e. (May 10, 1709) "Babe Abdalla" and "Sidi +Nouman," (May 13, 1709) "The Enchanted Horse," (May 22, 1709) "Prince +Ahmed and Pari Banou," (May 25, 1709) "The Two Sisters who envied their +younger Sister," (May 27, 1709) "All Baba and the Forty Thieves," (May +29, 1709) "Cogia Hassan Alhabbal" and (May 31, 1709) "Ali Cogia." The +Maronite seems to have left for the East in October, 1709, (Galland says +under date October 25, "Received this evening a letter from Hanna, who +writes me from Marseilles, under date the 17th, in Arabic, to the effect +that he had arrived there in good health,") but not without having +at least in part fulfilled his promise to put in writing the tales +communicated by him to Galland, as appears by the entry of November 3, +1710, "Began yesterday to read the Arabian story of the Lamp, which +had been written me in Arabic more than a year ago by the Maronite of +Damascus [16] whom M. Lucas brought with him, with a view to putting it +into French. Finished reading it this morning. Here is the title of this +tale, 'Story of Aladdin, son of a tailor, and that which befell him with +an African Magician on account of (or through) a lamp.'" (The Diary +adds that he began that evening to put his translation into writing and +finished it in the course of the ensuing fortnight.) And that of January +10, 1711, "Finished the translation of the tenth volume of the 1001 +Nights after the Arabic text which I had from the hand (de la main) of +Hanna or Jean Dipi, [17] whom M. Lucas brought to France on his return +from his last journey in the Levant." The only other entry bearing upon +the question is that of August 24, 1711, in which Galland says, "Being +quit of my labours upon the translation etc. of the Koran, I read a part +of the Arabian Tales which the Maronite Hanna had told me and which I +had summarily reduced to writing, to see which of them I should select +to make up the eleventh volume of the Thousand and One Nights." + +From these entries it appears beyond question that Galland received from +the Maronite Hanna, in the Spring and Summer of 1709, the Arabic text +of the stories of Aladdin, Baba Abdalla, Sidi Nouman and Cogia Hassan +Alhabbal, i.e. the whole of the tales included in his ninth and tenth +volumes (with the exception of The Sleeper Awakened, of which he does +not speak) and that he composed the five remaining tales contained +in his eleventh and twelfth volumes (i.e. Ali Baba, Ali Cogia, The +Enchanted Horse, Prince Ahmed and Pari Banou and The Two Sisters who +envied their younger Sister,) upon the details thereof taken down from +Hanna's lips and by the aid of copious summaries made at the time. These +entries in Galland's diary dispose, therefore, of the question of +the origin of the "interpolated" tales, with the exception (1) of The +Sleeper Awakened (with which we need not, for the present, concern +ourselves farther) and (2) of Nos. 1 and 2a and b, i.e. Zeyn Alasnam, +Codadad and his brothers and The Princess of Deryabar (forming, with +Ganem, his eighth volume), as to which Galland, as I pointed out in my +terminal essay (p. 264), cautions us, in a prefatory note to his ninth +volume, that these two stories form no part of the Thousand and +One Nights and that they had been inserted and printed without the +cognizance of the translator, who was unaware of the trick that had been +played him till after the actual publication of the volume, adding +that care would be taken to expunge the intrusive tales from the second +edition (which, however, was never done, Galland dying before the +republication and it being probably found that the stranger tales had +taken too firm a hold upon public favour to be sacrificed, as originally +proposed); and the invaluable Diary supplies the necessary supplemental +information as to their origin. "M. Petis de la Croix," says Galland +under date of January 17, 1710, "Professor and King's Reader of the +Arabic tongue, who did me the honour to visit me this morning, was +extremely surprised to see two of the Turkish [18] Tales of his +translation printed in the eighth volume of the 1001 Nights, which +I showed him, and that this should have been done without his +participation." + +Petis de la Croix, a well-known Orientalist and traveller of the time, +published in the course of the same year (1710) the first volume of a +collection of Oriental stories, similar in form and character to the +1001 Nights, but divided into "Days" instead of "Nights" and called "The +Thousand and One Days, Persian Tales," the preface to which (ascribed +to Cazotte) alleges him to have translated the tales from a Persian work +called Hezar [o] Yek Roz, i.e. "The Thousand and One Days," the MS. of +which had in 1675 been communicated to the translator by a friend +of his, by name Mukhlis, (Cazotte styles him "the celebrated Dervish +Mocles, chief of the Soufis of Ispahan") during his sojourn in the +Persian capital. The preface goes on to state that Mukhlis had, in his +youth, translated into Persian certain Indian plays, which had been +translated into all the Oriental languages and of which a Turkish +version existed in the Bibliotheque Royale, under the title of Alfaraga +Badal-Schidda (i.e. El Ferej bad esh Shiddeh), which signified "Joy +after Affliction"; but that, wishing to give his work an original air, +he converted the aforesaid plays into tales. Cazotte's story of the +Indian plays savours somewhat of the cock and the bull and it is +probable that the Hezar o Yek Roz (which is not, to my knowledge, +extant) was not derived from so recondite a source, but was itself +either the original of the well-known Turkish collection or (perhaps) a +translation of the latter. At all events, Zeyn Alasnam, Codadad and the +Princess of Deryabar occur in a copy (cited by M. Zotenberg), belonging +to the Bibliotheque Nationale, of El Ferej bad esh Shidded (of which +they form the eighth, ninth and sixth stories respectively) and in a +practically identical form, except that in Galland's vol. viii. the two +latter stories are fused into one. Sir William Ouseley is said to have +brought from Persia a MS. copy of a portion of the Hezar o Yek Roz which +he describes as agreeing with the French version, but, in the absence +of documentary proof and in view of the fact that, notwithstanding the +unauthorized incorporation of three of the tales of his original with +Galland's Vol. viii, the published version of the Thousand and One Days +is apparently complete and shows no trace of the omission, I am inclined +to suspect Petis de la Croix of having invented the division into +Days, in order to imitate (and profit by the popularity of) his fellow +savant's version of the Thousand and One Nights. Galland's publisher was +doubtless also that of Petis de la Croix and in the latter capacity +had in hand a portion of the MS. of the 1001 Days, from which, no +doubt weary of waiting till Galland (who was now come to the end of +his genuine Arabic MS. of the 1001 Nights and was accordingly at a +standstill, till he met with Hanna,) should have procured fresh material +to complete the copy for his eighth volume, of which Ganem only was then +ready for publication, he seems to have selected (apparently on his own +responsibility, but, it must be admitted, with considerable taste and +judgment,) the three tales in question from the MS. of the 1001 Days, to +fill up the lacune. It does not appear whether he found Codadad and the +Princess of Deryabar arranged as one story ready to his hand or himself +performed (or procured to be performed) the process of fusion, which, in +any case, was executed by no unskilful hand. Be this as it may, Galland +was naturally excessively annoyed at the publisher's unceremonious +proceeding, so much so indeed as for a time to contemplate renouncing +the publication of the rest of the work, to spare himself (as he says +in his Diary, under date of Dec. 12, 1709) similar annoyances +(mortifications) to that which the printing of the eighth volume had +caused him. Indeed, the effect of this incident was to induce him, not +only to change his publisher, but to delay the publication of the next +volume (which, as we learn from the Diary, was ready for the press at +the end of November or the beginning of December, 1709) for a whole +year, at the end of which time (Diary, November 21, 1710) he made +arrangements with a new (and presumably more trustworthy) publisher, M. +Florentin de Laune, for the printing of Vol. ix. + + + + + IV. + + + +Notwithstanding the discovery, as above set out, of three of the +doubtful tales, Zeyn Alasnam, Aladdin and The Sleeper Awakened, in two +MSS. (one at least undoubtedly authentic) of the Thousand Nights and +One Night, I am more than ever of opinion that none of the eleven +"interpolated" stories properly belongs to the original work, that is to +say, to the collection as first put into definite form somewhere about +the fourteenth century. [19] "The Sleeper Awakened" was identified by +the late Mr. Lane as a historical anecdote given by the historian El +Ishaki, who wrote in the first quarter of the seventeenth century, and +the frequent mention of coffee in both MSS. of Aladdin justifies us in +attributing the composition of the story to (at earliest) the sixteenth +century, whilst the modern vulgarisms in which they abound point to a +still later date. Zeyn Alasnam (in the Sebbagh MS. at least) is +written in a much purer and more scholarly style than Aladdin, but +its pre-existence in El Ferej bad esh Shiddeh (even if we treat as +apocryphal Petis de la Croix's account of the Hezar o Yek Roz) is +sufficient, in the absence of contrary evidence, to justify us in +refusing to consider it as belonging to the Thousand Nights and One +Night proper. As shown by Galland's own experience, complete copies +of the genuine work were rarely to be met with, collections of "silly +stories" (as the Oriental savant, who inclines to regard nothing in the +way of literature save theology, grammar and poetry, would style them), +being generally considered by the Arab bibliographer undeserving of +record or preservation, and the fragmentary copies which existed were +mostly in the hands of professional story-tellers, who were extremely +unwilling to part with them, looking upon them as their stock in trade, +and were in the habit of incorporating with the genuine text all kinds +of stories and anecdotes from other sources, to fill the place of the +missing portions of the original work. This process of addition +and incorporation, which has been in progress ever since the first +collection of the Nights into one distinct work and is doubtless still +going on in Oriental countries, (especially such as are least in contact +with European influence,) may account for the heterogeneous character +of the various modern MSS. of the Nights and for the immense difference +which exists between the several texts, as well in actual contents as in +the details and diction of such stories as are common to all. The Tunis +MS. of the 1001 Nights (which is preserved in the Breslau University +Library and which formed the principal foundation of Habicht's Edition +of the Arabic text) affords a striking example of this process, which we +are here enabled to see in mid-operation, the greater part of the tales +of which it consists having not yet been adapted to the framework of +the Nights. It is dated A.H. 1144 (A.D. 1732) and of the ten volumes of +which it consists, i, ii (Nights I--CCL) and x (Nights DCCCLXXXV-MI) are +alone divided into Nights, the division of the remaining seven volumes +(i.e. iii--ix, containing, inter alia, the Story of the Sleeper +Awakened) being the work of the German editor. It is my belief, +therefore, that the three "interpolated" tales identified as forming +part of the Baghdad MS. of 1703 are comparatively modern stories added +to the genuine text by Rawis (story-tellers) or professional writers +employed by them, and I see no reason to doubt that we shall yet +discover the Arabic text of the remaining eight, either in Hanna's +version (as written down for Galland) or in some as yet unexamined MS. +of the Nights or other work of like character. + + + + + V. + + + +M. Zotenberg has, with great judgment, taken as his standard for +publication the text of Aladdin given by the Sebbagh MS., inasmuch as +the Shawish MS. (besides being, as appears from the extracts given. [20] +far inferior both in style and general correctness,) is shown by the +editor to be full of modern European phrases and turns of speech and +to present so many suspicious peculiarities that it would be difficult, +having regard, moreover, to the doubtful character and reputation of the +Syrian monkish adventurer who styled himself Dom Denis Chavis, to resist +the conviction that his MS. was a forgery, i.e. professedly a copy of a +genuine Arabic text, but in reality only a translation or paraphrase in +that language of Galland's version,--were it not that the Baghdad MS. +(dated before the commencement, in 1704, of Galland's publication +and transcribed by a man--Mikhail Sebbagh--whose reputation, as a +collaborator of Silvestre de Sacy and other distinguished Orientalists, +is a sufficient voucher for the authenticity of the copy in the +Bibliotheque Nationale,) contains a text essentially identical with that +of Shawish. Moreover, it is evident, from a comparison with Galland's +rendering and making allowance for the latter's system of translation, +that the Arabic version of Aladdin given him by Hanna must either +have been derived from the Baghdad text or from some other practically +identical source, and it is therefore probable that Shawish, having +apparently been employed to make up the missing portion of Galland's +Arabic text and not having the Hanna MS. at his command, had (with +the execrable taste and want of literary morality which distinguished +Cazotte's monkish coadjutor) endeavoured to bring his available text +up to what he considered the requisite standard by modernizing and +Gallicizing its wording and (in particular) introducing numerous +European phrases and turns of speech in imitation of the French +translator. The whole question is, of course, as yet a matter of more +or less probable hypothesis, and so it must remain until further +discoveries and especially until the reappearance of Galland's missing +text, which I am convinced must exist in some shape or other and cannot +much longer, in the face of the revived interest awakened in the matter +and the systematic process of investigation now likely to be employed, +elude research. + +M. Zotenberg's publication having been confined to the text of Aladdin, +I have to thank my friend Sir R. F. Burton for the loan of his MS. copy +of Zeyn Alasnam, (the Arabic text of which still remains unpublished) as +transcribed by M. Houdas from the Sebbagh MS. + + + + + +ZEIN UL ASNAM AND THE KING OF THE JINN. + + + +There [21] was [once] in the city of Bassora a mighty Sultan and he was +exceeding rich, but he had no child who should be his successor [22] +after him. For this he grieved sore and fell to bestowing alms galore +upon the poor and the needy and upon the friends [23] of God and the +devout, seeking their intercession with God the Most High, so He to whom +belong might and majesty should of His favour vouchsafe him a son. And +God accepted his prayer, for his fostering of the poor, and answered his +petition; so that one night of the nights he lay with the queen and she +went from him with child. When the Sultan knew this, he rejoiced with +an exceeding joy, and as the time of her child-bearing drew nigh, he +assembled all the astrologers and those who smote the sand [24] and said +to them, "It is my will that ye enquire concerning the child that shall +be born to me this month, whether it will be male or female, and tell me +what will betide it of chances and what will proceed from it." [25] So +the geomancers smote their [tables of] sand and the astrologers took +their altitudes [26] and observed the star of the babe [un]born and said +to the Sultan, "O King of the age and lord of the time and the tide, the +child that shall be born to thee of the queen is a male and it beseemeth +that thou name him Zein ul Asnam." [27] And as for those who smote upon +the sand, they said to him, "Know, O King, that this babe will become +a renowned brave, [28] but he shall happen in his time upon certain +travail and tribulation; yet, an he endure with fortitude against that +which shall befall him, he shall become the richest of the kings of the +world." And the King said to them, "Since the babe shall become valiant +as ye avouch, the toil and travail which will befall him are nought, for +that tribulations teach the sons of kings." + +Accordingly, after a few days, the queen gave birth to a male child, +extolled be the perfection of Him who created him surpassing in grace +and goodliness! His father named him Zein ul Asnam, and he was as say of +him certain of his praisers [29] in verse: [30] + + He shows and "Now Allah be blessed!" men say: "Extol we his Maker + and Fashioner aye! + The king of the fair [31] this is, sure, one and all; Ay, his thralls, + every one, and his liegemen are they." + +The boy grew and flourished till he came to the age of five [32] years, +when his father the Sultan assigned him a governor skilled and versed +in all sciences and philosophies, and he proceeded to teach him till he +excelled in all manner of knowledge and became a young man. [33] +Then the Sultan bade bring him before himself, and assembling all the +grandees of his realm and the chiefs of his subjects, proceeded to +admonish him before them, saying to him, "O my son Zein ul Asnam, +behold, I am grown stricken in years and am presently sick; and belike +this sickness will be the last of my life in this world and thou shalt +sit in my stead; [wherefore I desire to admonish thee]. Beware, O my +son, lest thou oppress any or turn a deaf ear to the complaining of the +poor; but do thou justify the oppressed after the measure of thy might. +And look thou believe not all that shall be said to thee by the great +ones of the people, but trust thou still for the most part to the voice +of the common folk; for the great will deceive thee, seeing they seek +that which befitteth themselves, not that which befitteth the subject." +Then, after a few days, the Sultan's sickness redoubled on him and he +accomplished his term and died; and as for his son Zein ul Asnam, he +arose and donning the raiment of woe, [mourned] for his father the space +of six days. On the seventh day he arose and going forth to the Divan, +sat down on the throne of the sultanate and held a court, wherein was a +great assemblage of the folk, [34] and the viziers came forward and the +grandees of the realm and condoled with him for his father and called +down blessings upon him and gave him joy of the kingship and the +sultanate, beseeching God to grant him continuance of glory and +prosperity without end. + +When [35] Zein ul Asnam saw himself in this great might and wealth, and +he young in years, he inclined unto prodigality and to the converse +of springalds like himself and fell to squandering vast sums upon his +pleasures and left governance and concern for his subjects. The queen +his mother proceeded to admonish him and to forbid him from his ill +fashions, bidding him leave that manner of life and apply himself +governance and administration and the ordinance of the realm, lest the +folk reject him and rise up against him and expel [36] hira; but he +would hear not a word from her and abode in his ignorance and folly. +At this the people murmured, for that the grandees of the realm put out +their hands unto oppression, whenas they saw the king's lack of concern +for his subjects; so they rose up in rebellion against Zein ul Asnam +and would have laid violent hands upon him, had not the queen his mother +been a woman of wit and judgment and address, and the people loved her; +so she appeased the folk and promised them good. Then she called her son +Zein ul Asnam to her and said to him, "See, O my son; said I not to +thee that thou wouldest lose thy kingship and eke thy life, an thou +persistedst in this thine ignorance and folly, in that thou givest the +ordinance of the sultanate into the hands of raw youths and eschewest +the old and wastest thy substance and that of the realm, squandering it +all upon lewdness and the lust of thy soul?" + +Zein ul Asnam hearkened to his mother's rede and going out forthright to +the Divan, committed the manage of the realm into the hands of certain +old men of understanding and experience; save that he did this only +after Bassora had been ruined, inasmuch as he turned not from his folly +till he had spent and squandered all the treasures of the sultanate and +was become exceeding poor. Then he betook himself to repentance and to +sorrowing over that which he had done, [37] so that he lost the solace +of sleep and eschewed meat and drink, till one night of the nights,--and +indeed he had spent it in mourning and lamentation and melancholy +thought until the last of the night,--his eyes closed for a little and +there appeared to him in his sleep a venerable old man, who said to him, +"O Zein ul Asnam, grieve not, for that nought followeth after grief save +relief from stress, and an thou desire to be delivered from this +thine affliction, arise and betake thee to Cairo, where thou wilt find +treasuries of wealth which shall stand thee in stead of that thou hast +squandered, ay, and twofold the sum thereof." When he awoke from his +sleep, he acquainted his mother with all that he had seen in his dream, +and she fell to laughing at him; but he said to her, "Laugh not, for +needs must I journey to Cairo." "O my son," answered she, "put not +thy trust in dreams, for that they are all vain fancies and lying +imaginations." And he said to her, "Nay, my dream was a true one and +the man whom I saw is of the Friends of God [38] and his speech is very +sooth." + +Accordingly, he left the sultanate and going forth a-journeying one +night of the nights, took the road to Egypt [and fared on] days and +nights till he came to the city of Cairo. So he entered it and saw it a +great and magnificent city; then, being perished for weariness, he took +shelter in one of its mosques. When he had rested awhile, he went forth +and bought him somewhat to eat; and after he had eaten, he fell asleep +in the mosque, of the excess of his weariness, nor had he slept but a +little when the old man appeared to him in his sleep and said to him, "O +Zein ul Assam, [39] thou hast done as I said to thee, and indeed I made +proof of thee, that I might see an thou wert valiant or not; but now +I know thee, inasmuch as thou hast put faith in my rede and hast done +according thereto. So now return to thine own city and I will make thee +a king rich after such a measure that neither before thee nor after thee +shall [any] of the kings be like unto thee." So Zein ul Asnam arose +from his sleep and said, "In the name of God the Compassionate, the +Merciful! What is this old man who hath wearier me, so that I came +to Cairo, [40] and I trusted in him and deemed of him that he was the +Prophet (whom God bless and keep) or one of the pious Friends of God? +But there is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the +Supreme. By Allah. I did well in that I acquainted none with my sallying +forth neither related my dream unto any! [41] Indeed. I believed in +this old man and meseemed by that which appeared to me, he was none of +mankind, [42] extolled be His perfection and magnified be He who [alone] +knoweth the truth! By Allah, I will leave trusting in this old man +[neither will I comply with him] in that which he would have me do!" +Accordingly, he lay [the rest of] that night [in the mosque] and at +daybreak he arose and mounting his courser, set out on his return to +Bassora, [the seat of] his kingship, where, after a few days, he arrived +and went in that same night to his mother, who asked him if aught had +befallen him of that which the old man had promised him. He acquainted +her with that which he had seen [in his sleep] and she fell to condoling +with him and comforting him, saying, "Grieve not, O my son, for, an God +the Most High have appointed thee aught of [good] fortune, thou wilt +attain thereto without either travail or toil; but I would have thee +be understanding and discreet and leave these things which have brought +thee to poverty, O my son, and eschew singing-wenches and the commerce +of youths and women; all this is for the baser sort, not for kings' sons +like thee." And he swore to her that he would never more gainsay her +commandment, but would observe all that she should say to him and +would turn his mind to the governance and the kingship and leave that +wherefrom she forbade him. Then he slept that night and what while he +was on sleep, the old man appeared to him and said to him, "O Zein ul +Asnam, O valiant one, whenas thou arisest from thy sleep this day, I +will accomplish my promise to thee; wherefore take thou a pickaxe and +go to the palace of thy father Such-an-one [43] in such a place and dig +there in the earth and thou wilt find that which shall enrich thee." + +When Zein ul Asnam awoke from his sleep, he hastened to his mother, +rejoicing, and acquainted her with his dream; whereupon she fell again +to laughing at him and said to him, "O my son, indeed this old man +laugheth at thee, nought else; wherefore do thou turn thy thought from +him." But he said to her, "Nay, mother mine, indeed he is soothfast and +lieth not; for that, in the first of his dealing, he tried me and +now his intent is to accomplish unto me his promise." "In any case," +rejoined she, "the thing is not toilsome; [44] so do that which thou +wilt, even as he said to thee, and make proof of the matter, and God +willing, thou shalt [45] return to me rejoicing; but methinketh thou +wilt return to me and say, 'Thou saidst sooth, O my mother, in thy +rede."' The prince accordingly took a pickaxe and going down to the +palace where his father was buried, fell a-delving in the earth; nor had +he dug long when, behold, there appeared to him a ring fixed in a slab +of marble. He raised the slab and seeing a stair, descended thereby and +found a great vault, all builded with columns of marble and alabaster; +then, proceeding innerward, he found within the vault a hall which +ravished the wit, and therein eight jars of green jasper; [46] and he +said, "What be these jars and what is in them?" So [47] he went up and +uncovering them, found them all full of old gold; [48] whereupon he took +a little in his hand and going to his mother, gave her thereof and said +to her, "Thou seest, O my mother." She marvelled at this thing and +said to him, "Beware, O my son, lest thou squander it, like as thou +squanderedst other than this." And he swore to her, saying, "Be not +concerned, O my mother, and let not thy heart be other than easy on my +account, for I would fain have thee also content with me." [49] + +Then she arose and went with him, and they descended into the vault +and entered the [underground] hall, [50] where she beheld that which +ravished the wit and saw the jars of gold. What while they diverted +themselves with gazing upon these latter, behold, they espied a little +jar of fine jade; so Zein ul Asnam opened it and found in it a golden +key. Whereupon quoth his mother to him, "O my son, needs must there be +a door here which this key will open." Accordingly they sought in all +parts of the vault and the hall, so they might see an there were a door +or what not else to be found there, and presently espied a bolted lock, +to which they knew that this must be the key. So Zein ul Asnam went +up and putting the key in the lock, turned it and opened a door which +admitted them into a second hall, [51] more magnificent than the first; +and it was all full of a light which dazzled the sight, yet was there +no flambeau kindled therein, no, nor any window [52] there, whereat +they marvelled and looking farther, saw eight images of jewels, each one +piece, and that of noble jewels, pure and precious. + +Zein ul Asnam was amazed at this and said to his mother, "How came my +father by these things?" And they fell to looking and considering, till +presently the queen espied a curtain of silk, whereon were these words +written: "O my son, marvel not at these great riches, whereto I have won +by dint of sore travail; but know that there existeth also another image +whose worth is more than that of these [eight] images twenty times told. +Wherefore, an thou wouldst come thereby, get thee to Cairo, where thou +wilt find a slave of mine, by name Mubarek, who will take thee and bring +thee in company [53] with the ninth image. When thou enterest Cairo, the +first man whom thou encounterest will direct thee to Mubarek's house, +for he is known in all Egypt." [54] When Zein ul Asnam read this +inscription, he said, "O my mother, it is my wish to journey to Cairo, +so I may make search for the ninth image. Tell me, how deemest thou of +my dream? Was it true or was it not? Wilt thou still say [55] to me, +'These be idle tales'? But I, O my mother, needs must I journey to +Cairo." "O my son," answered the queen, "since thou art under the +safeguard of the Apostle of God [56] (whom God bless and keep), go thou +in peace, and I [and] thy Vizier, we will govern the realm in thine +absence, against thou shalt return." + +So Zein ul Asnam went forth and equipping himself [for travel, set out] +and journeyed till he came to Cairo, where he enquired for Mubarek's +house and the folk said to him, "O my lord, this is a man than whom +there is none richer in [all Cairo]; no, nor is there a more abounding +than he in bounty and beneficence, and his house is [still] open to the +stranger." So they directed him thither and he went till he came to the +house and knocked at the door; whereupon there came out to him one of +Mubarek's slaves and [57] opening the door, said to him, "Who art thou +and what wiliest thou?" Quoth Zein ul Asnam, "I am a stranger, a man +from a far country, and I heard tell of your lord, Mubarek, and how he +is renowned for hospitality and beneficence; so I came to him, that I +may be a guest with him." The slave entered and told his lord Mubarek; +then returned and said to Zein ul Asnam, "O my lord, blessing hath +descended upon us in thy coming. [58] Enter, for my lord Mubarek +awaiteth thee." So Zein ul Asnam entered into a courtyard, exceeding +spacious and all [full] of trees and waters, and the slave brought him +into the pavilion [59] where Mubarek sat. When he entered, the latter +arose forthright and coming to meet him, received him with cordiality +and said to him, "Blessing hath descended upon us and this night is +the most auspicious of nights in thy coming to us! But who art thou, O +youth, and whence comest thou and whither art thou bound?" The prince +answered him, saying, "I am Zein ul Asnam and I seek Mubarek, slave to +the Sultan of Bassora, who died a year agone and whose son I am." "What +sayst thou?" cried Mubarek. "Art thou the king's son of Bassora?" "Yea, +verily," replied Zein ul Asnam; "I am his son." Quoth Mubarek, "Nay, my +lord the king of Bassora left no son; but what is thine age, O youth?" +"About twenty years," replied Zein ul Asnam. "And thou," added he, "how +long is it since thou wentest out from my father's house?" "I went out +eighteen years agone," answered Mubarek. "But, O my son Zein ul Asnam, +by what token canst thou certify me that thou art the son of my lord +the king of Bassora?" Quoth Zein ul Asnam, "Thou knowest that my father +builded under his palace a vault and therein [a hall in which] he set +forty [60] jars of fine jade and filled them with ancient gold; [61] and +within this hall he made a second hall, wherein he placed eight images +of precious stones, each wroughten of a single jewel and seated upon a +throne of virgin gold. [62] Moreover, he wrote upon a curtain of silk +there and I read the writ, whereby I found that he bade me come to thee, +saying that thou wouldst acquaint me of the ninth image and where it is, +the which, said he, was worth the eight, all of them." + +When Mubarek heard these words, he threw himself at Zein ul Asnam's feet +and fell to kissing them and saying, "Pardon me, O my lord! Verily, thou +art the son of my lord." Then said he to the prince, "O my lord, I make +to-day a banquet unto all the chief men of Cairo and I would fain have +thy highness honour me [with thy presence] thereat." And Zein ul Asnam +said, "With all my heart." [63] So Mubarek arose and foregoing Zein ul +Asnam, brought him into the saloon, which was full of the chief men of +Cairo, assembled therein. There he sat down and seating the prince +in the place of honour, called for the evening-meal. So they laid the +tables and Mubarek stood to serve Zein ul Asnam, with his hands clasped +behind him [64] and whiles seated upon his knees [and heels]. [65] The +notables of Cairo marvelled at this, how Mubarek, the chiefest of them, +should serve the youth, and [66] were sore amazed thereat, knowing not +[who or] whence he was. But, after they had eaten and drunken and supped +and were of good cheer, Mubarek turned to the company and said to +them, "O folk, marvel not that I serve this youth with all worship and +assiduity, for that he is the son of my lord the Sultan of Bassora, +whose slave I was, for that he bought me with his money and died without +setting me free; wherefore it behoveth me serve my lord, and all that my +hand possesseth of monies and gear is his, nor is anywhit thereof mine." +When the notables of Cairo heard this speech, they arose to Zein ul +Asnam and did him exceeding great worship and saluted him with all +reverence and prayed for him; [67] and he said, "O company, I am before +your presence and ye are witnesses [of that which I am about to do." +Then, turning to his host,] "O Mubarek, [quoth he,] thou art free and +all that is with thee of monies and gear appertaining unto us shall +henceforth be thine and thou art altogether acquitted thereof [68] +and of every part thereof. Moreover, do thou ask of me whatsoever thou +desirest by way of boon, [69] for that I will nowise gainsay thee in +aught thou mayst seek." [70] Thereupon Mubarek arose and kissed the +prince's hand and thanked him, saying, "O my lord, I will nought of thee +save that thou be well; for indeed the wealth that I have is exceeding +abundant upon me." + +So Zein ul Asnam abode with Mubarek four days and every day the chief +men of Cairo came to salute him, whenas it reached them that this was +Mubarek's lord, the Sultan of Bassora; then, after he was rested, he +said to his host, "O Mubarek, indeed the time is long upon me;" [71] and +Mubarek said to him, "Thou must know, O my lord, that this whereof thou +art come in quest is a hard [72] matter, nay, even unto danger of death, +and I know not if thy fortitude may suffice thee for the achievement +thereof." [73] "Know, O Mubarek," rejoined Zein ul Asnam, "that wealth +[is gotten] by blood [74] and there betideth a man nought except by the +will and foreordinance of the Creator (to whom belong might and majesty +); so do thou take heart and concern not thyself on my account." +Accordingly Mubarek forthright commended his slaves equip them for +travel; so they made all ready and taking horse, journeyed days and +nights in the foulest of deserts, [75] witnessing daily things and +matters which confounded their wits,--things such as never in their time +had they seen,--until they drew near the place [of their destination]; +whereupon they lighted down from their steeds and Mubarek bade the +slaves and servants abide there, saying to them, "Keep watch over the +beasts of burden and the horses till we return to you." + +Then the twain set out together afoot and Mubarek said to Zein ul Asnam, +"O my lord, now behoveth fortitude, for that thou art in the land of the +image whereof thou comest in quest." And they gave not over walking till +they drew near a great lake and a wide, whereupon quoth Mubarek to +Zein ul Asnam, "Know, O my lord, that there will presently come to us a +little boat, bearing a blue flag and builded all with planks of sandal +and Comorin aloes-wood of price; and [thereanent] I have a charge to +give thee, which it behoveth thee observe." "What is this charge?" +asked the prince and Mubarek said to him, "In this boat thou wilt see a +boatman, [76] but his make is monstrous; [77] wherefore be thou ware and +again, I say, beware lest thou speak aught, for that he will incontinent +drown us; and know that this place appertaineth to the King of the Jinn +and that all thou seest is their handiwork." Then [78] they came to +the lake and behold, a little boat with planks of sandal and Comorin +aloes-wood and in it a boatman, whose head was [as] the head of an +elephant and the rest of his body [as that of] a wild beast. [79] When +he drew near them, he wrapped his trunk about them both and taking them +with him into the boat, rowed out with them to the midst of the lake, +then fared on with them [80] till he brought them to the other shore, +where they landed and walking on, saw there trees of ambergris [81] +and aloes and sandal-wood and cloves and jessamine, [82] full-grown +and laden with ripe fruits and flowers [83] whose fragrance dilated the +breast and cheered the spright; and there [they heard] the voices of the +birds twittering their various notes and ravishing the wit with their +warblings. So Mubarek turned to Zein ul Asnam and said to him, "How +deemest thou of this place, O my lord?" And the prince answered him, +saying, "Methinketh, O Mubarek, this is the paradise which the Prophet +(whom God bless and keep) promised us withal." + +Then they fared on till they came to a magnificent palace, builded all +with stones of emerald and rubies, and its doors were of sheer gold. +Before it was a bridge, the length whereof was an hundred and fifty +cubits and its breadth fifty cubits, and it was [wroughten] of the rib +of a fish; whilst at the other end of the bridge were many warriors [84] +of the Jinn, gruesome and terrible of aspect, and all of them bore +in their hands javelins of steel that flashed in the sun like winter +lightning. [85] Quoth Zein ul Asnam to Mubarek, "This is a thing that +taketh the wits;" and Mubarek said to him, "It behoveth us abide in +our place neither fare forward, lest a mischance betide us. O God, +[vouchsafe us] safety!" Therewith he brought out of his pocket four +pieces of yellow silken stuff and girded himself with one thereof; the +second he laid on his shoulders and gave Zein ul Asnam other two pieces, +with which he girded himself [and covered his shoulders] on like +wise. Moreover, he spread before each of them a sash of white silk +and bringing forth of his pocket precious stones and perfumes, such as +ambergris and aloes-wood, (set them on the edges thereof) [86] after +which they sat down, each on his sash, and Mubarek taught Zein ul Asnam +these words, which he should say to the King of the Jinn, to wit: "O my +lord King of the Jinn, we are in thy safeguard." And Zein ul Asnam said +to him, "And I will instantly conjure him that he accept of us." + +Then said Mubarek, "O my lord, by Allah, I am exceeding fearful. But now +hearken; an he be minded to accept of us without hurt, he will come to +us in the semblance of a man accomplished in grace and goodliness; +but, an he have no mind to us, he will come to us in a gruesome and a +frightful aspect. An thou see him surpassing in beauty, arise forthright +and salute him, but beware lest thou overpass thy sash." And Zein +ul Asnam said to him, "Hearkening and obedience." "And be this thy +salutation to him," continued Mubarek; "thou shalt say, 'O King of the +Jinn and lord of the earth, my father, the Sultan of Bassora, the angel +of death hath removed, as indeed is not hidden from thee. Now Thy Grace +was still wont to take my father under thy protection, and I come +to thee likewise to put myself under thy safeguard, even as did he.' +Moreover, [87] O my lord Zein ul Asnam," added he, "an the King of the +Jinn receive us with a cheerful favour, he will without fail ask thee +and say to thee, 'Seek of me that which thou wiliest and thou shalt +forthright be given [it].' [88] So do thou seek of him and say to him, +'O my lord, I crave of Thy Grace the ninth image, than which there is +not the world a more precious; and indeed Thy Grace promised my father +that thou wouldst give it to me."' + +Having thus taught his lord how he should speak with the King of the +Jinn and seek of him the ninth image and how he should make his speech +seemly and pleasant, Mubarek fell to conjuring and fumigating and +reciting words that might not be understanded; and no great while passed +ere the world lightened [89] and rain fell in torrents [90] and it +thundered and darkness covered the face of the earth; and after this +there came a tempestuous wind and a voice like an earthquake of the +earthquakes [91] of the Day of Resurrection. When Zein ul Asnam saw +these portents, his joints trembled and he was sore affrighted, for +that he beheld a thing he had never in all his life seen nor heard. +But Mubarek laughed at him and said to him, "Fear not, O my lord; this +whereat thou art affrighted is that which we seek; nay, it is a presage +of good to-us. So take heart and be of good cheer." After this there +came a great clearness and serenity and there breathed pure and fragrant +breezes; then, presently, behold, there appeared the King of the Jinn in +the semblance of a man comely of favour, there was none like unto him +in his goodliness, save He who hath no like and to whom belong might and +majesty. He looked on Zein ul Asnam and Mubarek with a cheerful, smiling +countenance; whereupon the prince arose forthright and proffered him his +petition in the words which Mubarek had taught him. + +The King of the Jinn turned to him, smiling, and said to him, "O Zein +ul Asnam, indeed I loved thy father the Sultan of Bassora, and I used, +whenassoever he came to me, to give him an image of those which thou +hast seen, each wroughten of a single jewel, and thou also shalt stand +in thy father's stead with me and shalt find favour in mine eyes, even +as did he, ay, and more. Before he died, I caused him write the writ +which thou sawest on the curtain of silk and promised him that I would +take thee under my protection, even as himself, and would give thee the +ninth image, which is more of worth than those which thou hast seen. Now +it is my intent to perform the promise which I made to thy father, that +I would take thee under my protection, and [92] [know that] I was the +old man whom thou sawest in thy sleep and it was I bade thee dig in +the palace for the vault wherein thou foundest the jars of gold and the +images of jewels. I know also wherefore thou art come hither; nay, I +am he that was the cause of thy coming, and I will give thee that which +thou seekest, albeit I had not given it to thy father; but on condition +that thou swear to me a solemn oath and abide me constant thereto, to +wit, that thou wilt return and bring me a girl of the age of fifteen +years, with whom there shall be none to match in loveliness, and she +must be a clean maid, who shall never have lusted after man, nor shall +man have lusted after her. Moreover, thou must swear to me that thou +wilt keep faith with her, coming, and beware lest thou play me false +with her by the way." + +So Zein ul Asnam swore a solemn oath to him of this and said to him, "O +my lord, indeed, thou honourest me with this service; but methinketh it +will be hard to find a girl like this. Nay, supposing I find a damsel +fifteen years of age and beautiful exceedingly, according to Thy Grace's +requirement, how shall I know that she hath never in her time lusted +after man nor hath man lusted after her?" "O Zein ul Asnam," replied +the King of the Jinn, "thou art in the right and certain it is that this +knowledge is a thing unto which the sons of man may not avail; but I +will give thee a mirror of my fashion, and when thou seest a girl and +her beauty pleaseth thee and her grace, do thou open this mirror that +I shall give thee, and if thou find her image therein clear and bright, +thou shalt know forthright that she is pure without default and that all +good qualities are in her; so do thou take her for me. If thou find +her image in the mirror other than this, to wit, an it be troubled and +clothed with uncleanness, know that the girl is sullied and beware of +her; but, an thou find one such as she whose qualities I have set out +to thee, bring her to me and watch over her [by the way;] yet beware and +again I say, beware of treason and bethink thee that, an thou keep not +faith with me, thou wilt assuredly lose thy life." + +So Zein ul Asnam made with him a stable and abiding covenant, the +covenant of the sons of kings, that he would keep the plighted faith +and never play him false, but [93] would bring him the damsel with all +continence. Then the King of the Jinn delivered him the mirror and said +to him, "O my son, take this mirror whereof I bespoke thee, and now +depart." Accordingly Zein ul Asnam and Mubarek arose and calling down +blessings upon the King, returned upon their steps till they came to +the lake, where they sat a little and behold, up came the boat which had +brought them and the genie rowing therein, whose head was as [94] the +head of an elephant. Now this was by the commandment of the King of the +Jinn; so they embarked with the genie and crossed with him to the other +shore; after which they returned to Cairo and entering Mubarek's +house, abode there awhile till they were rested from the fatigue of the +journey. + +Then Zein ul Asnam turned to Mubarek and said to him, "Come, let us go +to the city of Baghdad, so we may seek for a girl who shall be according +to the requirement of the King of the Jinn." And Mubarek said to him, +"O my lord, we are in Cairo, the city of cities and the wonder of the +world. [95] I shall without fail find a girl here and it needeth not +that we go to a far city." "Thou sayst sooth, O Mubarek," rejoined the +prince; "but how shall we set about the matter and how shall we do to +come by [96] a girl like this and who shall go seeking her for us?" "O +my lord," replied Mubarek, "concern not thyself [97] for that, for I +have with me here an old woman (upon her, [to speak] figuratively, [98] +be the malediction [of God] [99]) who is a mistress of wiles and craft +and guile and not to be baulked by any hindrance, however great." Then +he sent to fetch the old woman and telling her that he wanted a damsel +fifteen years old and fair exceedingly, so he might marry her to the +son of his lord, promised her largesse galore, an she did her utmost +endeavour in the matter; whereupon, "O my lord," answered she, "be easy; +I will accomplish unto thee thy desire beyond thy wish; for that under +my hand are damsels unpeered in grace and goodliness and all of them +daughters of men of condition." But, O King of the time, [100] the old +woman had no knowledge of the affair of the mirror. + +Then she arose and went out to go round about in the city and to run +along its ways, [101] seeking [102] the girl for Prince Zein ul Asnam, +and whenassoever she saw a fair damsel, accomplished in beauty, she +proceeded to bring her to Mubarek; but, when he looked at her in the +mirror, he would see her image troubled exceedingly and would leave her; +so that the old woman brought him all the damsels of Cairo, but there +was not found among them one whose image in the mirror was clear; +wherefore he bethought him to go to Baghdad, since he found not one in +Cairo who pleased him [or] who was a clean maid, like as the King of the +Jinn had enjoined him. So he arose and equipping himself, [set out and] +journeyed, he and Zein ul Asnam, till they came to the city of Baghdad, +where they hired them a magnificent palace amiddleward the city and took +up their abode therein. There the chief men of the city used to come +to them every day and sat at their table, even to the comer and goer by +night and by day. [103] Moreover, when there remained aught from their +table, they distributed it to the poor and the afflicted and all the +strangers in the mosques [104] would come and eat with them. So the +report was noised abroad in the land of their generosity and bounty and +they became in high repute and fair fame throughout all Baghdad, nor did +any talk but of Zein ul Asnam and his bounty and wealth. + +Now it chanced that in one of the mosques was an Imam, [105] corrupt, +envious and despiteful in the extreme, and his lodging was near the +palace wherein Mubatek and Zein ul Asnam had taken up their abode. When +he heard of their bounty and generosity and of the goodliness of their +repute, envy get hold upon him and jealousy of them, and he fell to +bethinking himself how he should do, so he might bring some calamity +upon them and despoil them of that their fair fortune, for it is of the +wont of envy that it falleth not but upon the rich. So, one day of the +days, as he stood in the mosque, after the mid-afternoon prayer, he came +forward into the midst of the folk and said, "O my brethren, O ye of the +True Faith, ye who ascribe unity to God, know that in this our quarter +there be two men dwelling, strangers, and most like you are acquainted +with them. Now these twain spend and squander wealth galore, passing +all measure, and in my belief they are none other than thieves and +highwaymen and are come hither with that which they stole from their own +country, so they may squander it." Then [106] "O people of Mohammed," +added he, "I rede you for God's sake keep yourselves from these +tricksters, [107] lest belike the Khalif come presently to know of these +two men and ye also fall with them into calamity. Now I have warned +you and I wash my hands of your affair, for that I have forewarned and +awakened you; so do that which you deem well." And they said to him, all +who were present, with one voice, "We will do whatsoever thou wiliest, +O Aboubekr!" When the Imam heard this from them, he arose and taking +inkhorn and pen and paper, fell to writing a letter to the Commander of +the Faithful, setting forth to him [the case] against Zein ul Asnam and +Mubarek. + +Now, as destiny willed it, the latter chanced to be in the mosque among +the folk and heard the accursed Imam's discourse and that which he did +by way of writing the letter to the Khalif; whereupon he tarried not, +but, returning home forthwith, took an hundred diners and made him +a parcel of price, all of silken clothes, [108] wherewith he betook +himself in haste to Aboubekr's house and knocked at the door. The Imam +came out to him and opened the door; and when he saw him, he asked him +surlily who he was and what he would; whereupon quoth the other, "O my +lord the Imam Aboubekr, I am thy slave Mubarek and I come to thee on the +part of my lord the Amir Zein ul Asnam. He hath heard of thy learning +and of the excellence of thy repute in the city and would fain become +acquainted with thee and do that which behoveth unto thee; wherefore +he hath presently sent me with these things and this money for thine +expenses and hopeth of thee that thou wilt not blame him, inasmuch as +this is little for thy worth, but hereafter, God willing, he will not +fail of that which is due unto thee." Aboubekr looked at [the coins and] +at their impress and yellowness [109] and at the parcel of clothes and +said to Mubarek, "O my lord, [I crave] pardon of thy lord the Amir, for +that I am presently abashed before him [110] and it irketh me sore that +I have not done my duty towards him; [111] but I hope of thee that thou +wilt intercede with him on my behalf, so he may of his favour pardon +me my default; and (the Creator willing) I will to-morrow do that which +behoveth me and will go do my service to him [112] and proffer him the +respect which is due from me to him." "O my lord Aboubekr," replied +Mubarek, "the extreme of my lord's desire is to look upon thy worship, +so he may be honoured by thy presence and get of thee a blessing." So +saying, he kissed the Imam's hand and returned to his lodging. + +On the morrow, whilst Aboubekr was [engaged] in the Friday prayers at +dawn, he stood up amongst the folk, in the midst of the mosque, and +said, "O our brethren of the Muslims and people of Mohammed, all of you, +verily envy falleth not save upon the rich and the noble and passeth +by the poor and those of low estate. Know that of the two stranger men +against whom I spoke yesterday one is an Amir, a man of great rank +and noble birth, and the case is not as certain of the envious [113] +informed me concerning him, to wit, that he was a thief and a robber; +for I have enquired into the matter and find that the report lieth. So +beware lest any of you missay of the Amir or speak aught of evil against +him, such as that which I heard yesterday, or you will cause me and +yourselves fall into the gravest of calamities with the Commander of the +Faithful; for that a man of high degree like this cannot sojourn in the +city of Baghdad without the Khalif's knowledge." On [114] this wise, +then, the Imam Aboubekr did away from the minds of the folk the ill +thought [115] which he had planted [there] by his speech concerning Zein +ul Asnam. + +Moreover, when he had made an end of the prayers, he returned to his +own house and donned his gabardine; then, weightening his skirts and +lengthening his sleeves, [116] he went forth and took his way to the +prince's house. When he came in to Zein ul Asnam, the latter rose to +him and received him with the utmost reverence. Now he was by nature +religious, [117] for all he was a youth of tender age; so he proffered +the Imam all manner of honour and seating him by his side on a high +divan, let bring him coffee with ambergris. Then the servants spread the +table for breakfast and they took their sufficiency of meat and drink, +and when they had finished, they fell to talking and making merry +together. Presently the Imam asked the prince and said to him, "O my +lord Zein ul Asnam, doth your highness purpose to sojourn long here in +Baghdad?" "Yea, verily, O our Lord the Imam," answered Zein ul Asnam; +"my intent is to sojourn here awhile, till such time as my requirement +be accomplished." "And what," asked Aboubekr, "is the requirement of my +lord the Amir? Belike, an I know it, I may avail to further him to his +wish, though I sacrifice my life for him." [118] And the prince said to +him, "I seek a damsel fifteen years of age and fair exceedingly, that I +may marry her; but she must be pure and chaste and a clean maid, whom +no man hath anywise defiled nor in all her life hath she thought upon a +man; [119] and she must be unique in grace and goodliness." + +"O my lord," rejoined the Imam, "this is a thing exceeding hard to find; +but I know a damsel unique in her loveliness and her age is fifteen +years. Her father was a Vizier, who resigned office of his own motion, +and he abideth presently at home in his palace and is exceeding jealous +over his daughter and her bringing up. [120] Methinketh this damsel will +suit your Highness's mind, and she will rejoice in an Amir like your +Highness, as also will her parents." Quoth Zein ul Asnam, "God willing, +this damsel whereof thou speakest will answer my requirement and the +accomplishment of our desire shall be at thy hands; [121] but, O our +lord the Imam, before all things my wish is to see her, so I may know +an she be chaste or not. As for her beauty, I am assured of [122] your +worship's sufficiency and am content to trust to your word concerning +her loveliness, to wit, that she is surpassing; but, for her chastity, +you cannot avail to testify with certitude of her case." "And how," +asked the Imam, "can it be possible unto you, O my lord the Amir, to +know from her face that she is pure? An this be so, your highness is +skilled in physiognomy. However, an your highness will vouchsafe to +accompany me, I will carry you to her father's palace and make you known +to the latter, and he shall bring her before you." + +Accordingly, [123] the Imam Aboubekr took Zein ul Asnam and carried him +to the Vizier's house; and when they went in to him, the Vizier rose +and welcomed the prince, especially when he knew that he was an Amir and +understood from the Imam that he wished to marry his daughter. So he let +bring the damsel before him, and when she came, he bade her raise the +veil from her face. Accordingly she unveiled herself and Zein ul Asnam, +looking upon her, was amazed at her grace and goodliness, for that never +had he seen one to match with her in beauty; and he said in himself, "I +wonder if I shall [124] happen upon one like this damsel, since it is +forbidden that she should be mine!" Then he brought out the mirror +from his pocket and looked thereon; when, behold, its crystal was clear +exceedingly, as it were virgin silver; and he observed her image in +the mirror and saw it like a white dove. So he forthright concluded the +match and sent for the Cadi and the witnesses, who wrote the writ +[125] and enthroned the bride; [126] after which Zein ul Asnam took +the Vizier, the bride's father, home with him to his house and sent the +young lady jewels of great price. Then they celebrated the wedding and +held high festival, never was the like thereof, whilst Zein ul Asnam +proceeded to entertain the folk and made them banquets for the space of +eight days. Moreover, he honoured Aboubekr the Imam and gave him gifts +galore and brought the Vizier, the bride's father, presents and great +rarities. + +Then, the wedding festivities being ended, Mubarek said to Zein ul +Asnam, "Come, O my lord, let us set out on our way, lest we waste the +time in sloth, now we have found that whereof we were in search." And +the prince answered him, saying, "Thou art in the right." So Mubarek +arose and fell to equipping them for the journey; moreover, he let make +the young lady a camel-litter [127] with a travelling couch, [128] and +they set out. But Mubarek knew that Zein ul Asnam was sunken deep in +love of the damsel; so he took him and said to him, "O my lord Zein ul +Asnam, I would fain remind thee to watch over thyself; nay, again I say, +have a care and keep the faith which thou plightedst to the King of the +Jinn." "O Mubarek," answered the prince, "an thou knewest the transport +which possesseth me for the love of this young lady [129] and how I +still think of nothing but of taking her to Bassora and going in [to +her]!" And Mubarek said to him, "Nay, O my lord; keep thy troth and play +not the traitor to thine oath, lest there befall thee a sore calamity +and thou lose thy life and the young lady lose hers also. Bethink thee +of the oath which thou sworest and let not lust get the mastery over +thine understanding, lest thou lose guerdan [130] and honour and life." +"O Mubarek," rejoined Zein ul Asnam, "keep thou watch over her thyself +and let me not see her." So [131] Mubarek fell to keeping watch and ward +over the bride in the prince's stead and guarded the latter also, lest +he should look on her; and so they journeyed on past the road leading +unto Egypt and fared on their way to the Island of the Jinn. + +When the bride beheld the journey (and indeed it was long upon her) and +saw not her husband in all this time since the night of the bridal, she +turned to Mubarek and said to him, "God upon thee, O Mubarek, tell me, +I conjure thee by the life of thy lord the Amir, are we yet far from the +dominions [132] of my bridegroom, the Amir Zein ul Asnam?" And he said +to her, "Alack, O my lady, it irketh me for thee and I will discover to +thee that which is hidden. To wit, thou deemest that Zein ul Asnam, +King of Bassora, is thy bridegroom. Far be it! [133] He is not thy +bridegroom. The writing of the writ of his marriage with thee [134] was +but a pretext before thy parents and the folk; and now thou art going +for a bride to the King of the Jinn, who sought thee from the Amir Zein +ul Asnam." When the young lady heard these words, she fell a-weeping and +Zein ul Asnam heard her and fell a-weeping also, a sore weeping, of the +excess of his love for her. And she said to them, "Is there no pity +in you and no clemency and have you no fear of God, that I, a stranger +maid, you cast me into a calamity like this? What answer will you give +unto God [135] concerning this treason that you have wroughten with me?" + +But her weeping and her words availed her nothing, and they ceased not +to fare on with her till they came to the King of the Jinn, to whom they +straightway presented her. When he beheld her, she pleased him and he +turned to Zein ul Asnam and said to him. "Verily, the girl whom thou +hast brought me is exceeding in beauty and surpassing in loveliness; but +the goodliness of thy loyalty and shine overmastering of thyself for my +sake is fairer than she in mine eyes. So return now to thy place and +the ninth image that thou seekest of me thou shalt find, on thy return, +beside the other images; for I will send it to thee by one of my slaves +of the Jinn." Accordingly, Zein ul Asnam kissed the King's hand and +returned with Mubarek to Cairo; but, when they came thither, he chose +not to abide with Mubarek longer than a resting-while, of the excess of +his longing and his yearning to see the ninth image. Withal he ceased +not from mourning, bethinking him of the young lady and her grace and +goodliness; and he fell to lamenting and saying, "Alas for the loss of +my delights that were because of thee, O pearl of beauty and loveliness, +thou whom I took from thy parents and presented to the King of the Jinn! +Alack, the pity of it!" And [136] he chid himself for the deceit and the +perfidy which he had practised upon the young lady's parents and how he +had brought her to the King of the Jinn. + +Then he set out and gave not over journeying till he came to Bassora +and entering his palace, saluted his mother and told her all that had +befallen him; whereupon quoth she to him, "Arise, O my son, so thou +mayst [137] see this ninth image, for that I am exceeding rejoiced at +its presence with us." So they both descended into the underground hall, +wherein were the eight images, and found there a great marvel; to wit, +instead of the ninth image, they beheld the young lady, resembling the +sun in her loveliness. The prince knew her, when he saw her, and she +said to him, "Marvel not to find me here in place of that which thou +soughtest; methinketh thou wilt not repent thee an thou take me in the +stead of the ninth image." "No, by Allah, oh my beloved!" replied Zein +ul Asnam, "For that thou art the end of my seeking and I would not +exchange thee for all the jewels in the world. Didst thou but know the +grief which possessed me for thy separation, thou whom I took from thy +parents by fraud and brought thee to the King of the Jinn!" [138] + +Scarce had the prince made an end of his speech when they heard a noise +of thunder rending the mountains and shaking the earth and fear get hold +upon the queen, the mother of Zein ul Asnam, yea, and sore trembling; +but, after a little, the King of the Jinn appeared and said to her, "O +lady, fear not, it is I who am thy son's protector and I love him with +an exceeding love for the love his father bore me. Nay, I am he +who appeared to him in his sleep and in this I purposed to try his +fortitude, whether or not he might avail to subdue himself for loyalty's +sake. Indeed the beauty of this young lady beguiled him and he could not +avail to keep his covenant with me so strictly but [139] that he desired +her for his bride. However, I know the frailty of human nature and +withal I think greatly of him that he guarded her and kept her unsullied +and withdrew himself from her; [140] wherefore I accept this his +constancy and bestow her on him as a bride. She is the ninth image, +which I promised him should be with him, and certes she is fairer than +all these images of jewels, inasmuch as her like is rarely found in the +world." Then the King of the Jinn turned to Zein ul Asnam and said to +him, "O Prince Zein ul Asnam, this is thy bride; take her and go in +to her, on condition that thou love her and take not unto her a +second [wife]; and I warrant thee of the goodliness of her fidelity +to-thee-ward." Therewithal he vanished from them and Zein ul Asnam went +out, glad and rejoicing in the young lady; [141] and of [the excess +of] his love for her he went in to her that night and let celebrate the +bridal and hold high festival in all the kingdom. Then he abode upon the +throne of his kingship, judging and commanding and forbidding, whilst +his bride became queen of Bassora; and after a little his mother died. +So he made her funeral obsequies [142] and mourned for her; after which +he lived with his bride in all content till there came to them the +Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer of Societies. + + + + + +ALAEDDIN AND THE ENCHANTED LAMP. [143] + + + +There [144] was [once] in a city of the cities of China a man, a tailor +and poor, and he had a son by name Alaeddin, who was perverse and +graceless from his earliest childhood. When he came to ten years of age, +his father would fain have taught him his own craft, for that, because +he was poor, he could not spend money upon him to have him taught +[another] trade or art [145] or the like; [146] so he carried him to his +shop, that he might teach him his craft of tailoring; but, forasmuch +as the lad was perverse and wont still to play with the boys of the +quarter, [147] he would not sit one day in the shop; nay, he would watch +his father till such time as he went forth the place to meet a customer +[147] or on some other occasion, when he would flee forth incontinent +and go out to the gardens with the good-for-nothing lads like himself. +This, then, was his case, [148] and he would not obey his parents, nor +would he learn a craft. His father sickened of his grief and chagrin for +his son's perversity and died, whilst Alaeddin abode on that his wise. +When his mother saw that her husband had departed this life [149] and +that her son was a scapegrace and a good-for-nought, she sold the +shop and all she found therein and fell to spinning cotton and feeding +herself and her graceless son Alaeddin with her toil. The latter, +seeing himself quit of his father's danger, [150] redoubled in his +gracelessness and his perversity and would not abide in their house save +eating-whiles; and his poor wretched mother supported him [151] by the +spinning of her hands till he came to fifteen years of age. + +One [152] day of the days, as he sat in the street, playing with the +vagabond boys, behold, a Maugrabin [153] dervish came up and stopping +to look at the lads, singled out Alaeddin from his comrades and fell to +gazing upon him and straitly considering his favour. Now this dervish +was from the land of Hither Barbary [154] and he was an enchanter who +would cast mountain upon mountain with his sorcery and was skilled to +boot in physiognomy. [155] When he had well considered Alaeddin, he said +in himself, "Certes, this boy is he whom I seek and he it is in quest of +whom I came forth from my country." So he took one of the lads apart and +asked him of Alaeddin, whose son he was, and questioned him of all his +affairs; after which he went up to Alaeddin and taking him aside, said +to him, "Harkye, boy, art thou not the son of such an one the tailor?" +And he answered him, saying "Yes, O my lord; but my father died awhile +agone." When the Maugrabin magician heard this, he threw himself upon +Alaeddin and embracing him, fell to kissing him and weeping, that his +tears ran down upon his cheek. + +Alaeddin was astonished at the Maugrabin's behaviour; so he asked him +and said to him, "What is the cause of thy weeping, O my lord, and +whence knewest thou my father?" The Maugrabin answered him, in a +mournful, broken voice, [156] saying, "How, O my son, canst thou ask me +this question, after telling me that thy father, my brother, is dead, +for thy father was [indeed] my brother [157] and I am newly come from my +country and was rejoicing exceedingly, after this my strangerhood, of my +expectation that I should see him and solace myself with him; [158] and +now thou tellest me that he is dead! Marry, blood discovered unto me +that [159] thou wast the son of my brother, and indeed I knew thee from +amongst all the lads; although thy father, when I left him, was not yet +married. And [160] now, O my son Alaeddin," continued he, "I have lost +my consolation [161] and my joy in thy father, my brother, whom I had +hoped, after my strangerhood, to see ere I died; but separation hath +afflicted me in him [162] and there is no fleeing from that which is +[163] nor is there any resource against the ordinance of God the Most +High." + +Then he took Alaeddin and said to him, "O my son, I have no comfort +[163] but in thee [164] and thou art [to me] in the stead of thy father, +since thou art his successor and whoso leaveth [a successor] is not +dead, O my son." With this he put his hand [to his pocket] and bringing +out ten diners, gave them to Alaeddin, saying, "O my son, where is your +house and where is thy mother, my brother's wife?" So Alaeddin took him +and showed him the way to their house; and the magician said to him, "O +my son, take these monies and give them to thy mother and salute her +on my behalf and tell her that thine uncle is come back from his +strangerhood; and God willing, to-morrow I will come visit you, so I +may salute her and look upon the house wherein my brother dwelt and see +where his tomb is." [165] Alaeddin kissed his hand and hastened home, +running in his joy, to his mother and entered, contrary to his wont, for +that he was not used to go in to her save at eating-times. So he went in +to her, rejoicing, and said to her, "O my mother, I bring thee glad news +of my uncle, in that he is come back from his absence, and he saluteth +thee." "O my son," quoth she, "meseemeth thou makest mock of me. Who is +thine uncle and whence hast thou an uncle on life?" And he said to her, +"O my mother, why didst thou tell me that I had no uncles and no +kinsfolk on life? Indeed, this man is my uncle and he embraced me and +kissed me, weeping, and bade me tell thee of this." And she answered +him, saying, "Yes, O my son, I knew thou hadst an uncle, but he is dead +and I know not that thou hast a second uncle." + +As [166] for the Maugrabin enchanter, he went forth at dawn and fell to +searching for [167] Alaeddin, for that he might not brook parting from +him; [168] and as he went about in the thoroughfares of the city, he +came upon the lad, who was playing with the vagabonds, as of his wont. +So he went up to him and taking him by the hand, embraced him and kissed +him; then he brought out of his purse two diners and said to Alaeddin, +"Go to thy mother and give her these two diners and say to her, 'My +uncle would fain sup with us; so take these two diners and make a good +supper.' But first show me once more the way to your house." "On my head +and eyes, O my uncle," answered Alaeddin and foregoing him, showed him +the way to the house. Then the Maugrabin left him and went his way, +whilst Alaeddin returned home and telling his mother [what had passed], +gave her the two diners and said to her, "My uncle would fain sup with +us." So she arose forthright and went out to the market, where she +bought all that was needful and returning home, borrowed of her +neighbours that which she required of platters and the like and +proceeded to make ready for supper. + +When the time of the evening-meal came, she said to Alaeddin, "O my son, +the supper [169] is ready and maybe shine uncle knoweth not the way to +the house. Go thou and meet him." And he answered her with "Hearkening +and obedience." But, whilst they were in talk, behold, there came a +knocking at the door; whereupon Alaeddin went out and opening, found the +Maugrabin enchanter, and with him a slave bearing wine and fruits. So he +brought them in and the slave went his way, whilst the Maugrabin entered +and saluted Alaeddin's mother; then he fell a-weeping and said to her, +"Where is the place in which my brother was wont to sit?" She pointed +him to her husband's sitting-place, whereupon he went thither and +prostrating himself, fell to kissing the earth and saying, "Alas, how +scant is my delight and how sorry my fortune, since I have lost thee, +O my brother and apple [170] of mine eye!" And the abode on this wise, +weeping and lamenting, till Alaeddin's mother was certified that he was +in earnest and that he was like to swoon of the excess of his wailing +and his lamentation. So she came to him and raised him from the ground, +saying, "What profiteth it that thou shouldst kill thyself?" And [171] +she proceeded to comfort him and made him sit down. + +Then, before she laid the table, the Maugrabin fell to relating to her +[his history] and said to her, "O wife of my brother, let it not amaze +thee that in all thy days thou never sawest me neither knewest of me +in my late brother's lifetime, for that I left this country forty years +agone and became an exile from my native land. I journeyed to the lands +of Hind and Sind and all the country of the Arabs and coming presently +into Egypt, sojourned awhile in the magnificent city [of Cairo], which +is the wonder of the world. [172] Ultimately I betook myself to the land +of Hither Barbary [173] and sojourned there thirty years' space, [174] +till one day of the days, as I sat, [175] O wife of my brother, I +bethought me of my country and my native place and of my late brother +and longing waxed on me to see him and I fell a-weeping and lamenting +over my strangerhood and distance from him. In fine, my yearning for him +importuned me till I resolved to journey to this country, the which was +the falling-place of my head [176] and my native land, that I might see +my brother. And I said in myself, "O man, how long wilt thou be an exile +[177] from thy country and thy native place, whenas thou hast an only +brother and no more? Arise and journey and look upon him ere thou die. +Who knoweth the calamities of fate and the vicissitudes of the days? +Sore pity 'twere that thou shouldst die and not see thy brother. +Moreover, Allah (praised be He) hath given thee abundant wealth and it +may be thy brother is in poor case and straitened, and thou wilt help +him, an [178] thou see him." So I arose forthright and equipped myself +for travel; then, reciting the Fatiheh [179], I took horse, after the +Friday prayer, and came, after many hardships and fatigues,--which I +suffered, till the Lord (to whom belong might and majesty) protected +[me],--to this city. I entered it and as I went about its thoroughfares +the day before yesterday, I saw my brother's son Alaeddin playing with +the boys; and by Allah the Great, O wife of my brother, when I saw him, +my heart crave to him, for that blood yearneth unto blood, and my soul +foreboded me he was my brother's son. At his sight I forgot all my toils +and troubles and was like to fly for joy; then, when he told me that my +late brother had departed to the mercy of God the Most High, I swooned +away for stress of grief and chagrin; and most like he hath told thee +of that which overcame me. [180] But I comforted myself somewhat with +Alaeddin, who standeth in stead of [181] the departed, for that whoso +leaveth [a successor] [182] dieth not." + +Then, [183] when he saw her weeping at this speech, he turned to +Alaeddin, by way of making her forget the mention of her husband and +feigning to comfort her, so he might the better accomplish his device +upon her, and said to him, "O my son Alaeddin, what hast thou learned of +crafts and what is thy business? Hast thou learned thee a trade whereby +thou mayst live, thou and thy mother?" At this Alaeddin was confounded +and abashed and hung down his head, bowing it to the ground, whilst his +mother said to the Maugrabin, "How? By Allah, he knoweth nought at all! +So graceless a lad I never saw. All day long he goeth about with the +vagabond boys of the quarter like himself; nay, his father, woe is me, +died not but of his chagrin concerning him; and now, as for me, my case +is woeful. I spin cotton and toil night and day, to earn two cakes of +bread, that we may eat them together. This, then, is his condition, O +my brother-in-law, and by thy life, he cometh not in to me save at +eating-times, and I am thinking to bolt the door of my house and not +open to him and let him go seek his living for himself, for that I am +grown an old woman and have no strength left to toil and provide for +the maintenance of a fellow like this. [184] By Allah, I get mine own +livelihood, I that need one who shall maintain me." [185] + +Therewithal the Maugrabin turned to Alaeddin and said to him, "How is +this, O son of my brother? It is a disgrace to thee to go vagabonding +about in this abjection. This befitteth not men like thee. Thou art +gifted with understanding, O my son, and the child of [reputable] folk; +[186] I and it is a shame upon thee that thy mother, who is an old +woman, should toil for thy maintenance, now thou art grown a man. +Nay, it behoveth thee get thee some means whereby thou mayst maintain +thyself, O my son. See, by God's grace, (praised be He) here in our city +be masters of crafts, nowhere is there a place more abounding in them: +choose, then, the craft which pleaseth thee and I will establish thee +therein, so that, when thou growest up, O my son, thou mayst find thee +thy craft whereby thou shalt live. Belike thou hast no mind to thy +father's trade; so choose other than it. Tell me the craft which +pleaseth thee and I will help thee in all that is possible, O son of +my brother." Then, seeing that Alaeddin was silent and answered him +nothing, he knew that he had no mind to any craft at all and recked of +nothing but vagabondage and said to him, "O son of my brother, be not +abashed at me; [187] if so be withal [188] thou caress not to learn a +trade, I will open thee a merchant's shop of the costliest stuffs and +thou shalt make thyself acquainted with [189] the folk [190] and shalt +give and take and sell and buy and become known in the city." + +When Alaeddin heard these words of his uncle the Maugrabin, to wit, +that it was his intent to make him a merchant, [191] a trader, [192] he +rejoiced exceedingly, well knowing that all merchants' apparel is neat +and elegant; [193] so he looked at the Maugrabin and smiled and bowed +his head, as who should say, "I am content." The [194] magician, seeing +him smile, knew that he was content to be a merchant and said to him, +"Since thou art content that I should make thee a merchant and open thee +a shop, be a man, O son of my brother, and to-morrow, God willing, I +will take thee first to the market and let cut thee an elegant suit of +clothes such as merchants wear; and after that I will look thee out a +shop and perform my promise to thee." Now Alaeddin's mother was in some +little doubt as to the Maugrabin; but, when she heard his promise to her +son that he would open him a shop as a merchant with stuffs and +capital and what not else, she concluded that he was in very deed her +brother-in-law, inasmuch as a stranger would not do thus with her +son. So she fell to admonishing her son and exhorting him to put away +ignorance and folly from his head and be a man, and bade him still yield +obedience to his uncle, as he were his father, and apply himself to make +up the time which he had wasted in idleness [with] those who were like +him, after which she arose and laying the table, spread the evening-meal +and they all sat down and fell to eating and drinking, whilst the +Maugrabin talked with Alaeddin upon matters of merchandry and the like. +Then, when he saw that the night was far spent, [195] he arose and went +to his lodging, promising to return in the morning and take Alaeddin, so +he might let cut him a merchant's suit. + +Alaeddin slept not that night for joy and when it was morning, behold, +the Maugrabin knocked at the door. The lad's mother arose and opened +to him; however, he would not enter, but sought Alaeddin, that he might +take him with him to the market. So Alaeddin went out to him and gave +him good-morning and kissed his hand; whereupon the Maugrabin took him +by the hand and going with him to the market, entered the shop of a +seller of all manner of clothes and demanded a suit of costly stuffs. +The merchant brought him what he sought, all sewn and ready, and the +Maugrabin said to Alaeddin, "Choose that which pleaseth thee, O my son." +Alaeddin rejoiced exceedingly, when he saw that his uncle gave him +his choice, and chose clothes to his mind, such as pleased him. The +Maugrabin at once paid the merchant their price and going out, carried +Alaeddin to the bath, where they bathed and came forth and drank wine. +[196] Then Alaeddin arose and donned the new suit; whereat he rejoiced +and was glad and coming up to his uncle, kissed his hand and thanked +him for his bounties. After [197] this the Maugrabin carried him to the +bazaar of the merchants and showed him the market and the selling and +buying and said to him, "O my son, it behoveth thee consort with +the folk, especially with the merchants, so thou mayst learn of them +merchandry, since this is become thy craft." + +Then he took him again and showed him the city and the mosques and all +the sights of the place; after which he carried him to a cook's shop, +where the morning-meal was set before them in silver platters. So they +ate and drank till they had enough and going forth, fared on, whilst the +Maugrabin proceeded to show Alaeddin the pleasaunces and fine buildings, +[198] going in with him to the Sultan's palace and showing him all the +fair and fine quarters [199] [of the city]; after which he carried him +to the Khan of the stranger merchants, where he himself lodged. and +invited certain of the merchants who were in the Khan. Accordingly they +came and sat down to supper, and he informed them that this was his +brother's son and that his name was Alaeddin. Then, after they had eaten +and drunken, the night being now come, the Maugrabin arose and taking +Alaeddin, carried him back to his mother. + +When she saw her son as he were one of the merchants, her wit fled [and +she waxed] sorrowful for gladness and fell to extolling the Maugrabin's +bounty and saying to him, "O my brother-in-law, I might not suffice [to +thy deserts,] though I thanked thee all my life long and praised thee +for the good thou hast done with my son." "O wife of my brother," +answered he, "this is no manner of kindness in me, [200] for that +this is my son and it behoveth me stand in the stead of my brother his +father; so be thou easy." Quoth she, "I pray God, by the glory of the +ancients [201] and the moderns, that He let thee [live] and continue +thee, O my brother-in-law, and prolong me thy life, so thou mayst be +[as] a wing [202] to this orphan boy; and he shall still be under thine +obedience and thy commandment and shall do nought but that which thou +biddest him." "O wife of my brother," rejoined the Maugrabin, "Alaeddin +is a man of understanding and [the son of] decent folk, and my hope is +in God that he will follow in his father's footsteps and be the solace +of shine eyes; [203] but it irketh me that, to-morrow being Friday, I +cannot open him a shop. It being congregation day, all the merchants +will go out after prayers to the gardens and pleasaunces; but, God +willing, on Saturday, an it please the Creator, we will do our business. +Tomorrow I will come to you and take Alaeddin, that I may show him the +gardens and pleasaunces without the city,--it may be he hath not +yet seen them,--and he shall see the merchant-folk and the notables +a-pleasuring there, so he may become acquainted with them and they with +him." [204] + +The [205] Maugrabin lay the night in his lodging; and on the morrow he +came to the tailor's house and knocked at the door. Alaeddin--of the +excess of his joy in the clothes he had donned and of the pleasures he +had enjoyed on the past day, what with the bath and eating and drinking +and viewing the folk and the thought that his uncle was coming in the +morning to take him and show him the gardens--slept not that night +neither closed an eye and thought the day would never break. [206] So, +when he heard a knocking at the door, he went out at once in haste, like +a spark of fire, and opening, found his uncle the Maugrabin. The latter +embraced him and kissed him and took him by the hand, saying, "O son of +my brother, to-day I will show thee a thing such as thou never sawest in +thy life." Then they went off together and the Maugrabin fell to making +merry with [207] Alaeddin and amusing him with familiar talk. They went +forth the gate of the city and the Maugrabin proceeded to walk with him +among the gardens and to show him the fine pleasaunces and marvellous +high-builded palaces; and whenassoever they looked upon a garden or a +palace [208] or a pavilion, [209] he would stand and say to Alaeddin, +"Doth this please thee, O my son Alaeddin?" + +Alaeddin was like to fly for joy, inasmuch as he saw that which he had +never in his life seen, and they gave not over walking and gazing till +they were weary, when they entered a fine garden there, that cheered +the heart and brightened the eye with its springs [210] welling up among +flowers and its waters issuing from the mouths of lions of brass like +unto gold, and sitting down by a lake, rested awhile. As for Alaeddin, +he rejoiced and was exceeding glad and fell a-jesting with the Mangrabin +and making merry with him, as he were his uncle in very deed. Then the +latter arose and loosing his girdle, brought out therefrom a bag full +of victual and fruit and the like and said to Alaeddin, "O son of +my brother, thou art maybe anhungred; come, eat what thou wilt." So +Alaeddin proceeded to eat and the Maugrabin with him and they were +gladdened and refreshed and their souls were cheered. Then said the +Maugrabin, "Rise, O my son, an thou be rested, so we may walk a little +and fare onward." [211] So Alaeddin arose and the Maugrabin walked on +with him from garden to garden till they had passed them all and came to +a high mountain. [212] + +Now Alaeddin had never gone forth the gate of the city nor in all his +life had he walked the like of that walk; so he said to the Maugrabin, +"O my uncle, whither are we going? See, we have left all the gardens +behind us and are come to the foot of a mountain. [213] If the way be +[yet] far, I have no strength left me for walking, for that I am worn +out with fatigue and there remain no more gardens before us; so let us +turn back and return to the city." "O my son," replied the Maugrabin, +"this is the way and the gardens are not yet at an end, for we are going +[214] to view a garden, whose like is not with the kings and compared +with which all these which thou hast seen are as nothing. So gird up thy +loins [215] for walking; praised be God, thou art a man." And he fell +to amusing him with fair words and telling him rare stories, true and +false, till they reached the place at which this Maugrabin enchanter +aimed and in quest whereof he was come from Barbary [216] to the land of +China; whereupon, "O son of my brother," quoth he to Alaeddin, "sit and +rest thee; this is the place for which we were making; and now, please +God, I will show thee marvellous things, the like whereof no one in the +world hath seen, nor hath any looked upon that which thou art about to +behold. But [217] do thou, after thou art rested, arise and seek sticks +and grass and reeds and such like matters as are small and dry, so we +may kindle a fire, and I will cause thee look, O son of my brother, upon +a thing which passeth understanding." [218] + +When Alaeddin heard this, he yearned to see what his uncle was about to +do; so he forgot his fatigue and rising forthright, fell to gathering +brushwood and dry sticks and gathered till the Maugrabin said to him, +"Enough, O son of my brother." Then he brought out of his pocket a +casket, from which he took what he needed of perfumes, and proceeded +to make fumigations and conjurations, speaking words that might not be +understanded; and straightway it darkened and thundered and the earth +quaked and opened. At this Alaeddin was sore affrighted and would have +fled; which when the Maugrabin enchanter saw, he was exceeding, incensed +at him, for that without Alaeddin his labour was of none avail, since +the treasure whereat he sought to come might not be opened save by +means of the lad. So, when he saw him offer to flee, he rose to him and +lifting his hand, smote him on his head, that he came nigh to knock out +his teeth; whereupon Alaeddin swooned away and fell upon the earth; +but, after a little, he recovered his senses, by the virtue of the +Maugrabin's enchantments, and falling a-weeping, said to him, "O my +uncle, what have I done to deserve from thee this blow?" The Maugrabin +proceeded to soothe him and said to him, "O my son, it is my desire to +make thee a man; so cross me not, for that I am thine uncle and as it +were thy father; wherefore do thou obey me in that which I shall say to +thee, and after a little thou shalt forget all this travail and annoy, +whenas thou lookest upon things marvellous." + +Now, when the earth clove in sunder before the enchanter, there appeared +to him an alabaster slab and in it a ring of molten brass; [219] so he +turned to Alaeddin and said to him, "An thou do that which I shall tell +thee, thou shalt become richer than all the kings; and on this account, +O my son, I beat thee, for that here is a treasure and it is in thy +name, and thou, thou wouldst fain have passed it by and fled. But +now collect thy wits [220] and see how I have opened the earth by my +conjurations and incantations. Under [221] yonder stone, wherein is the +ring, is the treasure whereof I have told thee; so do thou put thy hand +to the ring and lift the slab, for that none of mankind can open it but +thou and none but thou can set his foot within this treasure, since it +is guarded for thee. But needs must thou hearken from me that which I +shall teach thee and lose not [222] a syllable of my speech. Marry, all +this, O my son, is for thy good, for that this is an exceeding great +treasure, the kings of the world possess not its like, and it is thine +and mine." So poor Alaeddin forgot fatigue and beating and weeping, of +his amazement at the Maugrabin's speech and joy that he should become +rich after such a measure that even the kings would be no wealthier than +he, and said to him, "O my uncle, command me all thou wilt, for I will +be obedient unto thy commandment." And the Maugrabin said to him, "O +son of my brother, thou art as my very son, nay, dearer, for being my +brother's son. I have no kindred other than thyself and thou art my +natural heir and successor, O my son." + +Therewith he came up to Alaeddin and kissed him saying, "All these my +toils, whom do they concern? [223] They are all for thy sake, O my son, +that I may make [224] thee a man rich and great [225] exceedingly; so +gainsay me not in aught that I shall tell thee; but go up to yonder ring +and raise it, as I bade thee." "O my uncle," quoth Alaeddin, "this stone +is heavy; I cannot raise it of myself, [226] so come thou also and help +me raise it, for I am little of years." "O son of my brother," replied +the Maugrabin, "it will not be possible for us to do aught, an I help +thee, and our toil will be wasted in vain; but do thou put thy hand to +the ring and raise it and it will immediately come up with thee; for, as +I said to thee, none may handle it but thou. But, when thou raisest +it, name thine own name and those of thy father and mother and it will +straightway rise with thee, nor shalt thou feel its weight." + +Accordingly, Alaeddin took courage and summoning his resolution, did +as the Maugrabin bade him and raised the slab with all ease, whenas he +pronounced his own name and those of his father and his mother. So the +stone came up and he threw it aside; whereupon [227] there appeared to +him an underground place and its door, whereas one entered by a stair of +some dozen steps, and the Maugrabin said to him, "O Alaeddin, give heed +[228] and do punctually that which I shall tell thee, neither fail of +aught thereof. Go down with all circumspection into yonder vault till +thou come to the bottom thereof and thou wilt find there a place divided +into four chambers, [229] in each of which thou wilt see four jars of +gold and others of native ore and silver. Beware lest thou handle them +or take aught therefrom, but pass them by till thou come to the fourth +chamber, and let not thy clothes or thy skirts touch the jars, no, nor +the walls, and stay not one moment; for, an thou do contrary to this, +thou wilt forthright be transformed and wilt become a black stone. When +thou comest to the fourth chamber, thou wilt find there a door; open +it and speak the names which thou spokest over the slab; then enter and +thou wilt find thyself in a garden, all adorned with trees and fruits. +Thence do thou fare on some fifty cubits in the path thou wilt find +before thee and thou wilt come to a dais, [230] with [231] a stair of +some thirty steps. Above the dais thou [232] wilt find a lamp hung up; +take it and pour out the oil that is therein and put it in thy sleeve; +[233] and fear not for thy clothes therefrom, for that it [234] is not +oil. And as thou returnest, thou mayst pluck from the trees what thou +wilt, for that it is thine, what while the lamp abideth in thy hand." + +When the Maugrabin had made an end of his speech, he drew from his +finger a ring and putting it on Alaeddin's finger, said to him, "And +this ring, O, my son, shall deliver thee from all hurt and all fear that +may betide thee, provided thou observe all that I have said to thee. So +now arise and go down; gird thy loins and summon up thy resolution and +fear not, for that thou art a man and not a child; and after this, O +my son, thou shalt in a little time become the richest of mankind." +So Alaeddin arose and going down into the underground, found the four +chambers and in each four jars of gold. He passed them by with all care +and precaution, even as the Maugrabin had bidden him, and entering the +garden, fared on there through till he came to the dais and mounting the +stair, entered [235] and found the lamp. So he quenched it and pouring +out the oil that was therein, put it in his sleeve; then, going down +into the garden, he fell to gazing upon its trees, whereon were birds +extolling with their songs [236] the perfection of the Great Creator, +and he had not seen them as he entered. Now the fruits of these trees +were all precious stones, each tree bearing fruit of one colour and +kind of jewel, and these fruits were of all colours, green and white and +yellow and red and what not else of colours. Their glitterance outshone +the rays of the sun in its forenoon splendour and the bigness of each +jewel overpassed description; suffice it that not one of them might be +found with the greatest of the kings of the world, [237] no, nor a gem +half the bigness of the smallest that was there. + +Alaeddin [238] entered among the trees and proceeded to gaze upon them +and upon these things which amazed the sight and ravished the sense +and observing them, saw that, instead of fruits, they bore magnificent +jewels from the mines, emeralds and diamonds and rubies and pearls and +topazes [239] and the like of precious stones, such as confounded the +wit. Now, for that this was a thing Alaeddin had never in his life seen, +neither was he of ripe age, so he should know the value of these jewels, +by reason of his being yet a young lad, he thought that they were all +glass or crystal; so he gathered of them what filled his sleeves [240] +and fell to looking an they were grapes or figs and the like of fruits +that might be eaten or not; but, finding them like glass, he proceeded +to gather in his sleeve [241] of every kind that was upon the trees, +albeit he knew not jewels nor their worth, saying in himself, since he +had been baulked in his intent of eating, "I will gather of these fruits +of glass and will play with them at home." Accordingly he proceeded to +pluck and put in his pockets [242] and his sleeves [243] till he filled +them; after which he filled his girdle with the fruits and girt himself +withal; in fine, he carried off as much as he might, purposing to lay +them up with him in the house by way of ornament, for that he thought +them glass, as I have said. Then he quickened his pace, of his fear of +his uncle the Maugrabin, and hastened through the four chambers and the +[outer] vault nor looked, as he returned, at the jars of gold, albeit he +might now have taken of them. [244] + +When he came to the stair [245] and ascended it and there remained to +him but a small matter, to wit, the last step, which was much higher +than the others, he could not avail to mount it of himself, having +regard to that which he was carrying; so he said to the Maugrabin, "O +my uncle, give me thy hand and help me up." Quoth he, "O my son, give +me the lamp and lighten thyself; maybe it is that which hindereth thee." +"Nay, O my uncle," answered Alaeddin, "the lamp hindereth me nought; but +do thou give me thy hand and when I am up, I will give thee the lamp." +The enchanter, who wanted the lamp and that only, fell to urging +Alaeddin to give it him; but the latter, having wrapped it within his +clothes, with purses [246] of jewel-fruits atop of it, [247] could +not reach it with his hand, so he might give it him. [248] The [249] +Maugrabin was instant with him to give him the lamp and was like to lose +his wits for rage, seeing he attained not his object, albeit Alaeddin +still promised him that he would give it him as soon as he was forth of +the vault, [and that] without lying thought or ill intent. Then, when he +saw that Alaeddin would not give it him, he was angry with an exceeding +anger and abandoning all hope of the lamp, conjured and enchanted and +cast perfumes into the midst of the fire; whereupon the slab immediately +turned over [250] and shut [251] of itself by the might of his +enchantments; the earth covered it like as it was before and Alaeddin +abode under the ground, unable to come forth. + +Thus the enchanter--forasmuch as he was a stranger and no uncle of +Alaeddin, as he said, but had counterfeited himself and avouched +leasing, so he might get the lamp by means of the lad, unto whom that +treasure was fortuned by the stars-shut up [252] the earth upon him and +left him to die of hunger. Now this accursed Maugrabin wizard was from +the city of Africa [253] in Hither Barbary and had from his childhood +been addicted to magic and all the occult arts, for which the city in +question is renowned. He ceased not from his tenderest years to study +and learn in his native land Africa till he became versed in all +sciences, and of the much skill and proficiency which he acquired, +by dint of study and application for the space of forty years, in the +matter of incantations and conjurations, it was discovered to him, [254] +one day of the days, that among the uttermost of the cities of China +was a city called El Kelaas and in this city a vast treasure, the like +whereof no king of the kings of the world ever possessed; but the rarest +[was] that in this treasure [was] [255] a wonderful lamp, [256] whereat +if one should come, there might no man be found on earth richer than he, +whether in might or in wealth, nor might the greatest king in the +world avail unto aught of the riches of this lamp and its puissance and +virtue. Moreover [257] he saw that this treasure was to be achieved +by means of a lad of mean birth, by name Alaeddin, who was of the city +aforesaid, and that it was eath to take and unarduous: so he tarried +not, but equipped himself forthright for the voyage to China, as we have +said, and did that which he did with Alaeddin, thinking to come by the +lamp. But his endeavour was baffled and his expectation baulked and his +toil wasted in vain; whereupon he sought to kill Alaeddin and closed up +the earth upon him by his sorcery, so he might die (and the live hath +no slayer [258]); moreover, he purposed by this that Alaeddin should +not come forth and that the lamp should not be brought up from under the +earth. Then he went his ways and returned to his country Africa, woeful +and despairing of his hope. + +So much for the enchanter and as for what came of Alaeddin, after the +earth closed over him, he fell to calling upon the Maugrabin, whom he +thought his uncle, to give him his hand, so he might come forth the +underground to the surface of the earth; but, when he found that none +returned him an answer, he was ware of the cheat which the Maugrabin had +put upon him and knew that he was none of his uncle, but a liar and a +sorcerer. Therewith he despaired of his life and knew, to his woe, that +there was no more going forth for him upon the face of the earth; so he +fell to weeping and lamenting over that which had befallen him. Then, +after a little, he arose and went down, that he might see if God the +Most High had vouchsafed him a door whereby he might go forth; and he +went seeking right and left, but saw nought save darkness and four walls +shut upon him; for that the Maugrabin sorcerer had by his enchantments +locked all the doors and had even shut up the garden, so he might leave +him no door whereby he should come forth upon the face of the earth +and so hasten his death upon him. Alaeddin's weeping redoubled and his +lamentation waxed when he saw all the doors shut and eke the garden, for +that he thought to solace himself with them [259] a little; but he found +them locked, so he fell to crying out and weeping, as he whose hope is +cut off, and returning, sat down upon the steps of the stair whereby he +had entered the vault, weeping [260] and wailing; and indeed he had lost +hope. + +But it is a small matter for God (extolled be His perfection and exalted +be He) whenas He willeth a thing, to say to it "Be," and it is; for that +He createth relief out of the midst of stress; by token that, when the +Maugrabin enchanter sent Alaeddin down into the vault, he gave him a +ring and put it on his finger, saying, "This ring will deliver thee from +all stress, an thou be in calamities or vicissitudes, and will remove +from thee troubles; yea, it will be thy helper whereassoever thou art;" +and this was by the foreordinance of God the Most High, so it might be +the means of Alaeddin's deliverance. So, as he sat weeping and bewailing +his case and indeed his hope was cut off of life and despair was heavy +upon him, he fell, of the excess of his anguish, to wringing [261] his +hands, after the wont of the woeful; then, raising them [to heaven], he +made supplication to God, saying, "I testify that there is no God but +Thou alone, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Conquering, the Giver of Life +and Death, [262] Creator and Accomplisher [263] of necessities, Resolver +of difficulties and perplexities and Dispeller thereof, [264] Thou +my sufficiency, Thou the most excellent Guardian, and I testify that +Mohammed is Thy servant and Thine apostle. O my God, I conjure Thee, by +his [265] glory with Thee, deliver me from my extremity." + +Whilst he was thus supplicating God and wringing his hands in the +excess of his affliction for that which had befallen him of calamity, +he chanced to rub upon the ring, and immediately, behold, a genie [266] +rose up before him and said to him, "Here am I; thy slave is before +thee. Seek whatsoever thou wilt, for that I am his slave who hath the +ring in hand, the ring of my lord." [267] Alaeddin looked and saw a +Marid, [268] as he were of the Jinn of our lord Solomon, standing before +him, and shuddered at his frightful aspect; but, when he heard the genie +say to him, "Seek whatsoever thou wilt, for that I am thy slave, since +the ring of my lord is on thy hand," he took heart and bethought him +of the Maugrabin's speech to him, whenas he gave him the ring. So he +rejoiced exceedingly and took courage and said to him, "O slave of the +lord of the ring, I will of thee that thou bring me out upon the face of +the earth." Hardly had he made an end of that his speech when, behold, +the earth opened and he found himself without, at the door of the +treasure, to wit, upon the surface of the earth. + +Now, he had been three days under the earth, sitting in the treasure in +the dark; so, when the light of day smote on his face and the rays of +the sun, he might not unclose his eyes, but took to opening them little +by little and shutting them again till they became stronger and grew +used to the light and were cleared of the darkness. Then, [269] seeing +himself upon the surface of the earth, he rejoiced exceedingly, but +marvelled to find himself overagainst the entrance of the treasure, +whereby he went down, whenas the Maugrabin enchanter opened it; and now +the stone was shut down and the earth levelled, nor was there any sign +therein of a door. So he redoubled in wonderment and thought himself +otherwhere; nor was he assured that he was in the very place, till +he saw whereas they had kindled the fire of sticks and brushwood +and whereas the Maugrabin enchanter had made his fumigations and +conjurations. Then he turned right and left and saw the gardens afar off +and looked at the way and knew it for that by which they had come. So he +gave thanks to God the Most High, who had brought him out on the earth's +face and had delivered him from death, after he had given up hope of +life. Then he arose and fared homeward, by the way which he knew, till +he came to the city and entering, betook himself to their house and +went in to his mother. When he saw her, he fell down before her, of +the greatness of the joy which possessed him for his deliverance, and +swooned away for the affright and the weariness which he had suffered, +more by token that he was weak with hunger. + +Now his mother had been woebegone since he left her and sat wailing and +weeping for him; so, when she saw him come in to her, she rejoiced in +him with an exceeding joy, but grief overwhelmed her, whenas she saw +him fall aswoon upon the earth. However, she wasted no time in vain +lamentation, but hastened to sprinkle water on his face and sought of +her neighbours somewhat of perfumes, to which she made him smell. When +he was a little recovered, he prayed her bring him somewhat to eat, +saying to her, "O my mother, these three days past I have eaten +nothing." So she arose and setting before him that which she had ready, +said to him, "Rise, O my son, eat and restore thyself; and when thou +art rested, tell me what hath happened to thee and what calamity hath +befallen thee. I will not question thee now, because thou art weary." +So, [270] when he had eaten and drunken and had refreshed himself and +was rested and restored, he said to her, "Alack, mother mine, I have a +sore grief against thee in that thou leftest me to yonder accursed man, +who strove for my destruction. Indeed, he sought to kill me; nay, I saw +death face to face from that accursed wretch, whom thou deemedst mine +uncle, and but for God the Most High, who delivered me from him, [I had +perished]. Marry, both I and thou, O my mother, suffered ourselves to be +deluded by him after the measure of that which the accursed promised +to do with me of good and of the love which he professed for me. Know, +then, O my mother, that this man is an accursed Maugrabin enchanter, +a liar, a deceiver, an impostor and a hypocrite; methinketh the devils +that be under the earth are not his match, may God put him to shame in +every book! [271] Hear, O my mother, what this accursed did; nay, all +I shall tell thee is truth and soothfastness. Do but see the villain's +duplicity; bethink thee of the promises he made me that he would do me +all manner of good [272] and the love he professed to me, and how he did +all this that he might accomplish his purpose; nay, his intent was to +kill me, and praised be God for my deliverance! Hearken, O my mother, +and learn what this accursed one did." + +Then he told her all that had befallen him from the time of his leaving +her, weeping the while for excess of joy; how the Maugrabin brought +him to the hill, wherein was the treasure, and how he conjured and +fumigated. "And indeed. O my mother," said he, "there overcame me +exceeding fear, whenas the hill clove in sunder and the earth opened +before me by his enchantments; and I quaked with terror at the voice of +the thunder which I heard and the darkness which befell of his spells +and fumigations, and of my dismay at these portents, I would have fled. +When he saw me offer to flee, he reviled me and smote me, dealing me +a buffet which caused me swoon for pain [273] but, inasmuch as the +treasure was opened and he could not go down into it himself, seeing he +had opened it by my means and that it was in name and not for him, he +knew, being a foul sorcerer, that it might [only] be achieved through me +and that this adventure was [reserved] for me. [274] Accordingly [275] +he applied himself to make his peace with me, that he might send me down +into the treasure, now it was opened, and attain his object by my means; +and when he sent me down, he gave me a ring, which he had on his hand, +and put it on my finger. So I descended into the treasure and found four +chambers, all full of gold and silver and the like; but this all was +nothing and the accursed one charged me take nought thereof. Thence I +entered a magnificent garden, [276] all full of high trees, whose +fruits ravished the wits, O my mother, for that they were all of +various-coloured crystal, [277] and I fared on till I came to the +pavilion [278] wherein was this lamp; whereupon I took it forthright and +quenching it, poured out that which was therein." + +[So saying,] he pulled out the lamp from his sleeve and showed it to his +mother. Moreover, he showed her the jewels which he had brought from +the garden. Now there were two great purses [279] full of these jewels, +whereof not one was to be found with the kings of mankind; and Alaeddin +knew not their value, but thought that they were glass or crystal. +"Then, O my mother," continued he, "after I had fetched the lamp and had +gone forth [the garden] and came to the door of the treasure, I cried +out to the accursed Maugrabin, who feigned himself my uncle, to give me +his hand and pull me up, for I was laden with things which weighed me +down, so that it was not possible for me to mount alone. However, he +would not give me his hand, but said to me, 'Reach me the lamp that +is with thee, and after I will give thee my hand and pull thee up.' +I, seeing that I had put the lamp within my sleeve and the purses atop +[280] of it, could not reach it to give it to him and said to him, 'O +my-uncle, I cannot give thee the lamp. When I come up, I will give it +to thee.' But he would not help me up; nay, he would e'en have the lamp, +and his intent was to take it from me and turn back the earth over me +and destroy me, even as he did with me in the end. This, then, O my +mother, was what befell me from that foul wizard." And he told her all +that had passed between them from first to last and fell to reviling +the Maugrabin with all rancour and heat of heart, saying, "Out on this +accursed one, this foul sorcerer, this hard-hearted oppressor, this +inhuman, perfidious, hypocritical villain, lacking [281] all mercy and +ruth!" + +When [282] Alaeddin's mother heard her son's speech and that which the +accursed Maugrabin did with him, she said to him, "Yea, verily, O my +son, he is a misbeliever and a hypocrite, who destroyeth folk with his +sorcery; but glory [283] to God the Most High, who hath delivered thee +from the perfidy and guile of this accursed sorcerer, of whom I thought +that he was in very deed thine uncle." Now, Alaeddin had passed three +days without sleep and found himself drowsy; so he [withdrew to his +chamber and] slept. His mother did likewise and Alaeddin ceased not to +sleep till next day, [284] near noontide, when he awoke and immediately +sought somewhat to eat, for that he was anhungred; and his mother said +to him, "O my son, I have nought to give thee to eat, for that all I had +by me thou atest yesterday. But wait awhile; I have here a little yarn +by me and I am going down to the market, so I may sell it and buy thee +withal somewhat thou mayst eat." "O my mother," rejoined Alaeddin, "keep +the yarn and sell it not; but give me the lamp which I brought home, +so I may arise and sell it and with its price buy somewhat we may eat. +Methinketh it will fetch more than the yarn." So she arose and fetched +the lamp; but, finding it exceeding dirty, she said to him, "O my son, +this lamp is dirty, and if we wash it and furbish it, it will sell for +a better price." Accordingly she took a little sand and fell to scouring +the lamp withal; but scarce had she begun to rub it when there appeared +to her one of the Jinn, foul of favour and monstrous of make as he were +of the giants, and said to her, "Say what thou wilt of me. Here am I, +thy slave and the slave of whoso hath in his hand the lamp; and not I +alone, but all the slaves of the wonderful lamp that is in thy hand." +When she saw his frightful aspect, she trembled and fear get hold upon +her and her tongue was tied, nor could she return an answer, for that +she was not used to look upon apparitions like unto this; so [285] she +fell down aswoon of her terror. + +Now Alaeddin her son was standing afar off and he had seen the slave +of the ring which he had rubbed in the treasure; so, when he heard the +genie's speech to his mother, he hastened to take the lamp from her hand +and said to him, "O slave of the lamp, I am hungry; my will is that +thou bring me somewhat I may eat, and be it somewhat good past conceit." +[286] The genie was absent the twinkling of an eye and [returning,] +brought him a great costly tray of sheer silver, whereon were twelve +platters of various kinds and colours [287] of rich meats and two silver +cups and two flagons [288] of clarified old wine and bread whiter than +snow; all which he set before him and disappeared. So Alaeddin arose and +sprinkled rosewater on his mother's face and made her smell to strong +[289] perfumes; whereupon she revived and he said to her, "Rise, O +my mother, so we may eat of this food that God the Most High hath +vouchsafed us." [290] When she saw the great silver tray, she marvelled +and said to Alaeddin, "O my son, who is the generous, the bountiful one +that hath sought out our hunger [291] and our poverty? Indeed, we are +beholden to him. [292] Apparently the Sultan hath heard of our case and +our wretchedness and hath sent us this tray." "O my mother," answered +Alaeddin, "this is no time for questioning; rise, so we may eat, for we +are anhungred." + +So they arose and sitting down to the tray, proceeded to eat, whilst +Alaeddin's mother tasted food such as she had never in all her life +eaten. And they ate diligently [293] with all appetite, for stress of +hunger, more by token that the food [was such as] is given to kings, +nor knew they if the tray were precious or not, for that never in their +lives had they seen the like of these things. When they had made an end +of eating and were full (and there was left them, over and above what +sufficed them, [enough] for the evening-meal and for the next day +also), they arose and washing their hands, sat down to talk; whereupon +Alaeddin's mother turned to her son and said to him, "O my son, tell me +what befell of [294] the genie, now that, praised be God, we have eaten +of His bounty and are satisfied and thou hast no pretext for saying +to me, 'I am anhungred.'" So he told her all that had passed between +himself and the genie, whenas she fell down aswoon of her affright; +whereat exceeding wonderment took her and she said to him, "It is true, +then, [295] that the Jinn appear to the sons of Adam, though I, O my +son, in all my days, I have never seen them, and methinketh this is +he who delivered thee, whenas thou west in the treasure." "Nay, O my +mother," answered he, "this was not he; he who appeared to thee is the +slave of the lamp." "How so, [296] O my son?" asked she; and he said, +"This slave is other of make than that. That was the servant of the ring +and this thou sawest is the slave of the lamp which was in thy hand." +When [297] his mother heard this, "Well, well!" cried she. "Then the +accursed who appeared to me and came nigh to kill me for affright is +of the lamp?" "Ay is he," answered Alaeddin; and she said to him, "I +conjure thee, O my son, by the milk thou suckedst of me, that thou cast +away from thee both lamp and ring, for that they will be to us a cause +of exceeding fear and I could not endure to see them [298] a second +time; nay, their commerce is forbidden unto us, for that the prophet +(whom God bless and keep) warneth us against them." [299] "O my mother," +answered Alaeddin, "thy speech is on my head and eyes; [300] but, as for +this that thou sayest, it may not be that I should cast away either the +lamp or the ring; nay, thou seest that which it [301] did with us of +good, whenas we were anhungred, and know, O my mother, that the lying +Maugrabin enchanter, what time I went down into the treasure, sought +nought of gold nor of silver, whereof the four places were full, but +charged me bring him the lamp and that only, for that he knew the +greatness of its virtues; [302] and except he knew it to be exceeding of +might, he had not toiled and travailed and come from his land to this in +quest of it, nor had he shut the treasure on me, whenas he failed of the +lamp, seeing I gave it him not. Wherefore, O my mother, it behoveth us +keep this lamp and guard it with all care, for that this is our support +and this it is shall enrich us; and it behoveth us show it not unto any. +On like wise, as for the ring, it may not be that I should put it off +from my finger, forasmuch as, but for this ring, thou hadst not seen me +again on life; nay, I had died under the earth within the treasure; so +how can I put it off from my hand and who knoweth what may happen to +me in time to come of error or calamity or shift of the shifts of +mischance, from which the ring might deliver me? However, of regard for +thy wish, I will lay up the lamp and let thee not see it henceforth." +When his mother heard his words and pondered them, she saw them to be +just and true and said to him, "O my son, do what thou wilt. For my +part, I wish never to see them nor ever again to behold that loathsome +aspect [303] which I saw [but now]." + +Alaeddin [304] and his mother abode two days eating of the food which +the genie had brought, and when it was finished and he knew that there +was left them nothing to eat, he arose and taking a platter of those +which the slave had brought on the tray (now they were of fine gold, +but Alaeddin knew it not) went with it to the market, where a Jew, a +man viler than devils themselves, accosted [305] him and he gave him the +platter. When the Jew saw it, he took Alaeddin aside, so none might see +him, and examining the platter, found it of fine gold, [306] but knew +not if Alaeddin was ware of its worth or if he was ignorant thereof; so +he said to him, "How much, O my lord, for this platter?" And Alaeddin +answered him, saying, "Thou knowest how much it is worth." The Jew was +perplexed how much he should give Alaeddin for the platter, by reason of +his having made him an adroit answer, and bethought himself to give him +little, but feared lest he should be aware of its value and debated with +himself if he should give him much. Then said he in himself, "Most like +he knoweth not its value;" so he brought out of his pocket a gold diner +and gave it to him. When Alaeddin saw the diner in his hand, he took it +and went off in haste, whereby the Jew knew that the lad was unaware +of the value of the plate and repented him sore that he had given him a +gold diner and not a carat of three-score: [307] + +Meanwhile Alaeddin tarried not, but went forthright to the baker and +bought of him bread and changed the diner; then, returning to his +mother, he gave her the bread and the rest of the money and said to her, +"O my mother, go and buy us what we need." So she arose and going to the +market, bought all that they needed and they ate and were cheered. +Then, whenassoever the price of a platter was spent, Alaeddin would take +another and carry it to the Jew; on which wise the accursed Jew bought +them all of him for a small matter and would fain also have reduced the +price; but, since he had given him a diner the first time, he feared to +offer him less, lest the lad should go and sell to another [308] and he +lose that excessive profit. Accordingly, Alaeddin ceased not to sell him +platter after platter till he had sold them all and there was left +him only the tray whereon they had been; then, for that it was big and +heavy, he went and fetched the Jew to the house and brought out to him +the tray. When he saw it and noted its bigness, he gave Alaeddin ten +diners, which he took, and the Jew went his way. + +Alaeddin and his mother lived upon the ten diners till they came to an +end; then he arose and bringing out the lamp, rubbed it, whereupon the +slave of the lamp, to wit, the genie whom he had seen before, appeared +to him and [309] said to him, "Seek what thou wilt, O my lord, for that +I am thy slave and the slave of whoso hath with him the lamp." Quoth +Alaeddin, "It is my will that thou bring me a tray of food like unto +that which thou broughtest me erewhen, for that I am hungry;" and the +slave brought him, in the twinkling of an eye, a tray like unto that +which he had brought him before, and on it twelve magnificent platters +full of rich meats, together with flagons [310] of clarified wine and +bread of the finest. Now Alaeddin's mother, when she knew that her son +was minded to rub the lamp, had gone out, so she might not see the genie +again; but, after a little, she came in to him and seeing the tray full +of silver platters, whilst the whole house reeked with the fragrance of +the rich meats, marvelled and rejoiced; and Alaeddin said to her, "O +my mother, thou badest me throw away the lamp. See now its uses." "O my +son," answered she, "may God prosper him; [311] but fain would I not see +him." Then they sat down to the tray and ate and drank till they were +satisfied, laying up that which remained with them against the morrow. + +Then, when that which was with them of food was finished, Alaeddin arose +and taking one of the platters under his clothes, went in quest of the +Jew, so he might sell it to him; but, as chance willed it, he passed by +the shop of a goldsmith, an honest, pious man, who feared God. When the +latter saw Alaeddin, he accosted him and said to him, "O my son, what +wilt thou? This many a time have I seen thee pass hereby and betake +thyself to such an one, a Jew, and I have seen thee give him certain +things. Nay, methinketh even now thou hast somewhat with thee and art +seeking him, so thou mayst sell it to him. But thou knowest not, O my +son, that the good of the Muslims, believers in the unity of God the +Most High, is lawful spoil in the eyes of Jews; nay, they still cheat +the Muslims and especially this accursed one with whom thou dealest and +into whose hands thou hast fallen. Wherefore, O my son, an thou have +with thee aught thou wouldst sell, show it to me and fear nothing, for +that, by the truth of God the Most High, I will give thee its price." +Accordingly, Alaeddin brought out the platter to the old man, who took +it and weighing it in his scales, said to him, "Was it the like of this +thou usest to sell to the Jew?" "Ay," replied Alaeddin, "its like and +its brother." "And how much," asked the goldsmith, "useth he to give +thee to its price?" And Alaeddin said, "He useth to give me a diner." + +When [312] the goldsmith heard this, "Out on this accursed one," cried +he, "who fleeceth the servants of God the Most High!" Then he looked +at Alaeddin and said to him, "O my son, this Jew is a cheat, who hath +cheated thee and laughed at thee, for that the silver of this thy +platter is pure and fine; and I have weighed it and find its worth +threescore diners and ten; so, an it please thee take its price, take +[it]." Accordingly, he counted out to him seventy diners and he took +them and thanked him for his kindness, in that he had shown him the +Jew's trickery. Thenceforward, whenassoever the price of one platter was +spent, he would carry another to the old goldsmith, and on this wise he +and his mother increased in substance; but they ceased not to live at +their sufficiency, [313] midwise [betwixt rich and poor], [314] without +excessive spending [315] or squandering. As for Alaeddin, he left +idleness and the commerce of striplings and took to consorting with +grown men; [316] nay, he would go every day to the market of the +merchants and sit with the great and the small of them and question +of the ways and fashions of commerce and the prices of articles of +merchandise [317] and otherwhat. He used also to go to the market of the +goldsmiths and the market of the jewellers, and there he would sit and +look upon the different kinds of jewels and see them bought and sold; +whereby he became aware that the fruits of the trees, wherewith he had +filled the purses, [318] whenas he was in the treasure, were neither +glass nor crystal, but jewels, and knew that he had happened upon great +wealth, such as kings might nowise compass. Moreover, he noted all +the jewels that were in the jewellers' market, but saw not [among] the +biggest [of them] one to match with the smallest of those he had at +home. + +He ceased not to go daily to the market of the jewellers and to clap +up acquaintance with the folk, making friends with them and questioning +them of buying and selling and giving and taking and dear and cheap, +till, one day of the days, he arose in the morning and donning his +clothes, went forth, intending, as of wont, for the jewellers' market; +but, as he went, he heard the crier proclaiming aloud on this wise, "By +commandment of the Lord of Beneficence, the king of the age and monarch +of the time and the tide, let all the folk shut their shops and stores +and enter their houses, for that the Lady Bedrulbudour, daughter of +the Sultan, purposeth to go to the bath, and whoso transgresseth the +commandment, his punishment shall be death and his blood be on his own +head." [319] When Alaeddin heard this proclamation, he longed to look +upon the Sultan's daughter and said in himself, "All the folk talk of +her grace and goodliness, and the uttermost of my desire is to see her." +So [320] he cast about for a device how he might contrive to see the +Lady Bedrulbudour and him-seemed he were best stand behind the door of +the bath, that he might see her face, as she entered. Accordingly he +betook himself to the bath, awhile in advance, and posted himself behind +the door, whereas none of the folk might see him. + +Presently, the Sultan's daughter came forth and went round about the +city and its thoroughfares and diverted herself by viewing it; then +she repaired to the bath and when she came thither, she lifted her +face-veil, as she entered; whereupon her face shone out, as it were the +resplendent sun or a precious pearl, and she was as saith of her one of +her describers: + + Who sprinkled the kohl of enchantment upon her eyes + And gathered the bloom of the rose from her cheeks, fruit-wise? + And who was it let down the curtained night of her hair + And eke through its glooms made the light of her forehead rise? + +When she raised the veil from her face and Alaeddin saw her, he said, +"Verily, her fashion glorifieth the Great Creator and extolled be the +perfection of Him who made her and graced her with this beauty and +goodliness!" And his back was cloven in sunder, [321] when he saw her; +his thought was confounded and his understanding [322] dazed and +the love of her gat hold upon his whole heart; so he turned back and +returning home, went in to his mother, like one distraught. She bespoke +him and he answered her neither yea nor nay; then she brought him the +morning-meal, as he abode on this wise, and said to him, "O my son, what +hath betided thee? Doth there ail thee aught? Tell me what hath befallen +thee, for that, against thy wont, I bespeak thee and thou answerest me +not." + +Now Alaeddin had been used to think that women were all like his mother +and he had heard of the beauty of the Lady Bedrulbudour, daughter of the +Sultan, but had not known what beauty and grace were; so he turned to +his mother and said to her, "Leave me;" but she was instant with him +to come and eat. Accordingly, he came forward and ate a little; then, +rising, he threw himself on his bed and lay musing till break of morn; +and on this wise he abode all next day. His mother was perplexed at his +case, unknowing what had befallen him, and bethought herself that belike +he was sick; so she came up to him and questioned him, saying, "O my +son, an thou feel aught of pain or otherwhat, tell me, that I may go +fetch thee a physician, more by token there is presently in the city a +physician from the land of the Arabs, whom the Sultan hath sent to bring +hither, and report saith of him that he is exceeding skilful; so [tell +me] if thou art sick, that I may go and call him to thee." + +When [323] Alaeddin heard his mother offer to fetch him the physician, +he said to her, "O my mother, I am well and not sick, but I had thought +that women were all like unto thee. However, yesterday, I saw the Lady +Bedrulbudour, the Sultan's daughter, as she went to the bath;" and +he told her all that had happened to him, adding, "And most like thou +heardest the crier proclaiming that none should open his shop nor stand +in the road, so the Lady Bedrulbudour might pass to the bath; but I saw +her even as she is, for that, when she came to the door of the bath, she +lifted her veil, and when I noted her favour and viewed that noble form +of hers, there befell me, O my mother, a passion of yearning for love of +her and desire of her [324] usurped mine every part; nor can I ever more +have ease, except I get her, and I purpose, therefore, to demand her of +the Sultan her father in the way of law and righteousness." + +When Alaeddin's mother heard her son's speech, she thought little of +his wit and said to him, "O my son, the name of God encompass thee! +Meseemeth thou hast lost thy wit; return to thy senses, [325] O my son, +and be not like the madmen!" "Nay, O my mother," replied he, "I have +not lost my wits nor am I mad; and this thy speech shall not change that +which is in my mind, nor is rest possible to me except I get the darling +of my heart, the lovely Lady Bedrulbudour. And my intent is to demand +her of her father the Sultan." So she said to him, "O my son, my life +upon thee, speak not thus, lest one hear thee and say of thee that thou +art mad. Put away from thee this extravagance: [326] who shall undertake +an affair like this and demand it of the Sultan? Meknoweth not how thou +wilt do to make this request of the Sultan, and if thou speak sooth, +[327] by whom wilt thou make it?" "O my mother," rejoined Alaeddin, "by +whom [should I make] a request like this, when thou art at hand, and +whom have I trustier [328] than thyself? Wherefore my intent is that +thou shalt make this request for me." "O my son," quoth she, "God +deliver me from this! What, have I lost my wits like thee? Put away this +thought from thy mind and bethink thee who thou art, O my son,--the son +of a tailor, the poorest and least of the tailors in this city, and I +also am thy mother and my folk are exceeding poor; so how wilt thou dare +to demand the Sultan's daughter, whom her father would not vouchsafe +to marry with kings' sons and Sultans, except they were his peers in +puissance and rank and noblesse; nay, were they one degree less than he, +he would not give them his daughter." + +Alaeddin [329] waited till his mother had made an end of her speech and +said to her, "O my mother, all that thou thinkest I know; marry, I know +full well that I am the son of poor folk, nor may all this thy talk +anywise avail to move me from my purpose; but I beseech thee, an I be +thy very son and thou love me, do me this kindness; else wilt thou lose +me, for death hasteneth upon me, an I attain not my wish of the beloved +of my heart. In any case, O my mother, I am thy son." When his mother +heard his speech, she wept of her concern for him and said to him, "Yes, +O my son, I am thy mother and thou art my son and the darling of my +heart; [330] I have none other than thee and the extreme of my desire is +to rejoice in thee and marry thee. So, an thou wilt, I will seek thee a +bride of our own rank. But suppose [I do this], they [331] [will] ask at +once an thou have craft or land or trade or garden, so thou mayst live, +and what shall I answer them. And if I cannot answer poor folk like +ourselves, how, O my son, shall I dare to seek the King's daughter of +China, who hath none before him and none after him? Wherefore do thou +ponder this matter in thine understanding. And who seeketh her? The son +of a tailor. [332] Indeed, I know that, an I speak of this, it will but +be for the increase of our ill luck, for that this affair will bring us +in great danger with the Sultan and belike there will be death therein +for thee and for me. As for me, how can I adventure upon this danger and +this effrontery? Moreover, O my son, on what wise shall I demand thee +his daughter of the Sultan and how shall I avail to go in to him? Nay, +if they question me, what shall I answer them? Most like they will deem +me a madwoman. And suppose I gain admission to the presence, what shall +I take by way of offering to the Sultan's highness? It [333] is true, O +my son, that the Sultan is clement and rejecteth none that cometh to him +for protection or craveth a boon of him, for that he is bountiful and +beneficent unto all, great and small; [334] but he bestoweth his favours +upon those who are deserving thereof or who have done some feat of arms +before him or have wrought for the service or defence of the realm; and +thou, O my son, tell me, what hast thou done for [335] the Sultan or the +realm, that thou shouldst merit of him this boon? Again, this that thou +cravest is beyond thy condition; [336] so it cannot be that the king +will grant thee that which thou seekest. Moreover, whoso presenteth +himself before the Sultan and craveth favours of him, it behoveth him +take in his hand somewhat that sorteth with the royal dignity; and as +I said to thee, how canst thou presume to present thyself before the +Sultan and seek of him his daughter, without aught thou mayst proffer +him of that which sorteth with his rank?" + +"O my mother," replied Alaeddin, "thou speakest justly and deemest that +which is true, [337] and it behoveth me consider all that whereof thou +mindest me; but, O my mother, the love of the Sultan's daughter, the +Lady Bedrulbudour, hath entered into the innermost of my heart; and +there can be no rest for me, except I obtain her. Moreover, thou mindest +me of somewhat I had forgotten, and that a thing which emboldeneth me to +seek of him his daughter by thee. Thou sayst, O my mother, that I have +no gift to present to the Sultan, according to the wont of the folk, +whilst in fact I have by me a gift and an offering, the like whereof +methinketh no king ever possessed, no, nor aught to match therewith; for +[338] thou must know, O my mother, that the fruits, which I brought in +the purses [339] from the treasure and which I deemed glass or crystal, +are very jewels, methinketh all the kings of the world may not compass +the least of them, and I, of my companying with the jewellers, know that +they are precious stones. Wherefore, an thou please, have the goodness +to rise and bring me such a China dish which we have by us, [340] that +I may fill it with these jewels, and thou shalt take it as a present to +the Sultan. By this means I am assured that the thing will be easy to +thee, and do thou stand before the Sultan and seek of him my desire; +but, O my mother, an thou refuse to further me with thine endeavour for +the attainment of my wish of the Lady Bedrulbudour, know that I am a +dead man. Be not concerned for the gift, for these be exceeding precious +jewels, and know, O my mother, that I have gone many a time to the +market of the jewellers and have seen them sell jewels, that had not an +hundredth part [341] of the beauty of these of ours, at exceeding high +prices such as man's wit cannot conceive. When, therefore, I saw this, +I said [in myself], 'Verily, the jewels that are with us are exceeding +precious.' So now, O my mother, arise, as I bade thee, and fetch me the +China dish whereof I bespoke thee, that we may range of these jewels +therein and see how they show." + +Accordingly, she arose and brought the China dish, saying in herself, +"Let us see if my son's speech be true concerning these jewels or not." +So she set the dish before Alaeddin and he brought out jewels of all +kinds from the purses and proceeded to range them in the dish till he +filled it. When it was full, his mother looked at the dish, but could +not gaze fixedly thereon, for the radiance of the jewels and their +lustre and the excess of their flashing; so she shut her eyes and her +wit was confounded at them; yet was she not certified that their value +was in very deed so great as her son had said, but bethought her that +his speech might be true in that their like was not found with kings. +Then Alaeddin turned to her and said, "See, O my mother, this is a +magnificent present for the Sultan and I am assured that thou wilt +get of him exceeding honour and that he will receive thee with all +consideration. And now, O my mother, there remaineth to thee no excuse; +so be good enough [342] to take this dish and go with it to the palace." + + +"O my son," replied she, "true it is that the present is exceedingly +costly and precious and as thou sayest, none hath the like thereof; +but who shall dare to come forward and seek of the Sultan his daughter +Bedrulbudour? Nay, I dare not adventure myself and say to him, 'I want +thy daughter,' whenas he asketh me, 'What wouldst thou?' Marry, O my +son,, my tongue will be tied. And grant that Allah make [the thing] +possible and I take courage and say to him, 'I desire to ally myself +to thee by [marrying] thy daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour with my son +Alaeddin,' they will straightway deem me mad and will put me out with +ignominy and reproach; nay, I need not tell thee that by this I shall +fall into danger of death, and not I only, but thou also. Withal, O my +son, of regard for thy wish, needs must I take courage and go; but, O my +son, if the King receive me and honour me for the gift's sake and I seek +of him that which thou wilt in [343] the matter of marrying his daughter +and he ask me, after the wont of the folk, what are thy possessions and +thy revenues, what shall I say to him? And most like, O my son, he will +ask me of this ere he ask me of thyself." And Alaeddin said to her, +"Nay, it cannot be that the Sultan will ask this, whenas he seeth the +jewels and their magnificence, and it booteth not to think of a thing +that will not happen. Do thou but rise and seek me his daughter of him +and proffer him these jewels and sit not magnifying the affair in thy +thought beforehand. Moreover, O my mother, thou knowest of the lamp +which is with me and which presently provideth for our livelihood; [344] +nay, all that I seek of it it will bring me, and I trust by its means I +shall know how to answer the Sultan, an he ask me of this." + +They abode in talk of the matter all that night and when the morning +morrowed, Alaeddin's mother arose and fortified her heart, more by token +that her son expounded to her somewhat of the properties of the lamp and +its uses, in that it would bring them all they sought. But, when he saw +that she heartened herself for that which he set forth to her of its +virtues, he feared lest she should talk of this to the folk, so he said +to her, "O my mother, beware lest thou bespeak any of the lamp and its +uses, for that this is our fortune; be careful [345] and exceed not in +speech thereof to any one, lest we lose it and lose this our present +prosperity, for that it is from it." [346] "Have no fear for that, O my +son," answered she and rising, took the dish wherein were the jewels +and wrapping it in a fine handkerchief, went forth betimes, so she might +reach the Divan and enter, ere it became crowded. When she came to the +palace, the Divan was not yet assembled [347] and she saw the Vizier and +certain of the chiefs of the state entering the presence-chamber. After +a while, the Divan being complete with the Viziers and the chiefs of the +state and officers and Amirs and grandees, the Sultan appeared and the +Viziers and other the officials and notables ranged themselves before +him, whilst he sat down on the throne of his kingship and all who were +present in the Divan stood before him, with hands clasped behind them, +[348] awaiting his commandment to sit. So he bade them be seated and +they all sat down, each in his several room; then the petitioners [349] +presented themselves before the Sultan and each affair was decided in +its course, [350] till the Divan came to an end, when the King rose and +entered the palace and each went his way. + +As [351] for Alaeddin's mother, having come before all, she found room +to enter, but withal none bespoke her, so he should bring her in before +the Sultan; wherefore she ceased not standing till the Divan broke up +and the Sultan rose and entered the palace and all went their ways. When +she saw the Sultan rise from his throne and enter the harem, she +took her way homeward and returning on her steps, entered her house. +Alaeddin, seeing her with the dish in her hand, knew that most like +some mischance had betided her, but cared not to question her till she +entered and setting down the dish, told him what had passed and finally +said to him, "God be praised, O my son, I mustered courage to find +myself a place in the Divan, albeit I could not win to speak with the +Sultan to day; but to-morrow, an it please God the Most High, I will +bespeak him. To-day there were many other folk, like myself, unable +to get speech of the Sultan; but be easy, O my son; to-morrow I will +without fail bespeak him on thy behalf, and what happened not shall +happen." When Alaeddin heard his mother's words, he rejoiced with an +exceeding joy, albeit, of the excess of his love and longing for the +Lady Bedrulbudour, he had looked for the matter to be accomplished then +and there; nevertheless, he used patience. + +They slept that night and on the morrow Alaeddin's mother arose and went +with the dish to the Sultan's Divan, but found it closed; so she asked +the folk and they said to her, "The Sultan holdeth a Divan but thrice +a week;" wherefore she was compelled [352] to return home. Then she +proceeded to go every day, and whenas she found the Divan open, she +would stand before the door, [353] till it broke up, when she would +return home; and whiles she went and found the Divan closed. [354] On +this wise she abode a week's space [355] and the Sultan saw her at +each Divan; so, when she went on the last day [of the week] and stood, +according to her wont, before the Divan, till it was ended, but could +not muster courage to enter [356] or say aught, the Sultan arose and +entering the harem, turned to his chief Vizier, who was with him, and +said to him, "O Vizier, these six or seven days [357] past I have seen +yonder old woman come hither at every Divan and I note that she still +carrieth somewhat under her veil. [358] Hast thou any knowledge of her, +O Vizier, and knowest thou what is her want?" "O our lord the Sultan," +replied the Vizier, "verily women are little of wit; and most like this +woman cometh to complain to thee of her husband or one of her folk," +The Sultan was not content with the Vizier's reply, but bade him, an +she came again to the Divan, bring her before him forthright; [359] +whereupon the Vizier laid his hand on his head and answered, "Hearkening +and obedience, O our lord the Sultan." + +Meanwhile, [360] Alaeddin's mother, albeit she was grown exceeding weary +and dejected, yet made light of all weariness, for her son's sake, and +continued, as of her wont, to go every court-day and stand in the Divan +before the Sultan. [361] Accordingly, one day of the days, she went to +the Divan, as of her wont, and stood before the Sultan; and when he saw +her, he called his Vizier and said to him, "Yonder is the woman of whom +I bespoke thee yesterday; bring her now before me, so I may see what +her suit is and accomplish unto her her occasion." So the Vizier arose +forthright and let bring Alaeddin's mother in before the Sultan. When +she came into the latter's presence, she made her obeisance to him and +did him reverence, wishing him glory and continuance and eternity of +prosperity and kissing the ground before him. Then said he to her, "O +woman, I see thee come every day to the Divan and thou speakest not of +aught. Tell me an thou have a want, that I may accomplish it unto thee;" +whereupon she kissed the earth a second time and called down blessings +upon him, then answered, "Ay, O King of the Age, as thy head liveth, +I have indeed a want; but before all things do thou give me thine +assurance, [362] so I may make bold to prefer my suit to the hearing of +our lord the Sultan, for that belike Thy Grace will find it a strange +one." + +The Sultan, that he might learn what her suit was and for that he was of +his nature exceeding clement, gave her his assurance and bidding all +who were with him go out forthright, abode alone [with her], he and the +Grand Vizier. Then he turned to her and said, "Tell me thy suit, and the +assurance [363] of God the Most High be upon thee." Quoth she, "O King +of the Age, I wish thy pardon also." And he said to her, "God pardon +thee!" [364] Then said she to him, "O our lord the Sultan, I have a +son, whose name is Alaeddin, and one day of the days he heard the +crier proclaim that none should open his shop nor show himself in the +thoroughfares of the city, [365] for that the Lady Bedrulbudour, the +daughter of our lord the Sultan, was going to the bath. When my son +heard this, he wished to see her; so he hid himself in a place, +whence he might see her well, and this was behind the door of the bath. +Accordingly, when she came up, he saw her and viewed her well, beyond +his wish; and from that time till now, O King of the Age, life hath +not been pleasant to him [366] and he will e'en have me seek her of Thy +Grace, [367] so thou mayst marry her with him, and I cannot do away this +conceit from his wit, for that the love of her hath gotten possession of +his vitals, so that he saith to me, 'Know, O mother mine, that, except +I attain my desire, assuredly I am a dead man.' Wherefore I crave Thy +Grace's clemency and hope that thou wilt pardon me and my son this +effrontery neither be wroth with us therefor." + +When the King heard her story, he fell a-laughing, of his clemency, +[368] and asked her, "What is that thou hast with thee and what is that +bundle?" [369] Whereupon she, seeing that he was not angered at her +words, but laughed, opened the handkerchief forthright and proffered him +the dish of jewels. When the Sultan saw the jewels (and indeed, whenas +she raised the handkerchief from them, the Divan became as it were +all illumined with lamp-clusters and candlesticks), he was amazed and +confounded at their radiance and fell a-marvelling at their lustre and +bigness and beauty; and [370] he said, "Never saw I the like of these +jewels for beauty and bigness and perfection, nor methinketh is one of +them found in my treasuries." Then he turned to his Vizier and said to +him, "How sayst thou, O Vizier? Sawest thou ever in thy life the like of +these magnificent jewels?" "Never, O our lord the Sultan," replied the +Vizier, "nor, methinketh, is the least of those which be here found in +the treasuries of our lord the King." Quoth the Sultan, "Doth not he +who giveth me these jewels deserve to be bridegroom to my daughter +Bedrulbudour? Marry, by what I see, meseemeth none is worthier of her +than he." + +When the Vizier heard the Sultan's words, his tongue was tied for +despite and he was overcome with exceeding chagrin, forasmuch as the +King had promised him that he would marry his daughter to his son; +so, after a little, he said to him, "O King of the age, Thy Grace +condescended to promise me [371] that the Lady Bedrulbudour should be my +son's; wherefore it behoveth thine exalted highness appoint a delay of +three months, [372] and God willing, my son's present shall be greater +than this." The King, for all he knew that this was a thing whereto the +Vizier might not avail, no, nor the greatest King, [373] nevertheless +exercised his clemency [374] and granted him the delay he sought; then, +turning to the old woman, he said to her, "Go to thy son and tell him +I give him [my] word that my daughter shall be in his name; [375] but +needs must I take order for her equipment; [376] wherefore it behoveth +him grant us a delay of three months." + +Alaeddin's mother took the answer and thanked the Sultan and prayed for +him, then went forth and fared homeward in haste, flying of her joy, +till she came to the house and entered. Her son saw her laughing-faced +and foreboded good news; more by token that she returned forthright +and tarried not, as on each day past, neither brought back the dish. +Accordingly he asked her and said to her, "God willing, O my mother, +thou bringest me good news; the jewels and their value have wrought +their work and thou wilt have found acceptance with the Sultan; yea, he +will have shown thee favour and given ear unto thy suit." So she told +him all that had passed and how the Sultan had received her and had +marvelled, both he and his Vizier, at the size and beauty of the jewels, +and how he had promised her that [quoth she] "his daughter shall be in +thy name. But, O my son, ere he promised me, the Vizier whispered [377] +him somewhat, whereupon he appointed me for three months hence; and I +am fearful lest the Vizier be a man of evil disposition, [378] who will +change the King's mind." + +When [379] Alaeddin heard his mother's words and how the Sultan had +appointed her for [380] three months [thence], his heart was lightened +and he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and said, "Since the Sultan hath +promised for [381] three months [hence], true, it [382] is long, but in +any case my joy is great." Then he thanked her for her kindness and the +pains she had taken [383] and said to her, "By Allah, O my mother, it +is as I were in a tomb and now thou hast raised me up therefrom; and +I praise God the Most High, for I am presently certified that there is +none richer or happier than I in the world." Then he waited till two +of the three months were past, when his mother went out one day of the +days, at sundown, to buy oil, and saw the markets closed and the city +all decorated and the folk setting candles and flowers in their windows +and saw troops, horse and foot, and mounted eunuchs drawn up in state, +with cressets and lustres burning. At this wonder took her; [384]he went +to an oilman's shop there open and buying oil of him, said to him, "[I +conjure thee] by thy life, O uncle, tell me what is toward to-day in +this city, that the folk are making this decoration and the markets +[are shut] and the houses all adorned and the troops drawn up in state?" +Quoth he, "O woman, methinketh thou art a stranger and art not of this +city." "Nay," answered she, "but I am of this city;" and he said to her, +"Thou art of this city and knowest not that this is the night of +the going in of the Grand Vizier's son to the Lady Bedrulbudour, the +Sultan's daughter? Nay, he is presently in the bath and yonder Amirs +and troops are drawn up awaiting him, against he come forth, so they may +carry him in procession to the palace of the Sultan's daughter." + +When Alaeddin's mother heard this, she was troubled and perplexed in +her wit how she should do to acquaint her son with this woeful news, for +that the poor wretch was counting the hours till the three months should +be ended. So she returned home forthright and going in to Alaeddin, said +to him, "O my son, I have news to tell thee, but it irketh me for thy +chagrin therefrom." Quoth he, "Speak; what is the news?" And she said to +him, "The Sultan hath gone from his promise to thee in the matter of his +daughter, the Lady Bedrulbudour, for that this very night the Vizier's +son goeth in to her; and indeed methought at the time, [385] O my son, +the Vizier would change the Sultan's mind, even as I told thee that he +bespoke him privily before me." "How knewest thou this," asked Alaeddin, +"that the Vizier's son goeth in this night to the Lady Bedrulbudour?" So +she told him all she had seen of the decorations in the city, whenas she +went to buy the oil, and how the eunuchs and chiefs of the state were +drawn up awaiting the Vizier's son, against he should come forth of the +bath, for that this was the night of his going in. When Alaeddin heard +this, he fell into a fever of chagrin; [386] but presently he bethought +him of the lamp and rejoiced and said to his mother, "By thy life, O my +mother, methinketh the Vizier's son shall not rejoice in her, as +thou deemest. But now leave us be with this talk and go lay us the +evening-meal, so we may sup; then, when I shall have passed a while in +my chamber, all shall yet be well." + +Accordingly, [387] after he had supped, he went into his chamber and +locking the door on himself, fetched the lamp and rubbed it; whereupon +the genie at once appeared to him and said, "Seek what thou wilt, for I +am thy slave and the slave of whoso hath in his hand the lamp, I and all +the slaves of the lamp." And Alaeddin said to him, "Harkye, I sought of +the Sultan to marry his daughter, and he appointed me for [388] three +months' time; however, he abode not by his promise, but gave her to the +Vizier's son, and the latter purposeth to go in [to her] this night. +Wherefore I do presently command thee, as thou art a loyal servant of +the lamp, that this night, whenas thou seest the bride and bridegroom +abed together, thou take them up in their bed [and bring them] hither. +This is what I seek of thee." "Hearkening and obedience," answered the +genie, "and if thou have a service [to require of me] other than this, +command me whatsoever thou seekest." And Alaeddin said to him, "I have +no present requirement save that whereof I have bespoken thee." So the +slave disappeared and Alaeddin returned to finish his supper [389] with +his mother. + +When he deemed it time for the genie's coming, he arose and entered his +chamber; and after a little, the Marid appeared with the bridal pair in +their bed; whereat Alaeddin rejoiced with exceeding great joy and said +to the slave, "Bear this gallowsbird hence and couch him in the house of +easance." [390] The genie accordingly took up the bridegroom and couched +him in the draught-house; moreover, ere he left him, he blew on him a +blast wherewith he dried him up, and the Vizier's son abode in woeful +case. Then he returned to Alaeddin and said to him, "An thou need +otherwhat, tell me." And Alaeddin said to him, "Return in the morning, +so thou mayst take them [back] to their place." "Hearkening and +obedience," answered the genie and was gone; whereupon Alaeddin +arose,--and indeed he had scarce believed that the thing should succeed +with him,--and when he saw the Lady Bedrulbudour in his house, he +entreated her with respect, albeit he had long burned for love of her, +and said to her, "O princess of the fair, think not that I have brought +thee hither to soil shine honour. God forbid! Nay, it was that I might +not let others [391] enjoy thee, for that thy father the Sultan gave me +his word upon thee; so be thou in peace and assurance." As [392] for +the princess, when she found herself in that mean dark; house and heard +Alaeddin's words, fear and trembling get hold upon her and she was +confounded and could return him no answer. Then he arose and putting off +his clothes, placed a sword between himself and her and lay down by her +side in the bed, without treason; [393] it sufficed him to prevent [the +consummation of] her marriage with the Vizier's son. Nevertheless, the +Lady Bedrulbudour passed the sorriest of nights, never in her life had +she known a worse; whilst the Vizier's son lay in the draught-house and +dared not stir for fear of the genie. + +When it was morning, the genie presented himself before Alaeddin, +without his rubbing the lamp, and said to him, "O my lord, an thou +wish aught, command me withal, so I may do it on my head and eyes." And +Alaeddin bade him go carry the bride and bridegroom to their own place. +The genie did his bidding in the twinkling of an eye and laying the +Vizier's son with the Lady Bedrulbudour, took them up and set them down +in their place in the palace, without their seeing any one; but they +were like to die of fright, when they felt themselves carried from +place to place. Hardly had the genie set them down and gone out when the +Sultan came to visit his daughter; and when the Vizier's son heard the +door open, he straightway sprang out of bed, knowing that none might +enter but the Sultan, and donned his clothes, [394] albeit this irked +him sore, for that he would fain have warmed himself a little, having +had no time [to do so] since he left the draught-house. The [395] Sultan +came in to his daughter and kissing her between the eyes, gave her +good-morrow and asked her of her bridegroom and if she was content with +him; but she returned him no answer and looked at him with a dejected +air. [396] He bespoke her several times, but she was silent and answered +him not a word; so he went out from her and going in to the Queen, told +her what had passed between himself and the Lady Bedrulbudour. + +The Queen, so she might not leave the Sultan angry with the Lady +Bedrulbudour, said to him, "O King of the Age, this is the wont of +most brides, on their wedding-day, to be shamefast and show somewhat of +coyness. So be not vexed with her and after a day or two she will return +to herself and proceed to speak with the folk; but now, O King of the +Age, shame hindereth her from speaking. However, I purpose to go to her +and see her." Accordingly she arose and donning her clothes, repaired +to her daughter's apartment. Then, going up to her, she gave her +good-morrow and kissed her between the eyes; but the Lady Bedrulbudour +returned her no manner of answer and the Queen said in herself, "Needs +must some strange thing have befallen her, to trouble her thus." So +she asked her, saying, "O my daughter, what is the cause of this thy +behaviour? Tell me what aileth thee, that I come to thee and give thee +good-morrow and thou returnest me no answer." + +The Lady Bedrulbudour raised her head and said to her, "Blame me not, +O my mother; indeed, it behoved me receive thee with all reverence and +worship, since thou honourest me by coming to me; but I beseech thee +hear the cause of this my case and see how this night I have passed +hath been for me the sorriest of nights. Hardly had we lain down, O +my mother, when one, whose fashion I know not, took up the bed and +transported us to a place dark, foul [397] and mean." Then she told her +mother the queen all that had betided her that night and how they had +taken her bridegroom, leaving her alone, and how after a little there +came another youth and lay down in the place of her bridegroom, putting +a sword between himself and her; "and in the morning" [quoth she] "he +who had brought us thither returned and taking us up, carried us back to +our place here: and hardly had he brought us hither and left us when my +father the Sultan entered and I had neither heart nor tongue to answer +him for stress of fright and trembling which possessed me. And belike my +father is vexed with me; wherefore I prithee, O my mother, tell him +the cause of this my case, so he be not wroth with me for my failure to +answer him neither blame me, but excuse me." + +When [398] the queen heard the princess's story, she said to her, "O my +daughter, beware of [399] telling this tale before any, lest they [400] +say, 'Verily the Sultan's daughter hath lost her wits.' Marry, thou +diddest well in that thou acquaintedst not thy father with this; +and beware, yea [again I say,] beware, O my daughter, of telling him +thereof." "O my mother," rejoined the Lady Bedrulbudour, "indeed, I +bespoke thee in sober earnest and have not lost my wits; nay, this +is what happened to me, and an thou believe it not from me, ask my +bridegroom." Quoth the queen, "Rise, O my daughter, and put away these +illusions from thy thought; nay, don thy clothes and see the rejoicing +that is toward in the town on thine account and the festivities that +they celebrate in the kingdom for thy sake and hear the drums and the +singing and look upon the decorations, all in honour of thy nuptials, O +my daughter." Accordingly, she summoned the tirewomen, who dressed the +Lady Bedrulbudour and busked her; whilst the Queen went in to the Sultan +and told him that there had that night betided the princess a dream +and illusions, saying, "BIame her not for her failure to answer thee." +Moreover, she sent for the Vizier's son privily and questioned him of +the affair, whether the Lady Bedrulbudour's speech was true or not; but +he, of his fear to lose his bride, lest she should go from his hand, +said to her, "O my lady, I know nothing of that which thou sayest;" +wherefore the queen was certified that there had betided her daughter +illusions and a dream. + +The wedding rejoicings continued all that day, with dancing-women and +singing-women, and all the instruments of mirth and minstrelsy were +smitten, whilst the queen and the Vizier and his son were exceeding +assiduous in keeping up the festivities, so the Lady Bedrulbudour should +rejoice and her chagrin be dispelled; nay, they left nought that day +of that which exciteth unto liesse but they did it before her, so she +should leave what was in her mind and be cheered. But all this had no +effect on her and she was silent and thoughtful and confounded at that +which had befallen her that night. True, the Vizier's son had fared +worse than she, for that he was couched in the draught-house; but he +belied [401] the matter and put away that tribulation from his thought, +of his fear lest he should lose his bride and his rank, [402] more by +token that all the folk envied him his lot, for the much increase of +honour it brought him, as also for the exceeding beauty and loveliness +of the Lady Bedrulbudour. + +As for Alaeddin, he went out that day and saw the rejoicings toward in +the city and the palace and fell a-laughing, especially when he heard +the folk speak of the honour which had betided the Vizier's son and +the greatness of his good luck, in that he was become the Sultan's +son-in-law, and the exceeding pomp used in his marriage and bridal +festivities; and he said in himself, "Ye know not, good simple folk that +ye are, [403] what befell him last night, that ye envy him." Then, when +the night came in and it was the season of sleep, Alaeddin arose and +entering his chamber, rubbed the lamp, whereupon the genie appeared +to him forthright and [404] he bade him bring the princess and her +bridegroom, as on the past night, ere the Vizier's son should take her +maidenhead. The genie delayed not, but was absent a little while; and +when it was the appointed time, he returned with the bed and therein the +Lady Bedrulbudour and the Vizier's son. With the latter he did as he +had done the past night, to wit, he took him and couched him in the +draught-house, where he deft him parched for excess of fright and +dismay; whilst Alaeddin arose and placing the sword between himself and +the Lady Bedrulbudour, lay down and slept till the morning, when the +genie appeared and restored the twain to their place, leaving Alaeddin +full of joy at [the discomfiture of] the Vizier's son. + +When the Sultan arose in the morning, he bethought himself to visit his +daughter Bedrulbudour and see an she should do with him as she had done +on the past day; so, as soon as he awoke from his sleep, he rose and +donning his clothes, went to his daughter's chamber and opened the door. +Whereupon the Vizier's son arose forthright and coming down from the +bed, fell to donning his clothes, with ribs cracking for cold; for +that, when the Sultan entered, it was no great while since the genie +had brought them back. The Sultan went up to his daughter, the Lady +Bedrulbudour, as she lay abed, and raising the curtain, gave her good +morning and kissed her between the eyes and asked her how she did. She +frowned and returned him no answer, but looked at him sullenly, as she +were in sorry case. He was wroth with her, for that she made him no +answer, and thought that something had betided her; so he drew the sword +and said to her, "What hath befallen thee? Either thou shalt tell me +what aileth thee or I will do away thy life this very moment. Is this +the respect that is due to my rank and the honour in which thou holdest +me, that I bespeak thee and thou answerest me not a word?" + +When the Lady Bedrulbudour knew that her father was angry and saw the +naked sword in his hand, she was like to swoon for fear; [405] so she +raised her head and said to him, "Dear [406] my father, be not wroth +with me, neither be thou hasty in thine anger, for that I am excusable +in that which thou hast seen from me. [407] Do but hearken what hath +betided me and I am well assured that, whenas thou hearest my story of +that which hath happened to me these two nights past, thou wilt excuse +me and Thy Grace will be moved to compassion upon me, as I know from thy +love for me." [408] Then she acquainted him with all that had befallen +her and said to him, "O my father, an thou believe me not, ask my +bridegroom and he will resolve Thy Grace of everything, albeit I know +not what they did with him, when they took him from my side, nor where +they set him." When [409] the Sultan heard his daughter's story, he +was sore concerned and his eyes brimmed with tears; then, sheathing +the sword and coming up to her, he kissed her and said to her, "O my +daughter, why didst thou not tell me yesterday, so I might have warded +off from thee the torment and affright which have befallen thee this +night? But no matter; arise and put away from thee this thought, and +to-night I will set over thee those who shall guard thee, so there shall +not again befall thee that which befell yesternight." Then he returned +to his pavilion and sent at once for the Vizier, who came and stood +before him, awaiting his commands; and the Sultan said to him, "O +Vizier, how deemest thou of this affair? Most like thy son hath told +thee what happened to him and to my daughter." "O King of the Age," +answered the Vizier, "I have not seen my son or yesterday or to-day." +Whereupon the Sultan acquainted him with all that his daughter the Lady +Bedrulbudour had told him and said to him, "It is now my will that thou +enquire of thy son the truth of the case, for it may be my daughter +knoweth not for fright what happened to her, though methinketh her tale +is all true." So the Vizier arose and sending for his son, asked him of +all that the Sultan had told him, if it were true or not. Whereupon, +"O my father the Vizier," replied the youth, "[God] preserve the Lady +Bedrulbudour from leasing! [410] Indeed, all she saith is true and these +two nights past have been for us the sorriest of nights, instead of +being nights of pleasance and delight. Marry, that which befell me was +yet worse, for that, instead of sleeping with my bride in bed, I lay +in the draught-house, a place dark and frightful, noisome of smell and +accursed, and my ribs were straitened [411] with cold." Brief, he told +the Vizier all that had befallen him and ultimately said to him; "Dear +[412] my father, I beseech thee speak with the Sultan that he release me +from this marriage. True, it is great honour for me to be the Sultan's +son-in-law, more by token that the love of the Lady Bedrulbudour hath +gotten possession of my vitals, but I cannot avail to endure one more +night like the two that are past." + +When [413] the Vizier heard his son's words, he grieved and was +exceeding chagrined, for that he had thought to greaten his son and +advance him by making him the King's son-in-law; so he bethought himself +and was perplexed anent the matter and what was to do therein; [414] and +indeed it irked him sore that the marriage should be dissolved, for that +he had long besought [415] the Ten [416] that he might compass the like +of that affair; [417] so he said to his son, "Have patience, O my son, +so we may see [how it will be] to-night, and we will set over you guards +to guard you; but do not thou let slip this great honour, for that +it hath fallen to none other than thyself." Therewith he left him and +returning to the Sultan, told him that the Lady Bedrulbudour's story was +true; whereupon quoth the Sultan, "Since the case is thus, we need +no wedding-festivities." [418] And he bade forthright break off the +rejoicings and the marriage was dissolved. The folk and the people of +the city marvelled at this strange thing, especially when they saw the +Vizier and his son go forth the palace in a pitiable plight for stress +of chagrin and despite, and they fell to asking, "What hath happened +and why is the marriage avoided and the rejoicings broken off?" But none +knew what was to do save Alaeddin, the suitor, [419] who laughed in his +sleeve. So the marriage was annulled; but the Sultan had forgotten his +promise to Alaeddin's mother and never again bethought him thereof, +neither he nor the Vizier; nor knew they whence came that which had +happened. + +Alaeddin waited till the three months had elapsed, after which the +Sultan had promised that he would marry him to his daughter, the Lady +Bedrulbudour, then despatched his mother to the Sultan to require him of +the performance of his promise. So she repaired to the palace and +when the Sultan came to the Divan and saw her standing before him, he +remembered his promise to her, that after three months he would marry +his daughter to her son, and turning to the Vizier, said to him, "O +Vizier, yonder is the woman who presented us with the jewels and we gave +her our word that after three months [we would marry our daughter to her +son]. Bring her before me forthright." So the Vizier went and brought +Alaeddin's mother before the Sultan; and when she came into the +presence, she made her obeisance to him and prayed God to vouchsafe him +glory and endurance of prosperity. The Sultan asked her if she had a +need, and she said to him, "O King of the Age, the three months are +ended, after which thou didst promise me thou wouldst marry my son +Alaeddin to thy daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour." The Sultan was +perplexed at this her claim, more by token that he saw her in poor case, +as she were the meanest of the folk; but the present which she had made +him was exceeding magnificent [and indeed] beyond price; [420] so he +turned to the Vizier and said to him, "How deemest thou? What shall we +do? [421] It is true I gave her my word, but meseemeth they are poor +folk and not of the chiefs of the people." + +The [422] Vizier, who was like to die of envy and chagrin for that which +had befallen his son, said in himself, "How shall one like this marry +the Sultan's daughter and my son lose this honour?" So he said to the +Sultan, [423] "O my lord, it is an easy matter to rid ourselves of [424] +this vagabond, [425] for that it would not beseem Thy Grace to give thy +daughter to a man like this, of whom it is not known what he is." Quoth +the Sultan, "On what wise shall we rid ourselves of this man, seeing +I have given him my word and a King's word is his bond?" "O my lord," +answered the Vizier, "my counsel is that thou require of him forty +dishes of pure virgin gold, full of jewels, such as she [426] brought +thee the other day, [427] and forty slave-girls to bear the dishes and +forty black slaves." "By Allah, O Vizier," rejoined the Sultan, "'thou +speakest rightly; for that this is a thing to which he may not avail +and so we shall be rid of him by [fair] means." [428] So he said to +Alaeddin's mother, "Go and tell thy son that I abide by the promise +which I made him, but an if he avail unto my daughter's dowry; to wit, +I require of him forty dishes of pure gold, which must all be full +of jewels [such as] thou broughtest me [erst], together with forty +slave-girls to carry them and forty male slaves to escort and attend +them. If, then; thy son avail unto this, I will marry him to my +daughter." + +Alaeddin's mother returned home, shaking her head and saying, "Whence +shall my poor son get these dishes of jewels? Supposing, for the jewels +and the dishes, that he return to the treasure and gather the whole from +the trees,--and withal methinketh not it is possible to him; but say +that he fetch them,--whence [shall he get] the slaves and slave-girls?" +And she gave not over talking to herself till she reached the house, +where Alaeddin awaited her, and when she came in to him, she said to +him, "O my son, said I not to thee, 'Think not to attain to the Lady +Bedrulbudour'? Indeed, this is a thing that is not possible unto folk +like ourselves." Quoth he, "Tell me what is the news." And she said to +him, "O my son, the Sultan received me with all courtesy, according to +his wont, and meseemeth he meant fairly by us, but [for] thine accursed +enemy the Vizier; for that, after I had bespoken the Sultan in thy name, +even as thou badest me, reminding him that the term for which he had +appointed us was past and saying to him, 'If Thy Grace would vouchsafe +to give commandment for the marriage of thy daughter the Lady +Bedrulbudour with my son Alaeddin,'--he turned to the Vizier and spoke +to him. The Vizier replied to him in a whisper and after that the Sultan +returned me an answer." Then she told him what the Sultan required of +him and added, "O my son, he would fain have present answer of thee; but +methinketh we have no answer to give him." + +When [429] Alaeddin heard his mother's speech, he laughed and said, "O +my mother, thou sayest we have no answer to make him and deemest the +thing exceeding hard; but now be good enough to rise [430] and fetch us +somewhat to eat, and after we have dined, thou shalt (an it please the +Compassionate) see the answer. The Sultan like thyself, thinketh he hath +sought of me an extraordinary matter, so he may divert me from the Lady +Bedrulbudour; but the fact is that he seeketh a thing less than I had +looked for. But go now and buy us somewhat we may eat and leave me to +fetch thee the answer." Accordingly, she arose and went out to buy her +need from the market, so she might make ready the morning-meal; whilst +Alaeddin entered his chamber and taking the lamp, rubbed it. The genie +immediately appeared to him and said, "Seek what thou wilt, O my lord;" +whereupon quoth Alaeddin, "I seek the Sultan's daughter in marriage and +he requireth of me forty dishes of pure gold, each ten pounds in weight +and full of the jewels which be in the garden of the treasure, the +forty dishes to be borne by forty slave girls and each slave-girl to be +accompanied by a male slave; wherefore I will have thee bring me this, +all of it." "Hearkening and obedience, O my lord," replied the genie +and disappearing, was absent awhile, then returned with the forty +slave-girls, each attended by a male slave and bearing on her head a +dish of pure gold, full of precious jewels. So he brought them before +Alaeddin and said to him, "Here is that which thou soughtest. Tell me +an thou need thing or service other than this." Quoth Alaeddin, "I need +nothing [more]; if I need aught, I will summon thee and tell thee." + +Accordingly, the genie vanished and after a little, Alaeddin's mother +returned and entering the house, saw the slaves and slave-girls; whereat +she marvelled and said, "All this is of the Lamp; God continue it unto +my son!" Then, before she put off her veil, Alaeddin said to her, "O my +mother, this is thy time, ere the Sultan enter his palace [and withdraw] +to his harem. Take him what he seeketh, and that forthright, so he may +know that I can avail unto that which he requireth, ay, and more, and +that he was deluded by the Vizier; albeit he thought to baffle me, he +and his Vizier." Then he arose and opening the house-door, let out the +damsels and the slaves, pair by pair, each damsel with a slave by her +side, so that they filled the street. His mother forewent them and the +people of the quarter, when they saw that rare and magnificent +sight, stood looking and marvelling and gazing upon the faces of the +slave-girls and their grace and goodliness [and their apparel], for that +they were clad in clothes all inwoven with gold and studded with jewels; +nay, the least one's clothes of them were worth thousands. Moreover they +looked at the dishes [431] and saw flashing therefrom a radiance that +outshone the light of the sun, albeit each dish was covered with a +piece of brocade, gold-inwrought and studded eke with precious jewels. +Alaeddin's [432] mother fared on and the damsels and slaves followed +after her, in all fair ordinance and disposition, whilst the folk stood +to gaze on the beauty of the slave-girls and extolled the perfection of +the Almighty Creator, till she reached the palace and entered it with +them. + +When the eunuchs and chamberlains and captains of the guard saw them, +wonder took them and they were breathless for amaze at this sight, the +like whereof they had never in their lives seen, and especially at the +slave girls, each one of whom would ravish the wit of an anchorite. +Withal, the chamberlains and captains of the Sultan's guards were all +of them sons of grandees and Amirs; and they marvelled yet more at the +damsels' costly raiment and the dishes which they bore on their heads +and on which they might not open their eyes, [433] for the excess of +their flashing and radiance. Then the guards [434] entered and told the +Sultan, who bade bring them before him forthright into the Divan. +So Alaeddin's mother entered with them and when they came before the +Sultan, they all did obeisance to him with the utmost courtliness and +gravity and invoked on him glory and prosperity; then, raising the +dishes from their heads, they set them down before him and stood with +their hands clasped behind them, after they had removed the covers. + +The Sultan wondered with an exceeding wonderment and was confounded +at the beauty of the girls and their loveliness, which overpassed +description; his wit was bewildered, when he saw the golden dishes, full +of jewels that dazzled the sight, and he was amazed at this marvel, so +that he became as one dumb, unable to speak aught, of the excess of his +wonderment; nay, his wit was the more perplexed, forasmuch as this +had all been accomplished in an hour's time. Then he bade carry the +slave-girls and their burdens to the pavilion of the Lady Bedrulbudour; +so the damsels took up the dishes and entered; whereupon Alaeddin's +mother came forward and said to the Sultan, "O my lord, this is no great +matter for the Lady Bedrulbudour's exalted rank; nay, she deserveth +manifold this." So the Sultan turned to the Vizier and said to him, "How +sayst thou, O Vizier? He that can in so short a time avail unto riches +like these, is he not worthy to be the Sultan's son-in-law and to have +his daughter to bride?" Now the Vizier marvelled at the greatness of +these riches yet more than the Sultan, but envy was killing him and +waxed on him more and more, when he saw that the Sultan was content with +the bride-gift [435] and the dowry; withal he could not gainstand the +[manifest] truth and say to the Sultan, "He is not worthy;" so he cast +about to work upon him by practice, that he might hinder him from giving +his daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour to Alaeddin, and accordingly said to +him, [436] "O my lord, all the treasures of the world were not worth +a paring of thy daughter Bedrulbudour's nails; indeed, Thy Highness +overrateth this upon her." [437] + +When [438] the Sultan heard the Vizier's words, he knew that this his +speech arose from the excess of his envy; so he turned to Alaeddin's +mother and said to her, "O woman, go to thy son and tell him that I +accept of him the marriage-gift and abide by my promise to him and that +my daughter is his bride and he my son-in-law; so bid him come hither, +that I may make acquaintance with him. There shall betide him from me +nought but all honour and consideration and this night shall be the +beginning of the bridal festivities. But, as I said to thee, let him +come hither to me without delay." So she returned home swiftlier than +the wind, [439] of her haste to bring her son the good news; and she +was like to fly for joy at the thought that her son was to become the +Sultan's son-in-law. As soon as she had taken her leave, the Sultan +bade break up the Divan and entering the Lady Bedrulbudour's pavilion, +commanded to bring the damsels and the dishes before his daughter and +himself, so she should see them. So they brought them and when the Lady +Bedrulbudour saw the jewels, she was amazed and said, "Methinketh there +is not one of these jewels found in the treasuries of the world." Then +she looked at the damsels and marvelled at their beauty and grace and +knew that this was all from her new bridegroom and that he had proffered +it to her service. So she rejoiced, albeit she had been sad and sorry +for her [whilom] bridegroom the Vizier's son,--she rejoiced, [I say], +with an exceeding joy, when she saw the jewels and the beauty of the +damsels, and was cheered; whilst her father rejoiced exceedingly in her +joy, in that he saw her put off chagrin and dejection. Then he said +to her, "O my daughter Bedrulbudour, doth this please thee? Indeed, +methinketh this thy bridegroom is goodlier [440] than the Vizier's son, +and God willing, O my daughter, thou shalt rejoice with him abundantly." +[441] + +So much for the Sultan and as for Alaeddin, when his mother came to the +house and entered and he saw her laughing of the excess of her joy, +he foreboded good news and said, "To God Everlasting [442] be praise! +Accomplished is that which I sought." And she said to him, "Glad +tidings, O my son! Let thy heart rejoice and thine eye be solaced in the +attainment of thy desire, for that the Sultan accepteth thine offering, +to wit, the bride gift and the dowry of the Lady Bedrulbudour, and she +is thy bride and this, O my son, is the night of your [443] bridal and +thy going in to the Lady Bedrulbudour. Nay, the Sultan, that he might +certify me of his word, proclaimed thee his son-in-law before the folk +and declared that this should be the wedding-night; but he said to me, +'Let thy son come hither to me, so I may make acquaintance with him, and +I will receive him with all honour and worship.' And now, O my son, my +office [444] is ended, whatsoever remaineth is a matter for thee." [445] + +Alaeddin kissed his mother's hand and thanked her amain for her +kindness; [446] then he arose and entering his chamber, took the lamp +and rubbed it; whereupon the genie presented himself and said to him, +"Here am I; seek what thou wilt." Quoth Alaeddin, "My will is that thou +take me to a bath, whose like is not in the world, and fetch me a suit +of royal raiment and exceeding costly, such as no king can boast." +"Hearkening and obedience," replied the Marid and taking him up, brought +him intro a bath, never saw King nor Kisra [447] its like, for it was +of alabaster and agate and full of marvellous limnings that ravished the +sight, and therein was a saloon all embossed with precious jewels. None +was there; but, when Alaeddin entered, there came in to him one of the +Jinn in human semblance and washed him and bathed him to the utmost of +the wish: after [448] which he went forth the bath to the outer saloon, +where he found his clothes taken away and in their stead a suit of the +richest royal apparel. Then sherbets were brought him and coffee with +ambergris and he drank and arose; whereupon there came to him a troop +of slaves and clad him in those [449] sumptuous clothes [450] and he +dressed and perfumed himself with essences and sweet-scented smoke. +[451] Now thou knowest [452] that Alaeddin was the son of a poor man, +a tailor: yet now none had thought it, [453] but had said, "This is the +chiefest of the sons of the kings," extolled be the perfection of Him +who changeth and is not changed! + +Then the slave of the lamp came to him and taking him up, set him down +in his house and said to him, "O my lord, dost thou need aught?" "Yes," +answered Alaeddin; "I will have thee bring me eight-and-forty mamelukes, +[454] four-and-twenty to walk before me and four-and-twenty to walk +behind me, with their horses and clothes and arms, and let all that is +upon them and their horses be of stuffs costly and precious exceedingly, +such as are not found in kings' treasuries. Then bring me a stallion +fit for the riding of the Chosroes and be his trappings all of gold, +embossed with noble jewels; and bring me eight-and-forty thousand +diners, in each mameluke's hand a thousand, for that I purpose presently +to visit the Sultan; wherefore delay thou not on me, since I cannot go +thither without all that whereof I have bespoken thee. Bring me also +twelve slave-girls, who must be unique in loveliness and clad in the +richest of raiment, so they may attend my mother to the Sultan's palace, +and let each slave-girl have with her a suit of apparel fit for the +wearing of kings' wives." [455] + +"Hearkening and obedience," replied the genie and disappearing, brought +him in the twinkling of an eye all that he had commanded him withal, +whilst in his hand he held a stallion, whose like is not among the +horses of the Arabs of the Arabs, [456] with housings of the richest +stuffs brocaded with gold; whereupon Alaeddin called his mother +forthright and delivered her the twelve slave-girls and gave her the +[twelve] suits, [457] so she might dress herself [458] and go with them +to the Sultan's palace. Then he despatched one of the mamelukes thither, +to see an the Sultan were come forth of the harem or not; so he went and +returning, swiftlier than lightning, said to him, "O my lord, the Sultan +awaiteth thee." Accordingly he arose and mounting, [set forth], whilst +the mamelukes rode before him and after him, (extolled be the perfection +of the Lord who created them with [459] that which clothed them of +beauty and grace!), strewing gold upon the folk before their lord +Alaeddin, who overpassed them all of his grace and goodliness, and ask +thou not of kings' sons, [460] extolled be the perfection of the Giver, +the Eternal! Now all this was of the virtue of the wonderful lamp, [461] +which gifted whoso possessed it with goodliness and grace and wealth and +wisdom. + +The folk marvelled at Alaeddin's bounty and at the excess of his +munificence and were amazed when they saw that which graced him of +beauty and goodliness and his courtliness and dignity; yea, they +extolled the perfection of the Compassionate One for this His noble +creature and all of them great and small [462] called down blessings +on him, albeit they knew him for the son of such an one the tailor; yet +none envied him, but all said, "He is deserving." So [463] he fared on +his way, with the mamelukes before him and behind him, scattering gold +upon the folk, till he came to the palace. + +Now the Sultan had summoned to his presence the chiefs of his state +and telling them that he had passed his word for the marriage of his +daughter to Alaeddin, bade them await the latter, commanding them that, +when he came, they should all go out to meet him; moreover, he assembled +the amirs and viziers and chamberlains and guards and captains of the +troops and they were all awaiting Alaeddin at the door of the palace. +When he arrived, he would have dismounted at the door, but there came up +to him one of the Amirs, whom the Sultan had deputed to that office, and +said to him, "O my lord, the commandment is that thou enter, riding on +thy charger, so thou mayst alight at the door of the Divan." So they +all forewent him and he entered till they brought him to the door of the +Divan. There sundry of them came forward and held his stirrup, whilst +some supported him on both sides and other some took him by the hand, +and so they dismounted him. Then the Amirs and officers of state +forewent him and brought him into the Divan, till he drew near the +Sultan's throne; whereupon the latter came down forthright from his seat +and embracing him, hindered him from kissing the carpet and seated him +beside himself on his right hand. Alaeddin did that which behoveth and +befitteth unto kings of obeisance and invocation and said to him, "O our +lord the Sultan, thy Grace's munificence hath vouchsafed [464] to accord +me the Lady Bedrulbudour thy daughter, albeit I am unworthy of this +great favour, for that I am of the lowliest of thy slaves; wherefore I +beseech God that He keep and continue thee. Indeed, O King, my tongue +faileth to thank thee [as were behoving] for the greatness of this boon, +overpassing its competence, [465] wherewith thou hast favoured me, and +I beseech Thy Grace to vouchsafe me ground, such as is meet, so I may +build thereon a palace that shall be fit for the Lady Bedrulbudour." + +The Sultan was amazed when he saw Alaeddin in this regal array and +beheld his grace and goodliness and the mamelukes standing in attendance +upon him in all their comeliness and fair favour; yea, and his +wonderment redoubled when Alaeddin's mother came up attired in rich and +costly raiment, as she were a queen, and he saw twelve slave-girls in +her service, preceding her, their hands clasped behind their backs, with +all worship and observance. Moreover, he noted Alaeddin's eloquence and +the elegance of his speech and was amazed thereat, he and all who were +present with him in the Divan, whilst fire was kindled in the Vizier's +heart for envy of Alaeddin, so that he was like to die. Then, after the +Sultan had heard Alaeddin's compliment and had seen the greatness of his +quality and his modesty and eloquence, he strained him to his bosom and +kissed him, saying, "It irketh me, O my son, that I have not known thee +[466] before to-day." So, [467] when he saw Alaeddin on this fashion, he +rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy and at once bade the music [468] +and the drums [469] strike up; then, rising, he took him by the hand and +carried him into the palace, where the evening-meal had been made ready +and the servants set the tables. There he sat down and seated Alaeddin +on his right hand; whereupon the viziers and chiefs of the state and +the grandees of the realm sat also, each in his several room, whilst the +drums beat and they held high festival in the palace. [470] + +The Sultan proceeded to make familiar with Alaeddin and to talk with +him, and Alaeddin answered him with all courtliness and fluency, as he +had been bred in kings' palaces or as he were their constant associate; +[471] and the more the talk was prolonged between them, the more +gladness and joy redoubled on the Sultan for that which he heard of the +goodliness of Alaeddin's answers and the sweetness of his speech. Then, +when they had eaten and drunken and the tables were removed, the Sultan +bade fetch the Cadis and the witnesses; so they came and knotted the +knot and wrote the writ [of marriage] between Alaeddin and the Lady +Bedrulbudour. Therewith Alaeddin arose and would have taken leave; but +the Sultan laid hold on him and said to him, "Whither away, O my son? +The bride-feast is toward and the bride present; the knot is knotted +and the writ written." "O my lord the king," answered Alaeddin, "I +would fain build the Lady Bedrulbudour a palace, besorting her rank and +station, and it may not be that I should go in to her without this; but, +God willing, the building shall, by the diligent endeavour of thy slave +and by Thy Grace's auspice, [472] be right speedily despatched. Indeed, +I long for present enjoyment of the Lady Bedrulbudour; but it behoveth +me [first] apply myself to that which is incumbent on me for her +service." [473] Quoth the Sultan, "O my son, look thyself out the ground +which thou deemest apt to thine end and take it. All is in thy hand; +[474], but here before my palace is a spacious piece of ground, which +meseemeth were best; so, if it please thee, build thou the palace +thereon." And Alaeddin answered him, saying, "Indeed, it is my utmost +desire to be near Thy Grace." + +Then he took leave of the Sultan and going forth, mounted and rode, with +his mamelukes before him and behind him, whilst the folk all prayed for +him and said, "By Allah, he is deserving!" till he came to his house and +alighting from his stallion, entered his chamber and rubbed the lamp; +whereupon the genie stood before him and said to him, "Seek what thou +wilt, O my lord" Quoth Alaeddin, "I desire of thee an important service, +to wit, that thou build me with all speed a palace before that of the +Sultan, which shall be marvellous in its building, never saw kings +its like, and be it complete with all its requisites of kingly and +magnificent furniture and so forth." "Hearkening and obedience," replied +the genie and [475] disappeared; but, before the dawn broke, he came +to Alaeddin and said to him, "O my lord, the palace is finished to the +utmost of the wish; wherefore, an thou wouldst see it, arise forthright +and look on it." So Alaeddin arose and the genie carried him, in the +twinkling of an eye, to the palace, which when he saw, he was amazed +at its building, for that all its stones were of jade and alabaster and +porphyry and mosaic. The genie carried him into a treasury full of all +manner of gold and silver and precious jewels past count or reckoning, +price or estimation; then he brought him into another place, where he +saw all the requisites of the table, platters and spoons and ewers and +basins and cups, of gold and silver, and thence to the kitchen, where +he found cooks, [476] with their cooking-gear and utensils, all on like +wise of gold and silver. Moreover, he brought him into a place, which he +found full of coffers overflowing with royal raiment, such as ravished +the wit, gold-inwoven stuffs, Indian and Chinese, and brocades, and +he showed him also many other places, all full of that which beggareth +description, till at last he brought him into a stable, wherein +were horses whose like is not found with the kings of the world; and +therewithin he showed him a storehouse, full of housings and saddles of +price, all broidered with pearls and precious stones and so forth. + +Alaeddin was amazed and bewildered at the greatness of these riches, +whereunto the mightiest king in the world might not avail, and all the +work of one night; more by token that the palace was full of slaves and +slave girls such as would bewitch a saint with their loveliness. But the +most marvellous of all was that he saw in the palace an upper hall [477] +and [478] a belvedere [479] with four-and-twenty oriels, all wroughten +of emeralds and rubies and other jewels, and of one of these oriels +the lattice-work was by his desire left unfinished, [480] so the Sultan +should fail of its completion. When he had viewed the palace, all of it, +he rejoiced and was exceeding glad; then he turned to the genie and said +to him, "I desire of thee one thing which is lacking and whereof I had +forgotten to bespeak thee." Quoth the slave, "Seek what thou wilt, O my +lord;" and Alaeddin said to him, "I will have thee bring me a carpet +Of fine brocade, all inwoven with gold, and spread it from my palace to +that of the Sultan, so the Lady Bedrulbudour, whenas she cometh hither, +may walk thereon and not upon the earth." So the genie was absent +a little and returning, said to him, "O my lord, that which thou +soughtest of me is here." Therewithal he took him and showed him the +carpet, which ravished the wit, and it was spread from the Sultan's +palace to that of Alaeddin; then taking him up, he set him down in his +own house. + +It [481] was now grown high day; so the Sultan arose from sleep and +opening a window of his pavilion, looked forth and saw buildings [482] +before his palace; whereupon he fell to rubbing his eyes and opening +them wide and looking farther, saw a magnificent palace, that bewildered +the wits, and a carpet spread therefrom to his own palace; as on like +wise did the doorkeepers and all who were in the palace, and their wits +were bewildered at the sight. At this juncture the Vizier presented +himself and as he entered, he espied the new palace and the carpet and +marvelled also; so, when he came in to the Sultan, the twain fell to +talking of this strange matter and marvelling, for that they saw a thing +which amazed the beholder and dilated the heart; and they said, "Verily, +methinketh kings may not avail unto the building of the like of this +palace." Then the Sultan turned to the Vizier and said to him, "How now? +Deemest thou Alaeddin worthy to be bridegroom to my daughter the Lady +Bedrulbudour? Hast thou seen and considered this royal building and all +these riches which man's wit cannot comprehend?" The Vizier, of his +envy of Alaeddin, answered him, saying, "O King of the Age, indeed this +palace and its building and all these riches may not be but by means of +enchantment, for that no man among men, no, not the mightiest of them in +dominion or the greatest in wealth, might avail to upraise and stablish +[the like of] this building in one night." Quoth the Sultan, "I marvel +at thee how thou still deemest evil of Alaeddin; but methinketh it +ariseth from thine envy of him, for that thou wast present when he +sought of me a place whereon to build a palace for my daughter and I +accorded him, before thee, [leave to build] a palace on this ground; +and he who brought me, to my daughter's dower, jewels such that no +kings possess one thereof, shall he lack ableness to build a palace like +this?" When [483] the Vizier heard the Sultan's speech and understood +that he loved Alaeddin greatly, his envy of him increased; withal he +availed not to do aught against him, so he was dumb and could make the +Sultan no answer. + +Meanwhile Alaeddin--seeing that it was high day and that the time was +come when he should go to the palace, for that his wedding-festivities +were toward and the Amirs and Viziers and chiefs of the state were +all with the Sultan, so they might be present at the bridal--arose and +rubbed the lamp; whereupon the genie presented himself and said to +him, "O my lord, seek what thou wilt, for that I am before thee, at thy +service." Quoth Alaeddin, "I purpose presently to go to the Sultan's +palace, and to-day is the wedding; wherefore I have occasion for ten +thousand diners, which I will have thee bring me." The slave was absent +the twinkling of an eye and returned to him with the money; whereupon +Alaeddin arose and taking horse, with his mamelukes behind him and +before him, rode to the palace, scattering gold upon the folk, as +he passed, so that they were fulfilled with the love of him and the +greatness of his munificence. [484] When he came to the palace and the +Amirs and eunuchs and soldiers, who were standing awaiting him, saw him, +they hastened forthright to the Sultan and told him; whereupon he arose +and coming to meet him, embraced him and kissed him; then he took him by +the hand and carried him into the palace where he sat down and seated +him on his right hand. + +Now the city was all adorned and the instruments [of music] were smiting +in the palace and the singing-women singing. Then the Sultan trade serve +the morning-meal; so the slaves and mamelukes hastened to spread the +table and it was such as kings might take example by. [485] The Sultan +sat with Alaeddin and the officers of state and the chiefs of the realm +and they ate and drank till they were satisfied; and great was the +rejoicing in the palace and the city. Glad were all the chiefs of the +state and the folk rejoiced in all the realm, whilst there came from far +regions the notables of the provinces and the governors of the cities, +so they might see Alaeddin's wedding and his bride-feast. The Sultan +still marvelled in himself at Alaeddin's mother, how she had come to him +in poor clothes, whilst her son had command of this exceeding wealth; +and as for the folk, who came to the Sultan's palace, to gaze upon the +wedding-festivities, when they saw Alaeddin's palace and the goodliness +of its building, there took them great wonderment how so magnificent a +building had been upreared in one night and they fell all to praying for +Alaeddin and saying, "God prosper him! By Allah, he is deserving. God's +blessing on his days!" + +Meanwhile [486] Alaeddin, having made an end of the morning-meal, arose +and taking leave of the Sultan, mounted with his mamelukes and rode to +his palace, so he might prepare for the reception of his bride, the +Lady Bedrulbudour. As he passed, all the folk cried out to him with +one voice, saying, "God gladden thee! God increase thee in glory! God +continue thee!" And so they brought him home in great procession, what +while he showered gold on them. When he came to his palace, he alighted +and entering, sat down in the Divan, whilst the mamelukes stood before +him with clasped hands. After a little they brought him sherbets and he +gave commandment to his mamelukes and slave-girls and eunuchs and all +who were in his palace that they should make ready to receive the Lady +Bedrulbudour, his bride. Then, when it was the time of the midafternoon +prayer [487] and the air grew cool and the heat of the sun abated, [488] +the Sultan bade the troops and the Amirs and the Viziers go down to +the horse-course. So they all repaired thither and with them the Sultan +himself; whereupon Alaeddin also arose and mounting with his mamelukes, +went down into the plain and showed his horsemanship; then he fell +to playing [489] in the tilting-ground and there was none could stand +before him. Now he was riding a stallion whose like is not among +the horses of the Arabs of the Arabs [490] and his bride the Lady +Bedrulbudour was looking upon him from the window of her pavilion, and +when she saw his grace and goodliness and knightly prowess, she was +overcome with his love and was like to fly for joy in him. Then, after +they had played [some] bouts [491] in the plain and each had shown what +was in him of horsemanship, (but Alaeddin overpassed them all,) the +Sultan went to his palace and Alaeddin on like wise returned home. + +When it was eventide, the chiefs of the state and the Viziers went +and taking Alaeddin, carried him in procession to the Royal Bath, the +Renowned; [492] so he entered and bathed and perfumed himself, then, +coming forth, he donned a suit yet richer than the first and mounted, +whilst the troops rode before him and the Amirs and Viziers. So they +fared on with him in great state, with four of the Viziers for his +sword-bearers, whilst all the troops and people of the city, both +townsfolk and strangers, walked in procession before him, carrying +flambeaux and drums and flutes and instruments of mirth and music, till +they brought him to his palace, when he alighted and entering, sat down, +as did also the Viziers and Amirs who were in his company, whilst the +mamelukes brought sherbets and sweetmeats [493] and gave all who were +with him in the procession to drink, albeit they were a multitude of +folk whose number might not be told. Moreover, he gave commandment unto +his mamelukes, and they went out to the door of the palace and fell to +showering gold upon the folk. + +Meanwhile, [494] when the Sultan returned from the horse-course and +entered his palace, he bade forthright carry his daughter the Lady +Bedrulbudour in procession to the palace of her bridegroom Alaeddin. So +the troops forthright mounted with the officers of state, who had been +in Alaeddin's procession, and the slave-girls and eunuchs went out +with flambeaux and carried the Lady Bedrulhudour in great state to her +bridegroom's palace, Alaeddin's mother by her side and before her the +women of the Viziers and Amirs and grandees and notables. Moreover, she +had with her eight and-forty slave-girls, whom Alaeddin had presented to +her, in each one's hand a great candle of camphor and ambergris, set in +a candlestick of gold, studded with jewels; and all the men and women in +the palace went out with her and fared on before her, till they brought +her to her bridegroom's palace and carrying her up to her pavilion, +[495] attired her in various robes [496] and displayed her. Then, after +they had made an end of displaying her, they carried her to the pavilion +of her groom Alaeddin and he went in to her. Now his mother was with the +Lady Bedrulbudour, and when he came up and did off her veil, she fell to +gazing upon the bride's beauty and grace and looked at the pavilion, the +which was all wroughten [497] of gold and jewels and therein were golden +lustres, all embossed with emeralds and rubies; and she said in herself, +"Methought the Sultan's palace was magnificent; but, for this pavilion +[498] alone, I doubt me the greatest of the Chosroes and the kings never +owned its match; nor, methinketh, might all mankind avail to make +the like thereof." And the Lady Bedrulbudour also fell to looking and +marvelling at the palace [499] and its magnificence. Then the table was +laid and they ate and drank and made merry; and presently there appeared +before them fourscore slave-girls, each with an instrument in her hand +of the instruments of mirth and music. So they plied their finger-tips +and touching their strings, struck up with plaintive airs, till +they clove in sunder the hearts of the listeners, whilst the Lady +Bedrulbudour redoubled in wonderment and said in herself, "Never in my +life heard I the like of these songs;" so that she forgot to eat and +fell to listening. As for Alaeddin, he proceeded to pour to her the wine +and give her to drink with his own hand, and mirth and good cheer and +delight went round among them and it was a rare night, such as Iskender +of the Horns [500] never in his time spent. Then, after they had made an +end of eating and drinking, the tables were removed from before them and +Alaeddin arose and went in to his bride. + +When it was the morning, Alaeddin arose and his treasurer brought him +a costly suit of the richest of kings' raiment; so he donned it and +sat down; whereupon coffee was brought him with ambergris and he drank +thereof and called for the horses. Accordingly, they were saddled and he +mounted and rode, with his mamelukes behind him and before him, to the +Sultan's palace. When he reached it and entered, the eunuchs went in and +acquainted the Sultan with his presence; which [501] when he heard, he +arose forthwith and coming to meet Alaeddin, embraced him and kissing +him, as he were his son, seated him on his right hand. Moreover the +Viziers and Amirs and officers of state and grandees of the realm +invoked blessings on him and the Sultan gave him joy [502] and prayed +God prosper him. Then he bade lay breakfast; [503] so they laid [it] and +they all broke their fast; and after they had eaten and drunken their +sufficiency and had finished and the servants had removed the tables +from before them, Alaeddin turned to the Sultan and said to him, "O my +lord, [belike] Thy Grace will vouchsafe to honour me this day at the +morning-meal [503] with the Lady Bedrulbudour, thy precious daughter, +and be Thy Grace's company all thy viziers and the chief officers of +thy state." Quoth the Sultan, (and indeed he rejoiced in him), "Gladly, +[504] O my son," and bidding the Viziers and officers of state and +grandees attend him, arose forthright and mounted; whereupon Alaeddin +and the others mounted also and they all rode till they came to +Alaeddin's palace. + +When the Sultan entered the palace and viewed its building and ordinance +and saw its stones, which were of jade and agate, he was amazed +[505] and his wit was bewildered at that affluence and wealth and +magnificence; so he turned to the Vizier and said to him, "How sayst +thou, O Vizier? Hast thou in all thy days seen aught like this? Are +there found with the greatest of the kings of the world riches and gold +and jewels such as these we see in this palace?" "O my lord the King," +answered the Vizier, "this is a thing beyond the competence of a king of +the sons of Adam, nor might all the people of the earth together avail +to build a palace like this; nay, there are no craftsmen living able +to do work like this, except it be, as I said to Thy Grace, by might of +magic." [506] The Sultan knew that the Vizier, in seeking to convince him that +this was not by might of men, but all of it enchantment, still spoke not +but of his envy of Alaeddin; so he said to him, "Enough, O Vizier; let +us have no more of thy talk. I know the cause which maketh thee speak on +this wise." + +Then Alaeddin forewent the Sultan till he brought him to the high +pavilion [507] and he looked at the belvedere [508] and its oriols +[509] and lattices, [510] all wroughten of emeralds and rubies and other +precious stones, and was amazed and astonied; his wit was bewildered and +he abode perplexed in his thought. Then he fell to going round about +the pavilion and viewing these things that ravished the sight, till +presently he espied the casement [511] which Alaeddin had purposely left +wanting and unfinished. When the Sultan examined it and saw that it was +unfinished, he said, "Woe is me for thee, O casement, that thou art not +perfect!" Then, turning to the Vizier, he said to him, "Knowest thou the +reason of the lack of completion of this casement and its lattices?" "O +[512] my lord," answered the Vizier, "methinketh it is because Thy Grace +hastened upon Alaeddin with the wedding and he had no time to complete +it." Now Alaeddin had meanwhile gone in to his bride, the Lady +Bedrulbudour, to acquaint her with the coming of her father the Sultan; +and when he returned, the Sultan said to him, "O my son Alaeddin, what +is the reason that the lattice[-work] of yonder oriel [513] is not +completed?" "O King of the Age," replied Alaeddin, "by reason of the +haste made with the bridal, the craftsmen might not avail to [514] +finish it." Quoth the Sultan to him, "It is my wish to finish it +myself." And Alaeddin answered, saying, "God prolong thy glory, O King; +so shall there remain unto thee a remembrance [515] in thy daughter's +palace." + +Accordingly the Sultan bade straightway fetch jewellers and goldsmiths +and commanded to give them from the treasury all that they needed of +gold and jewels and [precious] metals; so they came and he bade them do +that which was wanting of the lattice-work of the [unfinished] oriel. +[516] Meanwhile, the Lady Bedrulbudour came out to receive her father +the Sultan, and when she came up to him and he saw her smiling-faced he +embraced her and kissed her and taking her [by the hand], went in with +her to her pavilion. So they entered all, for that it was the appointed +time of the morning-meal and they had set one table for the Sultan and +the Lady Bedrulbudour and Alaeddin and another for the Vizier and +the officers of state and grandees of the realm and captains and +chamberlains and deputies. The Sultan sat between his daughter, the Lady +Bedrulbudour, and his son-in-law Alaeddin, and when he put his hand to +the food and tasted it, wonder took him at the richness of the meats and +the exquisiteness of their seasonings. [517] Now there stood before them +fourscore damsels, each as it were she said to the full moon, "Rise, +so I may sit in thy place;" and in each one's hand was an instrument +of mirth and music. So they tuned their instruments and touched their +strings and struck up with plaintive [518] airs that dilated the +mourning heart. [519] The Sultan was cheered and the time was pleasant +to him and he rejoiced and said, "Verily, Kings and Kaisers would fail +of [520] this thing." + +Then they fell to eating and drinking and the cup went round among them +till they had taken their sufficiency, when there came sweetmeats [521] +and various kinds of fruits and so forth; and these were laid in another +saloon. So they removed thither and took their fill of those dainties; +after which the Sultan arose, that he might see if the work of the +jewellers and goldsmiths likened that of the palace. So he went up to +them and viewed their work and how they wrought and saw that they were +far from availing to do work like that [of the rest] of Alaeddin's +palace. [522] Moreover [523] they told him that all they found in his +treasury they had brought and it sufficed not; whereupon he bade open +the Great Treasury and give them what they needed and that, if it +sufficed not, they should take that which Alaeddin had given him. So +they took all the jewels assigned them by the Sultan and wrought with +them, but found that these also sufficed them not, nor might they +complete withal the half of that which lacked of the lattice work of the +oriel; [524] whereupon the Sultan bade take all the jewels which should +be found with the Viziers and chiefs of the state; and accordingly they +took them all and wrought therewith; but this also sufficed not. + +When it was morning, Alaeddin went up to view the jewelers' work and saw +that they had not completed half the lacking lattice-work; whereupon +he bade them incontinent undo all that they had wrought and restore the +jewels to their owners. Accordingly, they undid it all and sent to the +Sultan that which was his and to the Viziers [and others] that which +was theirs. Then they went to the Sultan and told him that Alaeddin had +commanded them of this; whereupon he asked them, "What said he to you +and why would he not have the lattice-work finished and why undid he +that which you had done?" And they said to him, "O my lord, we know +nothing, save that he bade us undo all that we had done." Whereupon the +Sultan immediately called for the horses and arising, mounted and rode +to Alaeddin's palace. + +Meanwhile Alaeddin, after dismissing the goldsmiths and the jewellers, +entered his closet and rubbed the lamp; whereupon the genie forthwith +appeared and said to him, "Seek what thou wilt; thy slave is before +thee." And Alaeddin said to him, "It is my will that thou complete the +lacking lattice-work of the oriel." [525] "On my head and eyes [be it]," +replied the slave and disappearing, returned after a little and said to +him, "O my lord, that whereof thou commandedst me I have performed." So +Alaeddin went up to the belvedere [526] and found all its lattices [527] +perfect; and whilst he was viewing them, behold the [chief] eunuch [528] +came in to him and said to him, "O my lord, the Sultan cometh to visit +thee and is at the palace-door." So he came down forthright and went to +meet the Sultan, who [529] said to him, when he saw him, "Wherefore, O +my son, hast thou done thus, and why sufferedst thou not the jewellers +complete the lattice-work of the oriel, [530] so there might not remain +a place in thy palace [531] defective?" "O King of the Age," answered +Alaeddin, "I left it not imperfect but of my free will, nor did I lack +of ableness to complete it. However, I could not brook that Thy Grace +should honour me [with thy presence] in a palace [532] wherein there was +somewhat lacking; wherefore, so thou mayst know that it was not for lack +of ableness that I left it uncomplete, [533] let Thy Grace go up and see +the lattice-work of the kiosk, [534] an there be aught lacking thereto." + +The Sultan accordingly went up to the pavilion [535] and entering the +kiosk, [536] viewed it right and left and saw no manner defect in its +lattices, but found them all perfect; whereat he was astounded and +embracing Alaeddin, fell a-kissing him and saying, "O my son, what is +this extraordinary thing? In one night thou dost a work wherefrom the +jewellers would fail in months! By Allah, methinketh thou hast not thy +fellow [537] in the world!" Quoth Alaeddin, "God prolong thy life and +perpetuate thy continuance! Thy slave is not worthy of this praise." "By +Allah, O my son," rejoined the Sultan, "thou deservest all praise, in +that thou hast done a thing wherefrom [all the] craftsmen of the +world would fail." Then he went down and entering the pavilion of his +daughter, the Lady Bedrulbudour, found her rejoicing exceedingly over +this great magnificence wherein she was; and after he had rested with +her awhile, he returned to his palace. + +Now Alaeddin used every day to mount and ride through the town, with +his mamelukes behind him and before him, strewing gold upon the people, +right and left, and the folk, stranger and neighbour, near and far, were +fulfilled with the love of him for the excess of his munificence and his +bounty. Moreover he exceeded in benefaction of the poor and the indigent +[538] and used himself to distribute his alms to them with his own hand. +After this fashion he won himself great renown in all the realm and the +most of the chiefs of the state and the Amirs used to eat at his table +and swore not but by his precious life. Moreover, he fell to going +everywhile [539] to the chase and the horse course and to practicing +horsemanship and archery [540] before the Sultan, whilst the Lady +Bedrulbudour redoubled in love of him, whenassoever she saw him +disporting himself a horseback, and thought in herself that God had +wrought exceeding graciously by her in that there had befallen her +what befell with the Vizier's son, so He might keep her for her true +bridegroom Alaeddin. So [541] he went daily waxing in goodliness of +repute and in praise and the love of him redoubled in the hearts of the +common folk and he was magnified in men's eyes. + +Now in those days certain of the Sultan's enemies took horse against +him; so he levied troops to repel them and made Alaeddin chief thereof. +Alaeddin set out with his host and fared on till he drew near the enemy, +whose troops were exceeding many; where upon he drew his sword and fell +upon them and there befell battle and slaughter and sore was the stress +of the mellay; but Alaeddin broke them and routed them and slew the most +part of them. Moreover, he plundered their goods and possessions and gat +him spoil beyond count or reckoning, wherewith he returned in triumph, +[having gained] a great victory, and entered the city, which had adorned +itself for him of its joy in him. The Sultan came out to meet him +and give him joy and embraced him and kissed him, and there was high +festival holden in the kingdom and great rejoicing. Then the Sultan and +Alaeddin betook themselves to the latter's palace; [542] whereupon his +bride, the Lady Bedrulbudour, came out to meet him, rejoicing in +him, and kissed him between the eyes, and he went in with her to her +pavilion; [543] whither after a little came the Sultan and they sat down +and the slave-girls brought sherbets. [544] So they drank and the Sultan +commanded that all the realm should be decorated for Alaeddin's victory +over the enemy; whilst it became [a saying] with the commons and the +troops and the folk, all of them, "Allah in heaven and Alaeddin on +earth." and they loved him yet more, having regard not only to the +excess of his bounty and munificence, but to his knightly prowess, in +that he had done battle for the kingdom and had routed the enemy. + +So much for Alaeddin, and now to return to the Mangrabin enchanter. When +he returned to his country, he abode all this time, bewailing that which +he had endured of toil and stress, so he might compass the lamp, yet had +his travail all been wasted and the morsel had escaped from his hand, +after it had reached his mouth; and he still thought upon all this, +bemoaning himself and reviling Alaeddin of the excess of his anger +against him; and whiles he said in himself, "Since yonder whoreson is +dead under the earth, I am content withal and I have hopes of the lamp, +that I may yet achieve it, inasmuch as it is still safeguarded." Then, +one day of the days, he smote the sand and extracting the figures, set +them down after the most approved fashion [545] and adjusted [546] them, +so he might see and certify himself of the death of Alaeddin and the +safe keeping of the lamp under the earth; and he looked well into [547] +the figures, both mothers and daughters, [548] but saw not the lamp, +whereupon rage overrode him and he smote the sand a second time, that +he might certify himself of Alaeddin's death, but saw him not in the +treasure; whereat he redoubled in wrath, and yet more when it was +certified to him that the lad was alive upon the surface of the earth +and he knew that he had come forth from under the ground and had gotten +the lamp, on account whereof he himself had suffered toil and torment +such as passeth man's power to endure. So he said in himself, "I have +suffered many hardships for the sake of the lamp and have endured +fatigues such as none but I might brook, [549] and now yonder accursed +one taketh it without stress and it is evident [550] [that], an he have +learned the use thereof, there will be none in the world richer than +he." + +Then, [551] when he saw and was certified that Alaeddin had come forth +from under the earth and had happened upon the good of the Lamp, [552] +he said in himself, "Needs must I go about to kill him." So he smote the +sand once more and examining its figures, saw that Alaeddin had gotten +him exceeding wealth and had married the Sultan's daughter; whereat he +was all afire for rage and envy and arising then and there, equipped +himself for travel and set out for the land of China. When he came to +the city of the sultanate, [553] wherein was Alaeddin, he entered and +alighting at one of the khans, heard the folk talking of nought but the +magnificence of Alaeddin's palace; then, after he was rested from his +journey, he changed [554] his clothes and went down to go round about +in the thoroughfares of the city. He passed no folk but they were +descanting upon the palace and its magnificence and talking of +Alaeddin's grace and comeliness and his bounty and munificence and the +goodliness of his manners and disposition; so [555] he went up to one +of those who were extolling Alaeddin on this wise and said to him, +"Prithee, fair youth, who is this whom you describe and praise?" "O man," +replied the other, "meseemeth thou art a stranger and comest from afar; +but, granting thou art from a far country, hast thou not heard of the +Amir Alaeddin, whose repute, methought, filled the earth, and of his +palace, a wonder of the world, whereof both far and near have heard? How +is it thou hast heard nought of this nor of the name of Alaeddin, whom +Our Lord increase in glory and prosper?" Quoth the Maugrabin, "Marry, it +is the utmost of my wish to look upon the palace; so, an thou wouldst do +me a kindness, direct me thither, for that I am a stranger." "Hearkening +and obedience," replied the other and going before him, guided him to +Alaeddin's palace. + +The Maugrabin fell to examining it and knew that this all of it was the +work of the Lamp; so he said, "Alack! Alack! Needs must I dig a pit for +this accursed one, this tailor's son, who could not come by a night's +supper; but, an destiny enable me, I will send his mother back to spin +at her wheel, like as she did erst, and as for him, it shall cost him +[556] his life." Then he returned to the khan in a woeful state of +chagrin and colour and despite, for envy of Alaeddin, and [557] taking +his geomantic instruments, [558] smote his [tablet of] sand, so he might +learn where the lamp was, and found that it was in the palace and not +with Alaeddin; [559] whereat he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and said, +"Now it will be an easy matter for me to bereave this accursed of his +life and I have a way to come at the lamp." Accordingly he went to a +coppersmith and said to him, "Make me so many [560] lamps [561] and +take of me their worth in full; [562] but I will have thee despatch them +quickly." "Hearkening and obedience," replied the smith and falling to +work on them, speedily despatched them for him. When they were finished, +the Maugrabin paid him their price, even that which he sought, and +taking the lamps, carried them to the khan, where he laid them in a +basket and fell to going round about in the markets and thoroughfares +of the city and crying out, "Ho! who will barter an old lamp for a new +lamp?" When the folk heard him crying this, they laughed at him and +said, "Certes, this man is mad, since he goeth about, bartering new +lamps for old." Moreover, people [563] followed him and the street-boys +caught him up from place to place [564] and laughed at him. However, he +fended not himself neither took heed of this, but ceased not to go round +about the city till he came under Alaeddin's palace, where he fell +to crying his loudest, whilst the children called after him, "Madman! +Madman!" + +Now as fate willed it, the Lady Bedrulbudour was in the kiosk and +hearing one crying out and the boys calling after him and understanding +not what was toward, bade one of the slave-girls "Go see what is this +man who crieth out and what he crieth." So the girl went and looking, +saw one crying out, "Ho, who will barter an old lamp for a new lamp?" +with the boys after him, laughing at him; so she returned and told her +mistress, saying, "O my lady, this man crieth, 'Ho! who will barter an +old lamp for a new lamp?' and the boys are following him and laughing +at him;" and the Lady Bedrulbudour laughed also at this marvel. Now +Alaeddin had forgotten the lamp in his pavilion, [565] without locking +it up in his treasury [as was his wont], and one of the girls had seen +it; so she said to the princess, "O my lady, methinketh I have seen an +old lamp in my lord Alaeddin's pavilion; let us barter it with this +man for a new one, so we may see an his speech be true or leasing." And +[566] the princess said to her, "fetch the lamp whereof thou speakest." +Now the Lady Bedrulbudour had no knowledge of the lamp and its +properties, neither knew she that this it was which had brought Alaeddin +her husband to that great estate, and it was the utmost of her desire to +prove and see the wit of this man who bartered new for old, nor was +any one aware of the Maugrabin enchanter's craft and trickery. So the +slave-girl went up into Alaeddin's pavilion and returned with the lamp +to the Lady Bedrulbudour, who bade the Aga of the eunuchs [567] go down +and exchange it for a new one; so he took it and going down, gave it to +the Maugrabin and took of him a new lamp, with which he returned to the +princess, who examined it and finding it new and real, fell to laughing +at the Maugrabin's [lack of] wit. Meanwhile, when the enchanter had +gotten the lamp and knew it for that of the Treasure, he thrust it +forthwith into his sleeve [568] and leaving the rest of the lamps to +the folk who were in act to barter of him, set off running, till he came +without the city, and walked about the waste places, awaiting the coming +of the night. Then, when he saw himself alone in the open country, he +brought out the lamp from his sleeve and rubbed it; whereupon the Marid +immediately appeared to him and said, "Here am I; thy slave [is] before +thee. Seek of me what thou wilt." Quoth the Maugrabin, "My will is that +thou take up Alaeddin's palace from its place, with its inhabitants and +all that [569] is therein and myself also, and set it down in my country +of Africa. [570] Thou knowest my town and I will have this palace be +thereby among the gardens." "Hearkening and obedience," replied the +Marid. "Shut [thine] eye and open [thine] eye, and thou wilt find +thyself in thine own country with the palace." And immediately this +befell in the twinkling of an eye and the Maugrabin was transported, +with Alaeddin's palace and all that was therein, to the land of Africa. + +So much for the enchanter, and now let us return to the Sultan and +Alaeddin. The Sultan, of his love and affection for his daughter the +Lady Bedrulbudour, was wont, every day, when he awoke from his sleep, +to open the window and look at her therefrom; so he arose on the morrow, +according to his wont, and opened his chamber-window, so he might +see his daughter; but [571] when he put out his head and looked for +Alaeddin's palace, he beheld nothing but a place swept [and level], +like as it was aforetime, and saw neither palace nor inhabitants; [572] +whereat amazement clad him and his wit was bewildered and he fell +to rubbing his eyes, so haply they were bleared or dimmed. Then he +proceeded to look closely till at last he was certified that there was +neither trace nor sign left of the palace and knew not what was come of +it; whereupon he redoubled in perplexity and smote hand upon hand +and his tears ran down upon his beard, for that he knew not what had +befallen his daughter. So he sent forthright to fetch the Vizier, +who came in to him and seeing him in that woeful state, said to him, +"Pardon, O King of the Age (God keep thee from harm!) why art thou +woeful?" Quoth the Sultan, "Meseemeth thou knowest not of my affair." +And the Vizier said to him, "By Allah, O my lord, I have no knowledge +of aught whatsoever." "Then," rejoined the Sultan, "thou hast not looked +towards Alaeddin's palace." "Nay, O my lord," replied the Vizier, "it +is yet shut." And the Sultan said to him, "Since thou hast no news of +aught, rise and look at it from the window and see where it is, this +palace of Alaeddin's, whereof thou sayest that it is yet shut." The +Vizier arose and looked from the window towards Alaeddin's palace, +but could see nothing, neither palace nor aught else; so his wit was +bewildered and he was amazed and returned to the Sultan, who said to +him, "Now knowest thou the cause of my distress and seest Alaeddin his +palace, whereof thou saddest that it was shut." "O King of the Age," +rejoined the Vizier, "I told Thy Grace aforetime that this palace and +these affairs were all of them [the work of] enchantment." + +At this the Sultan was fired with wrath and said to him, "Where is +Alaeddin?" And he answered, "He is at the chase." Whereupon the Sultan +bade sundry of his eunuchs and officers go straightway fetch him bound +and shackled. So they went till they came to Alaeddin and said to him, +"O our lord Alaeddin, blame us not, for that the Sultan hath bidden +us carry thee to him, bound and shackled; wherefore we beseech thee +of excusement, for that we are under a royal commandment and may not +gainsay it." When Alaeddin heard their speech, wonderment took him and +his tongue was tied, for that he knew not the cause; then he turned to +the eunuchs and officers and said, "Prithee, sirs, [573] have you no +knowledge of the cause of this commandment of the Sultan? I know myself +guiltless, forasmuch as I have done no sin against the Sultan nor +against his realm." And they said to him, "O our lord, we have no manner +of knowledge thereof." So Alaeddin lighted down from his stallion and +said to them, "Do with me that which the Sultan biddeth you, for that +his commandment is upon the head and eyes." Accordingly [574] the +officers shackled him and pinioning him, haled him along in irons and +entered the city with him. + +The folk, seeing Alaeddin pinioned and shackled with iron, knew that +the Sultan was minded to cut off his head, and forasmuch as he was +extraordinarily beloved of them, they all gathered together and taking +up arms, came forth their houses and followed the troops, so they might +see what was to do. When the officers came with Alaeddin to the palace, +they entered and told the Sultan, who immediately bade the headsman go +and cut off his head. But the commons, hearing of this his commandment, +shut the gates of the palace and sent to say to the Sultan, "This very +moment we will overthrow the palace upon thee and all who are therein, +an the least harm happen to Alaeddin." So the Vizier went and told the +Sultan and said to him, "O King of the Age, all will be over with us +forthright; [575] wherefore thou wert best pardon Alaeddin, lest some +calamity befall us, for that the commons love him more than us." Now the +headsman had spread the carpet of blood and seating Alaeddin thereon, +had bound his eyes and gone round him three times, [576] awaiting the +King's final commandment. The Sultan looked at his subjects and seeing +them swarming upon him and climbing up to the palace, that they might +overthrow it, commanded the headsman to hold his hand from Alaeddin and +bade the crier go forth among the people and proclaim that he pardoned +Alaeddin and took him [again] into favour. + +When Alaeddin found himself released and saw the Sultan sitting, he went +up to him and said to him, "O my lord, since Thy Grace hath bountifully +vouchsafed me my life, [577] favour me [yet farther] and tell me the +manner of my offence." "O traitor," replied the Sultan, "till [but] now +I knew not thine offence;" then, turning to the Vizier, he said to +him, "Take him, that he may see from the windows where his palace is." +Accordingly the Vizier took him and Alaeddin looked from the windows in +the direction of his palace and finding the place swept and clear, like +as it was before he built the palace thereon, neither seeing any +trace of the latter, he was amazed and bewildered, unknowing what had +happened. When he returned, the King said to him, "What hast thou seen? +Where is thy palace and where is my daughter, my heart's darling and +mine only one, than whom I have none other?" And Alaeddin answered him, +saying, "O King of the Age, I have no knowledge thereof, neither know I +what hath befallen." And the Sultan said to him, "Know, O Alaeddin, that +I have pardoned thee, so thou mayst go and look into this affair and +make me search for my daughter; and do not thou present thyself but with +her; nay, an thou bring her not back to me, as my head liveth, I will +cut off thine." "Hearkening and obedience, O King of the Age," replied +Alaeddin. "Grant me but forty days' grace, and an I bring her not after +that time, cut off my head and do what thou wilt." Quoth [578] the +Sultan to him, "I grant thee, according to thy request, the space of +forty days; but think not to flee from my hand, for that I will fetch +thee back, though thou wert above the clouds, not to say upon the face +of the earth." "O my lord the Sultan," rejoined Alaeddin, "as I said +to Thy Grace, an I bring her not to thee in this space of time, I will +present myself before thee, that thou mayst cut off my head." + +Now the commons and the folk, one and all, when they saw Alaeddin, +rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy and were glad for his deliverance; +but the ignominy which had befallen him and shame and the exultation of +the envious had bowed down his head; so he went forth and fell to going +round about the city, perplexed anent his case and unknowing how all +this had happened. He abode in the city two days in the woefullest +of case, knowing not how he should do to find his palace and the Lady +Bedrulbudour, his bride, what while certain of the folk used to come to +him privily with meat and drink. Then he went forth, wandering in the +deserts and knowing not whitherward he should aim, and ceased not going +till he came to a river; whereupon, his hope being cut off for stress of +chagrin that possessed him, he thought to cast himself into the stream; +but, for that he was a pious Muslim, professing the unity of God, he +feared God in himself and stood on the bank; of the stream to perform +the ablution. [579] So he took of the water in his hands and proceeded +to rub between his fingers; and in doing this, his rubbing chanced upon +the ring, whereupon a Marid appeared to him and said to him, "Here am I; +thy slave is before thee. Seek what thou wilt." + +When Alaeddin saw the Marid, he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and said +to him, "O slave, I will have thee bring me my palace, with my bride, +the Lady Bedrulbudour, and all that is therein." "O my lord," replied +the Marid, "it irketh me sore that what thou seekest of me is a thing +unto which I cannot avail, for that it pertaineth unto the slaves of +the Lamp and I may not adventure upon it." "Then," said Alaeddin, +"since this is not possible unto thee, take me and set me down beside +my palace, in what land soever it is." "Hearkening and obedience, O +my lord," replied the Marid and taking him up, set him down, in the +twinkling of an eye, beside his palace in the land of Africa and before +his wife's pavilion. By this time, the night was come; so he looked +at his palace and his cares and sorrows were dispelled from him and he +trusted in God, after he had forsworn hope, that he should see his bride +once again. Then he fell to thinking upon the hidden mercies of God +(glorified be His might!) and how He had vouchsafed [580] him the ring +and how his hope had been cut off, except God had provided him with the +slave of the Ring. So he rejoiced and all chagrin ceased from him; then, +for that he had been four days without sleeping, of the stress of his +chagrin and his trouble and his grief and the excess of his melancholy, +he went to the side of the palace and lay down under a tree; for that, +as I have said, the palace was among the gardens of Africa without the +city. [581] He [582] lay that night under the tree in all ease; but +he whose head is in the headsman's hand sleepeth not anights. [583] +However, fatigue and lack of sleep for four days past caused slumber +get the mastery over him; [584] so he slept till break of morn, when he +awoke at the chirp [585] of the sparrows. He arose and going to a stream +there which flowed into the city, washed his hands and face; then, +making the ablution, he prayed the morning-prayer and after returned and +sat under the windows of the Lady Bedrulbudour's pavilion. + +Now the princess, of the excess of her grief for her separation from her +husband and the Sultan her father and of her sore distress at that which +had betided her with the accursed Maugrabin enchanter, used every day to +arise, at the first peep of dawn, [586] and sit weeping; nay, she slept +not anights and forswore meat and drink. Her handmaid used to go in to +her at the time of the Salutation, [587] so she might dress her, and +that morning, by the decree of destiny, the damsel opened the window at +that time, thinking to solace her mistress with the sight of the trees +and streams. So she looked out and seeing her lord Alaeddin sitting +under the windows of the pavilion, said to the princess, "O my lady, my +lady, here is my lord Alaeddin sitting under the pavilion!" Whereupon +the Lady Bedrulbudour arose in haste and looking from the window, saw +Alaeddin, and he raised his head and saw her; so she saluted him and he +her and they were both like to fly for joy. Then said she to him, "Arise +and come in to me by the privy door, for that the accursed one [588] is +not now here;" and she bade her handmaid go down and open the door. +So the damsel went down and opened to Alaeddin, who arose and entered +thereby. His wife, [589] the Lady Bedrulbudour, met him at the door and +they embraced and kissed each other with all joyance, till they fell +a-weeping of the excess of their gladness. + + +Then they sat down and Alaeddin said to her, "O Lady Bedrulbudour, there +is somewhat whereof I would ask thee, before all things. I used to lay +an old copper lamp in such a place in my pavilion..." When the princess +heard this, she sighed and answered him, saying, "O my beloved, it was +that which was the cause of our falling into this calamity." [590] Quoth +he, "How came this about?" So she acquainted him with the whole matter +from first to last, telling him how they had bartered the old lamp for +a new one; "and next morning," added she, "we found ourselves in this +country and he who had cozened me and changed the lamp told me that he +had wroughten these tricks upon us of the might of his magic, by means +of the lamp and that he is a Maugrabin from Africa [591] and that we are +now in his native land." When [592] she had made an end of her story, +Alaeddin said to her, "Tell me, what does this accursed one purpose with +thee; what saith he to thee and of what doth he bespeak thee and what is +his will of thee?" "Every day," answered the princess, "he cometh to me +once and no more and seeketh to draw me to his love, willing me take +him in thy stead and forget and renounce thee; nay, he told me that my +father the Sultan had cut off thy head. Moreover, he useth to say to me +of thee that thou art the son of poor folk and that he was the cause of +thine enrichment and seeketh to cajole me with talk, but never hath he +seen of me aught but tears and weeping or heard from me one soft +word." [593] Quoth Alaeddin, "Tell me where he layeth the lamp, an thou +knowest." And she said, "He still carrieth it [about him] nor will part +with it a moment; nay, when he acquainted me with that whereof I have +told thee, he brought out the lamp from his sleeve and showed it to me" + +When Alaeddin heard this, he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and said to +her, "Harkye, Lady Bedrulbudour; it is my present intent to go out and +return in disguise. [594] Marvel thou not at this and let one of thy +slave-girls abide await at the privy door, to open to me forthright, +when she seeth me coming; and I will cast about for a device whereby I +may slay this accursed one." Then he rose and going forth the [privy] +door of his palace, walked on till he encountered a peasant by the way +and said to him, "Harkye, sirrah, take my clothes and give me thine." +The man demurred, but Alaeddin enforced him and taking his clothes from +him, donned them and gave him his own costly apparel. Then he fared on +in the high road till he came to the city and entering, betook himself +to the drug-market, where for two diners he bought of [one of] the +druggists two drachms of rare strong henbane, the son of its minute, +[595] and retracing his steps, returned to the palace. When the damsel +saw him, she opened him the privy door and he went in to the Lady +Bedrulbudour [596] and said to her, "Harkye, I will have thee dress and +tire thyself and put away melancholy from thee; and when the accursed +Maugrabin cometh to thee, do thou receive him with 'Welcome and fair +welcome' and go to meet him with a smiling face and bid him come sup +with thee and profess to him that thou hast forgotten thy beloved +Alaeddin and thy father and that thou lovest him with an exceeding love. +Moreover, do thou seek of him wine, and that red, [597] and make him a +show of all joy and gladness and drink to his health. [598] Then, when +thou hast filled him two or three cups of wine, [599] [watch] till thou +take him off his guard; then put him this powder [600] in the cup and +fill it up with wine, and an he drink it, he will straightway turn +over on his back, like a dead man." When the Lady Bedrulbudour heard +Alaeddin's words, she said! to him, "This is a thing exceeding hard on +me to do; but it is lawful to slay this accursed, so we may be delivered +from his uncleanness who hath made me rue thy separation and that of my +father." Then Alaeddin ate and drank with his wife that which stayed +his hunger and rising at once, went forth the palace; whereupon the Lady +Bedrulbudour summoned her tirewoman, who busked her and adorned her, and +she rose and donned fine clothes and perfumed herself. Whilst she was +thus engaged, the accursed Maugrabin presented himself and was exceeding +rejoiced to see her on this wise, more by token that she received +him with a smiling face, contrary to her wont; so he redoubled in +distraction for her love and longing for her. Then she took him and +seating him by her side, said to him, "O my beloved, an thou wilt, come +hither to me this night and we will sup together. Enough of mourning; +for that, an I sat grieving a thousand years, what were the profit? +Alaeddin cannot return from the tomb and I have considered and believe +[601] that which thou saidst to me yesterday, to wit, that most like +my father the Sultan hath slain him, in the excess of his grief for my +loss. Nay, marvel not at me to-day, that I am changed since yesterday, +for that I have bethought me to take thee to beloved and companion +in Alaeddin's stead, seeing there is left me no man other than thou. +Wherefore it is my hope that thou wilt come to-night, so we may sup +together and drink somewhat of wine with each other, and I will have +thee let me taste of the wine of thy country Africa, for that belike it +is better [than ours]. Wine, indeed, I have by me; but it is that of our +country, and I desire exceedingly to taste the wine of your country." + +When [602] the Maugrabin saw the love which the Lady Bedrulbudour +professed to him and that she was changed from her whilom plight of +grief, he thought that she had given up her hope of Alaeddin; so he +rejoiced greatly and said to her, "O my soul, hearkening and obedience +unto all that which thou wiliest and biddest me withal. I have with +me in my house a jar of the wine of our country, the which I have kept +stored these eight years under the earth; so I go now to fill from it +our sufficiency and will return to thee forthright." Therewithal the +Lady Bedrulbudour, that she might beguile him more and more, said to +him, "O my beloved, do not thou go thyself and leave me. Send one of thy +servants to fill us from the jar and abide thou sitting with me, that I +may take comfort in thee." "O my lady," answered he, "none knoweth the +place of the jar save myself; but I will not keep thee waiting." +[603] So saying, he went out and returned after a little with their +sufficiency of wine; and the Lady Bedrulbudour said to him, "Thou hast +been at pains [604] [for me], and I have put thee to unease, [605] O +my beloved." "Nay," answered he, "O [thou that art dear to me as] mine +eyes, I am honoured by thy service." Then she sat down with him at table +and they both fell to eating. Presently, the princess called for drink +and the handmaid immediately filled her the cup; then she filled for the +Maugrabin and the Lady Bedrulbudour proceeded to drink to his life and +health, [606] and he also drank to her life and she fell to carousing +[607] with him. Now she was unique in eloquence and sweetness of speech +and she proceeded to beguile him and bespeak him with words significant +[608] and sweet, so she might entangle him yet straitlier in the toils +of her love. The Maugrabin thought that all this was true [609] and knew +not that the love she professed to him was a snare set for him to slay +him. So he redoubled in desire for her and was like to die for love +of her, when he saw from her that which she showed him of sweetness +of speech and coquetry; [610] his head swam with ecstasy [611] and the +world became changed [612] in his eyes. + +When they came to the last of the supper and the princess knew that the +wine had gotten the mastery in his head, she said to him, "We have in +our country a custom, meknoweth not if you in this country use it or +not." "And what is this custom?" asked the Maugrabin. "It is," answered +she, "that, at the end of supper, each lover taketh the other's cup and +drinketh it." So saying, she took his cup and filling it for herself +with wine, bade the handmaid give him her cup, wherein was wine mingled +with henbane, even as she had taught her how she should do, for that all +the slaves and slave-girls in the palace wished his death and were at +one against him with the Lady Bedrulbudour. So the damsel gave him the +cup, and he, hearing the princess's words and seeing her drink in his +cup and give him to drink in hers, deemed himself Iskender of the Horns, +whenas he saw from her all this love. Then she bent towards him, swaying +gracefully from side to side, and laying her hand on his, said, "O my +life, here is thy cup with me and mine is with thee; thus do lovers +drink one from other's cup." Then she kissed [613] his cup and drinking +it off, set it down and came up to him and kissed him on the cheek; +[614] whereat he was like to fly for joy and purposing to do even as +she had done, raised the cup to his mouth and drank it all off, without +looking if there were aught therein or not; but no sooner had he done +this than he turned over on his back, like a dead man, and the cup fell +from his hand. + +The Lady Bedrulbudour rejoiced at this and the damsels ran, vying with +each other in their haste, [615] and opened the palace-door [616] to +Alaeddin, their lord; whereupon he entered and [617] going up to his +wife's pavilion, [618] found her sitting at the table and the Maugrabin +before her, as one slain. So he went up to the princess and kissed +her and thanked her for this [that she had done] and rejoiced with +an exceeding joy. Then said he to her, "Get thee now into thine inner +chamber, thou and thy damsels, and leave me alone, so I may consider +of that which I have to do." Accordingly, the Lady Bedrulbudour tarried +not, but entered the inner pavilion, she and her women; whereupon +Alaeddin arose and locked the door on them and going up to the +Maugrabin, put his hand to his sleeve and pulled out the lamp; after +which he drew his sword and cut off the sorcerer's head. Then he rubbed +the lamp and the Marid, its slave, appeared to him and said, "Here am I, +O my lord; what wiliest thou?" Quoth Alaeddin, "I will of thee that thou +take up this palace from this country and carry it to the land of China +and set it in the place where it was erst, before the Sultan's +palace." "Hearkening and obedience, O my lord," replied the Marid [and +disappeared], whilst Alaeddin went in and sat with the Lady Bedrulbudour +his bride and embraced her and kissed her and she him; and they sat +talking and making merry, what while the Marid took up the palace with +[619] them and set it down in its place before the Sultan's palace. + +Presently Alaeddin called for food; so the slave-girls set the tray +before him and he sat, he and the Lady Bedrulbudour his wife, and ate +and drank in all joy and gladness till they had taken their sufficiency. +Then they removed to the chamber of wine and carousel, where they sat +drinking and making merry and kissing one another with all eagerness, +for that it was long since they had had easance together; and they +ceased not from this till the sun of wine rose in their heads and sleep +took them; whereupon they arose and lay down on their bed in all +rest and delight. In the morning Alaeddin arose and aroused his wife, +whereupon her women came to her and dressed her and busked her and +adorned her; whilst he, on his part, donned the richest of raiment, +[620] and both were like to fly for joy at their reunion with each +other, after their separation, whilst the Lady Bedrulbudour was +especially glad, for that she looked to see her father that day. + +So much for Alaeddin and the Lady Bedrulbudour; and as for the Sultan, +after he had released Alaeddin, he ceased not to mourn for the loss of +his daughter and to sit and weep for her, like a woman, at every time +and tide; for that she was his only one and he had none other than her. +And every day, whenas he arose from his sleep in the morning, he would +go hastily to the window and opening it, look towards the place where +Alaeddin's palace was erst and weep till his eyes were dried up and +their lids ulcered. He arose that day at dawn, according to his wont, +and opening the window, looked out and saw before him a building; so he +fell to rubbing his eyes and looking closelier, was certified that it +was Alaeddin's palace; whereupon he immediately called for the horses. +Accordingly, they saddled them and he went down and mounting, rode to +Alaeddin's palace. When the latter saw him coming, he went down and +meeting him half-way, took him by the hand and carried him up to the +pavilion of the Lady Bedrulbudour, his daughter. Now she also longed +sore for her father; so she came down and met him at the stair-foot +door, over against the lower hall; whereupon he embraced her and fell +to kissing her and weeping and on this wise did she also. Then Alaeddin +brought them up to the upper pavilion, [621] where they sat down and the +Sultan proceeded to question the princess of her case and of that which +had befallen her, whilst [622] she acquainted him with all that had +happened to her and said to him, "O my father, I breathed not till +yesterday, when I saw my husband, and he it is who delivered me from the +bondage of a Maugrabin, an accursed sorcerer, methinketh there is not +a filthier than he on the face of the earth; and but for my beloved +Alaeddin, I had not won free of him and thou hadst not seen me all thy +life. Indeed, O my father, there possessed me grief and sore chagrin, +not only for my severance from thee, but also for the loss of my +husband, to whom I shall be beholden all the days of my life, seeing he +delivered me from that accursed enchanter." + +Then she went on to acquaint her father with all that had befallen her +and to tell him of the Maugrabin's dealings and what he did with her +and how he feigned himself a lampseller, who bartered new for old. "And +when," [quoth she]; "I saw this [seeming] lack of wit in him, I fell to +laughing at him, unknowing his perfidy and his intent; so I took an old +lamp that was in my husband's pavilion and sent it by the eunuch, who +exchanged it with him for a new lamp; and next day, O my father, at +daybreak, we found ourselves in Africa, with the palace and all that +was therein; and I knew not the properties of the lamp which I had +exchanged, till my husband Alaeddin came to us and contrived against +the Maugrabin a device whereby he delivered us from him. Now, except my +husband had won to us, it was the accursed one's intent to go in to me +perforce; but Alaeddin, my husband gave me a powder, the which I put +for him in a cup of wine and gave it him to drink. So he drank it and +fell-back as one dead; whereupon my husband Alaeddin came in to me and +meknoweth not how he wrought, so that he transported us back from the +land of Africa to our place here." And Alaeddin said to the Sultan, +"O my lord, when I came up and saw him cast down like one slain and +sleeping for the henbane, I said to the Lady Bedrulbudour, 'Go in, thou +and thy women, to the inner pavilion.' So she arose and went in, she and +her damsels, from that loathsome sight; whilst I went up to the accursed +Maugrabin and putting my hand to his sleeve, pulled out the lamp, for +that the Lady Bedrulbudour had told me he still carried it there. Then, +when I had gotten it, I drew my sword and cut [off] the accursed's +[head] and making use of the lamp, bade its servants take us up, with +the palace and all that was therein, and set us down here in our place. +And if Thy Grace be in doubt of my words, do thou come with me and see +the accursed Maugrabin." + +So the King arose and going in with Alaeddin to the pavilion, saw the +Maugrabin [Iying ]: whereupon he bade forthright take the carcase and +burn it and scatter its ashes [to the winds]. Then he embraced Alaeddin +and fell to kissing him and said to him, "Excuse me, O my son, for that +I was going [623] to bereave thee of thy life, through the wickedness of +yonder accursed sorcerer who cast thee into this pit; and indeed, O my +son, I was excusable in that which I did with thee, inasmuch as I saw +myself bereft of my daughter and mine only one, who is dearer to me +than my kingdom, and thou knowest how fathers' hearts yearn upon their +children, more by token that I have but the Lady Bedrulbudour." And he +went on to excuse himself to him and kiss him; and [624] Alaeddin said +to him, "O Lord of the Age, thou didst with me nothing contrary to the +law and I also was guiltless of offence; but the thing came all of that +vile Maugrabin enchanter." Then the Sultan bade decorate the city and +hold festival and rejoicings and commanded the crier to cry in the +city that that day was a great festival, wherefore rejoicings should be +holden in all the realm during the space of a month, [to wit,] thirty +days' time, for the return of the Lady Bedrulbudour his daughter and her +husband Alaeddin. + +This, then, is what befell Alaeddin with the Maugrabin; but Alaeddin, +for all this, was not altogether [625] quit of the accursed enchanter, +withal his body had been burned and given to the winds; for that the +accursed one had a brother viler than he [and yet more skilled] in magic +and geomancy and astrology; [nay, they were even] as saith the proverb, +"A bean and it was cloven in twain;" [626] and each dwelt in one quarter +of the world, so they might fill it [627] with their sorcery and craft +and guile. It chanced one day that the Maugrabin's brother was minded to +know how it was with his brother; so he fetched his sand-board and smote +it and extracted its figures; then he considered them and examining them +throughly, found his brother in the house of the tomb; [628] whereat +he mourned and was certified that he was indeed dead. Then he smote the +sand a second time, so he might learn how and where he died, and found +that he had died in the land of China and by the foulest of deaths and +knew that he who slew him was a youth by name Alaeddin. So he rose at +once and equipping himself for travel, set out and traversed plains and +deserts and mountains months and months, till he came to the land of +China [and entering] the city of the sultanate, wherein was Alaeddin, +repaired to the Strangers' Khan, where he hired him a lodging and rested +there a little. + +Then he arose to go round about the thoroughfares of the city, that he +might spy him out a means of compassing his fell purpose, the which +was to take vengeance of his brother on Alaeddin. So he entered a +coffee-house in the market, a mighty fine place whither there resorted +great plenty of folk, some to play tables, [629] some draughts [630] and +other some chess and what not else. There he sat down and heard those +who sat beside him talk of an old woman, an anchoress, by name Fatimeh, +who still abode in her place without the city, serving [God], and came +not down into the town but two days in the month, avouching her to be +possessed of divine gifts galore. [631] When the Maugrabin enchanter +heard this, he said in himself, "Now have I found that which I sought. +An it please God the Most High, I shall achieve my quest by means of +this woman." So [632] he went up to the folk who were speaking of the +devout old woman's supernatural powers and said to one of them, "O +uncle, I hear you talk of the divine gifts of one she-saint, [633] by +name Fatimeh. Who [634] is she and where is her place?" "Wonderful!" +cried the man. "What, thou art in our city and hast not heard of the +divine gifts of my Lady [635] Fatimeh? Apparently, good man, [636] thou +art a stranger, since thou hast never chanced to hear of the fasts of +this holy woman and her abhorrence of the world and the goodliness +of her piety." "Ay, my lord," replied the Maugrabin, "I am indeed a +stranger and arrived but yesternight in this your town; wherefore I +beseech thee tell me of the divine gifts of this holy woman and where +her place is, for that I have fallen into a calamity and would fain go +to her and crave her of prayer, so haply God (to whom belong might and +majesty) may deliver me from my stress, by means of her intercession." +The man accordingly told him of the divine gifts of the holy woman +Fatimeh and her piety and the excellence of her devotion; then, taking +him by the hand, he carried him without the city and showed him the way +to her abiding-place, which was in a cavern on the top of a little hill; +whereupon the Maugrabin thanked him amain for his kindness [636] and +returned to his place in the Khan. + +Now, by the decree of destiny, Fatimeh came down on the morrow to the +city and the enchanter, going forth the Khan in the morning, saw the +folk crowding together; so he went up, to see what was toward, and found +Fatimeh standing, whilst every one who had a pain or an ache came to +her, seeking her blessing and soliciting her prayers, and whenas she +stroked him, he was made whole of his ailment. The Maugrabin followed +her, till she returned to her cavern, and waited till nightfall, when he +arose and entering a sherbet-sellers [637] shop, drank a cup of liquor, +[638] then went forth the city, intending for the cavern of Fatimeh the +recluse. When he came thither, he entered and saw her sleeping on her +back on a piece of matting; so he went up to her and sitting down [639] +on her breast, [640] drew his dagger and cried out at her; whereupon she +awoke and opening her eyes, saw a man, a Maugrabin, with a drawn dagger, +sitting on her breast [641] and offering to kill her. So she feared and +trembled and he said to her, "Harkye, an thou say aught or cry out, I +will kill thee on the spot. Arise now and do all that I shall bid thee." +And he swore an oath to her that, if she did for him that which he +should bid her, he would not kill her. + +Then he rose from her and she rose also, and he said to her, "Give me +thy clothes and take mine." So she gave him her clothes and head-bands +and her kerchief and veil; and he said to her, "Now must thou anoint +me, to boot, with somewhat, so my face may become like unto shine in +colour." Accordingly Fatimeh went within the cavern and bringing out a +vial of ointment, took thereof in her palm and anointed his face withal, +whereupon it became like unto hers in colour. Then she gave him her +staff and taught him how he should walk and how he should do, whenas he +went down into the city; moreover, she put her rosary on his neck and +finally giving him the mirror, said to him, "Look now; thou differest +not from me in aught." So he looked and saw himself as he were Fatimeh +herself. [642] Then, when he had gotten his desire, he broke his oath +and sought of her a rope; so she brought him a rope and he took her and +strangled her therewith in the cavern. When she was dead, he dragged her +forth and cast her into a pit therewithout; then, [643] returning to her +cavern, he slept there till the day broke, when he arose and going down +into the city, came under Alaeddin's pavilion. [644] + +The folk gathered about him, believing him to be Fatimeh the Recluse, +and he proceeded to do like as she had been used to do, laying hands on +those in pain and reciting for this one the Fatiheh [645] and for that +a[nother] chapter of the Koran and praying for a third. Then, for +the much crowding upon him and the clamour of the folk, the Lady +Bedrulbudour heard and said to her women, "See what is to do and what is +the cause of this noise." So the Ada of the eunuchs went to see what was +toward and returning, said to her, "O my lady, this clamour is because +of the Lady Fatimeh. An it please thee bid me fetch her to thee, so thou +mayst ask a blessing of her...." And the Lady Bedrulbudour said to him, +"Go and bring her to me; marry, this long while past I have still heard +of her gifts and excellences and have yearned to see her, so I may ask a +blessing of her, for that the folk are beyond measure abundant [in +talk] of her [646] virtues." So the Aga went and brought the enchanter, +disguised as Fatimeh, before the Lady Bedrulbudour; whereupon the +Maugrabin offered up abundance of prayers for her, and none misdoubted +of him but that he was Fatimeh the recluse. The princess rose and +saluting him, seated him by her side and said to him, "O my Lady +Fatimeh, I will have thee with me alway, that I may be blessed in thee +and eke that I may learn of thee the ways of God-service and piety and +model myself on thee." + +Now this was what the accursed sorcerer aimed at; however, the better to +accomplish his perfidious intent, [647] he [dissembled and] said to her, +"O my lady, I am a poor woman sitting in the desert and it beseemeth +not that the like of me should abide in kings' palaces." Quoth the Lady +Bedrulbudour, "Have no manner of care, O my lady Fatimeh; I will give +thee a place in my house, where thou shalt do thy devotions, and none +shall ever go in to thee; nay, here shalt thou serve God better than in +thy cavern." And the Maugrabin said to her, "Hearkening and obedience, +O my lady; I will not gainsay thy commandment, for that the speech of +princes may not be crossed neither disputed; but I beg of thee that my +eating and drinking and sitting may be in my closet alone [and] that +none may come in upon me. Moreover, I need no rich viands, but every +day do thou favour me and send me by thy handmaid a piece of bread and +a draught of water to my closet; and when I am minded to eat, I will eat +in my closet alone." (Now this the accursed did, of his fear lest his +chin veil should be raised, when he ate, and so his case be exposed +and they know him for a man by his beard and moustaches.) "O my lady +Fatimeh," rejoined the princess, "be easy; nothing shall betide save +that which thou wiliest; so rise now [and come] with me, that I may show +thee the pavilion [648] which I purpose to order for thine inhabitance +with us." So [649] saying, she arose and carrying the sorcerer to the +place which she had appointed him wherein to abide, said to him, "O my +lady Fatimeh, here shalt thou dwell; this pavilion is in thy name and +thou shalt abide therein in all quiet and ease of privacy." And the +Maugrabin thanked her for her bounty and prayed for her. + +Then the Lady Bedrulbudour took him and showed him the belvedere [650] +and the kiosk of jewels, with the four-and-twenty oriels, [651] and +said to him, "How deemest thou, O my Lady Fatimeh, of this wonderful +pavilion?" [652] "By Allah, O my daughter," replied he, "it is indeed +marvellous in the extreme, [653] nor methinketh is its like found in the +world; nay, it is magnificent exceedingly; but oh, for one thing which +would far increase it in beauty and adornment!" And the princess said +to him, "O my Lady Fatimeh, what is lacking to it and what is this +thing which would adorn it? Tell me of it; I had thought that it was +altogether perfect." "O my lady," answered the sorcerer, "that which +lacketh to it is the egg of the bird Roc, which being hung in its dome, +there were no like unto this pavilion in all the world." "What is this +bird." asked the princess, "and where shall we find its egg?" And the +Moor said to her, "O my lady, this is a great bird that taketh up camels +and elephants in its talons and flieth with them, of its bigness +and greatness; it is mostly to be found in the mountain Caf and the +craftsman who builded this palace [654] is able to bring its egg." Then +they left that talk and it was the time of the morning-meal. So the +slave-girls laid the table and the Lady Bedrulbudour sat down and sought +of the accursed sorcerer that he should eat with her; but he refused +and rising, entered the pavilion which she had given him, whither the +slave-girls carried him the morning-meal. + +When it was eventide and Alaeddin returned from the chase, the Lady +Bedrulbudour met him and saluted him: whereupon he embraced her and +kissed her and looking in her face, saw that she was somewhat troubled +and smiled not, against her wont. So he said to her, "What aileth thee, +O my beloved? Tell me, hath there befallen thee aught to trouble thee?" +And she answered him, saying, "There aileth me nothing; but, O my +beloved, I had thought that our palace [655] lacked of nought; however, +O my eyes [656] Alaeddin, were there hung in the dome of the upper +pavilion [657] an egg of the bird Roc, there were not its like in the +world." "And wast thou concerned anent this?" rejoined Alaeddin. "This +is to me the easiest of all things; so be easy, for it is enough that +thou tell me of that which thou wishest and I will fetch it thee from +the abysses of the world on the speediest wise." Then [658] after he had +comforted the princess and promised her all she sought, he went straight +to his closet and taking the lamp rubbed it; whereupon the Marid at once +appeared and said to him, "Seek what thou wilt;" and Alaeddin, "I will +have thee bring me a Roc's egg and hang it in the dome of the [upper] +pavilion." [659] + +When the Marid heard Alaeddin's words, his face frowned and he was +wroth and cried out with a terrible great voice, saying, "O denier of +benefits, doth it not suffice thee that I and all the slaves of the Lamp +are at thy service and wouldst thou eke have me bring thee our liege +lady, for thy pleasure, and hang her in the dome of thy pavilion, to +divert thee and thy wife? By Allah, ye deserve that I should forthright +reduce you both to ashes and scatter you to the winds! But, inasmuch as +ye are ignorant, thou and she, concerning this matter and know not its +inward from its outward, [660] I excuse you, for that ye are innocent. +As for the guilt, it lieth with the accursed one, the surviving [661] +brother of the Maugrabin enchanter, who feigneth himself to be Fatimeh +the Recluse; for lo, he hath slain Fatimeh in her cavern and hath donned +her dress and disguised himself after her favour and fashion and is come +hither, seeking thy destruction, so he may take vengeance on thee for +his brother; and he it is who taught thy wife to seek this of thee." +[662] Therewith he disappeared, and as for Alaeddin, when he heard this, +his wit fled from his head and his joints trembled at the cry wherewith +the Marid cried out at him; but he took heart and leaving his closet, +went in straightway to his wife and feigned to her that his head irked +him, of his knowledge that Fatimeh was renowned for the secret of +healing [663] all aches and pains. When the Lady Bedrulbudour saw him +put his hand to his head and complain of its aching, [664] she asked him +what was the cause and he said, "I know not, except that my head irketh +me sore." Accordingly she sent forthwith to fetch Fatimeh, so she +might lay her hand on his head; whereupon quoth Alaeddin, "Who is this +Fatimeh?" And the princess told him how she had lodged Fatimeh the +recluse with her in the palace. [665] + +Meanwhile the slave-girls went and fetched the accursed Maugrabin, and +Alaeddin arose to him, feigning ignorance of his case, and saluted +him, as he had been the true Fatimeh. Moreover he kissed the hem of his +sleeve and welcomed him, [666] saying, "O my Lady Fatimeh, I beseech +thee do me a kindness, since I know thy usances in the matter of the +healing of pains, for that there hath betided me a sore pain in my +head." The Maugrabin could scarce believe his ears of this speech, [667] +for that this was what he sought; so he went up to Alaeddin, as he would +lay his hand on his head, after the fashion of Fatimeh the recluse, and +heal him of his pain. When he drew near-him, he laid one hand on his +head and putting the other under his clothes, drew a dagger, so [668] he +might slay him withal. But Alaeddin was watching him and waited till he +had all to-drawn the dagger, when he gripped him by the hand and taking +the knife from him, planted [669] it in his heart. + +When the Lady Bedrulbudour saw this, she cried out and said to him, +"What hath this holy anchoress done, that thou burthenest thyself with +the sore burden of her blood? Hast thou no fear of God, that thou dost +this and hast slain Fatimeh, who was a holy woman and whose divine gifts +were renowned?" Quoth he to her, "I have not slain Fatimeh; nay, I have +slain him who slew her; for that this is the brother of the accursed +Maugrabin enchanter, who took thee and by his sorcery transported the +palace with thee to the land of Africa. Yea, this accursed one was +his brother and came to this country and wrought these frauds, slaying +Fatimeh and donning her clothes and coming hither, so he might take +vengeance on me for his brother. Moreover, it was he who taught thee to +seek of me a Roc's egg, so my destruction should ensue thereof; and if +thou misdoubt of my word, come and see whom I have slain." So saying, he +did off the Maugrabin's chin veil and the Lady Bedrulbudour looked and +saw a man whose beard covered his face; whereupon she at once knew the +truth and said to Alaeddin, "O my beloved, twice have I cast thee into +danger of death;" and he said to her, "O Lady Bedrulbudour, thanks to +thine eyes, [670] no harm [hath betided me thereof; nay,] I accept with +all joy everything that cometh to me through thee." When the princess +heard this, she hastened to embrace him and kissed him, saying, "O my +beloved, all this was of my love for thee and I knew not what I did; +[671] nor indeed am I negligent of thy love." [672] Whereupon Alaeddin +kissed her and strained her to his breast and love redoubled between +them. + +Presently, in came the Sultan; so they told him of all that had passed +with the Maugrabin enchanter's brother and showed him the latter, as he +lay dead; whereupon he bade burn him and scatter his ashes to the winds. +Thenceforward Alaeddin abode with his wife the Lady Bedrulbudour in +all peace and pleasure and was delivered from all perils. Then, after +a while, the Sultan died and Alaeddin sat down on the throne of the +kingdom and ruled and did justice among the people; and all the folk +loved him and he lived with his wife, the Lady Bedrulbudour, in all +cheer and solace and contentment till there came to them the Destroyer +of Delights and the Sunderer of Societies. + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +[Footnote 1: i.e. (1) Zeyn Alasnam, (2) Codadad. (3) The Sleeper +Awakened. (4) Aladdin. (5) Baba Abdallah. (6) Sidi Nouman. (7) Cogia +Hassan Alhabbah (8) Ali Baba. (9) Ali Cogia. (10) Prince Ahmed and +Pari-Banou. (11) The Sisters who envied their younger Sister.] + +[Footnote 2: "M. Galland was aware of the imperfection of the MS. used +by him and (unable to obtain a more perfect copy) he seems to have +endeavoured to supply the place of the missing portions by incorporating +in his translation a number of Persian, Turkish and Arabic Tales, +which had no connection with his original and for which it is generally +supposed that he probably had recourse to Oriental MSS. (as yet +unidentified) contained in the Royal Libraries of Paris." Vol. IX. p. +263. "Of these the Story of the Sleeper Awakened is the only one which +has been traced to an Arabic original and is found in the Breslau +edition of the complete work, printed by Dr. Habicht from a MS. of +Tunisian origin, apparently of much later date than the other known +copies.....Galland himself cautions us that the Stories of Zeyn Alasnam +and Codadad do not belong to the Thousand and One Nights and were +published (how he does not explain) without his authority." p. 264. "It +is possible that an exhaustive examination of the various MS. copies of +the Thousand and One Nights known to exist in the public libraries of +Europe Might yet cast some light upon the origin of the interpolated +tales; but, in view of the strong presumption afforded by internal +evidence that they are of modern composition and form no part of the +authentic text, it can hardly be expected, where the result and the +value of that result are alike so doubtful, that any competent person +will be found to undertake so heavy a task, except as incidental to some +more general enquiry. The only one of the eleven which seems to me to +bear any trace of possible connection with the Book of the Thousand +Nights and One Night is Aladdin, and it may be that an examination of +the MS. copies of the original work within my reach will yet enable me +to trace the origin of that favourite story." pp. 268-9.] + +[Footnote 3: Histoire d' 'Ala Al-Din ou la Lampe Merveilleuse. Texte +Arabe, Publie avec une notice de quelques Manuscrits des Mille et Une +Nuits et la traduction de Galland. Par H. Zotenberg. Paris, Imprimerie +Nationale, 1888.] + +[Footnote 4: For the sake of uniformity and convenience of reference, I +use, throughout this Introduction, Galland's spelling of the names which +occur in his translation, returning to my own system of transliteration +in my rendering of the stories themselves.] + +[Footnote 5: i.e. God's.] + +[Footnote 6: "La suite des Mille et une Nuits, Contes Arabes trafluits +par Dom Chavis et M. Cazotte. Paris 1788." The Edinburgh Review (July, +1886) gives the date of the first edition as 1785; but this is an error, +probably founded upon the antedating of a copy of the Cabinet des Fees, +certain sets of which (though not actually completed till 1793) are +dated, for some publisher's reason, 1785. See also following note.] + +[Footnote 7: These four (supplemental) vols. of the Cabinet des Fees +(printed in 1793, though antedated 1788 and 1789) do not form the first +edition of Chavis and Cazotte's so-called Sequel, which was in 1793 +added, by way of supplement, to the Cabinet des Fees, having been +first published in 1788 (two years after the completion-in thirty-seven +volumes-of that great storehouse of supernatural fiction) under the +title of "Les Veillees Persanes" or "Les Veillees du Sultan Schahriar +avec la Sultane Scheherazade, histoires incroyables, amusantes et +morales, traduites par M. Cazotte et D. Chavis, faisant suite aux Mille +et Une Nuits."] + +[Footnote 8: I cannot agree with my friend Sir R. F. Burton in his +estimate of these tales, which seem to me, even in Caussin de Perceval's +corrector rendering and in his own brilliant and masterly version, very +inferior, in style, conduct and diction, to those of "the old Arabian +Nights," whilst I think "Chavis and Cazotte's Continuation" utterly +unworthy of republication, whether in part or "in its entirety." Indeed, +I confess the latter version seems to me so curiously and perversely and +unutterably bad that I cannot conceive how Cazotte can have perpetrated +it and can only regard it as a bad joke on his part. As Caussin de +Perceval remarks, it is evident that Shawish (whether from ignorance or +carelessness) must, in many instances, have utterly misled his French +coadjutor (who had no knowledge of Arabic) as to the meaning of the +original, whilst it is much to be regretted that a writer of exquisite +genius and one of the first stylists of the 18th century, such as the +author of the Diable Amoureux, (a masterpiece to be ranked with Manon +Lescaut and Le Neveu de Rameau,) should have stooped to the commission +of the flagrant offences against good taste and artistic morality which +disfigure well nigh every line of the so-called "Sequel to the 1001 +Nights." "Far be it" (as the Arabs say) that we should do so cruel a +wrong to so well and justly beloved a memory as that of Jacques Cazotte +as to attempt to perpetuate the remembrance of a literary crime which +one can hardly believe him to have committed in sober earnest! Rather +let us seek to bury in oblivion this his one offence and suffer kind +Lethe with its beneficent waters to wash this "adulterous blot" from his +else unsullied name.] + +[Footnote 9: Lit. "Servants" (ibad) i.e. of God.] + +[Footnote 10: i.e. he who most stands in need of God's mercy.] + +[Footnote 11: Kebikej is the name of the genie set over the insect +kingdom. Scribes occasionally invoke him to preserve their manuscripts +from worms.-Note by M. Zotenberg.] + +[Footnote 12: Galland calls him "Hanna, c'est... dire Jean Baptiste," +the Arabic Christian equivalent of which is Youhenna and the Muslim +Yehya, "surnomme Diab." Diary, October 25, 1709.] + +[Footnote 13: At this date Galland had already published the first six +(of twelve) volumes of his translation (1704-5) and as far as I can +ascertain, in the absence of a reference copy (the British Museum +possessing no copy of the original edition), the 7th and 8th volumes +were either published or in the press. Vol. viii. was certainly +published before the end of the year 1709, by which time the whole of +vol. ix. was ready for printing.] + +[Footnote 14: i.e. Aladdin.] + +[Footnote 15: Galland died in 1715, leaving the last two volumes of his +translation (which appear by the Diary to have been ready for the prep +on the 8th June, 1713) to be published in 1717.] + +[Footnote 16: Aleppo.] + +[Footnote 17: i.e. Yonhenna Diab.] + +[Footnote 18: For "Persian." Galland evidently supposed, in error, that +Petis de la Croix's forthcoming work was a continuation of his "Contes +Turcs" published in 1707, a partial translation (never completed) of the +Turkish version of "The Forty Viziers," otherwise "The Malice of +Women," for which see Le Cabinet des Fees, vol. xvi. where the work +is, curiously enough, attributed (by the Table of Contents) to Galland +himself.] + +[Footnote 19: See my terminal essay. My conclusions there stated as +to the probable date of the original work have since been completely +confirmed by the fact that experts assign Galland's original (imperfect) +copy of the Arabic text to the latter part of the fourteenth century, on +the evidence of the handwriting, etc.] + +[Footnote 20: In M. Zotenberg's notes to Aladdin.] + +[Footnote 21: Night CCCCXCVII.] + +[Footnote 22: Khelifeh.] + +[Footnote 23: Or "favourites" (auliya), i.e. holy men, devotees, +saints.] + +[Footnote 24: i.e. the geomancers. For a detailed description of this +magical process, (which is known as "sand-tracing," Kharu 'r reml,) see +posl, p. 199, note 2.{see FN#548}] + +[Footnote 25: i.e. "What it will do in the course of its life"] + +[Footnote 26: Or "ascendants" (tewali).] + +[Footnote 27: i.e. "Adornment of the Images." This is an evident mistake +(due to some ignorant copyist or reciter of the story) of the same +kind as that to be found at the commencement of the story of Ghanim ben +Eyoub, (see my Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol I. p. 363 +et seq.), where the hero is absurdly stated to have been surnamed at +birth the "Slave of Love," a sobriquet which could only have attached +itself to him in after-life and as a consequence of his passion for +Fitoeh. Sir R. F. Burton suggests, with great probability, that the +name, as it stands in the text, is a contraction, by a common elliptical +process, of the more acceptable, form Zein-ud-din ul Asnam, i.e. +Zein-ud-din (Adornment of the Faith) [he] of the Images, Zein +(adornment) not being a name used by the Arabic-speaking races, unless +with some such addition as ud-Din ("of the Faith"), and the affix +ul Asnam ( "[He] of the Images") being a sobriquet arising from +the circumstances of the hero's after-life, unless its addition, +as recommended by the astrologers, is meant as an indication of the +latter's fore-knowledge of what was to befall him thereafter. This +noted, I leave the name as I find it in the Arabic MS.] + +[Footnote 28: Sheji nebih. Burton, "Valiant and intelligent."] + +[Footnote 29: Syn. "his describers" (wasifihi).] + +[Footnote 30: Wa huwa hema caiou fihi bads wasifihi shiran. Burton +(apparently from a different text), "and presently he became even as the +poets sang of one of his fellows in semblance."] + +[Footnote 31: Milah, plural of melih, a fair one.] + +[Footnote 32: Khemseh senin. Burton, "fifteen."] + +[Footnote 33: Shabb, adult, man between sixteen and thirty.] + +[Footnote 34: Femu ghefir min el aalem. Burton, "All the defenders of +the realm."] + +[Footnote 35: Night CCCCXCVIII.] + +[Footnote 36: Syn. "depose."] + +[Footnote 37: Lit. "that which proceeded from him."] + +[Footnote 38: See ante, p. 3, note.{see FN#23}] + +[Footnote 39: Night CCCCXCIX.] + +[Footnote 40: i.e. imposed on me the toil, caused me undertake the +weariness, of coming to Cairo for nothing.] + +[Footnote 41: Forgetting his mother.] + +[Footnote 42: i.e. no mortal.] + +[Footnote 43: Keszr abouka 'l fulani (vulg. for abika'l fulan). Burton, +"Such a palace of thy sire."] + +[Footnote 44: i.e. it is not like the journey to Cairo and back.] + +[Footnote 45: i.e. in God grant thou mayst.] + +[Footnote 46: Or "jade" (yeshm).] + +[Footnote 47: Night D.] + +[Footnote 48: "Edh dheheb el atic." Burton, "antique golden pieces"; but +there is nothing to show that the gold was coined.] + +[Footnote 49: The "also" in this clause seems to refer to the old man of +the dream.] + +[Footnote 50: Keszr, lit. palace, but commonly meaning, in modern Arabic, +an upper story or detached corps de logis (pavilion in the French sense, +an evident misnomer in the present case).] + +[Footnote 51: Lit. "put the key in the lock and opened it and behold, +the door of a palace (hall) opened."] + +[Footnote 52: Takeli, sing. form of tac, a window. Burton, "recess for +lamps."] + +[Footnote 53: Lit. "till he join thee with."] + +[Footnote 54: Or "Cairo," the name Misr being common to the country and +its capital.] + +[Footnote 55: Badki tecouli[na]. Badki (lit. after thee) is here used in +the modern sense of "still" or "yet." The interrogative prefix A appears +to have dropped out, as is not uncommon in manuscripts of this kind. +Burton, "After thou assuredst me, saying, &c."] + +[Footnote 56: Here she adopts her son's previous idea that the old man +of the dream was the Prophet in person.] + +[Footnote 57: Night DI.] + +[Footnote 58: Cudoum. The common form of welcome to a guest.] + +[Footnote 59: Or "upper room" (keszr).] + +[Footnote 60: Eight; see ante, p. 14. {see FN#46}] + +[Footnote 61: Edh dheheb el kedim.] + +[Footnote 62: Edh dhelieb er yemli, lit. sand. (i.e. alluvial) gold, +gold in its native state, needing no smelting to extract it. This, +by the way, is the first mention of the thrones or pedestals of the +images.] + +[Footnote 63: Lit. "[With] love and honour" (hubban wa kerametan). a +familar phrase implying complete assent to any request. It is by some +lexicologists supposed to have arisen from the circumstance of a man +answering another, who begged of him a wine-jar (hubb), with the words, +"Ay, I will give thee a jar and a cover (kerameh) also," and to have +thus become a tropical expression of ready compliance with a petition, +as who should say, "I will give thee what thou askest and more."] + +[Footnote 64: The slave's attitude before his master.] + +[Footnote 65: The like.] + +[Footnote 66: Night DII.] + +[Footnote 67: i.e. invoked blessings upon him in the manner familiar to +readers of the Nights.] + +[Footnote 68: Lit. thou [art] indulged therein (ent musamih fiha).] + +[Footnote 69: Mehmy (vulg. for mehma, whatsoever) telebtaha minni min en +miam. Burton, "whatso of importance thou wouldst have of me."] + +[Footnote 70: Lit. "in a seeking (request) ever or at all" (fi tilbeti +abdan). Burton, "in thy requiring it."] + +[Footnote 71: "Tal aleyya" wect, i.e. I am weary of waiting. Burton, "My +tarrying with thee hath been long."] + +[Footnote 72: Or "difficult" (aziz); Burton, "singular-fare."] + +[Footnote 73: Lit. "If the achievement thereof (or attainment thereunto) +will be possible unto thee [by or by dint of] fortitude,"] + +[Footnote 74: Lit. "Wealth [is] in (or by) blood."] + +[Footnote 75: El berr el atfer. Burton translates, "the wildest of +wolds," apparently supposing atfer to be a mistranscription for aefer, +which is very possible.] + +[Footnote 76: Kewaribji, a word formed by adding the Turkish affix ji +to the Arabic kewarib, plural of carib, a small boat. The common form +of the word is caribji. Burton reads it, "Kewariji, one who uses the +paddle."] + +[Footnote 77: Lit "inverted" (mecloubeh). Burton, "the reverse of +man's."] + +[Footnote 78: Night DIII.] + +[Footnote 79: Wehsh. Burton, "a lion."] + +[Footnote 80: Lit. "then they passed on till" (thumma fatou ila [an]).] + +[Footnote 81: Sic (ashjar anber); though what the Arabic author meant +by "trees of ambergris" is more than I can say. The word anber (pro. +pounced amber) signifies also "saffron"; but the obbligato juxtaposition +of aloes and sandal-wood tends to show that what is meant is the +well-known product of the sperm-whale. It is possible that the mention +of this latter may be an interpolation by some ignorant copyist, who, +seeing two only of the three favourite Oriental scents named, took upon +himself to complete the odoriferous trinity, so dear to Arab writers, by +the addition of ambergris.] + +[Footnote 82: Yas, Persian form of yasm, yasmin or yasimin. Sir R. F. +Burton reads yamin and supposes it to be a copyist's error for yasmin, +but this is a mistake; the word in the text is clearly yas, though +the final s, being somewhat carelessly written in the Arabic MS, might +easily be mistaken for mn with an undotted noun.] + +[Footnote 83: Lit. "perfect or complete (kamil) of fruits and flowers."] + +[Footnote 84: Lit. "many armies" (asakir, pl. of asker, an army), but +asker is constantly used in post-classical Arabic (and notably in the +Nights) for "a single soldier," and still more generally the plural +(asakir), as here, for "soldiers."] + +[Footnote 85: Syn. "the gleaming of a brasier" (berc kanoun). Kanoun +is the Syrian name of two winter months, December (Kanoun el awwal or +first) and January (Kanoun eth thani or second).] + +[Footnote 86: So as to form a magic barrier against the Jinn, after the +fashion of the mystical circles used by European necromancers.] + +[Footnote 87: Night DIV.] + +[Footnote 88: Fe-halan tuata, the time-honoured "Ask and it shall be +given unto thee."] + +[Footnote 89: Sic (berec ed dunya); but dunya (the world) is perhaps +meant to be taken here by synecdoche m the sense of "sky."] + +[Footnote 90: Syn. "darkness was let down like a curtain."] + +[Footnote 91: Lit. "like an earthquake like the earthquakes"; but the +second "like" (mithl) is certainly a mistranscription for "of" (min).] + +[Footnote 92: Night DV.] + +[Footnote 93: Night DVI.] + +[Footnote 94: Here we have the word mithl (as or like) which I supplied +upon conjecture in the former description of the genie; see ante, p. 24, +note.] + +[Footnote 95: Medinetu 'l meda'n wa ujoubetu 'l aalem. It is well known +(see the Nights passim) that the Egyptians considered Cairo the city of +cities and the wonder of the world.] + +[Footnote 96: Lit. "How [is] the contrivance and the way the which we +shall attain by (or with) it to...."] + +[Footnote 97: I.a tehtenim; but the text may also be read la tehettem +and this latter reading is adopted by Burton, who translates, "Be not +beaten and broken down."] + +[Footnote 98: Or "in brief" (bi-tejewwuz). Burton translates, "who +maketh marriages," apparently reading bi-tejewwuz as a mistranscription +for tetejewwez, a vulgar Syrian corruption of tetezewwej.] + +[Footnote 99: Said in a quasi-complimentary sense, as we say, "Confound +him, what a clever rascal he is!" See the Nights passim for numerous +instances of this.] + +[Footnote 100: Quoth Shehrzad to Shehriyar.] + +[Footnote 101: Syn. "to work upon her traces or course" (tesaa ala +menakibiha).] + +[Footnote 102: Night DVII.] + +[Footnote 103: Lit. "the thirsty one (es szadi) and the goer-forth +by day or in the morning" (el ghadi); but this is most probably a +mistranscription for the common phrase es sari (the goer by night) wa 'l +ghadi, often used in the sense of "comers and goers" simply. This would +be quite in character with the style of our present manuscript, which +constantly substitutes sz (sad) for s (sin), e.g. szerai for serai +(palace), szufreh, for sufreh (meal-tray), for hheresza for hheresa(he +guarded), etc., etc., whilst no one acquainted with the Arabic written +character need be reminded how easy it is to mistake a carelessly +written-r (ra) for d (dal) or vice-versa] + +[Footnote 104: The mosque being the caravanserai of the penniless +stranger.] + +[Footnote 105: The person specially appointed to lead the prayers of the +congregation and paid out of the endowed revenues of the mosque to which +he is attached.] + +[Footnote 106: Night DVIII.] + +[Footnote 107: Burton translates, "these accurseds," reading melaa'n +(pl. of melaoun, accursed); but the word in the text is plainly +mulaa'bein (objective dual of mulaa'b, a trickster, malicious joker, +hence, by analogy, sharper).] + +[Footnote 108: Eth thiyab el heririyeh. Burton "silver-wrought."] + +[Footnote 109: Netser ila necshetihim (lit. their image, cf. Scriptural +"image and presentment") wa szufretihim, i.e. he satisfied himself by +the impress and the colour that they were diners, i.e. gold.] + +[Footnote 110: Lit. I am now become in confusion of or at him (lianneni +alan szirtu fi khejaleh (properly khejleh) minhu). Burton, "for that I +have been ashamed of waiting upon him."] + +[Footnote 111: Lit. "That which was incumbent on me to him."] + +[Footnote 112: Lit. "go to (or for) his service," or, as we should say, +"attend him."] + +[Footnote 113: Burton, "one of the envious;" but the verb is in the +plural.] + +[Footnote 114: Night DIX.] + +[Footnote 115: Et tsenn er redi. Burton, "the evil."] + +[Footnote 116: So that they might hang down and hide his feet and hands, +it being a point of Arab etiquette for an inferior scrupulously to avoid +showing either of these members in presenting himself (especially for +the first time) before his superior.] + +[Footnote 117: Lit., "religiousness or devoutness (diyaneh) was by +nature in him," i.e. he was naturally inclined to respect religion and +honour its professors. Burton, "He was by nature conscientious," which +does not quite express the meaning of the text; conscientiousness being +hardly an Oriental virtue.] + +[Footnote 118: Lit, "I may (or shall) ransom him with m' life till I (or +so that I may) unite him therewith."] + +[Footnote 119: Iftekeret fi rejul.] + +[Footnote 120: Terbiyeh. This word is not sufficiently rendered by +"education," which modern use has practically restricted to scholastic +teaching, though the good old English phrase "to bring up" is of course +a literal translation of the Latin educare.] + +[Footnote 121: i.e. "I shall owe it to thee."] + +[Footnote 122: Lit. "It is certain to me," Constat mihi, fe-meikeni +(vulg. for fe-yekin) indi.] + +[Footnote 123: Night DX.] + +[Footnote 124: Or perhaps "Would I might."] + +[Footnote 125: i.e. the contract of marriage.] + +[Footnote 126: See my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night" +passim, especially Vol. I pp. 190 et seq.] + +[Footnote 127: Miheffeh, a kind of howdah with a flat roof or top.] + +[Footnote 128: Tekht-rewan, a sort of palanquin drawn or carried by +mules or camels wherein she could recline at length. Burton renders +Miheffeh bi-tekhtrewan "a covered litter to be carried by camels."] + +[Footnote 129: Burton adds here, "Thou wouldst feel ruth for me."] + +[Footnote 130: Lit. profit, gain (meksib), i.e. the ninth image, +which he was to receive as a reward for the faithful execution of his +commission.] + +[Footnote 131: Night DXI.] + +[Footnote 132: [A] nehnu bedna baud an hukm. The word hukm, which +commonly signifies the exercise of government or judicial power, is here +used metonymically in the sense of the place of dominion, the seat of +government. Burton, "Have we fared this far distance by commandment of +my bridegroom?"] + +[Footnote 133: Or "God forbid!" (Hhasha), a common interjection, +implying unconditional denial.] + +[Footnote 134: Lit. "The writing of (or he wrote) his writ upon thee" +(ketb kitabiki aleiki).] + +[Footnote 135: i.e.. at the Last Day, when men will be questioned of +their actions.] + +[Footnote 136: Night DXII.] + +[Footnote 137: Sic (tentsur), but this is probably a copyist's error for +"we may see" (nentsur), the difference being only a question of one or +two diacritical points over the initial letter.] + +[Footnote 138: Here Burton adds, "Indeed I had well nigh determined +to forfeit all my profit of the Ninth Statue and to bear thee away to +Bassorah as my own bride, when my comrade and councillor dissuaded me +from so doing, lest I should bring about my death."] + +[Footnote 139: Night DXIII.] + +[Footnote 140: Or (vulg.) "I thank him, etc." (istekthertu aleihi +elladhi hefitsaha wa sanaha wa hejeba rouhaku anha). Burton, "Albeit +I repeatedly enjoined him to defend and protect her until he concealed +from her his face."] + +[Footnote 141: Or we may read "went out, glad and rejoicing, with (bi) +the young lady;" but the reading in the test is more consonant with the +general style of the Nights.] + +[Footnote 142: Azaa, strictly the formal sitting in state to receive +visits of condolence for the death of a relation, but in modern parlance +commonly applied, by extension, to the funeral ceremonies themselves.] + +[Footnote 143: El kendil el meshhour. The lamp is however more than once +mentioned in the course of the tale by the name of "wonderful" (ajib, +see post, p. 88, note 4) so familiar to the readers of the old version.] + +[Footnote 144: Night DXIV.] + +[Footnote 145: Khilafahu, lit. "the contrary thereof;" but the +expression is constantly used (instead of the more correct gheirahu) in +the sense of "other than it," "the take," etc.] + +[Footnote 146: Or "street-boys" (auladu 'l hhareh).] + +[Footnote 147: Zeboun.] + +[Footnote 148: Burton adds here, "Counsel and castigation were of no +avail."] + +[Footnote 149: Lit. "had been recalled" (tuwouffia), i.e. by God to +Himself.] + +[Footnote 150: This old English and Shakspearean expression is the exact +equivalent of the Arabic phrase Khelesza min sherr walidihi. Burton, +"freed from [bearing] the severities of his sire."] + +[Footnote 151: Kanet wayyishuhu. Burton, "lived only by."] + +[Footnote 152: Night DXV.] + +[Footnote 153: I prefer this old English form of the Arabic word +Meghrebiy (a native of El Meghreb or North-Western Africa) to "Moor," +as the latter conveys a false impression to the modern reader, who would +naturally suppose him to be a native of Morocco, whereas the enchanter +came, as will presently appear, from biladu 'l gherbi 'l jewwaniy, +otherwise Ifrikiyeh, i.e. "the land of the Inner West" or Africa proper, +comprising Tunis, Tripoli and part of A]geria.] + +[Footnote 154: Min biladi 'l gherbi 'l jewwaniy. The Muslim provinces of +North-Western Africa, extending from the north-western boundary of Egypt +to Cape Nun on the Mogador Coast, were known under the general name of +El Meghreb (modern Barbary) and were divided into three parts, to wit +(1) El Meghreb el Jewwaniy, Inner, i.e. Hither or Nearer (to Egypt) +Barbary or Ifrikiyeh, comprising Tripoli, Tunis and Constantine (part of +Algeria), (2) El Meghreb el Aouset, Central Barbary. comprising the +rest of Algeria, and (3) El Meghreb el Acszaa, Farther or Outer Barbary, +comprising the modern empire of Morocco.] + +[Footnote 155: El hieh. Burton translates, "astrology," and astrology +(or astronomy); is the classical meaning of the word; but the common +meaning in modern Arabic is "the science of physiognomy," cf. the Nights +passim. See especially ante, p. 42.] + +[Footnote 156: Bi-szaut hezin meksour. Burton, "in a soft voice saddened +by emotion."] + +[Footnote 157: Burton, "brother-german."] + +[Footnote 158: Or "comfort myself in him" (ateazza bihi). Burton +"condole with him [over the past]."] + +[Footnote 159: Lit. "hid not unto me that" (ma ekhfa aleyya an).] + +[Footnote 160: Night DXVI.] + +[Footnote 161: Teaziyeti. Burton, "I have now railed in the mourning +ceremonies."] + +[Footnote 162: El bein ked efjaani fihi, i e. "I have been stricken with +separation from him." Burton, "Far distance wrought me this trouble."] + +[Footnote 163: Lit. "the being (el ka'n, i.e. that which is, the +accomplished fact) there is not from it a refuge or place of fleeing" +(mehreb). Burton, "nor hath the creature aught of asylum from the +Creator."] + +[Footnote 164: Or "consolation" (azaa).] + +[Footnote 165: Burton, "I have none to condole with now save thyself"] + +[Footnote 166: Night DXVII.] + +[Footnote 167: Burton, "finding out."] + +[Footnote 168: Lit. "He had no longer a heart to part with him," i.e.. +he could not bear him out of his sight, Alaeddin being necessary for the +achievement of the adventure of the lamp. See post.] + +[Footnote 169: El asha. Burton, "the meat."] + +[Footnote 170: Lit. "vein" (irc).] + +[Footnote 171: Night DXVIII.] + +[Footnote 172: Ujoubetu 'l aalem. See ante, p. 32, note. {see FN#95}] + +[Footnote 173: Ila biladi 'l gherbi 'l jewwaniy.] + +[Footnote 174: Burton, "to the regions of the Setting Sun and abode +for a space of thirty years in the Moroccan interior." See ante, p. 57, +notes. {see FN#154}] + +[Footnote 175: Burton adds, "Alone at home."] + +[Footnote 176: i.e. birthplace, a child being bow head-foremost.] + +[Footnote 177: Burton, "wander like a wild Arab."] + +[Footnote 178: Lit. "and "; but this is the error of some copyist, who, +by leaving out an initial l, has turned lau (if) into wa (and).] + +[Footnote 179: The first chapter of the Koran; a common usage in +anticipation of travel or indeed before commencing any enterprise of +moment.] + +[Footnote 180: Istehhweda (vulg. for istehhwedha) aleyya. Burton, "of +the pains which prevailed upon me."] + +[Footnote 181: Or "succeedeth" (yekklufu). Burton, "the legacy +bequeathed to us by."] + +[Footnote 182: Khellefa.] + +[Footnote 183: Night DXIX.] + +[Footnote 184: Lit. "abide in the subsistence of the like of this one" +(acoumu fi ma"sh mithl hadha). Burton, "go about for a maintenance after +this fashion."] + +[Footnote 185: Uhheszszilu ana ma"ski ana buddi men yuayyishani. Burton, +"I am compelled to provide him with daily bread when I require to be +provided."] + +[Footnote 186: Ibn nas generally signifies "a man of good family" (Fr. +fils de famille), but here the sense seems to be as in the text.] + +[Footnote 187: Or "constrain not thyself for me," in do not be ashamed +to say what thou wishes", lit. "let it not be hard or grievous upon thee +from or on account of me" (la yesubu aleika minni). Burton, "Let not my +words seem hard and harsh to thee."] + +[Footnote 188: Fe-in kana keman (vulg. for kema anna). Burton, "if +despite all I say."] + +[Footnote 189: Fi, lit. "in," but here used, as is common in Syria, +instead of bi "with."] + +[Footnote 190: Burton, "Shalt become famous among the folk."] + +[Footnote 191: Khwaja (Persian).] + +[Footnote 192: Tajir (Arabic equivalent of khwaja).] + +[Footnote 193: Burton, "that such folk dress handsomely and fare +delicately."] + +[Footnote 194: Night DXX.] + +[Footnote 195: Lit. "was past" (fata). Burton, "the dark hours were +passing by and the wine was drunken."] + +[Footnote 196: Sherab. Burton, "sherbets."] + +[Footnote 197: Night DXXI.] + +[Footnote 198: Or "places" (amakin).] + +[Footnote 199: Or "streets" (mehellat). Burton, "apartments."] + +[Footnote 200: i.e. "It is no merit in me that I do what I have done."] + +[Footnote 201: Bi-jahi 'l awwelin. Burton, "by the honour of the +Hallows."] + +[Footnote 202: i.e.. "a protection."] + +[Footnote 203: Lit. "that thine eye will be cooled with (or by) him."] + +[Footnote 204: Likai yetearrefa fihim wa yetearrefou fihi. This passage +confirms my reading of a former one; see ante, p. 68, note 3. {see +FN#189}] + +[Footnote 205: Nighs DXXII.] + +[Footnote 206: Lit. "believed not what time (ayyumetn) the day broke;" +but ayyumeta (of which ayyumeta is a vulgar corruption) supposes +the future and should be used with the aorist. The phrase, as I have +translated common in the Nights.] + +[Footnote 207: Or, "laughing at" (yudsahiku).. Burton, "he began to make +the lad laugh."] + +[Footnote 208: Szeraya (for seraya).] + +[Footnote 209: Keszr.] + +[Footnote 210: Newafir, an evident mistranscription, probably for some +such word as fewawir, irregular form of fewwarat, pl. of fewwareh, a +spring or jet of water.] + +[Footnote 211: Burton adds, "and reach the end of our walk."] + +[Footnote 212: Jebel aali. Burton, "the base of a high and naked hill."] + +[Footnote 213: Lit. "before or in front of a mountain." Burton, "we have +reached the barren hill-country."] + +[Footnote 214: Ra'hhin, a vulgarism of frequent occurrence in this +story.] + +[Footnote 215: Shudd heilek.] + +[Footnote 216: Lit. the land of the West (biladu 'l gherb); see ante, p. +57, notes. {see FN#153}] + +[Footnote 217: Night DXXIII.] + +[Footnote 218: Lit. "without aught" (bilash), i e. without [visible] +cause or reason. Burton, "beyond the range of matter."] + +[Footnote 219: Nuhhas szebb (for szebeb min er) reml, lit. "brass poured +[forth from] sand," i.e. cast in a mould of sand. Cf. 1 Kings, vii 16, +"two chapiters of molten brass."] + +[Footnote 220: Dir balek, lit. "turn thy thought (i.e. be attentive) +[Footnote to that which I shall say to thee]."] + +[Footnote 221: Night DXXIV.] + +[Footnote 222: Lit. "pass not by" (la tuferwwit). Burton, "nor +gainsay."] + +[Footnote 223: Yani li-min (vulg. for tani li-men), i.e. on whose behalf +do I undertake all these my toils?] + +[Footnote 224: Lit. "leave"; but the verb khella (II. of khela is +constantly used in the present text in the sense of "he made."] + +[Footnote 225: There is some mistake here in the text. The word which +I translate "great" is akabir (pl. of akber, most great), apparently +inserted by mistake for kebir, great. But that akabir is followed by +jiddan (exceedingly), I should be inclined to read the phrase [kebiru +'l] akabir, greatest of the great.] + +[Footnote 226: Wehdi, lit. "my lone," a Scotch expression, which might +be usefully acclimatized in English prose and verse.] + +[Footnote 227: Night DXXV.] + +[Footnote 228: Or "pay attention," dir (vulg. for adir) balek. See ante, +p. 78, note. {see FN#220}] + +[Footnote 229: Lit. "a place divided into four places" I take the +variant aweds, chambers. from Chavis's copy of the MS., as quoted by M. +Zotenberg.] + +[Footnote 230: Liwan, i.e. an estrade or recessed room, raised above the +level of the ground and open in front.] + +[Footnote 231: Lit. "in it" (fihi); but the meaning is as in the text, +i.e. connected with it or leading thereto. This reading is confirmed by +the terms in which the stair is afterwards mentioned, q.v. post, p. 83, +and note. {see FN#235}] + +[Footnote 232: Night DXXVI.] + +[Footnote 233: Ubb. Burton, "breast-pocket," the usual word for which +is jeib. Ubb is occasionally used in this sense; but it is evident from +what follows (see post, p. 85. {see FN#243} "Alaeddin proceeded to pluck +and put in his pockets (ajyab, pl. of jeib), and his sleeves" (ibab), +and note) that ubb is here used in the common sense of "sleeve."] + +[Footnote 234: i.e. "that which is in the lamp."] + +[Footnote 235: Burton transposes, "where he entered the saloon and +mounted the ladder;" but the context shows that the stair was a flight +of steps leading up to the dais and not a ladder in it. The word fihi in +the magician's instructions might indeed be taken in this latter sense, +but may just as well be read "thereto" or "pertaining thereto" as +"therein." See also below, where Alaeddin is made to descend from the +dais into the garden.] + +[Footnote 236: Lit. voices (aswat). Burton, "fond voices"] + +[Footnote 237: Burton, "Furthermore the size of each stone so far +surpassed description that no king of the kings of the world owned a +single gem of the larger sort."] + +[Footnote 238: Night DXXVII.] + +[Footnote 239: Toubasi. I insert this from the Chavis MS. Burton adds, +"spinels and balasses."] + +[Footnote 240: Ibab.] + +[Footnote 241: Ubb.] + +[Footnote 242: Ajyab, pl. of jeib, the bosom of a shirt, hence a breast +or other pocket.] + +[Footnote 243: Ibab. Burton, "pokes and breast-pockets."] + +[Footnote 244: The possession of the lamp rendering him superior to the +spells by which they were enchanted.] + +[Footnote 245: Burton says here, "The text creates some confusion by +applying sullem to staircase and ladder; hence probably the latter is +not mentioned by Galland and Co., who speak only of an 'escalier de +cinquante marches.'" As far as I can see, Galland was quite right, a +staircase (and not a ladder) being, in my judgment, meant in each case, +and Sir Richard Burton's translation of sullem min thelathin derejeh as +"a ladder of thirty rungs" (see ante p. 82, note {see FN#231}) seems to +me founded on a misconception, he being misled by the word "fihi" (see +my note ante, p. 83 {see FN#235}). He adds, "sullem in modern Egyptian +is used for a flight of steps;" but it signifies both "ladder" and +"flight of steps" in the classic tongue; see Lane, p. 1416, colt 2, +"sullem, a ladder or a series of stairs or steps, either of wood or +clay, etc." His remark would apply better to derej (class. "a way," but +in modern parlance "a ladder" or "staircase" which the story-teller uses +interchangeably with sullem, in speaking of the stair leading down +into the underground, thus showing that he considered the two words +synonymous.] + +[Footnote 246: Akyas. This is the first mention of purses.] + +[Footnote 247: Lit. "without" (kharijan).] + +[Footnote 248: Burton, "Forasmuch as he had placed it at the bottom +of his breast-pocket and his other pockets being full of gems bulged +outwards."] + +[Footnote 249: Night DXXVIII.] + +[Footnote 250: Lit. "was locked," inkefelet, but I take this to be a +mistranscription of inkelebet, "was turned over."] + +[Footnote 251: Lit. "was covered over, shut like a lid" (intebeket).] + +[Footnote 252: Tebbeca, i.e. caused (by his enchantments) to become +covered or closed up like a lid.] + +[Footnote 253: Ifrikiyeh, see ante, p. 57, note 1. {see FN#153} Here the +story-teller takes the province for a city.] + +[Footnote 254: Burton adds, "by devilish inspiration."] + +[Footnote 255: Wa [kan] el aghreb an fi hadha 'l kenz [kana]. Burton +"the most marvellous article in this treasure was, etc."] + +[Footnote 256: Kendil ajib.] + +[Footnote 257: Night DXXIX.] + +[Footnote 258: A proverbial expression, meaning that, as he did not +absolutely kill Alaeddin, though doing what was (barring a miracle) +certain to cause his death, he could not be said to be his slayer; a +piece of casuistry not peculiar to the East, cf. the hypocritical show +of tenderness with which the Spanish Inquisition was wont, when handing +over a victim to the secular power for execution by burning alive, to +recommend that there should be "no effusion of blood." It is possible, +however, that the proverb is to be read in the sense of "He who is +destined to live cannot be slain."] + +[Footnote 259: i.e. with the contents of the chambers and the garden.] + +[Footnote 260: Night DXXX.] + +[Footnote 261: Lit. rubbing in or upon.] + +[Footnote 262: Lit. "The Quickener, the Deadener" (el muhheyyi, el +mumit), two of the ninety-nine names of God.] + +[Footnote 263: Or "Judge" (cadsi).] + +[Footnote 264: Farijuha. Burton, "Bringer of joy not of annoy."] + +[Footnote 265: i.e. Mohammed's.] + +[Footnote 266: Lit. a servant or slave, i.e. that of the ring. Burton, +"its Familiar."] + +[Footnote 267: i.e. Solomon.] + +[Footnote 268: See my Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol. 1. +p 33, note. {see Payne's Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol. +1 FN#16}] + +[Footnote 269: Night DXXXI.] + +[Footnote 270: Night DXXXII.] + +[Footnote 271: i.e.. in all the registers of men's actions fabled to be +kept in heaven.] + +[Footnote 272: Lit. "see the accursed his duplicity and his promises +that he promised me withal in that he would do all good with me." +Burton, "see how the dammed villain broke every promise he made, +certifying that he would soon work all good with me."] + +[Footnote 273: Lit. "on account of my pain therefrom when I was absent +from the world."] + +[Footnote 274: Hatha 'l metleb li, lit. "this quest (or object of quest) +[was] mine (or for me)." Metleb is often used in the special technical +sense of "buried treasure."] + +[Footnote 275: Night DXXXIII.] + +[Footnote 276: Bustan.] + +[Footnote 277: Bilaur.] + +[Footnote 278: Keszr, instead of liwan (dais), as in previous +description.] + +[Footnote 279: Keisan. Burton, "bag-pockets."] + +[Footnote 280: Lit. "without" (kharij).] + +[Footnote 281: Aadim, present participle of adima, he lacked.] + +[Footnote 282: Night DXXXIV.] + +[Footnote 283: Lit. the pre-eminence (el fedsl).] + +[Footnote 284: Thani youm, Burton, "the second day," which, though +literal, conveys a false impression.] + +[Footnote 285: Night DXXXV.] + +[Footnote 286: Or "beyond desire" (fauca 'l khatir), i.e. inconceivably +good. Burton, "beyond our means."] + +[Footnote 287: It is a favourite device with Oriental cooks to colour +dishes (especially those which contain rice) in various ways, so as to +please the eye as well as the palate.] + +[Footnote 288: Lit. "black bottles" (museunvedetein). Burton, "black +jacks."] + +[Footnote 289: Zekiyyeh (pure) for dhekiyyeh (strong, sharp, pungent), a +common vulgar corruption.] + +[Footnote 290: Burton, "wherewith Allah Almighty hath eased our +poverty."] + +[Footnote 291: Elladhi iftekeda juana. Burton, "who hath abated our +hunger pains."] + +[Footnote 292: Lit. "we are under his benefit."] + +[Footnote 293: Hhizana for hhezzaza?] + +[Footnote 294: Lit. "whet proceeded from."] + +[Footnote 295: Lit. "but" (lakin for Iekan, "then").] + +[Footnote 296: Keif dhalik. Lit. "How this?" Burton, "Who may this be?"] + +[Footnote 297: Night DXXXVI.] + +[Footnote 298: i.e. the Jinn of the lamp and the ring.] + +[Footnote 299: Apparently referring to chap. xxiii, verses 99, l00, +of the Koran, "Say, 'Lord, I take refuge in Thee from the suggestions +of the devils, and I take refuge in thee, Lord, that (i.e. Iest) they +appear!'" Mohammed is fabled by Muslim theologians to have made a +compact with the Jinn that they should not enter the houses of the +faithful unless expressly summoned..] + +[Footnote 300: i.e. "I am, in general, ready to obey all thy +commandments"] + +[Footnote 301: i.e. the lamp.] + +[Footnote 302: Lit. "uses," "advantages" (menafi).] + +[Footnote 303: Referring, of course, to the slave of the lamp.] + +[Footnote 304: Night DXXXVII.] + +[Footnote 305: Lit. "saw."] + +[Footnote 306: Afterwards "silver"; see pp. 108 and l10.] + +[Footnote 307: A carat is generally a twenty-fourth part of a diner, +i.e. about 5d.; but here it appears to be a sixtieth part or about 2d. +Burton, "A copper carat, a bright polished groat."] + +[Footnote 308: Lit. "to the contrary of him" (ila khilafihi). See ante, +p. 55, note 4. {see FN#145}] + +[Footnote 309: Night DXXXVIII.] + +[Footnote 310: Kenani, pl. of kinnineh, a bottle or phial.] + +[Footnote 311: i.e. the genie.] + +[Footnote 312: Night DXXXIX.] + +[Footnote 313: Ala kedhum. Burton, "after their olden fashion."] + +[Footnote 314: Lit. "[in] middling case" (halet[an] mustewessitet[an]). +Burton translates, "as middle-class folk," adding in a note, "a phrase +that has a European touch."] + +[Footnote 315: Burton adds, "on diet."] + +[Footnote 316: "Er rijal el kamiloun," lit. "complete men." Burton, "good +men and true."] + +[Footnote 317: Bedsa'a. Burton, "investments,"] + +[Footnote 318: Keisein. Burton, "his pockets."] + +[Footnote 319: Lit. "neck." The Muslims fable that all will appear at +the Day of Resurrection with their good and evil actions in visible form +fastened about their necks. "And each man, we constrain him to carry his +actions (ta'r, lit. bird, i.e. fortune as told by augury from the flight +of birds, according to the method so much in favour with the ancients, +but interpreted by the scholiasts as 'actions,' each man's actions +being, according to them, the cause of his good and evil fortune, +happiness or misery), on (or about,.fi) his neck."--Koran, xvii, 14.] + +[Footnote 320: Night DXL] + +[Footnote 321: An idiomatic expression, equivalent to our vulgar English +phrase, "He was struck all of a heap."] + +[Footnote 322: Beszireh, mental (as opposed to bodily) vision.] + +[Footnote 323: Night DXLI.] + +[Footnote 324: Gheramuha.] + +[Footnote 325: Lit. "be rightly guided," "return to the right way."] + +[Footnote 326: Heds, Syrian for hheds.] + +[Footnote 327: i.e.. if thou be in earnest.] + +[Footnote 328: Aamin. Burton, "fonder and more faithful."] + +[Footnote 329: Night DXLII.] + +[Footnote 330: Lit. "blood of my liver."] + +[Footnote 331: i.e. the bride's parents.] + +[Footnote 332: Burton, "Also who shall ask her to wife for the son of a +snip?"] + +[Footnote 333: Night DXLIII.] + +[Footnote 334: Lit. "near and far," the great being near to the king's +dignity, and the small far from it.] + +[Footnote 335: Lit. "before" (cuddam).] + +[Footnote 336: Lit. "thou art not of its measure or proportion" (kedd).] + +[Footnote 337: Ijreker ti bi 'l hhecc. Burton. "thou hast reminded me +aright."] + +[Footnote 338: Night DXLIV.] + +[Footnote 339: Kiyas, a mistake for akyas, pl. of keis, a purse.] + +[Footnote 340: Lit. "So, an thou wilt, burden thy mind (i.e. give +thyself the trouble, kellifi khatiraki,) and with us [is] a China dish; +rise and come to me with it." Kellifi (fem.) khatiraki is an idiomatic +expression equivalent to the French, "donnez-vous (or prenez) la peine" +and must be taken in connection with what follows, i.e. give yourself +the trouble to rise and bring me, etc. (prenez la peine de vous lever +et de m'apporter, etc.). Burton, "Whereupon, an-thou please, compose thy +mind. We have in our house a bowl of china porcelain: so arise thou and +fetch it."] + +[Footnote 341: Lit. "were not equal to one quarter of a carat," i.e. a +ninety-sixth part, "carat" being here used in its technical sense of a +twenty-fourth part of anything.] + +[Footnote 342: Kellifi khatiraki (prenez la peine) as before. Burton, +"Compose thy thoughts."] + +[Footnote 343: Night DXLV.] + +[Footnote 344: Elladhi hu alan ca'm bi maashina. Burton, "Ere this thou +hast learned, O mother mine, that the Lamp which we possess hath become +to us a stable income."] + +[Footnote 345: Or "pay attention" (diri balek); see ante, pp. 78 and 81. +{see FN#220 and FN#228}] + +[Footnote 346: Minhu. Burton translates, "for that 'tis of him," and +says, in a note, "Here the MS. text is defective, the allusion is, I +suppose, to the Slave of the Lamp." I confess I do not see the defect of +which he speaks. Alaeddin of course refers to the lamp and reminds his +mother that the prosperity they enjoy "is (i.e. arises) from it."] + +[Footnote 347: Lit. "completed," "fully constituted."] + +[Footnote 348: The attitude implied in the word mutekettif and +obligatory in presence of a superior, i.e. that of a schoolboy in +class.] + +[Footnote 349: Or "complainants," "claimants."] + +[Footnote 350: Fi teriketihi, apparently meaning "in its turn." Burton, +"Who (i.e. the Sultan) delivered sentence after his wonted way."] + +[Footnote 351: Night DXLVI.] + +[Footnote 352: Illezemet. Burton, "she determined."] + +[Footnote 353: Lit. "the Divan;" but the door of the presence-chamber is +meant, as appears by the sequel.] + +[Footnote 354: Burton, "and when it was shut, she would go to make sure +thereof."] + +[Footnote 355: Muddeh jumah. Burton, "the whole month."] + +[Footnote 356: Burton, "come forward."] + +[Footnote 357: Burton, "levee days"] + +[Footnote 358: Izar. Burton, "mantilla."] + +[Footnote 359: Here the copyist, by the mistaken addition of fe (so), +transfers the "forthright" to the Vizier's action of submission to the +Sultan's order.] + +[Footnote 360: Night DXLVII.] + +[Footnote 361: I have arranged this passage a little, to make it read +intelligibly. In the original it runs thus, "Alaeddin's mother, whenas +she took a wont and became every Divan-day going and standing in +the Divan before the Sultan, withal that she was dejected, wearying +exceedingly, but for Alaeddin's sake, her son, she used to make light of +all weariness."] + +[Footnote 361: Aman; i.e. promise or assurance of indemnity, permission +to speak freely, without fear of consequences.] + +[Footnote 362: Aman in secondary sense of "protection" or "safeguard."] + +[Footnote 363: i.e. I pardon thee, under God, ("then I" being +understood). The right of pardon residing with God, the pious Muslim can +only say, "God pardon thee first and then I pardon thee."] + +[Footnote 364: Burton, "shun the streets."] + +[Footnote 365: Arad. Burton, "felt an uncontrollable longing."] + +[Footnote 366: Or "food (aish, bread) hath not been pleasant (or had any +savour) for him."] + +[Footnote 367: Seadetuk, lit. "thy felicity;" this and jenabuk (lit. +"thy side"), "thine excellence" or "thy highness," and hhedsretuk "thy +highness," (lit. "thy presence") are the titles commonly given to kings +in Arabic-speaking countries, although hhedsretuk is strictly applicable +only to the Prophet and other high spiritual dignitaries. They are +often, but erroneously, rendered "thy majesty"; a title which does not +exist in the East and which is, as is well known to students of history, +of comparatively recent use in Europe.] + +[Footnote 368: Lit, "having regard to his clemency, he took to laughing +and asked her." Burton, "He regarded her with kindness, and laughing +cloud, asked her."] + +[Footnote 369: Surreh, lit. purse and by extension, as here, anything +tied up in bag-shape.] + +[Footnote 370: Night DXLVIII.] + +[Footnote 371: Lit. "Be clement unto me, Thy Grace promised me."] + +[Footnote 372: Lit. "Forbearance (hhilm, clemency, longanimity, delay +in requiting an evil-doer) is incumbent from thine exalted highness unto +(ila) three months."] + +[Footnote 373: Aatsem melik, an ungrammatical construction of common +occurrence in the present MS., properly aatsemu 'l mulouk.] + +[Footnote 374: Syn. "his clemency required."] + +[Footnote 375: i.e. shall be reserved for him alone.] + +[Footnote 376: i.e. the marriage trousseau.] + +[Footnote 377: Lit. "Except that, O my son, the Vizier bespoke him a +privy word (kelam sirriyy) ere he promised me; then, after the Vizier +bespoke him a word privily (sirran), he promised me to (ila) three +months."] + + +[Footnote 378: Lit. an ill presence (mehhdser sau). This expression +has occurred before in the Nights, where I have, in deference to +the authority of the late M. Dozy (the greatest Arabic scholar since +Silvestre de Sacy) translated it "a compend of ill," reading the second +word as pointed with dsemmeh (i.e. sou, evil, sub.) instead of with +fetheh (i.e. sau, evil, adj.), although in such a case the strict rules +of Arabic grammar require sou to be preceded by the definite article +(i.e. mehhdseru's sou). However, the context and the construction of the +phrase, in which the present example of the expression occurs, seem to +show that it is not here used in this sense.] + +[Footnote 379: Night DXLIX.] + +[Footnote 380: Lit. (as before) "promised her to" (ila).] + +[Footnote 381: Lit. "to" (ila), as before.] + +[Footnote 382: i.e. the delay.] + +[Footnote 383: Lit. "he thanked his mother and thought (or made) much +of her goodness (istekthera bi-kheiriha, a common modern expression, +signifying simply 'he thanked her') for her toil." Burton, "Then he +thanked his parent, showing her how her good work had exceeded her toil +and travail "] + +[Footnote 384: Lit. "Wonder took her at this wonder and the decoration." +Burton amplifies, "She wondered at the marvellous sight and the glamour +of the scene." Me judice, to put it in the vernacular, she simply +wondered what the dickens it was all about.] + +[Footnote 385: Min wectiha. Burton, "And for some time, O my son, I have +suspected." See ante, p. 134. {see FN#378}] + +[Footnote 386: Lit. "fever seized him of his chagrin."] + +[Footnote 387: Night DL.] + +[Footnote 388: Lit. "promised me to" (ila), as before.] + +[Footnote 389: Eshaa; or, if we take the word as pointed with kesreh +(i.e. ishaa), we may read, with Burton, "to pass the rest of the +evening," though this expression seems to me hardly in character with +the general tone of the MS.] + +[Footnote 390: Musterah.] + +[Footnote 391: Sic (el gheir).] + +[Footnote 392: Night DLI.] + +[Footnote 393: Min doun khiyaneh i.e. without offering her any affront. +Burton, "and he did no villain deed."] + +[Footnote 394: Galland adds, "et passe dans une garde-robe o--il s'etoit +deshabille le soir." Something of the kind appears to have dropped out +of the present MS.] + +[Footnote 395: Night DLII.] + +[Footnote 396: Lit. "with the eye of anger." Ghedseb (anger) and its +synonym ghaits are frequently used in the Nights in this sense; see +especially Vol. II. of my translation, p. 234, "she smiled a sad smile," +lit. a "smile of anger," (twice) and p. 258, "my anguish redoubled," +lit. "I redoubled in anger."] + +[Footnote 397: Wesikh. Burton, "fulsome."] + +[Footnote 398: Night DLIII.] + +[Footnote 399: Diri balek an [la]. Burton, "compose thy thoughts. If, +etc." See ante, passim.] + +[Footnote 400: Sic.] + +[Footnote 401: Kedhebaka.] + +[Footnote 402: i.e. that which he derived from such an alliance.] + +[Footnote 403: Lit. "Wretches" (mesakin).] + +[Footnote 404: Night DLIV.] + +[Footnote 405: Inketaet (lit. "she was cut or broken") min el khauf. +Burton, "She was freed from her fear of the past."] + +[Footnote 406: Or "honoured" (azlz)] + +[Footnote 407: i.e. "in my behaviour to thee."] + +[Footnote 408: Kema akedu min mehebbetika li. Burton, "even as I claim +of thee affection for thy child."] + +[Footnote 409: Night DLV.] + +[Footnote 410: Hhashaha min el kidhb; lit. "Except her from lying!" +Hhasha (which commonly signifies, "Far be it," "God forbid!") is here +used in a somewhat unusual manner. The sense seems to be, "God forbid +that the Lady Bedrulbudour should be suspected of lying! "] + +[Footnote 411: Or "shrunken" (kusziret). Burton, "bursten."] + +[Footnote 412: Or "honoured" (aziz).] + +[Footnote 413: Night DLVI.] + +[Footnote 414: Lit. "how [was] the device therein;" i.e how he should +do for an expedient thereanent. Burton, "the device whereby he should +manage it."] + +[Footnote 415: Or "called upon" (nedeh).] + +[Footnote 416: El ashreh [mubeshshereh understood], "the ten [who were +rejoiced with glad tidings]," i.e. ten of Mohammed's companions +(Abou Bekr, Omar, Othman, Ali, Telheh, Zubeir, Saad ibn Abi Weccas, +Abdurrehman ibn Auf, Abou Ubeideh ibnu'l Jerrah and Said ibn Zeid), to +whom (and to whom alone) he is said to have promised certain entrance +into Paradise. They are accordingly considered to have pre-eminence over +the Prophet's other disciples and are consequently often invoked by the +less orthodox Muslims as intercessors with him, much after the fashion +of the Quatuordecim Adjutores, the Fourteen Helpers [in time of need], +(i.e. Saints Catherine, Margaret, Barbara, Pantaleon, Vitus, Eustace, +Blase, Gregory, Nicholas, Erasmus, Giles, George, Leonard and +Christopher) of Romish hagiology.] + +[Footnote 417: i.e the marriage of his son to the Sultan's daughter. +Burton, "it having been a rare enjoyment to him that he had fallen upon +such high good fortune."] + +[Footnote 418: Lit. "marriage," i.e. "wedding festivities are out of +place." The word (zijeh) here used is a dialectic (Syrian) variant of +zewaj, marriage. Burton, "we require no delay,"] + +[Footnote 419: Lit. "the lord (i.e. he) of the suit or claim" (sahibu 'd +dewat).] + +[Footnote 420: Or "inestimable," lit. "might not be measured by (or +appraised at) a price or value." Burton, "far beyond his power to pay +the price."] + +[Footnote 421: Lit. "How is the management or contrivance (tedbir) with +thee?" i.e. "canst thou suggest to us any expedient?"] + +[Footnote 422: Night DLVII.] + +[Footnote 423: Burton adds, "speaking privily."] + +[Footnote 424: Or perhaps, "we may with impunity rebut," etc.] + +[Footnote 425: Gherib, lit. a stranger, an exile, but vulg. by +extension, a poor, homeless wretch.] + +[Footnote 426: i.e Alaeddin's mother.] + +[Footnote 427: Lit. "that day."] + +[Footnote 428: Fr. "... l'aimable." Lit. "by a way or means" +(bi-terikeh). It may be we should read bi [hatheti'll] terikeh, "by +[this] means;" but the rendering in the text seems the more probable +one, the Sultan meaning that he would thus get rid of Alaeddin's +importunity by practice, without open breach of faith or violence.] + +[Footnote 429: Night DLVIII.] + +[Footnote 430: Lit. "Burden thyself (prenez la peine) and rise", +(kellifi khatiraki, etc., as before).] + +[Footnote 431: Here szewani (trays) instead of, as before, szuhoun +(dishes).] + +[Footnote 432: Night DLIX.] + +[Footnote 433: i.e. "look with open eyes"] + +[Footnote 434: En nuwwab, i.e. those whose turn it was to be on guard.] + +[Footnote 435: Need (lit. coin), a vulgar Syrian corruption of neket, +customary gift of money or otherwhat to a bride on the marriage-day.] + +[Footnote 436: The whole of the foregoing passage is so confused that I +think it well to add here (l) a literal translation, as I read it: "So +the Vizier, yea, indeed, he marvelled at the greatness of that wealth +more than the Sultan, but envy was killing him and waxed on him more and +more when he saw the Sultan that he was satisfied with (or accepted of) +the bride-gift and the dowry; however, it was not possible to him that +he should gainsay the truth and should say to the Sultan, 'He is not +worthy;' only, he practised with a device upon the Sultan so he should +not let him give his daughter the Lady Bedrulbudour to Alaeddin, and +this [Footnote was] that he said to him, etc,"--and also (2) the +version given by Sir K. F. Burton, who takes a different view of the +passage: "Then the Minister (although he marvelled at these riches +even more than did the Sultan), whose envy was killing him and growing +greater hour by hour, seeing his liege lord satisfied with the moneys +and the dower and yet being unable to fight against fact, made answer, +'Tis not worthy of her.' Withal he fell to devising a device against the +King, that he might withhold the Lady Badr-al-Budur from Alaeddin, and +accordingly he continued, etc."] + +[Footnote 437: Or "in comparison with her" (ent hhedsretuk istatsemet +hatha aleiha). This is an ambiguous passage and should perhaps be read, +"Thou magnifiest this (i.e. the gift) over her."] + +[Footnote 438: Night DLX.] + +[Footnote 439: Lit. "swiftly, the winds overtook her not."] + +[Footnote 440: Aksen. Burton, "more suitable to thee."] + +[Footnote 441: Kethir[an]. Burton, "And right soon (Inshallah!) O my +daughter, thou shalt have fuller joy with him."] + +[Footnote 442: Muebbed. Burton, "alone."] + +[Footnote 443: Sic (kum),] + +[Footnote 444: Or "commission" (mishwar).] + +[Footnote 445: Bekia ma bekia hatha shey aleik, lit. "remaineth what remaineth +this is a thing upon (or for) thee." Burton, "Happen whatso may happen; +the rest is upon thy shoulders." The first bekia is perhaps used in the +common colloquial sense of "then."] + +[Footnote 446: Shekeraha wa istekthera bi-kheiriha. See ante, p. 155, +note 3. Burton, "enhancing her kindly service."] + +[Footnote 447: Surname of the ancient Kings of Persia, vulg. Chosroes.] + +[Footnote 448: Night DLXI.] + +[Footnote 449: Lit. "the."] + +[Footnote 450: Burton, "the costliest of clothes."] + +[Footnote 451: Generally that of aloes-wood.] + +[Footnote 452: Quoth Shehrzad to Shehriyar.] + +[Footnote 453: Yetsunnuhu; quare a clerical error for yentsuruku ("had +seen him" )?] + +[Footnote 454: i.e. male white slaves (memlouk, whence our "mameluke," +sing. for plural memalik).] + +[Footnote 455: Lit. "and let there be with each slave-girl a suit, etc." +Burton "And let every handmaid be robed in raiment that befitteth queens +wearing." The twelve suits of clothes to be brought by the slave-girls +were of course intended for the wearing of Alaeddin's mother; see post, +p. 167. {see FN#457 in text}] + +[Footnote 456: i.e. the genuine Arabs of the unmixed blood.] + +[Footnote 457: See ante, p. 166, note 2. {see FN#455}] + +[Footnote 458: Likai telbesa (tetelebbesa?) hiya. Burton, "she should +wear."] + +[Footnote 459: Sic, the meaning seeming to be that kings' sons were out +of comparison with Alaeddin, as who should say (in Cockney parlance) +"Don't talk to me about kings' sons."] + +[Footnote 460: Lit. "upon."] + +[Footnote 461: El kendil el ajib.] + +[Footnote 462: Syn. "old and young."] + +[Footnote 463: Night DLXII.] + +[Footnote 464: Ictedsa an tesmuha li bi, lit. "decided (or demanded) +that thou be bountiful to (or grace) me with;" but icledsa is here used +in the colloquial sense of "willed, vouchsafed."] + +[Footnote 465: i.e. that of his tongue, lit. "its bounds or reach" +(kheddahu). Burton, "passing all measure."] + +[Footnote 466: Lit. "acquired, gotten, come by thee" (khetsitu bika).] + +[Footnote 467: Night DLXIII.] + +[Footnote 468: Nuweb (properly naubat).] + +[Footnote 469: Musica.] + +[Footnote 470: Acamou el fereh el atsim. Burton, "a mighty fine +marriage-feast was dispread in the palace."] + +[Footnote 471: Muashir.] + +[Footnote 472: Netser.] + +[Footnote 473: Lit. "but the behoving on me for her service engageth (or +enforceth) me to apply myself hereunto."] + +[Footnote 474: i.e. at thy disposition.] + +[Footnote 475: Night DLXIV.] + +[Footnote 476: Tebakhin. Burton, "kitcheners."] + +[Footnote 477: Keszr.] + +[Footnote 478: Wa, but quaere au ("or")?] + +[Footnote 479: Kushk.] + +[Footnote 480: The description of the famous upper hall with the +four-and-twenty windows is one of the most contused and incoherent parts +of the Nights and well-nigh defies the efforts of the translator to +define the exact nature of the building described by the various and +contradictory passages which refer to it. The following is a literal +rendering of the above passage: "An upper chamber (keszr) and (or?) a +kiosk (kushk, a word explained by a modern Syrian dictionary as meaning +'[a building] like a balcony projecting from the level of the rest of +the house,' but by others as an isolated building or pavilion erected +on the top of a house, i.e. a keszr, in its classical meaning of 'upper +chamber,' in which sense Lane indeed gives it as synonymous with the +Turkish koushk, variant kushk,) with four-and-twenty estrades (liwan, a +raised recess, generally a square-shaped room, large or small, open on +the side facing the main saloon), all of it of emeralds and rubies and +other jewels, and one estrade its kiosk was not finished." Later on, +when the Sultan visits the enchanted palace for the first time, Alaeddin +"brought him to the high kiosk and he looked at the belvedere (teyyareh, +a square or round erection on the top of a house, either open at the +sides or pierced with windows, =our architectural term 'lantern') and +its casements (shebabik, pl. of shubbak, a window formed of grating or +lattice-work) and their lattices (she"ri for she"rir, pl. of sheriyyeh, +a lattice), all wroughten of emeralds and rubies and other than it of +precious jewels." The Sultan "goes round in the kiosk" and seeing "the +casement (shubbak), which Alaeddin had purposely left defective, without +completion," said to the Vizier, "Knowest thou the reason (or cause) of +the lack of completion of this casement and its lattices?" (shearihi, or +quaere, "[this] lattice," the copyist having probably omitted by mistake +the diacritical points over the final ha). Then he asked Alaeddin, "What +is the cause that the lattice of yonder kiosk (kushk) is not complete?" +The defective part is soon after referred to, no less than four times, +as "the lattice of the kiosk" (sheriyyetu 'l kushk), thus showing that, +in the writer's mind, kushk, liwan and shubbak were synonymous terms for +the common Arab projecting square-sided window, made of latticework, +and I have therefore rendered the three words, when they occur in this +sense, by our English "oriel," to whose modern meaning (a window that +juts out, so as to form a small apartment), they exactly correspond. +Again, in the episode of the Maugrabin's brother, the princess shows the +latter (disguised as Fatimeh) "the belvedere (teyyarrh) and the kiosk +(kushk) of jewels, the which [was] with (i.e. had) the four-and-twenty +portals" (mejouz, apparently a Syrian variant of mejaz, lit. a place of +passage, but by extension a porch, a gallery, an opening, here (and here +only) used by synecdoche for the oriel itself), and the famous roe's +egg is proposed to be suspended from "the dome (cubbeh) of the upper +chamber" (el keszr el faucaniyy), thus showing that the latter was +crowned with a dome or cupola. It is difficult to extricate the author's +exact meaning from the above tangle of confused references; but, as far +as can be gathered. in the face of the carelessness with which the text +treats kushk as synonymous now with keszr or teyyareh and now with liwan +or shubbak, it would seem that what is intended to be described is a +lofty hall (or sorer), erected on the roof of the palace, whether round +or square we cannot tell, but crowned with a dome or cupola and having +four-and-twenty deep projecting windows or oriels, the lattice or +trellis-work of which latter was formed (instead of the usual wood) of +emeralds, rubies and other jewels, strung, we may suppose, upon rods of +gold or other metal I have, at the risk of wearying my reader, treated +this point at some length, as well because it is an important one as to +show the almost insuperable difficulties that beset the. conscientious +translator at well-nigh every page of such works as the "Book of the +Thousand Nights and One Night."] + +[Footnote 481: Night DLXV.] + +[Footnote 482: The text has imar (an inhabited country), an evident +mistake for emair (buildings).] + +[Footnote 483: Night DLXVI.] + +[Footnote 484: Atsm sekhahu. Burton. "his dignity was enhanced."] + +[Footnote 485: Or "imitate" (yetemathelou bihi). Burton, "which are such +as are served to the kings."] + +[Footnote 486: Night DLXVII.] + +[Footnote 487: Wectu 'l asr, i.e. midway between noon and nightfall.] + +[Footnote 488: Lit. "was broken" (inkeseret).] + +[Footnote 489: Burton, "with the jerid," but I find no mention of this +in the text. The word used (le'ba, lit. "he played") applies to all +kinds of martial exercises; it may also mean simply, "caracoling."] + +[Footnote 490: See ante, p. 167, note 1. {see FN#456}] + +[Footnote 491: Or "turns" (adwar).] + +[Footnote 492: El hemmam a sultaniyy el meshhour. Burton, "the royal +Hammam (known as the Sult ni)."] + +[Footnote 493: Muhliyat. Burton, "sugared drinks."] + +[Footnote 494: Night DLXVIII.] + +[Footnote 495: Keszriha. Burton, "her bower in the upper story."] + +[Footnote 496: Lit. "changed the robes (khila) upon her." For the +ceremony of displaying (or unveiling) the bride, see my "Book of the +Thousand Nights and One Night," Vol. I. pp. 192 et seq., and "Tales from +the Arabic," Vol. III. pp. 189 et seq.] + +[Footnote 497: Meshghoul.] + +[Footnote 498: Keszr.] + +[Footnote 499: Szeraya, properly serayeh.] + +[Footnote 500: i.e. Alexander the Great; see my "Book of the Thousand +Nights and One Night," Vol. V. p. 6, note.] + +[Footnote 501: Night DLXIX.] + +[Footnote 502: Henahu.] + +[Footnote 503: Fetour, the slight meal eaten immediately on rising, +answering to the French "premier dejeuner," not the "morning-meal" +(gheda), eaten towards noon and answering to the French "dejeuner... la +fourchette."] + +[Footnote 504: Gheda.] + +[Footnote 505: Tekerrum (inf. of V of kerem), lit. "being liberal to any +one." here an idiomatic form of assent expressing condescension on the +part of a superior. Such at least is the explanation of the late Prof. +Dozy; but I should myself incline to read tukremu (second person +sing. aorist passive of IV), i.e. "Thou art accorded [that which thou +seekest]."] + +[Footnote 506: Indhehela.] + +[Footnote 507: Or "upper hall, gallery." Lit. "kiosk." See ante, p.l75, +note 4. {see FN#480}] + +[Footnote 508: Teyyareh. See ante, l.c. The etymology of this word is +probably [caah] teyyareh, "a flying [saloon]."] + +[Footnote 509: Shebabik, pl. of shubbak; see ante, l.c.] + +[Footnote 510: Sheari, see ante, l.c.] + +[Footnote 511: Shubbak.] + +[Footnote 512: Night DLXX.] + +[Footnote 513: Lit. "kiosk" (kushk); see ante, p. 175, note 4.{see +FN#480}] + +[Footnote 514: Ma lehiket el muallimin (objective for nom. muallimoun, +as usual in this text) an.] + +[Footnote 515: Yebca lika dhikra. Burton, "So shall thy memory endure."] + +[Footnote 516: Lit. "kiosk."] + +[Footnote 517: ? (teba'kh).] + +[Footnote 518: Or "melodious."] + +[Footnote 519: El kelb el hhezin.] + +[Footnote 520: i.e. "might not avail unto."] + +[Footnote 521: Muhlivat, as before; see ante. p. 183, note 2. {see +FN#493}] + +[Footnote 522: Szeraya.] + +[Footnote 523: Night DLXXI.] + +[Footnote 524: Sheriyyetu 'l kushk.] + +[Footnote 525: Lit. "the lattice of the kiosk which (i.e. the lattice) +is lacking or imperfect." The adjective (nakiszeh) is put in the +feminine, to agree with "lattice" (sheriyyeh), which is femminine, kiosk +(kushk) being masculine.] + +[Footnote 526: Kushk.] + +[Footnote 527: She"rihi.] + +[Footnote 528: Et tewashiyy, a term here used for the first time in the +present text, where we generally find the Turkish Aga in this sense.] + +[Footnote 529: Night DLXXII.] + +[Footnote 530: Lit. "kiosk" (kushk).] + +[Footnote 531: Fi szerayyetika.] + +[Footnote 532: Szeraya.] + +[Footnote 533: Lit. "that I was not lacking in ableness to complete +it."] + +[Footnote 534: Kushk, here used in sense of "belvedere."] + +[Footnote 535: Or "upper chamber" (keszr).] + +[Footnote 536: Kushk. From this passage it would seem as if the +belvedere actually projected from the side of the upper story or soler +(keszr), instead of being built on the roof, lantern-wise, or being (as +would appear from earlier passages) identical with the hall itself, but +the whole description is as before remarked. so full of incoherence +and confusion of terms that it is impossible to reconcile its +inconsistencies.] + +[Footnote 537: Lit. "a brother resembling thee."] + +[Footnote 538: Lit. "he increased (or exceeded) in the salaries (or +allowances) of the poor and the indigent" (zada fi jewanicki 'l fukera +wa 'l mesakin). Jewamek is an Arabicized Persian word, here signifying +systematic or regular almsgivings.] + +[Footnote 539: Kull muddeh.] + +[Footnote 540: Labu 'l andab, lit. "arrow-play."] + +[Footnote 541: Night DLXXIII.] + +[Footnote 542: Szerayeh.] + +[Footnote 543: Keszr.] + +[Footnote 544: Burton adds, "and confections."] + +[Footnote 545: Lit. "he set them down the stablest or skilfullest +(mustehhkem) setting down."] + +[Footnote 546: Hherrem, i.e. arranged them, according to the rules of +the geomantic art.] + +[Footnote 547: Netsera jeyyidan fi. Burton, "He firmly established the +sequence of."] + +[Footnote 548: Technical names of the primary and secondary figures. +The following account of the geomantic process, as described by +Arabic writers de re magicf, is mainly derived from the Mukeddimat or +Prolegomena of Abdurrehman ibn Aboubekr Mohammed (better known as Ibn +Khaldoun) to his great work of universal history. Those (says he) who +seek to discover hidden things and know the future have invented an art +which they call tracing or smiting the sand; to wit, they take paper +or sand or flour and trace thereon at hazard four rows of points, which +operation, three times repeated (i.e. four times performed), gives +sixteen rows. These points they eliminate two by two, all but the last +(if the number of the points of a row be odd) or the last two (if it be +even) of each row, by which means they obtain sixteen points, single +or double. These they divide into four figures, each representing the +residual points of four lines, set one under another, and these four +figures, which are called the mothers or primaries, they place side by +side in one line. From these primaries they extract four fresh figures +by confronting each point with the corresponding point in the next +figure, and counting for each pair a single or double point, according +to one of two rules, i.e. (1) setting down a single point for each +single point being on the same line with another point, whether single +or double, and a double point for. each pair of double points in line +with each other, or (2) reckoning a double point for each pair of like +points (single or double), corresponding one with another on the same +line' and a single point for each, unlike pair. These new figures (as +well as those that follow) are called the daughters or secondaries and +are placed beside the primaries, by confrontation with which (i,e, 5 +with 1, 6 with 2, 7 with 3 and with 4) four fresh figures are obtained +after the same fashion and placed side by side below the first eight. +From this second row a thirteenth and fourteenth figure are obtained in +the same way (confronting 9 with lo and 1 l with 12) and placed beneath +them, as a third row. The two new figures, confronted with each other, +in like manner, furnish a fifteenth figure, which, being confronted +with the first of the primaries, gives a sixteenth and last figure, +completing the series. Then (says our author), the geomant proceeds to +examine the sixteen figures thus obtained (each of which has its name +and its mansion, corresponding to one of the twelve signs of the zodiac +or the four cardinal points, as well as its signification, good or bad, +and indicates also, in a special way, a certain part of the elemental +world) and to note each figure according to its presage of weal or ill; +and so, with the aid of an astrological table giving the explanations +of the various signs and combinations, according to the nature of +the figure, its aspect, influence and temperament (astrologically +considered) and the natural object it indicates, a judgment is formed +upon the question for a solution of which the operation was undertaken. +I may add that the board or table of sand (tekht reml), so frequently +mentioned in the Nights, is a shallow box filled with fine sand, +carefully levelled, on which the points of the geomantic operation are +made with a style of wood or metal. (The name tekht reml is however +now commonly applied to a mere board or tablet of wood on which the +necessary dots are made with ink or chalk. ) The following scheme of +a geomantic operation will show the application of the above rules. +Supposing the first haphazard dotting to produce these sixteen rows of +points, + + 1......... (9) 5..... (6) 9......... (9) 13...... (6) + 2......... (9) 6.... (4) 10........ (8) 14.... (4) + 3........ (8) 7....... (7) 11......... (9) 15........ (8) + 4....... (7) 8..... (5) 12....... (7) 16..... (5) + + By the process of elimination we get the following four primaries: + + Fig. 1 x Fig. 2 x x Fig. 3 x Fig. 4 x x + x x x x x x x + x x x x x x + x x x x + + The process of confrontation of the corresponding points of these + four figures (according to rule 2) gives the following four + secondaries: + + Fig. 5 x Fig. 6 x Fig. 7 x Fig. 8 x + x x x x x x + x x x x x x + x x x x x x x x + + By confrontation of the points of each secondary with those of + its corresponding primary, the following four fresh figures are + obtained: + + Fig. 9 x x Fig. 10 x Fig. 11 x x Fig. 12 x + x x x x x x x + x x x x x x + x x x x + + Fig. 9, confronted with Fig. 10 gives a thirteenth figure x + x x + x x + x x + + And Fig. 11 confronted with Fig. 12, a fourteenth x + x + x x + x x + + Figures 13 and 14, similarly treated, yield a fifteenth figure + + + x x + x + x x + x x + + Which, in its turn, confronted with Fig. 1, gives a sixteenth + and last figure, x + x x + x x + x + + Completing the scheme, which shows the result of the operation as + follows: + + (1) x (2) x x (3) x (4) x x (5) x (6) x (7) x (8) x + x x x x x x x x x x x x x + x x x x x x x x x x x x + x x x x x x x x x x x x + + (9) x x (10) x (11) x x (12) x + x x x x x x x + x x x x x x + x x x x + + (13) x (14) x + x x x + x x x x + x x x x + + (15) x x + x + x x + x x + + + (16) x + x x + x x + x] + +[Footnote 549: Burton adds here, "in order that other than I may carry +it off."] + +[Footnote 550: Min el meloum, lit. "[it is] of the known (i.e. that +which is known)." Burton, "who knoweth an he wot, etc."] + +[Footnote 551: Night DLXXIV.] + +[Footnote 552: Sic, meaning of course that he had discovered its +properties and availed himself thereof.] + +[Footnote 553: Medinetu 's seltaneh, i e. the seat of government or +capital.] + +[Footnote 554: Lit. "donned" (lebesa).] + +[Footnote 555: Here Galland says, "Il entra dans le lien le plus fameux +et le plus frequente par les personnel de grande distinction, ou l'on +s'assembloit pour boire d'une certaine boisson chance qui luy etoit +connue des son premier voyage. Il n'y e-t pas plust"t pris place qu'on +lay versa de cette boisson dans une tasse et qu'on la luy presenta. +En la prenant, comme il prestoit l'oreille... droite et... gauche, il +entendit qu'on s'entretenoit du palais d'Aladdin." The Chavis MS. says, +"He entered a coffee-house (kehweh, Syrian for kehawi), and there used +to go in thereto all the notables of the city, and he heard a company, +all of them engaged in (ammalin bi, a very vulgar expression) talking of +the Amir Alaeddin's palace, etc." This (or a similar text) is evidently +the original of Galland's translation of this episode and it is +probable, therefore, that the French translator inserted the mention +"of a certain warm drink"(tea), out of that mistaken desire for local +colouring at all costs which has led so many French authors (especially +those of our own immediate day) astray. The circumstance was apparently +evolved (alla tedesca) from his inner consciousness, as, although China +is a favourite location with the authors of the Nights, we find no +single mention of or allusion to tea in the rest of the work.] + +[Footnote 556: Lit. "I will make him lose."] + +[Footnote 557: Night DLXXV.] + +[Footnote 558: Lit. "Instruments of astronomy or astrology" (tenjim); +but tenjim is also used in the sense of geomancy, in which operation, +as before explained, astrology plays an important part, and the context +shows that the word is here intended to bear this meaning. Again, the +implements of a geomancer of the higher order would include certain +astrological instruments, such as an astrolabe, star-table, etc., +necessary, as I have before explained, for the elucidation of the scheme +obtained by the sand-smiting proper.] + +[Footnote 559: He had apparently learned (though the Arabic author +omits, with characteristic carelessness, to tell us so) that Alaeddin +was absent a. hunting.] + +[Footnote 560: Akemm, vulg. for kemm, a quantity.] + +[Footnote 561: Minareh, lit. "alight-stand," i.e. either a lamp-stand or +a candlestick.] + +[Footnote 562: Bi-ziyadeh, which generally means "in excess, to boot," +but is here used in the sense of "in abundance."] + +[Footnote 563: Aalem.] + +[Footnote 564: After the wont of "the natural enemy of mankind' in all +ages.] + +[Footnote 565: Keszr.] + +[Footnote 566: Night DLXXVI.] + +[Footnote 567: Aghatu 't tuwashiyeh.] + +[Footnote 568: Ubb.] + +[Footnote 569: Lit. "who" (men), but this is probably a mistake for ma +(that which).] + +[Footnote 570: Ifrikiyeh.] + +[Footnote 571: Night DLXXVII.] + +[Footnote 572: Ummar. This may, however, be a mistake (as before, see +ante p. 177, note 2 {see FN#482}) for ema'r (buildings).] + +[Footnote 573: Lit. "O company" (ya jema't), a polite formula of +address, equivalent to our "Gentlemen."] + +[Footnote 574: Night DLXXVIII.] + +[Footnote 575: Lit. "the affair (or commandment, amr) is going to be +sealed upon us."] + +[Footnote 576: Sic (dara haulahu thelatheta dauratin); but qu're should +it not rather be, "gave three sweeps or whirls with his sword round his +head"? See my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night," Vol. VI. p. +355.] + +[Footnote 577: Lit. "hath been bountiful unto me;" [the matter of] my +life.] + +[Footnote 578: Night DLXXIX.] + +[Footnote 579: Previous to prayer.] + +[Footnote 580: Lit. made easy to (yessera li).] + +[Footnote 581: The name of the province is here applied to an imaginary +city.] + +[Footnote 582: Night DLXXX.] + +[Footnote 583: Lit. "who hath a head with the head-seller or dealer in +heads, etc." The word here employed (rewwas) commonly signifies "a man +who cooks and sells sheepsheads, oxheads, etc." M. Zotenberg makes the +following note on this passage in. his edition of Alaeddin; "Rewwas (for +raa"s) signifies not only 'he who sells cooked heads,' but also 'he who +makes a business of cooking heads.' Consequently whoso entrusteth a head +to the rewwas is preoccupied and sleeps not." M. Zotenberg's note is +unintelligible, in consequence of his having neglected to explain that +the passage in question is a common Egyptian proverb, meaning (says +Burckhardt), "the person whose fortune is entrusted to the hands of +strangers cannot enjoy repose." "The poor," adds he, "at Cairo buy +sheepsheads and for a trifle have them boiled in the bazaar by persons +who are not only cooks, but sellers of sheepsheads, and are therefore +called raa"s, or in the Egyptian dialect rewwas." The proverb is in +the present case evidently meant as a play upon the literal meaning +("headsman," hence by implication "executioner") of the word rewwas, +although I cannot find an instance of the word being employed in this +sense. It is, however, abundantly evident from the general context that +this is the author's intention in the passage in question, Alaeddin's +head being metaphorically in the hands of (or pledged to) the headsman, +inasmuch as he had engaged to return and suffer decapitation in case he +should not succeed in recovering the princess within forty days.] + +[Footnote 584: I suppose the verb which I render "caused [sleep] get the +mastery," to be ghelleba, II of gheleba, as the only way of making sense +of this passage, though this reading involves some irregularity from a +grammatical point of view. This, however, is no novelty in the present +text. Burton, "But whoso weareth head hard by the headsman may not sleep +o'nights save whenas slumber prevail over him."] + +[Footnote 585: Zeczekeh, a word which exactly renders the sparrow's +dawn-cheep.] + +[Footnote 586: Lit. "From (as Fr. des) the deep or remote dawn" (min +el fejri 'l ghemic, Syr. for emic), cf. Matthew Arnold's "Resignation;" +"The cockoo, loud on some high lawn, Is answered from the depth of +dawn.."] + +[Footnote 587: The terminal formula of the dawn-prayer.] + +[Footnote 588: i.e. the magician] + +[Footnote 589: Lit. "bride'' (arouseh). She is always, to the end of the +tale, spoken of as Alaeddin's "bride," never as his "wife," whilst he, +in like manner, is called her "bridegroom" (arous).] + +[Footnote 590: This, at first sight, appears a contradiction, as we are +distinctly told (see ante, p. 207) that the princess was unaware of the +properties of the lamp; but the sequel shows that she had learned them, +in the mean time. from the magician himself. See post.] + +[Footnote 591: Ifrikiyeh.] + +[Footnote 592: Night DLXXXI.] + +[Footnote 593: Lit. "a spit (ric) of sweet." We may also read reic or +reyyic, "the first part of anything" (especially "the first drop of +rain").] + +[Footnote 594: Lit. "having changed the clothes of this my dress."] + +[Footnote 595: i.e. taking effect the moment of its administration.] + +[Footnote 596: Night DLXXXII.] + +[Footnote 597: Because white wine would have been visibly troubled by +the drug.] + +[Footnote 598: Ishebi bi-surrihi (lit. "drink by his pleasure or +gladness;" surr or surour). Burton, "Pledge him to his secret in a +significant draught."] + +[Footnote 599: Kasein thelatheh, lit. two cups three (unusual way of +putting it).] + +[Footnote 600: Reshoush (for reshash), "anything sprinkled," i.e. powder +or drops. I translate "powder," as I find no mention in the Nights of +the use of this narcotic in a liquid form.] + +[Footnote 601: Takkeltu, lit. "I have conceived in my mind." Sir R. +Burton is apparently inclined to read tallectu by transposition, as he +translates, "I depend upon thy say."] + +[Footnote 602: Night DLXXXIII.] + +[Footnote 603: Lit. "I will not delay upon thee."] + +[Footnote 604: Lit. "Thou hast burdened or incommoded thyself" (kellefta +khatiraka), see previous note, p. 120, {see FN#340} on this idiomatic +expression.] + +[Footnote 605: Ana atebtu mizajaka, lit. "I have wearied thy +temperament."] + +[Footnote 606: Lit. "pleasure" (surr), see ante, p. 223, note 2. {see +FN#598}] + +[Footnote 607: Or "playing the boon-companion."] + +[Footnote 608: Syn. "equivocal, a double entente."] + +[Footnote 609: Lit. "proceeded from her in truth."] + +[Footnote 610: Tih, lit. pride, haughtiness, but, by analogy, +"coquetry."] + +[Footnote 611: Lit. "Gaiety, ecstasy or intoxication (keif) whirled +(dara) in his head."] + +[Footnote 612: Lit. "not itself exactly with him" (ma hiya bi-eimhi +indahu.)] + +[Footnote 613: Lit. "turned over" (kelebet, a clerical error for +kebbelel).] + +[Footnote 614: Tekeddemet lihi wa basethu fi kheddihi. Burton, "again +she kissed its lip and offered it to him."] + +[Footnote 615: Terakedsou, lit. raced with one another.] + +[Footnote 616: Babu 'sz szeray.] + +[Footnote 617: Night DLXXXIV.] + +[Footnote 618: Keszr.] + +[Footnote 619: Lit. "in" (fi); but fi is evidently used here in mistake +for bi, the two prepositions being practically interchangeable in modern +Arabic of the style of our present text.] + +[Footnote 620: Burton, "his costliest raiment."] + +[Footnote 621: Or chamber (keszr).] + +[Footnote 622: Night DLXXXV.] + +[Footnote 623: Sic (raihh), a common vulgarism in this text.] + +[Footnote 624: Night DLXXXVI.] + +[Footnote 625: Lit. "also" (eidsan).] + +[Footnote 626: i.e. the two were as like as two halves of a bean.] + +[Footnote 627: i.e. the world.] + +[Footnote 628: Or death (Saturn), the eighth division of the common +astrological figure.] + +[Footnote 629: Menkeleh. See my Book of the Thousand Nights and One +Night, Vol. I. p. 129, note 1. {see Vol. 1 of Payne's Book of the +Thousand Nights and One Night, FN#41}] + +[Footnote 630: Dsameh.] + +[Footnote 631: Liha keramat kethireh. Kerameh (sing. of keramat), +properly a favour or mark of grace, a supernatural gift bestowed by God +upon His pious servants, by virtue whereof they perform miracles, which +latter are also by derivation called keramat. Cf. Acts viii. 28: +"Thou hast thought that the gift of God," i.e. the power of performing +miracles, "may be purchased with money."] + +[Footnote 632: Night DLXXXVII.] + +[Footnote 633: Weliyeh.] + +[Footnote 634: Fe-ain (where), probably a mistranscription for fe-men +(who).] + +[Footnote 635: Sitti, fem. of Sidi, "my lord," the common title of a +saint among modern Arabic-speaking peoples.] + +[Footnote 635: Meskin, lit. "poor wretch," but used as our "good +man" and the French "bonhomme," in a sense of somewhat contemptuous +familiarity.] + +[Footnote 636: Lit. "wished the man increase of his good (istekthera +bi-kheirihi, for which idiomatic expression= "he thanked him," see ante, +p. 135, note 3 {see FN#383}), and thanked his excellence" (favour or +kindness, fedsl).] + +[Footnote 637: Sherabati. Burton, "vintner."] + +[Footnote 638: Keniz, a word which I cannot find in any dictionary, +but which appears to be the past participle (in the secondary form for +mecnouz, as ketil, slain, for mertoul,) of keneza, a lost verb of which +only the fourth form acneza, he drank from a cup (kinz), survives, and +to mean "something drunk from a cup." Burton, "wine."] + +[Footnote 639: Ca"da. Burton translates "he mounted," apparently reading +szfida for ca"da.] + +[Footnote 640: Lit. "belly" (betn); but that "breast" is meant is shown +by the next line, which describes Fatimeh as finding the enchanter +seated on her heart.] + +[Footnote 641: Lit. "heart" (kelb).] + +[Footnote 642: The text adds here, "she went not and came not" (la rahet +wa la jaet). Burton translates, "as though she had never gone or come" +and adds, in a note, by way of gloss, "i.e. as she was in her own home;" +but I confess that his explanation seems to me as obscure as the text.] + +[Footnote 643: Night DLXXXVIll.] + +[Footnote 644: Keszr.] + +[Footnote 645: The first or "opening" chapter of the Koran.] + +[Footnote 646: En nas bi 'l ghewali kethir an, lit. "The folk in +(things) precious (or dear or high-priced, ghewali, pl. of +ghalin, also of ghaliyeh, a kind of perfume) are abundant anent." This +is a hopelessly obscure passage, and I can only guess at its meaning. +Bi 'l ghewali may be a clerical error for bi 'l ghalibi, "for the most +part, in general," in which case we may read, "Folk in general abound +[in talk] anent her virtues;" or bi 'l ghewali may perhaps be used in +the sense (of which use, however, I know no instance) of 'in excessive +estimation,' in which latter case the passage might be rendered, "Folk +abound in setting a high value on (or extolling) her virtues." Burton +boldly amplifies, "the folk recount her manifestations in many cases of +difficulty."] + +[Footnote 647: Lit. "That he might complete his deceit the more." +The meaning is that he dissembled his satisfaction at the princess's +proposal and made a show of refusal, so he might hoodwink her the more +effectually.] + +[Footnote 648: Keszr.] + + +[Footnote 649: Night DLXXXIX.] + +[Footnote 650: Teyyareh.] + +[Footnote 651: Lit. "openings for passage" (mejous). See ante, p. 176, +note. {see FN#480}] + +[Footnote 652: Keszr.] + +[Footnote 653: Lit. "an extreme" (ghayeh).] + +[Footnote 654: Szeraya.] + +[Footnote 655: Szeraya.] + +[Footnote 656: i.e. "O thou that art dear to me as mine eyes."] + +[Footnote 657: Keszr.] + +[Footnote 658: Night DLXC.] + +[Footnote 659: Keszr.] + +[Footnote 660: i.e. its apparent from its real import.] + +[Footnote 661: Mustekim.] + +[Footnote 662: Minka. Burton, "of me."] + +[Footnote 663: Lit. "for that secret that she healed." Burton, "for the +art and mystery of healing."] + +[Footnote 664: Min wejaihi.] + +[Footnote 665: Szeraya.] + +[Footnote 666: Terehhhheba bihi.] + +[Footnote 667: Lit. "believed not in."] + +[Footnote 668: Night DLXCI.] + +[Footnote 669: Ghereza (i.q.. gheresa).] + +[Footnote 670: Lit. "Out of regard to or respect for thine eyes." +(Keramet[an] li-uyouniki), i.e. "Thanks to the favourable influence +of thine eyes." When "the eye" is spoken of without qualification, the +"evil eye" is commonly meant; here, however, it is evident that the +reverse is intended.] + +[Footnote 671: Lit. "I had no news or information (ma indi kkeber) [of +the matter]."] + +[Footnote 672: Lit. "neglectful of the love of thee." This is a +difficult passage to translate, owing to its elliptical form; but the +meaning is that the princess wished to assure Alaeddin that what had +happened was not due to any slackening in the warmth of her affection +for him.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp, by John Payne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALAEDDIN AND THE ENCHANTED LAMP *** + +***** This file should be named 5100.txt or 5100.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/0/5100/ + +Produced by JC Byers + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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