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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/5244.txt b/5244.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..06e050c --- /dev/null +++ b/5244.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7041 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales from the Arabic Volume 3, by John Payne +(#4 in our series by John Payne) + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Tales from the Arabic Volume 3 + +Author: John Payne + +Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5244] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on June 10, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, TALES FROM THE ARABIC VOLUME 3 *** + + + + +Text scanned by JC Byers and proof read by the volunteers of the +Distributed Proofreaders site: http://charlz.dns2go.com/gutenberg/ + + + + TALES FROM THE ARABIC + + Of the Breslau and Calcutta (1814-18) editions of + + The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night + + not occurring in the other printed texts of the work, + + Now first done into English + + By John Payne + + In Three Volumes: + + + + VOLUME THE THIRD. + + + + 1901 + + Delhi Edition + + + Contents of The Third Volume. + + + + Breslau Text. + +16. Noureddin Ali of Damascus and the Damsel Sitt El Milah +17. El Abbas and the King's Daughter of Baghdad +18. The Two Kings and the Vizier's Daughters +19. The Favourite and Her Lover +20. The Merchant of Cairo and the Favourite of the Khalif El + Mamoun El Hakim Bi Amrillah + Conclusion + + + + + + Calcutta (1814-18) Text. + + + +21. Story of Sindbad the Sailor and Hindbad the Porter + a. The Sixth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor + b. The Seventh Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor +Note +Table of Contents of the Calcutta (1839-42) and Boulac Editions +Table of Contents of the Breslau Edition +Table of Contents of the Calcutta Edition +Alphabetical Table of the First Lines of the Verse in the "Tales +from the Arabic" +Index to the Names of the "Tales from the Arabic" + + + + + + Breslau Text. + + + + NOUREDDIN ALI OF DAMASCUS AND THE + DAMSEL SITT EL MILAH.[FN#1] + + + +There was once, of old days and in bygone ages and times, a +merchant of the merchants of Damascus, by name Aboulhusn, who had +money and riches and slaves and slave-girls and lands and houses +and baths; but he was not blessed with a child and indeed his +years waxed great; wherefore he addressed himself to supplicate +God the Most High in private and in public and in his inclining +and his prostration and at the season of the call to prayer, +beseeching Him to vouchsafe him, before his admittance [to His +mercy], a son who should inherit his wealth and possessions; and +God answered his prayer. So his wife conceived and the days of +her pregnancy were accomplished and her months and her nights and +the pangs of her travail came upon her and she gave birth to a +male child, as he were a piece of the moon. He had not his match +for beauty and he put to shame the sun and the resplendent moon; +for he had a shining face and black eyes of Babylonian +witchery[FN#2] and aquiline nose and ruby lips; brief, he was +perfect of attributes, the loveliest of the folk of his time, +without doubt or gainsaying. + +His father rejoiced in him with the utmost joy and his heart was +solaced and he was glad; and he made banquets to the folk and +clad the poor and the widows. He named the boy Sidi[FN#3] +Noureddin Ali and reared him in fondness and delight among the +slaves and servants. When he came to seven years of age, his +father put him to school, where he learned the sublime Koran and +the arts of writing and reckoning: and when he reached his tenth +year, he learned horsemanship and archery and to occupy himself +with arts and sciences of all kinds, part and parts.[FN#4] He +grew up pleasant and subtle and goodly and lovesome, ravishing +all who beheld him, and inclined to companying with brethren and +comrades and mixing with merchants and travellers. From these +latter he heard tell of that which they had seen of the marvels +of the cities in their travels and heard them say, "He who +leaveth not his native land diverteth not himself [with the sight +of the marvels of the world,] and especially of the city of +Baghdad." + +So he was concerned with an exceeding concern for his lack of +travel and discovered this to his father, who said to him, "O my +son, why do I see thee chagrined?" And he answered, "I would fain +travel." Quoth Aboulhusn, "O my son, none travelleth save those +whose occasion is urgent and those who are compelled thereunto +[by need]. As for thee, O my son, thou enjoyest ample fortune; so +do thou content thyself with that which God hath given thee and +be bounteous [unto others], even as He hath been bounteous unto +thee; and afflict not thyself with the toil and hardship of +travel, for indeed it is said that travel is a piece of +torment."[FN#5] But the youth said, "Needs must I travel to +Baghdad, the abode of peace." + +When his father saw the strength of his determination to travel, +he fell in with his wishes and equipped him with five thousand +dinars in cash and the like in merchandise and sent with him two +serving-men. So the youth set out, trusting in the blessing of +God the Most High, and his father went out with him, to take +leave of him, and returned [to Damascus]. As for Noureddin Ali, +he gave not over travelling days and nights till he entered the +city of Baghdad and laying up his loads in the caravanserai, made +for the bath, where he did away that which was upon him of the +dirt of the road and putting off his travelling clothes, donned a +costly suit of Yemen stuff, worth an hundred dinars. Then he put +in his sleeve[FN#6] a thousand mithcals[FN#7] of gold and sallied +forth a-walking and swaying gracefully as he went. His gait +confounded all those who beheld him, as he shamed the branches +with his shape and belittled the rose with the redness of his +cheeks and his black eyes of Babylonian witchcraft; indeed, thou +wouldst deem that whoso looked on him would surely be preserved +from calamity; [for he was] even as saith of him one of his +describers in the following verses: + +Thy haters say and those who malice to thee bear A true word, + profiting its hearers everywhere; +"The glory's not in those whom raiment rich makes fair, But those + who still adorn the raiment that they wear." + +So he went walking in the thoroughfares of the city and viewing +its ordinance and its markets and thoroughfares and gazing on its +folk. Presently, Abou Nuwas met him. (Now he was of those of whom +it is said, "They love the fair,"[FN#8] and indeed there is said +what is said concerning him.[FN#9] When he saw Noureddin Ali, he +stared at him in amazement and exclaimed, "Say, I take refuge +with the Lord of the Daybreak!"[FN#10] Then he accosted the young +Damascene and saluting him, said to him, "Why do I see my lord +alone and forlorn? Meseemeth thou art a stranger and knowest not +this country; so, with my lord's permission, I will put myself at +his service and acquaint him with the streets, for that I know +this city." Quoth Noureddin, "This will be of thy favour, O +uncle." Whereat Abou Nuwas rejoiced and fared on with him, +showing him the markets and thoroughfares, till they came to the +house of a slave-dealer, where he stopped and said to the youth, +"From what city art thou?" "From Damascus," answered Noureddin; +and Abou Nuwas said, "By Allah, thou art from a blessed city, +even as saith of it the poet in the following verses: + +Damascus is all gardens decked for the pleasance of the eyes; For + the seeker there are black-eyed girls and boys of Paradise." + +Noureddin thanked him and they entered the slave-merchant's +house. When the people of the house saw Abou Nuwas, they rose to +do him worship, for that which they knew of his station with the +Commander of the Faithful. Moreover, the slave-dealer himself +came up to them with two chairs, and they seated themselves +thereon. Then the slave-merchant went into the house and +returning with the slave-girl, as she were a willow-wand or a +bamboo-cane, clad in a vest of damask silk and tired with a black +and white turban, the ends whereof fell down over her face, +seated her on a chair of ebony; after which quoth he to those who +were present, "I will discover to you a face as it were a full +moon breaking forth from under a cloud." And they said, "Do so." +So he unveiled the damsel's face and behold, she was like the +shining sun, with comely shape and day-bright face and slender +[waist and heavy] hips; brief, she was endowed with elegance, the +description whereof existeth not, [and was] even as saith of her +the poet: + +A fair one, to idolaters if she herself should show, They'd leave + their idols and her face for only Lord would know; +And if into the briny sea one day she chanced to spit, Assuredly + the salt sea's floods straight fresh and sweet would grow. + +The dealer stood at her head and one of the merchants said, "I +bid a thousand dinars for her." Quoth another, "I bid eleven +hundred dinars;" [and a third, "I bid twelve hundred"]. Then said +a fourth merchant, "Be she mine for fourteen hundred dinars." And +the biddings stood still at that sum. Quoth her owner, "I will +not sell her save with her consent. If she desire to be sold, I +will sell her to whom she willeth." And the slave-dealer said to +him, "What is her name?" "Her name is Sitt el Milah,"[FN#11] +answered the other; whereupon the dealer said to her, "By thy +leave, I will sell thee to yonder merchant for this price of +fourteen hundred dinars." Quoth she, "Come hither to me." So he +came up to her and when he drew near, she gave him a kick with +her foot and cast him to the ground, saying, "I will not have +that old man." The slave-dealer arose, shaking the dust from his +clothes and head, and said, "Who biddeth more? Who is desirous +[of buying?]" Quoth one of the merchants, "I," and the dealer +said to her, "O Sitt el Milah, shall I sell thee to this +merchant?" "Come hither to me," answered she; but he said "Nay; +speak and I will hearken to thee from my place, for I will not +trust myself to thee," And she said, "I will not have him." + +Then he looked at her and seeing her eyes fixed on the young +Damascene, for that in very deed he had ravished her with his +beauty and grace, went up to the latter and said to him, "O my +lord, art thou a looker-on or a buyer? Tell me." Quoth Noureddin, +"I am both looker-on and buyer. Wilt thou sell me yonder +slave-girl for sixteen hundred dinars?" And he pulled out the +purse of gold. So the dealer returned, dancing and clapping his +hands and saying, "So be it, so be it, or not [at all]!" Then he +came to the damsel and said to her, "O Sitt el Milah, shall I +sell thee to yonder young Damascene for sixteen hundred dinars?" +But she answered, "No," of shamefastness before her master and +the bystanders; whereupon the people of the bazaar and the +slave-merchant departed, and Abou Nuwas and Ali Noureddin arose +and went each his own way, whilst the damsel returned to her +master's house, full of love for the young Damascene. + +When the night darkened on her, she called him to mind and her +heart clave to him and sleep visited her not; and on this wise +she abode days and nights, till she sickened and abstained from +food. So her lord went in to her and said to her, "O Sitt el +Milah, how findest thou thyself?" "O my lord," answered she, "I +am dead without recourse and I beseech thee to bring me my +shroud, so I may look on it before my death." Therewithal he went +out from her, sore concerned for her, and betook himself to a +friend of his, a draper, who had been present on the day when the +damsel was cried [for sale]. Quoth his friend to him, "Why do I +see thee troubled?" And he answered, "Sitt el Milah is at the +point of death and these three days she hath neither eaten nor +drunken. I questioned her to-day of her case and she said, 'O my +lord, buy me a shroud, so I may look on it before my death.'" +Quoth the draper, "Methinks nought ails her but that she is +enamoured of the young Damascene and I counsel thee to mention +his name to her and avouch to her that he hath foregathered with +thee on her account and is desirous of coming to thy house, so he +may hear somewhat of her singing. If she say, 'I reck not of him, +for there is that to do with me which distracteth me from the +Damascene and from other than he,' know that she saith sooth +concerning her sickness; but, if she say to thee other than this, +acquaint me therewith.'" + +So the man returned to his lodging and going in to his +slave-girl, said to her, "O Sitt el Milah, I went out on thine +occasion and there met me the young man of Damascus, and he +saluted me and saluteth thee. Indeed, he seeketh to win thy +favour and would fain be a guest in our dwelling, so thou mayst +let him hear somewhat of thy singing." When she heard speak of +the young Damascene, she gave a sob, that her soul was like to +depart her body, and answered, saying, "He knoweth my plight and +is ware that these three days past I have eaten not nor drunken, +and I beseech thee, O my lord, by the Great God, to accomplish +the stranger his due and bring him to my lodging and make excuse +to him for me." + +When her master heard this, his reason fled for joy and he went +to his friend the draper and said to him, "Thou wast right in the +matter of the damsel, for that she is enamoured of the young +Damascene; so how shall I do?" Quoth the other, "Go to the bazaar +and when thou seest him, salute him and say to him, 'Indeed, thy +departure the other day, without accomplishing thine occasion, +was grievous to me; so, if thou be still minded to buy the girl, +I will abate thee an hundred dinars of that which thou badest for +her, by way of hospitable entreatment of thee and making myself +agreeable to thee; for that thou art a stranger in our land.' If +he say to thee, 'I have no desire for her' and hold off from +thee, know that he will not buy; in which case, let me know, so I +may contrive thee another device; and if he say to thee other +than this, conceal not from me aught. + +So the girl's owner betook himself to the bazaar, where he found +the youth seated at the upper end of the merchants' place of +session, selling and buying and taking and giving, as he were the +moon on the night of its full, and saluted him. The young man +returned his salutation and he said to him, "O my lord, be not +thou vexed at the girl's speech the other day, for her price +shall be less than that [which thou badest], to the intent that I +may propitiate thy favour. If thou desire her for nought, I will +send her to thee, or if thou wouldst have me abate thee of her +price, I will well, for I desire nought but what shall content +thee; for that thou art a stranger in our land and it behoveth us +to entreat thee hospitably and have consideration for thee." "By +Allah," answered the youth, "I will not take her from thee but at +an advance on that which I bade thee for her aforetime; so wilt +thou now sell her to me for seventeen hundred dinars?" And the +other answered," O my lord, I sell her to thee, may God bless +thee in her." + +So the young man went to his lodging and fetching a purse, +returned to the girl's owner and counted out to him the price +aforesaid, whilst the draper was between them. Then said he, +"Bring her forth;" but the other answered, "She cannot come forth +at this present; but be thou my guest the rest of this day and +night, and on the morrow thou shall take thy slave-girl and go in +the protection of God." The youth fell in with him of this and he +carried him to his house, where, after a little, he let bring +meat and wine, and they [ate and] drank. Then said Noureddin to +the girl's owner, "I beseech thee bring me the damsel, for that I +bought her not but for the like of this time." So he arose and +[going in to the girl], said to her, "O Sitt el Milan, the young +man hath paid down thy price and we have bidden him hither; so he +hath come to our dwelling and we have entertained him, and he +would fain have thee be present with him." + +Therewithal the damsel rose briskly and putting off her clothes, +washed and donned sumptuous apparel and perfumed herself and went +out to him, as she were a willow-wand or a bamboo-cane, followed +by a black slave girl, bearing the lute. When she came to the +young man, she saluted him and sat down by his side. Then she +took the lute from the slave-girl and tuning it, smote thereon in +four-and-twenty modes, after which she returned to the first mode +and sang the following verses: + +Unto me the world's whole gladness is thy nearness and thy sight; + All incumbent thy possession and thy love a law of right. +In my tears I have a witness; when I call thee to my mind, Down + my cheeks they run like torrents, and I cannot stay their + flight. +None, by Allah, 'mongst all creatures, none I love save thee + alone! Yea, for I am grown thy bondman, by the troth betwixt + us plight. +Peace upon thee! Ah, how bitter were the severance from thee! Be + not this thy troth-plight's ending nor the last of our + delight! + +Therewithal the young man was moved to delight and exclaimed, "By +Allah, thou sayest well, O Sitt el Milan! Let me hear more." Then +he handselled her with fifty dinars and they drank and the cups +went round among them; and her seller said to her, "O Sitt el +Milah, this is the season of leave-taking; so let us hear +somewhat on the subject." Accordingly she struck the lute and +avouching that which was in her heart, sang the following verses: + +I am filled full of longing pain and memory and dole, That from + the wasted body's wounds distract the anguished soul. +Think not, my lords, that I forget: the case is still the same. + When such a fever fills the heart, what leach can make it + whole? +And if a creature in his tears could swim, as in a sea, I to do + this of all that breathe were surely first and sole. +O skinker of the wine of woe, turn from a love-sick maid, Who + drinks her tears still, night and morn, thy bitter-flavoured + bowl. +I had not left you, had I known that severance would prove My + death; but what is past is past, Fate stoops to no control. + + +As they were thus in the enjoyment of all that in most delicious +of easance and delight, and indeed the wine was sweet to them and +the talk pleasant, behold, there came a knocking at the door. So +the master of the house went out, that he might see what was to +do, and found ten men of the Khalif's eunuchs at the door. When +he saw this, he was amazed and said to them, "What is to do?" +Quoth they, "The Commander of the Faithful saluteth thee and +requireth of thee the slave-girl whom thou hast for sale and +whose name is Sitt el Milah." By Allah," answered the other, "I +have sold her." And they said, "Swear by the head of the +Commander of the Faithful that she is not in thy dwelling." He +made oath that he had sold her and that she was no longer at his +disposal; but they paid no *need to his word and forcing their +way into the house, found the damsel and the young Damascene in +the sitting-chamber. So they laid hands upon her, and the youth +said, "This is my slave-girl, whom I have bought with my money." +But they hearkened not to his speech and taking her, carried her +off to the Commander of the Faithful. + +Therewithal Noureddin's life was troubled; so he arose and donned +his clothes, and his host said, "Whither away this night, O my +lord?" Quoth Noureddin, "I mean to go to my lodging, and +to-morrow I will betake myself to the palace of the Commander of +the Faithful and demand my slave-girl." "Sleep till the morning," +said the other, "and go not forth at the like of this hour." But +he answered, "Needs must I go;" and the host said to him, "[Go] +in the safeguard of God." So Noureddin went forth, and +drunkenness had got the mastery of him, wherefore he threw +himself down on [a bench before one of] the shops. Now the watch +were at that hour making their round and they smelt the sweet +scent [of essences] and wine that exhaled from him; so they made +for it and found the youth lying on the bench, without sense or +motion. They poured water upon him, and he awoke, whereupon they +carried him to the house of the Chief of the Police and he +questioned him of his affair. "O my lord," answered Noureddin, "I +am a stranger in this town and have been with one of my friends. +So I came forth from his house and drunkenness overcame me." + +The prefect bade carry him to his lodging; but one of those in +attendance upon him, by name El Muradi, said to him, "What wilt +thou do? This man is clad in rich clothes and on his finger is a +ring of gold, the beazel whereof is a ruby of great price; so we +will carry him away and slay him and take that which is upon him +of raiment [and what not else] and bring it to thee; for that +thou wilt not [often] see profit the like thereof, more by token +that this fellow is a stranger and there is none to enquire +concerning him." Quoth the prefect, "This fellow is a thief and +that which he saith is leasing." And Noureddin said, "God forbid +that I should be a thief!" But the prefect answered, "Thou +liest." So they stripped him of his clothes and taking the ring +from his finger, beat him grievously, what while he cried out for +succour, but none succoured him, and besought protection, but +none protected him. Then said he to them, "O folk, ye are quit +of[FN#12] that which ye have taken from me; but now restore me to +my lodging." But they answered, saying, "Leave this knavery, O +cheat! Thine intent is to sue us for thy clothes on the morrow." +"By Allah, the One, the Eternal," exclaimed he, "I will not sue +any for them!" But they said, "We can nowise do this." And the +prefect bade them carry him to the Tigris and there slay him and +cast him into the river. + +So they dragged him away, what while he wept and spoke the words +which whoso saith shall nowise be confounded, to wit, "There is +no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the Sublime!" +When they came to the Tigris, one of them drew the sword upon him +and El Muradi said to the swordbearer, "Smite off his head." But +one of them, Ahmed by name, said, "O folk, deal gently with this +poor wretch and slay him not unjustly and wickedly, for I stand +in fear of God the Most High, lest He burn me with his fire." +Quoth El Muradi, "A truce to this talk!" And Ahmed said, "If ye +do with him aught, I will acquaint the Commander of the +Faithful." "How, then, shall we do with him?" asked they; and he +answered, "Let us deposit him in prison and I will be answerable +to you for his provision; so shall we be quit of his blood, for +indeed he is wrongfully used." So they took him up and casting +him into the Prison of Blood,[FN#13]went away. + +Meanwhile, they carried the damsel into the Commander of the +Faithful and she pleased him; so he assigned her a lodging of the +apartments of choice. She abode in the palace, eating not neither +drinking and ceasing not from weeping night nor day, till, one +night, the Khalif sent for her to his sitting-chamber and said to +her, "O Sitt el Milah, be of good heart and cheerful eye, for I +will make thy rank higher than [any of] the concubines and thou +shall see that which shall rejoice thee." She kissed the earth +and wept; whereupon the Khalif called for her lute and bade her +sing. So she improvised and sang the following verses, in +accordance with that which was in her heart: + +Say, by the lightnings of thy teeth and thy soul's pure desire, + Moan'st thou as moan the doves and is thy heart for doubt on + fire? +How many a victim of the pangs of love-liking hath died! Tired is + my patience, but of blame my censors never tire. + +When she had made an end of her song, she cast the lute from her +hand and wept till she swooned away, whereupon the Khalif bade +carry her to her chamber. Now he was ravished with her and loved +her with an exceeding love; so, after awhile, he again commanded +to bring her to his presence, and when she came, he bade her +sing. Accordingly, she took the lute and spoke forth that which +was in her heart and sang the following verses: + +What strength have I solicitude and long desire to bear? Why art + thou purposed to depart and leave me to despair? +Why to estrangement and despite inclin'st thou with the spy? Yet + that a bough[FN#14] from side to side incline[FN#15] small + wonder 'twere. +Thou layst on me a load too great to bear, and thus thou dost But + that my burdens I may bind and so towards thee fare. + +Then she cast the lute from her hand and swooned away; so she was +carried to her chamber and indeed passion waxed upon her. After a +long while, the Commander of the Faithful sent for her a third +time and bade her sing. So she took the lute and sang the +following verses: + +O hills of the sands and the rugged piebald plain, Shall the + bondman of love win ever free from pain! +I wonder, shall I and the friend who's far from me Once more be + granted of Fate to meet, we twain! +Bravo for a fawn with a houri's eye of black, Like the sun or the + shining moon midst the starry train! +To lovers, "What see ye?" he saith, and to hearts of stone, "What + love ye," quoth he, "[if to love me ye disdain?"] +I supplicate Him, who parted us and doomed Our separation, that + we may meet again. + +When she had made an end of her song, the Commander of the +Faithful said to her, "O damsel, thou art in love." "Yes," +answered she. And he said, "With whom?" Quoth she, "With my lord +and my master, my love for whom is as the love of the earth for +rain, or as the love of the female for the male; and indeed the +love of him is mingled with my flesh and my blood and hath +entered into the channels of my bones. O Commander of the +Faithful, whenas I call him to mind, mine entrails are consumed, +for that I have not accomplished my desire of him, and but that I +fear to die, without seeing him, I would assuredly kill myself." +And he said, "Art thou in my presence and bespeakest me with the +like of these words? I will assuredly make thee forget thy lord." + +Then he bade take her away; so she was carried to her chamber and +he sent her a black slave-girl, with a casket, wherein were three +thousand dinars and a carcanet of gold, set with pearls, great +and small, and jewels, worth other three thousand, saying to her, +"The slave-girl and that which is with her are a gift from me to +thee." When she heard this, she said, "God forbid that I should +be consoled for the love of my lord and my master, though with +the earth full of gold!" And she improvised and recited the +following verses: + +I swear by his life, yea, I swear by the life of my love without + peer, To please him or save him from hurt, I'd enter the + fire without fear! +"Console thou thyself for his love," quoth they, "with another + than he;" But, "Nay, by his life," answered I, "I'll never + forget him my dear!" +A moon is my love, in a robe of loveliness proudly arrayed, And + the splendours of new-broken day from his cheeks and his + forehead shine clear. + +Then the Khalif summoned her to his presence a fourth time and +said to her, "O Sitt el Milah, sing." So she improvised and sang +the following verses: + +To his beloved one the lover's heart's inclined; His soul's a + captive slave, in sickness' hands confined. +"What is the taste of love?" quoth one, and I replied, "Sweet + water 'tis at first; but torment lurks behind." +Love's slave, I keep my troth with them; but, when they vowed, + Fate made itself Urcoub,[FN#16] whom never oath could bind. +What is there in the tents? Their burdens are become A lover's, + whose belov'd is in the litters' shrined. +In every halting-place like Joseph[FN#17] she appears And he in + every stead with Jacob's grief[FN#18] is pined. + +When she had made an end of her song, she threw the lute from her +hand and wept till she swooned away. So they sprinkled on her +rose-water, mingled with musk, and willow-flower water; and when +she came to herself, Er Reshid said to her, "O Sitt el Milah, +this is not fair dealing in thee. We love thee and thou lovest +another." "O Commander of the Faithful," answered she, "there is +no help for it." Therewithal he was wroth with her and said, "By +the virtue of Hemzeh[FN#19] and Akil[FN#20] and Mohammed, Prince +of the Apostles, if thou name one other than I in my presence, I +will bid strike off thy head!" Then he bade return her to her +chamber, whilst she wept and recited the following verses: + +If I must die, then welcome death to heal My woes; 'twere lighter + than the pangs I feel. +What if the sabre cut me limb from limb! No torment 'twere for + lovers true and leal. + +Then the Khalif went in to the Lady Zubeideh, pale with anger, +and she noted this in him and said to him, "How cometh it that I +see the Commander of the Faithful changed of colour?" "O daughter +of my uncle," answered he, "I have a beautiful slave-girl, who +reciteth verses and telleth stories, and she hath taken my whole +heart; but she loveth other than I and avoucheth that she loveth +her [former] master; wherefore I have sworn a great oath that, if +she come again to my sitting-chamber and sing for other than I, I +will assuredly take a span from her highest part."[FN#21]Quoth +Zubeideh, "Let the Commander of the Faithful favour me with her +presence, so I may look on her and hear her singing." So he bade +fetch her and she came, whereupon the Lady Zubeideh withdrew +behind the curtain, whereas she saw her not, and Er Reshid said +to her, "Sing to us." So she took the lute and tuning it, sang +the following verses: + +Lo, since the day I left you, O my masters, Life is not sweet, no + aye my heart is light. +Yea, in the night the thought of you still slays me; Hidden are + my traces from the wise men's sight, +All for a wild deer's love, whose looks have snared me And on + whose brows the morning glitters bright +I am become, for severance from my loved one, Like a left hand, + forsaken of the right. +Beauty on his cheek hath written, "Blest be Allah, He who created + this enchanting wight!" +Him I beseech our loves who hath dissevered, Us of his grace once + more to reunite. + +When Er Reshid heard this, he waxed exceeding wroth and said, +"May God not reunite you twain in gladness!" Then he summoned the +headsman, and when he presented himself, he said to him, "Strike +off the head of this accursed slave-girl." So Mesrour took her by +the hand and [led her away; but], when she came to the door, she +turned and said to the Khalif, "O Commander of the Faithful, I +conjure thee, by thy fathers and forefathers, give ear unto that +I shall say!" Then she improvised and recited the following +verses: + +O Amir of justice, be kind to thy subjects; For justice, indeed, + of thy nature's a trait. +O thou my inclining to love him that blamest, Shall lovers be + blamed for the errors of Fate? +Then spare me, by Him who vouchsafed thee the kingship; For a + gift in this world is the regal estate. + +Then Mesrour carried her to the other end of the sitting-chamber +and bound her eyes and making her sit, stood awaiting a second +commandment; whereupon quoth the Lady Zubeideh, "O Commander of +the Faithful, with thy permission, wilt thou not vouchsafe this +damsel a share of thy clemency? Indeed, if thou slay her, it were +injustice." Quoth he, "What is to be done with her?" And she +said, "Forbear to slay her and send for her lord. If he be as she +describeth him in grace and goodliness, she is excused, and if he +be not on this wise, then slay her, and this shall be thy +justification against her."[FN#22] + +"Be it as thou deemest," answered Er Reshid and caused return the +damsel to her chamber, saying to her, "The Lady Zubeideh saith +thus and thus." Quoth she, "God requite her for me with good! +Indeed, thou dealest equitably, O Commander of the Faithful, in +this judgment." And he answered, "Go now to thy place, and +to-morrow we will let bring thy lord." So she kissed the earth +and recited the following verses: + +I am content, for him I love, to all abide; So, who will, let him + blame, and who will, let him chide. +At their appointed terms souls die; but for despair My soul is + like to die, or ere its term betide. +O thou with love of whom I'm smitten, yet content, I prithee come + to me and hasten to my side. + +Then she arose and returned to her chamber. + +On the morrow, the Commander of the Faithful sat [in his hall of +audience] and his Vizier Jaafer ben Yehya the Barmecide came in +to him; whereupon he called to him, saying, "I would have thee +bring me a youth who is lately come to Baghdad, hight [Sidi +Noureddin Ali] the Damascene." Quoth Jaafer, "Hearkening and +obedience," and going forth in quest of the youth, sent to the +markets and khans and caravanserais three days' space, but found +no trace of him, neither lit upon tidings of him. So on the +fourth day he presented himself before the Khalif and said to +him, "O our lord, I have sought him these three days, but have +not found him." Quoth Er Reshid, "Make ready letters to Damascus. +Belike he hath returned to his own land." So Jaafer wrote a +letter and despatched it by a dromedary-courier to the city of +Damascus; and they sought him there and found him not. + +Meanwhile, news was brought that Khorassan had been +conquered;[FN#23] whereupon Er Reshid rejoiced and bade decorate +Baghdad and release all who were in the prisons, giving each of +them a dinar and a dress. So Jaafer addressed himself to the +decoration of the city and bade his brother El Fezl ride to the +prison and clothe and release the prisoners. El Fezl did his +brother's bidding and released all but the young Damascene, who +abode still in the Prison of Blood, saying, "There is no power +and no virtue save in God the Most High, the Sublime! Verily, we +are God's and to Him we return." Then said El Fezl to the gaoler, +"Is there any prisoner left in the prison?" "No," answered he, +and El Fezl was about to depart, when Noureddin called out to him +from within the prison, saying, "O my lord, tarry, for there +remaineth none in the prison other than I and indeed I am +oppressed. This is a day of clemency and there is no disputing +concerning it." El Fezl bade release him; so they set him free +and he gave him a dress and a dinar. So the young man went out, +bewildered and knowing not whither he should go, for that he had +abidden in the prison nigh a year and indeed his condition was +changed and his favour faded, and he abode walking and turning +round, lest El Muradi should come upon him and cast him into +another calamity. + +When El Muradi heard of his release, he betook himself to the +chief of the police and said to him, "O our lord, we are not +assured from yonder youth, [the Damascene], for that he hath been +released from prison and we fear lest he complain of us." Quoth +the prefect, "How shall we do?" And El Muradi answered, saying, +"I will cast him into a calamity for thee." Then he ceased not to +follow the young Damascene from place to place till he came up +with him in a strait place and a by-street without an issue; +whereupon he accosted him and putting a rope about his neck, +cried out, saying, "A thief!" The folk flocked to him from all +sides and fell to beating and reviling Noureddin, whilst he cried +out for succour, but none succoured him, and El Muradi still said +to him, "But yesterday the Commander of the Faithful released +thee and to-day thou stealest!" So the hearts of the folk were +hardened against him and El Muradi carried him to the master of +police, who bade cut off his hand. + +Accordingly, the hangman took him and bringing out the knife, +offered to cut off his hand, what while El Muradi said to him, +"Cut and sever the bone and sear[FN#24] it not for him, so he may +lose his blood and we be rid of him." But Ahmed, he who had +aforetime been the means of his deliverance, sprang up to him and +said, "O folk, fear God in [your dealings with] this youth, for +that I know his affair from first to last and he is void of +offence and guiltless. Moreover, he is of the folk of +condition,[FN#25] and except ye desist from him, I will go up to +the Commander of the Faithful and acquaint him with the case from +first to last and that the youth is guiltless of crime or +offence." Quoth El Muradi, "Indeed, we are not assured from his +mischief." And Ahmed answered, "Release him and commit him to me +and I will warrant you against his affair, for ye shall never see +him again after this." So they delivered Noureddin to him and he +took him from their hands and said to him, "O youth, have +compassion on thyself, for indeed thou hast fallen into the hands +of these folk twice and if they lay hold of thee a third time, +they will make an end of thee; and [in dealing thus with thee], I +aim at reward and recompense for thee[FN#26] and answered +prayer."[FN#27] + +Noureddin fell to kissing his hand and calling down blessings on +him and said to him, "Know that I am a stranger in this your city +and the completion of kindness is better than the beginning +thereof; wherefore I beseech thee of thy favour that thou +complete to me thy good offices and kindness and bring me to the +gate of the city. So will thy beneficence be accomplished unto me +and may God the Most High requite thee for me with good!" ["Fear +not,"] answered Ahmed; "no harm shall betide thee. Go; I will +bear thee company till thou come to thy place of assurance." And +he left him not till he brought him to the gate of the city and +said to him, "O youth, go in the safeguard of God and return not +to the city; for, if they fall in with thee [again], they will +make an end of thee." Noureddin kissed his hand and going forth +the city, gave not over walking till he came to a mosque that +stood in one of the suburbs of Baghdad and entered therein with +the night. + +Now he had with him nought wherewithal he might cover himself; so +he wrapped himself up in one of the rugs of the mosque [and abode +thus till daybreak], when the Muezzins came and finding him +sitting in that case, said to him, "O youth, what is this +plight?" Quoth he, "I cast myself on your hospitality, imploring +your protection from a company of folk who seek to kill me +unjustly and oppressively, without cause." And [one of] the +Muezzin[s] said, "Be of good heart and cheerful eye." Then he +brought him old clothes and covered him withal; moreover, he set +before him somewhat of meat and seeing upon him signs of gentle +breeding, said to him, "O my son, I grow old and desire thee of +help, [in return for which] I will do away thy necessity." +"Hearkening and obedience," answered Noureddin and abode with the +old man, who rested and took his ease, what while the youth [did +his service in the mosque], celebrating the praises of God and +calling the faithful to prayer and lighting the lamps and filling +the ewers[FN#28] and sweeping and cleaning out the place. + +Meanwhile, the Lady Zubeideh, the wife of the Commander of the +Faithful, made a banquet in her palace and assembled her +slave-girls. As for Sitt el Milah, she came, weeping-eyed and +mournful-hearted, and those who were present blamed her for this, +whereupon she recited the following verses: + +Ye chide at one who weepeth for troubles ever new; Needs must th' + afflicted warble the woes that make him rue. +Except I be appointed a day [to end my pain], I'll weep until + mine eyelids with blood their tears ensue. + +When she had made an end of her verses, the Lady Zubeideh bade +each damsel sing a song, till the turn came round to Sitt el +Milah, whereupon she took the lute and tuning it, sang thereto +four-and-twenty songs in four-and-twenty modes; then she returned +to the first mode and sang the following verses: + +Fortune its arrows all, through him I love, let fly At me and + parted me from him for whom I sigh. +Lo, in my heart the heat of every heart burns high And in mine + eyes unite the tears of every eye. + +When she had made an end of her song, she wept till she made the +bystanders weep and the Lady Zubeideh condoled with her and said +to her, "God on thee, O Sitt el Milah, sing us somewhat, so we +may hearken to thee." "Hearkening and obedience," answered the +damsel and sang the following verses: + +Assemble, ye people of passion, I pray; For the hour of our + torment hath sounded to-day. +The raven of parting croaks loud at our door; Alas, for our raven + cleaves fast to us aye! +For those whom we cherish are parted and gone; They have left us + in torment to pine for dismay. +So arise, by your lives I conjure you, arise And come let us fare + to our loved ones away. + +Then she cast the lute from her hand and wept till she made the +Lady Zubeideh weep, and she said to her, "O Sitt el Milah, +methinks he whom thou lovest is not in this world, for that the +Commander of the Faithful hath sought him in every place, but +hath not found him." Whereupon the damsel arose and kissing the +Lady Zubeideh's hands, said to her, "O my lady, if thou wouldst +have him found, I have a request to make to thee, wherein thou +mayst accomplish my occasion with the Commander of the Faithful." +Quoth the princess, "And what is it?" "It is," answered Sitt el +Milah, "that thou get me leave to go forth by myself and go round +about in quest of him three days, for the adage saith, 'She who +mourneth for herself is not the like of her who is hired to +mourn.'[FN#29] If I find him, I will bring him before the +Commander of the Faithful, so he may do with us what he will; and +if I find him not, I shall be cut off from hope of him and that +which is with me will be assuaged." Quoth the Lady Zubeideh, "I +will not get thee leave from him but for a whole month; so be of +good heart and cheerful eye." Whereupon Sitt el Milah was glad +and rising, kissed the earth before her once more and went away +to her own place, rejoicing. + +As for Zubeideh, she went in to the Khalif and talked with him +awhile; then she fell to kissing him between the eyes and on his +hand and asked him that which she had promised Sitt el Milah, +saying, "O Commander of the Faithful, I doubt me her lord is not +found in this world; but, if she go about in quest of him and +find him not, her hopes will be cut off and her mind will be set +at rest and she will sport and laugh; for that, what while she +abideth in hope, she will never cease from her frowardness." And +she gave not over cajoling him till he gave Sitt el Milah leave +to go forth and make search for her lord a month's space and +ordered her an eunuch to attend her and bade the paymaster [of +the household] give her all she needed, were it a thousand +dirhems a day or more. So the Lady Zubeideh arose and returning +to her palace, sent for Sitt el Milah and acquainted her with +that which had passed [between herself and the Khalif]; whereupon +she kissed her hand and thanked her and called down blessings on +her. + +Then she took leave of the princess and veiling her face, +disguised herself; [FN#30] after which she mounted the mule and +sallying forth, went round about seeking her lord in the +thoroughfares of Baghdad three days' space, but lit on no tidings +of him; and on the fourth day, she rode forth without the city. +Now it was the noontide hour and great was the heat, and she was +aweary and thirst waxed upon her. Presently, she came to the +mosque, wherein the young Damascene had taken shelter, and +lighting down at the door, said to the old man, [the Muezzin], "O +elder, hast thou a draught of cold water? Indeed, I am overcome +with heat and thirst." Quoth he, "[Come up] with me into my +house." So he carried her up into his lodging and spreading her +[a carpet and cushions], seated her [thereon]; after which he +brought her cold water and she drank and said to the eunuch, "Go +thy ways with the mule and on the morrow come back to me here." +[So he went away] and she slept and rested herself. + +When she awoke, she said to the old man, "O elder, hast thou +aught of food?" And he answered, "O my lady, I have bread and +olives." Quoth she, "That is food fit but for the like of thee. +As for me, I will have nought but roast lamb and broths and fat +rissoled fowls and stuffed ducks and all manner meats dressed +with [pounded nuts and almond-]kernels and sugar." "O my lady," +replied the Muezzin, "I never heard of this chapter in the Koran, +nor was it revealed unto our lord Mohammed, whom God bless and +keep!"[FN#31] She laughed and said, "O elder, the matter is even +as thou sayest; but bring me inkhorn and paper." So he brought +her what she sought and she wrote a letter and gave it to him, +together with a seal-ring from her finger, saying, "Go into the +city and enquire for such an one the money-changer and give him +this my letter." + +The old man betook himself to the city, as she bade him, and +enquired for the money-changer, to whom they directed him. So he +gave him the ring and the letter, which when he saw, he kissed +the letter and breaking it open, read it and apprehended its +purport. Then he repaired to the market and buying all that she +bade him, laid it in a porter's basket and bade him go with the +old man. So the latter took him and went with him to the mosque, +where he relieved him of his burden and carried the meats in to +Sitt el Milah. She seated him by her side and they ate, he and +she, of those rich meats, till they were satisfied, when the old +man rose and removed the food from before her. + +She passed the night in his lodging and when she arose in the +morning, she said to him, "O elder, may I not lack thy kind +offices for the morning-meal! Go to the money-changer and fetch +me from him the like of yesterday's food." So he arose and +betaking himself to the money-changer, acquainted him with that +which she had bidden him. The money-changer brought him all that +she required and set it on the heads of porters; and the old man +took them and returned with them to Sitt el Milah. So she sat +down with him and they ate their sufficiency, after which he +removed the rest of the food. Then she took the fruits and the +flowers and setting them over against herself, wrought them into +rings and knots and letters, whilst the old man looked on at a +thing whose like he had never in his life seen and rejoiced +therein. + +Then said she to him, "O elder, I would fain drink." So he arose +and brought her a gugglet of water; but she said to him, "Who +bade thee fetch that?" Quoth he, "Saidst thou not to me, 'I would +fain drink'?" And she answered, "I want not this; nay, I want +wine, the delight of the soul, so haply, O elder, I may solace +myself therewith." "God forbid," exclaimed the old man, "that +wine should be drunk in my house, and I a stranger in the land +and a Muezzin and an imam,[FN#32] who prayeth with the +true-believers, and a servant of the house of the Lord of the +Worlds! "Quoth she, "Why wilt thou forbid me to drink thereof in +thy house?" "Because," answered he, "it is unlawful." "O elder," +rejoined she, "God hath forbidden [the eating of] blood and +carrion and hog's flesh. Tell me, are grapes and honey lawful or +unlawful?" Quoth he, "They are lawful;" and she said, "This is +the juice of grapes and the water of honey." But he answered, +"Leave this thy talk, for thou shall never drink wine in my +house." "O Sheikh," rejoined she, "folk eat and drink and enjoy +themselves and we are of the number of the folk and God is very +forgiving, clement."[FN#33] Quoth he, "This is a thing that may +not be." And she said, "Hast thou not heard what the poet saith +... ?" And she recited the following verses: + +O son of Simeon, give no ear to other than my say. How bitter + from the convent 'twas to part and fare away! +Ay, and the monks, for on the Day of Palms a fawn there was Among + the servants of the church, a loveling blithe and gay. +By God, how pleasant was the night we passed, with him for third! + Muslim and Jew and Nazarene, we sported till the day. +The wine was sweet to us to drink in pleasance and repose, And in + a garden of the garths of Paradise we lay, +Whose streams beneath the myrtle's shade and cassia's welled + amain And birds made carol jubilant from every blossomed + spray. +Quoth he, what while from out his hair the morning glimmered + white, "This, this is life indeed, except, alas! it doth not + stay." + +"O elder," added she, "if Muslims and Jews and Nazarenes drink +wine, who are we [that we should abstain from it]?" "By Allah, O +my lady," answered he, "spare thine endeavour, for this is a +thing to which I will not hearken." When she knew that he would +not consent to her desire, she said to him, "O elder, I am of the +slave-girls of the Commander of the Faithful and the food waxeth +on me[FN#34] and if I drink not, I shall perish,[FN#35] nor wilt +thou be assured against the issue of my affair. As for me, I am +quit of blame towards thee, for that I have made myself known to +thee and have bidden thee beware of the wrath of the Commander of +the Faithful." + +When the old man heard her words and that wherewith she menaced +him, he arose and went out, perplexed and knowing not what he +should do, and there met him a Jew, who was his neighbour, and +said to him, "O Sheikh, how cometh it that I see thee strait of +breast? Moreover, I hear in thy house a noise of talk, such as I +use not to hear with thee." Quoth the Muezzin, "Yonder is a +damsel who avoucheth that she is of the slave-girls of the +Commander of the Faithful Haroun er Reshid; and she hath eaten +food and now would fain drink wine in my house, but I forbade +her. However she avoucheth that except she drink thereof, she +will perish, and indeed I am bewildered concerning my affair." +"Know, O my neighbour," answered the Jew, "that the slave-girls +of the Commander of the Faithful are used to drink wine, and +whenas they eat and drink not, they perish; and I fear lest some +mishap betide her, in which case thou wouldst not be safe from +the Khalifs wrath." "What is to be done?" asked the Sheikh; and +the Jew replied, "I have old wine that will suit her." Quoth the +old man, "[I conjure thee] by the right of neighbourship, deliver +me from this calamity and let me have that which is with thee!" +"In the name of God," answered the Jew and going to his house, +brought out a flagon of wine, with which the Sheikh returned to +Sitt el Milah. This pleased her and she said to him, "Whence +hadst thou this?" "I got it from my neighbour the Jew," answered +he. "I set out to him my case with thee and he gave me this." + +Sitt el Milah filled a cup and emptied it; after which she drank +a second and a third. Then she filled the cup a fourth time and +handed it to the old man, but he would not accept it from her. +However, she conjured him, by her own head and that of the +Commander of the Faithful, that he should take it from her, till +he took the cup from her hand and kissed it and would have set it +down; but she conjured him by her life to smell it. So he smelt +it and she said to him, "How deemest thou?" "Its smell is sweet," +replied he; and she conjured him, by the life of the Commander of +the Faithful, to taste it. So he put it to his mouth and she rose +to him and made him drink; whereupon, "O princess of the fair," +said he, "this is none other than good." Quoth she, "So deem I. +Hath not our Lord promised us wine in Paradise?" And he answered, +"Yes. Quoth the Most High, 'And rivers of wine, a delight to the +drinkers.'[FN#36] And we will drink it in this world and the +world to come." She laughed and emptying the cup, gave him to +drink, and he said, "O princess of the fair, indeed thou art +excusable in thy love for this." Then he took from her another +and another, till he became drunken and his talk waxed great and +his prate. + +The folk of the quarter heard him and assembled under the window; +and when he was ware of them, he opened the window and said to +them, "Are ye not ashamed, O pimps? Every one in his own house +doth what he will and none hindereth him; but we drink one poor +day and ye assemble and come, cuckoldy varlets that ye are! +To-day, wine, and to-morrow [another] matter; and from hour to +hour [cometh] relief." So they laughed and dispersed. Then the +girl drank till she was intoxicated, when she called to mind her +lord and wept, and the old man said to her, "What maketh thee +weep, O my lady?" "O elder," replied she, "I am a lover and +separated [from him I love]." Quoth he, "O my lady, what is this +love?" "And thou," asked she, "hast thou never been in love?" "By +Allah, O my lady," answered he, "never in all my life heard I of +this thing, nor have I ever known it! Is it of the sons of Adam +or of the Jinn?" She laughed and said, "Verily, thou art even as +those of whom the poet speaketh, when as he saith ..." And she +repeated the following verses: + +How long will ye admonished be, without avail or heed? The + shepherd still his flocks forbids, and they obey his rede. +I see yon like unto mankind in favour and in form; But + oxen,[FN#37] verily, ye are in fashion and in deed. + + +The old man laughed at her speech and her verses pleased him. +Then said she to him, "I desire of thee a lute."[FN#38] So he +arose and brought her a piece of firewood. Quoth she, "What is +that?" And he said, "Didst thou not bid me bring thee wood?" "I +do not want this," answered she, and he rejoined, "What then is +it that is called wood, other than this?" She laughed and said, +"The lute is an instrument of music, whereunto I sing." Quoth he, +"Where is this thing found and of whom shall I get it for thee?" +And she said, "Of him who gave thee the wine." So he arose and +betaking himself to his neighbour the Jew, said to him, "Thou +favouredst us aforetime with the wine; so now complete thy +favours and look me out a thing called a lute, to wit, an +instrument for singing; for that she seeketh this of me and I +know it not" "Hearkening and obedience," replied the Jew and +going into his house, brought him a lute. [The old man took it +and carried it to Sitt el Milah,] whilst the Jew took his drink +and sat by a window adjoining the other's house, so he might hear +the singing. + +The damsel rejoiced, when the old man returned to her with the +lute, and taking it from him, tuned its strings and sang the +following verses: + +After your loss, nor trace of me nor vestige would remain, Did + not the hope of union some whit my strength sustain. +Ye're gone and desolated by your absence is the world: Requital, + ay, or substitute to seek for you 'twere vain. +Ye, of your strength, have burdened me, upon my weakliness, With + burdens not to be endured of mountain nor of plain. +When from your land the breeze I scent that cometh, as I were A + reveller bemused with wine, to lose my wits I'm fain. +Love no light matter is, O folk, nor are the woe and care And + blame a little thing to brook that unto it pertain. +I wander seeking East and West for you, and every time Unto a + camp I come, I'm told, "They've fared away again." +My friends have not accustomed me to rigour; for, of old, When I + forsook them, they to seek accord did not disdain. + +When she had made an end of her song, she wept sore, till +presently sleep overcame her and she slept. + +On the morrow, she said to the old man, "Get thee to the +money-changer and fetch me the ordinary." So he repaired to the +money-changer and delivered him the message, whereupon he made +ready meat and drink, as of his wont, [with which the old man +returned to the damsel and they ate till they had enough. When +she had eaten,] she sought of him wine and he went to the Jew and +fetched it. Then they sat down and drank; and when she grew +drunken, she took the lute and smiting it, fell a-singing and +chanted the following verses: + +How long shall I thus question my heart that's drowned in woe? + I'm mute for my complaining; but tears speak, as they flow. +They have forbid their image to visit me in sleep; So even my + nightly phantom forsaketh me, heigho! + +And when she had made an end of her song, she wept sore. + +All this time, the young Damascene was hearkening, and whiles he +likened her voice to that of his slave-girl and whiles he put +away from him this thought, and the damsel had no whit of +knowledge of him. Then she broke out again into song and chanted +the following verses: + +"Forget him," quoth my censurers, "forget him; what is he?" "If I + forget him, ne'er may God," quoth I, "remember me!" +Now God forbid a slave forget his liege lord's love! And how Of + all things in the world should I forget the love of thee? +Pardon of God for everything I crave, except thy love, For on the + day of meeting Him, that will my good deed be. + +Then she drank three cups and filling the old man other three, +sang the following verses: + +His love he'd have hid, but his tears denounced him to the spy, + For the heat of a red-hot coal that 'twixt his ribs did lie. +Suppose for distraction he seek in the Spring and its blooms one + day, The face of his loved one holds the only Spring for his + eye. +O blamer of me for the love of him who denieth his grace, Which + be the delightsome of things, but those which the people + deny? +A sun [is my love;] but his heat in mine entrails still rageth, + concealed; A moon, in the hearts of the folk he riseth, and + not in the sky. + +When she had made an end of her song, she threw the lute from her +hand and wept, whilst the old man wept for her weeping. Then she +fell down in a swoon and presently coming to herself, filled the +cup and drinking it off, gave the old man to drink, after which +she took the lute and breaking out into song, chanted the +following verses: + +Thy loss is the fairest of all my heart's woes; My case it hath + altered and banished repose. +The world is upon me all desolate grown. Alack, my long grief and + forlornness! Who knows +But the Merciful yet may incline thee to me And unite us again, + in despite of our foes! + +Then she wept till her voice rose high and her lamentation was +discovered [to those without]; after which she again began to +drink and plying the old man with wine, sang the following +verses: + +They have shut out thy person from my sight; They cannot shut thy + memory from my spright. +Favour or flout me, still my soul shall be Thy ransom, in + contentment or despite. +My outward of my inward testifies And this bears witness that +that tells aright.[FN#39] + +When she had made an end of her song, she threw the lute from her +hand and wept and lamented. Then she slept awhile and presently +awaking, said, "O elder, hast thou what we may eat?" "O my lady," +answered the old man, "there is the rest of the food;" but she +said, "I will not eat of a thing I have left. Go down to the +market and fetch us what we may eat." Quoth he, "Excuse me, O my +lady; I cannot stand up, for that I am overcome with wine; but +with me is the servant of the mosque, who is a sharp youth and an +intelligent. I will call him, so he may buy thee that which thou +desirest." "Whence hast thou this servant?" asked she; and he +replied, "He is of the people of Damascus." When she heard him +speak of the people of Damascus, she gave a sob, that she swooned +away; and when she came to herself, she said, "Woe's me for the +people of Damascus and for those who are therein! Call him, O +elder, that he may do our occasions." + +So the old man put his head forth of the window and called the +youth, who came to him from the mosque and sought leave [to +enter]. The Muezzin bade him enter, and when he came in to the +damsel, he knew her and she knew him; whereupon he turned back in +bewilderment and would have fled; but she sprang up to him and +seized him, and they embraced and wept together, till they fell +down on the ground in a swoon. When the old man saw them in this +plight, he feared for himself and fled forth, seeing not the way +for drunkenness. His neighbour the Jew met him and said to him, +"How comes it that I see thee confounded?" "How should I not be +confounded," answered the old man, "seeing that the damsel who is +with me is fallen in love with the servant of the mosque and they +have embraced and fallen down in a swoon? Indeed, I fear lest the +Khalif come to know of this and be wroth with me; so tell me thou +what is to be done in this wherewith I am afflicted of the affair +of this damsel." Quoth the Jew, "For the nonce, take this +casting-bottle of rose-water and go forth-right and sprinkle them +therewith. If they be aswoon for this their foregathering and +embracement, they will come to themselves, and if otherwise, do +thou flee." + +The old man took the casting-bottle from the Jew and going up to +Noureddin and the damsel, sprinkled their faces, whereupon they +came to themselves and fell to relating to each other that which +they had suffered, since their separation, for the anguish of +severance. Moreover, Noureddin acquainted Sitt el Milah with that +which he had endured from the folk who would have slain him and +made away with him; and she said to him, "O my lord, let us +presently give over this talk and praise God for reunion of +loves, and all this shall cease from us." Then she gave him the +cup and he said, "By Allah, I will nowise drink it, whilst I am +in this plight!" So she drank it off before him and taking the +lute, swept the strings and sang the following verses: + +Thou that wast absent from my stead, yet still with me didst + bide, Thou wast removed from mine eye, yet still wast by my + side. +Thou left'st unto me, after thee, languor and carefulness; I + lived a life wherein no jot of sweetness I espied. +For thy sweet sake, as 'twere, indeed, an exile I had been, Lone + and deserted I became, lamenting, weeping-eyed. +Alack, my grief! Thou wast, indeed, grown absent from my yiew, + Yet art the apple of mine eye nor couldst from me divide. + +When she had made an end of her song, she wept and Noureddin wept +also. Then she took the lute and improvised and sang the +following verses: + +God knows I ne'er recalled thy memory to my thought, But still + with brimming tears straightway mine eyes were fraught; +Yea, passion raged in me and love-longing was like To slay me; + yet my heart to solace still it wrought. +Light of mine eyes, my hope, my wish, my thirsting eyes With + looking on thy face can never sate their drought. + +When Noureddin heard these his slave-girl's verses, he fell +a-weeping, what while she strained him to her bosom and wiped +away his tears with her sleeve and questioned him and comforted +his mind. Then she took the lute and sweeping its strings, played +thereon, after such a wise as would move the phlegmatic to +delight, and sang the following verses: + +Whenas mine eyes behold thee not, that day As of my life I do not + reckon aye; +And when I long to look upon thy face, My life is perished with + desire straightway. + +On this wise they abode till the morning, tasting not the savour +of sleep; and when the day lightened, behold, the eunuch came +with the mule and said to Sitt el Milah, "The Commander of the +Faithful calleth for thee." So she arose and taking her lord by +the hand, committed him to the old man, saying, "I commend him to +thy care, under God,[FN#40] till this eunuch cometh to thee; and +indeed, O elder, I owe thee favour and largesse such as filleth +the interspace betwixt heaven and earth." + +Then she mounted the mule and repairing to the palace of the +Commander of the Faithful, went in to him and kissed the earth +before him. Quoth he to her, as who should make mock of her, "I +doubt not but thou hast found thy lord." "By thy felicity and the +length of thy continuance [on life,]" answered she, "I have +indeed found him!" Now Er Reshid was leaning back; but, when he +heard this, he sat up and said to her, "By my life, [is this thou +sayest] true?" "Ay, by thy life!" answered she; and he said, +"Bring him into my presence, so I may see him." But she replied, +"O my lord, there have betided him many stresses and his charms +are changed and his favour faded; and indeed the Commander of the +Faithful vouchsafed me a month; wherefore I will tend him the +rest of the month and then bring him to do his service to the +Commander of the Faithful." Quoth Er Reshid, "True; the condition +was for a month; but tell me what hath betided him." "O my lord," +answered she, "may God prolong thy continuance and make Paradise +thy place of returning and thy harbourage and the fire the +abiding-place of thine enemies, when he presenteth himself to pay +his respects to thee, he will expound to thee his case and will +name unto thee those who have wronged him; and indeed this is an +arrear that is due to the Commander of the Faithful, in[FN#41] +whom may God fortify the Faith and vouchsafe him the mastery over +the rebel and the froward!" + +Therewithal he ordered her a handsome house and bade furnish it +with carpets and other furniture and vessels of choice and +commanded that all she needed should be given her. This was done +during the rest of the day, and when the night came, she +despatched the eunuch with the mule and a suit of clothes, to +fetch Noureddin from the Muezzin's lodging. So the young man +donned the clothes and mounting; rode to the house, where he +abode in luxury and delight a full-told month, what while she +solaced him with four things, to wit, the eating of fowls and the +drinking of wine and the lying upon brocade and the entering the +bath after copulation. Moreover, she brought him six suits of +clothes and fell to changing his apparel day by day; nor was the +appointed time accomplished ere his beauty returned to him and +his goodliness; nay, his charms waxed tenfold and he became a +ravishment to all who looked on him. + +One day the Commander of the Faithful bade bring him to the +presence; so his slave-girl changed his raiment and clothing him +in sumptuous apparel, mounted him on the mule. Then he rode to +the palace and presenting himself before the Khalif, saluted him +with the goodliest of salutations and bespoke him with eloquent +and deep-thoughted speech. When Er Reshid saw him, he marvelled +at the goodliness of his favour and his eloquence and the +readiness of his speech and enquiring of him, was told that he +was Sitt el Milah's lord; whereupon quoth he, "Indeed, she is +excusable in her love for him, and if we had put her to death +unrighteously, as we were minded to do, her blood would have been +upon our heads." Then he turned to the young man and entering +into discourse with him, found him well bred, intelligent, quick +of wit and apprehension, generous, pleasant, elegant, erudite. So +he loved him with an exceeding love and questioned him of his +native city and of his father and of the manner of his journey to +Baghdad. Noureddin acquainted him with that which he would know +in the goodliest of words and with the concisest of expressions; +and the Khalif said to him, "And where hast thou been absent all +this while? Indeed, we sent after thee to Damascus and Mosul and +other the towns, but lit on no tidings of thee." "O my lord," +answered the young man, "there betided thy slave in thy city that +which never yet betided any." And he acquainted him with his case +from first to last and told him that which had befallen him of +evil [from El Muradi and his crew]. + +When Er Reshid heard this, he was sore chagrined and waxed +exceeding wroth and said, "Shall this happen in a city wherein I +am?" And the Hashimi vein[FN#42] started out between his eyes. +Then he bade fetch Jaafer, and when he came before him, he +acquainted him with the matter and said to him, "Shall this come +to pass in my city and I have no news of it?" Then he bade Jaafer +fetch all whom the young Damascene had named [as having +maltreated him], and when they came, he let smite off their +heads. Moreover, he summoned him whom they called Ahmed and who +had been the means of the young man's deliverance a first time +and a second, and thanked him and showed him favour and bestowed +on him a sumptuous dress of honour and invested him with the +governance over his city.[FN#43] + +Then he sent for the old man, the Muezzin, and when the messenger +came to him and told him that the Commander of the Faithful +sought him, he feared the denunciation of the damsel and +accompanied him to the palace, walking and letting wind[FN#44] as +he went, whilst all who passed him by laughed at him. When he +came into the presence of the Commander of the Faithful, he fell +a-trembling and his tongue was embarrassed, [so that he could not +speak]. The Khalif laughed at him and said to him, "O elder, thou +hast done no offence; so [why] fearest thou?" "O my lord," +answered the old man (and indeed he was in the sorest of that +which may be of fear,) "by the virtue of thy pure forefathers, +indeed I have done nought, and do thou enquire of my conduct." +The Khalif laughed at him and ordering him a thousand dinars, +bestowed on him a sumptuous dress of honour and made him chief of +the Muezzins in his mosque. + +Then he called Sitt el Milah and said to her, "The house [wherein +thou lodgest] and that which is therein Is a guerdon [from me] to +thy lord. So do thou take him and depart with him in the +safeguard of God the Most High; but absent not yourselves from +our presence." [So she went forth with Noureddin and] when she +came to the house, she found that the Commander of the Faithful +had sent them gifts galore and abundance of good things. As for +Noureddin, he sent for his father and mother and appointed him +agents and factors in the city of Damascus, to take the rent of +the houses and gardens and khans and baths; and they occupied +themselves with collecting that which accrued to him and sending +it to him every year. Meanwhile, his father and mother came to +him, with that which they had of monies and treasures and +merchandise, and foregathering with their son, saw that he was +become of the chief officers of the Commander of the Faithful and +of the number of his session-mates and entertainers, wherefore +they rejoiced in reunion with him and he also rejoiced in them. + +The Khalif assigned them pensions and allowances and as for +Noureddin, his father brought him those riches and his wealth +waxed and his case was goodly, till he became the richest of the +folk of his time in Baghdad and left not the presence of the +Commander of the Faithful night or day. Moreover, he was +vouchsafed children by Sitt el Milah, and he ceased not to live +the most delightsome of lives, he and she and his father and +mother, a while of time, till Aboulhusn sickened of a sore +sickness and was admitted to the mercy of God the Most High. +After awhile, his mother died also and he carried them forth and +shrouded them and buried and made them expiations and +nativities.[FN#45] Then his children grew up and became like unto +moons, and he reared them in splendour and fondness, what while +his wealth waxed and his case flourished. He ceased not to pay +frequent visits to the Commander of the Faithful, he and his +children and his slave-girl Sitt el Milah, and they abode, he and +they, in all solace of life and prosperity till there came to +them the Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer of Companies; and +extolled be the perfection of the Abiding One, the Eternal! This +is all that hath come down to us of their story. + + + + + + EL ABBAS AND THE KING'S DAUGHTER OF + BAGHDAD.[FN#46] + + + +There was once, of old days and in bygone ages and times, in the +city of Baghdad, the Abode of Peace, a king mighty of estate, +lord of understanding and beneficence and liberality and +generosity, and he was strong of sultanate and endowed with might +and majesty and magnificence. His name was Ins ben Cais ben +Rebiya es Sheibani,[FN#47] and when he took horse, there rode +unto him [warriors] from the farthest parts of the two +Iraks.[FN#48] God the Most High decreed that he should take to +wife a woman hight Afifeh, daughter of Ased es Sundusi, who was +endowed with beauty and grace and brightness and perfection and +justness of shape and symmetry; her face was like unto the new +moon and she had eyes as they were gazelle's eyes and an aquiline +nose like the crescent moon. She had learned horsemanship and the +use of arms and had thoroughly studied the sciences of the Arabs; +moreover, she had gotten by heart all the dragomanish[FN#49] +tongues and indeed she was a ravishment to mankind. + +She abode with Ins ben Cais twelve years, during which time he +was blessed with no children by her; wherefore his breast was +straitened, by reason of the failure of lineage, and he besought +his Lord to vouchsafe him a child. Accordingly the queen +conceived, by permission of God the Most High; and when the days +of her pregnancy were accomplished, she gave birth to a +maid-child, than whom never saw eyes a goodlier, for that her +face was as it were a pure pearl or a shining lamp or a +golden[FN#50] candle or a full moon breaking forth of a cloud, +extolled be the perfection of Him who created her from vile +water[FN#51] and made her a delight to the beholders! When her +father saw her on this wise of loveliness, his reason fled for +joy, and when she grew up, he taught her the art of writing and +polite letters[FN#52] and philosophy and all manner of tongues. +So she excelled the folk of her time and overpassed her +peers;[FN#53] and the sons of the kings heard of her and all of +them desired to look upon her. + +The first who sought her in marriage was King Nebhan of Mosul, +who came to her with a great company, bringing with him an +hundred she-camels laden with musk and aloes-wood and ambergris +and as many laden with camphor and jewels and other hundred laden +with silver money and yet other hundred laden with raiment of +silken and other stuffs and brocade, besides an hundred +slave-girls and an hundred magnificent horses of swift and +generous breeds, completely housed and accoutred, as they were +brides; and all this he laid before her father, demanding her of +him in marriage. Now King Ins ben Cais had bound himself by an +oath that he would not marry his daughter but to him whom she +should choose; so, when King Nebhan sought her in marriage, her +father went in to her and consulted her concerning his affair. +She consented not and he repeated to Nebhan that which she said, +whereupon he departed from him. After this came King Behram, lord +of the White Island, with riches more than the first; but she +accepted not of him and he returned, disappointed; nor did the +kings give over coming to her father, on her account, one after +other, from the farthest of the lands and the climes, each +glorying in more[FN#54] than those who forewent him; but she paid +no heed unto any of one them. + +Presently, El Abbas, son of King El Aziz, lord of the land of +Yemen and Zebidoun[FN#55] and Mecca (which God increase in honour +and brightness and beauty!), heard of her; and he was of the +great ones of Mecca and the Hejaz[FN#56] and was a youth without +hair on his cheeks. So he presented himself one day in his +father's sitting-chamber,[FN#57] whereupon the folk made way for +him and the king seated him on a chair of red gold, set with +pearls and jewels. The prince sat, with his head bowed to the +ground, and spoke not to any; whereby his father knew that his +breast was straitened and bade the boon-companions and men of wit +relate marvellous histories, such as beseem the assemblies of +kings; nor was there one of them but spoke forth the goodliest of +that which was with him; but El Abbas still abode with his head +bowed down. Then the king bade his session-mates withdraw, and +when the chamber was void, he looked at his son and said to him, +"By Allah, thou rejoicest me with thy coming in to me and +chagrinest me for that thou payest no heed to any of the +session-mates nor of the boon-companions. What is the cause of +this?" + +"O father mine," answered the prince, "I have heard tell that in +the land of Irak is a woman of the daughters of the kings, and +her father is called King Ins ben Cais, lord of Baghdad; she is +renowned for beauty and grace and brightness and perfection, and +indeed many folk have sought her in marriage of the kings; but +her soul consented not unto any one of them. Wherefore I am +minded to travel to her, for that my heart cleaveth unto her, and +I beseech thee suffer me to go to her." "O my son," answered his +father, "thou knowest that I have none other than thyself of +children and thou art the solace of mine eyes and the fruit of +mine entrails; nay, I cannot brook to be parted from thee an +instant and I purpose to set thee on the throne of the kingship +and marry thee to one of the daughters of the kings, who shall be +fairer than she." El Abbas gave ear to his father's word and +dared not gainsay him; so he abode with him awhile, whilst the +fire raged in his entrails. + +Then the king took counsel with himself to build his son a bath +and adorn it with various paintings, so he might show it to him +and divert him with the sight thereof, to the intent that his +body might be solaced thereby and that the obsession of travel +might cease from him and he be turned from [his purpose of] +removal from his parents. So he addressed himself to the building +of the bath and assembling architects and builders and artisans +from all the towns and citadels and islands [of his dominions], +assigned them a site and marked out its boundaries. Then the +workmen occupied themselves with the making of the bath and the +setting out and adornment of its cabinets and roofs. They used +paints and precious stones of all kinds, according to the +variousness of their hues, red and green and blue and yellow and +what not else of all manner colours; and each artisan wrought at +his handicraft and each painter at his art, whilst the rest of +the folk busied themselves with transporting thither varicoloured +stones. + +One day, as the [chief] painter wrought at his work, there came +in to him a poor man, who looked long upon him and observed his +handicraft; whereupon quoth the painter to him, "Knowest thou +aught of painting?" "Yes," answered the stranger; so he gave him +tools and paints and said to him, "Make us a rare piece of work." +So the stranger entered one of the chambers of the bath and drew +[on the walls thereof] a double border, which he adorned on both +sides, after a fashion than which never saw eyes a fairer. +Moreover, [amiddleward the chamber] he drew a picture to which +there lacked but the breath, and it was the portraiture of +Mariyeh, the king's daughter of Baghdad. Then, when he had made +an end of the portrait, he went his way [and told none of what he +had done], nor knew any the chambers and doors of the bath and +the adornment and ordinance thereof. + +Presently, the chief workman came to the palace and sought an +audience of the king, who bade admit him. So he entered and +kissing the earth, saluted him with a salutation beseeming kings +and said, "O king of the time and lord of the age and the day, +may felicity endure unto thee and acceptance and be thy rank +exalted over all the kings both morning and evening![FN#58] The +work of the bath is accomplished, by the king's fair fortune and +the eminence of his magnanimity,[FN#59] and indeed we have done +all that behoved us and there remaineth but that which behoveth +the king." El Aziz ordered him a sumptuous dress of honour and +expended monies galore, giving unto each who had wroughten, after +the measure of his work. Then he assembled in the bath all the +grandees of his state, amirs and viziers and chamberlains and +lieutenants, and the chief officers of his realm and household, +and sending for his son El Abbas, said to him,"O my son, I have +builded thee a bath, wherein thou mayst take thy pleasance; so +enter thou therein, that thou mayst see it and divert thyself by +gazing upon it and viewing the goodliness of its ordinance and +decoration." "With all my heart," replied the prince and entered +the bath, he and the king and the folk about them, so they might +divert themselves with viewing that which the workmen's hands had +wroughten. + +El Abbas went in and passed from place to place and chamber to +chamber, till he came to the chamber aforesaid and espied the +portrait of Mariyeh, whereupon he fell down in a swoon and the +workmen went to his father and said to him, "Thy son El Abbas +hath swooned away." So the king came and finding the prince cast +down, seated himself at his head and bathed his face with +rose-water. After awhile he revived and the king said to him, +"God keep thee,[FN#60] O my son! What hath befallen thee?" "O my +father," answered the prince, "I did but look on yonder picture +and it bequeathed me a thousand regrets and there befell me that +which thou seest." Therewithal the king bade fetch the [chief] +painter, and when he stood before him, he said to him, "Tell me +of yonder portrait and what girl is this of the daughters of the +kings; else will I take thy head." "By Allah, O king," answered +the painter, "I limned it not, neither know I who she is; but +there came to me a poor man and looked at me. So I said to him, +'Knowest thou the art of painting?' And he replied, 'Yes.' +Whereupon I gave him the gear and said to him, 'Make us a rare +piece of work.' So he wrought yonder portrait and went away and I +know him not neither have I ever set eyes on him save that day." + +Therewithal the king bade all his officers go round about in the +thoroughfares and colleges [of the town] and bring before him all +strangers whom they found there. So they went forth and brought +him much people, amongst whom was the man who had painted the +portrait. When they came into the presence, the Sultan bade the +crier make proclamation that whoso wrought the portrait should +discover himself and have whatsoever he desired. So the poor man +came forward and kissing the earth before the king, said to him, +"O king of the age, I am he who painted yonder portrait." Quoth +El Aziz, "And knowest thou who she is?" "Yes," answered the +other; "this is the portrait of Mariyeh, daughter of the king of +Baghdad." The king ordered him a dress of honour and a slave-girl +[and he went his way]. Then said El Abbas, "O father mine, give +me leave to go to her, so I may look upon her; else shall I +depart the world, without fail." The king his father wept and +answered, saying, "O my son, I builded thee a bath, that it might +divert thee from leaving me, and behold it hath been the cause of +thy going forth; but the commandment of God is a +foreordained[FN#61] decree."[FN#62] + +Then he wept again and El Abbas said to him, "Fear not for me, +for thou knowest my prowess and my puissance in returning answers +in the assemblies of the land and my good breeding[FN#63] and +skill in rhetoric; and indeed he whose father thou art and whom +thou hast reared and bred and in whom thou hast united +praiseworthy qualities, the repute whereof hath traversed the +East and the West, thou needest not fear for him, more by token +that I purpose but to seek diversion[FN#64] and return to thee, +if it be the will of God the Most High." Quoth the king, "Whom +wilt thou take with thee of attendants and [what] of good?" "O +father mine," replied El Abbas, "I have no need of horses or +camels or arms, for I purpose not battle, and I will have none go +forth with me save my servant Aamir and no more." + +As he and his father were thus engaged in talk, in came his +mother and caught hold of him; and he said to her, "God on thee, +let me go my gait and strive not to turn me from my purpose, for +that needs must I go." "O my son," answered she, "if it must be +so and there is no help for it, swear to me that them wilt not be +absent from me more than a year." And he swore to her. Then he +entered his father's treasuries and took therefrom what he would +of jewels and jacinths and everything heavy of worth and light of +carriage. Moreover, he bade his servant Aamir saddle him two +horses and the like for himself, and whenas the night darkened +behind him,[FN#65] he rose from his couch and mounting his horse, +set out for Baghdad, he and Aamir, whilst the latter knew not +whither he intended. + +He gave not over going and the journey was pleasant to him, till +they came to a goodly land, abounding in birds and wild beasts, +whereupon El Abbas started a gazelle and shot it with an arrow. +Then he dismounted and cutting its throat, said to his servant, +"Alight thou and skin it and carry it to the water." Aamir +answered him [with "Hearkening and obedience"] and going down to +the water, kindled a fire and roasted the gazelle's flesh. Then +they ate their fill and drank of the water, after which they +mounted again and fared on diligently, and Aamir still unknowing +whither El Abbas was minded to go. So he said to him, "O my lord, +I conjure thee by God the Great, wilt thou not tell me whither +thou intendest?" El Abbas looked at him and made answer with the +following verses: + +In my soul the fire of yearning and affliction rageth aye; Lo, I + burn with love and longing; nought in answer can I say. +To Baghdad upon a matter of all moment do I fare, For the love of + one whose beauties have my reason led astray. +Under me's a slender camel, a devourer of the waste; Those who + pass a cloudlet deem it, as it flitteth o'er the way. +So, O Aamir, haste thy going, e'en as I do, so may I Heal my + sickness and the draining of the cup of love essay; +For the longing that abideth in my heart is hard to bear. Fare + with me, then, to my loved one. Answer nothing, but obey. + +When Aamir heard his lord's verses, he knew that he was a slave +of love [and that she of whom he was enamoured abode] in Baghdad. +Then they fared on night and day, traversing plains and stony +wastes, till they came in sight of Baghdad and lighted down in +its suburbs[FN#66] and lay the night there. When they arose in +the morning, they removed to the bank of the Tigris and there +they encamped and sojourned three days. + +As they abode thus on the fourth day, behold, a company of folk +giving their beasts the rein and crying aloud and saying, "Quick! +Quick! Haste to our rescue, O King!" Therewithal the king's +chamberlains and officers accosted them and said to them, "What +is behind you and what hath befallen you?" Quoth they, "Bring us +before the king." [So they carried them to Ins ben Cais;] and +when they saw him, they said to him, "O king, except thou succour +us, we are dead men; for that we are a folk of the Benou +Sheiban,[FN#67] who have taken up our abode in the parts of +Bassora, and Hudheifeh the Arab[FN#68] hath come down on us with +his horses and his men and hath slain our horsemen and carried +off our women and children; nor was one saved of the tribe but he +who fled; wherefore we crave help [first] by God the Most High, +then by thy life." + +When the king heard their speech, he bade the crier make +proclamation in the thoroughfares of the city that the troops +should prepare [for the march] and that the horsemen should mount +and the footmen come forth; nor was it but the twinkling of the +eye ere the drums beat and the trumpets sounded; and scarce was +the forenoon of the day passed when the city was blocked with +horse and foot. So the king passed them in review and behold, +they were four-and-twenty thousand in number, horsemen and +footmen. He bade them go forth to the enemy and gave the +commandment over them to Said ibn el Wakidi, a doughty cavalier +and a valiant man of war. So the horsemen set out and fared on +along the bank of the Tigris. + +El Abbas looked at them and saw the ensigns displayed and the +standards loosed and heard the drums beating; so he bade his +servant saddle him a charger and look to the girths and bring him +his harness of war. Quoth Aamir, "And indeed I saw El Abbas his +eyes flash and the hair of his hands stood on end, for that +indeed horsemanship[FN#69] abode [rooted in his heart]."So he +mounted his charger, whilst Aamir also bestrode a war-horse, and +they went forth with the troops and fared on two days. On the +third day, after the hour of the mid-afternoon prayer, they came +in sight of the enemy and the two armies met and the ranks joined +battle. The strife raged amain and sore was the smiting, whilst +the dust rose in clouds and hung vaulted [over them], so that all +eyes were blinded; and they ceased not from the battle till the +night overtook them, when the two hosts drew off from the mellay +and passed the night, perplexed concerning themselves [and the +issue of their affair]. + +When God caused the morning morrow, the two armies drew out in +battle array and the troops stood looking at one another. Then +came forth El Harith ibn Saad between the two lines and played +with his lance and cried out and recited the following verses: + +Algates ye are our prey become; this many a day and night Right + instantly of God we've craved to be vouchsafed your sight. +So hath the Merciful towards Hudheifeh driven you, A champion + ruling over all, a lion of great might. +Is there a man of you will come, that I may heal his paint With + blows right profitful for him who's sick for lust of fight? + +By Allah, come ye forth to me, for lo, I'm come to you I May he +who's wronged the victory get and God defend the right![FN#70] + +Thereupon there sallied forth to him Zuheir ben Hebib, and they +wheeled about and feinted awhile, then came to dose quarters and +exchanged strokes. El Harith forewent his adversary in smiting +and stretched him weltering in his gore; whereupon Hudheifeh +cried out to him, saying, "Gifted of God art thou, O Harith! Call +another of them." So he cried out, saying, "Is there a +comer-forth [to battle?]" But they of Baghdad held back froni +him; and when it appeared to El Harith that confusion was amongst +them, he fell upon them and overthrew the first of them upon +their last and slew of them twelve men. Then the evening overtook +him and the Baghdadis addressed themselves to flight. + +When the morning morrowed, they found themselves reduced to a +fourth part of their number and there was not one of them had +dismounted from his horse. So they made sure of destruction and +Hudheifeh came out between the ranks (now he was reckoned for a +thousand cavaliers) and cried out, saying, "Harkye, my masters of +Baghdad! Let none come forth to me but your Amir, so I may talk +with him and he with me; and he shall meet me in single combat +and I will meet him, and may he who is void of offence come off +safe!" Then he repeated his speech and said, "Why do I not hear +your Amir return me an answer?" But Saad, the amir of the army of +Baghdad, [replied not to him], and indeed his teeth chattered in +his head, whenas he heard him summon him to single combat. + +When El Abbas heard Hudheifeh's challenge and saw Saad in this +case, he came up to the latter and said to him, "Wilt thou give +me leave to reply to him and I will stand thee in stead in the +answering of him and the going forth to battle with him and will +make myself thy sacrifice?" Saad looked at him and seeing valour +shining from between his eyes, said to him, "O youth, by the +virtue of the Chosen [Prophet,] (whom God bless and keep,) tell +me [who thou art and] whence thou comest to our succour." "This +is no place for questioning," answered the prince; and Saad said +to him, "O champion, up and at Hudheifeh! Yet, if his devil prove +too strong for thee, afflict not thyself in thy youth."[FN#71] +Quoth El Abbas, "It is of Allah that help is to be +sought,"[FN#72] and taking his arms, fortified his resolution and +went down [into the field], as he were a castle of the castles or +a piece of a mountain. + +[When] Hudheifeh [saw him], he cried out to him, saying, "Haste +thee not, O youth! Who art thou of the folk?" And he answered, "I +am Saad [ibn] el Wakidi, commander of the host of King Ins, and +but that thou vauntedst thyself in challenging me, I had not come +forth to thee; for that thou art not of my peers neither art +counted equal to me in prowess and canst not avail against my +onslaught. Wherefore prepare thee for departure,[FN#73] seeing +that there abideth but a little of thy life." When Hudheifeh +heard this his speech, he threw himself backward,[FN#74] as if in +mockery of him, whereat El Abbas was wroth and called out to him, +saying, "O Hudheifeh, guard thyself against me." Then he rushed +upon him, as he were a swooper of the Jinn,[FN#75] and Hudheifeh +met him and they wheeled about a long while. + +Presently, El Abbas cried out at Hudheifeh a cry that astonied +him and dealt him a blow, saying, "Take this from the hand of a +champion who feareth not the like of thee." Hudheifeh met the +stroke with his shield, thinking to ward it off from him; but the +sword shore the target in sunder and descending upon his +shoulder, came forth gleaming from the tendons of his throat and +severed his arm at the armpit; whereupon he fell down, wallowing +in his blood, and El Abbas turned upon his host; nor had the sun +departed the pavilion of the heavens ere Hudheifeh's army was in +full flight before El Abbas and the saddles were empty of men. +Quoth Saad, "By the virtue of the Chosen [Prophet], whom God +bless and keep, I saw El Abbas with the blood upon his saddle +pads, [in gouts] like camels' livers, smiting with the sword +right and left, till he scattered them abroad in every +mountain-pass and desert; and when he turned [back to the camp], +the men of Baghdad were fearful of him." + +When the Baghdadis saw this succour that had betided them against +their enemies [and the victory that El Abbas had gotten them], +they turned back and gathering together the spoils [of the +defeated host], arms and treasures and horses, returned to +Baghdad, victorious, and all by the valour of El Abbas. As for +Saad, he foregathered with the prince, and they fared on in +company till they came to the place where El Abbas had taken +horse, whereupon the latter dismounted from his charger and Saad +said to him, "O youth, wherefore alightest thou in other than thy +place? Indeed, thy due is incumbent upon us and upon our Sultan; +so go thou with us to the dwellings, that we may ransom thee with +our souls." "O Amir Saad," replied El Abbas, "from this place I +took horse with thee and herein is my lodging. So, God on thee, +name me not to the king, but make as if thou hadst never seen me, +for that I am a stranger in the land." + +So saying, he turned away from him and Saad fared on to the +palace, where he found all the suite in attendance on the king +and recounting to him that which had betided them with El Abbas. +Quoth the king, "Where is he?" And they answered, "He is with the +Amir Saad." [So, when the latter entered], the king [looked, but] +found none with him; and Saad, seeing that he hankered after the +youth, cried out to him, saying, "God prolong the king's days! +Indeed, he refuseth to present himself before thee, without leave +or commandment." "O Saad," asked the king, "whence cometh this +man?" And the Amir answered, "O my lord, I know not; but he is a +youth fair of favour, lovesome of aspect, accomplished in +discourse, goodly of repartee, and valour shineth from between +his eyes." + +Quoth the king, "O Saad, fetch him to me, for indeed thou +describest to me a masterful man."[FN#76] And he answered, +saying, "By Allah, O my lord, hadst thou but seen our case with +Hudheifeh, what while he challenged me to the field of war and +the stead of thrusting and smiting and I held back from doing +battle with him! Then, whenas I thought to go forth to him, +behold, a cavalier gave loose to his bridle-rein and called out +to me, saying, 'O Saad, wilt thou suffer me to fill thy room in +waging war with him and I will ransom thee with myself?' And I +said, 'By Allah, O youth, whence cometh thou?' Quoth he, 'This is +no time for thy questions.'" Then he recounted to the king all +that had passed between himself and El Abbas from first to last; +whereupon quoth Ins ben Cais, "Bring him to me in haste, so we +may learn his tidings and question him of his case." "It is +well," answered Saad, and going forth of the king's presence, +repaired to his own house, where he put off his harness of war +and took rest for himself. + +To return to El Abbas, when he alighted from his charger, he put +off his harness of war and rested awhile; after which he brought +out a shirt of Venetian silk and a gown of green damask and +donning them, covered himself with a turban of Damietta stuff and +girt his middle with a handkerchief. Then he went out a-walking +in the thoroughfares of Baghdad and fared on till he came to the +bazaar of the merchants. There he found a merchant, with chess +before him; so he stood watching him and presently the other +looked up at him and said to him, "O youth, what wilt thou stake +upon the game?" And he answered, "Be it thine to decide." "Then +be it a hundred dinars," said the merchant, and El Abbas +consented to him, whereupon quoth he, "O youth, produce the +money, so the game may be fairly stablished." So El Abbas brought +out a satin purse, wherein were a thousand dinars, and laid down +an hundred dinars therefrom on the edge of the carpet, whilst the +merchant did the like, and indeed his reason fled for joy, whenas +he saw the gold in El Abbas his possession. + +The folk flocked about them, to divert themselves with watching +the play, and they called the bystanders to witness of the wager +and fell a-playing. El Abbas forbore the merchant, so he might +lead him on, and procrastinated with him awhile; and the merchant +won and took of him the hundred dinars. Then said the prince, +"Wilt thou play another game?" And the other answered, "O youth, +I will not play again, except it be for a thousand dinars." Quoth +the prince, "Whatsoever thou stakest, I will match thy stake with +the like thereof." So the merchant brought out a thousand dinars +and the prince covered them with other thousand. Then they fell +a-playing, but El Abbas was not long with him ere he beat him in +the square of the elephant,[FN#77] nor did he leave to do thus +till he had beaten him four times and won of him four thousand +dinars. + +This was all the merchant's good; so he said, "O youth, I will +play thee another game for the shop." Now the value of the shop +was four thousand dinars; so they played and El Abbas beat him +and won his shop, with that which was therein; whereupon the +other arose, shaking his clothes, and said to him, "Up, O youth, +and take thy shop." So El Abbas arose and repairing to the shop, +took possession thereof, after which he returned to [the place +where he had left] his servant [Aamir] and found there the Amir +Saad, who was come to bid him to the presence of the king. El +Abbas consented to this and accompanied him till they came before +King Ins ben Cais, whereupon he kissed the earth and saluted him +and exceeded[FN#78] in the salutation. Quoth the king to him, +"Whence comest thou, O youth?" and he answered, "I come from +Yemen." + +Then said the king, "Hast thou a need we may accomplish unto +thee? For indeed we are exceeding beholden to thee for that which +thou didst in the matter of Hudheifeh and his folk." And he let +cast over him a mantle of Egyptian satin, worth an hundred +dinars. Moreover, he bade his treasurer give him a thousand +dinars and said to him, "O youth, take this in part of that which +thou deserves! of us; and if thou prolong thy sojourn with us, we +will give thee slaves and servants." El Abbas kissed the earth +and said, "O king, may grant thee abiding prosperity, I deserve +not all this." Then he put his hand to his poke and pulling out +two caskets of gold, in each of which were rubies, whose value +none could tell, gave them to the king, saying, "O king, God +cause thy prosperity to endure, I conjure thee by that which God +hath vouchsafed thee, heal my heart by accepting these two +caskets, even as I have accepted thy present." So the king +accepted the two caskets and El Abbas took his leave and went +away to the bazaar. + +When the merchants saw him, they accosted him and said, "O youth, +wilt thou not open thy shop?" As they were bespeaking him, up +came a woman, having with her a boy, bareheaded, and [stood] +looking at El Abbas, till he turned to her, when she said to him, +"O youth, I conjure thee by Allah, look at this boy and have pity +on him, for that his father hath forgotten his cap in the shop +[he lost to thee]; so if thou will well to give it to him, thy +reward be with God! For indeed the child maketh our hearts ache +with his much weeping, and God be witness for us that, were there +left us aught wherewithal to buy him a cap in its stead, we had +not sought it of thee." "O adornment of womankind," replied El +Abbas, "indeed, thou bespeakest me with thy fair speech and +supplicatest me with thy goodly words ...But bring me thy +husband." So she went and fetched the merchant, whilst the folk +assembled to see what El Abbas would do. When the man came, he +returned him the gold he had won of him, all and part, and +delivered him the keys of the shop, saying, "Requite us with thy +pious prayers."Therewithal the woman came up to him and kissed +his feet, and on like wise did the merchant her husband; and all +who were present blessed him, and there was no talk but of El +Abbas. + +As for the merchant, he bought him a sheep and slaughtering it, +roasted it and dressed birds and [other] meats of various kinds +and colours and bought dessert and sweetmeats and fresh fruits. +Then he repaired to El Abbas and conjured him to accept of his +hospitality and enter his house and eat of his victual. The +prince consented to his wishes and went with him till they came +to his house, when the merchant bade him enter. So El Abbas +entered and saw a goodly house, wherein was a handsome saloon, +with a vaulted estrade. When he entered the saloon, he found that +the merchant had made ready food and dessert and perfumes, such +as overpass description; and indeed he had adorned the table with +sweet-scented flowers and sprinkled musk and rose-water upon the +food. Moreover, he had smeared the walls of the saloon with +ambergris and set [the smoke of burning] aloes-wood abroach +therein. + +Presently, El Abbas looked out of the window of the saloon and +saw thereby a house of goodly ordinance, lofty of building and +abounding in chambers, with two upper stories; but therein was no +sign of inhabitants. So he said to the merchant, "Indeed, thou +exceedest in doing us honour; but, by Allah, I will not eat of +thy victual till thou tell me what is the reason of the emptiness +of yonder house." "O my lord," answered the other, "that was El +Ghitrif's house and he was admitted to the mercy of God[FN#79] +and left none other heir than myself; so it became mine, and by +Allah, if thou hast a mind to sojourn in Baghdad, do thou take up +thine abode in this house, so thou mayst be in my neighbourhood; +for that indeed my heart inclineth unto thee with love and I +would have thee never absent from my sight, so I may still have +my fill of thee and hearken to thy speech." El Abbas thanked him +and said to him, "Indeed, thou art friendly in thy speech and +exceedest [in courtesy] in thy discourse, and needs must I +sojourn in Baghdad. As for the house, if it like thee, I will +abide therein; so take of me its price." + +So saying, he put his hand to his poke and bringing out therefrom +three hundred dinars, gave them to the merchant, who said in +himself, "Except I take the money, he will not abide in the +house." So he pouched the money and sold him the house, taking +the folk to witness against himself of the sale. Then he arose +and set food before El Abbas and they ate of the good things +which he had provided; after which he brought him dessert and +sweetmeats. They ate thereof till they had enough, when the +tables were removed and they washed their hands with rose-water +and willow-flower-water. Then the merchant brought El Abbas a +napkin perfumed with the fragrant smoke of aloes-wood, on which +he wiped his hand,[FN#80] and said to him, "O my lord, the house +is become thy house; so bid thy servant transport thither the +horses and arms and stuffs." El Abbas did this and the merchant +rejoiced in his neighbourhood and left him not night nor day, so +that the prince said to him, "By Allah, I distract thee from thy +livelihood." "God on thee, O my lord," replied the merchant, +"name not to me aught of this, or thou wilt break my heart, for +the best of traffic is thy company and thou art the best of +livelihood." So there befell strait friendship between them and +ceremony was laid aside from between them. + +Meanwhile the king said to his vizier, "How shall we do in the +matter of yonder youth, the Yemani, on whom we thought to confer +largesse, but he hath largessed us with tenfold [our gift] and +more, and we know not if he be a sojourner with us or no?" Then +he went into the harem and gave the rubies to his wife Afifeh, +who said to him, "What is the worth of these with thee and with +[other] the kings?" And he answered, "They are not to be found +save with the greatest of kings and none may avail to price them +with money." Quoth she, "Whence gottest thou them?" So he +recounted to her the story of El Abbas from first to last, and +she said, "By Allah, the claims of honour are imperative on us +and the king hath fallen short of his due; for that we have not +seen him bid him to his assembly, nor hath he seated him on his +left hand." + +[When the king heard his wife's words], it was as if he had been +asleep and awoke; so he went forth of the harem and bade +slaughter fowls and dress meats of all kinds and colours. +Moreover, he assembled all his retainers and let bring sweetmeats +and dessert and all that beseemeth unto kings' tables. Then he +adorned his palace and despatched after El Abbas a man of the +chief officers of his household, who found him coming forth of +the bath, clad in a doublet of fine goats' hair and over it a +Baghdadi scarf; his waist was girt with a Rustec[FN#81] kerchief +and on his head he wore a light turban of Damietta make. + +The messenger wished him joy of the bath and exceeded in doing +him worship. Then he said to him, "The king biddeth thee in +weal."[FN#82] "Hearkening and obedience," answered El Abbas and +accompanied the messenger to the king's palace. + +Now Afifeh and her daughter Mariyeh were behind the curtain, +looking at him; and when he came before the king, he saluted him +and greeted him with the greeting of kings, whilst all who were +present stared at him and at his beauty and grace and perfection. +The king seated him at the head of the table; and when Afifeh saw +him and straitly considered him, she said, "By the virtue of +Mohammed, prince of the Apostles, this youth is of the sons of +the kings and cometh not to these parts but for some high +purpose!" Then she looked at Mariyeh and saw that her face was +changed, and indeed her eyes were dead in her face and she turned +not her gaze from El Abbas a glance of the eyes, for that the +love of him had gotten hold upon her heart. When the queen saw +what had befallen her daughter, she feared for her from reproach +concerning El Abbas; so she shut the wicket of the lattice and +suffered her not to look upon him more. Now there was a pavilion +set apart for Mariyeh, and therein were privy chambers and +balconies and lattices, and she had with her a nurse, who served +her, after the fashion of kings' daughters. + +When the banquet was ended and the folk had dispersed, the king +said to El Abbas, "I would fain have thee [abide] with me and I +will buy thee a house, so haply we may requite thee the high +services for which we are beholden to thee; for indeed thy due is +imperative [upon us] and thy worth is magnified in our eyes; and +indeed we have fallen short of thy due in the matter of +distance."[FN#83] When the prince heard the king's speech, he +rose and sat down[FN#84] and kissing the earth, returned thanks +for his bounty and said, "I am the king's servant, wheresoever I +may be, and under his eye." Then he recounted to him the story of +the merchant and the manner of the buying of the house, and the +king said, "Indeed, I would fain have had thee with me and in my +neighbourhood." + +Then El Abbas took leave of the king and went away to his own +house. Now it befell that he passed under the palace of Mariyeh +the king's daughter, and she was sitting at a window. He chanced +to look round and his eyes met those of the princess, whereupon +his wit departed and he was like to swoon away, whilst his colour +changed and he said, "Verily, we are God's and to Him we return!" +But he feared for himself lest estrangement betide him; so he +concealed his secret and discovered not his case to any of the +creatures of God the Most High. When he reached his house, his +servant Aamir said to him, "O my lord, I seek refuge for thee +with God from change of colour! Hath there betided thee a pain +from God the Most High or hath aught of vexation befallen thee? +Verily, sickness hath an end and patience doth away vexation." +But the prince returned him no answer. Then he brought out +inkhorn [and pen] and paper and wrote the following verses: + + +Quoth I (and mine a body is of passion all forslain, Ay, and a + heart that's all athirst for love and longing pain +And eye that knoweth not the sweet of sleep; yet she, who caused + My dole, may Fortune's perfidies for aye from her abstain! +Yea, for the perfidies of Fate and sev'rance I'm become Even as + was Bishr[FN#85] of old time with Hind,[FN#86] a fearful + swain; +A talking-stock among the folk for ever I abide; Life and the + days pass by, yet ne'er my wishes I attain), +"Knoweth my loved one when I see her at the lattice high Shine as + the sun that flameth forth in heaven's blue demesne?" +Her eye is sharper than a sword; the soul with ecstasy It takes + and longing leaves behind, that nothing may assain. +As at the casement high she sat, her charms I might espy, For + from her cheeks the envious veil that hid them she had + ta'en. +She shot at me a shaft that reached my heart and I became The + bond- man of despair, worn out with effort all in vain. +Fawn of the palace, knowst thou not that I, to look on thee, The + world have traversed, far and wide, o'er many a hill and + plain? +Read then my writ and pity thou the blackness of my fate, Sick, + love- distraught, without a friend to whom I may complain. + +Now the merchant's wife aforesaid, who was the nurse of the +king's daughter, was watching him from a window, unknown of him, +and [when she heard his verses], she knew that there hung some +rare story by him; so she went in to him and said, "Peace be on +thee, O afflicted one, who acquaintest not physician with thy +case! Verily, thou exposest thyself unto grievous peril! I +conjure thee by the virtue of Him who hath afflicted thee and +stricken thee with the constraint of love-liking, that thou +acquaint me with thine affair and discover to me the truth of thy +secret; for that indeed I have heard from thee verses that +trouble the wit and dissolve the body." So he acquainted her with +his case and enjoined her to secrecy, whereof she consented unto +him, saying, "What shall be the recompense of whoso goeth with +thy letter and bringeth thee an answer thereto?" He bowed his +head for shamefastness before her [and was silent]; and she said +to him, "Raise thy head and give me thy letter." So he gave her +the letter and she took it and carrying it to the princess, said +to her, "Read this letter and give me the answer thereto." + +Now the liefest of all things to Mariyeh was the recitation of +poems and verses and linked rhymes and the twanging [of the +strings of the lute], and she was versed in all tongues; so she +took the letter and opening it, read that which was therein and +apprehended its purport. Then she cast it on the ground and said, +"O nurse, I have no answer to make to this letter." Quoth the +nurse, "Indeed, this is weakness in thee and a reproach unto +thee, for that the people of the world have heard of thee and +still praise thee for keenness of wit and apprehension; so do +thou return him an answer, such as shall delude his heart and +weary his soul." "O nurse," rejoined the princess, "who is this +that presumeth upon me with this letter? Belike he is the +stranger youth who gave my father the rubies." "It is himself," +answered the woman, and Mariyeh said, "I will answer his letter +on such a wise that thou shalt not bring me other than it [from +him]." Quoth the nurse, "So be it." So the princess called for +inkhorn and paper and wrote the following verses: + +O'erbold art thou in that to me, a stranger, thou hast sent These + verses; 'twill but add to thee unease and miscontent. +Now God forbid thou shouldst attain thy wishes! What care I If + thou have looked on me a look that caused thee languishment? +Who art thou, wretch, that thou shouldst hope to win me? With thy + rhymes What wouldst of me? Thy reason, sure, with passion is + forspent. +If to my favours thou aspire and covet me, good lack! What leach + such madness can assain or what medicament? +Leave rhyming, madman that thou art, lest, bound upon the cross, + Thou thy presumption in the stead of abjectness repent. +Deem not, O youth, that I to thee incline; indeed, no part Have I + in those who walk the ways, the children of the tent.[FN#87] +In the wide world no house thou hast, a homeless wanderer thou: + To thine own place thou shall be borne, an object for + lament.[FN#88] +Forbear thy verse-making, O thou that harbourest in the camp, + Lest to the gleemen thou become a name of wonderment. +How many a lover, who aspires to union with his love, For all his + hopes seem near, is baulked of that whereon he's bent! +Then get thee gone nor covet that which thou shall ne'er obtain; + So shall it be, although the time seem near and the event. +Thus unto thee have I set forth my case; consider well My words, + so thou mayst guided be aright by their intent. + +When she had made an end of her verses, she folded the letter and +delivered it to the nurse, who took it and went with it to El +Abbas. When she gave it to him, he took it and breaking it open, +read it and apprehended its purport; and when he came to the end +of it, he swooned away. After awhile, he came to himself and +said, "Praised be God who hath caused her return an answer to my +letter! Canst thou carry her another letter, and with God the +Most High be thy requital?" Quoth she, "And what shall letters +profit thee, seeing she answereth on this wise?" But he said, +"Belike, she may yet be softened." Then he took inkhorn and paper +and wrote the following verses: + +Thy letter reached me; when the words thou wrot'st therein I + read, My longing waxed and pain and woe redoubled on my + head. +Yea, wonder-words I read therein, my trouble that increased And + caused emaciation wear my body to a shred. +Would God thou knewst what I endure for love of thee and how My + vitals for thy cruelty are all forspent and dead! +Fain, fain would I forget thy love. Alack, my heart denies To be + consoled, and 'gainst thy wrath nought standeth me in stead. +An thou'dst vouchsafe to favour me,'twould lighten my despair, + Though but in dreams thine image 'twere that visited my bed. +Persist not on my weakliness with thy disdain nor be Treason and + breach of love its troth to thee attributed; +For know that hither have I fared and come to this thy land, By + hopes of union with thee and near fruition led. +How oft I've waked, whilst over me my comrades kept the watch! + How many a stony waste I've crossed, how many a desert + dread! +From mine own land, to visit thee, I came at love's command, For + all the distance did forbid,'twixt me and thee that spread. +Wherefore, by Him who letteth waste my frame, have ruth on me And + quench my yearning and the fires by passion in me fed. +In glory's raiment clad, by thee the stars of heaven are shamed + And in amaze the full moon stares to see thy goodlihead. +All charms, indeed, thou dost comprise; so who shall vie with + thee And who shall blame me if for love of such a fair I'm + sped? + +When he had made an end of his verses, he folded the letter and +delivering it to the nurse, charged her keep the secret. So she +took it and carrying it to Mariyeh, gave it to her. The princess +broke it open and read it and apprehended its purport. Then said +she, "By Allah, O nurse, my heart is burdened with an exceeding +chagrin, never knew I a dourer, because of this correspondence +and of these verses." And the muse made answer to her, saying, "O +my lady, thou art in thy dwelling and thy place and thy heart is +void of care; so return him an answer and reck thou not" +Accordingly, the princess called for inkhorn and paper and wrote +the following verses: + +Thou that the dupe of yearning art, how many a melting wight In + waiting for the unkept tryst doth watch the weary night! +If in night's blackness thou hast plunged into the desert's heart + And hast denied thine eyes the taste of sleep and its + delight, +If near and far thy toiling feet have trod the ways and thou + Devils and Marids hast ensued nor wouldst be led aright, +And dar'dst, O dweller in the tents, to lift thine eyes to me, + Hoping by stress to win of me the amorous delight, +Get thee to patience fair, if thou remember thee of that Whose + issues (quoth the Merciful) are ever benedight.[FN#89] +How many a king for my sweet sake with other kings hath vied, + Still craving union with me and suing for my sight! +Whenas En Nebhan strove to win my grace, himself to me With + camel- loads he did commend of musk and camphor white, +And aloes-wood, to boot, he brought and caskets full of pearls + And priceless rubies and the like of costly gems and bright; +Yea, and black slaves he proffered me and slave-girls big with + child And steeds of price, with splendid arms and trappings + rich bedight. +Raiment of silk and sendal, too, he brought to us for gift, And + me in marriage sought therewith; yet, all his pains despite, +Of me he got not what he sought and brideless did return, For + that estrangement and disdain were pleasing in my sight. +Wherefore, O stranger, dare thou not approach me with desire, + Lest ruin quick and pitiless thy hardihood requite. + +When she had made an end of her verses, she folded the letter and +delivered it to the nurse, who took it and carried it to El +Abbas. He broke it open and read it and apprehended its purport; +then took inkhorn and paper and wrote the following verses: + +Indeed, thou'st told the tale of kings and men of might, Each one + a lion fierce, impetuous in the fight, +Whose wits (like mine, alack!) thou stalest and whose hearts With + shafts from out thine eyes bewitching thou didst smite. +Yea, and how slaves and steeds and good and virgin girls Were + proffered thee to gift, thou hast not failed to cite, +How presents in great store thou didst refuse and eke The givers, + great and small, with flouting didst requite. +Then came I after them, desiring thee, with me No second save my + sword, my falchion keen and bright. +No slaves with me have I nor camels swift of foot, Nor + slave-girls have I brought in curtained litters dight. +Yet, an thou wilt vouchsafe thy favours unto me, My sabre thou + shalt see the foemen put to flight; +Ay, and around Baghdad the horsemen shalt behold, Like clouds + that wall the world, full many a doughty knight, +All hearkening to my word, obeying my command, In whatsoever + thing is pleasing to my sight. +If slaves thou fain wouldst have by thousands every day Or, + kneeling at thy feet, see kings of mickle might, +And horses eke wouldst have led to thee day by day And girls, + high- breasted maids, and damsels black and white, +Lo under my command the land of Yemen is And trenchant is my + sword against the foe in fight. +Whenas the couriers came with news of thee, how fair Thou wast + and sweet and how thy visage shone with light, +All, all, for thy sweet sake, I left; ay, I forsook Aziz, my + sire, and those akin to me that hight +And unto Irak fared, my way to thee to make, And crossed the + stony wastes i' the darkness of the night. +Then sent I speech to thee in verses such as burn The heart; + reproach therein was none nor yet unright; +Yet with perfidiousness (sure Fortune's self as thou Ne'er so + perfidious was) my love thou didst requite +And deemedst me a waif, a homeless good-for-nought, A + slave-begotten brat, a wanton, witless wight. + +Then he folded the letter and committed it to the nurse and gave +her five hundred dinars, saying, "Accept this from me, for that +indeed thou hast wearied thyself between us." "By Allah, O my +lord," answered she, "my desire is to bring about union between +you, though I lose that which my right hand possesseth." And he +said, "May God the Most High requite thee with good!" Then she +carried the letter to Mariyeh and said to her, "Take this letter; +belike it may be the end of the correspondence." So she took it +and breaking it open, read it, and when she had made an end of +it, she turned to the nurse and said to her, "This fellow putteth +off lies upon me and avoucheth unto me that he hath cities and +horsemen and footmen at his command and submitting to his +allegiance; and he seeketh of me that which he shall not obtain; +for thou knowest, O nurse, that kings' sons have sought me in +marriage, with presents and rarities; but I have paid no heed +unto aught of this; so how shall I accept of this fellow, who is +the fool[FN#90] of his time and possesseth nought but two caskets +of rubies, which he gave to my father, and indeed he hath taken +up his abode in the house of El Ghitrif and abideth without +silver or gold? Wherefore, I conjure thee by Allah, O nurse, +return to him and cut off his hope of me." + +Accordingly the nurse returned to El Abbas, without letter or +answer; and when she came in to him, he saw that she was troubled +and noted the marks of chagrin on her face; so he said to her, +"What is this plight?" Quoth she, "I cannot set out to thee that +which Mariyeh said; for indeed she charged me return to thee +without letter or answer." "O nurse of kings," rejoined El Abbas, +"I would have thee carry her this letter and return not to her +without it." Then he took inkhorn and paper and wrote the +following verses: + +My secret is disclosed, the which I strove to hide; Of thee and + of thy love enough have I abyed. +My kinsmen and my friends for thee I did forsake And left them + weeping tears that poured as 'twere a tide. +Yea, to Baghdad I came, where rigour gave me chase And I was + overthrown of cruelty and pride. +Repression's draught, by cups, from the beloved's hand I've + quaffed; with colocynth for wine she hath me plied. +Oft as I strove to make her keep the troth of love, Unto + concealment's ways still would she turn aside. +My body is dissolved with sufferance in vain; Relenting, ay, and + grace I hoped should yet betide; +But rigour still hath waxed on me and changed my case And love + hath left me bound, afflicted, weeping-eyed. +How long shall I anights distracted be for love Of thee? How long + th' assaults of grief and woes abide? +Thou, thou enjoy'st repose and comfortable sleep, Nor of the + mis'ries reckst by which my heart is wried. +I watch the stars for wake and pray that the belov'd May yet to + me relent and bid my tears be dried. +The pains of long desire have wasted me away; Estrangement and + disdain my body sore have tried. +"Be thou not hard of heart," quoth I. Had ye but deigned To visit + me in dreams, I had been satisfied. +But when ye saw my writ, the standard ye o'erthrew Of faith, your + favours grudged and aught of grace denied. +Nay, though ye read therein discourse that sure should speak To + heart and soul, no word thereunto ye replied, +But deemed yourself secure from every changing chance Nor recked + the ebb and flow of Fortune's treacherous tide. +Were my affliction thine, love's anguish hadst thou dreed And in + the flaming hell of long estrangement sighed. +Yet shall thou suffer that which I from thee have borne And with + love's woes thy heart shall yet be mortified. +The bitterness of false accusing shall thou taste And eke the + thing reveal that thou art fain to hide; +Yea, he thou lov'st shall be hard-hearted, recking not Of + fortune's turns or fate's caprices, in his pride. +Wherewith farewell, quoth I, and peace be on thee aye, What while + the branches bend, what while the stars abide. + +When he had made an end of his verses, he folded the letter and +gave it to the nurse, who took it and carried it to Mariyeh. When +she came into the princess's presence, she saluted her; but +Mariyeh returned not her salutation and she said, "O my lady, how +hard is thy heart that thou grudgest to return the salutation! +Take this letter, for that it is the last of that which shall +come to thee from him." Quoth Mariyeh, "Take my warning and never +again enter my palace, or it will be the cause of thy +destruction; for I am certified that thou purposest my dishonour. +So get thee gone from me." And she commanded to beat the nurse; +whereupon the latter went forth fleeing from her presence, +changed of colour and absent of wits, and gave not over going +till she came to the house of El Abbas. + +When the prince saw her in this plight, he was as a sleeper +awakened and said to her, "What hath befallen thee? Set out to me +thy case." "God on thee," answered she, "nevermore send me to +Mariyeh, and do thou protect me, so may God protect thee from the +fires of hell!" Then she related to him that which had bedded her +with Mariyeh; which when he heard, there took him the +shamefastness of the generous and this was grievous unto him. The +love of Mariyeh fled forth of his heart and he said to the nurse, +"How much hadst thou of Mariyeh every month?" "Ten dinars," +answered she, and he said, "Be not concerned." Then he put his +hand to his poke and bringing out two hundred dinars, gave them +to her and said, "Take this for a whole year's wage and turn not +again to serve any one. When the year is out, I will give thee +two years' wage, for that thou hast wearied thyself with us and +on account of the cutting off of thy dependence upon Mariyeh." + +Moreover, he gave her a complete suit of clothes and raising his +head to her, said, "When thou toldest me that which Mariyeh had +done with thee, God rooted out the love of her from my heart, and +never again will she occur to my mind; so extolled be the +perfection of Him who turneth hearts and eyes! It was she who was +the cause of my coming out from Yemen, and now the time is past +for which I engaged with my people and I fear lest my father levy +his troops and come forth in quest of me, for that he hath no +child other than myself and cannot brook to be parted from me; +and on like wise is it with my mother." When the nurse heard his +words, she said to him, "O my lord, and which of the kings is thy +father?" "My father is El Aziz, lord of Yemen and Nubia and the +Islands[FN#91] of the Benou Kehtan and the Two Noble +Sanctuaries[FN#92] (God the Most High have them in His +keeping!)," answered El Abbas; "and whenas he taketh horse, there +mount with him an hundred and twenty and four thousand horsemen, +all smiters with the sword, let alone attendants and servants and +followers, all of whom give ear unto my word and obey my +commandment." "Why, then, O my lord," asked the nurse, "didst +thou conceal the secret of thy rank and lineage and passedst +thyself off for a wayfarer? Alas for our disgrace before thee by +reason of our shortcoming in rendering thee thy due! What shall +be our excuse with thee, and thou of the sons of the kings?" But +he rejoined, "By Allah, thou hast not fallen short! Nay, it is +incumbent on me to requite thee, what while I live, though I be +far distant from thee." + +Then he called his servant Aamir and said to him, "Saddle the +horses." When the nurse heard his words and indeed [she saw that] +Aamir brought him the horses and they were resolved upon +departure, the tears ran down upon her cheeks and she said to +him, "By Allah, thy separation is grievous to me, O solace of the +eye!" Then said she, "Where is the goal of thine intent, so we +may know thy news and solace ourselves with thy report?" Quoth +he, "I go hence to visit Akil, the son of my father's brother, +for that he hath his sojourn in the camp of Kundeh ben Hisham, +and these twenty years have I not seen him nor he me; wherefore I +purpose to repair to him and discover his news and return hither. +Then will I go hence to Yemen, if it be the will of God the Most +High." + +So saying, he took leave of the woman and her husband and set +out, intending for Akil, his father's brother's son. Now there +was between Baghdad and Akil's abiding-place forty days' journey; +so El Abbas settled himself on the back of his courser and his +servant Aamir mounted also and they fared forth on their way. +Presently, El Abbas turned right and left and recited the +following verses: + +I am the champion-slayer, the warrior without peer; My foes I + slay, destroying the hosts, when I appear. +Tow'rds El Akil my journey I take; to visit him, The wastes in + praise and safety I traverse, without fear, +And all the desert spaces devour, whilst to my rede, Or if in + sport or earnest,[FN#93] still Aamir giveth ear. +Who letteth us or hind'reth our way, I spring on him, As + springeth lynx or panther upon the frighted deer; +With ruin I o'erwhelm him and abjectness and woe And cause him + quaff the goblet of death and distance drear. +Well-ground my polished sword is and thin and keen of edge And + trenchant, eke, for smiting and long my steel-barbed spear. +So fell and fierce my stroke is, if on a mountain high It lit, + though all of granite, right through its midst 'twould + shear. +Nor troops have I nor henchmen nor one to lend me aid Save God, + to whom, my Maker, my voice in praise I rear. +'Tis He who pardoneth errors alike to slave and free; On Him is + my reliance in good and evil cheer. + +Then they fell to journeying night and day, and as they went, +behold, they sighted a camp of the camps of the Arabs. So El +Abbas enquired thereof and was told that it was the camp of the +Benou Zuhreh. Now there were around them sheep and cattle, such +as filled the earth, and they were enemies to El Akil, the cousin +of El Abbas, upon whom they still made raids and took his cattle; +wherefore he used to pay them tribute every year, for that he +availed not to cope with them. When El Abbas came near the camp, +he dismounted from his courser and his servant Aamir also +dismounted; and they set down the victual and ate their +sufficiency and rested awhile of the day. Then said the prince to +Aamir, "Fetch water and give the horses to drink and draw water +for us in thy water-bag, by way of provision for the road." + +So Aamir took the water-skin and made for the water; but, when he +came to the well, behold, two young men with gazelles, and when +they saw him, they said to him, "Whither wilt thou, O youth, and +of which of the Arabs art thou?" "Harkye, lads," answered he, +"fill me my water-skin, for that I am a stranger man and a +wayfarer and I have a comrade who awaiteth me." Quoth they, "Thou +art no wayfarer, but a spy from El Akil's camp." Then they took +him and carried him to [their king] Zuheir ben Shebib; and when +he came before him, he said to him, "Of which of the Arabs art +thou?" Quoth Aamir, "I am a wayfarer." And Zuheir said, "Whence +comest thou and whither wilt thou?" "I am on my way to Akil," +answered Aamir. When he named Akil, those who were present were +agitated; but Zuheir signed to them with his eyes and said to +him, "What is thine errand with Akil?" Quoth he, "We would fain +see him, my friend and I." + +When Zuheir heard his words, he bade smite off his head; but his +Vizier said to him, "Slay him not, till his friend be present." +So he commanded the two slaves to fetch his friend; whereupon +they repaired to El Abbas and called to him, saying, "O youth, +answer the summons of King Zuheir." "What would the king with +me?" asked he, and they answered, "We know not." Quoth he, "Who +gave the king news of me?" "We went to draw water," answered +they, "and found a man by the water. So we questioned him of his +case, but he would not acquaint us therewith; wherefore we +carried him perforce to King Zuheir, who questioned him of his +case and he told him that he was going to Akil. Now Akil is the +king's enemy and he purposeth to betake himself to his camp and +make prize of his offspring and cut off his traces." "And what," +asked El Abbas, "hath Akil done with King Zuheir?" And they +replied, "He engaged for himself that he would bring the king +every year a thousand dinars and a thousand she-camels, besides a +thousand head of thoroughbred horses and two hundred black slaves +and fifty slave-girls; but it hath reached the king that Akil +purposeth to give nought of this; wherefore he is minded to go to +him. So hasten thou with us, ere the king be wroth with thee and +with us." + +Then said El Abbas to them, "O youths, sit by my arms and my +horse till I return." But they answered, saying, "By Allah, thou +prolongest discourse with that which beseemeth not of words! Make +haste, or we will go with thy head, for indeed the king purposeth +to slay thee and to slay thy comrade and take that which is with +you." When the prince heard this, his skin quaked and he cried +out at them with a cry that made them tremble. Then he sprang +upon his horse and settling himself in the saddle, galloped till +he came to the king's assembly, when he cried out at the top of +his voice, saying ["To horse,] cavaliers!" And levelled his spear +at the pavilion wherein was Zuheir. Now there were about him a +thousand smiters with the sword; but El Abbas fell in upon them +and dispersed them from around him, and there abode none in the +tent save Zuheir and his vizier. + +Then came up El Abbas to the door of the tent, and therein were +four-and-twenty golden doves; so he took them, after he had +beaten them down with the end of his lance. Then he called out, +saying, "Harkye, Zuheir! Doth it not suffice thee that thou hast +quelled El Akil's repute, but thou art minded to quell that of +those who sojourn round about him? Knowest thou not that he is of +the lieutenants of Kundeh ben [Hisham of the Benou] Sheiban, a +man renowned for prowess? Indeed, covetise of him hath entered +into thee and jealousy of him hath gotten possession of thee. +Doth it not suffice thee that thou hast orphaned his +children[FN#94] and slain his men? By the virtue of the Chosen +Prophet, I will make thee drink the cup of death!" So saying, he +drew his sword and smiting Zuheir on his shoulder, caused the +steel issue, gleaming, from the tendons of his throat. Then he +smote the vizier and clove his head in sunder. + +As he was thus, behold, Aamir called out to him and said, "O my +lord, come to my help, or I am a dead man!" So El Abbas went up +to him and found him cast down on his back and chained with four +chains to four pickets of iron. He loosed his bonds and said to +him, "Go before me, O Aamir." So he fared on before him a little, +and presently they looked, and behold, horsemen making to +Zuheir's succour, to wit, twelve thousand cavaliers, with Sehl +ben Kaab in their van, mounted upon a jet-black steed. He charged +upon Aamir, who fled from him, then upon El Abbas, who said, "O +Aamir, cleave fast to my horse and guard my back." Aamir did as +he bade him, whereupon El Abbas cried out at the folk and falling +upon them, overthrew their braves and slew of them nigh two +thousand cavaliers, whilst not one of them knew what was to do +nor with whom he fought. Then said one of them to other, "Verily, +the king is slain; so with whom do we wage war? Indeed ye flee +from him; so do ye enter under his banners, or not one of you +will be saved." + +Thereupon they all dismounted and putting off that which was upon +them of harness of war, came before El Abbas and tendered him +allegiance and sued for his protection. So he held his hand from +them and bade them gather together the spoils. Then he took the +riches and the slaves and the camels, and they all became his +liege-men and his retainers, to the number (according to that +which is said) of fifty thousand horse. Moreover, the folk heard +of him and flocked to him from all sides; whereupon he divided +[the spoil amongst them] and gave gifts and abode thus three +days, and there came presents to him. Then he bade set out for +Akil's abiding-place; so they fared on six days and on the +seventh day they came in sight of the camp. El Abbas bade his man +Aamir forego him and give Akil the glad news of his cousin's +coming. So he rode on to the camp and going in to Akil, gave him +the glad news of Zuheir's slaughter and the conquest of his +tribe. + +Akil rejoiced in the coming of El Abbas and the slaughter of his +enemy and all in his camp rejoiced also and cast dresses of +honour upon Aamir. Moreover, Akil bade go forth to meet El Abbas, +and commanded that none, great or small, freeman or slave, should +tarry behind. So they did his bidding and going forth all, met El +Abbas at three parasangs' distance from the camp. When they met +him, they all dismounted from their horses and Akil and he +embraced and clapped hands.[FN#95] Then they returned, rejoicing +in the coming of El Abbas and the slaughter of their enemy, to +the camp, where tents were pitched for the new-comers and carpets +spread and game killed and beasts slaughtered and royal +guest-meals spread; and on this wise they abode twenty days, in +the enjoyment of all delight and solace of life. + +To return to King El Aziz. When his son El Abbas left him, he was +desolated for him with an exceeding desolation, he and his +mother; and when tidings of him tarried long and the appointed +time passed [and the prince returned not], the king caused public +proclamation to be made, commanding all his troops to make ready +to mount and go forth in quest of his son El Abbas at the end of +three days, after which time no cause of hindrance nor excuse +should be admitted unto any. So on the fourth day, the king bade +number the troops, and behold, they were four-and-twenty thousand +horse, besides servants and followers. Accordingly, they reared +the standards and the drums beat to departure and the king set +out [with his army], intending for Baghdad; nor did he cease to +fare on with all diligence, till he came within half a day's +journey of the city and bade his troops encamp in [a place there +called] the Green Meadow. So they pitched the tents there, till +the country was straitened with them, and set up for the king a +pavilion of green brocade, broidered with pearls and jewels. + +When El Aziz had sat awhile, he summoned the mamelukes of his son +El Abbas, and they were five-and-twenty in number, besides half a +score slave-girls, as they were moons, five of whom the king had +brought with him and other five he had left with the prince's +mother. When the mamelukes came before him, he cast over each of +them a mantle of green brocade and bade them mount like horses of +one and the same fashion and enter Baghdad and enquire concerning +their lord El Abbas. So they entered the city and passed through +the [streets and] markets, and there abode in Baghdad nor old man +nor boy but came forth to gaze on them and divert himself with +the sight of their beauty and grace and the goodliness of their +aspect and of their clothes and horses, for that they were even +as moons. They gave not over going till they came to the royal +palace, where they halted, and the king looked at them and seeing +their beauty and the goodliness of their apparel and the +brightness of their faces, said, "Would I knew of which of the +tribes these are!" And he bade the eunuch bring him news of them. + +So he went out to them and questioned them of their case, +whereupon, "Return to thy lord," answered they, "and question him +of Prince El Abbas, if he have come unto him, for that he left +his father King El Aziz a full-told year agone, and indeed +longing for him troubleth the king and he hath levied a part of +his army and his guards and is come forth in quest of his son, so +haply he may light upon tidings of him." Quoth the eunuch, "Is +there amongst you a brother of his or a son?" "Nay, by Allah!" +answered they. "But we are all his mamelukes and the boughten of +his money, and his father El Aziz hath despatched us to make +enquiry of him. So go thou to thy lord and question him of the +prince and return to us with that which he shall answer you." +"And where is King El Aziz?" asked the eunuch; and they replied, +"He is encamped in the Green Meadow."[FN#96] + +The eunuch returned and told the king, who said, "Indeed, we have +been neglectful with regard to El Abbas. What shall be our excuse +with the king? By Allah, my soul misdoubted me that the youth was +of the sons of the kings!" The Lady Afifeh, his wife, saw him +lamenting for [his usage of] El Abbas and said to him, "O king, +what is it thou regrettest with this exceeding regret?" Quoth he, +"Thou knowest the stranger youth, who gave us the rubies?" +"Assuredly," answered she; and he said, "Yonder youths, who have +halted in the palace court, are his mamelukes, and his father +King El Aziz, lord of Yemen, hath pitched his camp in the Green +Meadow; for he is come with his army to seek him, and the number +of his troops is [four-and-] twenty thousand men." [Then he went +out from her], and when she heard his words, she wept sore for +him and had compassion on his case and sent after him, +counselling him to send for the mamelukes and lodge them [in the +palace] and entertain them. + +The king gave ear to her counsel and despatching the eunuch for +the mamelukes, assigned them a lodging and said to them, "Have +patience, till the king give you tidings of your lord El Abbas." +When they heard his words, their eyes ran over with plenteous +tears, of their much longing for the sight of their lord. Then +the king bade the queen enter the privy chamber[FN#97] and let +down the curtain[FN#98] [before the door thereof]. So she did +this and he summoned them to his presence. When they stood before +him, they kissed the earth, to do him worship, and showed forth +their breeding[FN#99] and magnified his dignity. He bade them +sit, but they refused, till he conjured them by their lord El +Abbas. So they sat down and he caused set before them food of +various kinds and fruits and sweetmeats. Now within the Lady +Afifeh's palace was an underground way communicating with the +palace of the princess Mariyeh. So the queen sent after her and +she came to her, whereupon she made her stand behind the curtain +and gave her to know that El Abbas was the king's son of Yemen +and that these were his mamelukes. Moreover, she told her that +the prince's father had levied his troops and was come with his +army in quest of him and that he had pitched his camp in the +Green Meadow and despatched these mamelukes to make enquiry of +their lord. So Mariyeh abode looking upon them and upon their +beauty and grace and the goodliness of their apparel, till they +had eaten their fill of food and the tables were removed; +whereupon the king recounted to them the story of El Abbas and +they took leave of him and went away. + +As for the princess Mariyeh, when she returned to her palace, she +bethought herself concerning the affair of El Abbas, repenting +her of that which she had done, and the love of him took root in +her heart. So, when the night darkened upon her, she dismissed +all her women and bringing out the letters, to wit, those which +El Abbas had written, fell to reading them and weeping. She gave +not over weeping her night long, and when she arose in the +morning, she called a damsel of her slave-girls, Shefikeh by +name, and said to her, "O damsel, I purpose to discover to thee +mine affair, and I charge thee keep my secret; to wit, I would +have thee betake thyself to the house of the nurse, who used to +serve me, and fetch her to me, for that I have grave occasion for +her." + +Accordingly, Shefikeh went out and repairing to the nurse's +house, found her clad in apparel other[FN#100] than that which +she had been wont to wear aforetime. So she saluted her and said +to her, "Whence hadst thou this dress, than which there is no +goodlier?" "O Shefikeh," answered the nurse, "thou deemest that I +have gotten[FN#101] no good save of thy mistress; but, by Allah, +had I endeavoured for her destruction, I had done [that which was +my right], for that she did with me what thou knowest[FN#102] and +bade the eunuch beat me, without offence of me committed; +wherefore do thou tell her that he, on whose behalf I bestirred +myself with her, hath made me quit of her and her humours, for +that he hath clad me in this habit and given me two hundred and +fifty dinars and promised me the like thereof every year and +charged me serve none of the folk." + +Quoth Shefikeh, "My mistress hath occasion for thee; so come thou +with me and I will engage to restore thee to thy dwelling in weal +and safety." But the nurse answered, saying, "Indeed, her palace +is become forbidden[FN#103] to me and never again will I enter +therein, for that God (extolled be His perfection and exalted be +He!) of His favour and bounty hath rendered me independent of +her." So Shefikeh returned to her mistress and acquainted her +with the nurse's words and that wherein she was of affluence; +whereupon Mariyeh confessed the unseemliness of her dealing with +her and repented, whenas repentance profited her not; and she +abode in that her case days and nights, whilst the fire of +longing flamed in her heart. + +Meanwhile, El Abbas abode with his cousin Akil twenty days, after +which he made ready for the journey to Baghdad and letting bring +the booty he had gotten of King Zuheir, divided it between +himself and his cousin. Then he set out for Baghdad, and when he +came within two days' journey of the city, he called his servant +Aamir and bade him mount his charger and forego him with the +baggage-train and the cattle. So Aamir [took horse and] fared on +till he came to Baghdad, and the season of his entering was the +first of the day; nor was there little child or hoary old man in +the city but came forth to divert himself with gazing on those +flocks and herds and upon the goodliness of those slave-girls, +and their wits were amazed at what they saw. Presently the news +reached the king that the young man El Abbas, who had gone forth +from him, was come back with herds and rarities and slaves and a +mighty host and had taken up his sojourn without the city, whilst +his servant Aamir was presently come to Baghdad, so he might make +ready dwelling- places for his lord, wherein he should take up +his abode. + +When the king heard these tidings of Aamir, he sent for him and +let bring him before him; and when he entered his presence, he +kissed the earth and saluted and showed forth his breeding and +greeted him with the goodliest of compliments. The king bade him +raise his head and questioned him of his lord El Abbas; whereupon +he acquainted him with his tidings and told him that which had +betided him with King Zuheir and of the army that was become at +his commandment and of the spoil that he had gotten. Moreover, he +gave him to know that El Abbas was coming on the morrow, and with +him more than fifty thousand cavaliers, obedient to his +commandment. When the king heard his speech, he bade decorate +Baghdad and commanded [the inhabitants] to equip themselves with +the richest of their apparel, in honour of the coming of El +Abbas. Moreover, he sent to give King El Aziz the glad tidings of +his son's return and acquainted him with that which he had heard +from the prince's servant. + +When the news reached El Aziz, he rejoiced with an exceeding joy +in the coming of his son and straightway took horse, he and all +his army, what while the trumpets sounded and the musicians +played, that the earth quaked and Baghdad also trembled, and it +was a notable day. When Mariyeh beheld all this, she repented +with the uttermost of repentance of that which she had wroughten +against El Abbas his due and the fires still raged in her vitals. +Meanwhile, the troops[FN#104] sallied forth of Baghdad and went +out to meet those of El Abbas, who had halted in a meadow called +the Green Island. When he espied the approaching host, he knew +not what they were; so he strained his sight and seeing horsemen +coming and troops and footmen, said to those about him, "Among +yonder troops are ensigns and banners of various kinds; but, as +for the great green standard that ye see, it is the standard of +my father, the which is reserved [unto him and never displayed +save] over his head, and [by this] I know that he himself is come +out in quest of me." And he was certified of this, he and his +troops. + +[So he fared on towards them] and when he drew near unto them, he +knew them and they knew him; whereupon they lighted down from +their horses and saluting him, gave him joy of his safety and the +folk flocked to him. When he came to his father, they embraced +and greeted each other a long time, whilst neither of them +availed unto speech, for the greatness of that which betided them +of joy in reunion. Then El Abbas bade the folk mount; so they +mounted and his mamelukes surrounded him and they entered Baghdad +on the most magnificent wise and in the highest worship and +glory. + +The wife of the shopkeeper, to wit, the nurse, came out, with the +rest of those who came out, to divert herself with gazing upon +the show, and when she saw El Abbas and beheld his beauty and the +goodliness of his army and that which he had brought back with +him of herds and slaves and slave-girls and mamelukes, she +improvised and recited the following verses: + +El Abbas from Akil his stead is come again; Prize hath he made of + steeds and many a baggage-train; +Yea, horses hath he brought, full fair of shape and hue, Whose + collars, anklet-like, ring to the bridle-rein. +Taper of hoofs and straight of stature, in the dust They prance, + as like a flood they pour across the plain; +And on their saddles perched are warriors richly clad, That with + their hands do smite on kettle-drums amain. +Couched are their limber spears, right long and lithe of point, + Keen- ground and polished sheer, amazing wit and brain. +Who dares with them to cope draws death upon himself; Yea, of the + deadly lance incontinent he's slain. +Come, then, companions mine, rejoice with me and say, "All hail + to thee, O friend, and welcome fair and fain!" +For whoso doth rejoice in meeting him shall have Largesse and + gifts galore at his dismounting gain. + +When the troops entered Baghdad, each of them alighted in his +pavilion, whilst El Abbas encamped apart in a place near the +Tigris and commanded to slaughter for the troops, each day, that +which should suffice them of oxen and sheep and bake them bread +and spread the tables. So the folk ceased not to come to him and +eat of his banquet. Moreover, all the people of the country came +to him with presents and rarities and he requited them many times +the like of their gifts, so that the lands were filled with his +tidings and the report of him was bruited abroad among the folk +of the deserts and the cities. + +Then, when he rode to his house that he had bought, the +shopkeeper and his wife came to him and gave him joy of his +safety; whereupon he ordered them three swift thoroughbred horses +and ten dromedaries and an hundred head of sheep and clad them +both in sumptuous dresses of honour. Then he chose out ten +slave-girls and ten black slaves and fifty horses and the like +number of she- camels and three hundred head of sheep, together +with twenty ounces of musk and as many of camphor, and sent all +this to the King of Baghdad. When this came to Ins ben Cais, his +wit fled for joy and he was perplexed wherewithal to requite him. +Moreover, El Abbas gave gifts and largesse and bestowed dresses +of honour upon great and small, each after the measure of his +station, save only Mariyeh; for unto her he sent nothing. + +This was grievous to the princess and it irked her sore that he +should not remember her; so she called her slave- girl Shefikeh +and said to her, "Go to El Abbas and salute him and say to him, +'What hindereth thee from sending my lady Mariyeh her part of thy +booty?'" So Shefikeh betook herself to him and when she came to +his door, the chamberlains refused her admission, until they +should have gotten her leave and permission. When she entered, El +Abbas knew her and knew that she had somewhat of speech [with +him]; so he dismissed his mamelukes and said to her, "What is +thine errand, O handmaid of good?" "O my lord," answered she, "I +am a slave-girl of the Princess Mariyeh, who kisseth thy hands +and commendeth her salutation to thee. Indeed, she rejoiceth in +thy safety and reproacheth thee for that thou breakest her heart, +alone of all the folk, for that thy largesse embraceth great and +small, yet hast thou not remembered her with aught of thy booty. +Indeed, it is as if thou hadst hardened thy heart against her." +Quoth he, "Extolled be the perfection of him who turneth hearts! +By Allah, my vitals were consumed with the love of her +[aforetime] and of my longing after her, I came forth to her from +my native land and left my people and my home and my wealth, and +it was with her that began the hardheartedness and the cruelty. +Nevertheless, for all this, I bear her no malice and needs must I +send her somewhat whereby she may remember me; for that I abide +in her land but a few days, after which I set out for the land of +Yemen." + +Then he called for a chest and bringing out thence a necklace of +Greek handiwork, worth a thousand dinars, wrapped it in a mantle +of green silk, set with pearls and jewels and inwrought with red +gold, and joined thereto two caskets of musk and ambergris. +Moreover, he put off upon the girl a mantle of Greek silk, +striped with gold, wherein were divers figures and semblants +depictured, never saw eyes its like. Therewithal the girl's wit +fled for joy and she went forth from his presence and returned to +her mistress. When she came in to her, she acquainted her with +that which she had seen of El Abbas and that which was with him +of servants and attendants and [set out to her] the loftiness of +his station and gave her that which was with her. + +Mariyeh opened the mantle, and when she saw that necklace, and +indeed the place was illumined with the lustre thereof, she +looked at her slave-girl and said to her, "By Allah, O Shefikeh, +one look at him were liefer to me than all that my hand +possesseth! Would I knew what I shall do, whenas Baghdad is empty +of him and I hear no tidings of him!" Then she wept and calling +for inkhorn* and paper and pen of brass, wrote the following +verses: + +Still do I yearn, whilst passion's fire flames in my liver aye; + For parting's shafts have smitten me and done my strength + away. +Oft for thy love as I would be consoled, my yearning turns + To-thee- ward still and my desires my reason still gainsay. +My transports I conceal for fear of those thereon that spy; Yet + down my cheeks the tears course still and still my case + bewray. +No rest is there for me, no life wherein I may delight, Nor + pleasant meat nor drink avails to please me, night or day. +To whom save thee shall I complain, of whom relief implore, Whose + image came to visit me, what while in dreams I lay? +Reproach me not for what I did, but be thou kind to one Who's + sick of body and whose heart is wasted all away. +The fire of love-longing I hide; severance consumeth me, A thrall + of care, for long desire to wakefulness a prey. +Midmost the watches of the night I see thee, in a dream; A lying + dream, for he I love my love doth not repay. +Would God thou knewest that for love of thee which I endure! It + hath indeed brought down on me estrangement and dismay. +Read thou my writ and apprehend its purport, for my case This is + and fate hath stricken me with sorrows past allay. +Know, then, the woes that have befall'n a lover, neither grudge + Her secret to conceal, but keep her counsel still, I pray. + +Then she folded the letter and giving it to her slave-girl, bade +her carry it to El Abbas and bring back his answer thereto. +Accordingly, Shefikeh took the letter and carried it to the +prince, after the doorkeeper had sought leave of him to admit +her. When she came in to him, she found with him five damsels, as +they were moons, clad in [rich] apparel and ornaments; and when +he saw her, he said to her, "What is thine occasion, O handmaid +of good?" So she put out her hand to him with the letter, after +she had kissed it, and he bade one of his slave-girls receive it +from her. Then he took it from the girl and breaking it open, +read it and apprehended its purport; whereupon "We are God's and +to Him we return!" exclaimed he and calling for ink- horn and +paper, wrote the following verses: + +I marvel for that to my love I see thee now incline, What time my + heart, indeed, is fain to turn away from thine. +Whilere, the verses that I made it was thy wont to flout, Saying, + "No passer by the way[FN#105] hath part in me or mine. +How many a king to me hath come, of troops and guards ensued, And + Bactrian camels brought with him, in many a laden line, +And dromedaries, too, of price and goodly steeds and swift Of + many a noble breed, yet found no favour in my eyne!" +Then, after them came I to thee and union did entreat And unto + thee set forth at length my case and my design; +Yea, all my passion and desire and love-longing in verse, As + pearls in goodly order strung it were, I did enshrine. +Yet thou repaidst me with constraint, rigour and perfidy, To + which no lover might himself on any wise resign. +How many a bidder unto love, a secret-craving wight, How many a + swain, complaining, saith of destiny malign, +"How many a cup with bitterness o'erflowing have I quaffed! I + make my moan of woes, whereat it boots not to repine." +Quoth thou, "The goodliest of things is patience and its use: Its + practice still mankind doth guide to all that's fair and + fine." +Wherefore fair patience look thou use, for sure 'tis + praiseworthy; Yea, and its issues evermore are blessed and + benign; +And hope thou not for aught from me, who reck not with a folk To + mix, who may with abjectness infect my royal line. +This is my saying; apprehend its purport, then, and know I may in + no wise yield consent to that thou dost opine. + +Then he folded the letter and sealing it, delivered it to the +damsel, who took it and carried it to her mistress. When the +princess read the letter and apprehended its contents, she said, +"Meseemeth he recalleth to me that which I did aforetime." Then +she called for inkhorn and paper and wrote the following verses: + +Me, till I stricken was therewith, to love thou didst excite, And + with estrangement now, alas! heap'st sorrows on my spright. +The sweet of slumber after thee I have forsworn; indeed The loss + of thee hath smitten me with trouble and affright. +How long shall I, in weariness, for this estrangement pine, What + while the spies of severance[FN#106] do watch me all the + night? +My royal couch have I forsworn, sequestering myself From all, and + have mine eyes forbid the taste of sleep's delight. +Thou taught'st me what I cannot bear; afflicted sore am I; Yea, + thou hast wasted me away with rigour and despite. +Yet, I conjure thee, blame me not for passion and desire, Me whom + estrangement long hath brought to sick and sorry plight. +Sore, sore doth rigour me beset, its onslaughts bring me near + Unto the straitness of the grave, ere in the shroud I'm + dight. +So be thou kind to me, for love my body wasteth sore, The thrall + of passion I'm become its fires consume me quite. + +Mariyeh folded the letter and gave it to Shefikeh, bidding her +carry it to El Abbas. So she took it and going with it to his +door, would have entered; but the chamberlains and serving-men +forbade her, till they had gotten her leave from the prince. When +she went in to him, she found him sitting in the midst of the +five damsels aforesaid, whom his father had brought him. So she +gave him the letter and he took it and read it. Then he bade one +of the damsels, whose name was Khefifeh and who came from the +land of China, tune her lute and sing upon the subject of +separation. So she came forward and tuning the lute, played +thereon in four-and-twenty modes; after which she returned to the +first mode and sang the following verses: + +Upon the parting day our loves from us did fare And left us to + endure estrangement and despair. +Whenas the burdens all were bounden on and shrill The + camel-leader's call rang out across the air, +Fast flowed my tears; despair gat hold upon my soul And needs + mine eyelids must the sweet of sleep forbear. +I wept, but those who spied to part us had no ruth On me nor on + the fires that in my vitals flare. +Woe's me for one who burns for love and longing pain! Alas for + the regrets my heart that rend and tear! +To whom shall I complain of what is in my soul, Now thou art gone + and I my pillow must forswear? +The flames of long desire wax on me day by day And far away are + pitched the tent-poles of my fair. +O breeze of heaven, from me a charge I prithee take And do not + thou betray the troth of my despair; +Whenas thou passest by the dwellings of my love, Greet him for me + with peace, a greeting debonair, +And scatter musk on him and ambergris, so long As time endures; + for this is all my wish and care. + +When the damsel had made an end of her song, El Abbas swooned +away and they sprinkled on him rose-water, mingled with musk, +till he came to himself, when he called another damsel (now there +was on her of linen and clothes and ornaments that which +beggareth description, and she was endowed with brightness and +loveliness and symmetry and perfection, such as shamed the +crescent moon, and she was a Turkish girl from the land of the +Greeks and her name was Hafizeh) and said to her, "O Hafizeh, +close thine eyes and tune thy lute and sing to us upon the days +of separation." She answered him with "Hearkening and obedience" +and taking the lute, tuned its strings and cried out from her +head,[FN#107] in a plaintive voice, and sang the following +verses: + +O friends, the tears flow ever, in mockery of my pain; My heart + is sick for sev'rance and love-longing in vain. +All wasted is my body and bowels tortured sore; Love's fire on me + still waxeth, mine eyes with tears still rain. +Whenas the fire of passion flamed in my breast, with tears, Upon + the day of wailing, to quench it I was fain. +Desire hath left me wasted, afflicted, sore afraid, For the spy + knows the secret whereof I do complain. +When I recall the season of love-delight with them, The sweet of + sleep forsakes me, my body wastes amain. +Those who our parting plotted our sev'rance still delights; The + spies, for fearful prudence, their wish of us attain. +I fear me for my body from sickness and unrest, Lest of the fear + of sev'rance it be betrayed and slain. + +When Hafizeh had made an end of her song, El Abbas said to her, +"Well done! Indeed, thou quickenest hearts from sorrows." Then he +called another damsel of the daughters of the Medes, by name +Merjaneh, and said to her, "O Merjaneh, sing to me upon the days +of separation." "Hearkening and obedience," answered she and +improvising, sang the following verses: + +"Fair patience practise, for thereon still followeth content." So + runs the rede 'mongst all that dwell in city or in tent. +How oft of dole have I made moan for love and longing pain, What + while my body for desire in mortal peril went! +How oft I've waked, how many a cup of sorrow have I drained, + Watching the stars of night go by, for sleepless + languishment! +It had sufficed me, had thy grace with verses come to me; My + expectation still on thee in the foredawns was bent. +Then was my heart by that which caused my agitation seared, And + from mine eyelids still the tears poured down without + relent. +Yea, nevermore I ceased from that wherewith I stricken was; My + night with wakefulness was filled, my heart with dreariment. +But now hath Allah from my heart blotted the love of thee, After + for constancy I'd grown a name of wonderment. +Hence on the morrow forth I fare and leave your land behind; So + take your leave of us nor fear mishap or ill event. +Whenas in body ye from us are far removed, would God I knew who + shall to us himself with news of you present! +And who can tell if ever house shall us together bring In union + of life serene and undisturbed content? + +When Merjaneh had made an end of her song, the prince said to +her, "Well done, O damsel! Indeed, thou sayest a thing that had +occurred to my mind and my tongue was like to speak it." Then he +signed to the fourth damsel, who was a Cairene, by name Sitt el +Husn, and bade her tune her lute and sing to him upon the [same] +subject. So she tuned her lute and sang the following verses: + +Fair patience use, for ease still followeth after stress And all + things have their time and ordinance no less. +Though Fortune whiles to thee belike may be unjust, Her seasons + change and man's excused if he transgress. +In her revolving scheme, to bitter sweetness still Succeeds and + things become straight, after crookedness. +Thine honour, therefore, guard and eke thy secret keep, Nor save + to one free-born and true thy case confess. +The Lord's alternatives are these, wherewith He's wont The needy + wretch to ply and those in sore duresse. + +When El Abbas heard her verses, they pleased him and he said to +her, "Well done, O Sitt el Husn! Indeed, thou hast done away +trouble from my heart and [banished] the things that had occurred +to my mind." Then he heaved a sigh and signing to the fifth +damsel, who was from the land of the Persians and whose name was +Merziyeh (now she was the fairest of them all and the sweetest of +speech and she was like unto a splendid star, endowed with beauty +and loveliness and brightness and perfection and justness of +shape and symmetry and had a face like the new moon and eyes as +they were gazelle's eyes) and said to her, "O Merziyeh, come +forward and tune thy lute and sing to us on the [same] subject, +for indeed we are resolved upon departure to the land of Yemen." +Now this damsel had met many kings and had consorted with the +great; so she tuned her lute and sang the following verses: + +May the place of my session ne'er lack thee I Oh, why, My heart's + love, hast thou saddened my mind and mine eye?[FN#108] +By thy ransom,[FN#109] who dwellest alone in my heart, In despair + for the loss of the loved one am I. +So, by Allah, O richest of all men in charms, Vouchsafe to a + lover, who's bankrupt well-nigh +Of patience, thy whilom endearments again, That I never to any + divulged, nor deny +The approof of my lord, so my stress and unease I may ban and + mine enemies' malice defy, +Thine approof which shall clothe me in noblest attire And my rank + in the eyes of the people raise high. + +When she had made an end of her song, all who were in the +assembly wept for the daintiness of her speech and the sweetness +of her voice and El Abbas said to her, "Well done, O Merziyeh I +Indeed, thou confoundest the wits with the goodliness of thy +verses and the elegance of thy speech." All this while Shefikeh +abode gazing upon her, and when she beheld El Abbas his +slave-girls and considered the goodliness of their apparel and +the nimbleness of their wits and the elegance of their speech, +her reason was confounded. Then she sought leave of El Abbas and +returning to her mistress Mariyeh, without letter or answer, +acquainted her with his case and that wherein he was of puissance +and delight and majesty and venerance and loftiness of rank. +Moreover, she told her what she had seen of the slave-girls and +their circumstance and that which they had said and how they had +made El Abbas desireful of returning to his own country by the +recitation of verses to the sound of the strings. + +When the princess heard this her slave-girl's report, she wept +and lamented and was like to depart the world. Then she clave to +her pillow and said, "O Shefikeh, I will instruct thee of +somewhat that is not hidden from God the Most High, and it is +that thou watch over me till God the Most High decree the +accomplishment of His commandment, and when my days are ended, +take thou the necklace and the mantle that El Abbas gave me and +return them to him. Indeed, I deem not he will live after me, and +if God the Most High decree against him and his days come to an +end, do thou give one charge to shroud us and bury us both in one +grave." + +Then her case changed and her colour paled; and when Shefikeh saw +her mistress in this plight, she repaired to her mother and told +her that the lady Mariyeh refused meat and drink. "Since when +hath this befallen her?" asked the queen, and Shefikeh answered, +"Since yesterday;" whereat the queen was confounded and betaking +herself to her daughter, that she might enquire into her case, +found her as one dead. So she sat down at her head and Mariyeh +opened her eyes and seeing her mother sitting by her, sat up for +shamefastness before her. The queen questioned her of her case +and she said, "I entered the bath and it stupefied me and +weakened me and left an exceeding pain in my head; but I trust in +God the Most High that it will cease." + +When her mother went out from her, Mariyeh fell to chiding the +damsel for that which she had done and said to her, "Verily, +death were leifer to me than this; so look thou discover not my +affair to any and I charge thee return not to the like of this +fashion." Then she swooned away and lay awhile without life, and +when she came to herself, she saw Shefikeh weeping over her; +whereupon she took the necklace from her neck and the mantle from +her body and said to the damsel, "Lay them in a napkin of damask +and carry them to El Abbas and acquaint him with that wherein I +am for the persistence of estrangement and the effects of +forbiddance." So Shefikeh took them and carried them to El Abbas, +whom she found in act to depart, for that he was about to take +horse for Yemen. She went in to him and gave him the napkin and +that which was therein, and when he opened it and saw what it +contained, to wit, the mantle and the necklace, his vexation was +excessive and his eyes were distorted, [so that the whites +thereof appeared] and his rage was manifest in them. + +When Shefikeh saw that which betided him, she came forward and +said to him, "O bountiful lord, indeed my mistress returneth not +the mantle and the necklace despitefully; but she is about to +depart the world and thou hast the best right to them." "And what +is the cause of this?" asked he. Quoth Shefikeh, "Thou knowest. +By Allah, never among the Arabs nor the barbarians nor among the +sons of the kings saw I a harder of heart than thou! Is it a +light matter to thee that thou troublest Mariyeh's life and +causest her mourn for herself and depart the world on account +of[FN#110] thy youth? Indeed, thou wast the cause of her +acquaintance with thee and now she departeth the world on thine +account, she whose like God the Most High hath not created among +the daughters of the kings." + +When El Abbas heard these words from the damsel, his heart irked +him for Mariyeh and her case was grievous to him; so he said to +Shefikeh, "Canst thou avail to bring me in company with her, so +haply I may discover her affair and allay that which aileth her?" +"Yes," answered the damsel, "I can do that, and thine will be the +bounty and the favour." So he arose and followed her, and she +forewent him, till they came to the palace. Then she [opened and] +locked behind them four-and-twenty doors and made them fast with +bolts; and when he came to Mariyeh, he found her as she were the +setting sun, cast down upon a rug of Taifi leather,[FN#111] among +cushions stuffed with ostrich down, and not a limb of her +quivered. When her maid saw her in this plight, she offered to +cry out; but El Abbas said to her, "Do it not, but have patience +till we discover her affair; and if God the Most High have +decreed the ending of her days, wait till thou have opened the +doors to me and I have gone forth. Then do what seemeth good to +thee." + +So saying, he went up to the princess and laying his hand upon +her heart, found it fluttering like a doveling and the life yet +clinging to[FN#112] her bosom. So he laid his hand upon her +cheek, whereupon she opened her eyes and beckoning to her maid, +signed to her, as who should say, "Who is this that treadeth my +carpet and transgresseth against me?"[FN#113] "O my lady," +answered Shefikeh, "this is Prince El Abbas, for whose sake thou +departest the world." When Mariyeh heard speak of El Abbas, she +raised her hand from under the coverlet and laying it upon his +neck, inhaled his odour awhile. Then she sat up and her colour +returned to her and they sat talking till a third part of the +night was past. + +Presently, the princess turned to her maid and bade her fetch +them somewhat of food and sweetmeats and dessert and fruits. So +Shefikeh brought what she desired and they ate and drank [and +abode on this wise] without lewdness, till the night departed and +the day came. Then said El Abbas, "Indeed, the day is come. Shall +I go to my father and bid him go to thy father and seek thee of +him in marriage for me, in accordance with the Book of God the +Most High and the Institutes of His Apostle (whom may He bless +and keep!) so we may not enter into transgression?" And Mariyeh +answered, saying, "By Allah, it is well counselled of thee!" So +he went away to his lodging and nought befell between them; and +when the day lightened, she improvised and recited the following +verses: + +O friends, the East wind waxes, the morning draweth near; A + plaintive voice[FN#114] bespeaks me and I rejoice to hear. +Up, to our comrade's convent, that we may visit him And drink of + wine more subtle than dust;[FN#115] our trusty fere +Hath spent thereon his substance, withouten stint; indeed, In his + own cloak he wrapped it, he tendered it so dear.[FN#116] +Whenas its jar was opened, the singers prostrate fell In worship + of its brightness, it shone so wonder-clear. +The priests from all the convent came flocking onto it: With + cries of joy and welcome their voices they did rear. +We spent the night in passing the cup, my mates and I, Till in + the Eastward heaven the day-star did appear. +No sin is there in drinking of wine, for it affords All that's + foretold[FN#117] of union and love and happy cheer. +O morn, our loves that sunder'st, a sweet and easeful life Thou + dost for me prohibit, with thy regard austere. +Be gracious, so our gladness may be fulfilled with wine And we of + our beloved have easance, without fear. +The best of all religions your love is, for in you Are love and + life made easeful, untroubled and sincere. + +Meanwhile, El Abbas betook himself to his father's camp, which +was pitched in the Green Meadow, by the side of the Tigris, and +none might make his way between the tents, for the much +interlacement of the tent-ropes. When the prince reached the +first of the tents, the guards and servants came out to meet him +from all sides and escorted him till he drew near the +sitting-place of his father, who knew of his coming. So he issued +forth of his pavilion and coming to meet his son, kissed him and +made much of him. Then they returned together to the royal +pavilion and when they had seated themselves and the guards had +taken up their station in attendance on them, the king said to El +Abbas, "O my son, make ready thine affair, so we may go to our +own land, for that the folk in our absence are become as they +were sheep without a shepherd." El Abbas looked at his father and +wept till he swooned away, and when he recovered from his swoon, +he improvised and recited the following verses: + +I clipped her[FN#118] in mine arms and straight grew drunken with + the scent Of a fresh branch that had been reared in + affluence and content. +'Twas not of wine that I had drunk; her mouth's sweet honeyed + dews It was intoxicated me with bliss and ravishment. +Upon the table of her cheek beauty hath writ, "Alack, Her charms! + 'Twere well thou refuge sought'st with God + incontinent."[FN#119] +Since thou hast looked on her, mine eye, be easy, for by God Nor + mote nor ailment needst thou fear nor evil accident. +Beauty her appanage is grown in its entirety, And for this cause + all hearts must bow to her arbitrament. +If with her cheek and lustre thou thyself adorn,[FN#120] thou'lt + find But chrysolites and gold, with nought of baser metal + blent. +When love-longing for her sweet sake I took upon myself, The + railers flocked to me anon, on blame and chiding bent; +But on no wise was I affrayed nor turned from love of her; So let + the railer rave of her henceforth his heart's content. +By God, forgetfulness of her shall never cross my mind, What + while I wear the bonds of life nor when of death they're + rent +An if I live, in love of her I'll live, and if I die Of love and + longing for her sight, O rare! O excellent! + +When El Abbas had made an end of his verses, his father said to +him, "I seek refuge for thee with God, O my son! Hast thou any +want unto which thou availest not, so I may endeavour for thee +therein and lavish my treasures in quest thereof?" "O father +mine," answered El Abbas, "I have, indeed, an urgent want, on +account whereof I came forth of my native land and left my people +and my home and exposed myself to perils and stresses and became +an exile from my country, and I trust in God that it may be +accomplished by thine august endeavour." "And what is thy want?" +asked the king. Quoth El Abbas, "I would have thee go and demand +me in marriage Mariyeh, daughter of the King of Baghdad, for that +my heart is distraught with love of her." And he recounted to his +father his story from first to last. + +When the king heard this from his son, he rose to his feet and +calling for his charger of state, took horse with four-and-twenty +amirs of the chief officers of his empire. Then he betook himself +to the palace of the King of Baghdad, who, when he saw him +coming, bade his chamberlains open the doors to him and going +down himself to meet him, received him with all worship and +hospitality and entreated him with the utmost honour. Moreover, +he carried him [and his suite] into the palace and causing make +ready for them carpets and cushions, sat down upon a chair of +gold, with traverses of juniper- wood, set with pearls and +jewels. Then he bade bring sweetmeats and confections and +odoriferous flowers and commanded to slaughter four-and-twenty +head of sheep and the like of oxen and make ready geese and +fowls, stuffed and roasted, and pigeons and spread the tables; +nor was it long before the meats were set on in dishes of gold +and silver. So they ate till they had enough and when they had +eaten their fill, the tables were removed and the wine-service +set on and the cups and flagons ranged in order, whilst the +mamelukes and the fair slave- girls sat down, with girdles of +gold about their middles, inlaid with all manner pearls and +diamonds and emeralds and rubies and other jewels. Moreover, the +king bade fetch the musicians; so there presented themselves +before him a score of damsels, with lutes and psalteries and +rebecks, and smote upon instruments of music, on such wise that +they moved the assembly to delight. + +Then said El Aziz to the King of Baghdad, "I would fain speak a +word to thee; but do thou not exclude from us those who are +present. If thou consent unto my wish, that which is ours shall +be thine and that which is incumbent on thee shall be incumbent +on us,[FN#121] and we will be to thee a mighty aid against all +enemies and opposites." Quoth Ins ben Cais, "Say what thou wilt, +O King, for indeed thou excellest in speech and attainest [the +mark] in that which them sayest" So El Aziz said to him," I +desire that thou give thy daughter Mariyeh in marriage to my son +El Abbas, for thou knowest that wherewithal he is gifted of +beauty and loveliness and brightness and perfection and how he +beareth himself in the frequentation of the valiant and his +constancy in the stead of smiting and thrusting." "By Allah, O +king," answered Ins ben Cais, "of my love for Mariyeh, I have +appointed her disposal to be in her own hand; wherefore, +whomsoever she chooseth of the folk, I will marry her to him." + +Then he arose and going in to his daughter, found her mother with +her; so he set out to them the case and Mariyeh said, "O father +mine, my wish is subject unto[FN#122] thy commandment and my will +ensueth thy will; so whatsoever thou choosest, I am still +obedient unto thee and under thy dominion." Therewithal the King +knew that Mariyeh inclined unto El Abbas; so he returned +forthright to King El Aziz and said to him, "May God amend the +King! Verily, the occasion is accomplished and there is no +opposition unto that which thou commandest" Quoth El Aziz, "By +God's leave are occasions accomplished. How deemest thou, O King, +of fetching El Abbas and drawing up the contract of marriage +between Mariyeh and him?" And Ins ben Cais answered, saying, +"Thine be it to decide." + +So El Aziz sent after his son and acquainted him with that which +had passed; whereupon El Abbas called for four-and-twenty males +and half a score horses [and as many camels] and loaded the mules +with pieces of silk and rags of leather and boxes of camphor and +musk and the camels [and horses] with chests of gold and silver. +Moreover, he took the richest of the stuffs and wrapping them in +pieces of gold-striped silk, laid them on the heads of porters, +and they fared on with the treasures till they reached the King +of Baghdad's palace, whereupon all who were present dismounted in +honour of El Abbas and escorting him to the presence of King Ins +ben Cais, displayed unto the latter all that they had with them +of things of price. The king bade carry all this into the harem +and sent for the Cadis and the witnesses, who drew up the +contract and married Mariyeh to Prince El Abbas, whereupon the +latter commanded to [slaughter] a thousand head of sheep and five +hundred buffaloes. So they made the bride-feast and bade thereto +all the tribes of the Arabs, Bedouins and townsfolk, and the +tables abode spread for the space of ten days. + +Then El Abbas went in to Mariyeh in a happy and praiseworthy +hour[FN#123] and found her an unpierced pearl and a goodly filly +that had never been mounted; wherefore he rejoiced and was glad +and made merry, and care and sorrow ceased from him and his life +was pleasant and trouble departed and he abode with her in the +gladsomest of case and in the most easeful of life, till seven +days were past, when King El Aziz determined to set out and +return to his kingdom and bade his son seek leave of his +father-in-law to depart with his wife to his own country. [So El +Abbas bespoke King Ins of this] and he granted him the leave he +sought; whereupon he chose out a red camel, taller[FN#124] than +the [other] camels, and mounting Mariyeh in a litter thereon, +loaded it with apparel and ornaments. + +Then they spread the ensigns and the standards, whilst the drums +beat and the trumpets sounded, and set out upon the homeward +journey. The King of Baghdad rode forth with them and brought +them three days' journey on their way, after which he took leave +of them and returned with his troops to Baghdad. As for King El +Aziz and his son, they fared on night and day and gave not over +going till there abode but three days' journey between them and +Yemen, when they despatched three men of the couriers to the +prince's mother [to acquaint her with their return], safe and +laden with spoil, bringing with them Mariyeh, the king's daughter +of Baghdad. When the queen-mother heard this, her wit fled for +joy and she adorned El Abbas his slave-girls after the goodliest +fashion. Now he had ten slave-girls, as they were moons, whereof +his father had carried five with him to Baghdad, as hath +aforetime been set out, and other five abode with his mother. +When the dromedary-posts[FN#125] came, they were certified of the +approach of El Abbas, and when the sun rose and their standards +appeared, the prince's mother came out to meet her son; nor was +there great or small, old man or infant, but went forth that day +to meet the king. + +The drums of glad tidings beat and they entered in the utmost of +worship and magnificence. Moreover, the tribes heard of them and +the people of the towns and brought them the richest of presents +and the costliest of rarities and the prince's mother rejoiced +with an exceeding joy. Then they slaughtered beasts and made +mighty bride-feasts to the people and kindled fires, that it +might be visible afar to townsman [and Bedouin] that this was the +house of the guest-meal and the wedding, festival, to the intent +that, if any passed them by, [without partaking of their +hospitality], it should be of his own fault[FN#126] So the folk +came to them from all parts and quarters and on this wise they +abode days and months. + +Then the prince's mother bade fetch the five slave-girls to that +assembly; whereupon they came and the ten damsels foregathered. +The queen seated five of them on her son's right hand and other +five on his left and the folk assembled about them. Then she bade +the five who had remained with her speak forth somewhat of verse, +so they might entertain therewith the assembly and that El Abbas +might rejoice therein. Now she had clad them in the richest of +raiment and adorned them with trinkets and ornaments and +wroughten work of gold and silver and collars of gold, set with +pearls and jewels. So they came forward, with harps and lutes and +psalteries and recorders and other instruments of music before +them, and one of them, a damsel who came from the land of China +and whose name was Baoutheh, advanced and tightened the strings +of her lute. Then she cried out from the top of her head[FN#127] +and improvising, sang the following verses: + +Unto its pristine lustre your land returned and more, Whenas ye + came, dispelling the gloom that whiles it wore. +Our stead, that late was desert, grew green and eke our trees, + That barren were, grew loaded with ripened fruits galore. +Yea, to the earth that languished for lack of rain, the clouds + Were bounteous; so it flourished and plenteous harvests + bore; +And troubles, too, forsook us, who tears like dragons' blood, O + lordings, for your absence had wept at every pore. +Indeed, your long estrangement hath caused my bowels yearn. Would + God I were a servant in waiting at your door! + +When she had made an end of her song, all who were present were +moved to delight and El Abbas rejoiced in this. Then he bade the +second damsel sing somewhat on the like subject. So she came +forward and tuning the strings of her harp, which was of balass +ruby,[FN#128] warbled a plaintive air and improvising, sang the +following verses; + +The absent ones' harbinger came us unto With tidings of those + who[FN#129] had caused us to rue. +"My soul be thy ransom,"quoth I,"for thy grace! Indeed, to the + oath that thou swor'st thou wast true." +On the dear nights of union, in you was our joy, But afflicted + were we since ye bade us adieu. +You swore you'd be faithful to us and our love, And true to your + oath and your troth-plight were you; +And I to you swore that a lover I was; God forbid that with + treason mine oath I ensue! +Yea, "Welcome! Fair welcome to those who draw near!" I called out + aloud, as to meet you I flew. +The dwellings, indeed, one and all, I adorned, Bewildered and + dazed with delight at your view; +For death in your absence to us was decreed; But, when ye came + back, we were quickened anew. + +When she had made an end of her verses, El Abbas bade the third +damsel, who came from Samarcand of the Persians and whose name +was Rummaneh, sing, and she answered with "Hearkening and +obedience." Then she took the psaltery and crying out from the +midst of her bead[FN#130] improvised and sang the following +verses: + +My watering lips, that cull the rose of thy soft cheek, declare + My basil,[FN#131] lily mine, to be the myrtles of thy hair. +Sandhill[FN#132] and down[FN#133] betwixt there blooms a yellow + willow-flower,[FN#134] Pomegranate-blossoms[FN#135] and for + fruits pomegranates[FN#136] that doth bear. +His eyelids' sorcery from mine eyes hath banished sleep; since he + From me departed, nought see I except a drowsy fair.[FN#137] +He shot me with the shafts of looks launched from an + eyebrow's[FN#138] bow; A chamberlain[FN#139] betwixt his + eyes hath driven me to despair. +My heart belike shall his infect with softness, even as me His + body with disease infects, of its seductive air. +Yet, if with him forgotten be the troth-plight of our loves, I + have a king who of his grace will not forget me e'er. +His sides the tamarisk's slenderness deride, so lithe they are, + Whence for conceit in his own charms still drunken doth he + fare. +Whenas he runs, his feet still show like wings,[FN#140] and for + the wind When was a rider found, except King Solomon it + were?[FN#141] + +Therewithal El Abbas smiled and her verses pleased him. Then he +bade the fourth damsel come forward and sing. Now she was from +the land of Morocco and her name was Belekhsha. So she came +forward and taking the lute and the psaltery, tightened the +strings thereof and smote thereon in many modes; then returned to +the first mode and improvising, sang the following verses: + +When in the sitting-chamber we for merry-making sate, With thine + eyes' radiance the place thou didst illuminate +And pliedst us with cups of wine, whilst from the necklace + pearls[FN#142] A strange intoxicating bliss withal did + circulate, +Whose subtleness might well infect the understanding folk; And + secrets didst thou, in thy cheer, to us communicate. +Whenas we saw the cup, forthright we signed to past it round And + sun and moon unto our eyes shone sparkling from it straight. +The curtain of delight, perforce, we've lifted through the + friend,[FN#143] For tidings of great joy, indeed, there came + to us of late. +The camel-leader singing came with the belov'd; our wish + Accomplished was and we were quit of all the railers' prate. +When clear'd my sky was by the sweet of our foregathering And not + a helper there remained to disuniting Fate, +I shut myself up with my love; no spy betwixt us was; We feared + no enemies' despite, no envious neighbour's hate. +Life with our loves was grown serene, estrangement was at end: + Our dear ones all delight of love vouchsafed to us elate, +Saying, "Thy fill of union take; no spy is there on us, Whom we + should fear, nor yet reproach our gladness may abate." +Our loves are joined and cruelty at last is done away; Ay, and + the cup of love-delight 'twixt us doth circulate. +Upon yon be the peace of God! May all prosperity, For what's + decreed of years and lives, upon you ever wait! + +When Belekhsha had made an end of her verses, all present were +moved to delight and El Abbas said to her, "Well done, O damsel!" +Then he bade the fifth damsel come forward and sing. Now she was +from the land of Syria and her name was Rihaneh; she was +surpassing of voice and when she appeared in an assembly, all +eyes were fixed upon her. So she came forward and taking the +rebeck (for that she was used to play upon [all manner] +instruments) improvised and sang the following verses: + +Your coming to-me-ward, indeed, with "Welcome! fair welcome!" I + hail. Your sight to me gladness doth bring and banisheth + sorrow and bale; +For love with your presence grows sweet, untroubled and life is + serene And the star of our fortune burns bright, that clouds + in your absence did veil. +Yea, by Allah, my longing for you ne'er waneth nor passetb away; + For your like among creatures is rare and sought for in + mountain and vale. +Ask mine eyes whether slumber hath lit on their lids since the + hour of your loss Or if aye on a lover they've looked. Nay, + an ye believe not their tale, +My heart, since the leave-taking day afflicted, will tell of my + case, And my body, for love and desire grown wasted and + feeble and frail. +Could they who reproach me but see my sufferings, their hearts + would relent; They'd marvel, indeed, at my case and the loss + of my loved ones bewail. +Yea, they'd join me in pouring forth tears and help me my woes to + lament, And like unto me they'd become all wasted and + tortured and pale. +How long did the heart for thy love that languished with longing + endure A burden of passion, 'neath which e'en mountains + might totter and fail! +By Allah, what sorrows and woes to my soul for thy sake were + decreed! My heart is grown hoar, ere eld's snows have left + on my tresses their trail. +The fires in my vitals that rage if I did but discover to view, + Their ardour the world to consume, from the East to the + West, might avail. +But now unto me of my loves accomplished are joyance and cheer + And those whom I cherish my soul with the wine of + contentment regale. +Our Lord, after sev'rance, with them hath conjoined us, for he + who doth good Shall ne'er disappointed abide and kindnesses + kindness entail. + +When King El Aziz heard the damsel's song, her speech and her +verses pleased him and he said to El Abbas, "O my son, verily, +these damsels are weary with long versifying, and indeed they +make us yearn after the dwellings and the homesteads with the +goodliness of their songs. Indeed, these five have adorned our +assembly with the excellence of their melodies and have done well +in that which they have said before those who are present; +wherefore we counsel thee to enfranchise them for the love of God +the Most High." Quoth El Abbas, "There is no commandment but thy +commandment;" and he enfranchised the ten damsels in the +assembly; whereupon they kissed the hands of the king and his son +and prostrated themselves in thanksgiving to God the Most High. +Then they put off that which was upon them of ornaments and +laying aside the lutes [and other] instruments of music, clave to +their houses, veiled, and went not forth.[FN#144] + +As for King El Aziz, he lived after this seven years and was +admitted to the mercy of God the Most High; whereupon his son El +Abbas carried him forth to burial on such wise as beseemeth unto +kings and let make recitations and readings of the Koran, in +whole or in part, over his tomb. He kept up the mourning for his +father a full-told month, at the end of which time he sat down on +the throne of the kingship and judged and did justice and +distributed silver and gold. Moreover, he loosed all who were in +the prisons and abolished grievances and customs dues and did the +oppressed justice of the oppressor; wherefore the people prayed +for him and loved him and invoked on him endurance of glory and +kingship and length of continuance [on life] and eternity of +prosperity and happiness. Moreover, the troops submitted to him +and the hosts from all parts of the kingdom, and there came to +him presents from all the lands. The kings obeyed him and many +were his troops and his grandees, and his subjects lived with him +the most easeful and prosperous of lives. + +Meanwhile, he ceased not, he and his beloved, Queen Mariyeh, in +the most delightsome of life and the pleasantest thereof, and he +was vouchsafed by her children; and indeed there befell +friendship and love between them and the longer their +companionship was prolonged, the more their love waxed, so that +they became unable to endure from each other a single hour, save +the time of his going forth to the Divan, when he would return to +her in the utterest that might be of longing. Aud on this wise +they abode in all solace and delight of life, till there came to +them the Destroyer of Delights and the Sunderer of Companies. So +extolled be the perfection of Him whose kingdom endureth for +ever, who is never heedless neither dieth nor sleepeth! This is +all that hath come down to us of their story, and so peace [be on +you!] + + + + + + SHEHRZAD AND SHEHRIYAR.[FN#145] + + + +King Shehriyar marvelled [at this story[FN#146]] and said "By +Allah, verily, injustice slayeth its folk!"[FN#147] And he was +edified by that wherewith Shehrzad bespoke him and sought help of +God the Most High. Then said he to her, "Tell me another of thy +stories, O Shehrzad; let it be a pleasant one and this shall be +the completion of the story-telling." "With all my heart," +answered Shehrzad. "It hath reached me, O august King, that a man +once said to his fellows, 'I will set forth to you a +means[FN#148] of security[FN#149] against vexation.[FN#150] A +friend of mine once related to me and said, "We attained [whiles] +to security[FN#151] against vexation,[FN#152]and the origin of it +was other than this; to wit, it was as follows.[FN#153] + + + + + + THE TWO KINGS AND THE VIZIER'S + DAUGHTERS.[FN#154] + + + +[Aforetime] I journeyed in [many] lands and climes and towns and +visited the great cities and traversed the ways and [exposed +myself to] dangers and hardships. Towards the last of my life, I +entered a city [of the cities of China],[FN#155] wherein was a +king of the Chosroes and the Tubbas[FN#156] and the +Caesars.[FN#157] Now that city had been peopled with its +inhabitants by means of justice and equitable dealing; but its +[then] king was a tyrant, who despoiled souls and [did away] +lives; there was no wanning oneself at his fire,[FN#158] for that +indeed he oppressed the true believers and wasted the lands. Now +he had a younger brother, who was [king] in Samarcand of the +Persians, and the two kings abode a while of time, each in his +own city and place, till they yearned unto each other and the +elder king despatched his vizier in quest of his younger brother. + +When the vizier came to the King of Samarcand [and acquainted him +with his errand], he submitted himself to the commandment [of his +brother and made answer] with 'Hearkening and obedience.' Then he +equipped himself and made ready for the journey and brought forth +his tents and pavilions. A while after midnight, he went in to +his wife, that he might take leave of her, and found with her a +strange man, sleeping with her in one bed. So he slew them both +and dragging them out by the feet, cast them away and set forth +incontinent on his journey. When he came to his brother's court, +the latter rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy and lodged him +in the pavilion of entertainment, [to wit, the guest-house,] +beside his own palace. Now this pavilion overlooked a garden +belonging to the elder king and there the younger brother abode +with him some days. Then he called to mind that which his wife +had done with him and remembered him of her slaughter and +bethought him how he was a king, yet was not exempt from the +vicissitudes of fortune; and this wrought upon him with an +exceeding despite, so that it caused him abstain from meat and +drink, or, if he ate anything, it profited him not. + +When his brother saw him on this wise, he doubted not but that +this had betided him by reason of severance from his people and +family and said to him, 'Come, let us go forth a-hunting.' But he +refused to go with him; so the elder brother went forth to the +chase, whilst the younger abode in the pavilion aforesaid. As he +was diverting himself by looking out upon the garden from the +window of the palace, behold, he saw his brother's wife and with +her ten black slaves and as many slave-girls. Each slave laid +hold of a damsel [and swived her] and another slave [came forth +and] did the like with the queen; and when they had done their +occasions, they all returned whence they came. Therewithal there +betided the King of Samarcand exceeding wonder and solacement and +he was made whole of his malady, little by little. + +After a few days, his brother returned and finding him healed of +his sickness, said to him, 'Tell me, O my brother, what was the +cause of thy sickness and thy pallor, and what is the cause of +the return of health to thee and of rosiness to thy face after +this?' So he acquainted him with the whole case and this was +grievous to him; but they concealed their affair and agreed to +leave the kingship and fare forth pilgrim-wise, wandering at a +venture, for they deemed that there had befallen none the like of +this which had befallen them. [So they went forth and wandered on +at hazard] and as they journeyed, they saw by the way a woman +imprisoned in seven chests, whereon were five locks, and sunken +in the midst of the salt sea, under the guardianship of an Afrit; +yet for all this that woman issued forth of the sea and opened +those locks and coming forth of those chests, did what she would +with the two brothers, after she had circumvented the Afrit. + +When the two kings saw that woman's fashion and how she +circumvented the Afrit, who had lodged her at the bottom of the +sea, they turned back to their kingdoms and the younger betook +himself to Samarcand, whilst the elder returned to China and +established unto himself a custom in the slaughter of women, to +wit, his vizier used to bring him a girl every night, with whom +he lay that night, and when he arose in the morning, he gave her +to the vizier and bade him put her to death. On this wise he +abode a great while, whilst the people murmured and the creatures +[of God] were destroyed and the commons cried out by reason of +that grievous affair whereinto they were fallen and feared the +wrath of God the Most High, dreading lest He should destroy them +by means of this. Still the king persisted in that fashion and in +that his blameworthy intent of the killing of women and the +despoilment of the curtained ones,[FN#159] wherefore the girls +sought succour of God the Most High and complained to Him of the +tyranny of the king and of his oppressive dealing with them. + +Now the king's vizier had two daughters, own sisters, the elder +of whom had read books and made herself mistress of [all] +sciences and studied the writings of the sages and the histories +of the boon-companions,[FN#160] and she was possessed of abundant +wit and knowledge galore and surpassing apprehension. She heard +that which the folk suffered from the king and his despiteous +usage of their children; whereupon compassion gat hold upon her +for them and jealousy and she besought God the Most High that He +would bring the king to renounce that his heresy,[FN#161] and God +answered her prayer. Then she took counsel with her younger +sister and said to her, 'I mean to contrive somewhat for the +liberation of the people's children; and it is that I will go up +to the king [and offer myself to him], and when I come to his +presence, I will seek thee. When thou comest in to me and the +king hath done his occasion [of me], do thou say to me, 'O my +sister, let me hear and let the king hear a story of thy goodly +stories, wherewithal we may beguile the waking hours of our +night, till we take leave of each other.' 'It is well,' answered +the other. 'Surely this contrivance will deter the king from his +heresy and thou shalt be requited with exceeding favour and +abounding recompense in the world to come, for that indeed thou +adventurest thyself and wilt either perish or attain to thy +desire.' + +So she did this and fair fortune aided her and the Divine favour +was vouchsafed unto her and she discovered her intent to her +father, who forbade her therefrom, fearing her slaughter. +However, she repeated her speech to him a second and a third +time, but he consented not. Then he cited unto her a parable, +that should deter her, and she cited him a parable in answer to +his, and the talk was prolonged between them and the adducing of +instances, till her father saw that he availed not to turn her +from her purpose and she said to him, 'Needs must I marry the +king, so haply I may be a sacrifice for the children of the +Muslims; either I shall turn him from this his heresy or I shall +die.' When the vizier despaired of dissuading her, he went up to +the king and acquainted him with the case, saying, 'I have a +daughter and she desireth to give herself to the king.' Quoth the +king, 'How can thy soul consent unto this, seeing that thou +knowest I lie but one night with a girl and when I arise on the +morrow, I put her to death, and it is thou who slayest her, and +thou hast done this again and again?' 'Know, O king,' answered +the vizier, 'that I have set forth all this to her, yet consented +she not unto aught, but needs must she have thy company and still +chooseth to come to thee and present herself before thee, +notwithstanding that I have cited to her the sayings of the +sages; but she hath answered me to the contrary thereof with more +than that which I said to her.' And the king said, 'Bring her to +me this night and to-morrow morning come thou and take her and +put her to death; and by Allah, an thou slay her not, I will slay +thee and her also!' + +The vizier obeyed the king's commandment and going out from +before him, [returned to his own house. When it was night, he +took his elder daughter and carried her up to the king; and when +she came into his presence,] she wept; whereupon quoth he to her, +'What causeth thee weep? Indeed, it was thou who willedst this.' +And she answered, saying, 'I weep not but for longing after my +little sister; for that, since we grew up, I and she, I have +never been parted from her till this day; so, if it please the +king to send for her, that I may look on her and take my fill of +her till the morning, this were bounty and kindness of the king.' + +Accordingly, the king bade fetch the girl [and she came]. Then +there befell that which befell of his foregathering with the +elder sister, and when he went up to his couch, that he might +sleep, the younger sister said to the elder, 'I conjure thee by +Allah, O my sister, an thou be not asleep, tell us a story of thy +goodly stories, wherewithal we may beguile the watches of our +night, against morning come and parting.' 'With all my heart,' +answered she and fell to relating to her, whilst the king +listened. Her story was goodly and delightful, and whilst she was +in the midst of telling it, the dawn broke. Now the king's heart +clave to the hearing of the rest of the story; so he respited her +till the morrow, and when it was the next night, she told him a +story concerning the marvels of the lands and the extraordinary +chances of the folk, that was yet stranger and rarer than the +first. In the midst of the story, the day appeared and she was +silent from the permitted speech. So he let her live till the +ensuing night, so he might hear the completion of the story and +after put her to death. + +Meanwhile, the people of the city rejoiced and were glad and +blessed the vizier's daughter, marvelling for that three days had +passed and that the king had not put her to death and exulting in +that, [as they deemed,] he had turned [from his purpose] and +would never again burden himself with blood-guiltiness against +any of the maidens of the city. Then, on the fourth night, she +related to him a still more extraordinary story, and on the fifth +night she told him anecdotes of kings and viziers and notables. +On this wise she ceased not [to do] with him [many] days and +nights, what while the king still said in himself, 'When I have +heard the end of the story, I will put her to death,' and the +people waxed ever in wonder and admiration. Moreover, the folk of +the provinces and cities heard of this thing, to wit, that the +king had turned from his custom and from that which he had +imposed upon himself and had renounced his heresy, wherefore they +rejoiced and the folk returned to the capital and took up their +abode therein, after they had departed thence; yea, they were +constant in prayer to God the Most High that He would stablish +the king in that his present case; and this," said Shehrzad, "is +the end of that which my friend related to me." + +"O Shehrzad," quoth Shehriyar, "finish unto us the story that thy +friend told thee, for that it resembleth the story of a king whom +I knew; but fain would I hear that which betided the people of +this city and what they said of the affair of the king, so I may +return from that wherein I was." "With all my heart," answered +Shehrzad. "Know, O august king and lord of just judgment and +praiseworthy excellence and exceeding prowess, that, when the +folk heard that the king had put away from him his custom and +returned from that which had been his wont, they rejoiced in this +with an exceeding joy and offered up prayers for him. Then they +talked with one another of the cause of the slaughter of the +girls, and the wise said, 'They[FN#162] are not all alike, nor +are the fingers of the hand alike.'" + + + + + + SHEHRZAD AND SHEHRIYAR.[FN#163] + (Conclusion) + + + +When King Shehriyar heard this story, he came to himself and +awaking from his drunkenness,[FN#164] said, "By Allah, this story +is my story and this case is my case, for that indeed I was in +wrath[FN#165] and [danger of] punishment till thou turnedst me +back from this into the right way, extolled be the perfection of +the Causer of causes and the Liberator of necks! Indeed, O +Shehrzad," continued he, "thou hast awakened me unto many things +and hast aroused me from mine ignorance." + +Then said she to him, "O chief of the kings, the wise say, 'The +kingship is a building, whereof the troops are the foundation,' +and whenas the foundation is strong, the building endureth; +wherefore it behoveth the king to strengthen the foundation, for +that they say, 'Whenas the foundation is weak, the building +falleth.' On like wise it behoveth the king to care for his +troops and do justice among his subjects, even as the owner of +the garden careth for his trees and cutteth away the weeds that +have no profit in them; and so it behoveth the king to look into +the affairs of his subjects and fend off oppression from them. As +for thee, O king," continued Shehrzad, "it behoveth thee that thy +vizier be virtuous and versed in the knowledge of the affairs of +the folk and the common people; and indeed God the Most High hath +named his name[FN#166] in the history of Moses (on whom be +peace!) whenas He saith, [Quoth Moses] 'And make me a vizier of +my people, Aaron [my brother].[FN#167] Could a vizier have been +dispensed withal, Moses ben Imran had been worthier [than any of +this dispensation].[FN#168] + +As for the vizier, the sultan discovereth unto him his affairs, +private and public; and know, O king, that the similitude of thee +with the people is that of the physician with the sick man; and +the condition[FN#169] of the vizier is that he be truthful in his +sayings, trustworthy in all his relations, abounding in +compassion for the folk and in tender solicitude over them. +Indeed, it is said, O king, that good troops[FN#170] are like the +druggist; if his perfumes reach thee not, thou still smallest the +sweet scent of them; and ill troops are like the black-smith; if +his sparks burn thee not, thou smellest his nauseous smell. So it +behoveth thee take unto thyself a virtuous vizier, a man of good +counsel, even as thou takest unto thee a wife displayed before +thy face, for that thou hast need of the man's righteousness for +thine own amendment,[FN#171] seeing that, if thou do righteously, +the commons will do likewise, and if thou do evil, they also will +do evil." + +When the king heard this, drowsiness overcame him and he slept +and presently awaking, called for the candles. So they were +lighted and he sat down on his couch and seating Shehrzad by him, +smiled in her face. She kissed the earth before him and said, "O +king of the age and lord of the time and the day, extolled be the +perfection of [God] the Forgiving One, the Bountiful Giver, who +hath sent me unto thee, of His favour and beneficence, so I have +informed thee with longing after Paradise; for that this which +thou wast used to do was never done of any of the kings before +thee. As for women, God the Most High [in His Holy Book] maketh +mention of them, [whenas He saith, 'Verily, men who submit +[themselves unto God] and women who submit] and true-believing +men and true-believing women and obedient men and obedient women +and soothfast men and soothfast women [and long-suffering men and +long-suffering women and men who order themselves humbly and +women who order themselves humbly and charitable men and +charitable women and men who fast and women who fast] and men who +guard their privities and women who guard their privities [and +men who are constantly mindful of God and women who are +constantly mindful, God hath prepared unto them forgiveness and a +mighty recompense].[FN#172] + +As for that which hath befallen thee, verily, it hath befallen +[many] kings before thee and their women have played them false, +for all they were greater of puissance than thou, yea, and +mightier of kingship and more abounding in troops. If I would, I +could relate unto thee, O king, concerning the wiles of women, +that whereof I could not make an end all my life long; and +indeed, aforetime, in all these my nights that I have passed +before thee, I have told thee [many stories and anecdotes] of the +artifices of women and of their craft and perfidy; but indeed the +things abound on me;[FN#173] wherefore, if it like thee, O king, +I will relate unto thee [somewhat] of that which befell kings of +old time of the perfidy of their women and of the calamities +which overtook them by reason of these latter." "How so?" asked +the king. "Tell on." "Hearkening and obedience,"answered +Shehrzad."It hath been told me, O king, that a man once related +to a company and spoke as follows: + + + + + + THE FAVOURITE AND HER LOVER.[FN#174] + + + +One day, a day of excessive heat, as I stood at the door of my +house, I saw a fair woman approaching, and with her a slave-girl +carrying a parcel. They gave not over going till they came up to +me, when the woman stopped and said to me, 'Hast thou a draught +of water?' 'Yes,' answered I. 'Enter the vestibule, O my lady, so +thou mayst drink.' Accordingly, she entered and I went up into +the house and fetched two mugs of earthenware, perfumed with +musk[FN#175] and full of cold water. She took one of them and +discovered her face, [that she might drink]; whereupon I saw that +she was as the shining sun or the rising moon and said to her, 'O +my lady, wilt thou not come up into the house, so thou mayst rest +thyself till the air grow cool and after go away to thine own +place?' Quoth she, 'Is there none with thee?' 'Indeed,' answered +I, 'I am a [stranger] and a bachelor and have none belonging to +me, nor is there a living soul in the house.' And she said, 'An +thou be a stranger, thou art he in quest of whom I was going +about.' + +Then she went up into the house and put off her [walking] clothes +and I found her as she were the full moon. I brought her what I +had by me of meat and drink and said to her, 'O my lady, excuse +me: this is that which is ready.' Quoth she, 'This is abundant +kindness and indeed it is what I sought' And she ate and gave the +slave-girl that which was left; after which I brought her a +casting-bottle of rose-water, mingled with musk, and she washed +her hands and abode with me till the season of afternoon-prayer, +when she brought out of the parcel that she had with her a shirt +and trousers and an upper garment[FN#176] and a kerchief +wroughten with gold and gave them to me; saying, 'Know that I am +one of the favourites of the Khalif, and we are forty favourites, +each one of whom hath a lover who cometh to her as often as she +would have him; and none is without a lover save myself, +wherefore I came forth to-day to find me a gallant and behold, I +have found thee. Thou must know that the Khalif lieth each night +with one of us, whilst the other nine-and-thirty favourites take +their ease with the nine-and-thirty men, and I would have thee be +with me on such a day, when do thou come up to the palace of the +Khalif and wait for me in such a place, till a little eunuch come +out to thee and say to thee a [certain] word, to wit, "Art thou +Sendel?" And do thou answer, "Yes," and go with him.' + +Then she took leave of me and I of her, after I had strained her +to my bosom and embraced her and we had kissed awhile. So she +went away and I abode expecting the appointed day, till it came, +when I arose and went forth, intending for the trysting-place; +but a friend of mine met me by the way [and would have me go home +with him. So I accompanied him to his house] and when I came up +[into his sitting-chamber] he locked the door on me and went +forth to fetch what we might eat and drink. He was absent till +mid-day, then till the hour of afternoon-prayer, whereat I was +sore disquieted. Then he was absent till sundown, and I was like +to die of chagrin and impatience; [and indeed he returned not] +and I passed my night on wake, nigh upon death, for that the door +was locked on me, and my soul was like to depart my body on +account of the tryst. + +At daybreak, my friend returned and opening the door, came in, +bringing with him meat-pottage[FN#177] and fritters and bees' +honey,[FN#178] and said to me, 'By Allah, thou must needs excuse +me, for that I was with a company and they locked the door on me +and have but now let me go.' But I returned him no answer. Then +he set before me that which was with him and I ate a single +mouthful and went out, running, so haply I might overtake that +which had escaped me.[FN#179] When I came to the palace, I saw +over against it eight-and-thirty gibbets set up, whereon were +eight-and-thirty men crucified, and under them eight-and-thirty +concubines as they were moons. So I enquired of the reason of the +crucifixion of the men and concerning the women in question, and +it was said unto me, 'The men [whom thou seest] crucified the +Khalif found with yonder damsels, who are his favourites.' When I +heard this, I prostrated myself in thanksgiving to God and said, +'God requite thee with good, O my friend!' For that, had he not +invited me [and kept me perforce in his house] that night, I had +been crucified with these men, wherefore praise be to God! + + +Thus," continued Shehrzad, "none is safe from the calamities of +fortune and the vicissitudes of time, and [in proof of this], I +will relate unto thee yet another story still rarer and more +extraordinary than this. Know, O King, that one said to me, 'A +friend of mine, a merchant, told me the following story. Quoth +he, + + + + + + THE MERCHANT OF CAIRO AND THE FAVOURITE + OF THE KHALIF EL MAMOUN EL HAKIM BI + AMRILLAH.[FN#180] + + + +As I sat one day in my shop, there came up to me a fair woman, as +she were the moon at its rising, and with her a slave-girl. Now I +was a handsome man in my time; so the lady sat down on [the bench +before] my shop and buying stuffs of me, paid down the price and +went away. I questioned the girl of her and she said, "I know not +her name." Quoth I, "Where is her abode?" "In heaven," answered +the slave-girl; and I said, "She is presently on the earth; so +when doth she ascend to heaven and where is the ladder by which +she goeth up?" Quoth the girl, "She hath her lodging in a palace +between two rivers,[FN#181] to wit, the palace of El Mamoun el +Hakim bi Amrillah."[FN#182] Then said I, "I am a dead man, +without recourse; "but she replied, "Have patience, for needs +must she return unto thee and buy stuffs of thee yet again." "And +how cometh it," asked I, "that the Commander of the Faithful +trusteth her to go out?" "He loveth her with an exceeding love," +answered she, "and is wrapped up in her and gainsayeth her not." + +Then the girl went away, running, after her mistress, whereupon I +left the shop and set out after them, so I might see her +abiding-place. I followed after them all the way, till she +disappeared from mine eyes, when I returned to my place, with a +heart on fire. Some days after, she came to me again and bought +stuffs of me. I refused to take the price and she said, "We have +no need of thy goods." Quoth I, "O my lady, accept them from me +as a gift;" but she said, "[Wait] till I try thee and make proof +of thee." Then she brought out of her pocket a purse and gave me +therefrom a thousand dinars, saying, "Trade with this till I +return to thee." So I took the purse and she went away [and +returned not to me] till six months had passed by. Meanwhile, I +traded with the money and sold and bought and made other thousand +dinars profit [on it]. + +Presently, she came to me again and I said to her, "Here is thy +money and I have gained [with it] other thousand dinars." Quoth +she, "Keep it by thee and take these other thousand dinars. As +soon as I have departed from thee, go thou to Er Rauzeh[FN#183] +and build there a goodly pavilion, and when the building thereof +is accomplished, give me to know thereof." So saying, she left me +and went away. As soon as she was gone, I betook myself to Er +Rauzeh and addressed myself to the building of the pavilion, and +when it was finished, I furnished it with the goodliest of +furniture and sent to the lady to tell her that I had made an end +of its building; whereupon she sent back to me, saying, "Let him +meet me to-morrow at daybreak at the Zuweyleh gate and bring with +him a good ass." So I got me an ass and betaking myself to the +Zuweyleh gate, at the appointed time, found there a young man on +horse- back, awaiting her, even as I awaited her. + +As we stood, behold, up came the lady, and with her a slave-girl. +When she saw the young man, she said to him, "Art thou here?" And +he answered, "Yes, O my lady." Quoth she, "To-day I am bidden by +this man. Wilt thou go with us?" And he replied, "Yes." Then said +she, "Thou hast brought me [hither] against my will and perforce. +Wilt thou go with us in any event?"[FN#184] "Yes, yes," answered +he and we fared on, [all three,] till we came to Er Rauzeh and +entered the pavilion. The lady diverted herself awhile with +viewing its ordinance and furniture, after which she put off her +[walking-]clothes and sat down [with the young man] in the +goodliest and chiefest place. Then I went forth and brought them +what they should eat at the first of the day; moreover, I went +out also and fetched them what they should eat at the last of the +day and brought them wine and dessert and fruits and flowers. On +this wise I abode in their service, standing on my feet, and she +said not unto me, "Sit," nor "Take, eat" nor "Take, drink," what +while she and the young man sat toying and laughing, and he fell +to kissing her and pinching her and hopping about upon the ground +and laughing. + +They abode thus awhile and presently she said, "Up to now we have +not become drunken; let me pour out." So she took the cup and +gave him to drink and plied him with liquor, till he became +drunken, when she took him and carried him into a closet. Then +she came out, with his head in her hand, what while I stood +silent, fixing not mine eyes on hers neither questioning her of +this; and she said to me, "What is this?" "I know not," answered +I; and she said, "Take it and cast it into the river." I obeyed +her commandment and she arose and stripping herself of her +clothes, took a knife and cut the dead man's body in pieces, +which she laid in three baskets, and said to me, "Throw them into +the river." + +I did as she bade me and when I returned, she said to me, "Sit, +so I may relate to thee yonder fellow's case, lest thou be +affrighted at that which hath befallen him. Thou must know that I +am the Khalif's favourite, nor is there any more in honour with +him than I; and I am allowed six nights in each month, wherein I +go down [into the city and take up my abode] with my [former] +mistress, who reared me; and when I go down thus, I dispose of +myself as I will. Now this young man was the son of neighbours of +my mistress, when I was a virgin girl. One day, my mistress was +[engaged] with the chief [officers] of the palace and I was alone +in the house. When the night came on, I went up to the roof, so I +might sleep there, and before I was aware, this youth came up +from the street and falling upon me, knelt on my breast. He was +armed with a poniard and I could not win free of him till he had +done away my maidenhead by force; and this sufficed him not, but +he must needs disgrace me with all the folk, for, as often as I +came down from the palace, he would lie in wait for me by the way +and swive me against my will and follow me whithersoever I went. +This, then, is my story, and as for thee, thou pleasest me and +thy patience pleaseth me and thy good faith and loyal service, +and there abideth with me none dearer than thou." Then I lay with +her that night and there befell what befell between us till the +morning, when she gave me wealth galore and fell to coming to the +pavilion six days in every month. + +On this wise we abode a whole year, at the end of which time she +was absent[FN#185] from me a month's space, wherefore fire raged +in my heart on her account. When it was the next month, behold, a +little eunuch presented himself to me and said, "I am a messenger +to thee from such an one," [naming my mistress], "who giveth thee +to know that the Commander of the Faithful hath sentenced her to +be drowned, her and those who are with her, six-and-twenty +slave-girls, on such a day at Deir et Tin,[FN#186] for that they +have confessed against one another of lewdness, and she biddeth +thee look how thou mayst do with her and how thou mayst contrive +to deliver her, even if thou gather together all her money and +spend it upon her, for that this is the time of manhood."[FN#187] +Quoth I, "I know not this woman; belike it is other than I [to +whom this message is addressed]; so beware, O eunuch, lest thou +cast me into stress." Quoth he, "Behold, I have told thee [that +which I had to say,"] and went away, leaving me in concern [on +her account]. + +[When the appointed day arrived], I arose and changing my clothes +and favour, donned sailor's apparel; then I took with me a purse +full of gold and buying good [victual for the] morning-meal, +accosted a boatman [at Deir et Tin] and sat down and ate with +him; after which said I to him, "Wilt thou hire me thy boat?" +Quoth he, "The Commander of the Faithful hath commanded me to be +here;" and he told me the story of the concubines and how the +Khalif purposed to drown them that day. When I heard this from +him, I brought out to him half a score dinars and discovered to +him my case, whereupon quoth he to me, "O my brother, get thee +empty calabashes, and when thy mistress cometh, give me to know +of her and I will contrive the trick." + +I kissed his hand and thanked him, and as I was walking about, +[waiting,] up came the guards and eunuchs with the women, who +were weeping and crying out and taking leave of one another. The +eunuchs cried out to us, whereupon we came with the boat, and +they said to the boatman, "Who is this?" "This is my mate," +answered he, "[whom I have brought,] to help me, so one of us may +keep the boat, whilst another doth your service." Then they +brought out to us the women, one by one, saying, "Throw them [in] +by the Island;" and we answered, "It is well." Now each of them +was shackled and they had made a jar of sand fast about her neck. +We did as the eunuchs bade us and ceased not to take the women, +one after another, and cast them in, till they gave us my +mistress and I winked to my comrade. So we took her and carried +her out into mid-stream, where I gave her the empty +calabashes[FN#188] and said to her, "Wait for me at the mouth of +the canal." Then we cast her in, after we had loosed the jar of +sand from her neck and done off her fetters, and returned. + +Now there remained one after her; so we took her and drowned her +and the eunuchs went away, whilst we dropped down the river with +the boat till we came to the mouth of the canal, where I saw my +mistress awaiting me. So we took her up into the boat and +returned to our pavilion on Er Rauzeh. Then I rewarded the +boatman and he took his boat and went away; whereupon quoth she +to me, "Thou art indeed a friend in need."[FN#189] And I abode +with her some days; but the shock wrought upon her so that she +sickened and fell to wasting away and redoubled in languishment +and weakness till she died. I mourned for her with an exceeding +mourning and buried her; after which I removed all that was in +the pavilion to my own house [and abandoned the former]. + +Now she had brought to the pavilion aforetime a little brass +coffer and laid it in a place whereof I knew not; so, when the +inspector of inheritances[FN#190] came, he searched the pavilion +and found the coffer, with the key in the lock. So he opened it +and finding it full of jewels and jacinths and earrings and +seal-rings and precious stones, such as are not found save with +kings and sultans, took it, and me with it, and ceased not to put +me to the question with beating and torment till I confessed to +them the whole affair from beginning to end, whereupon they +carried me to the Khalif and I told him all that had passed +between me and her; and he said to me, "O man, depart from this +city, for I acquit thee for thy valiance sake and because of thy +[constancy in] keeping thy secret and thy daring in exposing +thyself to death." So I arose forthright and departed his city; +and this is what befell me.'" + + + + + + SHEHRZAD AND SHEHRIYAR. + + + +King Shehriyar marvelled at these things and Shehrzad said to +him, "Thou marvelledst at that which befell thee on the part of +women; yet hath there befallen the kings of the Chosroes before +thee what was more grievous than that which befell thee, and +indeed I have set forth unto thee that which betided khalifs and +kings and others than they with their women, but the exposition +is long and hearkening groweth tedious, and in this [that I have +already told thee] is sufficiency for the man of understanding +and admonishment for the wise." + +Then she was silent, and when the king heard her speech and +profited by that which she said, he summoned up his reasoning +faculties and cleansed his heart and caused his understanding +revert [to the right way] and turned [with repentance] to God the +Most High and said in himself, "Since there befell the kings of +the Chosroes more than that which hath befallen me, never, whilst +I abide [on life], shall I cease to blame myself [for that which +I did in the slaughter of the daughters of the folk]. As for this +Shehrzad, her like is not found in the lands; so extolled be the +perfection of Him who appointed her a means for the deliverance +of His creatures from slaughter and oppression!" Then he arose +from his session and kissed her head, whereat she rejoiced with +an exceeding joy, she and her sister Dinarzad. + +When the morning morrowed, the king went forth and sitting down +on the throne of the kingship, summoned the grandees of his +empire; whereupon the chamberlains and deputies and captains of +the host went in to him and kissed the earth before him. He +distinguished the vizier with his especial favour and bestowed on +him a dress of honour and entreated him with the utmost kindness, +after which he set forth briefly to his chief officers that which +had betided him with Shehrzad and how he had turned from that his +former usance and repented him of what he had done aforetime and +purposed to take the vizier's daughter Shehrzad to wife and let +draw up the contract of marriage with her. + +When those who were present heard this, they kissed the earth +before him and offered up prayers for him and for the damsel +Shehrzad, and the vizier thanked her. Then Shehriyar made an end +of the session in all weal, whereupon the folk dispersed to their +dwelling-places and the news was bruited abroad that the king +purposed to marry the vizier's daughter Shehrzad. Then he +proceeded to make ready the wedding gear, and [when he had made +an end of his preparations], he sent after his brother King +Shahzeman, who came, and King Shehriyar went forth to meet him +with the troops. Moreover, they decorated the city after the +goodliest fashion and diffused perfumes [from the +censing-vessels] and [burnt] aloes-wood and other perfumes in all +the markets and thoroughfares and rubbed themselves with saffron, +what while the drums beat and the flutes and hautboys sounded and +it was a notable day. + +When they came to the palace, King Shehriyar commanded to spread +the tables with beasts roasted [whole] and sweetmeats and all +manner viands and bade the crier make proclamation to the folk +that they should come up to the Divan and eat and drink and that +this should be a means of reconciliation between him and them. So +great and small came up unto him and they abode on that wise, +eating and drinking, seven days with their nights. Then the king +shut himself up with his brother and acquainted him with that +which had betided him with the vizier's daughter [Shehrzad] in +those three years [which were past] and told him what he had +heard from her of saws and parables and chronicles and pleasant +traits and jests and stories and anecdotes and dialogues and +histories and odes and verses; whereat King Shahzeman marvelled +with the utterest of marvel and said, "Fain would I take her +younger sister to wife, so we may be two own brothers to two own +sisters, and they on likewise be sisters unto us; for that the +calamity which befell me was the means of the discovering of that +which befell thee and all this time of three years past I have +taken no delight in woman, save that I lie each night with a +damsel of my kingdom, and when I arise in the morning, I put her +to death; but now I desire to marry thy wife's sister Dinarzad." + +When King Shehriyar heard his brother's words he rejoiced with an +exceeding joy and arising forthright, went in to his wife +Shehrzad and gave her to know of that which his brother purposed, +to wit, that he sought her sister Dinarzad in marriage; +whereupon, "O king of the age," answered she, "we seek of him one +condition, to wit, that he take up his abode with us, for that I +cannot brook to be parted from my sister an hour, because we were +brought up together and may not brook severance from each other. +If he accept this condition, she is his handmaid." King Shehriyar +returned to his brother and acquainted him with that which +Shehrzad had said; and he answered, saying, "Indeed, this is what +was in my mind, for that I desire nevermore to be parted from +thee. As for the kingdom, God the Most High shall send unto it +whom He chooseth, for that there abideth to me no desire for the +kingship." + +When King Shehriyar heard his brother's words, he rejoiced with +an exceeding joy and said, "Verily, this is what I had wished, O +my brother. So praised be God who hath brought about union +between us!" Then he sent after the Cadis and learned men and +captains and notables, and they married the two brothers to the +two sisters. The contracts were drawn up and the two kings +bestowed dresses of honour of silk and satin on those who were +present, whilst the city was decorated and the festivities were +renewed. The king commanded each amir and vizier and chamberlain +and deputy to decorate his palace and the folk of the city +rejoiced in the presage of happiness and content. Moreover, King +Shehriyar bade slaughter sheep and get up kitchens and made +bride-feasts and fed all comers, high and low. + + +Then the eunuchs went forth, that they might perfume the bath +[for the use of the brides]; so they essenced it with rose-water +and willow-flower-water and bladders of musk and fumigated it +with Cakili[FN#191] aloes-wood and ambergris. Then Shehrzad +entered, she and her sister Dinarzad, and they cleansed their +heads and clipped their hair. When they came forth of the bath, +they donned raiment and ornaments, [such as were] prepared for +the kings of the Chosroes; and among Shehrzad's apparel was a +dress charactered with red gold and wroughten with semblants of +birds and beasts. Moreover, they both encircled their necks with +necklaces of jewels of price, in the like whereof +Iskender[FN#192] rejoiced not, for therein were great jewels such +as amazed the wit and the eye, and the thought was bewildered at +their charms, for indeed, each of them was brighter than the sun +and the moon. Before them they kindled lighted flambeaux in +torch-holders of gold, but their faces outshone the flambeaux, +for that they had eyes sharper than drawn swords and the lashes +of their eyelids ensorcelled all hearts. Their cheeks were rosy +and their necks and shapes swayed gracefully and their eyes +wantoned. And the slave-girls came to meet them with instruments +of music. + +Then the two kings entered the bath, and when they came forth, +they sat down on a couch, inlaid with pearls and jewels, +whereupon the two sisters came up to them and stood before them, +as they were moons, swaying gracefully from side to side in their +beauty and grace. Presently they brought forward Shehrzad and +displayed her, for the first dress, in a red suit; whereupon King +Shehriyar rose to look upon her and the wits of all present, men +and women, were confounded, for that she was even as saith of her +one of her describers: + +Like a sun at the end of a cane in a hill of sand, She shines in + a dress of the hue of pomegranate flower. +She gives me to drink of her cheeks and her honeyed lips And + quenches the worst of the fires that my heart devour. + +Then they attired Dinarzad in a dress of blue brocade and she +became as she were the full moon, whenas it shineth forth. So +they displayed her in this, for the first dress, before King +Shahzeman, who rejoiced in her and well-nigh took leave of his +wits for longing and amorous desire; yea, he was distraught with +love for her, whenas he saw her, for, indeed, she was as saith of +her one of her describers in the following verses: + +She comes in a robe the colour of ultramarine, Blue as the + stainless sky, unflecked with white; +I view her with yearning eyes and she seems to me A moon of the + summer, set in a winter's night. + +Then they returned to Shehrzad and displayed her in the second +dress. They clad her in a dress of surpassing goodliness, and +veiled her face to the eyes with her hair. Moreover, they let +down her side locks and she was even as saith of her one of her +describers in the following verses: + +Bravo for her whose loosened locks her cheeks do overcloud! She + slays me with her cruelty, so fair she is and proud. +Quoth I, "Thou overcurtainest the morning with the night;" And + she, "Not so; it is the moon that with the dark I shroud." + + +Then they displayed Dinarzad in a second and a third and a fourth +dress and she came forward, as she were the rising sun, and +swayed coquettishly to and fro; and indeed she was even as saith +the poet of her in the following verses: + +A sun of beauty she appears to all who look on her, Glorious in + arch and amorous grace, with coyness beautified; +And when the sun of morning sees her visage and her smile, + O'ercome. he hasteneth his face behind the clouds to hide. + +Then they displayed Shehrzad in the third dress and the fourth +and the fifth, and she became as she were a willow-wand or a +thirsting gazelle, goodly of grace and perfect of attributes, +even as saith of her one in the following verses: + +Like the full moon she shows upon a night of fortune fair, + Slender of shape and charming all with her seductive air. +She hath an eye, whose glances pierce the hearts of all mankind, + Nor can cornelian with her cheeks for ruddiness compare. +The sable torrent of her locks falls down unto her hips; Beware + the serpents of her curls, I counsel thee, beware! +Indeed her glance, her sides are soft; but none the less, alas! + Her heart is harder than the rock; there is no mercy there. +The starry arrows of her looks she darts above her veil; They hit + and never miss the mark, though from afar they fare. + +Then they returned to Dinarzad and displayed her in the fifth +dress and in the sixth, which was green. Indeed, she overpassed +with her loveliness the fair of the four quarters of the world +and outshone, with the brightness of her countenance, the full +moon at its rising; for she was even as saith of her the poet in +the following verses: + +A damsel made for love and decked with subtle grace; Thou'dst + deem the very sun had borrowed from her face. +She came in robes of green, the likeness of the leaf That the + pomegranate's flower doth in the bud encase. +"How call'st thou this thy dress?" quoth we, and she replied A + word wherein the wise a lesson well might trace; +"Breaker of hearts," quoth she, "I call it, for therewith I've + broken many a heart among the amorous race." + +Then they displayed Shehrzad in the sixth and seventh dresses and +clad her in youths' apparel, whereupon she came forward, swaying +coquettishly from side to side; and indeed she ravished wits and +hearts and ensorcelled with her glances [all who looked on her]. +She shook her sides and wagged her hips, then put her hair on the +hilt of her sword and went up to King Shehriyar, who embraced +her, as the hospitable man embraces the guest, and threatened her +in her ear with the taking of the sword; and indeed she was even +as saith of her the poet in these verses: + + +Were not the darkness[FN#193] still in gender masculine, As + ofttimes is the case with she-things passing fine, +Tirewomen to the bride, who whiskers, ay, and beard Upon her face + produce, they never would assign.[FN#194] + +On this wise they did with her sister Dinarzad, and when they had +made an end of displaying the two brides, the king bestowed +dresses of honour on all who were present and dismissed them to +their own places. Then Shehrzad went in to King Shehriyar and +Dinarzad to King Shahzeman and each of them solaced himself with +the company of his beloved and the hearts of the folk were +comforted. When the morning morrowed, the vizier came in to the +two kings and kissed the ground before them; wherefore they +thanked him and were bountiful to him. Then they went forth and +sat down upon couches of estate, whilst all the viziers and amirs +and grandees and the chief officers of the realm and the +household presented themselves before them and kissed the earth. +King Shehriyar ordered them dresses of honour and largesse and +they offered up prayers for the abiding continuance [on life] of +the king and his brother. + +Then the two kings appointed their father-in-law the vizier to be +viceroy in Samarcand and assigned him five of the chief amirs to +accompany him, charging them attend him and do him service. The +vizier kissed the earth and prayed that they might be vouchsafed +length of life. Then he went in to his daughters, whilst the +eunuchs and ushers walked before him, and saluted them and bade +them farewell. They kissed his hands and gave him joy of the +kingship and bestowed on him treasures galore. Then he took leave +of them and setting out, journeyed days and nights till he came +within three days' journey of Samarcand, where the townspeople +met him and rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy. So he entered +Samarcand and they decorated the city, and it was a notable day. +He sat down on the throne of his kingship and the viziers did him +homage and the grandees and amirs of Samarcand and prayed that he +might be vouchsafed justice and victory and length of continuance +[on life]. So he bestowed on them dresses of honour and entreated +them with worship and they made him Sultan over them. + +As soon as his father-in-law had departed for Samarcand, King +Shehriyar summoned the grandees of his realm and made them a +magnificent banquet of all manner rich meats and exquisite +sweetmeats. Moreover, he bestowed on them dresses of honour and +guerdoned them and divided the kingdoms between himself and his +brother in their presence, whereat the folk rejoiced. Then the +two kings abode, ruling each a day in turn and they accorded with +each other, what while their wives continued in the love of God +the Most High and in thanksgiving to Him; and the subjects and +the provinces were at peace and the preachers prayed for them +from the pulpits, and their report was bruited abroad and the +travellers bore tidings of them [to all countries]. + +Moreover, King Shehriyar summoned chroniclers and copyists and +bade them write all that had betided him with his wife, first and +last; so they wrote this and named it "The Stories of the +Thousand Nights and One Night." The book came to[FN#195] thirty +volumes and these the king laid up in his treasury. Then the two +kings abode with their wives in all delight and solace of life, +for that indeed God the Most High had changed their mourning into +joyance; and on this wise they continued till there took them the +Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of Companies, he who maketh void +the dwelling-places and peopleth the tombs, and they were translated to the mercy of God the +Most High; their houses were laid waste and their palaces ruined and the kings inherited their +riches. + +Then there reigned after them an understanding king, who was just, keen-witted and +accomplished and loved stories, especially those which chronicle the doings of kings and sultans, +and he found [in the treasuries of the kings who had foregone him] these marvellous and rare and +delightful stories, [written] in the thirty volumes aforesaid. So he read in them a first book and a +second and a third and [so on] to the last of them, and each book pleased him more than that +which forewent it, till he came to the end of them. Then he marvelled at that which he had read +[therein] of stories and discourse and witty traits and anecdotes and moral instances and +reminiscences and bade the folk copy them and publish them in all lands and climes; wherefore +their report was bruited abroad and the people named them "The marvels and rarities of the +Thousand Nights and One Night." This is all that hath come down to us of [the history of] this +book, and God is All-Knowing.[FN#196] + + + + + + Calcutta (1814-18) Text. 183 + + + + Sindbad the Sailor and Hindbad the Porter + + + + NOTE. + + + +As the version of the sixth and seventh voyages of Sindbad the Sailor contained in[FN#197] the +Calcutta Edition (1814-18) of the first two hundred Nights and in the text of the Voyages +published by M. Langles (Paris, 1814) differs very materially from that of the complete Calcutta +(1839-42) Edition[FN#198] (which is, in this case, practically identical with those of Boulac and +Breslau), adopted by me as my standard text in the translation of "The Book of the Thousand +Nights and One Night," the story of the seventh voyage in particular turning upon an altogether +different set of incidents, related nearly as in the old version of M. Galland, I now give a +translation of the text of the two voyages in question afforded by the Calcutta (1814-18) Edition, +corrected and completed by collation with that of M. Langles, from which it differs only in being +slightly less full. It will be observed that in this version of the story the name Sindbad is reserved +for the Sailor, the porter being called Hindbad. + + + + + + SINDBAD THE SAILOR AND HINDBAD THE PORTER. + + + +On the morrow they[FN#199] returned to their place, as of their wont, and betook themselves to +eating and drinking and merry-making and sporting till the last of the day, when Sindbad bade +them hearken to his relation concerning his sixth voyage, the which (quoth he) is of the most +extraordinary of pleasant stories and the most startling [for that which it compriseth] of +tribulations and disasters. Then said he, + + + + + + THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. + + + +"When I returned from my fifth voyage, I gave myself up to eating and drinking and passed my +time in solace and delight and forgot that which I had suffered of stresses and afflictions, nor was +it long before the thought of travel again presented itself to my mind and my soul hankered after +the sea. So I brought out the goods and binding up the bales, departed from Baghdad, [intending] +for certain of the lands, and came to the sea-coast, where I embarked in a stout ship, in company +with a number of other merchants of like mind with myself, and we [set out and] sailed till we +came among certain distant islands and found ourselves in difficult and dangerous case. + +[One day], as the ship was sailing along, and we unknowing where we were, behold, the captain +came down [from the mast] and casting his turban from his head, fell to buffeting his face and +plucking at his beard and weeping and supplicating [God for deliverance]. We asked him what +ailed him, and he answered, saying, 'Know, O my masters, that the ship is fallen among shallows +and drifteth upon a sand-bank of the sea. Another moment [and we shall be upon it]. If we clear +the bank, [well and good]; else, we are all dead men and not one of us will be saved; wherefore +pray ye to God the Most High, so haply He may deliver us from these deadly perils, or we shall +lose our lives.' So saying, he mounted [the mast] and set the sail, but at that moment a contrary +wind smote the ship, and it rose upon the crest of the waves and sank down again into the trough +of the sea. + +Now there was before us a high mountain,[FN#200] rising [abruptly] from the sea, and the ship +fell off into an eddy,[FN#201] which bore it on till presently it struck upon the skirt[FN#202] of +the mountain and broke in sunder; whereupon the captain came down [from the mast], weeping, +and said, 'God's will be done! Take leave of one another and look yourselves out graves from +to-day, for we have fallen into a predicament[FN#203] from which there is no escape, and never +yet hath any been cast away here and come off alive.' So all the folk fell a-weeping and gave +themselves up for lost, despairing of deliverance; friend took leave of friend and sore was the +mourning and lamentation; for that hope was cut off and they were left without guide or +pilot.[FN#204] Then all who were in the ship landed on the skirt of the mountain and found +themselves on a long island, whose shores were strewn with [wrecks], beyond count or +reckoning, [of] ships that had been cast away [there] and whose crews had perished; and there +also were dry bones and dead bodies, heaped upon one another, and goods without number and +riches past count So we abode confounded, drunken, amazed, humbling ourselves [in supplication +to God] and repenting us [of having exposed ourselves to the perils of travel]; but repentance +availed not in that place. + +In this island is a river of very sweet water, issuing from the shore of the sea and entering in at a +wide cavern in the skirt of an inaccessible mountain, and the stones of the island are all limpid +sparkling crystal and jacinths of price. Therein also is a spring of liquid, welling up like [molten] +pitch, and when it cometh to the shore of the island, the fish swallow it, then return and cast it up, +and it becometh changed from its condition and that which it was aforetime; and it is crude +ambergris. Moreover, the trees of the island are all of the most precious aloes-wood, both Chinese +and Comorin; but there is no way of issue from the place, for it is as an abyss midmost the sea; the +steepness of its shore forbiddeth the drawing up of ships, and if any approach the mountain, they +fall into the eddy aforesaid; nor is there any resource[FN#205] in that island. + +So we abode there, daily expecting death, and whoso of us had with him a day's victual ate it in +five days, and after this he died; and whoso had with him a month's victual ate it in five months +and died also. As for me, I had with me great plenty of victual; so I buried it in a certain place and +brought it out, [little by little,] and fed on it; and we ceased not to be thus, burying one the other, +till all died but myself and I abode alone, having buried the last of my companions, and but little +victual remained to me. So I said in myself, 'Who will bury me in this place?' And I dug me a +grave and abode in expectation of death, for that I was in a state of exhaustion. Then, of the +excess of my repentance, I blamed and reproached myself for my much [love of] travel and said, +'How long wilt thou thus imperil thyself?' And I abode as I were a madman, unable to rest; but, as +I was thus melancholy and distracted, God the Most High inspired me with an idea, and it was +that I looked at the river aforesaid, as it entered in at the mouth of the cavern in the skirt of the +mountain, and said in myself, 'Needs must this water have issue in some place.' + +So I arose and gathering wood and planks from the wrecks, wrought of them the semblance of a +boat [to wit, a raft,] and bound it fast with ropes, saying, 'I will embark thereon and fare with this +water into the inward of the mountain. If it bring me to the mainland or to a place where I may +find relief and safety, [well and good]; else I shall [but] perish, even as my companions have +perished.' Then I collected of the riches and gold and precious stuffs, cast up there, whose owners +had perished, a great matter, and of jacinths and crude ambergris and emeralds somewhat past +count, and laid all this on the raft [together with what was left me of victual]. Then I launched it +on the river and seating myself upon it, put my trust in God the Most High and committed myself +to the stream. + +The raft fared on with me, running along the surface of the river, and entered into the inward of +the mountain, where the light of day forsook me and I abode dazed and stupefied, unknowing +whither I went. Whenas I hungered, I ate a little of the victual I had with me, till it was all spent +and I abode expecting the mercy of the Lord of all creatures.[FN#206] Presently I found myself in +a strait [channel] in the darkness and my head rubbed against the roof of the cave; and in this case +I abode awhile, knowing not night from day, whilst anon the channel grew straiter and anon +widened out; and whenas my breast was straitened and I was confounded at my case, sleep took +me and I knew neither little nor much. + +When I awoke and opened my eyes, I found myself [in the open air] and the raft moored to the +bank of the stream, whilst about me were folk of the blacks of Hind. When they saw that I was +awake, they came up to me, to question me; so I rose to them and saluted them. They bespoke me +in a tongue I knew not, whilst I deemed myself in a dream, and for the excess of my joy, I was +like to fly and my reason refused to obey me. Then there came to my mind the verses of the poet +and I recited, saying: + +Let destiny with loosened rein its course appointed fare And lie thou down to sleep by night, with + heart devoid of care; +For 'twixt the closing of an eye and th'opening thereof, God hath it in His power to change a case + from foul to fair. + +When they heard me speak in Arabic, one of them came up to me and saluting me [in that +language], questioned me of my case. Quoth I, 'What [manner of men] are ye and what country is +this?' 'O my brother,' answered he, 'we are husbandmen and come to this river, to draw water, +wherewithal to water our fields; and whilst we were thus engaged to-day, as of wont, this boat +appeared to us on the surface of the water, issuing from the inward of yonder mountain. So we +came to it and finding thee asleep therein, moored it to the shore, against thou shouldst awake. +Acquaint us, therefore, with thy history and tell us how thou camest hither and whence thou +enteredst this river and what land is behind yonder mountain, for that we have never till now +known any make his way thence to us.' But I said to them, 'Give me somewhat to eat and after +question me.' So they brought me food and I ate and my spirits revived and I was refreshed. Then +I related to them all that had befallen me, whereat they were amazed and confounded and said, 'By +Allah, this is none other than a marvellous story, and needs must we carry thee to our king, that +thou mayst acquaint him therewith.' So they carried me before their king, and I kissed his hand +and saluted him. + +Now he was the king of the land of Serendib,[FN#207] and he welcomed me and entreated me +with kindness, bidding me be seated and admitting me to his table and converse. So I talked with +him and called down blessings upon him and he took pleasure in my discourse and showed me +satisfaction and said to me, 'What is thy name?' 'O my lord,' answered I, 'my name is Sindbad the +Sailor;' and he said, 'And what countryman art thou?' Quoth I, 'I am of Baghdad.' 'And how +earnest thou hither?' asked he. So I told him my story and he marvelled mightily thereat and said, +'By Allah, O Sindbad, this thy story is marvellous and it behoveth that it be written in characters +of gold.' + +Then they brought the raft before him and I said to him, 'O my lord, I am in thy hands, I and all +my good.' He looked at the raft and seeing therein jacinths and emeralds and crude ambergris, the +like whereof was not in his treasuries, marvelled and was amazed at this. Then said he, 'O +Sindbad, God forbid that we should covet that which God the Most High hath vouchsafed unto +thee! Nay, it behoveth us rather to further thee on thy return to thine own country.' So I called +down blessings on him and thanked him. Then he signed to one of his attendants, who took me +and established me in a goodly lodging, and the king assigned me a daily allowance and pages to +wait on me. And every day I used to go in to him and he entertained me and entreated me friendly +and delighted in my converse; and as often as our assembly broke up, I went out and walked +about the town and the island, diverting myself by viewing them. + +Now this island is under the Equinoctial line; its night is still twelve hours and its day the like. Its +length is fourscore parasangs and its breadth thirty, and it is a great island, stretching between a +lofty mountain and a deep valley. This mountain is visible at a distance of three days' journey and +therein are various kinds of jacinths and other precious stones and metals of all kinds and all +manner spice-trees, and its soil is of emery, wherewith jewels are wrought. In its streams are +diamonds, and pearls are in its rivers.[FN#208] I ascended to its summit and diverted myself by +viewing all the marvels therein, which are such as beggar description; after which I returned to the +king and sought of him permission to return to my own country. He gave me leave, after great +pressure, and bestowed on me abundant largesse from his treasuries. Moreover, he gave me a +present and a sealed letter and said to me, 'Carry this to the Khalif Haroun er Reshid and salute +him for us with abundant salutation.' And I said, 'I hear and obey.' + +Now this letter was written with ultramarine upon the skin of the hog-deer, the which is goodlier +than parchment or paper and inclineth unto yellow, and was to the following effect: 'From the +King of Hind, before whom are a thousand elephants and on the battlements of his palace a +thousand jewels, [to the Khalif Haroun er Reshid, greeting]. To proceed:[FN#209] we send thee +some small matter of presents, which do thou accept and be to us as a brother and a friend, for +that the love of thee aboundeth in our heart and we would have thee to know that we look to thee +for an answer. Indeed, we are sharers with thee in love and fear, ceasing[FN#210] never to do +thee honour; and for a beginning, we send thee the Book of the Quintessence of Balms and a +present after the measure of that which is fallen to our lot. Indeed, this is unworthy of thy rank, +but we beseech thee, O brother, to favour us by accepting it, and peace be on thee!' + +Now this present was a cup of ruby, a span high and a finger's length broad, full of fine pearls, +each a mithcal[FN#211] in weight and a bed covered with the skin of the serpent that swalloweth +the elephant, marked with spots, each the bigness of a dinar, whereon whoso sitteth shall never +sicken; also an hundred thousand mithcals of Indian aloes-wood and thirty grains of camphor, +each the bigness of a pistachio-nut, and a slave-girl with her paraphernalia, a charming creature, as +she were the resplendent moon. Then the king took leave of me, commending me to the +merchants and the captain of the ship, and I set out, with that which was entrusted to my charge +and my own good, and we ceased not to pass from island to island and from country to country, +till we came to Baghdad, when I entered my house and foregathered with my family and brethren. + +Then I took the present and a token of service from myself to the Khalif and [presenting myself +before him], kissed his hands and laid the whole before him, together with the King of Hind's +letter. He read the letter and taking the present, rejoiced therein with an exceeding joy and +entreated me with the utmost honour. Then said he to me, 'O Sindbad, is this king, indeed, such as +he avoucheth in this letter?' I kissed the earth and answered, saying, 'O my lord, I myself have +seen the greatness of his kingship to be manifold that which he avoucheth in his letter. On the day +of his audience,[FN#212] there is set up for him a throne on the back of a huge elephant, eleven +cubits high, whereon he sitteth and with him are his officers and pages and session-mates, +standing in two ranks on his right hand and on his left. At his head standeth a man, having in his +hand a golden javelin, and behind him another, bearing a mace of the same metal, tipped with an +emerald, a span long and an inch thick. When he mounteth, a thousand riders take horse with him, +arrayed in gold and silk; and whenas he rideth forth, he who is before him proclaimeth and saith, +"This is the king, mighty of estate and high of dominion!" And he proceedeth to praise him on this +wise and endeth by saying, "This is the king, lord of the crown the like whereof nor +Solomon[FN#213] nor Mihraj[FN#214] possessed!" Then is he silent, whilst he who is behind the +king proclaimeth and saith, "He shall die! He shall die! And again I say, he shall die!" And the +other rejoineth, saying, "Extolled be the perfection of the Living One who dieth not!" And by +reason of his justice and judgment[FN#215] and understanding, there is no Cadi in his [capital] +city; but all the people of his realm distinguish truth from falsehood and know [and practise] truth +and right for themselves.' + +The Khalif marvelled at my speech and said, 'How great is this king! Indeed, his letter testifieth of +him; and as for the magnificence of his dominion, thou hast acquainted us with that which thou +hast seen; so, by Allah, he hath been given both wisdom and dominion.' Then he bestowed on me +largesse and dismissed me, so I returned to my house and paid the poor-rate[FN#216] and gave +alms and abode in my former easy and pleasant case, forgetting the grievous stresses I had +suffered. Yea, I cast out from my heart the cares of travel and traffic and put away travail from +my thought and gave myself up to eating and drinking and pleasure and delight." + + + + + + SINDBAD THE SAILOR AND HINDBAD THE PORTER. + + + +When Sindbad the Sailor had made an end of his story, all who were present marvelled at that +which had befallen him. Then he bade his treasurer give the porter an hundred mithcals of gold +and dismissed him, charging him return on the morrow, with the rest of the folk, to hear the +history of his seventh voyage. So the porter went away to his house, rejoicing; and on the morrow +he presented himself with the rest of the guests, who sat down, as of their wont, and occupied +themselves with eating and drinking and merry-making till the end of the day, when their host +bade them hearken to the story of his seventh voyage. Quoth Sindbad the Sailor, + + + + + + + THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. + + + +"When I [returned from my sixth voyage, I] forswore travel and renounced commerce, saying in +myself, 'What hath befallen me sufficeth me.' So I abode at home and passed my time in pleasance +and delight, till, one day, as I sat at mine ease, plying the wine-cup [with my friends], there came a +knocking at the door. The doorkeeper opened and found without one of the Khalif's pages, who +came in to me and said, 'The Commander of the Faithful biddeth thee to him.' So I accompanied +him to the presence of the Khalif and kissing the earth before him, saluted him. He bade me +welcome and entreated me with honour and said to me, 'O Sindbad, I have an occasion with thee, +which I would have thee accomplish for me.' So I kissed his hand and said, 'O my lord, what is the +lord's occasion with the slave?' Quoth he, 'I would have thee go to the King of Serendib and carry +him our letter and our present, even as he sent us a present and a letter.' + +At this I trembled and replied, 'By the Most Great God, O my lord, I have taken a loathing to +travel, and whenas any maketh mention to me of travel by sea or otherwise, I am like to swoon +for affright, by reason of that which hath befallen me and what I have suffered of hardships and +perils. Indeed, I have no jot of inclination left for this, and I have sworn never again to leave +Baghdad.' And I related to him all that had befallen me, first and last; whereat he marvelled +exceedingly and said, 'By the Most Great God, O Sindbad, never was heard from time +immemorial of one whom there betided that which hath betided thee and well may it behove thee +never again to mention travel! But for my sake go thou this once and carry my letter to the King +of Serendib and return in haste, if it be the will of God the Most High, so we may not remain +indebted to the king for favour and courtesy.' And I answered him with 'Hearkening and +obedience,' for that I dared not gainsay his commandment + +Then he gave me the present and letter and money for my expenses. So I kissed his hand and +going out from before him, repaired to the sea-coast, where I took ship with many other +merchants and we sailed days and nights, till, after a prosperous voyage, God vouchsafed us a +safe arrival at the island of Serendib. We landed and went up to the city, where I carried the letter +and present to the king and kissing the earth fell [prostrate before him], invoking blessings on him. +When he saw me, 'Welcome to thee, O Sindbad!' quoth he. 'By the Most Great God, we have +longed for thy sight and the day is blessed on which we behold thee once more.' Then he took my +hand and seating me by his side, welcomed me and entreated me friendly and rejoiced in me with +an exceeding joy; after which he fell to conversing with me and caressing me and said, 'What +brings thee to us, O Sindbad?' I kissed his hand and thanking him, said, 'O my lord, I bring thee a +present and a letter from my lord the Khalif Haroun er Reshid.' Then I brought out to him the +present and the letter and he read the latter and accepted the former, rejoicing therein with an +exceeding joy. + +Now this present was a horse worth ten thousand dinars and all its housings and trappings of gold +set with jewels, and a book and five different kinds of suits of apparel and an hundred pieces of +fine white linen cloths of Egypt and silks of Suez and Cufa and Alexandria and a crimson carpet +and another of Tebaristan[FN#217] make and an hundred pieces of cloth of silk and flax mingled +and a goblet of glass of the time of the Pharaohs, a finger-breadth thick and a span wide, +amiddleward which was the figure of a lion and before him an archer kneeling, with his arrow +drawn to the head, and the table of Solomon son of David,[FN#218] on whom be peace; and the +contents of the letter were as follows: 'From the Khalif Haroun er Reshid, unto whom and to his +forefathers (on whom be peace) God hath vouchsafed the rank of the noble and exceeding glory, +to the august, God-aided Sultan, greeting. Thy letter hath reached us and we rejoiced therein and +have sent thee the book [called] "The Divan of Hearts and the Garden of Wits," of the translation +whereof when thou hast taken cognizance, its excellence will be established in thine eyes; and the +superscription of this book we have made unto thee. Moreover, we send thee divers other kingly +presents;[FN#219] so do thou favour us by accepting them, and peace be on thee!' + +When the king had read this letter, he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and bestowed on me great +store of presents and entreated me with the utmost honour. Some days after this, I sought of him +leave to depart, but he granted it not to me save after much pressing. So I took leave of him and +shipped with divers merchants and others, intending for my own country and having no desire for +travel or traffic. We sailed on, without ceasing, till we had passed many islands; but, one day, as +we fared on over a certain tract of the sea, there came forth upon us a multitude of boats full of +men like devils, clad in chain-mail and armed with swords and daggers and bows and arrows, and +surrounded us on every side. They entreated us after the cruellest fashion, smiting and wounding +and slaying those who made head against them, and taking the ship, with the crew and all that +were therein, carried us to an island, where they sold us all for a low price. A rich man bought me +and taking me into his house, gave me to eat and drink and clothed me and entreated me kindly, +till my heart was comforted and I was somewhat restored. + +One day my master said to me, 'Knowest thou not some art or handicraft?' And I answered, +saying, 'O my lord, I am a merchant and know nought but traffic.' Quoth he, 'Knowest thou how +to shoot with a bow and arrows?' And I replied, 'Yes, I know that.' So he brought me a bow and +arrows and mounting me behind him on an elephant, set out with me, at the last of the night, and +fared on till we came to a forest of great trees; whereupon he made me climb a high and stout tree +and giving me the bow and arrows, said to me, 'Sit here, and when the elephants come hither by +day, shoot at them, so haply thou shalt hit one of them; and if any of them fall, come at nightfall +and tell me.' Then he went away and left me trembling and fearful. I abode hidden in the tree till +the sun rose, when the elephants came out and fared hither and thither among the trees, and I +gave not over shooting at them with arrows, till I brought down one of them. So, at eventide, I +went and told my master, who rejoiced in me and rewarded me; then he came and carried away +the dead elephant. + +On this wise I abode a while of time, every day shooting an elephant, whereupon my master came +and carried it away, till, one day, as I sat hidden in the tree, there came up elephants without +number, roaring and trumpeting, so that meseemed the earth trembled for the din. They all made +for the tree whereon I was and the girth whereof was fifty cubits, and compassed it about. Then a +huge elephant came up to the tree and winding his trunk about it, tugged at it, till he plucked it up +by the roots and cast it to the ground. I fell among the elephants, and the great elephant, coming +up to me, as I lay aswoon for affright, wound his trunk about me and tossing me on to his back, +made off with me, accompanied by the others; nor did he leave faring on with me, and I absent +from the world, till he brought me to a certain place and casting me down from off his back, went +away, followed by the rest. I lay there awhile, till my trouble subsided and my senses returned to +me, when I sat up, deeming myself in a dream, and found myself on a great hill, stretching far and +wide and all of elephants' bones. So I knew that this was their burial-place and that they had +brought me thither on account of the bones. + +Then I arose and fared on a day and a night, till I came to the house of my master, who saw me +pale and disfeatured for fear and hunger. He rejoiced in my return and said to me, 'By Allah, thou +hast made my heart ache on thine account; for I went and finding the tree torn up by the roots, +doubted not but the elephants had destroyed thee. Tell me then how it was with thee.' So I told +him what had befallen me and he marvelled exceedingly and rejoiced, saying, 'Knowst thou where +this hill is?' 'Yes, O my lord,' answered I. So he took me up with him on an elephant and we rode +till we came to the elephants' burial-place. + +When he saw those many bones, he rejoiced therein with an exceeding joy and carried away what +he had a mind to thereof. Then we returned to his house and he entreated me with increased +favour and said to me, 'Verily, O my son, thou hast directed us to a passing great gain, may God +requite thee with all good! Thou art free for the sake of God the Most High. Every year these +elephants used to kill of us much people on account of these bones; but God delivered thee from +them and thou hast done us good service in the matter of these bones, of which thou hast given us +to know; wherefore thou meritest a great recompense, and thou art free.' 'O my lord,' answered I, +'may God free thy neck from the fire! I desire of thee that thou give me leave to return to my own +country.' 'So be it,' replied he; 'but we have a fair, on occasion whereof the merchants come hither +to us and take of us these elephants' bones. The time of the fair is now at hand, and when they +come to us, I will send thee with them and give thee somewhat to bring thee to thine own +country.' + +I blessed him and thanked him and abode with him in all honour and consideration, till, after a +little, the merchants came, even as he had said, and bought and sold and bartered; and when they +were about to depart, my master came to me and said, 'The merchants are about to depart; arise, +that thou mayst go with them to thy country.' So I betook myself to the folk, and behold, they had +bought great store of elephants' bones and bound up their loads and embarked in the ship; and my +master took passage for me with them and paid my hire and all that was chargeable upon +me.[FN#220] Moreover, he gave me great store of goods and we set sail and passed from island +to island, till we traversed the sea and arrived at the port of our destination; whereupon the +merchants brought out their goods and sold; and I also brought out that which was with me and +sold it at a good profit. + +Then I bought of the best and finest of the produce and rarities of the country and all I had a mind +to and a good hackney[FN#221] and we set out again and traversed the deserts from country to +country till we came to Baghdad. Then I went in to the Khalif and saluted him and kissed his +hand; after which I acquainted him with all that had passed and that which had befallen me. He +rejoiced in my deliverance and thanked God the Most High; then he caused write my story in +letters of gold and I betook myself to my house and foregathered with my brethren and family. +This, then," added Sindbad, "is the last of that which befell me in my travels, and praise be to +God, the One, the Creator, the Maker!" + +When Sindbad the Sailor had made an end of his story, he bade his servant give the porter an +hundred mithcals of gold and said to him, "How now, my brother! Hast ever in the world heard of +one whom such calamities have betided as have betided me and hath any suffered that which I +have suffered of afflictions or undergone that which I have undergone of hardships? Wherefore it +behoveth that I have these pleasures in requital of that which I have undergone of travail and +humiliations." So the porter came forward and kissing the merchant's hands, said to him, "O my +lord, thou hast indeed suffered grievous perils and hast well deserved these bounteous favours +[that God hath vouchsafed thee]. Abide, then, O my lord, in thy delights and put away from thee +[the remembrance of] thy troubles; and may God the Most High crown thine enjoyments with +perfection and accomplish thy days in pleasance until the hour of thine admission [to His mercy]!" + +Therewithal Sindbad the Sailor bestowed largesse upon him and made him his boon-companion, +and he abode, leaving him not night or day, to the last of their lives. Praise be to God the +Glorious, the Omnipotent, the Strong, the Exalted of estate, Creator of heaven and earth and land +and sea, to whom belongeth glorification! Amen. Amen. Praise be to God, the Lord of the +Worlds! Amen. + + + + + + NOTE. + + + +As stated In the Prefatory Note to my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night," four +printed Editions (of which three are more or less complete) exist of the Arabic text of the original +work, namely those of Calcutta (1839-42), Boulac (Cairo), Breslau (Tunis) and Calcutta +(1814-18). The first two are, for purposes of tabulation, practically identical, one whole story +only,[FN#222] of those that occur in the Calcutta (1839-42) Edition, (which is the most complete +of all,) being omitted from that of Boulac; and I have, therefore, given but one Table of Contents +for these two Editions. The Breslau Edition, though differing widely from those of Calcutta +(1839-42) and Boulac in contents, resembles them in containing the full number (a thousand and +one) of Nights, whilst that of Calcutta (1814-18) is but a fragment, comprising only the first two +hundred Nights and the Voyages of Sindbad, as a separate Tale. + +The subscribers to my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night" and the present "Tales from +the Arabic" have now before them a complete English rendering (the first ever made) of all the +tales contained in the four printed (Arabic) Texts of the original work and I have, therefore, +thought it well to add to this, the last Volume of my Translation, full Tables of Contents of these +latter, a comparison of which will show the exact composition of the different Editions and the +particulars in which they differ from one another, together with the manner in which the various +stories that make up the respective collections are distributed over the Nights. In each Table, the +titles of the stories occurring only in the Edition of which it gives the contents are printed in +Italics and each Tale is referred to the number of the Night on which it is begun. + +The Breslau Edition, which was printed from a Manuscript of the Book of the Thousand Nights +and One Night alleged to have been furnished to the Editor by a learned Arab of Tunis, whom he +styles "Herr M. Annaggar" (Quære En Nejjar, the Carpenter), the lacunes found in which were +supplemented from various other MS. sources indicated by Silvestre de Sacy and other eminent +Orientalists, is edited with a perfection of badness to which only German scholars (at once the +best and worst editors in the world) can attain. The original Editor, Dr. Maximilian Habicht, was +during the period (1825- 1839) of publication of the first eight Volumes, engaged in continual and +somewhat acrimonious[FN#223] controversy concerning the details of his editorship with Prof. +H. L. Fleischer, who, after his death, undertook the completion of his task and approved himself a +worthy successor of his whilom adversary, his laches and shortcomings in the matter of revision +and collation of the text being at least equal in extent and gravity to those of his predecessor, +whilst he omitted the one valuable feature of the latter's work, namely, the glossary of Arabic +words, not occurring in the dictionaries, appended to the earlier volumes. + +As an instance of the extreme looseness with which the book was edited, I may observe that the +first four Vols. were published without tables of contents, which were afterwards appended en +bloc to the fifth Volume. The state of corruption and incoherence in which the printed Text was +placed before the public by the two learned Editors, who were responsible for its production, is +such as might well drive a translator to despair: the uncorrected errors of the press would alone +fill a volume and the verse especially is so corrupt that one of the most laborious of English +Arabic scholars pronounced its translation a hopeless task. I have not, however, in any single +instance, allowed myself to be discouraged by the difficulties presented by the condition of the +text, but have, to the best of my ability, rendered into English, without abridgment or +retrenchment, the whole of the tales, prose and verse, contained in the Breslau Edition, which are +not found in those of Calcutta (1839-42) and Boulac. In this somewhat ungrateful task, I have +again had the cordial assistance of Captain Burton, who has (as in the case of my "Book of the +Thousand Nights and One Night") been kind enough to look over the proofs of my translation and +to whom I beg once more to tender my warmest thanks. + +Some misconception seems to exist as to the story of Seif dhoul Yezen, a fragment of which was +translated by Dr. Habicht and included, with a number of tales from the Breslau Text, in the +fourteenth Vol. of the extraordinary gallimaufry published by him in 1824-5 as a complete +translation of the 1001 Nights[FN#224] and it has, under the mistaken impression that this long +but interesting Romance forms part of the Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, been +suggested that a complete translation of it should be included in the present publication. The +Romance in question does not, however, in any way, belong to my original and forms no part of +the Breslau Text, as will be at once apparent from an examination of the Table of Contents of the +latter (see post, p. 261), by which all the Nights are accounted for. Dr. Habicht himself tells us, in +his preface to the first Vol. of the Arabic Text, that he found the fragment (undivided into Nights) +at the end of the fifth Volume of his MS., into which other detached tales, having no connection +with the Nights, appear to have also found their way. This being the case, it is evident that the +Romance of Seif dhoul Yezen in no way comes within the scope of the present work and would +(apart from the fact that its length would far overpass my limits) be a manifestly improper addition +to it. It is, however, possible that, should I come across a suitable text of the work, I may make it +the subject of a separate publication; but this is, of course, a matter for future consideration. + + + + + + TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE CALCUTTA (1839-42) + AND BOULAC EDITIONS OF THE ARABIC TEXT OF + THE BOOK OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE + NIGHT. + + + + Night + +INTRODUCTION.--Story of King Shehriyar and his Brother. + a. Story of the Ox and the Ass + 1. The Merchant and the Genie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .i + a. The First Old Man's Story . . . . . . . . . . . . .i + b. The Second Old Man's Story. . . . . . . . . . . . ii + c. The Third Old Man's Story . . . . . . . . . . . . ii + 2. The Fisherman and the Genie. . . . . . . . . . . . . .iii + a. Story of the Physician Douban . . . . . . . . . . iv + aa. Story of King Sindbad and his Falcon. . . . .v + ab. Story of the King's Son and the Ogress. . . .v + b. Story of the Enchanted Youth. . . . . . . . . . .vii + 3. The Porter and the Three Ladies of Baghdad . . . . . . ix + a. The First Calender's Story. . . . . . . . . . . . xi + b. The Second Calender's Story . . . . . . . . . . .xii + ba. Story of the Envier and the Envied[FN#225]xiii + c. The Third Calender's Story. . . . . . . . . . . .xiv + d. The Eldest Lady's Story . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii + e. The Story of the Portress . . . . . . . . . . .xviii + 4. The Three Apples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xix + 5. Noureddin Ali of Cairo and his Son Bedreddin Hassan. . xx + 6. Story of the Hunchback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xxv + a. The Christian Broker's Story. . . . . . . . . . .xxv + b. The Controller's Story. . . . . . . . . . . . .xxvii + c. The Jewish Physician's Story. . . . . . . . . xxviii + d. The Tailor's Story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxix + e. The Barber's Story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxxi + ea. Story of the Barber's First Brother . . . xxxi + eb. Story of the Barber's Second Brother. . . xxxi + ec. Story of the Barber's Third Brother . . .xxxii + ed. Story of the Barber's Fourth Brother. . .xxxii + ee. Story of the Barber's Fifth Brother . . .xxxii + ef. Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother . . xxxiii + 7. Noureddin Ali and the Damsel Enis el Jelis . . . . .xxxiv + 8. Ghanim ben Eyoub the Slave of Love . . . . . . . . .xxxix + a. Story of the Eunuch Bekhit. . . . . . . . . . .xxxix + b. Story of the Eunuch Kafour. . . . . . . . . . .xxxix + 9. The History of King Omar ben Ennuman and his Sons Sherkan and Zoulmekanxlv + a. Story of Taj el Mulouk and the Princess Dunya . cvii + aa. Story of Aziz and Azizeh. . . . . . . . cxliii + b. Bakoun's Story of the Hashish-Eater . . . . . cxliii + c. Hemmad the Bedouin's Story. . . . . . . . . . .cxliv + 10. The Birds and Beasts and the Son of Adam. . . . . .cxlvi + 11. The Hermits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cxlviii + 12. The Waterfowl and the Tortoise. . . . . . . . . .cxlviii + 13. The Wolf and the Fox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cxlviii + a. The Hawk and the Partridge. . . . . . . . . . .cxlix + 14. The Mouse and the Weasel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cl + 15. The Cat and the Crow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cl + 16. The Fox and the Crow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cl + a. The Mouse and the Flea. . . . . . . . . . . . . .cli + b. The Falcon and the Birds. . . . . . . . . . . . clii + c. The Sparrow and the Eagle . . . . . . . . . . . clii + 17. The Hedgehog and the Pigeons. . . . . . . . . . . . clii + a. The Merchant and the Two Sharpers . . . . . . . clii + 18. The Thief and his Monkey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . clii + a. The Foolish Weaver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . clii + 19. The Sparrow and the Peacock . . . . . . . . . . . . clii + 20. Ali ben Bekkar and Shemsennehar . . . . . . . . . .cliii + 21. Kemerezzeman and Budour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . clxx + a. Nimeh ben er Rebya and Num his Slave-girl . ccxxxvii + 22. Alaeddin Abou esh Shamat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ccl + 23. Hatim et Tal; his Generosity after Death. . . . . .cclxx + 24. Maan ben Zaideh and the three Girls . . . . . . . cclxxi + 25. Maan ben Zaideh and the Bedouin . . . . . . . . . cclxxi + 26. The City of Lebtait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cclxxii + 27. The Khalif Hisham and the Arab Youth. . . . . . . cclxxi + 28. Ibrahim ben el Mehdi and the Barber-surgeon . . cclxxiii + 29. The City of Irem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cclxxvi + 30. Isaac of Mosul's Story of Khedijeh and the Khalif Mamouncclxxix + 31. The Scavenger and the Noble Lady of Baghdad . . cclxxxii + 32. The Mock Khalif . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cclxxxvi + 33. Ali the Persian and the Kurd Sharper. . . . . . . ccxciv + 34. The Imam Abou Yousuf with Haroun er Reshid and his Vizier Jaaferccxcvi + 35. The Lover who feigned himself a Thief to save his Mistress's Honourccxcvii + 36. Jaafer the Barmecide and the Bean-Seller. . . . . ccxcix + 37. Abou Mohammed the Lazy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ccc + 38. Yehya ben Khalid and Mensour. . . . . . . . . . . . .ccv + 39. Yehya ben Khalid and the Man who forged a Letter in his Nameccvi + 40. The Khalif El Mamoun and the Strange Doctor . . . .cccvi + 41. Ali Shar and Zumurrud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cccvii + 42. The Loves of Jubeir ben Umeir and the Lady Budourcccxxvii + 43. The Man of Yemen and his six Slave-girls. . . . cccxxxiv + 44. Haroun er Reshid with the Damsel and Abou Nuwascccxxxviii + 45. The Man who stole the Dog's Dish of Gold. . . . . .cccxl + 46. The Sharper of Alexandria and the Master of Policecccxli + 47. El Melik en Nasir and the three Masters of Policecccxliii + a. Story of the Chief of the New Cairo Police. cccxliii + b. Story of the Chief of the Boulac Police . . .cccxliv + c. Story of the Chief of the Old Cairo Police. .cccxliv + 48. The Thief and the Money-Changer . . . . . . . . . ccxliv + 49. The Chief of the Cous Police and the Sharper. . . cccxlv + 50. Ibrahim ben el Mehdi and the Merchant's Sister Night ccxlvi + 51. The Woman whose Hands were cut off for Almsgivingcccxlviii + 52. The Devout Israelite. . . . . . . . . . . . . .cccxlviii + 53. Abou Hassan es Ziyadi and the Man from Khorassan Night ccxlix + 54. The Poor Man and his Generous Friend. . . . . . . .cccli + 55. The Ruined Man who became Rich again through a Dreamcccli + 56. El Mutawekkil and his Favourite Mehboubeh . . . . .cccli + 57. Werdan the Butcher's Adventure with the Lady and the Bearcccliii + 58. The King's Daughter and the Ape . . . . . . . . . .ccclv + 59. The Enchanted Horse Night . . . . . . . . . . . cclvii + 60. Uns el Wujoud and the Vizier's Daughter Rose-in-budccclxxi + 61. Abou Nuwas with the three Boys and the Khalif Haroun er Reshidccclxxxi + 62. Abdallah ben Maamer with the Man of Bassora and his Slave-girlccclxxxiii + 63. The Lovers of the Benou Udhreh. . . . . . . . ccclxxxiii + 64. Tht Vizier of Yemen and his young Brother . . .ccclxxxiv + 65. The Loves of the Boy and Girl at School . . . . ccclxxxv + 66. El Mutelemmis and his Wife Umeimeh. . . . . . . ccclxxxv + 67. Haroun er Reshid and Zubeideh in the Bath . . . ccclxxxv + 68. Haroun er Reshid and the three Poets. . . . . .ccclxxxvi + 69. Musab ben ez Zubeir and Aaisheh his Wife. . . .ccclxxxvi + 70. Aboulaswed and his squinting Slave-girl . . . ccclxxxvii + 71. Haroun er Reshid and the two Girls. . . . . . ccclxxxvii + 72. Haroun er Reshid and the three Girls. . . . . ccclxxxvii + 73. The Miller and his Wife . . . . . . . . . . . ccclxxxvii + 74. The Simpleton and the Sharper . . . . . . . .ccclxxxviii + 75. The Imam Abou Yousuf with Haroun er Reshld and Zubeidehccclxxxviii + 76. The Khalif El Hakim and the Merchant. . . . . .ccclxxxix + 77. King Kisra Anoushirwan and the Village Damsel .ccclxxxix + 78. The Water-Carrier and the Goldsmith's Wife. . . . .cccxc + 79. Khusrau and Shirin and the Fisherman. . . . . . . cccxci + 80. Yehya ben Khalid and the Poor Man . . . . . . . . cccxci + 81. Mohammed el Amin and Jaafer ben el Hadi . . . . .cccxcii + 82. Said ben Salim and the Barmecides . . . . . . . .cccxcii + 83. The Woman's Trick against her Husband . . . . . cccxciii + 84. The Devout Woman and the two Wicked Elders. . . .cccxciv + 85. Jaafer the Barmecide and the Old Bedouin. . . . . cccxcv + 86. Omar ben el Khettab and the Young Bedouin . . . . cccxcv + 87. El Mamoun and the Pyramids of Egypt . . . . . .cccxcviii + 88. The Thief turned Merchant and the other Thief .cccxcviii + 89. Mesrour and Ibn el Caribi . . . . . . . . . . . .cccxcix + 90. The Devout Prince . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cccci + 91. The Schoolmaster who Fell in Love by Report . . . ccccii + 92. The Foolish Schoolmaster. . . . . . . . . . . . .cccciii + 93. The Ignorant Man who set up for a Schoolmaster. .cccciii + 94. The King and the Virtuous Wife. . . . . . . . . . cccciv + 95. Abdurrehman the Moor's Story of the Roc . . . . . cccciv + 96. Adi ben Zeid and the Princess Hind. . . . . . . . .ccccv + 97. Dibil el Khuzai with the Lady and Muslin ben el Welidccccvii + 98. Isaac of Mosul and the Merchant . . . . . . . . .ccccvii + 99. The Three Unfortunate Lovers. . . . . . . . . . . ccccix + 100. The Lovers of the Benou Tai. . . . . . . . . . . .ccccx + 101. The Mad Lover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ccccxi + 102. The Apples of Paradise . . . . . . . . . . . . .ccccxii + 103. The Loves of Abou Isa and Curret el Ain. . . . .ccccxiv + 104. El Amin and his Uncle Ibrahim ben el Mehdi . .ccccxviii + 105. El Feth ben Khacan and El Mutawekkil . . . . . .ccccxix + 106. The Man's Dispute with the Learned Woman of the relative Excellence of the + Sexes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ccccxix + 107. Abou Suweid and the Handsome Old Woman . . . .ccccxxiii + 108. Ali ben Tahir and the Girl Mounis. . . . . . . ccccxxiv + 109. The Woman who had a Boy and the other who had a Man to Loverccccxxiv + 110. The Haunted House in Baghdad . . . . . . . . . ccccxxiv + 111. The Pilgrim and the Old Woman who dwelt in the Desertccccxxxiv + 112. Aboulhusn and his Slave-girl Taweddud. . . . .ccccxxxvi + 113. The Angel of Death with the Proud King and the Devout Mancccclxii + 114. The Angel of Death and the Rich King . . . . . cccclxii + 115. The Angel of Death and the King of the Children of Israelcccclxiii + 116. Iskender Dhoulkernein and a certain Tribe of Poor Folkcccclxiv + 117. The Righteousness of King Anoushirwan. . . . . cccclxiv + 118. The Jewish Cadi and his Pious Wife . . . . . . .cccclxv + 119. The Shipwrecked Woman and her Child. . . . . . cccclxvi + 120. The Pious Black Slave. . . . . . . . . . . . .cccclxvii + 121. The Devout Platter-maker and his Wife. . . . cccclxviii + 122. El Hejjaj ben Yousuf and the Pious Man . . . . .cccclxx + 123. The Blacksmith who could Handle Fire without Hurtcccclxxi + 124. The Saint to whom God gave a Cloud to serve him and the Devout Kingcccclxxiii + 125. The Muslim Champion and the Christian Lady . .cccclxxiv + 126. Ibrahim ben el Khawwas and the Christian King's Daughtercccclxxvii + 127. The Justice of Providence. . . . . . . . . .cccclxxviii + 128. The Ferryman of the Nile and the Hermit. . . .cccclxxix + 129. The King of the Island . . . . . . . . . . . .cccclxxix + 130. Abulhusn ed Durraj and Abou Jaafer the Leper .cccclxxxi + 131. The Queen of the Serpents. . . . . . . . . . cccclxxxii + a. The Adventures of Beloukiya . . . . . . . cccclxxxvi + b. The Story of Janshah. . . . . . . . . . . . ccccxcix + 132. Sindbad the Sailor and Sindbad the Porter. . . . dxxxvi + a. The First Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor. . . dxxxviii + b. The Second Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor . . . dxliii + c. The Third Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor. . . . .dxlvi + d. The Fourth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor . . . . . dl + e. The Fifth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor. . . . . dlvi + f. The Sixth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor. . . . . dlix + g. The Seventh Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor. . . dlxiii + 133. The City of Brass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dlxvi + 134. The Malice of Women. . . . . . . . . . . . . . dlxxviii + a. The King and his Vizier's Wife. . . . . . . dlxxviii + b. The Merchant's Wife and the Parrot. . . . . . dlxxix + c. The Fuller and his Son. . . . . . . . . . . . dlxxix + d. The Lover's Trick against the Chaste Wife . . .dlxxx + e. The Niggard and the Loaves of Bread . . . . . .dlxxx + f. The Lady and her Two Lovers . . . . . . . . . dlxxxi + g. The King's Son and the Ogress . . . . . . . . dlxxxi + h. The Drop of Honey . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dlxxxii + i. The Woman who made her Husband sift Dust. . .dlxxxii + j. The Enchanted Springs . . . . . . . . . . . .dlxxxii + k. The Vizier's Son and the Bathkeeper's Wife. .dlxxxiv + l. The Wife's Device to Cheat her Husband. . . .dlxxxiv + m. The Goldsmith and the Cashmere Singing- girl.dlxxxvi + n. The Man who never Laughed again . . . . . . dlxxxvii + o. The King's Son and the Merchant's Wife. . . . . dxci + p. The Page who feigned to know the Speech of Birdsdxcii + q. The Lady and her five Suitors . . . . . . . . dxciii + r. The Man who saw the Night of Power. . . . . . .dxcvi + s. The Stolen Necklace . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dxcvi + t. The two Pigeons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dxcvii + u. Prince Behram of Persia and the Princess Ed Detmadxcvii + v. The House with the Belvedere. . . . . . . . .dxcviii + w. The King's Son and the Afrit's Mistress . . . . dcii + x. The Sandal-wood Merchant and the Sharpers . . .dciii + y. The Debauchee and the Three-year-old Child. . . .dcv + z. The Stolen Purse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dcv + 135. Jouder and his Brothers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . dcvi + 136. The History ot Gherib and his Brother Agib . . . dcxxiv + 137. Otbeh and Reyya. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dclxxx + 138. Hind Daughter of En Numan and El Hejjaj. . . . .dclxxxi + 139. Khuzeimeh ben Bishr and Ikrimeh el Feyyas. . . dclxxxii + 140. Younus the Scribe and the Khalif Welid ben Sehldclxxxiv + 141. Haroun er Reshid and the Arab Girl . . . . . . .dclxxxv + 142. El Asmai and the three Girls of Bassora. . . . dclxxxvi + 143. Ibrahim of Mosul and the Devil . . . . . . . .dclxxxvii + 144. The Lovers of the Benou Udhreh . . . . . . . dclxxxviii + 145. The Bedouin and his Wife . . . . . . . . . . . . .dcxci + 146. The Lovers of Bassora. . . . . . . . . . . . . .dcxciii + 147. Isaac of Mosul and his Mistress and the Devil. . .dcxcr + 148. The Lovers of Medina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dcxcvi + 149. El Melik en Nasir and his Vizier . . . . . . . .dcxcvii + 150. The Rogueries of Delileh the Crafty and her Daughter Zeyneb the Trickstressdcxcviii + 151. The Adventures of Quicksilver Ali of Cairo, a Sequel to the Rogueries of Delileh + the Crafty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dccviil + 152. Ardeshir and Heyat en Nufous . . . . . . . . . . .dccxu + 153. Julnar of the Sea and her Son King Bedr Basim of Persiaiccxxxviii + 154. King Mohammed ben Sebaik and the Merchant Hassan dcclvi + a. Story of Prince Seif el Mulouk and the Princess Bediya el Jemal dcclviii + 155. Hassan of Bassora and the King's Daughter of the Jinndcclxxviii + 156. Khelifeh the Fisherman of Baghdad. . . . . . . cccxxxii + 157. Mesrour and Zein el Mewasif. . . . . . . . . . .dcccxlv + 158. Ali Noureddin and the Frank King's Daughter. .dccclxiii + 159. The Man of Upper Egypt and his Frank Wife. . . dcccxciv + 160. The Ruined Man of Baghdad and his Slave-girl . dcccxcvi + 161. King Jelyaad of Hind and his Vizier Shimas: whereafter ensueth the History of + King Wird Khan son of King Jelyaad and his Women and Viziersdcccxciz + a. The Cat and the Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . .dccoc + b. The Fakir and his Pot of Butter . . . . . . .dccccii + c. The Fishes and the Crab . . . . . . . . . . dcccciii + d. The Crow and the Serpent. . . . . . . . . . dcccciii + e. The Fox and the Wild Ass. . . . . . . . . . .dcccciv + f. The Unjust King and the Pilgrim Prince. . . . dccccv + g. The Crows and the Hawk. . . . . . . . . . . .dccccvi + k. The Serpent-Charmer and his Wife. . . . . . dccccvii + i. The Spider and the Wind . . . . . . . . . .dccccviii + j. The Two Kings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dccccix + k. The Blind Man and the Cripple . . . . . . . . dccccx + l. The Foolish Fisherman . . . . . . . . . . dccccxviii + m. The Boy and the Thieves . . . . . . . . . dccccxviii + n. The Man and his Wilful Wife . . . . . . . . dccccxix + o. The Merchant and the Thieves. . . . . . . . .dccccxx + p. The Foxes and the Wolf. . . . . . . . . . . dccccxxi + q. The Shepherd and the Thief. . . . . . . . . dccccxxi + r. The Heathcock and the Tortoises . . . . . .dccccxxiv + 162. Aboukir the Dyer and Abousir the Barber. . . . dccccxxx + 163. Abdallah the Fisherman and Abdallah the Merman .dccccxl + 164. The Merchant of Oman . . . . . . . . . . . . .dccccxlvi + 165. Ibrahim and Jemileh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . dcccciii + 166. Aboulhusn of Khorassan . . . . . . . . . . . . dcccclix + 167. Kemerezzeman and the Jeweller's Wife . . . . dcccclxiii + 168. Abdallah ben Fasil and his Brothers. . . . dcccclixviii + 169. Marouf the Cobbler and his Wife Fatimeh. dcccclxxxix-Mi +Conclusion. + + + + + + TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE BRESLAU (TUNIS) + EDITION OF THE ARABIC TEXT OF THE BOOK OF + THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT. + + + Night +Introduction.--Story of King Shehriyar and his Brother. + a. Story of the Ox and the Ass + 1. The Merchant and the Genie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .i + a. The First Old Man's Story . . . . . . . . . . . . iv + b. The Second Old Man's Story. . . . . . . . . . . . vi + c. The Third Old Man's Story . . . . . . . . . . . viii + 2. The Fisherman and the Genie. . . . . . . . . . . . . viii + a. Story of the Physician Douban . . . . . . . . . . xi + aa. Story of the Jealous Man and the Parrot[FN#226]xiv + ab. Story of the King's Son and the Ogress. . . xv + b. Story of the Enchanted Youth. . . . . . . . . . .xxi + 3. The Porter and the Three Ladies of Baghdad . . . . xxviii + a. The First Calender's Story. . . . . . . . . . xxxvii + b. The Second Calender's Story . . . . . . . . . . . xl + ba. The Envier and the Envied . . . . . . . . xlvi + c. The Third Calender's Story. . . . . . . . . . . liii + d. The Eldest Lady's Story . . . . . . . . . . . .lxiii + e. Story of the Portress . . . . . . . . . . . . .lxvii + 4. The Three Apples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lxix + 5. Noureddin Ali of Cairo and his Son Bedreddin Hassan.lxxii + 6. Story of the Hunchback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cii + a. The Christian Broker's Story. . . . . . . . . . cvii + b. The Controller's Story. . . . . . . . . . . . . cxix + c. The Jewish Physician's Story. . . . . . . . . .cxxix + d. The Tailor's Story. . . . . . . . . . . . . .cxxxvii + e. The Barber's Story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cxlix + ea. Story of the Barber's First Brother . . . . ci + eb. Story of the Barber's Second Brother. . . cliv + ec. Story of the Barber's Third Brother . . .clvii + ed. Story of the Barber's Fourth Brother. . clviii + ee. Story of the Barber's Fifth Brother . . . .clx + ef. Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother . . .clxiv + 7. Ali ben Bekkar and Shemsennehar. . . . . . . . . . .clxix + 8. Noureddin Ali and the Damsel Enis el Jelii . . . . .cxcix + 9. Kemerezzeman and Budour. . . . . . . . . . . . . .ccxviii + 10. The Enchanted Horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ccxlir + 11. The Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor . . . . . . . . ccxliv + a. The First Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor. . . . .cclii + b. The Second Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor . . . ccliii + c. The Third Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor. . . . . cclv + d. The Fourth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor . . . .cclix + e. The Fifth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor. . . .cclxiii + f. The Sixth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor. . . . cclxvi + g. The Seventh Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor. . . cclxix + 12. Asleep and Awake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cclxxi + a. The Lackpenny and the Cook. . . . . . . . . cclxxiii + 13. Seif el Mulouk and Bediya el Jemal. . . . . . . . ccxci + 14. Khelif the Fisherman [FN#227] . . . . . . . . . . cccxxi + 15. Ghanim ben Eyoub the Slave of Love. . . . . . . cccxxxii + a. Story of the Eunuch Sewab [FN#228]. . . . . cccxxxiv + b. Story of the Eunuch Kafour ,, + 16. Uns el Wujoud and the Vizier's Daughter Rose- in-budcccxli + 17. The Merchant of Oman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cccliv + 18. Ardeshir and Heyat en Nufous. . . . . . . . . . .ccclxiv + 19. Hassan of Bassora and the King's Daughter of the Jinncclxxxvi + 20. Haroun er Reshid and the three Poets. . . . . .ccccxxxii + 21. Omar ben Abdulaziz and the Poets. . . . . . . .ccccxxxii + 22. El Hejjaj and the three Young Mem . . . . . . .ccccxxxiv + 23. Er Reshid and the Woman of the Barmecides . . .ccccxxxiv + 24. The Ten Viziers; or the History of King Azad- bekht and his Sonccccxxxv + a. The Unlucky Merchant. . . . . . . . . . . . . ccccxl + b. The Merchant and his Sons . . . . . . . . . ccccxliv + c. Abou Sabir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ccccxlviii + d. Prince Bihzad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ccccliii + e. King Dadbin and his Viziers . . . . . . . . . cccclv + f. King Bekhtzeman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cccclxi + g. King Bihkerd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cccclxiv + h. Ilan Shah and Abou Temam. . . . . . . . . . cccclxvi + i. King Ibrahim and his Son. . . . . . . . . . cccclxxi + j. King Suleiman Shah and his Sons . . . . . . cccclxxv + k. The Prisoner and how God gave him Relief . cccclxxxv + 25. The City of Brass . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cccclxxxvii + 26. Nimeh ben er Rebya and Num his Slave-girl . . . . . . di + 27. Alaeddin Abou es Shamat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dxx + 28. Hatim Tai; his Generosity after Death . . . . . . .dxxxi + 29. Maan ben Zaideh and the three Girls . . . . . . . dxxxii + 30. Maan ben Zaideh and the Bedouin . . . . . . . . . dxxxii + 31. The City of Lebtait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dxxxii + 32. The Khalif Hisham and the Arab Youth. . . . . . . dxxxiv + 33. Ibrahim ben el Mehdi and the Barber-Surgeon . . . dxxxiv + 34. The City of Irem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dxxxviii + 35. Isaac of Mosul's Story of Khedijeh and the Khalif Mamoundxl + 36. The Mock Khalif . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dxliii + 37. The Imam Abou Yousuf with Er Reshid and Jaafer. . . .dlv + 38. The Lover who feigned himself a Thief to save his Mistress's Honourdlvii + 39. Abou Mohammed the Lazy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . dlviii + 40. Jaafer ben Yehya and Abdulmelik ben Salih . . . . . dlxv + 41. Jaafer ben Yehya [FN#229] and the Man who forged a Letter in his Namedlxvi + 42. Er Reshid and the Barmecides. . . . . . . . . . . dlxvii + 43. Ibn es Semmak and Er Reshid . . . . . . . . . . .dlxviii + 44. El Mamoun and Zubeideh. . . . . . . . . . . . . .dlxviii + 45. Ali Shir [FN#230] and Zumurrud. . . . . . . . . . .dlxix + 46. The Loves of Budour and Jubeir ben Umeir. . . . dlxxxvii + 47. The Man of Yemen and his six Slave-girls. . . . . . dxcv + 48. Haroun Er Reshid with the Damsel and Abou Nuwas . . . dc + 49. The Man who stole the Dog's Dish of Gold. . . . . . dcii + 50. El Melik en Nasir and the Three Masters of Police .dciii + a. Story of the Chief of the New Cairo Police. . . dciv + b. Story of the Chief of the Boulac Police . . . . .dcv + c. Story of the Chief of the Old Cairo Police. . . .dcv + 51. The Thief and the Money-changer . . . . . . . . . . .dcv + 52. Ibrahim ben el Mehdi and the Merchant's Sister. . . dcvi + 53. King Kelyaad [FN#231] of Hind and his Vizier Shimas dcix + a. The Cat and the Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . dcix + b. The Fakir and his Pot of Butter . . . . . . . . .dcx + c. The Fishes and the Crab . . . . . . . . . . . . dcxi + d. The Crow and the Serpent. . . . . . . . . . . . dcxi + e. The Fox and the Wild Ass. . . . . . . . . . . . dcxi + f. The Unjust King and the Pilgrim Prince. . . . .dcxii + g. The Crows and the Hawk. . . . . . . . . . . . dcxiii + h. The Serpent-Charmer and his Wife. . . . . . . .dcxiv + i. The Spider and the Wind . . . . . . . . . . . . dcxv + j. The Two Kings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dcxvi + k. The Blind Man and the Cripple . . . . . . . . .dcxvi + l. The Foolish Fisherman . dcxxvi + m. The Boy and the Thieves . . . . . . . . . . .dcxxvii + n. The Man and his Wilful Wife . . . . . . . . dcxxviii + o. The Merchant and the Thieves. . . . . . . . . dcxxix + p. The Foxes and the Wolf. . . . . . . . . . . . .dcxxx + q. The Shepherd and the Thief. . . . . . . . . .dcxxxii + r. The Heathcock and the Tortoises . . . . . . .dcxxxiv + 54. The Woman whose Hands were cut off for Almsgiving .dcxli + 55. The Poor Man and his Generous Friend. . . . . . .dcxliii + 56. The Ruined Man who became Rich again through a Dreamdcxliv + 57. Abou Nuwas with the Three Boys and the Khalif Haroun er Reshiddcxlv + 58. The Lovers of the Benou Udhreh [FN#232] . . . . . dcxlvi + 59. El Mutelemmis and his Wife Umeimeh. . . . . . . dcxlviii + 60. Haroun Er Reshid and Zubeideh in the Bath . . . dcxlviii + 61. Musab ben ez Zubeir and Aaisheh his Wife. . . . . dcxlix + 62. Aboulaswed and his Squinting Slave-girl . . . . . . dcli + 63. Haroun er Reshid and the Two Girls. . . . . . . . . dcli + 64. Haroun er Reshid and the Three Girls. . . . . . . . dcli + 65. The Simpleton and the Sharper . . . . . . . . . . .dclii + 66. The Imam Abou Yousuf with Er Reshid and Zubeideh. .dclii + 67. The Khalif El Hakim and the Merchant. . . . . . . dcliii + 68. Kisra Anoushirwan and the Village Damsel. . . . . dcliii + 69. The Water-Carrier and the Goldsmith's Wife. . . . .dcliv + 70. Khusrau and Shirin and the Fisherman. . . . . . . .dclvi + 71. Yehya ben Khalid and the Poor Man . . . . . . . . .dclvi + 73. Mohammed el Amin and Jaafer ben el Hadi . . . . . dclvii + 73. The Woman's Trick against her Husband . . . . . .dclviii + 74. The Devout Woman and the Two Wicked Elders. . . . .dclix + 75 El Fezl ben Rebiya[FN#233] and the Old Bedouin . . . dclx + 76 En Numan and the Arab of the Benou Tai . . . . . . . dclx + 77 The Draper and the Thief[FN#234] . . . . . . . . . .dclxi + 78. Mesrour and Ibn el Caribi . . . . . . . . . . . . dclxii + 79. The Devout Prince . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dclxiv + 80. The Schoolmaster who fell in Love by Report . . . .dclxv + 81. The Foolish Schoolmaster. . . . . . . . . . . . . dclxvi + 82. The Ignorant Man who set up for a Schoolmaster. .dclxvii + 83. Adi ben Zeid and the Princess Hind. . . . . . . dclxviii + 84. Dibil el Khuzai with the Lady and Muslim ben el Weliddclxx + 85. Isaac of Mosul and the Merchant . . . . . . . . . .dclxx + 86. The Three Unfortunate Lovers. . . . . . . . . . .dclxxii + 87. The Lovers of the Benou Tai . . . . . . . . . . dclxxiii + 88. The Mad Lover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dclxxiv + 89. Firous and his Wife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dclxxv + 90. The Apples of Paradise. . . . . . . . . . . . . .dclxxvi + 91. The Loves of Abou Isa and Curret el Ain . . . .dclxxviii + 92. El Amin and his Uncle Ibrahim ben el Mehdi. . . dclxxxii + 93. El Feth ben Khacan and El Mutawekkil. . . . . .dclxxxiii + 94. The Man's Dispute with the Learned Woman of the relative Excellence of + the Sexes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dclxxxiii + 95. Abou Suweid and the Handsome Old Woman. . . . .dclxxxvii + 96. Ali ben Tahir and the Girl Mounis . . . . . . dclxxxviii + 97. The Woman who had a Boy and the other who had a Man to Loverdclxxxviii + 98. The Haunted House in Baghdad. . . . . . . . . dclxxxviii + 99. The History of Gherib and his brother Agib. . . dcxcviii + 100. The Rogueries of Delileh the Crafty and her Daughter Zeyneb the Trickstressdcclvi + 101. The Adventures of Quicksilver Ali of Cairo . . .dcclxvi + 102. Jouder and his Brothers. . . . . . . . . . . . .dcclxxv + 103. Julnar of the Sea and her Son King Bedr Basim of Persiadccxciv + 104. Mesrour and Zein el Mewasif. . . . . . . . . . .dcccxxi + 105. Ali Noureddin and the Frank King's Daughter. . dcccxxxi + 106. The Man of Upper Egypt and his Frank Wife. . . dccclxii + 107. The Ruined Man of Baghdad and his Slave-girl . dccclxiv + 108. Aboukir the Dyer and Abousir the Barber. . . .dccclxvii + 109. Abdallah the Fisherman and Abdallah the Mermandccclxxvii + 110. King Shah Bekhi and his Vizier Er Rehwan . . .dccclxxxv + a. The Man of Khorassan, his Son and his Governordccclxxxvi + b. The Singer and the Druggist . . . . . . dccclxxxviii + c. The King who knew the Quintessence of Things.dcccxci + d. The Rich Man who gave his Fair Daughter in Marriage to the + Poor Old Man. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dcccxcii + e. The Rich Man and his Wasteful Son . . . . .dcccxciii + f. The King's Son who fell in Love with the Picturedcccxciv + g. The Fuller and his Wife . . . . . . . . . . dcccxcvi + h. The Old Woman, the Merchant and the King. . dcccxcvi + i. The Credulous Husband . . . . . . . . . . dcccxcviii + j. The Unjust King and the Tither. . . . . . . dcccxcix + ja. Story of David and Solomon. . . . . . dcccxcix + h. The Thief and the Woman . . . . . . . . . . dcccxcix + l. The Three Men and our Lord Jesus. . . . . . . dcccci + la. The Disciple's Story. . . . . . . . . . dcccci + m. The Dethroned King whose Kingdom and Good were Restored to Himdcccci + n. The Man whose Caution was the Cause of his Deathdcccciii + o. The Man who was lavish of his House and his Victual to one whom + he knew not . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dcccciv + p. The Idiot and the Sharper . . . . . . . . . . dccccv + q. Khelbes and his Wife and the Learned Man. . .dccccvi + r. The Pious Woman accused of Lewdness . . . . dccccvii + s. The Journeyman and the Girl . . . . . . . . .dccccix + t. The Weaver who became a Physician by his Wife's Commandmentdccccix + u. The Two Sharpers who cheated each his Fellow.dccccxi + v. The Sharpers with the Money-Changer and the Assdccccxiv + w. The Sharper and the Merchants . . . . . . . .dccccxv + wa. The Hawk and the Locust . . . . . . . dccccxvi + x. The King and his Chamberlain's Wife . . . .dccccxvii + xa. The Old Woman and the Draper's Wife .dccccxvii + y. The foul-favoured Man and his Fair Wife . dccccxviii + z. The King who lost Kingdom and Wife and Wealth and God + restored them to him. . . . . . . . . . . dccccxix + aa. Selim and Selma. . . . . . . . . . . . . .dccccxxii + bb. The King of Hind and his Visier. . . . .dccccxxviii + 111 El Melik es Zahir Rukneddin Bibers el Bunducdari and the Sixteen + Officers of Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dccccxxx + a. The First Officer's Story . . . . . . . . . dccccxxx + b. The Second Officer's Story. . . . . . . . dccccxxxii + c. The Third Officer's Story . . . . . . . . dccccxxxii + d. The Fourth Officer's Story. . . . . . . . dccccxxxiv + e. The Fifth Officer's Story . . . . . . . . dccccxxxiv + f. The Sixth Officer's Story . . . . . . . . dccccxxxiv + g. The Seventh Officer's Story . . . . . . . dccccxxxiv + h. The Eighth Officer's Story. . . . . . . . .dccccxxxv + ha. The Thief's Story . . . . . . . . dccccxxxviii + i The Ninth Officer's Story. . . . . . . . dccccxxxviii + j. The Tenth Officer's Story . . . . . . . dccccxxxviii + k. The Eleventh Officer's Story. . . . . . dccccxxxviii + l. The Twelfth Officer's Story . . . . . . . dccccxxxix + m. The Thirteenth Officer's Story. . . . . . dccccxxxix + n. The Fourteenth Officer's Story. . . . . . dccccxxxix + na. A Merry Jest of a Thief . . . . . . . .dccccxl + nb. Story of the Old Sharper. . . . . . . .dccccxl + o. The Fifteenth Officer's Story . . . . . . . .dccccxl + p. The Sixteenth Officer's Story . . . . . . . .dccccxl + 112. Abdallah ben Nafi and the King's Son of Cashghardccccxli + a. Story of Tuhfet el Culoub and Haroun er Reshiddccccxlii + 113. Noureddin Ali and Sitt el Milah. . . . . . . dcccclviii + 114. El Abbas and the King's Daughter of Baghdad. .dcccclxvi + 115. The Malice of Women. . . . . . . . . . . . . dcccclxxix + a. The King and his Vizier's Wife. . . . . . .dcccclxxx + b, The Merchant's Wife and the Parrot. . . . .dcccclxxx + c. The Fuller and his Son. . . . . . . . . . .dcccclxxx + d. The Lover's Trick against the Chaste Wife .dcccclxxx + e. The Niggard and the Loaves of Bread . . .dcccclxxxiv + f. The Lady and her Two Lovers . . . . . . .dcccclxxxiv + g. The King's Son and the Ogress . . . . . . dcccclxxxv + h. The Drop of Honey . . . . . . . . . . . .dcccclxxxvi + i. The Woman who made her Husband Sift Dust.dcccclxxxvi + j. The Enchanted Springs . . . . . . . . . .dcccclxxxvi + k. The Vizier's Son and the Bathkeeper's Wifedcccclxxxviii + l. The Wife's Device to Cheat her Husband. .dcccclxxxix + m. The Goldsmith and the Cashmere Singing-Girl .dccccxc + n. The Man who never Laughed again . . . . . . dccccxci + o. The King's Son and the Merchant's Wife. . dccccxciii + p. The Man who saw the Night of Power. . . . dccccxciii + q. The Stolen Necklace . . . . . . . . . . . .dccccxciv + r. Prince Behram of Persia and the Princess Ed Detmadccccxciv + s. The House with the Belvedere. . . . . . . . dccccxcv + t. The Sandalwood Merchant and the Sharpers.dccccxcviii + u. The Debauchee and the Three-year-old Childdccccxcviii + v. The Stolen Purse. . . . . . . . . . . . . .dccccxcix + w. The Fox and the Folk[FN#235]. . . . . . . . . . . .M + 116. The Two Kings and the Vizier's Daughters . . . . . . .M + 117. The Favourite and her Lover. . . . . . . . . . . . . .M + 118. The Merchant of Cairo and the Favourite of the Khalif El Mamoun + El Hikim bi Amrillak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .M +Conclusion + + + + + + TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE UNFINISHED + CALCUTTA (1814-18) EDITION (FIRST TWO HUNDRED + NIGHTS ONLY) OF THE ARABIC TEXT OF THE BOOK + OF THE THOUSAND NIGHTS AND ONE NIGHT. + + + +Introduction. + a. The Ox and the Ass + 1. The Merchant and the Genie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .i + a. The First Old Man's Story . . . . . . . . . . . . ii + b. The Second Old Man's Story[FN#236]. . . . . . . . iv + 2. The Fisherman and the Genie. . . . . . . . . . . . . viii + a. The Physician Douban. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi + aa. The Merchant and the Parrot . . . . . . . .xiv + ab. The King's Son and the Ogress . . . . . . . xv + b. The Enchanted Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xxi + 3. The Porter and the Three Ladies of Baghdad . . . . xxviii + a. The First Calender's Story. . . . . . . . . . .xxxix + b. The Second Calender's Story . . . . . . . . . . xlii + ba. The Envier and the Envied . . . . . . . . xlvi + c. The Third Calender's Story. . . . . . . . . . . liii + d. The Eldest Lady's Story[FN#237] . . . . . . . . lxiv + 4. The Three Apples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lxviii + 5. Noureddin Ali of Cairo and his Son Bedreddin Hassan.lxxii + 6. Isaac of Mosul's Story of Khedijeh and the Khalif El Mamounxciv + 7. Story of the Hunchback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ci + a. The Christian Broker's Story. . . . . . . . . . .cix + b. The Cook's Story[FN#238]. . . . . . . . . . . . cxxi + c. The Jewish Physician's Story. . . . . . . . . .cxxix + d. The Tailor's Story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . cxxxvi + e. The Barber's Story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . cxliii + ea. Story of the Barber's First Brother . . . cxlv + eb. Story of the Barber's Second Brother. .cxlviii + ec. Story of the Barber's Third Brother . . . .cli + ed. Story of the Barber's Fourth Brother. . . clii + ee. Story of the Barber's Fifth Brother . . . cliv + ef. Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother . . clviii + 8. Ali ben Bekkar and Shemsennehar. . . . . . . . . . clxiii + 9. Noureddin Ali and the Damsel Ennis el Jelis. . . . clxxxi + 10. Women's Craft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cxcv-cc + 11. Sindbad the Sailor and Hindbad the Porter[FN#239] + a. The First Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor + b. The Second Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor + c. The Third Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor + d. The Fourth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor + e. The Fifth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor + f. The Sixth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor + g. The Seventh Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor + + + + + + ALPHABETICAL TABLE OF THE FIRST LINES OF THE + VERSE IN THE "TALES FROM THE ARABIC." + + + +N.B.--The Roman numerals denote the volume, the Arabic the page + +A Damsel made for love and decked with subtle grace, iii. 192. +A fair one, to idolaters if she herself should show, iii. 10. +A sun of beauty she appears to all who look on her, iii. 191. +A white one, from her sheath of tresses now laid bare, ii. 291. +After your loss, nor trace of me nor vestige would remain, iii. 41. +Algates ye are our prey become; this many a day and night, iii. 6. +All intercessions come and all alike do ill succeed, ii. 218. +An if my substance fail, no one there is will succour me, i. 6. +An if ye'd of evil be quit, look that no evil ye do, ii. 192. +Assemble, ye people of passion, I pray, iii. 31. +Awaken, O ye sleepers all, and profit, whilst it's here, ii. 234. + +Beard of the old he-goat, the one-eyed, what shall be, ii. 231. +Behold, I am clad in a robe of leaves green, ii. 242. +But for the spying of the eyes [ill-omened,] we had seen, i. 50. +By Allah, but that I trusted that I should meet you again, ii. 266. +By Him whom I worship, indeed, I swear, O thou that mine eye dost fill, ii. 213. + +Damascus is all gardens decked for the pleasance of the eyes, iii. 9. +Drink ever, O lovers, I rede you, of wine, ii. 230. + +El Abbas from Akil his stead is come again, iii. 108. +Endowed with amorous grace past any else am I, ii 253. + +Fair fall the maid whose loosened locks her cheeks do overcloud! iii. 191. +Fair patience practise, for thereon still followeth content, iii. 116. +Fair patience use, for ease still followeth after stress, iii. 117. +For the uses of food I was fashioned and made, ii. 223. +"Forget him," quoth my censurers, "forget him; what is he?" iii. 42. +Fortune its arrows all, through him I love, let fly, iii. 31. +Full many a man incited me to infidelity, i. 205. + +God judge betwixt me and her lord! Away, i. 48. +God keep the days of love-delight! How dearly sweet they were! i. 225. +God keep the days of love-delight! How passing sweet they were! ii. 96 +God knows I ne'er recalled thy memory to my thought, iii. 46. + +Had we thy coming known, we would for sacrifice, i. 13. +Haste not to that thou dost desire; for haste is still unblest, ii. 88. +He who Mohammed sent, as prophet to mankind, i. 50. +His love he'd have hid, but his tears denounced him to the spy, iii. 42 +His love on him took pity and wept for his dismay, ii. 210. +How long, O Fate, wilt thou oppress and baffle me? ii. 69. +How long shall I thus question my heart that's drowned in woe? iii. 42. +How long will ye admonished be, without avail or heed? iii. 40. +How many, in Yemameh, dishevelled widows plain! i. 50. + +I am content, for him I love, to all abide, iii. 25. +I am filled full of longing pain and memory and dole, iii. 15. +I am the champion-slayer he warrior without peer, iii. 94. 249---- +I clipped her in mine arms and straight grew drunken with the scent, iii. 125. +I fear to be seen in the air, ii. 255. +I marvel for that to my love I see thee now incline, iii. 112. +I saw thee, O thou best of all the human race, display, i. 46. +I swear by his life, yea, I swear by the life of my love without peer, iii. 21. +If I must die, then welcome death to heal, iii. 23. +If, in his own land, midst his folk, abjection and despite, ii. 196. +I'm the crown of every sweet and fragrant weed, ii. 255. +In every rejoicing a boon[FN#240] midst the singers and minstrels am I, ii. 258 +In my soul the fire of yearning and affliction rageth aye, iii. 65. +Indeed, thou'st told the tale of kings and men of might, iii. 87. +It chances whiles that the blind man escapes a pit, ii. 51. +It is as the jasmine, when it I espy, ii. 236. + +Let destiny with loosened rein its course appointed fare, iii. 211 +Like a sun at the end of a cane in a hill of sand, iii. 190. +Like the full moon she shows upon a night of fortune fair, iii. 191. +Lo, since the day I left you, O my masters, iii. 24. +Look at the moss-rose, on its branches seen, ii. 256. + +May the place of my session ne'er lack thee! Oh, why, iii. 118 +Me, till I stricken was therewith, to love thou didst excite, iii. 113 +Midst colours, my colour excelleth in light, ii. 258. +Most like a wand of emerald my shape it is, trow I, ii. 245. +My flower a marvel on your heads doth show, ii. 254. +My fortitude fails, my endeavour is vain, ii. 95. +My fruit is a jewel all wroughten of gold, ii. 245. +My heart will never credit that I am far from thee, ii. 275. +My secret is disclosed, the which I strove to hide, iii. 89. +My watering lips, that cull the rose of thy soft cheek, declare, iii. 134. + +No good's in life (to the counsel list of one who's purpose-whole), i. 28. + +O amir of justice, be kind to thy subjects, iii. 24. +O friends, the East wind waxeth, the morning draweth near, iii. 123. +O friends, the tears flow ever, in mockery of my pain, iii. 116. +O hills of the sands and the rugged piebald plain, iii. 20. +O thou that blamest me for my heart and railest at my ill, ii. 101. +O thou that questionest the lily of its scent, ii. 256. +O son of Simeon, give no ear to other than my say, iii. 36. +O'er all the fragrant flowers that be I have the pref'rence aye, ii. 235. +O'erbold art thou in that to me, a stranger, thou hast sent, iii. 83. +Oft as my yearning waxeth, my heart consoleth me, ii. 228. +One of the host am I of lovers sad and sere, ii. 252. + +Pease on thee! Would our gaze might light on thee once more! ii. 89. +Peace on you, people of my troth! With peace I do you greet, ii. 224. + +Quoth I (and mine a body is of passion all forslain), iii. 81. + +Rail not at the vicissitudes of Fate, ii. 219. +Ramazan in my life ne'er I fasted, nor e'er, i. 49. + +Say, by the lightnings of thy teeth and thy soul's pure desire, iii. 19. +She comes in a robe the colour of ultramarine, iii. 190. +Sherik ben Amrou, what device avails the hand of death to stay? i. 204. +Some with religion themselves concern and make it their business all, i. 48. +Still by your ruined camp a dweller I abide, ii. 209. +Still do I yearn, whilst passion's fire flames in my liver are, iii. 111 + +The absent ones' harbinger came us unto, iii. 153. +The billows of thy love o'erwhelm me passing sore, ii. 226. +The crown of the flow'rets am I, in the chamber of wine, ii. 224. +The Merciful dyed me with that which I wear, ii. 245. +The season of my presence is never at an end, ii. 246. +The two girls let me down from fourscore fathoms' height, i. 49. +The zephyr's sweetness on the coppice blew, ii. 235. +They have departed, but the steads yet full of them remain, ii. 239. +They have shut out thy person from my sight, iii. 43. +Thou that the dupe of yearning art, how many a melting wight, iii. 86. +Thou that wast absent from my stead, yet still with me didst bide, iii. 46. +Thy haters say and those who malice to thee bear, iii. 8. +Thy letter reached me; when the words thou wrot'st therein I read, iii. 84. +Thy loss is the fairest of all my heart's woes, iii. 43. +Thy presence honoureth us and we, i. 13. +To his beloved one the lover's heart's inclined, iii. 22. +'Twere better and meeter thy presence to leave, ii. 85. +'Twere fitter and better my loves that I leave, i. 26. + +Unto its pristine lustre your land returned and more, iii. 132. +Unto me the whole world's gladness is thy nearness and thy sight, iii. 15. +Upon the parting day our loves from us did fare, iii. 114. + +Were not the darkness still in gender masculine, iii. 193. +What strength have I solicitude and long desire to bear, iii. 20. +When in the sitting-chamber we for merry-making sate, iii. 135. +Whenas mine eyes behold thee not, that day, iii. 47. +Whenas the soul desireth one other than its peer, ii 207. +Wind of the East, if thou pass by the land where my loved ones dwell, I pray, ii. 204, 271. +Would God upon that bitterest day, when my death calls for me, i. 47 +Would we may live together, and when we come to die, i. 47. + +Ye chide at one who weepeth for troubles ever new, iii. 30. +Ye know I'm passion-maddened, racked with love and languishment, ii. 230. +Your coming to-me-ward, indeed, with "Welcome! Fair welcome!" I hail, iii. 136. +Your water I'll leave without drinking, for there, i. 210. + + + + + + INDEX TO THE NAMES OF THE "TALES FROM THE + ARABIC" + + + +N.B.-The Roman numerals denote the volume, the Arabic the page + +Abbas (El) and the King's Daughter of Baghdad, iii. 53. +Abbaside, Jaafer ben Yehya and Abdulmelik ben Salih the, i. 183. +Abdallah ben Nafi and the King's Son of Cashghar, ii. 195. +Abdulmelik ben Salih the Abbaside, Jaafer ben Yehya, and, i. 183. +Abou Sabir, Story of, i. 90. +Abou Temam, Story of Ilan Shah and, i. 126. +Actions, Of the Issues of Good and Evil, i. 103. +Advantages of Patience, Of the, i. 89. +Affairs, Of Looking to the Issues of, i. 80. +Ali of Damascus and Sitt el Milah, Noureddin, iii. 3. +Appointed Term, Of the, i. 147. +Arab of the Benou Tai, En Numan and the, i. 203. +Asleep and Awake, i. 5. +Ass, the Sharpers, the Money-Changer and the, ii. 41. +Awake, Asleep and, i. 5. +Azadbekht and his Son, History of King, i. 61 + +Baghdad, El Abbas and the King's Daughter of, iii. 53. +Barmecides, Er Reshid and the, i. 189. +Barmecides, Haroun er Reshid and the Woman of the, i. 57. +Bekhtzeman, Story of King, i. 115. +Benou Tai, En Numan and the Arab of the, i. 203. +Bibers el Bunducdari and the Sixteen Officers of Police, El Melik ez Zahir Rukneddin, ii. 117. +Bihkerd, Story of King, i. 121. +Bihzad, Story of Prince, i. 99. +Bunducdari (El) and the Sixteen Officers of Police, El Melik ez Zahir Rukneddin Bibers, ii. 117. + +Cairo (The Merchant of) and the Favourite of the Khalif El Mamoun El Hakim bi Amrillah, iii. + 171. +Cashghar, Abdallah ben Nafi and the King's Son of, ii. 195. +Caution was the Cause of his Death, The Man whose, i 291. +Chamberlain's Wife, The King and his, ii. 53. +Clemency, Of, i. 120. +Cook, The Lackpenny and the, i. 9. +Craft, Women's, ii. 287. +Credulous Husband, The, i. 270. + +Dadbin (King) and his Viziers, Story of, i. 104. +Damascus (Noureddin Ali of) and Sitt el Milah, iii. 3. +Daughter of the Poor Old Man, The Rich Man who married his Fair, i. 247. +Daughters, The Two Kings and the Vizier's, iii. 145. +David and Solomon, i. 275. +Death, The Man whose Caution was the Cause of his, i. 291. +Destiny, Of, i. 136. +Dethroned King whose Kingdom and Good were restored to him, The, i. 285. +Disciple's Story, The, i. 283. +Draper's Wife, The Old Woman and the, ii. 55. +Druggist, The Singer and the, i. 229. + +Eighth Officer's Story, The, ii. 155. +Eleventh Officer's Story, The, ii. 175. +Endeavour against Persistent Ill Fortune, Of the Uselessness of, i. 70. +Envy and Malice, Of, i. 125. + +Favourite and her Lover, The, iii. 165. +Favourite of the Khalif El Mamoun el Hakim bi Amrillah, The Merchant of Cairo and the, iii. 171. +Fifteenth Officer's Story, The, ii. 190. +Fifth Officer's Story, The, ii. 144. +Firouz and his Wife, i. 209. +First Officer's Story, The, ii. 122. +Forehead, Of that which is written on the, i. 136. +Fortune, Of the Uselessness of Endeavour against Persistent Ill, i. 70. +Foul-favoured Man and his Fair Wife, The, ii. 61. +Fourteenth Officer's Story, The, ii. 183. +Fourth Officer's Story, The, ii. 142. +Fuller and his Wife, The, i. 261. + +Girl, The Journeyman and the, ii. 17. +God, Of the Speedy Relief of, i. 174. +God, Of Trust in, i. 114. +Governor, Story of the Man of Khorassan, his Son and his, i. 218. + +Hakim (El) bi Amrillah, The Merchant and the Favourite of the Khalif El Mamoun, iii. 171. +Haroun er Reshid, Tuhfet el Culoub and, ii. 203. +Haroun er Reshid and the Woman of the Barmecides, i. 57. +Hawk and the Locust, The, ii. 50. +Hejjaj (El) and the Three Young Men, i. 53. +Hind and his Vizier, The King of, ii. 105. +Hindbad the Porter, Sindbad the Sailor and, iii. 199. +Husband, The Credulous, i. 270. + +Ibn es Semmak and Er Reshid, i. 195. +Ibrahim and his Son, Story of King, i. 138. +Idiot and the Sharper, The, i. 298. +Ilan Shah and Abou Temam, Story of, i. 126. +Ill Effects of Precipitation, Of the, i. 98. +Ill Fortune, Of the Uselessness of Endeavour against Persistent, i 70. +Issues of Affairs, Of Looking to the, i. 80. +Issues of Good and Evil Actions, Of the, i. 103. + +Jaafer ben Yehya and Abdulmelik ben Salih the Abbaside, i. 183. +Jest of a Thief, A Merry, ii. 186. +Jesus, The Three Men and our Lord, i. 282. +Journeyman and the Girl, The, ii. 17. + +Khalif, El Mamoun El Hakim bi Amrillah, The Merchant of Cairo and the Favourite of the, iii. + 171. +Khalif Omar ben Abdulaziz and the Poets, The, i. 45. +Khelbes and his Wife and the Learned Man, i. 301. +Khorassan, his Son and his Governor, Story of the Man of, i. 218. +King Azadbekht and his Son, History of, i. 61. +King Bekhtzeman, Story of, i. 115. +King Bihkerd, Story of, i. 121. +King and his Chamberlain's Wife, The, ii. 53. +King Dadbin and his Viziers, Story of, i. 104. +King (The Dethroned), whose Kingdom and Good were restored to him, i. 285. +King of Ind and his Vizier, The, ii. 105. +King Ibrahim and his Son, Story of, i. 138. +King who lost Kingdom and Wife and Wealth, The, ii. 66. +King, The Old Woman, the Merchant and the, i. 265. +King who knew the Quintessence of Things, The, i. 230. +King Shah Bekht and his Vizier Er Rehwan, i. 215. +King Suleiman Shah and his Sons, Story of, i. 150 +King (The Unjust) and the Tither, i. 273. +King's Daughter of Baghdad, El Abbas and the, iii. 53. +King's Son of Cashghar, Abdullah ben Nafi and the, ii. 195. +Kings and the Vizier's Daughters, The Two, iii. 145. + +Lackpenny and the Cook, The, i. 9. +Lavish of House and Victual to one whom he knew not, The Man who was, i. 293. +Learned Man, Khelbes and his Wife and the, i. 301. +Lewdness, The Pious Woman accused of, ii. 5. +Locust, The Hawk and the, ii. 50. +Looking to the Issues of Affairs, Of, i. 80. +Lover, The Favourite and her, iii. 165. + +Malice, Of Envy and, i. 125. +Mamoun (El) El Hakim bi Amrillah, The Merchant and the Favourite of the Khalif, iii. 171. +Mamoun (El) and Zubeideh, i. 199. +Man whose Caution was the Cause of his Death, The, i. 291. +Man and his Fair Wife, The Foul-favoured, ii. 61. +Man of Khorassan, his Son and his Governor, Story of the, i. 218. +Man who was lavish of House and Victual to One whom he knew not, The, i 293. +Mariyeh, El Abbas and, iii. 53. +Marriage to the Poor Old Man, The Rich Man who gave his Fair Daughter in, i. 247. +Melik (El) Ez Zahir Rukneddin Bibers el Bunducdari and the Sixteen Officers of Police, ii. 117. +Men and our Lord Jesus, The Three, i. 282. +Merchant of Cairo and the Favourite of the Khalif El Maraoun El Hakim bi Amrillah, The, iii. + 171. +Merchant and the King, The Old Woman, the, i. 265. +Merchant and his Sons, The, i. 81. +Merchant, The Unlucky, i. 73. +Merchants, The Sharper and the, ii. 46. +Merouzi (El) and Er Razi, ii. 28. +Merry Jest of a Thief, A, ii. 186. +Money-Changer and the Ass, The Sharpers, the, ii. 41. + +Ninth Officer's Story, The, ii. 167. +Noureddin Ali of Damascus and Sitt el Milan, iii, 3. +Numan (En) and the Arab of the Benou Tai, i. 203. + +Officer's Story, The First, ii. 122. +Officer's Story, The Second, ii. 134. +Officer's Story, The Third, ii. 137. +Officer's Story, The Fourth, ii. 142. +Officer's Story, The Fifth, ii. 144. +Officer's Story, The Sixth, ii. 146. +Officer's Story, The Seventh, ii. 150. +Officer's Story, the Eighth, ii. 155. +Officer's Story, The Ninth, ii. 167. +Officer's Story, The Tenth, ii. 172. +Officer's Story, The Eleventh, ii. 175. +Officer's Story, The Twelfth, ii. 179. +Officer's Story, The Thirteenth, ii. 181. +Officer's Story, The Fourteenth, ii. 183. +Officer's Story, The Fifteenth, ii. 190. +Officer's Story, The Sixteenth, ii. 193. +Officers of Police, El Melik ez Zahir Rukneddin Bibers el Bunducdar and the Sixteen, ii. 117. +Old Sharper, Story of the, ii. 187. +Old Woman and the Draper's Wife, The, ii. 55. +Old Woman, the Merchant and the King, The, i. 265. +Omar ben Abdulaziz and the Poets, The Khalif, i. 45. + +Patience, Of the Advantages of, i. 89. +Physician by his Wife's Commandment, The Weaver who became a, ii. 21. +Picture, The Prince who fell in love with the, i. 256. +Pious Woman accused of Lewdness, The, ii. 5. +Poets, The Khalif Omar ben Abdulaziz and the, i. 45. +Police, El Melik ez Zahir Rukneddin Bibers el Bunducdari and the Sixteen Officers of, ii. 117. +Poor Old Man, The Rich Man who gave his Fair Daughter in Marriage to the, i. 247. +Porter, Sindbad the Sailor and Hindbad the, iii. 199 +Precipitation, Of the Ill Effects of, i. 98 +Prince Bihzad, Story of, i. 99. +Prince who fell in Love with the Picture, The, i. 256. +Prisoner and how God gave him Relief, Story of the, i. 174. + +Quintessence of Things, The King who knew the, i. 230. + +Razi (Er) and El Merouzi, ii. 28. +Rehwan (Er), King Shah Bekht and his Vizier, i. 215. +Relief of God, Of the Speedy, i. 174. +Relief, Story of the Prisoner and how God gave him, i. 174. +Reshid (Er) and the Barmecides, i. 189. +Reshid (Er), Ibn es Semmak and, i. 195. +Reshid (Er), Tuhfet el Culoub and, ii. 203. +Reshid (Haroun er) and the Woman of the Barmecides, i. 57. +Rich Man who gave his Fair Daughter in Marriage to the Poor Old Man, The, i. 247. +Rich Man and his Wasteful Son, The, i. 252. + +Sabir (Abou), Story of, i. 90. +Sailor and Hindbad the Porter, Sindbad the, iii. 199. +Second Officer's Story, The, ii. 134. +Selim and Selma, ii. 81. +Selma, Selim and, ii. 81. +Semmak (Ibn es) and Er Reshid, i. 195. +Seventh Officer's Story, The, ii. 150. +Seventh Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor, The, iii. 224. +Shah Bekht and his Vizier Er Rehwan, King, i. 215. +Sharper, The Idiot and the, i. 298. +Sharper and the Merchant, The, ii. 46 +Sharper, Story of the Old, ii. 187. +Sharpers who cheated each his Fellow, The Two, ii. 28. +Sharpers, The Money-Changer and the Ass, The, ii. 41. +Shehriyar, Shehrzad and, ii. 111, iii. 141, 157. +Shehrzad and Shehriyar, ii. 111, iii. 141, 157. +Sindbad the Sailor and Hindbad the Porter, iii. 199. +Sindbad the Sailor, The Seventh Voyage of, iii. 224. +Sindbad the Sailor, The Sixth Voyage of, iii. 203. +Singer and the Druggist, The, i. 229. +Sitt el Milah, Noureddin Ali of Damascus and, iii. 3. +Sixteen Officers of Police, El Melik ez Zahir Rukneddin Bibers el Bunducdari and the, ii. 117. +Sixteenth Officer's Story, The, ii. 193. +Sixth Officer's Story, The, ii. 146. +Sixth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor, The, iii. 203. +Solomon, David and, i. 275. +Son, The History of King Azadbekht and his, i. 61. +Son and his Governor, Story of the Man of Khorassan, his, i. 218 +Son, Story of King Ibrahim and his, i. 138. +Son, The Rich Man and his Wasteful, i. 252. +Sons, Story of King Suleiman Shah and his, i. 150. +Sons, The Merchant and his, i. 81. +Speedy Relief of God, Of the, i. 174. +Suleiman Shah and his Sons, Story of King, i. 150. + +Tai, En Numan and the Arab of the Benou. i. 203. +Temam (Abou), Story of Ilan Shah and, i. 126. +Ten Viziers, The, i. 61 +Tenth Officer's Story, The, ii. 172 +Term, Of the Appointed, i. 147. +Thief, A Merry Jest of a, ii. 186. +Thiefs Story, The, ii. 165. +Thief and the Woman, The, i. 278 +Things, The King who knew the Quintessence of, i. 239 +Third Officer's Story, The, ii. 137. +Thirteenth Officer's Story, The, ii. 181. +Three Men and our Lord Jesus, The, i. 282. +Three Young Men, El Hejjaj and the, i. 53. +Tither, The Unjust King and the, i. 273. +Trust in God, Of, 114. +Tuhfet el Culoub and Er Reshid, ii. 203. +Twelfth Officer's Story, The, ii. I79. +Two Kings and the Vizier's Daughters, The, iii. 145 + +Unjust King and the Tither, The, i. 272 +Unlucky Merchant, The, i 73. +Uselessness of Endeavour against Persistent Ill Fortune, Of the, i. 70 + +Vizier, The King of Hind and his, ii. 105. +Vizier Er Rehwan, King Shah Bekht and his, i. 215. +Vizier's Daughters, The Two Kings and the, iii. 145, +Viziers, Story of King Dadbin and his. i. 104. +Viziers, The Ten, i. 61. +Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor, The Seventh, iii. 224. +Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor, The Sixth, iii. 203. + +Wasteful Son, The Rich Man and his, i. 252. +Weaver who became a Physician by his Wife's Commandment, The ii. 21. +Wife, The King and his Chamberlain's, ii. 53. +Wife, The Old Woman and the Draper's, ii. 55. +Wife, Firouz aad his, i. 209. +Wife, The Fuller and his, i. 261. +Wife and the Learned Man, Khelbes and his, i. 301. +Woman accused of Lewdness, The Pious, ii. 5. +Woman of the Barmecides, Haroun er Reshid and the, i. 57. +Woman, The Thief and the, i. 278. +Woman (The Old) and the Draper's Wife, ii. 55. +Woman (The Old), the Merchant and the King, i. 265. +Women's Craft, ii. 287. + +Young Men, El Hejjaj and the Three, i. 53. + +Zubeideh, El Mamoun and, i. 199 + + + + + +The End. + + + + + + Tales from the Arabic, Volume 3 + Endnotes + + + + + +[FN#1] Breslau Text, vol. xii. pp. 50-116, Nights dcccclviii-dcccclxv. + +[FN#2] Babylon, according to the Muslims, is the head-quarters of sorcery and it is there that the +two fallen angels, Harout and Marout, who are appointed to tempt mankind by teaching them the +art of magic, are supposed to be confined. + +[FN#3] i.e. "my lord," a title generally prefixed to the names of saints. It is probable, therefore, +that the boy was named after some saint or other, whose title, as well as name, was somewhat +ignorantly appropriated to him. + +[FN#4] i.e. one and all? + +[FN#5] i.e. a foretaste of hell. + +[FN#6] Lit. he loaded his sleeve with. + +[FN#7] A mithcal is the same as a dinar, i.e. about ten shillings. + +[FN#8] Masculine. + +[FN#9] He was a noted debauchee, as well as the greatest poet of his day See my "Book of the +Thousand Nights and One Night," Vol. IV. p. 205, and Vol. IX. p. 332. + +[FN#10] See ante, Vol. II. p. 240. note. + +[FN#11] Princess of the Fair. + +[FN#12] i.e. Ye are welcome to. + +[FN#13] i.e. the place in which those accused or convicted of crimes of violence were confined. + +[FN#14] i.e. a youth slender and flexile as a bough. + +[FN#15] i.e. sway gracefully. A swimming gait is the ideal of elegance to the Arab. + +[FN#16] An Arab of Medina, proverbial for faithlessness. + +[FN#17] Joseph is the Mohammedan prototype of beauty. + +[FN#18] For the loss of Joseph. Jacob, in like manner, is the Muslim type of inconsolable grief. + +[FN#19] Uncle of the Prophet. + +[FN#20] First cousin of the Prophet. + +[FN#21] i.e. cut off her head. + +[FN#22] When asked, on the Day of Judgment, why he had slain her. + +[FN#23] i.e. that some one of the many risings in Khorassan (which was in a chronic state of +rebellion during Er Reshid's reign) had been put down. + +[FN#24] Lit. fry. The custom is to sear the stump by plunging it into boiling oil. + +[FN#25] Lit. of those having houses. + +[FN#26] i.e. from God in the world to come. + +[FN#27] I look to get God's favour in consequence of thy fervent prayers for me. + +[FN#28] Provided for ablution. + +[FN#29] i.e. if you want a thing done, do it yourself. + +[FN#30] i.e. put on the ordinary walking dress of the Eastern lady, which completely hides the +person. + +[FN#31] This is apparently said in jest; but the Muslim Puritan (such as the strict Wehhabi) is +often exceedingly punctilious in refusing to eat or use anything that is not sanctified by mention in +the Koran or the Traditions of the Prophet, in the same spirit as the old Calvinist Scotchwoman of +popular tradition, who refused to eat muffins, because they "warna mentioned in the Bible." + +[FN#32] i.e. a leader (lit. foreman, antistes) of the people at prayer. + +[FN#33] Koran ii. 168. + +[FN#34] i.e. I have eaten largely and the food lies heavy on my stomach. + +[FN#35] Wine is considered by the Arabs a sovereign digestive. See my "Book of the Thousand +Nights and One Night," Vol. IV. p. 357. + +[FN#36] "The similitude of Paradise, the which is promised unto those who fear [God]. Therein +are rivers of water incorruptible and rivers of milk, the taste whereof changeth not, and rivers of +wine, a delight to the drinkers, and rivers of clarified honey."--Koran xlvii. 16, 17. + +[FN#37] The ox is the Arab type of stupidity, as with us the ass. + +[FN#38] Syn. wood (oud). + +[FN#39] i.e. my pallor and emaciation testify to the affliction of my heart and the latter bears +witness that the external symptoms correctly indicate the internal malady. + +[FN#40] Lit. he is [first] the deposit of God, then thy deposit. + +[FN#41] Or "by." + +[FN#42] See supra, Vol. I. p. 35, note. + +[FN#43] i.e. made him Chief of the Police of Baghdad, in place of the former Prefect, whom he +had put to death with the rest of Noureddin's oppressors. + +[FN#44] For affright. + +[FN#45] i.e. religious ceremonies so called. See my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One +Night," Vol. IX. p. 113, note. + +[FN#46] Breslau Text, vol. xii. pp. 116-237, Nights dcccclxvi-dcccclxxix. + +[FN#47] i.e. A member of the tribe of Sheiban. No such King of Baghdad (which was not +founded till the eighth century) as Ins ben Cais is, I believe, known to history. + +[FN#48] The cities and provinces of Bassora and Cufa are generally known as "The Two Iraks"; +but the name is here in all probability used in its wider meaning of Irak Arabi (Chaldaea) and Irak +Farsi (Persian Irak). + +[FN#49] i.e. all those languages the knowledge whereof is necessary to an interpreter or +dragoman (properly terjeman). Or quaere is the word terjemaniyeh (dragomanish) here a +mistranscription for turkumaniyeh (Turcoman). + +[FN#50] i.e. gilded? + +[FN#51] i.e. sperma hominis. + +[FN#52] Syn. good breeding. + +[FN#53] i.e. those women of equal age and rank with herself. + +[FN#54] i.e. vaunting himself of offering richer presents. + +[FN#55] Apparently Zebid, the ancient capital of the province of Tehameh in Yemen, a town on +the Red Sea, about sixty miles north of Mocha. The copyist of the Tunis MS. appears to have +written the name with the addition of the characteristic desinence (oun) of the nominative case, +which is dropped except in the Koran and in poetry. + +[FN#56] Name of the province in which Mecca is situated. + +[FN#57] Syn. assembly. + +[FN#58] i.e. day and night, to wit, for ever. + +[FN#59] Syn. the loftiness of his purpose. + +[FN#60] Lit "I charm thee by invoking the aid of God for thee against evil" or "I seek refuge with +God for thee." + +[FN#61] Or "determinate." + +[FN#62] Koran xxxiii. 38. + +[FN#63] Or "accomplishments." + +[FN#64] i.e. to make a pleasure-excursion. + +[FN#65] Lit. beset his back. + +[FN#66] Lit. in its earth. + +[FN#67] The king's own tribe. + +[FN#68] i.e. the Arab of the desert or Bedouin (el Aarabi), the nomad. + +[FN#69] i.e. the martial instinct. + +[FN#70] Lit. "And he who is oppressed shall become oppressor." + +[FN#71] i.e. be not ashamed to flee rather than perish in thy youth, if his prowess (attributed to +diabolical aid or possession) prove too much for thee. + +[FN#72] A periphrastic way of saying, "I look to God for help." + +[FN#73] i.e. from the world. + +[FN#74] In laughter. + +[FN#75] i.e. as he were a flying genie, swooping down upon a mortal from the air, hawk-fashion. + +[FN#76] Syn. "Thou settest out to me a mighty matter." + +[FN#77] i.e. the castle. + +[FN#78] i.e. was eloquent and courtly to the utmost. + +[FN#79] i.e. died. + +[FN#80] The Arabs use the right hand only in eating. + +[FN#81] Name of a quarter of Baghdad. + +[FN#82] i.e. he summoneth thee to his presence by way of kindness and not because he is wroth +with thee. + +[FN#83] i.e. in allowing thee hitherto to remain at a distance from as and not inviting thee to +attach thyself to our person. + +[FN#84] An Arab idiom, meaning "he showed agitation." + +[FN#85] Apparently two well-known lovers. + +[FN#86] Apparently two well-known lovers. + +[FN#87] i.e. the wandering Arabs. + +[FN#88] i.e. slain. + +[FN#89] "O ye who believe, seek aid of patience and prayer; verily, God is with the +patient."--Koran ii. 148. + +[FN#90] Lit. "ignorant one" (jahil). + +[FN#91] i.e. Peninsula. Jezireh (sing, of jezair, islands) is constantly used by the Arabs in this +sense; hence much apparent confusion in topographical passages. + +[FN#92] i.e. Mecca and Medina. + +[FN#93] i.e. whether on a matter of sport, such as the chase, or a grave matter, such as war, etc. + +[FN#94] i.e. the children of his fighting-men whom thou slewest. + +[FN#95] Arab fashion of shaking hands. See my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night," +Vol. IX p. 171, note. + +[FN#96] Lit. a cleft meadow (merj selia). This is probably a mistranscription for merj sselia, a +treeless champaign. + +[FN#97] i.e. one of the small rooms opening upon the hall of audience at saloon of estate. + +[FN#98] So she might hear and see what passed, herself unseen. + +[FN#99] Or knowledge of court etiquette. + +[FN#100] i.e. richer. + +[FN#101] Lit. seen. + +[FN#102] Lit. what she did. + +[FN#103] i.e. tabooed or unlawful in a religious sense (heram). + +[FN#104] i.e. those of El Aziz, who had apparently entered the city or passed through it on their +way to the camp of El Abbas. + +[FN#105] Lit. none of the sons of the road. + +[FN#106] i.e. the stars. + +[FN#107] i.e. in falsetto? + +[FN#108] by thine absence. + +[FN#109] Common abbreviation for "May I be thy ransom!" + +[FN#110] i.e. for love of and longing for. + +[FN#111] i.e. leather from Et Taif, a town of the Hejaz, renowned for the manufacture of scented +goats' leather. + +[FN#112] Or "suspended in." + +[FN#113] i.e. violateth my privacy. + +[FN#114] i.e. the plaintive song of a nightingale or turtle-dove. + +[FN#115] This curious comparison appears to be founded upon the extreme tenuity of the +particles of fine dust, so minutely divided as to seem almost fluid. + +[FN#116] i.e. he carried it into the convent, hidden under his cloak. + +[FN#117] i.e. all the delights of Paradise, as promised to the believer by the Koran. + +[FN#118] "Him" in the text and so on throughout the piece; but Mariyeh is evidently the person +alluded to, according to the common practice of Muslim poets of a certain class, who consider it +indecent openly to mention a woman as an object of love. + +[FN#119] i.e. from the witchery of her beauty. See Vol. II. p. 240, note. + +[FN#120] Lit "if thou kohl thyself" i.e. use them as a cosmetic for the eye. + +[FN#121] i.e. we will assume thy debts and responsibilities. + +[FN#122] Lit "behind." + +[FN#123] i.e. a specially auspicious hour, as ascertained by astrological calculations. Eastern +peoples have always laid great stress upon the necessity of commencing all important +undertakings at an (astrologically) favourable time. + +[FN#124] Or "more valuable." Red camels are considered better than those of other colours by +some of the Arabs. + +[FN#125] i.e. couriers mounted on dromedaries, which animals are commonly used for this +purpose, being (for long distances) swifter and more enduring than horses. + +[FN#126] Lit. he sinned against himself. + +[FN#127] i.e. in falsetto? + +[FN#128] i.e. of gold or rare wood, set with balass rubies. + +[FN#129] i.e. whose absence. + +[FN#130] i.e. in a throat voice? + +[FN#131] Koranic synonym, victual (rihan). See Vol. II. p. 247, note. + +[FN#132] Apparently, the apple of the throat. + +[FN#133] Apparently, the belly. + +[FN#134] Apparently, the bosom. + +[FN#135] Cf. Fletcher's well-known song in The Bloody Brother; + + "Hide, O hide those hills of snow, + That thy frozen bosom bears, + On Whose Tops the Pinks That Grow + Are of those that April wears." + +[FN#136] i.e. the breasts themselves. + +[FN#137] i.e. your languishing beauties are alone present to my mind's eye. A drowsy voluptuous +air of languishment is considered by the Arabs an especial charm. + +[FN#138] Syn. chamberlain (hajib). + +[FN#139] Syn. eyebrow (hajib). The usual trifling play of words is of course intended. + +[FN#140] Lit. feathers. + +[FN#141] Solomon is fabled by the Muslims to have compelled the wind to bear his throne when +placed upon his famous magic carpet. See my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night," +Vol. V. pp. 235-6. + +[FN#142] Quære the teeth. + +[FN#143] i.e. the return of our beloved hath enabled us to remove the barriers that stood between +us and delight. + +[FN#144] Singing (as I have before pointed out) is not, in the eyes of the strict Muslim, a +reputable occupation and it is, therefore, generally the first idea of the "repentant" professional +songstress or (as in this case) enfranchised slave-girl, who has been wont to entertain her master +with the display of her musical talents, to free herself from all signs of her former profession and +identify herself as closely as possible with the ordinary "respectable" bourgeoise of the harem, +from whom she has been distinguished hitherto by unveiled face and freedom of ingress and +egress; and with this aim in view she would naturally be inclined to exaggerate the rigour of +Muslim custom, as applied to herself. + +[FN#145] Breslau Text, vol. xii. pp. 383-4 (Night mi). + +[FN#146] i.e. that of the king, his seven viziers, his son and his favourite, which in the Breslau +Edition immediately follows the Story of El Abbas and Mariyeh and occupies pp. 237-383 of vol. +xii. (Nights dcccclxxix-m). It will be found translated in my "Book of the Thousand Nights and +One Night," Vol. V. pp. 260-346, under the name of "The Malice of Women." + +[FN#147] i.e. those who practise it. + +[FN#148] Or "cause" (sebeb). + +[FN#149] Or "preservation" (selameh). + +[FN#150] Or "turpitude, anything that is hateful or vexatious" (keraheh). + +[FN#151] Or "preservation" (selameh). + +[FN#152] Or "turpitude, anything that is hateful or vexatious" (keraheh). + +[FN#153] These preliminary words of Shehrzad have no apparent connection with the story that +immediately follows and which is only her own told in the third person, and it is difficult to +understand why they should be here introduced. The author may have intended to connect them +with the story by means of a further development of the latter and with the characteristic +carelessness of the Eastern story-teller, forgotten or neglected to carry out his intention; or, again, +it is possible that the words in question may have been intended as an introduction to the Story of +the Favourite and her Lover (see post, p. 165), to which they seem more suitable, and have been +misplaced by an error of transcription. In any case, the text is probably (as usual) corrupt. + +[FN#154] Breslau Text, vol. xii. pp. 384-394. + +[FN#155] The kingdom of the elder brother is afterwards referred to as situate in China. See post, +p. 150. + +[FN#156] Tubba was the dynastic title of the ancient Himyerite Kings of Yemen, even as +Chosroës and Cæsar of the Kings of Persia and the Emperors of Constantinople respectively. + +[FN#157] i.e. a king similar in magnificence and dominion to the monarchs of the three dynasties +aforesaid, whose names are in Arab literature synonyms for regal greatness. + +[FN#158] i.e. his rage was ungovernable, so that none dared approach him in his heat of passion. + +[FN#159] i.e. maidens cloistered or concealed behind curtains and veiled in the harem. + +[FN#160] i.e. those whose business it is to compose or compile stories, verses, etc., for the +entertainment of kings and grandees. + +[FN#161] i.e. that his new and damnable custom. The literal meaning of bidah is "an innovation +or invention, anything new;" but the word is commonly used in the sense of "heresy" or +"heterodox innovation," anything new being naturally heretical in the eyes of the orthodox +religionist. + +[FN#162] i.e. women. + +[FN#163] Breslau Text, vol. xii. pp. 394-398. + +[FN#164] i.e. his apathy or indifference to the principles of right and wrong and the consequences +of his wicked behaviour. + +[FN#165] i.e. in a state of reprobation, having incurred the wrath of God. + +[FN#166] hath mentioned the office of vizier. + +[FN#167] Koran xx. 30. + +[FN#168] i.e. none had been better qualified to dispense with a vizier than he. + +[FN#169] i.e. the essential qualification. + +[FN#170] The word jeish (troops) is here apparently used in the sense at officials, ministers of +government. + +[FN#171] Or "rectification." + +[FN#172] Koran xxxiii. 35. + +[FN#173] i.e. I know not which to choose of the superabundant material at my command in the +way of instances of women's craft. + +[FN#174] Breslau Text, vol xii. pp. 398-402. + +[FN#175] i.e. incensed with the smoke of burning musk. It is a common practice in the East to +fumigate drinking-vessels with the fragrant smoke of aloes-wood and other perfumes, for the +purpose of giving a pleasant flavour to the water, etc., drunk from them. + +[FN#176] Huneini foucaniyeh. Foucaniyeh means "upper" (fem.); but the meaning of huneini is +unknown to me. + +[FN#177] Heriseh. See supra, Vol. II. p. 26, note 4. + +[FN#178] The Arabs distinguish three kinds of honey, i.e. bees' honey, cane honey (treacle or +syrup of sugar) and drip-honey (date-syrup). + +[FN#179] i.e. yet arrive in time for the rendezvous. + +[FN#180] Breslau Text, pp. 402-412. + +[FN#181] i.e. on an island between two branches of the Nile. + +[FN#182] It is not plain what Khalif is here meant, though it is evident, from the context, that an +Egyptian prince is referred to, unless the story is told of the Abbaside Khalif El Mamoun, son of +Er Reshid (A.D. 813-33), during his temporary residence in Egypt, which he is said to have +visited. This is, however, unlikely, as his character was the reverse of sanguinary; besides, El +Mamoun was not his name, but his title (Aboulabbas Abdallah El Mamoun Billah). Two Khalifs of +Egypt assumed the title of El Hakim bi Amrillah (He who rules or decrees by or in accordance +with the commandment of God), i.e. the Fatimite Abou Ali El Mensour (A.D. 995-1021), and the +faineant Abbaside Aboulabbas Ahmed (A.D. 1261-1301); but neither of these was named El +Mamoun. It is probable, however, that the first named is the prince referred to in the story, the +latter having neither the power nor the inclination for such wholesale massacres as that described +in the text, which are perfectly in character with the brutal and fantastic nature of the founder of +the Druse religion. + +[FN#183] i.e. the well-known island of that name (The Garden). + +[FN#184] i.e. "whatever may betide" or "will I, nill I"? + +[FN#185] Lit. she was cut off or cut herself off. + +[FN#186] Lit. "The convent of Clay." + +[FN#187] i.e. this is the time to approve thyself a man. + +[FN#188] To keep her afloat. + +[FN#189] Lit "Thou art the friend who is found (or present) (or the vicissitudes of Time (or +Fortune)." + +[FN#190] i.e. the officer whose duty it is to search out the estates of intestates and lay hands upon +such property as escheats to the Crown for want of heirs. + +[FN#191] i.e. Sumatran. + +[FN#192] i.e. Alexander. + +[FN#193] i.e. the blackness of the hair. + +[FN#194] The ingenuity of the bride's attendants, on the occasion of a wedding, is strained to the +utmost to vary her attire and the manner in which the hair is dressed on the occasion of her being +displayed to her husband, and one favourite trick consists in fastening her tresses about her chin +and cheeks, so as to produce a sort of imitation of beard and whiskers. + +[FN#195] Literal. + +[FN#196] i.e. God only knows if it be true or not. + +[FN#197] Or rather appended to. The Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor form no part of the scheme +of Nights in this edition, but are divided into "Voyages" only and form a sort of appendix, +following the Two hundredth Night. See my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night," Vol. +IX. pp. 307-8. + +[FN#198] See my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night," Vol. V. pp. 202 and 210. + +[FN#199] i.e. the porter and the other guests. + +[FN#200] i.e. a mountainous island. + +[FN#201] Kherabeh, lit. a hole. Syn. ruin or destruction. + +[FN#202] i.e. an outlying spur or reef. + +[FN#203] Syn. perilous place. + +[FN#204] Lit. their guide was disappointed. + +[FN#205] i.e. means (hileh) of sustaining life. + +[FN#206] i.e. death. + +[FN#207] i.e. Ceylon. + +[FN#208] Audiyeh (plural of wadi, a valley). The use of the word in this sense points to an +African origin of this version of the story. The Moors of Africa and Spain commonly called a river +"a valley," by a natural figure of metonymy substituting the container for the contained; e.g. +Guadalquiver (Wadi el Kebir, the Great River), Guadiana, etc. + +[FN#209] i.e. after the usual compliments, the letter proceeded thus. + +[FN#210] i.e. we are thine allies in peace and war, for offence and defence. Those whom thou +lovest we love, and those whom thou hatest we hate. + +[FN#211] About seventy-two grains. + +[FN#212] Or public appearance. + +[FN#213] Solomon was the dynastic name of the kings of the prae-Adamite Jinn and is here used +in a generic sense, as Chosroes for the ancient Kings of Persia, Caesar for the Emperors of +Constantinople, Tubba for the Himyerite Kings of Yemen, etc., etc. + +[FN#214] i.e. Maharajah. + +[FN#215] Or "government." + +[FN#216] Every Muslim is bound by law to give alms to the extent of two and half per cent. of +his property. + +[FN#217] In North-east Persia. + +[FN#218] Alleged to have been found by the Arab conquerors of Spain on the occasion of the +sack of Toledo and presented by them to the Ommiade Khalif El Welid ben Abdulmelik (A.D. +705-716). See my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night," Vol. III. p. 331. + +[FN#219] i.e. such as are fit to be sent from king to king. + +[FN#220] i.e, the price of his victual and other necessaries for the voyage. + +[FN#221] Lit. riding-beast (French monture, no exact English equivalent), whether camel, mule +or horse does not appear. + +[FN#222] The Envier and the Envied. + +[FN#223] After the manner of Orientalists, a far more irritable folk than any poets. + +[FN#224] By the by, apropos of this soi-disant complete translation of the great Arabian +collection of romantic fiction, it is difficult to understand how an Orientalist of repute, such as Dr. +Habicht, can have put forth publication of this kind, which so swarms with blunders of every +description as to throw the mistakes of all other translators completely into the shade and to +render it utterly useless to the Arabic scholar as a book of reference. We can only conjecture that +he must have left the main portion of the work to be executed, without efficient supervision, by +incapable collaborators or that he undertook and executed the translation in such haste as to +preclude the possibility of any preliminary examination and revision, worthy of the name, of the +original MS.; and this latter supposition appears to be borne out by the fact that the translation +was entirely published before the appearance of any portion of the Arabic Text, as printed from +the Tunis Manuscript. Whilst on the subject of German translations, it may be well to correct an +idea, which appears to prevail among non-Arabic scholars, to the effect that complete translations +of the Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night exist in the language of Hoffmann and Heine, +and which is (as far, at least, as my own knowledge extends) a completely erroneous one. I have, +I believe, examined all the German translations in existence and have found not one of them +worthy of serious consideration; the best, that of Hammer-Purgstall, to which I had looked for +help in the elucidation of doubtful and corrupt passages, being so loose and unfaithful, so +disfigured by ruthless retrenchments and abridgments, no less than by gross errors of all kinds, +that I found myself compelled to lay it aside as useless. It is but fair, however, to the memory of +the celebrated Austrian Orientalist, to state that the only form in which Von Hammer's translation +is procurable is that of the German rendering of Prof. Zinserling (1823-4), executed from the +original (French) manuscript, which latter was unfortunately lost before publication. + +[FN#225] The Boulac Edition omits this story altogether. + +[FN#226] Calcutta (1839-42) and Boulac 134b. "The Merchant's Wife and the Parrot." + +[FN#227] This will be found translated in my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night," +Vol. VII. p. 307, as an Appendix to the Calcutta (1839-42) and Boulac version of the story, from +which it differs in detail. + +[FN#228] Called "Bekhit" in Calcutta (1839-42) and Boulac Editions. + +[FN#229] Yehya ben Khalid (Calcutta (1839-42) and Boulac). + +[FN#230] "Shar" (Calcutta (1839-42) and Boulac). + +[FN#231] "Jelyaad" (Calcutta (1839-42) and Boulac). + +[FN#232] Calcutta (1839-42) and Boulac, No. 63. See my "Book of the Thousand Nights and +One Night," Vol. IV. p. 211. + +[FN#233] Calcutta (1839-42) and Boulac, "Jaafer the Barmecide." + +[FN#234] Calcutta (1839-42) and Boulac, "The Thief turned Merchant and the other Thief," No. +88. + +[FN#235] This story will be found translated in my "Book at the Thousand Nights and One +Night,' Vol. V. p. 345. + +[FN#236] The Third Old Man's Story is wanting. + +[FN#237] The Story of the Portress is wanting. + +[FN#238] Calcutta (1839-42), Boulac and Breslan, "The Controller's Story." + +[FN#239] Calcutta (1839-42) and Boulac, "Sindbad the Sailor and Sindbad the Porter." + +[FN#240] Tuhfeh. + + + + + + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, TALES FROM THE ARABIC VOLUME 3 *** + +This file should be named 5244.txt or 5244.zip + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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