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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/5245.txt b/5245.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e8330d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/5245.txt @@ -0,0 +1,22672 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales from the Arabic Volumes 1-3, by John Payne +(#5 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 Volumes 1-3 + +Author: John Payne + +Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5245] +[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 VOLUMES 1-3 *** + + + + +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 FIRST. + + + + 1901 + + Delhi Edition + + + Contents of The First Volume. + + + + Breslau Text. + +1. Asleep and Awake + a. Story of the Lackpenny and the Cook +2. The Khalif Omar Ben Abdulaziz and the Poets +3. El Hejjaj and the Three Young Men +4. Haroun Er Reshid and the Woman of the Barmecides +5. The Ten Viziers; or the History of King Azadbekht and His + Son + a. Of the Uselessness of Endeavour Against Persistent Ill + Fortune + i. Story of the Unlucky Merchant + b. Of Looking to the Issues of Affairs + i. Story of the Merchant and His Sons + c. Of the Advantages of Patience + i. Story of Abou Sabir + d. Of the Ill Effects of Precipitation + i. Story of Prince Bihzad + e. Of the Issues of Good and Evil Actions + i. Story of King Dadbin and His Viziers + f. Of Trust in God + i. Story of King Bexhtzeman + g. Of Clemency + i. Story of King Bihkerd + h. Of Envy and Malice + i. Story of Ilan Shah and Abou Temam + i. Of Destiny or That Which Is Written on the Forehead + i. Story of King Abraham and His Son + j. Of the Appointed Term, Which, If it Be Advanced, May + Not Be Deferred and If it Be Deferred, May Not Be + Advanced + i. Story of King Suleiman Shah and His Sons + k. Of the Speedy Relief of God + i. Story of the Prisoner and How God Gave Him Relief +6. Jaafer Ben Yehya and Abdulmelik Ben Salih the Abbaside +7. Er Reshid and the Barmecides +8. Ibn Es Semmak and Er Reshid +9. El Mamoun and Zubeideh +10. En Numan and the Arab of the Benou Tai +11. Firouz and His Wife +12. King Shah Bekht and His Vizier Er Rehwan + a. Story of the Man of Khorassan, His Son and His Governor + b. Story of the Singer and the Druggist + c. Story of the King Who Knew the Quintessence of Things + d. Story of the Rich Man Who Gave His Fair Daughter in + Marriage to the Poor Old Man + e. Story of the Rich Man and His Wasteful Son + f. The King's Son Who Fell in Love with the Picture + g. Story of the Fuller and His Wife + h. Story of the Old Woman, the Merchant and the King + i. Story of the Credulous Husband + j. Story of the Unjust King and the Tither + i. Story of David and Solomon + k. Story of the Thief and the Woman + l. Story of the Three Men and Our Lord Jesus + i. The Disciple's Story + m. Story of the Dethroned King Whose Kingdom and Good Were + Restorfd to Him + n. Story of the Man Whose Caution Was the Cause of His + Death + o. Story of the Man Who Was Lavish of His House and His + Victual to One Whom He Knew Not + p. Story of the Idiot and the Sharper + q. Story of Khelbes and His Wife and the Learned Man + + + + + + + Breslau Text. + + + + ASLEEP AND AWAKE[FN#1] + + + + + +There was once [at Baghdad], in the Khalifate of Haroun er +Reshid, a man, a merchant, who had a son by name Aboulhusn el +Khelia.[FN#2] The merchant died and left his son great store of +wealth, which he divided into two parts, one of which he laid up +and spent of the other half; and he fell to companying with +Persians[FN#3] and with the sons of the merchants and gave +himself up to good eating and good drinking, till all that he had +with him of wealth[FN#4] was wasted and gone; whereupon he betook +himself to his friends and comrades and boon-companions and +expounded to them his case, discovering to them the failure of +that which was in his hand of wealth; but not one of them took +heed of him neither inclined unto him. + +So he returned to his mother (and indeed his spirit was broken), +and related to her that which had happened to him and what had +betided him from his friends, how they, had neither shared with +him nor requited him with speech. "O Aboulhusn," answered she, +"on this wise are the sons[FN#5]of this time: if thou have aught, +they make much of thee,[FN#6] and if thou have nought, they put +thee away [from them]." And she went on to condole with him, what +while he bewailed himself and his tears flowed and he repeated +the following verses: + + An if my substance fail, no one there is will succour me, + But if my wealth abound, of all I'm held in amity. + How many a friend, for money's sake, hath companied with me! + How many an one, with loss of wealth, hath turned mine + enemy! + +Then he sprang up [and going] to the place wherein was the other +half of his good, [took it] and lived with it well; and he swore +that he would never again consort with those whom he knew, but +would company only with the stranger nor entertain him but one +night and that, whenas it morrowed, he would never know him more. +So he fell to sitting every night on the bridge[FN#7] and looking +on every one who passed by him; and if he saw him to be a +stranger, he made friends with him and carried him to his house, +where he caroused with him till the morning. Then he dismissed +him and would never more salute him nor ever again drew near unto +him neither invited him. + +On this wise he continued to do for the space of a whole year, +till, one day, as he sat on the bridge, according to his custom, +expecting who should come to him, so he might take him and pass +the night with him, behold, [up came] the Khalif and Mesrour, the +swordsman of his vengeance, disguised [in merchants' habits] as +of their wont. So he looked at them and rising up, for that he +knew them not, said to them, "What say ye? Will you go with me to +my dwelling-place, so ye may eat what is ready and drink what is +at hand, to wit, bread baked in the platter[FN#8] and meat cooked +and wine clarified?" The Khalif refused this, but he conjured him +and said to him, "God on thee, O my lord, go with me, for thou +art my guest this night, and disappoint not my expectation +concerning thee!" And he ceased not to press him till he +consented to him; whereat Aboulhusn rejoiced and going on before +him, gave not over talking with him till they came to his [house +and he carried the Khalif into the] saloon. Er Reshid entered and +made his servant abide at the door; and as soon as he was seated, +Aboulhusn brought him somewhat to eat; so he ate, and Aboulhusn +ate with him, so eating might be pleasant to him. Then he removed +the tray and they washed their hands and the Khalif sat down +again; whereupon Aboulhusn set on the drinking vessels and +seating himself by his side, fell to filling and giving him to +drink and entertaining him with discourse. + +His hospitality pleased the Khalif and the goodliness of his +fashion, and he said to him, "O youth, who art thou? Make me +acquainted with thyself, so I may requite thee thy kindness." But +Aboulhusn smiled and said, "O my lord, far be it that what is +past should recur and that I be in company with thee at other +than this time!" "Why so?" asked the Khalif. "And why wilt thou +not acquaint me with thy case?" And Aboulhusn said, "Know, O my +lord, that my story is extraordinary and that there is a cause +for this affair." Quoth the Khalif, "And what is the cause?" And +he answered, "The cause hath a tail." The Khalif laughed at his +words and Aboulhusn said, "I will explain to thee this [saying] +by the story of the lackpenny and the cook. Know, O my lord, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE LACKPENNY AND THE COOK. + + + +One of the good-for-noughts found himself one day without aught +and the world was straitened upon him and his patience failed; so +he lay down to sleep and gave not over sleeping till the sun +burnt him and the foam came out upon his mouth, whereupon he +arose, and he was penniless and had not so much as one dirhem. +Presently, he came to the shop of a cook, who had set up therein +his pans[FN#9] [over the fire] and wiped his scales and washed +his saucers and swept his shop and sprinkled it; and indeed his +oils[FN#10] were clear[FN#11] and his spices fragrant and he +himself stood behind his cooking-pots [waiting for custom]. So +the lackpenny went up to him and saluting him, said to him, +'Weigh me half a dirhem's worth of meat and a quarter of a +dirhem's worth of kouskoussou[FN#12] and the like of bread.' So +the cook weighed out to him [that which he sought] and the +lackpenny entered the shop, whereupon the cook set the food +before him and he ate till he had gobbled up the whole and licked +the saucers and abode perplexed, knowing not how he should do +with the cook concerning the price of that which he had eaten and +turning his eyes about upon everything in the shop. + +Presently, he caught sight of an earthen pan turned over upon its +mouth; so he raised it from the ground and found under it a +horse's tail, freshly cut off, and the blood oozing from it; +whereby he knew that the cook adulterated his meat with horses' +flesh. When he discovered this default, he rejoiced therein and +washing his hands, bowed his head and went out; and when the cook +saw that he went and gave him nought, he cried out, saying, +'Stay, O sneak, O slink-thief!' So the lackpenny stopped and said +to him, 'Dost thou cry out upon me and becall [me] with these +words, O cuckold?' Whereat the cook was angry and coming down +from the shop, said, 'What meanest thou by thy speech, O thou +that devourest meat and kouskoussou and bread and seasoning and +goest forth with "Peace[FN#13][be on thee!]," as it were the +thing had not been, and payest down nought for it?' Quoth the +lackpenny, 'Thou liest, O son of a cuckold!' Wherewith the cook +cried out and laying hold of the lackpenny's collar, said, 'O +Muslims, this fellow is my first customer[FN#14] this day and he +hath eaten my food and given me nought.' + +So the folk gathered together to them and blamed the lackpenny +and said to him, 'Give him the price of that which thou hast +eaten.' Quoth he, 'I gave him a dirhem before I entered the +shop;' and the cook said, 'Be everything I sell this day +forbidden[FN#15] to me, if he gave me so much as the name of a +piece of money! By Allah, he gave me nought, but ate my food and +went out and [would have] made off, without aught [said I]' +'Nay,' answered the lackpenny, 'I gave thee a dirhem,' and he +reviled the cook, who returned his abuse; whereupon he dealt him +a cuff and they gripped and grappled and throttled each other. +When the folk saw them on this wise, they came up to them and +said to them, 'What is this strife between you, and no cause for +it?' 'Ay, by Allah,' replied the lackpenny, 'but there is a cause +for it, and the cause hath a tail!' Whereupon, 'Yea, by Allah,' +cried the cook, 'now thou mindest me of thyself and thy dirhem! +Yes, he gave me a dirhem and [but] a quarter of the price is +spent. Come back and take the rest of the price of thy dirhem.' +For that he understood what was to do, at the mention of the +tail; and I, O my brother," added Aboulhusn, "my story hath a +cause, which I will tell thee." + +The Khalif laughed at his speech and said, "By Allah, this is +none other than a pleasant tale! Tell me thy story and the +cause." "With all my heart," answered Aboulhusn. "Know, O my +lord, that my name is Aboulhusn el Khelia and that my father died +and left me wealth galore, of which I made two parts. One I laid +up and with the other I betook myself to [the enjoyment of the +pleasures of] friendship [and conviviality] and consorting with +comrades and boon-companions and with the sons of the merchants, +nor did I leave one but I caroused with him and he with me, and I +spent all my money on companionship and good cheer, till there +remained with me nought [of the first half of my good]; whereupon +I betook myself to the comrades and cup-companions upon whom I +had wasted my wealth, so haply they might provide for my case; +but, when I resorted to them and went round about to them all, I +found no avail in one of them, nor broke any so much as a crust +of bread in my face. So I wept for myself and repairing to my +mother, complained to her of my case. Quoth she, 'On this wise +are friends; if thou have aught, they make much of thee and +devour thee, but, if thou have nought, they cast thee off and +chase thee away.' Then I brought out the other half of my money +and bound myself by an oath that I would never more entertain +any, except one night, after which I would never again salute him +nor take note of him; hence my saying to thee, 'Far be it that +what is past should recur!' For that I will never again +foregather with thee, after this night." + +When the Khalif heard this, he laughed heartily and said, "By +Allah, O my brother, thou art indeed excused in this matter, now +that I know the cause and that the cause hath a tail. +Nevertheless if it please God, I will not sever myself from +thee." "O my guest," replied Aboulhusn, "did I not say to thee, +'Far be it that what is past should recur! For that I will never +again foregather with any'?" Then the Khalif rose and Aboulhusn +set before him a dish of roast goose and a cake of manchet-bread +and sitting down, fell to cutting off morsels and feeding the +Khalif therewith. They gave not over eating thus till they were +content, when Aboulhusn brought bowl and ewer and potash[FN#16] +and they washed their hands. + +Then he lighted him three candles and three lamps and spreading +the drinking-cloth, brought clarified wine, limpid, old and +fragrant, the scent whereof was as that of virgin musk. He filled +the first cup and saying, "O my boon-companion, by thy leave, be +ceremony laid aside between us! I am thy slave; may I not be +afflicted with thy loss!" drank it off and filled a second cup, +which he handed to the Khalif, with a reverence. His fashion +pleased the Khalif and the goodliness of his speech and he said +in himself, "By Allah, I will assuredly requite him for this!" +Then Aboulhusn filled the cup again and handed it to the Khalif, +reciting the following verses: + +Had we thy coming known, we would for sacrifice Have poured thee + out heart's blood or blackness of the eyes; +Ay, and we would have spread our bosoms in thy way, That so thy + feet might fare on eyelids, carpet-wise. + +When the Khalif heard his verses, he took the cup from his hand +and kissed it and drank it off and returned it to Aboulhusn, who +made him an obeisance and filled and drank. Then he filled again +and kissing the cup thrice, recited the following verses: + + Thy presence honoureth us and we Confess thy magnanimity; + If thou forsake us, there is none Can stand to us instead of + thee. + +Then he gave the cup to the Khalif, saying, "Drink [and may] +health and soundness [attend it]! It doth away disease and +bringeth healing and setteth the runnels of health abroach." + +They gave not over drinking and carousing till the middle of the +night, when the Khalif said to his host, "O my brother, hast thou +in thy heart a wish thou wouldst have accomplished or a regret +thou wouldst fain do away?" "By Allah," answered he, "there is no +regret in my heart save that I am not gifted with dominion and +the power of commandment and prohibition, so I might do what is +in my mind!" Quoth the Khalif, "For God's sake, O my brother, +tell me what is in thy mind!" And Aboulhusn said, "I would to God +I might avenge myself on my neighbours, for that in my +neighbourhood is a mosque and therein four sheikhs, who take it +ill, whenas there cometh a guest to me, and vex me with talk and +molest me in words and threaten me that they will complain of me +to the Commander of the Faithful, and indeed they oppress me +sore, and I crave of God the Most High one day's dominion, that I +may beat each of them with four hundred lashes, as well as the +Imam of the mosque, and parade them about the city of Baghdad and +let call before them, 'This is the reward and the least of the +reward of whoso exceedeth [in talk] and spiteth the folk and +troubleth on them their joys.' This is what I wish and no more." + +Quoth the Khalif, "God grant thee that thou seekest! Let us drink +one last cup and rise before the dawn draw near, and to-morrow +night I will be with thee again." "Far be it!" said Aboulhusn. +Then the Khalif filled a cup and putting therein a piece of +Cretan henbane, gave it to his host and said to him, "My life on +thee, O my brother, drink this cup from my hand!" "Ay, by thy +life," answered Aboulhusn, "I will drink it from thy hand." So he +took it and drank it off; but hardly had he done so, when his +head forewent his feet and he fell to the ground like a slain +man; whereupon the Khalif went out and said to his servant +Mesrour, "Go in to yonder young man, the master of the house, and +take him up and bring him to me at the palace; and when thou +goest out, shut the door." + +So saying, he went away, whilst Mesrour entered and taking up +Aboulhusn, shut the door after him, and followed his master, till +he reached the palace, what while the night drew to an end and +the cocks cried out, and set him down before the Commander of the +Faithful, who laughed at him. Then he sent for Jaafer the +Barmecide and when he came before him, he said to him, "Note this +young man and when thou seest him to-morrow seated in my place of +estate and on the throne of my Khalifate and clad in my habit, +stand thou in attendance upon him and enjoin the Amirs and +grandees and the people of my household and the officers of my +realm to do the like and obey him in that which he shall command +them; and thou, if he bespeak thee of anything, do it and hearken +unto him and gainsay him not in aught in this coming day." Jaafer +answered with, "Hearkening and obedience,"[FN#17] and withdrew, +whilst the Khalif went in to the women of the palace, who came to +him, and he said to them, "Whenas yonder sleeper awaketh +to-morrow from his sleep, kiss ye the earth before him and make +obeisance to him and come round about him and clothe him in the +[royal] habit and do him the service of the Khalifate and deny +not aught of his estate, but say to him, 'Thou art the Khalif.'" +Then he taught them what they should say to him and how they +should do with him and withdrawing to a privy place, let down a +curtain before himself and slept. + +Meanwhile, Aboulhusn gave not over snoring in his sleep, till the +day broke and the rising of the sun drew near, when a +waiting-woman came up to him and said to him, "O our lord [it is +the hour of] the morning- prayer." When he heard the girl's +words, he laughed and opening his eyes, turned them about the +place and found himself in an apartment the walls whereof were +painted with gold and ultramarine and its ceiling starred with +red gold. Around it were sleeping-chambers, with curtains of +gold-embroidered silk let down over their doors, and all about +vessels of gold and porcelain and crystal and furniture and +carpets spread and lamps burning before the prayer-niche and +slave-girls and eunuchs and white slaves and black slaves and +boys and pages and attendants. When he saw this, he was +confounded in his wit and said, "By Allah, either I am dreaming, +or this is Paradise and the Abode of Peace!"[FN#18] And he shut +his eyes and went to sleep again. Quoth the waiting-woman, "O my +lord, this is not of thy wont, O Commander of the Faithful!" + +Then the rest of the women of the palace came all to him and +lifted him into a sitting posture, when he found himself upon a +couch, stuffed all with floss-silk and raised a cubit's height +from the ground.[FN#19] So they seated him upon it and propped +him up with a pillow, and he looked at the apartment and its +greatness and saw those eunuchs and slave-girls in attendance +upon him and at his head, whereat he laughed at himself and said, +"By Allah, it is not as I were on wake, and [yet] I am not +asleep!" Then he arose and sat up, whilst the damsels laughed at +him and hid [their laughter] from him; and he was confounded in +his wit and bit upon his finger. The bite hurt him and he cried +"Oh!" and was vexed; and the Khalif watched him, whence he saw +him not, and laughed. + +Presently Aboulhusn turned to a damsel and called to her; +whereupon she came to him and he said to her, "By the protection +of God, O damsel, am I Commander of the Faithful?" "Yes, indeed," +answered she; "by the protection of God thou in this time art +Commander of the Faithful." Quoth he, "By Allah, thou liest, O +thousandfold strumpet!" Then he turned to the chief eunuch and +called to him, whereupon he came to him and kissing the earth +before him, said, "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful." "Who is +Commander of the Faithful?" asked Aboulhusn. "Thou," replied the +eunuch and Aboulhusn said, "Thou liest, thousandfold catamite +that thou art!" Then he turned to another eunuch and said to him, +"O my chief,[FN#20] by the protection of God, am I Commander of +the Faithful?" "Ay, by Allah, O my lord!" answered he. "Thou in +this time art Commander of the Faithful and Vicar of the Lord of +the Worlds." Aboulhusn laughed at himself and misdoubted of his +reason and was perplexed at what he saw and said, "In one night I +am become Khalif! Yesterday I was Aboulhusn the Wag, and to-day I +am Commander of the Faithful." Then the chief eunuch came up to +him and said, "O Commander of the Faithful, (the name of God +encompass thee!) thou art indeed Commander of the Faithful and +Vicar of the Lord of the Worlds!" And the slave-girls and eunuchs +came round about him, till he arose and abode wondering at his +case. + +Presently, one of the slave-girls brought him a pair of sandals +wrought with raw silk and green silk and embroidered with red +gold, and he took them and put them in his sleeve, whereat the +slave cried out and said, "Allah! Allah! O my lord, these are +sandals for the treading of thy feet, so thou mayst enter the +draught-house." Aboulhusn was confounded and shaking the sandals +from his sleeve, put them on his feet, whilst the Khalif +[well-nigh] died of laughter at him. The slave forewent him to +the house of easance, where he entered and doing his occasion, +came out into the chamber, whereupon the slave- girls brought him +a basin of gold and an ewer of silver and poured water on his +hands and he made the ablution. + +Then they spread him a prayer-carpet and he prayed. Now he knew +not how to pray and gave not over bowing and prostrating himself, +[till he had prayed the prayers] of twenty inclinations,[FN#21] +pondering in himself the while and saying, "By Allah, I am none +other than the Commander of the Faithful in very sooth! This is +assuredly no dream, for all these things happen not in a dream." +And he was convinced and determined in himself that he was +Commander of the Faithful; so he pronounced the Salutation[FN#22] +and made an end[FN#23] of his prayers; whereupon the slaves and +slave-girls came round about him with parcels of silk and +stuffs[FN#24] and clad him in the habit of the Khalifate and gave +him the royal dagger in his hand. Then the chief eunuch went out +before him and the little white slaves behind him, and they +ceased not [going] till they raised the curtain and brought him +into the hall of judgment and the throne-room of the Khalifate. +There he saw the curtains and the forty doors and El Ijli and Er +Recashi[FN#25] and Ibdan and Jedim and Abou Ishac [FN#26] the +boon-companions and beheld swords drawn and lions [FN#27] +encompassing [the throne] and gilded glaives and death-dealing +bows and Persians and Arabs and Turks and Medes and folk and +peoples and Amirs and viziers and captains and grandees and +officers of state and men of war, and indeed there appeared the +puissance of the house of Abbas [FN#28] and the majesty of the +family of the Prophet. + +So he sat down upon the throne of the Khalifate and laid the +dagger in his lap, whereupon all [present] came up to kiss the +earth before him and called down on him length of life and +continuance [of glory and prosperity]. Then came forward Jaafer +the Barmecide and kissing the earth, said, "May the wide world of +God be the treading of thy feet and may Paradise be thy +dwelling-place and the fire the habitation of thine enemies! May +no neighbour transgress against thee nor the lights of fire die +out for thee, [FN#29] O Khalif of [all] cities and ruler of [all] +countries!" + +Therewithal Aboulhusn cried out at him and said, "O dog of the +sons of Bermek, go down forthright, thou and the master of the +police of the city, to such a place in such a street and deliver +a hundred dinars to the mother of Aboulhusn the Wag and bear her +my salutation. [Then, go to such a mosque] and take the four +sheikhs and the Imam and beat each of them with four hundred +lashes and mount them on beasts, face to tail, and go round with +them about all the city and banish them to a place other than the +city; and bid the crier make proclamation before them, saying, +'This is the reward and the least of the reward of whoso +multiplieth words and molesteth his neighbours and stinteth them +of their delights and their eating and drinking!'" Jaafer +received the order [with submission] and answered with +["Hearkening and] obedience;" after which he went down from +before Aboulhusn to the city and did that whereunto he had bidden +him. + +Meanwhile, Aboulhusn abode in the Khalifate, taking and giving, +ordering and forbidding and giving effect to his word, till the +end of the day, when he gave [those who were present] leave and +permission [to withdraw], and the Amirs and officers of state +departed to their occasions. Then the eunuchs came to him and +calling down on him length of life and continuance [of glory and +prosperity], walked in attendance upon him and raised the +curtain, and he entered the pavilion of the harem, where he found +candles lighted and lamps burning and singing-women smiting [on +instruments of music]. When he saw this, he was confounded in his +wit and said in himself, "By Allah, I am in truth Commander of +the Faithful!" As soon as he appeared, the slave-girls rose to +him and carrying him up on to the estrade,[FN#30] brought him a +great table, spread with the richest meats. So he ate thereof +with all his might, till he had gotten his fill, when he called +one of the slave-girls and said to her, "What is thy name?" "My +name is Miskeh," replied she, and he said to another, "What is +thy name?" Quoth she, "My name is Terkeh." Then said he to a +third, "What is thy name?" "My name is Tuhfeh," answered she; and +he went on to question the damsels of their names, one after +another, [till he had made the round of them all], when he rose +from that place and removed to the wine-chamber. + +He found it every way complete and saw therein ten great trays, +full of all fruits and cakes and all manner sweetmeats. So he sat +down and ate thereof after the measure of his sufficiency, and +finding there three troops of singing-girls, was amazed and made +the girls eat. Then he sat and the singers also seated +themselves, whilst the black slaves and the white slaves and the +eunuchs and pages and boys stood, and the slave-girls, some of +them, sat and some stood. The damsels sang and warbled all manner +melodies and the place answered them for the sweetness of the +songs, whilst the pipes cried out and the lutes made accord with +them, till it seemed to Aboulhusn that he was in Paradise and his +heart was cheered and his breast dilated. So he sported and +joyance waxed on him and he bestowed dresses of honour on the +damsels and gave and bestowed, challenging this one and kissing +that and toying with a third, plying one with wine and another +with meat, till the night fell down. + +All this while the Khalif was diverting himself with watching him +and laughing, and at nightfall he bade one of the slave-girls +drop a piece of henbane in the cup and give it to Aboulhusn to +drink. So she did as he bade her and gave Aboulhusn the cup, +whereof no sooner had he drunken than his head forewent his feet +[and he fell down, senseless]. Therewith the Khalif came forth +from behind the curtain, laughing, and calling to the servant who +had brought Aboulhusn to the palace, said to him, "Carry this +fellow to his own place." So Mesrour took him up [and carrying +him to his own house], set him down in the saloon. Then he went +forth from him and shutting the saloon-door upon him, returned to +the Khalif, who slept till the morrow. + +As for Aboulhusn, he gave not over sleeping till God the Most +High brought on the morning, when he awoke, crying out and +saying, "Ho, Tuffaheh! Ho, Rahet el Culoub! Ho, Miskeh! Ho, +Tuhfeh!" And he gave not over calling upon the slave-girls till +his mother heard him calling upon strange damsels and rising, +came to him and said, "The name of God encompass thee! Arise, O +my son, O Aboulhusn! Thou dreamest." So he opened his eyes and +finding an old woman at his head, raised his eyes and said to +her, "Who art thou?" Quoth she, "I am thy mother;" and he +answered, "Thou liest! I am the Commander of the Faithful, the +Vicar of God." Whereupon his mother cried out and said to him, +"God preserve thy reason! Be silent, O my son, and cause not the +loss of our lives and the spoiling of thy wealth, [as will +assuredly betide,] if any hear this talk and carry it to the +Khalif." + +So he rose from his sleep and finding himself in his own saloon +and his mother by him, misdoubted of his wit and said to her, "By +Allah, O my mother, I saw myself in a dream in a palace, with +slave-girls and servants about me and in attendance upon me, and +I sat upon the throne of the Khalifate and ruled. By Allah, O my +mother, this is what I saw, and verily it was not a dream!" Then +he bethought himself awhile and said, "Assuredly, I am Aboulhusn +el Khelia, and this that I saw was only a dream, and [it was in a +dream that] I was made Khalif and commanded and forbade." Then he +bethought himself again and said, "Nay, but it was no dream and I +am no other than the Khalif, and indeed I gave gifts and bestowed +dresses of honour." Quoth his mother to him, "O my son, thou +sportest with thy reason: thou wilt go to the hospital and become +a gazing-stock. Indeed, that which thou hast seen is only from +the Devil and it was a delusion of dreams, for whiles Satan +sporteth with men's wits in all manner ways." + +Then said she to him, "O my son, was there any one with thee +yesternight?" And he bethought himself and said, "Yes; one lay +the night with me and I acquainted him with my case and told him +my story. Doubtless, he was from the Devil, and I, O my mother, +even as thou sayst truly, am Aboulhusn el Khelia." "O my son," +rejoined she, "rejoice in tidings of all good, for yesterday's +record is that there came the Vivier Jaafer the Barmecide [and +his company] and beat the sheikhs of the mosque and the Imam, +each four hundred lashes; after which they paraded them about the +city, making proclamation before them and saying, 'This is the +reward and the least of the reward of whoso lacketh of goodwill +to his neighbours and troubleth on them their lives!' and +banished them from Baghdad. Moreover, the Khalif sent me a +hundred dinars and sent to salute me." Whereupon Aboulhusn cried +out and said to her, "O old woman of ill-omen, wilt thou +contradict me and tell me that I am not the Commander of the +Faithful? It was I who commanded Jaafer the Barmecide to beat the +sheikhs and parade them about the city and make proclamation +before them and who sent thee the hundred dinars and sent to +salute thee, and I, O beldam of ill-luck, am in very deed the +Commander of the Faithful, and thou art a liar, who would make me +out a dotard." + +So saying, he fell upon her and beat her with a staff of +almond-wood, till she cried out, "[Help], O Muslims!" and he +redoubled the beating upon her, till the folk heard her cries and +coming to her, [found] Aboulhusn beating her and saying to her, +"O old woman of ill-omen, am I not the Commander of the Faithful? +Thou hast enchanted me!" When the folk heard his words, they +said, "This man raveth," and doubted not of his madness. So they +came in upon him and seizing him, pinioned him and carried him to +the hospital. Quoth the superintendant, "What aileth this youth?" +And they said, "This is a madman." "By Allah," cried Aboulhusn, +"they lie against me! I am no madman, but the Commander of the +Faithful." And the superintendant answered him, saying, "None +lieth but thou, O unluckiest of madmen!" + +Then he stripped him of his clothes and clapping on his neck a +heavy chain, bound him to a high lattice and fell to drubbing him +two bouts a day and two anights; and on this wise he abode the +space of ten days. Then his mother came to him and said, "O my +son, O Aboulhusn, return to thy reason, for this is the Devil's +doing." Quoth he, "Thou sayst sooth, O my mother, and bear thou +witness of me that I repent [and forswear] that talk and turn +from my madness. So do thou deliver me, for I am nigh upon +death." So his mother went out to the superintendant and procured +his release and he returned to his own house. + +Now this was at the beginning of the month, and when it was the +end thereof, Aboulhusn longed to drink wine and returning to his +former usance, furnished his saloon and made ready food and let +bring wine; then, going forth to the bridge, he sat there, +expecting one whom he should carouse withal, as of his wont. As +he sat thus, behold, up came the Khalif [and Mesrour] to him; but +Aboulhusn saluted them not and said to them, "No welcome and no +greeting to the perverters![FN#31] Ye are no other than devils." +However, the Khalif accosted him and said to him, "O my brother, +did I not say to thee that I would return to thee?" Quoth +Aboulhusn, "I have no need of thee; and as the byword says in +verse: + +'Twere fitter and better my loves that I leave, For, if the eye + see not, the heart will not grieve. + +And indeed, O my brother, the night thou camest to me and we +caroused together, I and thou, it was as if the Devil came to me +and troubled me that night." "And who is he, the Devil?" asked +the Khalif. "He is none other than thou," answered Aboulhusn; +whereat the Khalif smiled and sitting down by him, coaxed him and +spoke him fair, saying, "O my brother, when I went out from thee, +I forgot [to shut] the door [and left it] open, and belike Satan +came in to thee." Quoth Aboulhusn, "Ask me not of that which hath +betided me. What possessed thee to leave the door open, so that +the Devil came in to me and there befell me with him this and +that?" And he related to him all that had befallen him, from +first to last, aud there is no advantage in the repetition of it; +what while the Khalif laughed and hid his laughter. + +Then said he to Aboulhusn, "Praised be God who hath done away +from thee that which irked thee and that I see thee in weal!" And +Aboulhusn said, "Never again will I take thee to boon-companion +or sitting-mate; for the byword saith, 'Whoso stumbleth on a +stone and returneth thereto, blame and reproach be upon him.' And +thou, O my brother, nevermore will I entertain thee nor use +companionship with thee, for that I have not found thy commerce +propitious to me."[FN#32] But the Khalif blandished him and +conjured him, redoubling words upon him with "Verily, I am thy +guest; reject not the guest," till Aboulhusn took him and +[carrying him home], brought him into the saloon and set food +before him and friendly entreated him in speech. Then he told him +all that had befallen him, whilst the Khalif was like to die of +hidden laughter; after which Aboulhusn removed the tray of food +and bringing the wine-tray, filled a cup and emptied it out three +times, then gave it to the Khalif, saying, "O boon-companion +mine, I am thy slave and let not that which I am about to say irk +thee, and be thou not vexed, neither do thou vex me." And he +recited these verses: + +No good's in life (to the counsel list of one who's + purpose-whole,) An if thou be not drunken still and gladden + not thy soul. +Ay, ne'er will I leave to drink of wine, what while the night on + me Darkens, till drowsiness bow down my head upon my bowl. +In wine, as the glittering sunbeams bright, my heart's + contentment is, That banishes hence, with various joys, all + kinds of care and dole. + +When the Khalif heard these his verses, he was moved to exceeding +delight and taking the cup, drank it off, and they ceased not to +drink and carouse till the wine rose to their heads. Then said +Aboulhusn to the Khalif, "O boon-companion mine, of a truth I am +perplexed concerning my affair, for meseemed I was Commander of +the Faithful and ruled and gave gifts and largesse, and in very +deed, O my brother, it was not a dream." "These were the +delusions of sleep," answered the Khalif and crumbling a piece of +henbane into the cup, said to him, "By my life, do thou drink +this cup." And Aboulhusn said, "Surely I will drink it from thy +hand." Then he took the cup from the Khalifs hand and drank it +off, and no sooner had it settled in his belly than his head +forewent his feet [and he fell down senseless]. + +Now his parts and fashions pleased the Khalif and the excellence +of his composition and his frankness, and he said in himself, "I +will assuredly make him my cup- companion and sitting-mate." So +he rose forthright and saying to Mesrour, "Take him up," +[returned to the palace]. Accordingly, Mesrour took up Aboulhusn +and carrying him to the palace of the Khalifate, set him down +before Er Reshid, who bade the slaves and slave- girls encompass +him about, whilst he himself hid in a place where Aboulhusn could +not see him. + +Then he commanded one of the slave-girls to take the lute and +strike it at Aboulhusn's head, whilst the rest smote upon their +instruments. [So they played and sang,] till Aboulhusn awoke at +the last of the night and heard the noise of lutes and tabrets +and the sound of the pipes and the singing of the slave-girls, +whereupon he opened his eyes and finding himself in the palace, +with the slave-girls and eunuchs about him, exclaimed, 'There is +no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, the Supreme! +Verily, I am fearful of the hospital and of that which I suffered +therein aforetime, and I doubt not but the Devil is come to me +again, as before. O my God, put thou Satan to shame!" Then he +shut his eyes and laid his head in his sleeve and fell to +laughing softly and raising his head [bytimes], but [still] found +the apartment lighted and the girls singing. + +Presently, one of the eunuchs sat down at his head and said to +him, "Sit up, O Commander of the Faithful, and look on thy palace +and thy slave-girls." Quoth Aboulhusn, "By the protection of God, +am I in truth Commander of the Faithful and dost thou not lie? +Yesterday, I went not forth neither ruled, but drank and slept, +and this eunuch cometh to rouse me up." Then he sat up and +bethought himself of that which had betided him with his mother +and how he had beaten her and entered the hospital, and he saw +the marks of the beating, wherewithal the superintendant of the +hospital had beaten him, and was perplexed concerning his affair +and pondered in himself, saying, "By Allah, I know not how my +case is nor what is this that betideth me!" + +Then he turned to a damsel of the damsels and said to her, "Who +am I?" Quoth she, "Thou art the Commander of the Faithful;" and +he said, "Thou liest, O calamity![FN#33] If I be indeed the +Commander of the Faithful, bite my finger." So she came to him +and bit it with her might, and he said to her, "It sufficeth." +Then he said to the chief eunuch, "Who am I?" And he answered, +"Thou art the Commander of the Faithful." So he left him and +turning to a little white slave, said to him, "Bite my ear;" and +he bent down to him and put his ear to his mouth. Now the slave +was young and lacked understanding; so he closed his teeth upon +Aboulhusn's ear with his might, till he came near to sever it; +and he knew not Arabic, so, as often as Aboulhusn said to him, +"It sufficeth," he concluded that he said, "Bite harder," and +redoubled his bite and clenched his teeth upon the ear, whilst +the damsels were diverted from him with hearkening to the +singing-girls, and Aboulhusn cried out for succour from the boy +and the Khalif [well-nigh] lost his senses for laughter. + +Then he dealt the boy a cuff and he let go his ear, whereupon +Aboulhusn put off his clothes and abode naked, with his yard and +his arse exposed, and danced among the slave-girls. They bound +his hands and he wantoned among them, what while they [well-nigh] +died of laughing at him and the Khalif swooned away for excess of +laughter. Then he came to himself and going forth to Aboulhusn, +said to him, "Out on thee, O Aboulhusn! Thou slayest me with +laughter." So he turned to him and knowing him, said to him, "By +Allah, it is thou slayest me and slayest my mother and slewest +the sheikhs and the Imam of the Mosque!" + +Then the Khalif took him into his especial favour and married him +and bestowed largesse on him and lodged him with himself in the +palace and made him of the chief of his boon-companions, and +indeed he was preferred with him above them and the Khalif +advanced him over them all. Now they were ten in number, to wit, +El Ijli and Er Recashi and Ibdan and Hassan el Feresdec and El +Lauz and Es Seker and Omar et Tertis and Abou Nuwas[FN#34] and +Abou Ishac en Nedim and Aboulhusn el Khelia, and by each of them +hangeth a story that is told in other than this book. And indeed +Aboulhusn became high in honour with the Khalif and favoured +above all, so that he sat with him and the Lady Zubeideh bint el +Casim and married the latter's treasuress, whose name was Nuzhet +el Fuad. + +Aboulhusn abode with his wife in eating and drinking and all +delight of life, till all that was with them was spent, when he +said to her, "Harkye, O Nuzhet el Fuad!" "At thy service," +answered she, and he said, "I have it in mind to play a trick on +the Khalif and thou shalt do the like with the Lady Zubeideh, and +we will take of them, in a twinkling, two hundred dinars and two +pieces of silk." "As thou wilt," answered she; "but what thinkest +thou to do?" And he said,"We will feign ourselves dead and this +is the trick. I will die before thee and lay myself out, and do +thou spread over me a kerchief of silk and loose [the muslin of] +my turban over me and tie my toes and lay on my heart a knife, +and a little salt.[FN#35] Then let down thy hair and betake +thyself to thy mistress Zubeideh, tearing thy dress and buffeting +thy face and crying out. She will say to thee, 'What aileth +thee?' and do thou answer her, saying, 'May thy head outlive +Aboulhusn el Khelia! For he is dead." She will mourn for me and +weep and bid her treasuress give thee a hundred dinars and a +piece of silk and will say to thee, 'Go lay him out and carry him +forth [to burial].' So do thou take of her the hundred dinars and +the piece of silk and come back, and when thou returnest to me, I +will rise up and thou shalt lie down in my place, and I will go +to the Khalif and say to him, 'May thy head outlive Nuzhet el +Fuad!' and tear my dress and pluck at my beard. He will mourn for +thee and say to his treasurer, 'Give Aboulhusn a hundred dinars +and a piece of silk.' Then he will say to me, 'Go; lay her out +and carry her forth;' and I will come back to thee." + +Therewith Nuzhet el Fuad rejoiced and said, "Indeed, this is an +excellent device." [Then Aboulhusn stretched himself out] +forthright and she shut his eyes and tied his feet and covered +him with the kerchief and did what [else] her lord had bidden +her; after which she rent her dress and uncovering her head, let +down her hair and went in to the Lady Zubeideh, crying out and +weeping, When the princess saw her in this case, she said to her, +"What plight is this [in which I see thee]? What is thy story and +what maketh thee weep?" And Nuzhet el Fuad answered, weeping and +crying out the while, "O my lady, may thy head live and mayst +thou survive Aboulhusn el Khelia! For he is dead." The Lady +Zubeideh mourned for him and said, "Alas for Aboulhusn el +Khelia!" And she wept for him awhile. Then she bade her +treasuress give Nuzhet el Fuad a hundred dinars and a piece of +silk and said to her, "O Nuzhet el Fuad, go, lay him out and +carry him forth." + +So she took the hundred dinars and the piece of silk and returned +to her dwelling, rejoicing, and went in to Aboulhusn and told him +what had befallen, whereupon he arose and rejoiced and girt his +middle and danced and took the hundred dinars and the piece of +silk and laid them up. Then he laid out Nuzhet el Fuad and did +with her even as she had done with him; after which he rent his +clothes and plucked out his beard and disordered his turban [and +went forth] and gave not over running till he came in to the +Khalif, who was sitting in the hall of audience, and he in this +plight, beating upon his breast. Quoth the Khalif to him, "What +aileth thee, O Aboulhusn!" And he wept and said, "Would thy +boon-companion had never been and would his hour had never come!" +"Tell me [thy case,]" said the Khalif; and Aboulhusn said, "O my +lord, may thy head outlive Nuzhet el Fuad!" Quoth the Khalif, +"There is no god but God!" And he smote hand upon hand. Then he +comforted Aboulhusn and said to him, "Grieve not, for we will +give thee a concubine other than she." And he bade the treasurer +give him a hundred dinars and a piece of silk. So the treasurer +gave him what the Khalif bade him, and the latter said to +him,"Go, lay her out and carry her forth and make her a handsome +funeral." So Aboulhusn took that which he had given him and +returning to his house, rejoicing, went in to Nuzhet el Fuad and +said to her, "Arise, for the wish is accomplished unto us." So +she arose and he laid before her the hundred dinars and the piece +of silk, whereat she rejoiced, and they added the gold to the +gold and the silk to the silk and sat talking and laughing at one +another. + +Meanwhile, when Aboulhusn went out from the presence of the +Khalif and went to lay out Nuzhet el Fuad, the prince mourned for +her and dismissing the divan, arose and betook himself, leaning +upon Mesrour, the swordsman of his vengeance, [to the pavilion of +the harem, where he went in] to the Lady Zubeideh, that he might +condole with her for her slave-girl. He found the princess +sitting weeping and awaiting his coming, so she might condole +with him for [his boon-companion] Aboulhusn el Khelia. So he said +to her, "May thy head outlive thy slave-girl Nuzhet el Fuad!" And +she answered, saying, "O my lord, God preserve my slave-girl! +Mayst thou live and long survive thy boon-companion Aboulhusn el +Khelia! For he is dead." + +The Khalif smiled and said to his eunuch, "O Mesrour, verily +women are little of wit. I conjure thee, by Allah, say, was not +Aboulhusn with me but now?" ["Yes, O Commander of the Faithful," +answered Mesrour] Quoth the Lady Zubeideh, laughing from a heart +full of wrath, "Wilt thou not leave thy jesting? Is it not enough +that Aboulhusn is dead, but thou must kill my slave-girl also and +bereave us of the two and style me little of wit?" "Indeed," +answered the Khalif, "it is Nuzhet el Fuad who is dead." And +Zubeideh said, "Indeed he hath not been with thee, nor hast thou +seen him, and none was with me but now but Nuzhet el Fuad, and +she sorrowful, weeping, with her clothes torn. I exhorted her to +patience and gave her a hundred dinars and a piece of silk; and +indeed I was awaiting thy coming, so I might condole with thee +for thy boon- companion Aboulhusn el Khelia, and was about to +send for thee." The Khalif laughed and said, "None is dead but +Nuzhet el Fuad;" and she, "No, no, my lord; none is dead but +Aboulhusn." + +With this the Khalif waxed wroth, and the Hashimi vein[FN#36] +started out from between his eyes and he cried out to Mesrour and +said to him, "Go forth and see which of them is dead." So Mesrour +went out, running, and the Khalif said to Zubeideh, "Wilt thou +lay me a wager?" "Yes," answered she; "I will wager, and I say +that Aboulhusn is dead." "And I," rejoined the Khalif, "wager and +say that none is dead save Nuzhet el Fuad; and the stake shall be +the Garden of Pleasance against thy palace and the Pavilion of +Pictures." So they [agreed upon this and] abode awaiting Mesrour, +till such time as he should return with news. + +As for Mesrour, he gave not over running till he came to the +by-street, [wherein was the house] of Aboulhusn el Khelia. Now +the latter was sitting reclining at the lattice, and chancing to +look round, saw Mesrour running along the street and said to +Nuzhet el Fuad, "Meseemeth the Khalif, when I went forth from +him, dismissed the Divan and went in to the Lady Zubeideh, to +condole with her [for thee;] whereupon she arose and condoled +with him [for me,] saying, 'God greaten thy recompence for [the +loss of] Aboulhusn el Khelia!' And he said to her, 'None is dead +save Nuzhet el Fuad, may thy head outlive her!' Quoth she, 'It is +not she who is dead, but Aboulhusn el Khelia, thy +boon-companion.' And he to her, 'None is dead but Nuzhet el +Fuad.' And they gainsaid one another, till the Khalif waxed wroth +and they laid a wager, and he hath sent Mesrour the sword- bearer +to see who is dead. Wherefore it were best that thou lie down, so +he may see thee and go and acquaint the Khalif and confirm my +saying." So Nuzhet el Fuad stretched herself out and Aboulhusn +covered her with her veil and sat at her head, weeping. + +Presently, in came Mesrour the eunuch to him and saluted him and +seeing Nuzhet el Fuad stretched out, uncovered her face and said, +"There is no god but God! Our sister Nuzhet el Fuad is dead. How +sudden was the [stroke of] destiny! May God have mercy on thee +and acquit thee of responsibility!" Then he returned and related +what had passed before the Khalif and the Lady Zubeideh, and he +laughing. "O accursed one,' said the Khalif, "is this a time for +laughter? Tell us which is dead of them." "By Allah, O my lord," +answered Mesrour, "Aboulhusn is well and none is dead but Nuzhet +el Fuad." Quoth the Khalif to Zubeideh, "Thou hast lost thy +pavilion in thy play," and he laughed at her and said to Mesrour, +"O Mesrour, tell her what thou sawest." "Verily, O my lady," said +the eunuch, "I ran without ceasing till I came in to Aboulhusn in +his house and found Nuzhet el Fuad lying dead and Aboulhusn +sitting at her head, weeping. I saluted him and condoled with him +and sat down by his side and uncovered the face of Nuzhet el Fuad +and saw her dead and her face swollen. So I said to him, 'Carry +her out forthright [to burial], so we may pray over her.' He +answered, 'It is well;' and I left him to lay her out and came +hither, that I might tell you the news." + +The Khalif laughed and said, "Tell it again and again to thy lady +lack-wit." When the Lady Zubeideh heard Mesrour's words [and +those of the Khalif,] she was wroth and said, "None lacketh wit +but he who believeth a black slave." And she reviled Mesrour, +whilst the Khalif laughed. Mesrour was vexed at this and said to +the Khalif, "He spoke sooth who said, 'Women lack wit and +religion.'" Then said the Lady Zubeideh to the Khalif, "O +Commander of the Faithful, thou sportest and jestest with me, and +this slave hoodwinketh me, to please thee; but I will send and +see which is dead of them." And he answered, saying, "Send one +who shall see which is dead of them." So the Lady Zubeideh cried +out to an old woman, a stewardess, and said to her, "Go to the +house of Nuzhet el Fuad in haste and see who is dead and loiter +not." And she railed at her. + +The old woman went out, running, whilst the Khalif and Mesrour +laughed, and gave not over running till she came into the street. +Aboulhusn saw her and knowing her, said to his wife, "O Nuzhet el +Fuad, meseemeth the Lady Zubeideh hath sent to us to see who is +dead and hath not given credence to Mesrour's report of thy +death; so she hath despatched the old woman, her stewardess, to +discover the truth; wherefore it behoveth me to be dead in my +turn, for the sake of thy credit with the Lady Zubeideh." +Accordingly, he lay down and stretched himself out, and she +covered him and bound his eyes and feet and sat at his head, +weeping. + +Presently, the old woman came in to her and saw her sitting at +Aboulhusn's head, weeping and lamenting; and when she saw the old +woman, she cried out and said to her, "See what hath betided me! +Indeed, Aboulhusn is dead and hath left me alone and forlorn!" +Then she cried out and tore her clothes and said to the old +woman, "O my mother, how good he was!" Quoth the other, "Indeed +thou art excused, for thou wast used to him and he to thee." Then +she considered what Mesrour had reported to the Khalif and the +Lady Zubeideh and said to her, "Indeed, Mesrour goeth about to +sow discord between the Khalif and the Lady Zubeideh." "And what +is the [cause of] discord, O my mother?" asked Nuzhet el Fuad. "O +my daughter," answered the old woman, "Mesrour came to the Khalif +and the Lady Zubeideh and gave them news of thee that thou wast +dead and that Aboulhusn was well. "And Nuzhet el Fuad said to +her, "O my aunt, I was with my lady but now and she gave me a +hundred dinars and a piece of silk; and now see my condition and +that which hath befallen me! Indeed, I am bewildered, and how +shall I do, and I alone, forlorn? Would God I had died and he had +lived!" + +Then she wept and the old woman with her and the latter went up +to Aboulhusn and uncovering his face, saw his eyes bound and +swollen for the binding. So she covered him again and said, +"Indeed, O Nuzhet el Fuad, thou art afflicted in Aboulhusn!" Then +she condoled with her and going out from her, ran without ceasing +till she came in to the Lady Zubeideh and related to her the +story; and the princess said to her, laughing, "Tell it over +again to the Khalif, who maketh me out scant of wit and lacking +of religion, and to this ill-omened slave, who presumeth to +contradict me." Quoth Mesrour, "This old woman lieth; for I saw +Aboulhusn well and Nuzhet el Fuad it was who lay dead." "It is +thou that liest," rejoined the stewardess, "and wouldst fain sow +discord between the Khalif and the Lady Zubeideh." And he said, +"None lieth but thou, O old woman of ill-omen, and thy lady +believeth thee, and she doteth." Whereupon the Lady Zubeideh +cried out at him, and indeed she was enraged at him and at his +speech and wept. + +Then said the Khalif to her, "I lie and my eunuch lieth, and thou +liest and thy waiting-woman lieth; so methinks we were best go, +all four of us together, that we may see which of us telleth the +truth." Quoth Mesrour, "Come, let us go, that I may put this +ill-omened old woman to shame[FN#37] and deal her a sound +drubbing for her lying." And she answered him, saying, "O dotard, +is thy wit like unto my wit? Indeed, thy wit is as the hen's +wit." Mesrour was incensed at her words and would have laid +violent hands on her, but the Lady Zubeideh warded him off from +her and said to him, "Her sooth-fastness will presently be +distinguished from thy sooth-fastness and her leasing from thy +leasing." + +Then they all four arose, laying wagers with one another, and +went forth, walking, from the palace-gate [and fared on] till +they came in at the gate of the street in which Aboulhusn el +Khelia dwelt. He saw them and said to his wife Nuzhet el Fuad, +"Verily, all that is sticky is not a pancake and not every time +cometh the jar off safe.[FN#38]' Meseemeth the old woman hath +gone and told her lady and acquainted her with our case and she +hath disputed with Mesrour the eunuch and they have laid wagers +with one another about our death and are come to us, all four, +the Khalif and the eunuch and the Lady Zubeideh and the old +woman." When Nuzhet el Fuad heard this, she started up from her +lying posture and said, "How shall we do?" And he said, "We will +both feign ourselves dead and stretch ourselves out and hold our +breath." So she hearkened unto him and they both lay down on the +siesta[-carpet] and bound their feet and shut their eyes and +covered themselves with the veil and held their breath. + +Presently, up came the Khalif and the Lady Zubeideh and Mesrour +and the old woman and entering, found Aboulhusn and his wife both +stretched out [apparently] dead; which when the Lady Zubeideh +saw, she wept and said, "They ceased not to bring [ill] news of +my slave- girl, till she died; methinketh Aboulhusn's death was +grievous to her and that she died after him."[FN#39]. Quoth the +Khalif, "Thou shalt not forestall me with talk and prate. She +certainly died before Aboulhusn, for he came to me with his +clothes torn and his beard plucked out, beating his breast with +two bricks, and I gave him a hundred dinars and a piece of silk +and said to him, 'Go, carry her forth [and bury her] and I will +give thee a concubine other than she and handsomer, and she shall +be in stead of her.' But it would appear that her death was no +light matter to him and he died after her;[FN#40] so it is I who +have beaten thee and gotten thy stake." + +The Lady Zubeideh answered him many words and the talk waxed +amain between them. At last the Khalif sat down at the heads of +the pair and said, "By the tomb of the Apostle of God (may He +bless and preserve him!) and the sepulchres of my fathers and +forefathers, whoso will tell me which of them died before the +other, I will willingly give him a thousand dinars!" When +Aboulhusn heard the Khalifs words, he sprang up in haste and +said, "I died first, O Commander of the Faithful! Hand over the +thousand dinars and quit thine oath and the conjuration by which +thou sworest." Then Nuzhet el Fuad rose also and stood up before +the Khalif and the Lady Zubeideh, who both rejoiced in this and +in their safety, and the princess chid her slave-girl. Then the +Khalif and the Lady Zubeideh gave them joy at their well-being +and knew that this [pretended] death was a device to get the +money; and the princess said to Nuzhet el Fuad, "Thou shouldst +have sought of me that which thou desiredst, without this +fashion, and not have consumed my heart for thee." And she said, +"Indeed, I was ashamed, O my lady." + +As for the Khalif, he swooned away for laughing and said, "O +Aboulhusn, thou wilt never cease to be a wag and do rarities and +oddities!" Quoth he, "O Commander of the Faithful, I played off +this trick, for that the money was exhausted, which thou gavest +me, and I was ashamed to ask of thee again. When I was single, I +could never keep money; but since thou marriedst me to this +damsel here, if I possessed thy wealth, I should make an end of +it. So, when all that was in my hand was spent, I wrought this +trick, so I might get of thee the hundred dinars and the piece of +silk; and all this is an alms from our lord. But now make haste +to give me the thousand dinars and quit thee of thine oath." + +The Khalif and the Lady Zubeideh laughed and returned to the +palace; and he gave Aboulhusn the thousand dinars, saying, "Take +them as a thank-offering for thy preservation from death," whilst +the princess did the like with Nuzhet el Fuad. Moreover, the +Khalif increased Aboulhusn in his stipends and allowances, and he +[and his wife] ceased not [to live] in joy and contentment, till +there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of +Companies, he who layeth waste the palaces and peopleth the +tombs. + + + + + + THE KHALIF OMAR BEN ABDULAZIZ AND THE + POETS.[FN#41] + + + +It is said that, when the Khalifate devolved on Omar ben +Abdulaziz[FN#42] (of whom God accept), the poets [of the time] +resorted to him, as they had been used to resort to the Khalifs +before him, and abode at his door days and days, but he gave them +not leave to enter, till there came to Omar Adi ben Artah,[FN#43] +who stood high in esteem with him. Jerir[FN#44] accosted him and +begged him to crave admission for them [to the Khalif]. "It is +well," answered Adi and going in to Omar, said to him, "The poets +are at thy door and have been there days and days; yet hast thou +not given them leave to enter, albeit their sayings are +abiding[FN#45] and their arrows go straight to the mark." Quoth +Omar, "What have I to do with the poets?" And Adi answered, +saying, "O Commander of the Faithful, the Prophet (whom God bless +and preserve) was praised [by a poet] and gave [him largesse,] +and therein[FN#46] is an exemplar to every Muslim." Quoth Omar, +"And who praised him?" "Abbas ben Mirdas[FN#47] praised him," +replied Adi, "and he clad him with a suit and said, 'O +Bilal,[FN#48] cut off from me his tongue!'" "Dost thou remember +what he said?" asked the Khalif; and Adi said, "Yes." "Then +repeat it," rejoined Omar. So Adi recited the following verses: + +I saw thee, O thou best of all the human race, display A book + that came to teach the Truth to those in error's way. +Thou madest known to us therein the road of righteousness, When + we had wandered from the Truth, what while in gloom it lay. +A dark affair thou littest up with Islam and with proof + Quenchedst the flaming red-coals of error and dismay. +Mohammed, then, I do confess, God's chosen prophet is, And every + man requited is for that which he doth say. +The road of right thou hast made straight, that erst was crooked + grown; Yea, for its path of old had fall'n to ruin and + decay. +Exalted mayst thou be above th' empyrean heaven of joy And may + God's glory greater grow and more exalted aye! + +"And indeed," continued Adi, "this ode on the Prophet (may God +bless and keep him!) is well known and to comment it would be +tedious." Quoth Omar, "Who is at the door?" "Among them is Omar +ibn [Abi] Rebya the Cureishite,"[FN#49] answered Adi, and the +Khalif said, "May God show him no favour neither quicken him! Was +it not he who said ... ?" And he recited the following verses: + +Would God upon that bitterest day, when my death calls for me, + What's 'twixt thine excrement and blood[FN#50] I still may + smell of thee! +Yea, so but Selma in the dust my bedfellow may prove, Fair fall + it thee! In heaven or hell I reck not if it be. + +"Except," continued the Khalif, "he were the enemy of God, he had +wished for her in this world, so he might after [repent and] +return to righteous dealing. By Allah, he shall not come in to +me! Who is at the door other than he?" Quoth Adi, "Jemil ben +Mamer el Udhri[FN#51] is at the door;" and Omar said, "It is he +who says in one of his odes" ... [And he recited the following:] + +Would we may live together and when we come to die, God grant the + death-sleep bring me within her tomb to lie! +For if "Her grave above her is levelled" it be said, Of life and + its continuance no jot indeed reck I. + +"Away with him from me! Who is at the door?" "Kutheiyir +Azzeh,"[FN#52] replied Adi, and Omar said, "It is he who says in +one of his odes ... " [And he repeated the following verses:] + +Some with religion themselves concern and make it their business + all; Sitting,[FN#53] they weep for the pains of hell and + still for mercy bawl! +If they could hearken to Azzeh's speech, as I, I hearken to it, + They straight would humble themselves to her and prone + before her fall. + +"Leave the mention of him. Who is at the door?" Quoth Adi, "El +Akhwes el Ansari."[FN#54] "God the Most High put him away and +estrange him from His mercy!" cried Omar. "Is it not he who said, +berhyming on a man of Medina his slave-girl, so she might outlive +her master ... ?" [And he repeated the following line:] + +God [judge] betwixt me and her lord! Away With her he flees me + and I follow aye. + +"He shall not come in to me. Who is at the door, other than he?" +"Heman ben Ghalib el Ferezdec,"[FN#55] answered Adi; and Omar +said, "It is he who saith, glorying in adultery ..." [And he +repeated the following verses:] + +The two girls let me down from fourscore fathoms' height, As + swoops a hawk, with wings all open in full flight; +And when my feet trod earth, "Art slain, that we should fear," + Quoth they, "or live, that we may hope again thy sight?" + +"He shall not come in to me. Who is at the door, other than he?" +"El Akhtel et Teghlibi,"[FN#56] answered Adi; and Omar said, "He +is the unbeliever who says in his verse ..." [And he repeated the +following:] + +Ramazan in my life ne'er I fasted, nor e'er Have I eaten of + flesh, save in public[FN#57] it were. +No exhorter am I to abstain from the fair, Nor to love Mecca's + vale for my profit I care; +Nor, like others a little ere morning appear who bawl, "Come to + safety!"[FN#58] I stand up to prayer. +Nay, at daybreak I drink of the wind-freshened wine And prostrate + me[FN#59] instead in the dawn-whitened air. + +"By Allah, he treadeth no carpet of mine! Who is at the door +other than he?" "Jerir ibn el Khetefa," answered Adi; and Omar +said, "It is he who saith ... " [And he recited as follows:] + +But for the spying of the eyes [ill-omened,] we had seen Wild + cattle's eyes and antelopes' tresses of sable sheen. +The huntress of th' eyes[FN#60] by night came to me. "Turn in + peace," [Quoth I to her;] "This is no time for visiting, I + ween." + +"If it must be and no help, admit Jerir." So Adi went forth and +admitted Jerir, who entered, saying: + +He, who Mohammed sent, as prophet to mankind, Hath to a just + high-priest[FN#61] the Khalifate assigned. +His justice and his truth all creatures do embrace; The erring he + corrects and those of wandering mind. +I hope for present[FN#62] good [and bounty at thy hand,] For + souls of men are still to present[FN#63] good inclined. + +Quoth Omar, "O Jerir, keep the fear of God before thine eyes and +say nought but the truth." And Jerir recited the following +verses: + +How many, in Yemameh,[FN#64] dishevelled widows plain! How many a + weakling orphan unsuccoured doth remain, +For whom is thy departure even as a father's loss! To fly or + creep, like nestlings, alone, they strive in vain. +Now that the clouds have broken their promise to our hope, We + trust the Khalif's bounty will stand to us for rain.[FN#65] + +When the Khalif heard this, he said, "By Allah, O Jerir, Omar +possesseth but a hundred dirhems."[FN#66] [And he cried out to +his servant, saying,] "Ho, boy! give them to him." Moreover, he +gave him the ornaments of his sword; and Jerir went forth to the +[other] poets, who said to him, "What is behind thee?"[FN#67] And +he answered, "A man who giveth to the poor and denieth the poets, +and I am well-pleased with him."[FN#68] + + + + + + EL HEJJAJ AND THE THREE YOUNG MEN.[FN#69] + + + +They tell that El Hejjaj[FN#70] once commanded the Master of +Police [of Bassora] to go round about [the city] by night, and +whomsoever he found [abroad] after nightfall, that he should +strike off his head. So he went round one night of the nights and +came upon three youths staggering from side to side, and on them +signs of [intoxication with] wine. So the officers laid hold of +them and the captain of the watch said to them, "Who are ye that +ye transgress the commandment of the [lieutenant of the] +Commander of the Faithful and come abroad at this hour?" Quoth +one of the youths, "I am the son of him to whom [all] +necks[FN#71] abase themselves, alike the nose-pierced[FN#72] of +them and the [bone-]breaker;[FN#73] they come to him in their own +despite, abject and submissive, and he taketh of their +wealth[FN#74] and of their blood." + +The master of police held his hand from him, saying, "Belike he +is of the kinsmen of the Commander of the Faithful," and said to +the second, "Who art thou?" Quoth he, "I am the son of him whose +rank[FN#75] time abaseth not, and if it descend[FN#76] one day, +it will assuredly return [to its former height]; thou seest the +folk [crowd] in troops to the light of his fire, some standing +around it and some sitting." So the master of the police +refrained from slaying him and said to the third, "Who art thou?" +Quoth he, "I am the son of him who plungeth through the +ranks[FN#77] with his might and correcteth[FN#78] them with the +sword,[FN#79] so that they stand straight;[FN#80] his feet are +not loosed from the stirrup,[FN#81] whenas the horsemen on the +day of battle are weary." So the master of police held his hand +from him also, saying, "Belike, he is the son of a champion of +the Arabs." + +Then he kept them under guard, and when the morning morrowed, he +referred their case to El Hejjaj, who caused bring them before +him and enquiring into their affair, found that the first was the +son of a barber-surgeon, the second of a [hot] bean-seller and +the third of a weaver. So he marvelled at their readiness of +speech[FN#82] and said to his session-mates, "Teach your sons +deportment;[FN#83] for, by Allah, but for their ready wit, I had +smitten off their heads!" + + + + + + HAROUN ER RESHID AND THE WOMAN OF THE + BARMECIDES.[FN#84] + + + +They tell that Haroun er Reshid was sitting one day to do away +grievances, when there came up to him a woman and said to him, "O +Commander of the Faithful, may God accomplish thine affair and +cause thee rejoice in that which He hath given thee and increase +thee in elevation! Indeed, thou hast done justice[FN#85] and +wrought equitably."[FN#86] Quoth the Khalif to those who were +present with him, "Know ye what this woman meaneth by her +saying?" And they answered, "Of a surety, she meaneth not +otherwise than well, O Commander of the Faithful." "Nay," +rejoined Haroun; "she purposeth only in this an imprecation +against me. As for her saying, 'God accomplish thine affair!' she +hath taken it from the saying of the poet, 'When an affair is +accomplished, its abatement[FN#87] beginneth. Beware of +cessation, whenas it is said, "It is accomplished."' As for her +saying 'God cause thee rejoice in that which He hath given thee,' +she took it from the saying of God the Most High, 'Till, whenas +they rejoiced in that which they were given, we took them +suddenly and lo, they were confounded!'[FN#88] As for her saying, +'God increase thee in elevation!' she took it from the saying of +the poet, 'No bird flieth and riseth up on high, but, like as he +flieth, he falleth.' And as for her saying, 'Indeed, thou hast +done justice and wrought equitably,' it is from the saying of the +Most High, '[If ye deviate[FN#89] or lag behind or turn aside, +verily, God of that which ye do is aware;'[FN#90] and] 'As for +the transgressors,'[FN#91] they are fuel for hell[-fire]."[FN#92] + +Then he turned to the woman and said to her, "Is it not thus?" +"Yes, O Commander of the Faithful," answered she; and he said, +"What prompted thee to this?" Quoth she, "Thou slewest my father +and my mother and my kinsfolk and tookest their goods." "Whom +meanest thou?" asked the Khalif, and she replied, "I am of the +house of Bermek."[FN#93] Then said he to her, "As for the dead, +they are of those who are past away, and it booteth not to speak +of them; but, as for that which I took of wealth, it shall be +restored to thee, yea, and more than it." And he was bountiful to +her to the utmost of munificence. + + + + + + + THE TEN VIZIERS; OR THE HISTORY OF KING + AZADBEKHT AND HIS SON.[FN#94] + + + +There was once, of old days, a king of the kings, whose name was +Azadbekht; his [capital] city was called Kuneim Mudoud and his +kingdom extended to the confines of Seistan and from the +frontiers of Hindustan to the sea He had ten viziers, who ordered +his state and his dominion, and he was possessed of judgment and +exceeding wisdom. One day he went forth with certain of his +guards to the chase and fell in with an eunuch on horseback, +holding in his hand the halter of a mule, which he led along. On +the mule's back was a litter of gold-inwoven brocade, garded +about with an embroidered band set with gold and jewels, and over +against the litter was a company of horsemen. When King Azadbekht +saw this, he separated himself from his companions and making for +the mule and the horsemen, questioned the latter, saying, "To +whom belongeth this litter and what is therein?". The eunuch +answered, (for he knew not that he was King Azadbekht,) saying, +"This litter belongeth to Isfehend, vizier to King Azadbekht, and +therein is his daughter, whom he purposeth to marry to Zad Shah +the King." + +As the eunuch was speaking with the king, behold, the damsel +raised a corner of the curtain that shut in the litter, so she +might look upon the speaker, and saw the king. When Azadbekht +beheld her and noted her fashion and her loveliness (and indeed +never set story-teller[FN#95] eyes on her like,) his soul +inclined to her and she took hold upon his heart and he was +ravished by her sight. So he said to the eunuch, "Turn the mule's +head and return, for I am King Azadbekht and I will marry her +myself, for that Isfehend her father is my vizier and he will +accept of this affair and it will not be grievous to him." "O +king," answered the eunuch, "may God prolong thy continuance, +have patience till I acquaint my lord her father, and thou shalt +take her in the way of approof, for it befitteth thee not neither +is it seemly unto thee that thou take her on this wise, seeing +that it will be an affront to her father if thou take her without +his knowledge." Quoth Azadbekht, "I have not patience [to wait] +till thou go to her father and return, and no dishonour will +betide him, if I marry her." "O my lord," rejoined the eunuch, +"nought that is done in haste is long of durance nor doth the +heart rejoice therein; and indeed it behoveth thee not to take +her on this foul wise. Whatsoever betideth thee, destroy not +thyself with [undue] haste, for I know that her father's breast +will be straitened by this affair and this that thou dost will +not profit thee." But the king said, "Verily, Isfehend is [my +boughten] servant and a slave of my slaves, and I reck not of her +father, if he be vexed or pleased." So saying, he drew the reins +of the mule and carrying the damsel, whose name was Behrjaur, to +his house, married her. + +Meanwhile, the eunuch betook himself, he and the horsemen, to her +father and said to him, "O my lord, the king is beholden to thee +for many years' service and thou hast not failed him a day of the +days; and now, behold, he hath taken thy daughter against thy +wish and without thy permission." And he related to him what had +passed and how the king had taken her by force. When Isfehend +heard the eunuch's story, he was exceeding wroth and assembling +many troops, said to them, "Whenas the king was occupied with his +women [and concerned not himself with the affairs of his +kingdom], we took no reck of him; but now he putteth out his hand +to our harem; wherefore methinketh we should do well to look us +out a place, wherein we may have sanctuary." + +Then he wrote a letter to King Azadbekht, saying to him, "I am a +servant of thy servants and a slave of thy slaves and my daughter +is a handmaid at thy service, and may God the Most High prolong +thy days and appoint thy times [to be] in delight and +contentment! Indeed, I still went girded of the waist in thy +service and in caring for the preservation of thy dominion and +warding off thine enemies from thee; but now I abound yet more +than before in zeal and watchfulness, for that I have taken this +to charge upon myself, since my daughter is become thy wife." And +he despatched a messenger to the king with the letter and a +present. + +When the messenger came to King Azadbekht and he read the letter +and the present was laid before him, he rejoiced with an +exceeding joy and occupied himself with eating and drinking, hour +after hour. But the chief Vizier of his Viziers came to him and +said, "0 king, know that Isfehend the Vizier is thine enemy, for +that his soul liketh not that which thou hast done with him, and +the message that he hath sent thee [is a trick; so] rejoice thou +not therein, neither be thou deluded by the sweetness of his +words and the softness of his speech." The king hearkened [not] +to his Vizier's speech, but made light of the matter and +presently, [dismissing it from his thought], busied himself with +that which he was about of eating and drinking and merrymaking +and delight + +Meanwhile, Isfehend the Vizier wrote a letter and despatched it +to all the Amirs, acquainting them with that which had betided +him with King Azadbekht and how he had taken his daughter by +force and adding, "And indeed he will do with you more than he +hath done with me." When the letter reached the chiefs [of the +people and troops], they all assembled together to Isfehend and +said to him, "What is to do with him?"[FN#96] So he discovered to +them the affair of his daughter and they all agreed, of one +accord, that they should endeavour for the slaughter of the king +and taking horse with their troops, set out, intending for him. +Azadbekht knew not [of their design] till the noise [of the +invasion] beset his capital city, when he said to his wife +Behrjaur, "How shall we do?" And she answered, saying, "Thou +knowest best and I am at thy commandment." So he let bring two +swift horses and bestrode one himself, whilst his wife mounted +the other. Then they took what they might of gold and went forth, +fleeing, in the night, to the desert of Kerman; what while +Isfehend entered the city and made himself king. + +Now King Azadbekht's wife was big with child and the pains of +labour took her in the mountain; so they alighted at the +mountain-foot, by a spring of water, and she gave birth to a boy +as he were the moon. Behrjaur his mother pulled off a gown of +gold-inwoven brocade and wrapped the child therein, and they +passed the night [in that place], what while she gave him suck +till the morning. Then said the king to her, "We are hampered by +this child and cannot abide here nor can we carry him with us; so +methinks we were better leave him here and go, for Allah is able +to send him one who shall take him and rear him." So they wept +over him exceeding sore and left him beside the spring, wrapped +in the gown of brocade: then they laid at his head a thousand +dinars in a bag and mounting their horses, departed, fleeing. + +Now, by the ordinance of God the Most High, a company of thieves +fell in upon a caravan hard by that mountain and made prize of +that which was with them of merchandise. Then they betook +themselves to the mountain, so they might share their booty, and +looking at the foot thereof, espied the gown of brocade. So they +descended, to see what it was, and finding the child wrapped +therein and the gold laid at his head, marvelled and said, +"Extolled be the perfection of God! By what wickedness cometh +this child here?" Then they divided the money between them and +the captain of the thieves took the boy and made him his son and +fed him with sweet milk and dates, till he came to his house, +when he appointed him a nurse, who should rear him. + +Meanwhile, King Azadbekht and his wife stayed not in their flight +till they came to [the court of] the King of Fars,[FN#97] whose +name was Kutrou.[FN#98] When they presented themselves to him, he +entreated them with honour and entertained them handsomely, and +Azadbekht told him his story, first and last. So he gave him a +great army and wealth galore and he abode with him some days, +till he was rested, when he made ready with his host and setting +out for his own dominions, waged war upon Isfehend and falling in +upon the capital, defeated the rebel vizier and slew him. Then he +entered the city and sat down on the throne of his kingship; and +whenas he was rested and the kingdom was grown peaceful for him, +he despatched messengers to the mountain aforesaid in quest of +the child; but they returned and informed the king that they had +not found him. + +As time went on, the boy, the son of the king, grew up and fell +to stopping the way[FN#99] with the thieves, and they used to +carry him with them, whenas they went a-thieving. They sallied +forth one day upon a caravan in the land of Seistan, and there +were in that caravan strong and valiant men and with them +merchandise galore. Now they had heard that in that land were +thieves; so they gathered themselves together and made ready +their arms and sent out spies, who returned and gave them news of +the thieves. Accordingly, they prepared for battle, and when the +robbers drew near the caravan, they fell in upon them and they +fought a sore battle. At last the folk of the caravan +overmastered the thieves, by dint of numbers, and slew some of +them, whilst the others fled. Moreover they took the boy, the son +of King Azadbekht, and seeing him as he were the moon, possessed +of beauty and grace, brightfaced and comely of fashion, +questioned him, saying, "Who is thy father, and how camest thou +with these thieves?" And he answered, saying, "I am the son of +the captain of the thieves." So they took him and carried him to +the capital of his father King Azadbekht + +When they reached the city, the king heard of their coming and +commanded that they should attend him with what befitted [of +their merchandise]. So they presented themselves before him, [and +the boy with them,] whom when the king saw, he said to them, "To +whom belongeth this boy?" And they answered, "O king, we were +going in such a road, when there came out upon us a sort of +robbers; so we made war upon them and overcame them and took this +boy prisoner. Then we questioned him, saying, 'Who is thy +father?' and he answered, 'I am the captain's son of the +thieves.'" Quoth the king, "I would fain have this boy." And the +captain of the caravan said, "God maketh thee gift of him, O king +of the age, and we all are thy slaves." Then the king dismissed +[the people of] the caravan and let carry the youth into his +palace and he became as one of the servants, what while his +father the king knew not that he was his son. As time went on, +the king observed in him good breeding and understanding and +knowledge[FN#100] galore and he pleased him; so he committed his +treasuries to his charge and straitened the viziers' hand +therefrom, commanding that nought should be taken forth therefrom +except by leave of the youth. On this wise he abode a number of +years and the king saw in him nought but fidelity and +studiousness in well-doing. + +Now the treasuries aforetime had been in the viziers' hand, so +they might do with them what they would, and when they came under +the youth's hand, that of the viziers was straitened from them, +and the youth became dearer to the king than a son and he could +not brook to be separated from him. When the viziers saw this, +they were jealous of him and envied him and cast about for a +device against him whereby they might oust him from the king's +favour, but found no opportunity. At last, when came the destined +hour,[FN#101] it chanced that the youth one day drank wine and +became drunken and wandered from his wits; so he fell to going +round about within the palace of the king and fate led him to the +lodging of the women, in which there was a little +sleeping-chamber, where the king lay with his wife. Thither came +the youth and entering the chamber, found there a couch spread, +to wit, a sleeping place, and a candle burning. So he cast +himself on the couch, marvelling at the paintings that were in +the chamber, and slept and slumbered heavily till eventide, when +there came a slave-girl, bringing with her all the dessert, +eatables and drinkables, that she was wont to make ready for the +king and his wife, and seeing the youth lying on his back, (and +none knowing of his case and he in his drunkenness unknowing +where he was,) thought that he was the king asleep on his bed; so +she set the censing-vessel and laid the essences by the couch, +then shut the door and went away. + +Presently, the king arose from the wine-chamber and taking his +wife by the hand, repaired with her to the chamber in which he +slept. He opened the door and entering, saw the youth lying on +the bed, whereupon he turned to his wife and said to her, "What +doth this youth here? This fellow cometh not hither but on thine +account." Quoth she, "I have no knowledge of him." With this, the +youth awoke and seeing the king, sprang up and prostrated himself +before him, and Azadbekht said to him, "O vile of origin,[FN#102] +O lack-loyalty, what hath prompted thee to outrage my dwelling?" +And he bade imprison him in one place and the woman in another. + + + + + + The First Day. + + + + OF THE USELESSNESS OF ENDEAVOUR AGAINST + PERSISTENT ILL FORTUNE. + + + +When the morning morrowed and the king sat on the throne of his +kingship, he summoned the chief of his viziers and said to him, +"What deemest thou of this that yonder robber-youth hath done? +Behold, he hath entered my house and lain down on my bed and I +fear lest there be an intrigue between him and the woman. How +deemest thou of the affair?" "God prolong the king's +continuance!" replied the vizier. "What sawest thou in this youth +[to make thee trust in him]? Is he not vile of origin, the son of +thieves? Needs must a thief revert to his vile origin, and whoso +reareth the young of the serpent shall get of them nought but +biting. As for the woman, she is not at fault; for, since [the] +time [of her marriage with thee] till now, there hath appeared +from her nought but good breeding and modesty; and now, if the +king give me leave, I will go to her and question her, so I may +discover to thee the affair." + +The king gave him leave for this and the vizier betook himself to +the queen and said to her, "I am come to thee, on account of a +grave reproach, and I would have thee be truthful with me in +speech and tell me how came the youth into the sleeping-chamber." +Quoth she, "I have no knowledge whatsoever [of it]" and swore to +him a solemn oath thereof, whereby he knew that she had no +knowledge of the matter and that she was not at fault and said to +her, "I will teach thee a device, where- with thou mayst acquit +thyself and thy face be whitened before the king." "What is it?" +asked she; and he answered, saying, "When the king calleth for +thee and questioneth thee of this, say thou to him, 'Yonder youth +saw me in the privy-chamber and sent me a message, saying, "I +will give thee a hundred jewels, to whose price money may not +avail, so thou wilt suffer me to foregather with thee." I laughed +at him who bespoke me with these words and rebuffed him; but he +sent again to me, saying, "An thou fall not in with my wishes, I +will come one of the nights, drunken, and enter and lie down in +the sleeping-chamber, and the king will see me and kill me; so +wilt thou be put to shame and thy face will be blackened with him +and thine honour abased."' Be this thy saying to the king, and I +will presently go to him and repeat this to him." Quoth the +queen, "And I also will say thus." + +So the vizier returned to the king and said to him, "Verily, this +youth hath merited grievous punishment, after abundance of bounty +[bestowed on him], and it may not be that a bitter kernel should +ever become sweet; but, as for the woman, I am certified that +there is no fault in her." Then he repeated to the king the story +which he had taught the queen, which when Azadbekht heard, he +rent his clothes and bade fetch the youth. So they brought him +and stationed him before the king, who let bring the headsman, +and the folk all fixed their eyes upon the youth, so they might +see what the king should do with him. + +Then said Azadbekht to him (and indeed his words were [prompted] +by anger and those of the youth by presence of mind and good +breeding), "I bought thee with my money and looked for fidelity +from thee, wherefore I chose thee over all my grandees and +servants and made thee keeper of my treasuries. Why, then, hast +thou outraged my honour and entered my house and played the +traitor with me and tookest no thought unto that which I have +done thee of benefits?" "O king," answered the youth, "I did this +not of my choice and freewill and I had no [evil] intent in being +there; but, of the littleness of my luck, I was driven thither, +for that fate was contrary and fair fortune lacking. Indeed, I +had striven with all endeavour that nought of foul should proceed +from me and kept watch over myself, lest default appear in me; +but none may avail to make head against ill fortune, nor doth +endeavour profit in case of lack of luck, as appeareth by the +example of the merchant who was stricken with ill luck and his +endeavour profited him not and he succumbed to the badness of his +fortune." "What is the story of the merchant," asked the king, +"and how was his luck changed upon him by the sorriness of his +fortune?" "May God prolong the king's continuance!" answered the +youth. + + + + + +Story of the Unlucky Merchant. + + + +"There was once a man, a merchant, who was fortunate in trade, +and at one time his [every] dirhem profited [him] fifty. +Presently, his luck turned against him and he knew it not; so he +said in himself, 'I have wealth galore, yet do I weary myself and +go round about from country to country; I were better abide in my +own country and rest myself in my house from this travail and +affliction and sell and buy at home.' Then he made two parts of +his money, with one whereof he bought wheat in summer, saying, +'When the winter cometh, I will sell it at a great profit.' But, +when the winter came, wheat became at half the price for which he +had bought it, whereat he was sore concerned and left it till the +next year. However, next year, the price fell yet lower and one +of his friends said to him, 'Thou hast no luck in this wheat; so +do thou sell it at whatsoever price.' Quoth the merchant, 'This +long while have I profited and it is allowable that I lose this +time. God is all- knowing! If it abide [with me] half a score +years, I will not sell it save at a profit.' + +Then, in his anger, he walled up the door of the granary with +clay, and by the ordinance of God the Most High, there came a +great rain and descended from the roofs of the house wherein was +the wheat [so that the latter rotted]; and needs must the +merchant give the porters five hundred dirhems from his purse, so +they should carry it forth and cast it without the city, for that +the smell of it was noisome. So his friend said to him, 'How +often did I tell thee thou hadst no luck in wheat? But thou +wouldst not give ear to my speech, and now it behoveth thee to go +to the astrologer and question him of thy star.' Accordingly the +merchant betook himself to the astrologer and questioned him of +his star, and the astrologer said to him, 'Thy star is +unpropitious. Put not thy hand to any business, for thou wilt not +prosper therein.' However, he paid no heed to the astrologer's +words and said in himself, 'If I do my occasion,[FN#103] I am not +afraid of aught.' Then he took the other part of his money, after +he had spent therefrom three years, and built [therewith] a ship, +which he loaded with all that seemed good to him and all that was +with him and embarked on the sea, so he might travel. + +The ship tarried with him some days, till he should be certified +what he would do,[FN#104] and he said, 'I will enquire of the +merchants what this merchandise profiteth and in what country it +lacketh and how much is the gain thereon.' [So he questioned them +and] they directed him to a far country, where his dirhem should +profit a hundredfold. Accordingly, he set sail and steered for +the land in question; but, as he went, there blew on him a +tempestuous wind and the ship foundered. The merchant saved +himself on a plank and the wind cast him up, naked as he was, on +the sea-shore, hard by a town there. So he praised God and gave +Him thanks for his preservation; then, seeing a great village +hard by, he betook himself thither and saw, seated therein, a +very old man, whom he acquainted with his case and that which had +betided him. The old man grieved sore for him, when he heard his +story, and set food before him. So he ate and the old man said to +him, 'Abide here with me, so I may make thee my steward and +factor over a farm I have here, and thou shall have of me five +dirhems [FN#105] a day.' 'God make fair thy reward,' answered the +merchant, 'and requite thee with benefits!' + +So he abode in this employ, till he had sowed and reaped and +threshed and winnowed, and all was sheer in his hand and the +owner appointed neither inspector nor overseer, but relied +altogether upon him. Then he bethought himself and said, '_I_* +misdoubt me the owner of this grain will not give me my due; so I +were better take of it, after the measure of my hire; and if he +give me my due, I will restore him that which I have taken.' So +he took of the grain, after the measure of that which fell to +him, and hid it in a privy place. Then he carried the rest to the +old man and meted it out to him, and he said to him, 'Come, take +[of the grain, after the measure of] thy hire, for which I agreed +with thee, and sell it and buy with the price clothes and what +not else; and though thou abide with me half a score years, yet +shall thou still have this wage and I will acquit it to thee +thus.' Quoth the merchant in himself, 'Indeed, I have done a foul +thing in that I look it without his leave.' + +Then he went to fetch that which he had hidden of the grain, but +found it not and returned, perplexed and sorrowful, to the old +man, who said to him, 'What aileth thee to be sorrowful?' And he +answered, 'Methought thou wouldst not pay me my due; so I took of +the grain, after the measure of my hire; and now thou hast paid +me my due and I went to bring back to thee that which I had +hidden from thee, but found it gone, for those who had happened +upon it had stolen it.' The old man was wroth, when he heard +this, and said to the merchant, 'There is no device [can cope] +with ill luck! I had given thee this, but, of the sorriness of +thy luck and thy fortune, thou hast done this deed, O oppressor +of thine own self! Thou deemedst I would not acquit thee thy +wage; but, by Allah, nevermore will I give thee aught.' And he +drove him away from him. + +So the merchant went forth, afflicted, sorrowful, weeping, [and +wandered on along the sea-shore], till he came to a sort of +divers diving in the sea for pearls. They saw him weeping and +mourning and said to him, 'What is thy case and what maketh thee +weep?' So he acquainted them with his history, from first to +last, whereby they knew him and said to him, 'Art thou [such an +one] son of such an one?' 'Yes,' answered he; whereupon they +condoled with him and wept sore for him and said to him, 'Abide +here till we dive for thy luck this next time and whatsoever +betideth us shall be between us and thee.' Accordingly, they +dived and brought up ten oysters, in each two great pearls; +whereat they marvelled and said to him, 'By Allah, thy luck hath +returned and thy good star is in the ascendant!' Then they gave +him ten pearls and said to him, 'Sell two of them and make them +thy capital [whereon to trade]; and hide the rest against the +time of thy straitness.' So he took them, joyful and contented, +and addressed himself to sew eight of them in his gown, keeping +the two others in his mouth; but a thief saw him and went and +advertised his mates of him; whereupon they gathered together +upon him and took his gown and departed from him. When they were +gone away, he arose, saying, 'These two pearls [in my mouth] will +suffice me,' and made for the [nearest] city, where he brought +out the pearls [and repairing to the jewel- market, gave them to +the broker], that he might sell them. + +Now, as destiny would have it, a certain jeweller of the town had +been robbed of ten pearls, like unto those which were with the +merchant; so, when he saw the two pearls in the broker's hand, he +said to him, 'To whom do these pearls belong?' and the broker +answered, 'To yonder man.' [The jeweller looked at the merchant +and] seeing him in sorry case and clad in tattered clothes, +misdoubted of him and said to him (purposing to surprise him into +confession), 'Where are the other eight pearls?' The merchant +thought he asked him of those which were in the gown and +answered, 'The thieves stole them from me.' When the jeweller +heard his reply, he doubted not but that it was he who had taken +his good; so he laid hold of him and haling him before the chief +of the police, said to him, 'This is the man who stole my pearls: +I have found two of them upon him and he confesseth to the other +eight.' + +Now the magistrate knew of the theft of the pearls; so he bade +clap the merchant in prison. Accordingly they imprisoned him and +flogged him, and he abode in the prison a whole year, till, by +the ordinance of God the Most High, the Master of Police arrested +one of the divers aforesaid and imprisoned him in the prison +where the merchant lay. He saw the latter and knowing him, +questioned him of his case; whereupon he told them his story and +that which had befallen him, and the diver marvelled at the +sorriness of his luck. So, when he came forth of the prison, he +acquainted the Sultan with the merchant's case and told him that +it was he who had given him the pearls. The Sultan bade bring him +forth of the prison and questioned him of his story, whereupon he +told him all that had befallen him and the Sultan pitied him and +assigned him a lodging in his own palace, together with an +allowance for his living. + +Now the lodging in question adjoined the king's house, and whilst +the merchant was rejoicing in this and saying, 'Verily, my luck +hath returned and I shall live in this king's shadow the rest of +my life,' he espied an opening walled up with stones and clay. So +he pulled out the stones and clearing away the earth from the +opening, found that it was a window giving upon the lodging of +the king's women. When he saw this, he was affrighted and rising +in haste, fetched clay and stopped it up again. But one of the +eunuchs saw him and misdoubting of him, repaired to the Sultan +and told him of this. So he came and seeing the stones pulled +out, was wroth with the merchant and said to him, 'Is this my +recompense from thee, that thou seekest to violate my harem?' And +he bade pluck out his eyes. So they did as he commanded and the +merchant took his eyes in his hand and said, 'How long [wilt thou +afflict me], O star of ill-omen? First my wealth and now my +life!' And he bewailed himself, saying, 'Endeavour profiteth me +nought against evil fortune. The Compassionate aided me not and +endeavour was useless.' + +On like wise, O king," continued the youth, "whilst fortune was +favourable to me, all that I did came to good; but now that it is +grown contrary to me, everything turneth against me." + +When the youth had made an end of his story, the king's anger +subsided a little and he said, "Restore him to the prison, for +the day draweth to an end, and tomorrow we will took into his +affair." + + + + + + OF LOOKING TO THE ISSUES OF AFFAIRS. + + + +When it was the second day, the second of the king's viziers, +whose name was Beheroun, came in to him and said, "God advance +the king! This that yonder youth hath done is a grave matter and +a foul deed and a heinous against the household of the king." So +Azadbekht bade fetch the youth, because of the saying of the +vizier; and when he came into his presence, he said to him, "Out +on thee, O youth! Needs must I slay thee by the worst of deaths, +for indeed thou hast committed a grave crime, and I will make +thee a warning to the folk." "O king," answered the youth, +"hasten not, for the looking to the issues of affairs is a pillar +of the realm and [a cause of] continuance and sure stablishment +for the kingship. Whoso looketh not to the issues of affairs, +there befalleth him that which befell the merchant, and whoso +looketh to the issues of affairs, there betideth him of joyance +that which betided the merchant's son." "And what is the story of +the merchant and his son?" asked the king. "O king," answered the +youth, + + + + + +Story of the Merchant and His Sons. + + + +"There was once a man, a merchant, who had a wife and abundant +wealth. He set out one day on a journey with merchandise, leaving +his wife big with child, and said to her, 'If it be the will of +God the Most High, I will return before the birth of the child.' +Then he took leave of her and setting out, journeyed from country +to country till he came to the court of one of the kings and +foregathered with him. Now this king was in need of one who +should order his affairs and those of his kingdom and seeing the +merchant well-bred and intelligent, he charged him abide with him +and entreated him with honour and munificence. After awhile, he +sought of the king leave to go to his own house, but the latter +would not consent to this; whereupon he said to him, 'O king, +suffer me go and see my children and come again.' So he gave him +leave for this and took surety of him for his return. Moreover, +he gave him a purse, wherein were a thousand gold dinars, and the +merchant embarked in a ship and set sail, intending for his own +country. + +Meanwhile, news came to his wife that her husband had taken +service with King Such-an-one; so she arose and taking her two +sons, (for she had given birth to twin boys in his absence,) set +out for those parts. As fate would have it, they happened upon an +island and her husband came thither that very night in the ship. +[When the woman heard of the coming of the ship], she said to her +children, 'This ship cometh from the country where your father +is; so go ye to the sea-shore, that ye may enquire of him.' So +they repaired to the sea-shore and [going up into the ship], fell +to playing about it and occupied themselves with their play till +the evening. + +Now the merchant their father lay asleep in the ship, and the +crying of the boys troubled him; so he rose to call out to them +[and silence them] and let the purse [with the thousand dinars +therein] fall among the bales of merchandise. He sought for it +and finding it not, buffeted his head and seized upon the boys, +saying, 'None took the purse but you. Ye were playing about the +bales, so ye might steal somewhat, and there was none here but +you.' Then he took a staff and laying hold of the children, fell +to beating them and flogging them, whilst they wept, and the +sailors came round about them and said, 'The boys of this island +are all thieves and robbers.' Then, of the greatness of the +merchant's wrath, he swore that, if they brought not out the +purse, he would drown them in the sea; so when [by reason of +their denial] his oath became binding upon him, he took the two +boys and lashing them [each] to a bundle of reeds, cast them into +the sea. + +Presently, the mother of the two boys, finding that they tarried +from her, went searching for them, till she came to the ship and +fell to saying, 'Who hath seen two boys of mine? Their fashion is +thus and thus and their age thus and thus.' When they heard her +words, they said, 'This is the description of the two boys who +were drowned in the sea but now.' Their mother heard and fell to +calling on them and saying, 'Alas, my anguish for your loss, O my +sons! Where was the eye of your father this day, that it might +have seen you?' Then one of the crew questioned her, saying, +'Whose wife art thou?' And she answered, 'I am the wife of such +an one the merchant. I was on my way to him, and there hath +befallen me this calamity.' When the merchant heard her speech, +he knew her and rising to his feet, rent his clothes and buffeted +his head and said to his wife, 'By Allah, I have destroyed my +children with mine own hand! This is the end of whoso looketh not +to the issues of affairs.' Then he fell a-wailing and weeping +over them, he and his wife, and he said, 'By Allah, I shall have +no ease of my life, till I light upon news of them!' And he +betook himself to going round about the sea, in quest of them, +but found them not. + +Meanwhile, the wind carried the two children [out to sea and +thence driving them] towards the land, cast them up on the +sea-shore. As for one of them, a company of the guards of the +king of those parts found him and carried him to their master, +who marvelled at him with an exceeding wonderment and adopted him +to his son, giving out to the folk that he was his [very] son, +whom he had hidden,[FN#106] of his love for him. So the folk +rejoiced in him with an exceeding joy, for the king's sake, and +the latter appointed him his heir-apparent and the inheritor of +his kingdom. On this wise, a number of years passed, till the +king died and they crowned the youth king in his room. So he sat +down on the throne of his kingship and his estate flourished and +his affairs prospered. + +Meanwhile, his father and mother had gone round about all the +islands of the sea in quest of him and his brother, hoping that +the sea might have cast them up, but found no trace of them; so +they despaired of finding them and took up their abode in one of +the islands. One day, the merchant, being in the market, saw a +broker, and in his hand a boy he was calling for sale, and said +in himself, 'I will buy yonder boy, so I may console myself with +him for my sons.' So he bought him and carried him to his house; +and when his wife saw him, she cried out and said, 'By Allah, +this is my son!' So his father and mother rejoiced in him with an +exceeding joy and questioned him of his brother; but he answered, +'The sea parted us and I knew not what became of him.' Therewith +his father and mother consoled themselves with him and on this +wise a number of years passed. + +Now the merchant and his wife had taken up their abode in a city +in the land whereof their [other] son was king, and when the boy +[whom they had found] grew up, his father assigned unto him +merchandise, so he might travel therewith. So he set out and +entered the city wherein his brother was king. News reached the +latter that there was a merchant come thither with merchandise +befitting kings. So he sent for him and the young merchant obeyed +the summons and going in to him, sat down before him. Neither of +them knew the other; but blood stirred between them and the king +said to the young merchant, 'I desire of thee that thou abide +with me and I will exalt thy station and give thee all that thou +desirest and cravest.' So he abode with him awhile, quitting him +not; and when he saw that he would not suffer him to depart from +him, he sent to his father and mother and bade them remove +thither to him. So they addressed them to remove to that island, +and their son increased still in honour with the king, albeit he +knew not that he was his brother. + +It chanced one night that the king sallied forth without the city +and drank and the wine got the mastery of him and he became +drunken. So, of the youth's fearfulness for him, he said, 'I will +keep watch myself over the king this night, seeing that he +deserveth this from me, for that which he hath wrought with me of +kindnesses.' So he arose forthright and drawing his sword, +stationed himself at the door of the king's pavilion. Now one of +the royal servants saw him standing there, with the drawn sword +in his hand, and he was of those who envied him his favour with +the king; so he said to him, 'Why dost thou on this wise at this +season and in the like of this place?' Quoth the youth, 'I am +keeping watch over the king myself, in requital of his bounties +to me.' + +The servant said no more to him, but, when it was morning, he +acquainted a number of the king's servants with this and they +said, 'This is an opportunity for us. Come let us assemble +together and acquaint the king with this, so the young merchant +may lose favour with him and he rid us of him and we be at rest +from him.' So they assembled together and going in to the king, +said to him, 'We have a warning we would give thee.' Quoth he, +'And what is your warning?' And they said, 'Yonder youth, the +merchant, whom thou hast taken into favour and whose rank thou +hast exalted above the chiefs of the people of thy household, we +saw yesterday draw his sword and offer to fall upon thee, so he +might slay thee.' When the king heard this, his colour changed +and he said to them, 'Have ye proof of this?' Quoth they, 'What +proof wouldst thou have? If thou desire this, feign thyself +drunken again this night and lie down, as if asleep, and watch +him, and thou wilt see with thine eyes all that we have named to +thee.' + +Then they went to the youth and said to him, 'Know that the king +thanketh thee for thy dealing yesternight and exceedeth in +[praise of] thy good deed;' and they prompted him to do the like +again. So, when the next night came, the king abode on wake; +watching the youth; and as for the latter, he went to the door of +the pavilion and drawing his sword, stood in the doorway. When +the king saw him do thus, he was sore disquieted and bade seize +him and said to him, 'Is this my requital from thee? I showed +thee favour more than any else and thou wouldst do with me this +vile deed.' Then arose two of the king's servants and said to +him, 'O our lord, if thou command it, we will strike off his +head.' But the king said, 'Haste in slaying is a vile thing, for +it[FN#107] is a grave matter; the quick we can slay, but the +slain we cannot quicken, and needs must we look to the issue of +affairs. The slaying of this [youth] will not escape us.'[FN#108] +Therewith he bade imprison him, whilst he himself returned [to +the city] and despatching his occasions, went forth to the chase. + +Then he returned to the city and forgot the youth; so the +servants went in to him and said to him, 'O king, if thou keep +silence concerning yonder youth, who would have slain thee, all +thy servants will presume upon thee, and indeed the folk talk of +this matter.' With this the king waxed wroth and saying, 'Fetch +him hither,' commanded the headsman to strike off his head. So +they [brought the youth and] bound his eyes; and the headsman +stood at his head and said to the king, 'By thy leave, O my lord, +I will strike off his head.' But the king said, 'Stay, till I +look into his affair. Needs must I put him to death and the +slaying of him will not escape [me].' So he restored him to the +prison and there he abode till it should be the king's will to +put him to death. + +Presently, his father and his mother heard of the matter; +whereupon the former arose and going up to the place, wrote a +letter and [presented it to the king, who] read it, and behold, +therein was written, saying, 'Have pity on me, so may God have +pity on thee, and hasten not in the slaughter [of my son]; for +indeed I acted hastily in a certain affair and drowned his +brother in the sea, and to this day I drink the cup of his +anguish. If thou must needs kill him, kill me in his stead.' +Therewith the old merchant prostrated himself before the king and +wept; and the latter said to him, 'Tell me thy story.' 'O my +lord,' answered the merchant, 'this youth had a brother and I [in +my haste] cast them both into the sea.' And he related to him his +story from first to last, whereupon the king cried out with an +exceeding great cry and casting himself down from the throne, +embraced his father and brother and said to the former, 'By +Allah, thou art my very father and this is my brother and thy +wife is our mother.' And they abode weeping, all three. + +Then the king acquainted the people [of his court] with the +matter and said to them,' O folk, how deem ye of my looking to +the issues of affairs?' And they all marvelled at his wisdom and +foresight. Then he turned to his father and said to him, 'Hadst +thou looked to the issue of thine affair and dealt deliberately +in that which thou didst, there had not betided thee this +repentance and grief all this time.' Then he let bring his mother +and they rejoiced in each other and lived all their days in joy +and gladness. What then," continued the young treasurer, "is more +grievous than the lack of looking to the issues of affairs? +Wherefore hasten thou not in the slaying of me, lest repentance +betide thee and sore concern." + +When the king heard this, he said, "Restore him to the prison +till the morrow, so we may look into his affair; for that +deliberation in affairs is advisable and the slaughter of this +[youth] shall not escape [us]." + + The Third Day. + + + + OF THE ADVANTAGES OF PATIENCE. + + + +When it was the third day, the third vizier came in to the king +and said to him, "O king, delay not the affair of this youth, for +that his deed hath caused us fall into the mouths of the folk, +and it behoveth that thou slay him presently, so the talk may be +estopped from us and it be not said, 'The king saw on his bed a +man with his wife and spared him.'"* The king was chagrined by +this speech and bade bring the youth. So they brought him in +shackles, and indeed the king's anger was roused against him by +the speech of the vizier and he was troubled; so he said to him, +"O base of origin, thou hast dishonoured us and marred our +repute, and needs must I do away thy life from the world." Quoth +the youth, "O king, make use of patience in all thine affairs, so +wilt thou attain thy desire, for that God the Most High hath +appointed the issue of patience [to be] in abounding good, and +indeed by patience Abou Sabir ascended from the pit and sat down +upon the throne." "Who was Abou Sabir," asked the king, "and what +is his story?" And the youth answered, saying, "O king, + + + + + + STORY OF ABOU SABIR. + + + +There was once a man, a headman [of a village], by name Abou +Sabir, and he had much cattle and a fair wife, who had borne him +two sons. They abode in a certain village and there used to come +thither a lion and devour Abou Sabir's cattle, so that the most +part thereof was wasted and his wife said to him one day, 'This +lion hath wasted the most part of our cattle. Arise, mount thy +horse and take thy men and do thine endeavour to kill him, so we +may be at rest from him.' But Abou Sabir said, 'Have patience, O +woman, for the issue of patience is praised. This lion it is that +transgresseth against us, and the transgressor, needs must Allah +destroy him. Indeed, it is our patience that shall slay him, and +he that doth evil, needs must it revert upon him.' A little +after, the king went forth one day to hunt and falling in with +the lion, he and his troops, gave chase to him and ceased not [to +follow] after him till they slew him. This came to Abou Sabir's +knowledge and he said to his wife, 'Said I not to thee, O woman, +that whoso doth evil, it shall revert upon him? Belike, if I had +sought to slay the lion myself, I had not availed against him, +and this is the issue of patience.' + +It befell, after this, that a man was slain in Abou Sabir's +village; wherefore the Sultan caused plunder the village, and +they plundered the headman's goods with the rest So his wife said +to him, 'All the Sultan's officers know thee; so do thou prefer +thy plaint to the king, that he may cause thy beasts to be +restored to thee.' But he said to her, 'O woman, said I not to +thee that he who doth evil shall suffer it? Indeed, the king hath +done evil, and he shall suffer [the consequences of] his deed, +for whoso taketh the goods of the folk, needs must his goods be +taken.' A man of his neighbours heard his speech, and he was an +envier of his; so he went to the Sultan and acquainted him +therewith, whereupon he sent and plundered all [the rest of] his +goods and drove him forth from the village, and his wife [and +children] with him. So they went wandering in the desert and his +wife said to him, 'All that hath befallen us cometh of thy +slothfulness in affairs and thy default.' But he said to her, +'Have patience, for the issue of patience is good.' + +Then they went on a little, and thieves met them and despoiling +them of that which remained with them, stripped them of their +raiment and took the children from them; whereupon the woman wept +and said to her husband, 'O man, put away from thee this folly +and arise, let us follow the thieves, so haply they may have +compassion on us and restore the children to us.' 'O woman,' +answered he, 'have patience, for he who doth evil shall be +requited with evil and his wickedness shall revert upon him. Were +I to follow them, most like one of them would take his sword and +smite off my head and slay me; but have patience, for the issue +of patience is praised.' Then they fared on till they drew near a +village in the land of Kirman, and by it a river of water. So he +said to his wife, 'Abide thou here, whilst I enter the village +and look us out a place wherein we may take up our lodging.' And +he left her by the water and entered the village. + +Presently, up came a horseman in quest of water, so he might +water his horse. He saw the woman and she was pleasing in his +sight; so he said to her, 'Arise, mount with me and I will take +thee to wife and entreat thee kindly.' Quoth she, 'Spare me, so +may God spare thee! Indeed, I have a husband.' But he drew his +sword and said to her, 'An thou obey me not, I will smite thee +and kill thee.' When she saw his malice, she wrote on the ground +in the sand with her finger, saying, 'O Abou Sabir, thou hast not +ceased to be patient, till thy wealth is gone from thee and thy +children and [now] thy wife, who was more precious in thy sight +than everything and than all thy wealth, and indeed thou abidest +in thy sorrow all thy life long, so thou mayst see what thy +patience will profit thee.' Then the horseman took her, and +setting her behind him, went his way. + +As for Abou Sabir, when he returned, he saw not his wife and read +what was written on the ground, wherefore he wept and sat +[awhile] sorrowing. Then said he to himself, 'O Abou Sabir, it +behoveth thee to be patient, for belike there shall betide [thee] +an affair yet sorer than this and more grievous;' and he went +forth wandering at a venture, like to the love-distraught, the +madman, till he came to a sort of labourers working upon the +palace of the king, by way of forced labour. When [the overseers] +saw him, they laid hold of him and said to him, 'Work thou with +these folk at the palace of the king; else will we imprison thee +for life.' So he fell to working with them as a labourer and +every day they gave him a cake of bread. He wrought with them a +month's space, till it chanced that one of the labourers mounted +a ladder and falling, broke his leg; whereupon he cried out and +wept. Quoth Abou Sabir to him, 'Have patience and weep not; for +thou shall find ease in thy patience.' But the man said to him, +'How long shall I have patience?' And he answered, saying, +'Patience bringeth a man forth of the bottom of the pit and +seateth him on the throne of the kingdom.' + +Now the king was seated at the lattice, hearkening to their talk, +and Abou Sabir's words angered him; so he bade bring him before +him and they brought him forthright. Now there was in the king's +palace an underground dungeon and therein a vast deep pit, into +which the king caused cast Abou Sabir, saying to him, 'O lackwit, +now shall we see how thou wilt come forth of the pit to the +throne of the kingdom.' Then he used to come and stand at the +mouth of the pit and say, 'O lackwit, O Abou Sabir, I see thee +not come forth of the pit and sit down on the king's throne!' And +he assigned him each day two cakes of bread, whilst Abou Sabir +held his peace and spoke not, but bore with patience that which +betided him. + +Now the king had a brother, whom he had imprisoned in that pit of +old time, and he had died [there]; but the folk of the realm +thought that he was alive, and when his [supposed] imprisonment +grew long, the king's officers used to talk of this and of the +tyranny of the king, and the report spread abroad that the king +was a tyrant, wherefore they fell upon him one day and slew him. +Then they sought the well and brought out Abou Sabir therefrom, +deeming him the king's brother, for that he was the nearest of +folk to him [in favour] and the likest, and he had been long in +the prison. So they doubted not but that he was the prince in +question and said to him, 'Reign thou in thy brother's room, for +we have slain him and thou art king in his stead.' But Abou Sabir +was silent and spoke not a word; and he knew that this was the +issue of his patience. Then he arose and sitting down on the +king's throne, donned the royal raiment and discovered justice +and equity and the affairs [of the realm] prospered [in his +hand]; wherefore the folk obeyed him and the people inclined to +him and many were his troops. + +Now the king, who had plundered Abou Sabir['s goods] and driven +him forth of his village, had an enemy; and the latter took horse +against him and overcame him and captured his [capital] city; +wherefore he addressed himself to flight and came to Abou Sabir's +city, craving protection of him and seeking that he should +succour him. He knew not that the king of the city was the +headman whom he had despoiled; so he presented himself before him +and made complaint to him; but Abou Sabir knew him and said to +him, 'This is somewhat of the issue of patience. God the Most +High hath given me power over thee.' Then he bade his guards +plunder the [unjust] king and his attendants; so they plundered +them and stripping them of their clothes, put them forth of his +country. When Abou Sabir's troops saw this, they marvelled and +said, 'What is this deed that the king doth? There cometh a king +to him, craving protection, and he despoileth him! This is not of +the fashion of kings.' But they dared not [be]speak [him] of +this. + +After this, news came to the king of robbers in his land; so he +set out in quest of them and ceased not to follow after them, +till he seized on them all, and behold, they were the [very] +thieves who had despoiled him [and his wife] by the way and taken +his children. So he bade bring them before him, and when they +came into his presence, he questioned them, saying, 'Where are +the two boys ye took on such a day?' Quoth they, 'They are with +us and we will present them to our lord the king for slaves to +serve him and give him wealth galore that we have gotten together +and divest ourselves of all that we possess and repent from sin +and fight in thy service.' Abou Sabir, however, paid no heed to +their speech, but took all their good and bade put them all to +death. Moreover, he took the two boys and rejoiced in them with +an exceeding joy, whereat the troops murmured among themselves, +saying, 'Verily, this is a greater tyrant than his brother! There +come to him a sort of robbers and seek to repent and proffer two +boys [by way of peace-offering], and he taketh the two boys and +all their good and slayeth them!' + +After this came the horseman, who had taken Abou Sabir's wife, +and complained of her to the king that she would not give him +possession of herself, avouching that she was his wife. The king +bade bring her before him, that he might hear her speech and +pronounce judgment upon her. So the horseman came with her before +him, and when the king saw her, he knew her and taking her from +her ravisher, bade put the latter to death. Then he became aware +of the troops, that they murmured against him and spoke of him as +a tyrant; so he turned to his officers and viziers and said to +them, 'As for me, by God the Great, I am not the king's brother! +Nay, I am but one whom the king imprisoned upon a word he heard +from me and used every day to taunt me therewith. Ye think that I +am the king's brother; but I am Abou Sabir and God hath given me +the kingship in virtue of my patience. As for the king who sought +protection of me and I despoiled him, it was he who first wronged +me, for that he despoiled me aforetime and drove me forth of my +native land and banished me, without due [cause]; wherefore I +requited him with that which he had done to me, in the way of +lawful vengeance. As for the thieves who proffered repentance, +there was no repentance for them with me, for that they began +upon me with foul [dealing] and waylaid me by the road and +despoiled me and took my good and my sons. Now these two boys, +that I took of them and whom ye deemed slaves, are my very sons; +so I avenged myself on the thieves of that which they did with me +aforetime and requited them with equity. As for the horseman whom +I slew, the woman I took from him was my wife and he took her by +force, but God the Most High hath restored her [to me]; so this +was my right, and my deed that I have done was just, albeit ye, +[judging] by the outward of the matter, deemed that I had done +this by way of tyranny.' When the folk heard this, they marvelled +and fell prostrate before him; and they redoubled in esteem for +him and exceeding affection and excused themselves to him, +marvelling at that which God had done with him and how He had +given him the kingship by reason of his longsuffering and his +patience and how he had raised himself by his patience from the +bottom of the pit to the throne of the kingdom, what while God +cast down the [late] king from the throne into the pit.[FN#109] +Then Abou Sabir foregathered with his wife and said to her, 'How +deemest thou of the fruit of patience and its sweetness and the +fruit of haste and its bitterness? Verily, all that a man doth of +good and evil, he shall assuredly abide.' On like wise, O king," +continued the young treasurer, "it behoveth thee to practise +patience, whenas it is possible to thee, for that patience is of +the fashion of the noble, and it is the chiefest of their +reliance, especially for kings." + +When the king heard this from the youth, his anger subsided; so +he bade restore him to the prison, and the folk dispersed that +day. + + The Fourth Day. + + + + OF THE ILL EFFECTS OF PRECIPITATION. + + + +When it was the fourth day, the fourth vizier, whose name was +Zoushad, made his appearance and prostrating himself to the king, +said to him, "O king, suffer not the talk of yonder youth to +delude thee, for that he is not a truth-teller. So long as he +abideth on life, the folk will not give over talking nor will thy +heart cease to be occupied with him." "By Allah," cried the king, +"thou sayst sooth and I will cause fetch him this day and slay +him before me." Then he commanded to bring the youth; so they +brought him in shackles and he said to him, "Out on thee! +Thinkest thou to appease my heart with thy prate, whereby the +days are spent in talk? I mean to slay thee this day and be quit +of thee." "O king," answered the youth, "it is in thy power to +slay me whensoever thou wilt, but haste is of the fashion of the +base and patience of that of the noble. If thou put me to death, +thou wilt repent, and if thou desire to bring me back to life, +thou wilt not be able thereunto. Indeed, whoso acteth hastily in +an affair, there befalleth him what befell Bihzad, son of the +king." Quoth the king, "And what is his story?" "O king," replied +the young treasurer, + + + + + + STORY OF PRINCE BIHZAD. + + + +"There was once, of old time, a king and he had a son [named +Bihzad], there was not in his day a goodlier than he and he loved +to consort with the folk and to sit with the merchants and +converse with them. One day, as he sat in an assembly, amongst a +number of folk, he heard them talking of his own goodliness and +grace and saying, 'There is not in his time a goodlier than he.' +But one of the company said, 'Indeed, the daughter of King +Such-an-one is handsomer than he.' When Bihzad heard this saying, +his reason fled and his heart fluttered and he called the last +speaker and said to him, 'Repeat to me that which thou saidst and +tell me the truth concerning her whom thou avouchest to be +handsomer than I and whose daughter she is.' Quoth the man, 'She +is the daughter of King Such-an-one;' whereupon Bihzad's heart +clave to her and his colour changed. + +The news reached his father, who said to him, 'O my son, this +damsel to whom thy heart cleaveth is at thy commandment and we +have power over her; so wait till I demand her [in marriage] for +thee.' But the prince said, 'I will not wait.' So his father +hastened in the matter and sent to demand her of her father, who +required of him a hundred thousand dinars to his daughter's +dowry. Quoth Bihzad's father, 'So be it,' and paid down what was +in his treasuries, and there remained to his charge but a little +of the dower. So he said to his son, 'Have patience, O my son, +till we gather together the rest of the money and send to fetch +her to thee, for that she is become thine.' Therewith the prince +waxed exceeding wroth and said, 'I will not have patience;' so he +took his sword and his spear and mounting his horse, went forth +and fell to stopping the way, [so haply that he might win what +lacked of the dowry]. + +It chanced one day that he fell in upon a company of folk and +they overcame him by dint of numbers and taking him prisoner, +pinioned him and carried him to the lord of that country. The +latter saw his fashion and grace and misdoubting of him, said, +'This is no robber's favour. Tell me truly, O youth, who thou +art.' Bihzad thought shame to acquaint him with his condition and +chose rather death for himself; so he answered, 'I am nought but +a thief and a bandit.' Quoth the king, 'It behoveth us not to act +hastily in the matter of this youth, but that we look into his +affair, for that haste still engendereth repentance.' So he +imprisoned him in his palace and assigned him one who should +serve him. + +Meanwhile, the news spread abroad that Bihzad, son of the king, +was lost, whereupon his father sent letters in quest of him [to +all the kings and amongst others to him with whom he was +imprisoned]. When the letter reached the latter, he praised God +the Most High for that he had not anydele hastened in Bihzad's +affair and letting bring him before himself, said to him, 'Art +thou minded to destroy thyself?' Quoth Bihzad, '[I did this] for +fear of reproach;' and the king said, 'An thou fear reproach, +thou shouldst not practise haste [in that thou dost]; knowest +thou not that the fruit of haste is repentance? If we had hasted, +we also, like unto thee, we had repented.' + +Then he conferred on him a dress of honour and engaged to him for +the completion of the dowry and sent to his father, giving him +the glad news and comforting his heart with [the tidings of] his +son's safety; after which he said to Bihzad, Arise, O my son, and +go to thy father.' 'O king,' rejoined the prince, 'complete thy +kindness to me by [hastening] my going-in to my wife; for, if I +go back to my father, till he send a messenger and he return, +promising me, the time will be long.' The king laughed and +marvelled at him and said to him, 'I fear for thee from this +haste, lest thou come to shame and attain not thy desire.' Then +he gave him wealth galore and wrote him letters, commending him +to the father of the princess, and despatched him to them. When +he drew near their country, the king came forth to meet him with +the people of his realm and assigned him a handsome lodging and +bade hasten the going-in of his daughter to him, in compliance +with the other king's letter. Moreover, he advised the prince's +father [of his son's coming] and they busied themselves with the +affair of the damsel. + +When it was the day of the going-in,[FN#110] Bihzad, of his haste +and lack of patience, betook himself to the wall, which was +between himself and the princess's lodging and in which there was +a hole pierced, and looked, so he might see his bride, of his +haste. But the bride's mother saw him and this was grievous to +her; so she took from one of the servants two red-hot iron spits +and thrust them into the hole through which the prince was +looking. The spits ran into his eyes and put them out and he fell +down aswoon and joyance was changed and became mourning and sore +concern. See, then, O king," continued the youth, "the issue of +the prince's haste and lack of deliberation, for indeed his haste +bequeathed him long repentance and his joy was changed to +mourning; and on like wise was it with the woman who hastened to +put out his eyes and deliberated not. All this was the doing of +haste; wherefore it behoveth the king not to be hasty in putting +me to death, for that I am under the grasp of his hand, and what +time soever thou desirest my slaughter, it shall not escape +[thee]." + +When the king heard this, his anger subsided and he said, "Carry +him back to prison till to-morrow, to we may look into his +affair." + + The Fifth Day + + + + OF THE ISSUES OF GOOD AND EVIL ACTIONS. + + + +When it was the fifth day, the fifth Vizier, whose name was +Jehrbaur, came in to the king and prostrating himself before him, +said, "O king, it behoveth thee, if thou see or hear that one +look on thy house,[FN#111] that thou put out his eyes. How then +should it be with him whom thou sawest midmost thy house and on +thy very bed, and he suspected with thy harem, and not of thy +lineage nor of thy kindred? Wherefore do thou away this reproach +by putting him to death. Indeed, we do but urge thee unto this +for the assurance of thine empire and of our zeal for thy loyal +counselling and of our love to thee. How can it be lawful that +this youth should live for a single hour?" + +Therewith the king was filled with wrath and said, "Bring him +forthright," So they brought the youth before him, shackled, and +the king said to him, "Out on thee! Thou hast sinned a great sin +and the time of thy life hath been long;[FN#112] but needs must +we put thee to death, for that there is for us no ease in thy +life after this," "O king," answered he, "know that I, by Allah, +am guiltless, and by reason of this I hope for life, for that he +who is guiltless of offence goeth not in fear of punishment +neither maketh great his mourning and his concern; but whoso hath +sinned, needs must his sin be expiated upon him, though his life +be prolonged, and it shall overtake him, even as it overtook +Dadbin the king and his vizier." "How was that?" asked Azadbekht, +and the youth said, + + + + + + STORY OF KING DADBIN AND HIS VIZIERS. + + + +"There was once a king in the land of Teberistan, by name Dadbin, +and he had two viziers, called one Zourkhan and the other Kardan. +The Vizier Zourkhan had a daughter, there was not in her time a +handsomer than she nor yet a chaster nor a more pious, for she +was a faster, a prayer and a worshipper of God the Most High, and +her name was Arwa. Now Dadbin heard tell of her charms; so his +heart clave to her and he called the vizier [her father] and said +to him, 'I desire of thee that thou marry me to thy daughter.' +Quoth Zourkhan, 'Allow me to consult her, and if she consent, I +will marry thee with her.' And the king said, 'Hasten unto this.' + +So the vizier went in to his daughter and said to her, 'O my +daughter, the king seeketh thee of me and desireth to marry +thee.' 'O my father,' answered she 'I desire not a husband and if +thou wilt marry me, marry me not but with one who shall be below +me in rank and I nobler than he, so he may not turn to other than +myself nor lift his eyes upon me, and marry me not to one who is +nobler than I, lest I be with him as a slave-girl and a +serving-woman.' So the vizier returned to the king and acquainted +him with that which his daughter had said, whereat he redoubled +in desire and love-liking for her and said to her father, 'An +thou marry me not to her of good grace, I will take her by force +in thy despite.' The vizier again betook himself to his daughter +and repeated to her the king's words, but she replied, 'I desire +not a husband.' So he returned to the king and told him what she +said, and he was wroth and threatened the vizier, whereupon the +latter took his daughter and fled with her. + +When this came to the king's knowledge, he despatched troops in +pursuit of Zourkhan, to stop the road upon him, whilst he himself +went out and overtaking the vizier, smote him on the head with +his mace and slew him. Then he took his daughter by force and +returning to his dwelling-place, went in to her and married her. +Arwa resigned herself with patience to that which betided her and +committed her affair to God the Most High; and indeed she was +used to serve Him day and night with a goodly service in the +house of King Dabdin her husband. + +It befell one day that the king had occasion to make a journey; +so he called his Vizier Kardan and said to him, 'I have a trust +to commit to thy care, and it is yonder damsel, my wife, the +daughter of the Vizier [Zourkhan], and I desire that thou keep +her and guard her thyself, for that there is not in the world +aught dearer to me than she.' Quoth Kardan in himself, 'Of a +truth, the king honoureth me with an exceeding honour [in +entrusting me] with this damsel.' And he answered 'With all my +heart.' + +When the king had departed on his journey, the vizier said in +himself, 'Needs must I look upon this damsel whom the king loveth +with all this love.' So he hid himself in a place, that he might +look upon her, and saw her overpassing description; wherefore he +was confounded at her and his wit was dazed and love got the +mastery of him, so that he said to her, saying, 'Have pity on me, +for indeed I perish for the love of thee.' She sent back to him, +saying, 'O vizier, thou art in the place of trust and confidence, +so do not thou betray thy trust, but make thine inward like unto +thine outward[FN#113] and occupy thyself with thy wife and that +which is lawful to thee. As for this, it is lust and [women are +all of] one taste.[FN#114] And if thou wilt not be forbidden from +this talk, I will make thee a byword and a reproach among the +folk.' When the vizier heard her answer, he knew that she was +chaste of soul and body; wherefore he repented with the utmost of +repentance and feared for himself from the king and said, 'Needs +must I contrive a device wherewithal I may destroy her; else +shall I be disgraced with the king.' + +When the king returned from his journey, he questioned his vizier +of the affairs of his kingdom and the latter answered, 'All is +well, O king, save a vile matter, which I have discovered here +and wherewith I am ashamed to confront the king; but, if I hold +my peace thereof, I fear lest other than I discover it and I [be +deemed to] have played traitor to the king in the matter of my +[duty of] loyal warning and my trust.' Quoth Dabdin, 'Speak, for +thou art none other than a truth-teller, a trusty one, a loyal +counsellor in that which thou sayest, undistrusted in aught.' And +the vizier said, 'O king, this woman to whose love thy heart +cleaveth and of whose piety thou talkest and her fasting and +praying, I will make plain to thee that this is craft and guile.' +At this, the king was troubled and said, 'What is to do?' 'Know,' +answered the vizier, 'that some days after thy departure, one +came to me and said to me, "Come, O vizier, and look." So I went +to the door of the [queen's] sleeping-chamber and beheld her +sitting with Aboulkhair, her father's servant, whom she +favoureth, and she did with him what she did, and this is the +manner of that which I saw and heard.' + +When Dabdin heard this, he burnt with rage and said to one of his +eunuchs,[FN#115] 'Go and slay her in her chamber.' But the eunuch +said to him, 'O king, may God prolong thy continuance! Indeed, +the killing of her may not be at this time; but do thou bid one +of thine eunuchs take her up on a camel and carry her to one of +the trackless deserts and cast her down there; so, if she be at +fault, God shall cause her to perish, and if she be innocent, He +will deliver her, and the king shall be free from sin against +her, for that this damsel is dear to thee and thou slewest her +father by reason of thy love for her.' Quoth the king, 'By Allah, +thou sayst sooth!' Then he bade one of his eunuchs carry her on a +camel to one of the far-off deserts and there leave her and go +away, and he forbade [him] to prolong her torment. So he took her +up and betaking himself with her to the desert, left her there +without victual or water and returned, whereupon she made for one +of the [sand-]hills and ranging stones before her [in the form of +a prayer-niche], stood praying. + +Now it chanced that a camel-driver, belonging to Kisra the king, +lost certain camels and the king threatened him, if he found them +not, that he would slay him. So he set out and plunged into the +deserts till he came to the place where the damsel was and seeing +her standing praying, waited till she had made an end of her +prayer, when he went up to her and saluted her, saying, 'Who art +thou?' Quoth she, 'I am a handmaid of God.' 'What dost thou in +this desolate place?' asked he, and she said, 'I serve God the +Most High.' When he saw her beauty and grace, he said to her, +'Harkye! Do thou take me to husband and I will be tenderly +solicitous over thee and use thee with exceeding compassion and I +will further thee in obedience to God the Most High.' But she +answered, saying, 'I have no need of marriage and I desire to +abide here [alone] with my Lord and His service; but, if thou +wouldst deal compassionately with me and further me in the +obedience of God the Most High, carry me to a place where there +is water and thou wilt have done me a kindness.' + +So he carried her to a place wherein was running water and +setting her down on the ground, left her and went away, +marvelling at her. After he left her, he found his camels, by her +blessing, and when he returned, King Kisra asked him, 'Hast thou +found the camels?' ['Yes,' answered he] and acquainted him with +the affair of the damsel and set out to him her beauty and grace; +whereupon the king's heart clave to her and he mounted with a few +men and betook himself to that place, where he found the damsel +and was amazed at her, for that he saw her overpassing the +description wherewith the camel-driver had described her to him. +So he accosted her and said to her, 'I am King Kisra, greatest of +the kings. Wilt thou not have me to husband?' Quoth she, 'What +wilt thou do with me, O king, and I a woman abandoned in the +desert?' And he answered, saying, 'Needs must this be, and if +thou wilt not consent to me, I will take up my sojourn here and +devote myself to God's service and thine and worship Him with +thee.' + +Then he bade set up for her a tent and another for himself, +facing hers, so he might worship God with her, and fell to +sending her food; and she said in herself, 'This is a king and it +is not lawful for me that I suffer him forsake his subjects and +his kingdom for my sake. So she said to the serving-woman, who +used to bring her the food, 'Speak to the king, so he may return +to his women, for he hath no need of me and I desire to abide in +this place, so I may worship God the Most High therein.' The +slave-girl returned to the king and told him this, whereupon he +sent back to her, saying, 'I have no need of the kingship and I +also desire to abide here and worship God with thee in this +desert.' When she found this earnestness in him, she consented to +his wishes and said, 'O king, I will consent unto thee in that +which thou desirest and will be to thee a wife, but on condition +that thou bring me Dadbin the king and his Vizier Kardan and his +chamberlain[FN#116] and that they be present in thine assembly, +so I may speak a word with them in thy presence, to the intent +that thou mayest redouble in affection for me.' Quoth Kisra, 'And +what is thine occasion unto this?' So she related to him her +story from first to last, how she was the wife of Dadbin the king +and how the latter's vizier had miscalled her honour. + +When King Kisra heard this, he redoubled in loveliking for her +and affection and said to her, 'Do what thou wilt.' So he let +bring a litter and carrying her therein to his dwelling-place, +married her and entreated her with the utmost honour. Then he +sent a great army to King Dadbin and fetching him and his vizier +and the chamberlain, caused bring them before him, unknowing what +he purposed with them. Moreover, he caused set up for Arwa a +pavilion in the courtyard of his palace and she entered therein +and let down the curtain before herself. When the servants had +set their seats and they had seated themselves, Arwa raised a +corner of the curtain and said, 'O Kardan, rise to thy feet, for +it befitteth not that thou sit in the like of this assembly, +before this mighty King Kisra.' When the vizier heard these +words, his heart quaked and his joints were loosened and of his +fear, he rose to his feet. Then said she to him, 'By the virtue +of Him who hath made thee stand in this place of standing [up to +judgment], and thou abject and humiliated, I conjure thee speak +the truth and say what prompted thee to lie against me and cause +me go forth from my house and from the hand of my husband and +made thee practise thus against a man,[FN#117] a true believer, +and slay him. This is no place wherein leasing availeth nor may +prevarication be therein.' + +When the vizier was ware that she was Arwa and heard her speech, +he knew that it behoved him not to lie and that nought would +avail him but truth-speaking; so he bowed [his head] to the +ground and wept and said, 'Whoso doth evil, needs must he abide +it, though his day be prolonged. By Allah, I am he who hath +sinned and transgressed, and nought prompted me unto this but +fear and overmastering desire and the affliction written upon my +forehead;[FN#118] and indeed this woman is pure and chaste and +free from all fault.' When King Dadbin heard this, he buffeted +his face and said to his vizier, 'God slay thee! It is thou that +hast parted me and my wife and wronged me!' But Kisra the king +said to him, 'God shall surely slay thee, for that thou +hastenedst and lookedst not into thine affair and knewest not the +guilty from the guiltless. Hadst thou wrought deliberately, the +false had been made manifest to thee from the true; so where was +thy judgment and thy sight?" + +Then said he to Arwa, "What wilt thou that I do with them?" And +she answered, saying, "Accomplish on them the ordinance of God +the Most High;[FN#119] the slayer shall be slain and the +transgressor transgressed against, even as he transgressed +against us; yea, and the well-doer, good shall be done unto him, +even as he did unto us." So she gave [her officers] commandment +concerning Dadbin and they smote him on the head with a mace and +slew him, and she said, "This is for the slaughter of my father." +Then she bade set the vizier on a beast [and carry him] to the +desert whither he had caused carry her [and leave him there +without victual or water]; and she said to him, "An thou be +guilty, thou shalt abide [the punishment of] thy guilt and perish +of hunger and thirst in the desert; but, if there be no guilt in +thee, thou shalt be delivered, even as I was delivered." + +As for the eunuch, the chamberlain, who had counselled King +Dadbin [not to slay her, but] to [cause] carry her to the desert +[and there abandon her], she bestowed on him a sumptuous dress of +honour and said to him, "The like of thee it behoveth kings to +hold in favour and set in high place, for that thou spokest +loyally and well, and a man is still requited according to his +deed." And Kisra the king invested him with the governance of one +of the provinces of his empire. Know, therefore, O king," +continued the youth, "that whoso doth good is requited therewith +and he who is guiltless of sin and reproach feareth not the issue +of his affair. And I, O king, am free from guilt, wherefore I +trust in God that He will show forth the truth and vouchsafe me +the victory over enemies and enviers." + +When the king heard this, his wrath subsided and he said, "Carry +him back to the prison till the morrow, so we may look into his +affair." + + The Sixth Day + + + + OF TRUST IN GOD. + + + +When it was the sixth day, the viziers' wrath redoubled, for that +they had not compassed their desire of the youth and they feared +for themselves from the king; so three of them went in to him and +prostrating themselves before him, said to him, "O king, indeed +we are loyal counsellors to thy dignity and tenderly solicitous +for thee. Verily, thou persistest long in sparing this youth +alive and we know not what is thine advantage therein. Every day +findeth him yet on life and the talk redoubleth suspicions on +thee; so do thou put him to death, that the talk may be made an +end of." When the king heard this speech, he said, "By Allah, +indeed, ye say sooth and speak rightly!" Then he let bring the +young treasurer and said to him, "How long shall I look into +thine affair and find no helper for thee and see them all athirst +for thy blood?" + +"O king," answered the youth, "I hope for succour only from God, +not from created beings: if He aid me, none can avail to harm me, +and if He be with me and on my side, because of the truth, who is +it I shall fear, because of falsehood? Indeed, I have made my +intent with God a pure and sincere intent and have severed my +expectation from the help of the creature; and whoso seeketh help +[of God] findeth of his desire that which Bekhtzeman found." +Quoth the king, "Who was Bekhtzeman and what is his story?" "O +king," replied the youth, + + + + + + STORY OF KING BEKHTZEMAN. + + + +"There was once a king of the kings, whose name was Bekhtzeman, +and he was a great eater and drinker and carouser. Now enemies of +his made their appearance in certain parts of his realm and +threatened him; and one of his friends said to him, 'O king, the +enemy maketh for thee: be on thy guard against him.' Quoth +Bekhtzeman, 'I reck not of him, for that I have arms and wealth +and men and am not afraid of aught.' Then said his friends to +him, 'Seek aid of God, O king, for He will help thee more than +thy wealth and thine arms and thy men.' But he paid no heed to +the speech of his loyal counsellors, and presently the enemy came +upon him and waged war upon him and got the victory over him and +his trust in other than God the Most High profited him nought. So +he fled from before him and seeking one of the kings, said to +him, 'I come to thee and lay hold upon thy skirts and take refuge +with thee, so thou mayst help me against mine enemy.' + +The king gave him money and men and troops galore and Bekhtzeman +said in himself, 'Now am I fortified with this army and needs +must I conquer my enemy therewith and overcome him;' but he said +not, 'With the aid of God the Most High.' So his enemy met him +and overcame him again and he was defeated and put to the rout +and fled at a venture. His troops were dispersed from him and his +money lost and the enemy followed after him. So he sought the sea +and passing over to the other side, saw a great city and therein +a mighty citadel. He asked the name of the city and to whom it +belonged and they said to him, 'It belongeth to Khedidan the +king.' So he fared on till he came to the king's palace aud +concealing his condition, passed himself off for a +horseman[FN#120] and sought service with King Khedidan, who +attached him to his household and entreated him with honour; but +his heart still clave to his country and his home. + +Presently, it chanced that an enemy attacked King Khedidan; so he +sent out his troops to him and made Bekhtzeman head of the army. +Then they went forth to the field and Khedidan also came forth +and ranged his troops and took the spear and sallied out in +person and fought a sore battle and overcame his enemy, who fled, +he and his troops, ignominiously. When the king and his army +returned in triumph, Bekhtzeman said to him, 'Harkye, O king! +Meseemeth this is a strange thing of thee that thou art compassed +about with this vast army, yet dost thou apply thyself in person +to battle and adventurest thyself.' Quoth the king, 'Dost thou +call thyself a cavalier and a man of learning and deemest that +victory is in abundance of troops?' 'Ay,' answered Bekhtzeman; +'that is indeed my belief.' And Khedidan said, 'By Allah, then, +thou errest in this thy belief! Woe and again woe to him whose +trust is in other than God! Indeed, this army is appointed only +for adornment and majesty, and victory is from God alone. I too, +O Bekhtzeman, believed aforetime that victory was in the +multitude of men, and an enemy came out against me with eight +hundred men, whilst I had eight hundred thousand. I trusted in +the number of my troops, whilst mine enemy trusted in God; so he +defeated me and routed me and I was put to a shameful flight and +hid myself in one of the mountains, where I met with a recluse, +[who had] withdrawn [himself from the world]. So I joined myself +to him and complained to him of my case and acquainted him with +all that had befallen me. Quoth he, "Knowest thou why this befell +thee and thou wast defeated?" "I know not," answered I, and he +said, "Because thou puttest thy trust in the multitude of thy +troops and reliedst not upon God the Most High. Hadst thou put +thy trust in God and believed in Him that it is He [alone] who +advantageth and endamageth thee, thine enemy had not availed to +cope with thee. Return unto God." So I returned to myself and +repented at the hands of the solitary, who said to me, "Turn back +with what remaineth to thee of troops and confront thine enemies, +for, if their intents be changed from God, thou wilt overcome +them, wert thou alone." When I heard these words, I put my trust +in God the Most High, and gathering together those who remained +with me, fell upon mine enemies at unawares in the night. They +deemed us many and fled on the shamefullest wise, whereupon I +entered my city and repossessed myself of my place by the might +of God the Most High, and now I fight not but [trusting] in His +aid.' + +When Bekhtzeman heard this, he awoke from his heedlessness and +said, 'Extolled be the perfection of God the Great! O king, this +is my case and my story, nothing added and nought diminished, for +I am King Bekhtzeman and all this happened to me; wherefore I +will seek the gate of God['s mercy] and repent unto Him.' So he +went forth to one of the mountains and there worshipped God +awhile, till one night, as he slept, one appeared to him in a +dream and said to him, 'O Bekhtzeman, God accepteth thy +repentance and openeth on thee [the gate of succour] and will +further thee against thine enemy.' When he was certified of this +in the dream, he arose and turned back, intending for his own +city; and when he drew near thereunto, he saw a company of the +king's retainers, who said to him, 'Whence art thou? We see that +thou art a stranger and fear for thee from this king, for that +every stranger who enters this city, he destroys him, of his fear +of King Bekhtzeman.' Quoth Bekhtzeman, 'None shall hurt him nor +advantage him save God the Most High.' And they answered, saying, +'Indeed, he hath a vast army and his heart is fortified in the +multitude of his troops.' + +When King Bekhtzeman heard this, his heart was comforted and he +said in himself, 'I put my trust in God. If He will, I shall +overcome mine enemy by the might of God the Most High.' So he +said to the folk, ' Know ye not who I am?' and they answered, ' +No, by Allah.' Quoth he, 'I am King Bekhtzeman.' When they heard +this and knew that it was indeed he, they dismounted from their +horses and kissed his stirrup, to do him honour, and said to him, +'O king, why hast thou thus adventured thyself?' Quoth he, +'Indeed, my life is a light matter to me and I put my trust in +God the Most High, looking to Him for protection.' And they +answered him, saying, 'May this suffice thee! We will do with +thee that which is in our power and whereof thou art worthy: +comfort thy heart, for we will succour thee with our goods and +our lives, and we are his chief officers and the most in favour +with him of all folk. So we will take thee with us and cause the +folk follow after thee, for that the inclination of the people, +all of them, is to thee.' Quoth he, 'Do that unto which God the +Most High enableth you.' + +So they carried him into the city and hid him with them. +Moreover, they agreed with a company of the king's chief +officers, who had aforetime been those of Bekhtzeman, and +acquainted them with this; whereat they rejoiced with an +exceeding joy. Then they assembled together to Bekhtzeman and +made a covenant and handfast [of fealty] with him and fell upon +the enemy at unawares and slew him and seated King Bekhtzeman +again on the throne of his kingship. And his affairs prospered +and God amended his estate and restored His bounty to him, and he +ruled his subjects justly and abode in the obedience of the Most +High. On this wise, O king," continued the young treasurer, "he +with whom God is and whose intent is pure, meeteth nought but +good. As for me, I have no helper other than God, and I am +content to submit myself to His ordinance, for that He knoweth +the purity of my intent." + +With this the king's wrath subsided and he said, "Restore him to +the prison till the morrow, so we may look into his affair." + + The Seventh Day. + + + + OF CLEMENCY. + + + +When it was the seventh day, the seventh vizier, whose name was +Bihkemal, came in to the king and prostrating himself to him, +said, "O king, what doth thy long-suffering with this youth +advantage thee? Indeed the folk talk of thee and of him. Why, +then, dost thou postpone the putting him to death?" The vizier's +words aroused the king's anger and he bade bring the youth. So +they brought him before him, shackled, and Azadbekht said to him, +"Out on thee! By Allah, after this day there abideth no +deliverance for thee from my hand, for that thou hast outraged +mine honour, and there can be no forgiveness for thee." + +"O king," answered the youth, "there is no great forgiveness save +in case of a great crime, for according as the offence is great, +in so much is forgiveness magnified and it is no dishonour to the +like of thee if he spare the like of me. Verily, Allah knoweth +that there is no fault in me, and indeed He commandeth unto +clemency, and no clemency is greater than that which spareth from +slaughter, for that thy forgiveness of him whom thou purposest to +put to death is as the quickening of a dead man; and whoso doth +evil shall find it before him, even as it was with King Bihkerd." +"And what is the story of King Bihkerd?" asked the king. "O +king," answered the youth, + + + + + + STORY OF KING BIHKERD. + + + +"There was once a king named Bihkerd aed he had wealth galore and +many troops; but his deeds were evil and he would punish for a +slight offence and never forgave. He went forth one day to hunt +and one of his servants shot an arrow, which lit on the king's +ear and cut it off. Quoth Bihkerd, 'Who shot that arrow?' So the +guards brought him in haste the offender, whose name was Yetrou, +and he of his fear fell down on the ground in a swoon. Then said +the king, 'Put him to death;' but Yetrou said, 'O King, this that +hath befallen was not of my choice nor of my knowledge; so do +thou pardon me, in the hour of thy power over me, for that +clemency is of the goodliest of things and belike it shall be [in +this world] a provision and a good work [for which thou shall be +requited] one of these days, and a treasure [laid up to thine +account] with God in the world to come. Pardon me, therefore, and +fend off evil from me, so shall God fend off from thee evil the +like thereof.' When the king heard this, it pleased him and he +pardoned the servant, albeit he had never before pardoned any. + +Now this servant was of the sons of the kings and had fled from +his father, on account of an offence he had committed. Then he +went and took service with King Bihkerd and there happened to him +what happened. After awhile, it chanced that a man recognized him +and went and told his father, who sent him a letter, comforting +his heart and mind and [beseeching him] to return to him. So he +returned to his father, who came forth to meet him and rejoiced +in him, and the prince's affairs were set right with him. + +It befell, one day of the days, that King Bihkerd embarked in a +ship and put out to sea, so he might fish; but the wind blew on +them and the ship foundered. The king won ashore on a plank, +unknown of any, and came forth, naked, on one of the coasts; and +it chanced that he landed in the country whereof the father of +the youth aforesaid, [his sometime servant], was king. So he came +in the night to the gate of the latter's city and [finding it +shut], took up his lodging [for the night] in a burying-place +there. + +When the morning morrowed and the folk came forth of the city, +they found a murdered man cast down in a corner of the +burial-ground and seeing Bihkerd there, doubted not but it was he +who had slain him; so they laid hands on him and carried him up +to the king and said to him, 'This fellow hath slain a man.' The +king bade imprison him; [so they clapped him in prison] and he +fell a-saying in himself, what while he was in the prison, 'All +that hath befallen me is of the abundance of my sins and my +tyranny, for, indeed, I have slain much people unrighteously and +this is the requital of my deeds and that which I have wrought +aforetime of oppression.' As he was thus pondering in himself, +there came a bird and lighted down on the coign of the prison, +whereupon, of his much eagerness in the chase, he took a stone +and cast it at the bird. + +Now the king's son was playing in the exercise-ground with the +ball and the mall, and the stone lit on his ear and cut it off, +whereupon the prince fell down in a swoon. So they enquired who +had thrown the stone and [finding that it was Bihkerd,] took him +and carried him before the prince, who bade put him to death. +Accordingly, they cast the turban from his head and were about to +bind his eyes, when the prince looked at him and seeing him +cropped of an ear, said to him, 'Except thou wert a lewd fellow, +thine ear had not been cut off.' 'Not so, by Allah!' answered +Bihkerd. 'Nay, but the story [of the loss] of my ear is thus and +thus, and I pardoned him who smote me with an arrow and cut off +my ear.' When the prince heard this, he looked in his face and +knowing him, cried out and said, 'Art thou not Bihkerd the king?' +'Yes,' answered he, and the prince said to him 'What bringeth +thee here?' So he told him all that had betided him and the folk +marvelled and extolled the perfection of God the Most High. + +Then the prince rose to him and embraced him and kissed him and +entreated him with honour. Moreover, he seated him in a chair and +bestowed on him a dress of honour; and he turned to his father +and said to him, 'This is the king who pardoned me and this is +his ear that I cut off with an arrow; and indeed he deserveth +pardon from me, for that he pardoned me.' Then said he to +Bihkerd, 'Verily, the issue of clemency hath been a provision for +thee [in thine hour of need].' And they entreated him with the +utmost kindness and sent him back to his own country in all +honour and worship Know, then, O King," continued the youth, +"that there is no goodlier thing than clemency and that all thou +dost thereof, thou shalt find before thee, a treasure laid up for +thee." + +When the king heard this, his wrath subsided and he said, "Carry +him back to the prison till the morrow, so we may look into his +affair." + + The Eighth Day. + + + + OF ENVY AND MALICE. + + + +When it was the eighth day, the viziers all assembled and took +counsel together and said, "How shall we do with this youth, who +baffleth us with his much talk? Indeed, we fear lest he be saved +and we fall [into perdition]. Wherefore, let us all go in to the +king and unite our efforts to overcome him, ere he appear without +guilt and come forth and get the better of us." So they all went +in to the king and prostrating themselves before him, said to +him, "O king, have a care lest this youth beguile thee with his +sorcery and bewitch thee with his craft. If thou heardest what we +hear, thou wouldst not suffer him live, no, not one day. So pay +thou no heed to his speech, for we are thy viziers, [who +endeavour for] thy continuance, and if thou hearken not to our +word, to whose word wilt thou hearken? See, we are ten viziers +who testify against this youth that he is guilty and entered not +the king's sleeping-chamber but with evil intent, so he might put +the king to shame and outrage his honour; and if the king slay +him not, let him banish him his realm, so the tongue of the folk +may desist from him." + +When the king heard his viziers' words, he was exceeding wroth +and bade bring the youth, and when he came in to the king, the +viziers all cried out with one voice, saying, "O scant o' grace, +thinkest thou to save thyself from slaughter by craft and guile, +that thou beguilest the king with thy talk and hopest pardon for +the like of this great crime which thou hast committed?" Then the +king bade fetch the headsman, so he might smite off his head; +whereupon each of the viziers fell a-saying, "I will slay him;" +and they sprang upon him. Quote the youth, "O king, consider and +ponder these men's eagerness. Is this of envy or no? They would +fain make severance between thee and me, so there may fall to +them what they shall plunder, as aforetime." And the king said to +him, "Consider their testimony against thee." "O king," answered +the young man, "how shall they testify of that which they saw +not? This is but envy and rancour; and thou, if thou slay me, +thou wilt regret me, and I fear lest there betide thee of +repentance that which betided Ilan Shah, by reason of the malice +of his viziers." "And what is his story?" asked Azadbekht. "O +king," replied the youth, + + + + + + STORY OF ILAN SHAH AND ABOU TEMAM. + + + +"There was once a merchant named Abou Temam, and he was a man of +understanding and good breeding, quick-witted and truthful in all +his affairs, and he had wealth galore. Now there was in his land +an unjust king and a jealous, and Abou Temam feared for his +wealth from this king and said, 'I will remove hence to another +place where I shall not be in fear.' So he made for the city of +Ilan Shah and built himself a palace therein and transporting his +wealth thither, took up his abode there. Presently, the news of +him reached King Ilan Shah; so he sent to bid him to his presence +and said to him, 'We know of thy coming to us and thine entry +under our allegiance, and indeed we have heard of thine +excellence and wit and generosity; so welcome to thee and fair +welcome! The land is thy land and at thy commandment, and +whatsoever occasion thou hast unto us, it is [already] +accomplished unto thee; and it behoveth that thou be near our +person and of our assembly.' Abou Temam prostrated himself to the +king and said to him, 'O king, I will serve thee with my wealth +and my life, but do thou excuse me from nearness unto thee, for +that, [if I took service about thy person], I should not be safe +from enemies and enviers.' Then he addressed himself to serve the +king with presents and largesses, and the king saw him to be +intelligent, well-bred and of good counsel; so he committed to +him the ordinance of his affairs and in his hand was the power to +bind and loose. + +Now Ilan Shah had three viziers, in whose hands the affairs [of +the kingdom] were [aforetime] and they had been used to leave not +the king night nor day; but they became shut out from him by +reason of Abou Temam and the king was occupied with him to their +exclusion. So they took counsel together upon the matter and +said, 'What counsel ye we should do, seeing that the king is +occupied from us with yonder man, and indeed he honoureth him +more than us? But now come, let us cast about for a device, +whereby we may remove him from the king.' So each of them spoke +forth that which was in his mind, and one of them said, 'The king +of the Turks hath a daughter, whose like there is not in the +world, and whatsoever messenger goeth to demand her in marriage, +her father slayeth him. Now our king hath no knowledge of this; +so, come, let us foregather with him and bring up the talk of +her. When his heart is taken with her, we will counsel him to +despatch Abou Temam to seek her hand in marriage; whereupon her +father will slay him and we shall be quit of him, for we have had +enough of his affair." + +Accordingly, they all went in to the king one day (and Abou Temam +was present among them,) and mentioned the affair of the damsel, +the king's daughter of the Turks, and enlarged upon her charms, +till the king's heart was taken with her and he said to them, 'We +will send one to demand her in marriage for us; but who shall be +our messenger?' Quoth the viziers, 'There is none for this +business but Abou Temam, by reason of his wit and good breeding;' +and the king said, 'Indeed, even as ye say, none is fitting for +this affair but he.' Then he turned to Abou Temam and said to +him, 'Wilt thou not go with my message and seek me [in marriage] +the king's daughter of the Turks?' and he answered, 'Hearkening +and obedience, O king.' + +So they made ready his affair and the king conferred on him a +dress of honour, and he took with him a present and a letter +under the king's hand and setting out, fared on till he came to +the [capital] city of Turkestan. When the king of the Turks knew +of his coming, he despatched his officers to receive him and +entreated him with honour and lodged him as befitted his rank. +Then he entertained him three days, after which he summoned him +to his presence and Abou Temam went in to him and prostrating +himself before him, as beseemeth unto kings, laid the present +before him and gave him the letter. + +The king read the letter and said to Abou Temam, "We will do what +behoveth in the matter; but, O Abou Temam, needs must thou see my +daughter and she thee, and needs must thou hear her speech and +she thine.' So saying, he sent him to the lodging of the +princess, who had had notice of this; so that they had adorned +her sitting-chamber with the costliest that might be of utensils +of gold and silver and the like, and she seated herself on a +throne of gold, clad in the most sumptuous of royal robes and +ornaments. When Abou Temam entered, he bethought himself and +said, 'The wise say, he who restraineth his sight shall suffer no +evil and he who guardeth his tongue shall hear nought of foul, +and he who keepeth watch over his hand, it shall be prolonged and +not curtailed.'[FN#121] So he entered and seating himself on the +ground, [cast down his eyes and] covered his hands and feet with +his dress.[FN#122] Quoth the king's daughter to him, 'Lift thy +head, O Abou Temam, and look on me and speak with me.' But he +spoke not neither raised his head, and she continued, 'They sent +thee but that thou mightest look on me and speak with me, and +behold, thou speakest not at all. Take of these pearls that be +around thee and of these jewels and gold and silver. But he put +not forth his hand unto aught, and when she saw that he paid no +heed to anything, she was angry and said, 'They have sent me a +messenger, blind, dumb and deaf.' + +Then she sent to acquaint her father with this; whereupon the +king called Abou Temam to him and said to him, 'Thou camest not +but to see my daughter. Why, then, hast thou not looked upon +her?' Quoth Abou Temam, 'I saw everything.' And the king said, +'Why didst thou not take somewhat of that which thou sawest of +jewels and the like? For they were set for thee.' But he +answered, 'It behoveth me not to put out my hand to aught that is +not mine.' When the king heard his speech, he gave him a +sumptuous dress of honour and loved him exceedingly and said to +him, 'Come, look at this pit.' So Abou Temam went up [to the +mouth of the pit] and looked, and behold, it was full of heads of +men; and the king said to him, 'These are the heads of +ambassadors, whom I slew, for that I saw them without loyalty to +their masters, and I was used, whenas I saw an ambassador without +breeding, [FN#123] to say, "He who sent him is less of breeding +than he, for that the messenger is the tongue of him who sendeth +him and his breeding is of his master's breeding; and whoso is on +this wise, it befitteth not that he be akin to me."[FN#124] So, +because of this, I used to put the messengers to death; but, as +for thee, thou hast overcome us and won my daughter, of the +excellence of thy breeding; so be of good heart, for she is thy +master's.' Then he sent him back to king Ilan Shah with presents +and rarities and a letter, saying, 'This that I have done is in +honour of thee and of thine ambassador.' + +When Abou Temam returned with [news of] the accomplishment of his +errand and brought the presents and the letter, King Ilan Shah +rejoiced in this and redoubled in showing him honour and made +much of him. Some days thereafterward, the king of Turkestan sent +his daughter and she went in to King Ilan Shah, who rejoiced in +her with an exceeding joy and Abou Temam's worth was exalted in +his sight. When the viziers saw this, they redoubled in envy and +despite and said, 'An we contrive us not a device to rid us of +this man, we shall perish of rage.' So they bethought them [and +agreed upon] a device they should practise. + +Then they betook themselves to two boys affected to the [special] +service of the king, who slept not but on their knee,[FN#125] and +they lay at his head, for that they were his pages of the +chamber, and gave them each a thousand dinars of gold, saying, +'We desire of you that ye do somewhat for us and take this gold +as a provision against your occasion.' Quoth the boys, 'What is +it ye would have us do?' And the viziers answered, 'This Abou +Temam hath marred our affairs for us, and if his case abide on +this wise, he will estrange us all from the king's favour; and +what we desire of you is that, when ye are alone with the king +and he leaneth back, as he were asleep, one of you say to his +fellow, "Verily, the king hath taken Abou Temam into his especial +favour and hath advanced him to high rank with him, yet is he a +transgressor against the king's honour and an accursed one." Then +let the other of you ask, "And what is his transgression?" And +the first make answer, "He outrageth the king's honour and saith, +'The King of Turkestan was used, whenas one went to him to seek +his daughter in marriage, to slay him; but me he spared, for that +she took a liking to me, and by reason of this he sent her +hither, because she loved me.'" Then let his fellow say, "Knowest +thou this for truth?" And the other reply, "By Allah, this is +well known unto all the folk, but, of their fear of the king, +they dare not bespeak him thereof; and as often as the king is +absent a-hunting or on a journey, Abou Temam comes to her and is +private with her."' And the boys answered, 'We will say this.' + +Accordingly, one night, when they were alone with the king and he +leant back, as he were asleep, they said these words and the king +heard it all and was like to die of rage and said in himself, +'These are young boys, not come to years of discretion, and have +no intrigue with any; and except they had heard these words from +some one, they had not spoken with each other thereof.' When it +was morning, wrath overmastered him, so that he stayed not +neither deliberated, but summoned Abou Temam and taking him +apart, said to him, 'Whoso guardeth not his lord's +honour,[FN#126] what behoveth unto him?' Quoth Abou Temam, 'It +behoveth that his lord guard not his honour.' 'And whoso entereth +the king's house and playeth the traitor with him,' continued the +king, 'what behoveth unto him?' And Abou Temam answered, 'He +shall not be left on life.' Whereupon the king spat in his face +and said to him, 'Both these things hast thou done.' Then he drew +his dagger on him in haste and smiting him in the belly, slit it +and he died forthright; whereupon the king dragged him to a well +that was in his palace and cast him therein. + +After he had slain him, he fell into repentance and mourning and +chagrin waxed upon him, and none, who questioned him, would he +acquaint with the cause thereof, nor, of his love for his wife, +did he tell her of this, and whenas she asked him of [the cause +of] his grief, he answered her not. When the viziers knew of Abou +Temam's death, they rejoiced with an exceeding joy and knew that +the king's grief arose from regret for him. As for Ilan Shah, he +used, after this, to betake himself by night to the +sleeping-chamber of the two boys and spy upon them, so he might +hear what they said concerning his wife. As he stood one night +privily at the door of their chamber, he saw them spread out the +gold before them and play with it and heard one of them say, 'Out +on us! What doth this gold profit us? For that we cannot buy +aught therewith neither spend it upon ourselves. Nay, but we have +sinned against Abou Temam and done him to death unjustly.' And +the other answered, 'Had we known that the king would presently +kill him, we had not done what we did.' + +When the king heard this, he could not contain himself, but +rushed in upon them and said to them, 'Out on you! What did ye? +Tell me.' And they said, 'Pardon, O king.' Quoth he, 'An ye would +have pardon from God and me, it behoveth you to tell me the +truth, for nothing shall save you from me but truth-speaking.' So +they prostrated themselves before him and said, 'By Allah, O +king, the viziers gave us this gold and taught us to lie against +Abou Teman, so thou mightest put him to death, and what we said +was their words.' When the king heard this, he plucked at his +beard, till he was like to tear it up by the roots and bit upon +his fingers, till he well-nigh sundered them in twain, for +repentance and sorrow that he had wrought hastily and had not +delayed with Abou Temam, so he might look into his affair. + +Then he sent for the viziers and said to them, 'O wicked viziers, +ye thought that God was heedless of your deed, but your +wickedness shall revert upon you. Know ye not that whoso diggeth +a pit for his brother shall fall into it? Take from me the +punishment of this world and to-morrow ye shall get the +punishment of the world to come and requital from God.' Then he +bade put them to death; so [the headsman] smote off their heads +before the king, and he went in to his wife and acquainted her +with that wherein he had transgressed against Abou Temam; +whereupon she grieved for him with an exceeding grief and the +king and the people of his household left not weeping and +repenting all their lives. Moreover, they brought Abou Temam +forth of the well and the king built him a dome[FN#127] in his +palace and buried him therein. + +See, then, O august king," continued the youth, "what envy doth +and injustice and how God caused the viziers' malice revert upon +their own necks; and I trust in God that He will succour me +against all who envy me my favour with the king and show forth +the truth unto him. Indeed, I fear not for my life from death; +only I fear lest the king repent of my slaughter, for that I am +guiltless of offence, and if I knew that I were guilty of aught, +my tongue would be mute." + +When the king heard this, he bowed [his head] in perplexity and +confusion and said, "Carry him back to the prison till the +morrow, so we may look into his affair." + + The Ninth Day + + + + OF DESTINY OR THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN ON THE + FOREHEAD. + + + +When it was the ninth day, the viziers [foregathered and] said, +one to another, "Verily, this youth baffleth us, for as often as +the king is minded to put him to death, he beguileth him and +ensorcelleth him with a story; so what deem ye we should do, that +we may slay him and be at rest from him?" Then they took counsel +together and were of accord that they should go to the king's +wife [and prompt her to urge the king to slaughter the youth. So +they betook themselves to her] and said to her, "Thou art +heedless of this affair wherein thou art and this heedlessness +will not profit thee; whilst the king is occupied with eating and +drinking and diversion and forgetteth that the folk beat upon +tabrets and sing of thee and say, 'The king's wife loveth the +youth;' and what while he abideth on life, the talk will increase +and not diminish." Quoth she, "By Allah, it was ye set me on +against him, and what shall I do [now]?" And they answered, "Do +thou go in to the king and weep and say to him, 'Verily, the +women come to me and tell me that I am become a byword in the +city, and what is thine advantage in the sparing of this youth? +If thou wilt not slay him, slay me, so this talk may be estopped +from us.'" + +So she arose and tearing her clothes, went in to the king, in the +presence of the viziers, and cast herself upon him, saying, "O +king, falleth my shame not upon thee and fearest thou not +reproach? Indeed, this is not of the behoof of kings that their +jealousy over their women should be thus [laggard]. Thou art +heedless and all the folk of the realm prate of thee, men and +women. So either slay him, that the talk may be cut off, or slay +me, if thy soul will not consent to his slaughter." Thereupon the +king's wrath waxed hot and he said to her, "I have no pleasure in +his continuance [on life] and needs must I slay him this day. So +return to thy house and comfort thy heart." + +Then he bade fetch the youth; so they brought him before him and +the viziers said, "O base of origin, out on thee! Thy term is at +hand and the earth hungereth for thy body, so it may devour it." +But he answered them, saying, "Death is not in your word nor in +your envy; nay, it is an ordinance written upon the forehead; +wherefore, if aught be written upon my forehead, needs must it +come to pass, and neither endeavour nor thought-taking nor +precaution will deliver me therefrom; [but it will surely happen] +even as happened to King Ibrahim and his son." Quoth the king, +"Who was King Ibrahim and who was his son?" And the youth said, +"O king, + + + + + + STORY OF KING IBRAHIM AND HIS SON. + + + +There was once a king of the kings, by name Ibrahim, to whom the +kings abased themselves and did obedience; but he had no son and +was straitened of breast because of this, fearing lest the +kingship go forth of his hand. He ceased not vehemently to desire +a son and to buy slave-girls and lie with them, till one of them +conceived, whereat he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and gave +gifts and largesse galore. When the girl's months were +accomplished and the season of her delivery drew near, the king +summoned the astrologers and they watched for the hour of her +child-bearing and raised astrolabes [towards the sun] and took +strait note of the time. The damsel gave birth to a male child, +whereat the king rejoiced with an exceeding joy, and the people +heartened each other with the glad news of this. + +Then the astrologers made their calculations and looked into his +nativity and his ascendant, whereupon their colour changed and +they were confounded. Quoth the king to them, 'Acquaint me with +his horoscope and ye shall have assurance and fear ye not of +aught' 'O king,' answered they, 'this child's nativity denotes +that, in the seventh year of his age, there is to be feared for +him from a lion, which will attack him; and if he be saved from +the lion, there will betide an affair yet sorer and more +grievous.' 'What is that?' asked the king; and they said, 'We +will not speak, except the king command us thereto and give us +assurance from [that which we] fear.' Quoth the king, 'God assure +you!' And they said, 'If he be saved from the lion, the king's +destruction will be at his hand.' When the king heard this, his +colour changed and his breast was straitened; but he said in +himself, 'I will be watchful and do my endeavour and suffer not +the lion to eat him. It cannot be that he will kill me, and +indeed the astrologers lied.' + +Then he caused rear him among the nurses and matrons; but withal +he ceased not to ponder the saying of the astrologers and indeed +his life was troubled. So he betook himself to the top of a high +mountain and dug there a deep pit and made in it many +dwelling-places and closets and filled it with all that was +needful of victual and raiment and what not else and made in it +conduits of water from the mountain and lodged the boy therein, +with a nurse who should rear him. Moreover, at the first of each +month he used to go to the mountain and stand at the mouth of the +pit and let down a rope he had with him and draw up the boy to +him and strain him to his bosom and kiss him and play with him +awhile, after which he would let him down again into the pit to +his place and return; and he used to count the days till the +seven years should pass by. + +When came the time [of the accomplishment] of the foreordered +fate and the fortune graven on the forehead and there abode for +the boy but ten days till the seven years should be complete, +there came to the mountain hunters hunting wild beasts and seeing +a lion, gave chase to him. He fled from them and seeking refuge +in the mountain, fell into the pit in its midst. The nurse saw +him forthright and fled from him into one of the closets; +whereupon the lion made for the boy and seizing upon him, tore +his shoulder, after which he sought the closet wherein was the +nurse and falling upon her, devoured her, whilst the boy abode +cast down in a swoon. Meanwhile, when the hunters saw that the +lion had fallen into the pit, they came to the mouth thereof and +heard the shrieking of the boy and the woman; and after awhile +the cries ceased, whereby they knew that the lion had made an end +of them. + +Presently, as they stood by the mouth of the pit, the lion came +scrambling up the sides and would have issued forth; but, as +often as he showed his head, they pelted him with stones, till +they beat him down and he fell; whereupon one of the hunters +descended into the pit and despatched him and saw the boy +wounded; after which he went to the cabinet, where he found the +woman dead, and indeed the lion had eaten his fill of her. Then +he noted that which was therein of clothes and what not else, and +advising his fellows thereof, fell to passing the stuff up to +them. Moreover, he took up the boy and bringing him forth of the +pit, carried him to their dwelling-place, where they dressed his +wounds and he grew up with them, but acquainted them not with his +affair; and indeed, when they questioned him, he knew not what he +should say, for that he was little, when they let him down into +the pit. The hunters marvelled at his speech and loved him with +an exceeding love and one of them took him to son and abode +rearing him with him [and instructing him] in hunting and riding +on horseback, till he attained the age of twelve and became a +champion, going forth with the folk to the chase and to the +stopping of the way. + +It chanced one day that they sallied forth to stop the way and +fell in upon a caravan in the night; but the people of the +caravan were on their guard; so they joined battle with the +robbers and overcame them and slew them and the boy fell wounded +and abode cast down in that place till the morrow, when he opened +his eyes and finding his comrades slain, lifted himself up and +rose to walk in the way. Presently, there met him a man, a +treasure-seeker, and said to him, 'Whither goest thou, O youth?' +So he told him what had betided him and the other said, 'Be of +good heart, for that [the season of] thy fair fortune is come and +God bringeth thee joy and solace. I am one who am in quest of a +hidden treasure, wherein is vast wealth. So come with me, that +thou mayst help me, and I will give thee wealth, wherewith thou +shalt provide thyself thy life long.' Then he carried the youth +to his dwelling and dressed his wound, and he abode with him some +days, till he was rested; when he took him and two beasts and all +that he needed, and they fared on till they came to a precipitous +mountain. + +Here the treasure-seeker brought out a book and reading therein, +dug in the crest of the mountain five cubits deep, whereupon +there appeared to him a stone. He pulled it up and behold, it was +a trap-door covering the mouth of a pit. So he waited till the +[foul] air was come forth from the midst of the pit, when he +bound a rope about the boy's middle and let him down to the +bottom, and with him a lighted flambeau. The boy looked and +beheld, at the upper end of the pit, wealth galore; so the +treasure-seeker let down a rope and a basket and the boy fell to +filling and the man to drawing up, till the latter had gotten his +sufficiency, when he loaded his beasts and did his occasion, +whilst the boy looked for him to let down to him the rope and +draw him up; but he rolled a great stone to the mouth of the pit +and went away. + +When the boy saw what the treasure-seeker had done with him he +committed his affair to God (extolled be His perfection and +exalted be He!) and abode perplexed concerning his case and said, +'How bitter is this death!' For that indeed the world was +darkened on him and the pit was blinded to him. So he fell +a-weeping and saying, 'I was delivered from the lion and the +thieves and now is my death [appointed to be] in this pit, where +I shall die lingeringly.' And he abode confounded and looked for +nothing but death. As he pondered [his affair], behold, he heard +a sound of water running with a mighty noise; so he arose and +walked in the pit, following after the sound, till he came to a +corner and heard the mighty running of water. So he laid his ear +to the sound of the current and hearing it a great strength, said +in himself, 'This is the running of a mighty water and needs must +I die in this place, be it to-day or to-morrow; so I will cast +myself into the water and not die a lingering death in this pit.' + +Then he braced up his courage and gathering his skirts about him, +threw himself into the water, and it bore him along with an +exceeding might and carrying him under the earth, stayed not till +it brought him out into a deep valley, wherethrough ran a great +river, that welled up from under the earth. When he found himself +on the surface of the earth, he abode perplexed and dazed all +that day; after which he came to himself and rising, fared on +along the valley, till he came to an inhabited land and a great +village in the dominions of the king his father. So he entered +the village and foregathered with its inhabitants, who questioned +him of his case; whereupon he related to them his history and +they marvelled at him, how God had delivered him from all this. +Then he took up his abode with them and they loved him +exceedingly. + +To return to the king his father. When he went to the pit, as of +his wont, and called the nurse, she returned him no answer, +whereat his breast was straitened and he let down a man who +[found the nurse dead and the boy gone and] acquainted the king +therewith; which when he heard, he buffeted his head and wept +passing sore and descended into the midst of the pit, so he might +see how the case stood. There he found the nurse slain and the +lion dead, but saw not the boy; so he [returned and] acquainted +the astrologers with the verification of their words, and they +said, 'O king, the lion hath eaten him; destiny hath been +accomplished upon him and thou art delivered from his hand; for, +had he been saved from the lion, by Allah, we had feared for thee +from him, for that the king's destruction should have been at his +hand.' So the king left [sorrowing for] this and the days passed +by and the affair was forgotten. + +Meanwhile, the boy [grew up and] abode with the people of the +village, and when God willed the accomplishment of His ordinance, +the which endeavour availeth not to avert, he went forth with a +company of the villagers, to stop the way. The folk complained of +them to the king, who sallied out with a company of his men and +surrounded the highwaymen and the boy with them, whereupon the +latter drew forth an arrow and launched it at them, and it smote +the king in his vitals and wounded him. So they carried him to +his house, after they had laid hands upon the youth and his +companions and brought them before the king, saying, 'What +biddest thou that we do with them?' Quoth he, 'I am presently in +concern for myself; so bring me the astrologers.' Accordingly, +they brought them before him and He said to them, 'Ye told me +that my death should be by slaying at the hand of my son: how, +then, befalleth it that I have gotten my death-wound on this wise +of yonder thieves?' The astrologers marvelled and said to him, 'O +king, it is not impossible to the lore of the stars, together +with the fore-ordinance of God, that he who hath smitten thee +should be thy son.' + +When Ibrahim heard this, he let fetch the thieves and said to +them, 'Tell me truly, which of you shot the arrow that wounded +me.' Quoth they, 'It was this youth that is with us.' Whereupon +the king fell to looking upon him and said to him, 'O youth, +acquaint me with thy case and tell me who was thy father and thou +shalt have assurance from God.' 'O my lord,' answered the youth, +'I know no father; as for me, my father lodged me in a pit [when +I was little], with a nurse to rear me, and one day, there fell +in upon us a lion, which tore my shoulder, then left me and +occupied himself with the nurse and rent her in pieces; and God +vouchsafed me one who brought me forth of the pit.' Then he +related to him all that had befallen him, first and last; which +when Ibrahim heard, he cried out and said, 'By Allah, this is my +very son!' And he said to him, 'Uncover thy shoulder.' So he +uncovered it and behold, it was scarred. + +Then the king assembled his nobles and commons and the +astrologers and said to them, 'Know that what God hath graven +upon the forehead, be it fair fortune or calamity, none may avail +to efface, and all that is decreed unto a man he must needs +abide. Indeed, this my caretaking and my endeavour profited me +nought, for that which God decreed unto my son, he hath abidden +and that which He decreed unto me hath betided me. Nevertheless, +I praise God and thank Him for that this was at my son's hand and +not at the hand of another, and praised be He for that the +kingship is come to my son!' And he strained the youth to his +breast and embraced him and kissed him, saying, 'O my son, this +matter was on such a wise, and of my care and watchfulness over +thee from destiny, I lodged thee in that pit; but caretaking +availed not.' Then he took the crown of the kingship and set it +on his son's head and caused the folk and the people swear fealty +to him and commended the subjects to his care and enjoined him to +justice and equity. And he took leave of him that night and died +and his son reigned in his stead. + +On like wise, O king," continued the young treasurer, "is it with +thee. If God have written aught on my forehead, needs must it +befall me and my speech to the king shall not profit me, no, nor +my adducing to him of [illustrative] instances, against the +fore-ordinance of God. So with these viziers, for all their +eagerness and endeavour for my destruction, this shall not profit +them; for, if God [be minded to] save me, He will give me the +victory over them." + +When the king heard these words, he abode in perplexity and said, +"Restore him to the prison till the morrow, so we may look into +his affair, for the day draweth to an end and I mean to put him +to death on exemplary wise, and [to-morrow] we will do with him +that which he meriteth." + + The Tenth Day. + + + + OF THE APPOINTED TERM,[FN#128] WHICH, IF IT BE + ADVANCED, MAY NOT BE DEFERRED AND IF IT BE + DEFERRED, MAY NOT BE ADVANCED. + + + +When it was the tenth day, (now this day was called El +Mihrjan[FN#129] and it was the day of the coming in of the folk, +gentle and simple, to the king, so they might give him joy and +salute him and go forth), the counsel of the viziers fell of +accord that they should speak with a company of the notables of +the city [and urge them to demand of the king that he should +presently put the youth to death]. So they said to them, "When ye +go in to-day to the king and salute him, do ye say to him, 'O +king, (to God be the praise!) thou art praiseworthy of policy and +governance, just to all thy subjects; but this youth, to whom +thou hast been bountiful, yet hath he reverted to his base origin +and wrought this foul deed, what is thy purpose in his +continuance [on life]? Indeed, thou hast prisoned him in thy +house, and every day thou hearest his speech and thou knowest not +what the folk say.'" And they answered with "Hearkening and +obedience." + +So, when they entered with the folk and had prostrated themselves +before the king and given him joy and he had raised their rank, +[they sat down]. Now it was the custom of the folk to salute and +go forth, so, when they sat down, the king knew that they had a +word that they would fain say. So he turned to them and said, +"Ask your need." And the viziers also were present. Accordingly, +they bespoke him with all that these latter had taught them and +the viziers also spoke with them; and Azadbekht said to them, "O +folk, I know that this your speech, there is no doubt of it, +proceedeth from love and loyal counsel to me, and ye know that, +were I minded to slay half these folk, I could avail to put them +to death and this would not be difficult to me; so how shall I +not slay this youth and he in my power and under the grip of my +hand? Indeed, his crime is manifest and he hath incurred pain of +death and I have only deferred his slaughter by reason of the +greatness of the offence; for, if I do this with him and my proof +against him be strengthened, my heart is healed and the heart of +the folk; and if I slay him not to-day, his slaughter shall not +escape me to-morrow." + +Then he bade fetch the youth and when he was present before him, +he prostrated himself to him and prayed for him; whereupon quoth +the king to him, "Out on thee! How long shall the folk upbraid me +on thine account and blame me for delaying thy slaughter? Even +the people of my city blame me because of thee, so that I am +grown a talking-stock among them, and indeed they come in to me +and upbraid me [and urge me] to put thee to death. How long shall +I delay this? Indeed, this very day I mean to shed thy blood and +rid the folk of thy prate." + +"O king," answered the youth, "if there have betided thee talk +because of me, by Allah, by Allah the Great, those who have +brought on thee this talk from the folk are these wicked viziers, +who devise with the folk and tell them foul things and evil +concerning the king's house; but I trust in God that He will +cause their malice to revert upon their heads. As for the king's +menace of me with slaughter, I am in the grasp of his hand; so +let not the king occupy his mind with my slaughter, for that I am +like unto the sparrow in the hand of the fowler; if he will, he +slaughtereth him, and if he will, he looseth him. As for the +delaying of my slaughter, it [proceedeth] not [from] the king, +but from Him in whose hand is my life; for, by Allah, O king, if +God willed my slaughter, thou couldst not avail to postpone it, +no, not for a single hour. Indeed, man availeth not to fend off +evil from himself, even as it was with the son of King Suleiman +Shah, whose anxiety and carefulness for the accomplishment of his +desire of the new-born child [availed him nothing], for his last +hour was deferred how many a time! and God saved him until he had +accomplished his [foreordained] period and had fulfilled [the +destined term of] his life." + +"Out on thee!" exclaimed the king. "How great is thy craft and +thy talk! Tell me, what was their story." And the youth said, "O +king, + + + + + + STORY OF KING SULEIMAN SHAH AND HIS SONS. + + + +There was once a king named Suleiman Shah, who was goodly of +polity and judgment, and he had a brother who died and left a +daughter. So Suleiman Shah reared her on the goodliest wise and +the girl grew up, endowed with reason and perfection, nor was +there in her time a fairer than she. Now the king had two sons, +one of whom he had appointed in himself that he would marry her +withal, and the other purposed in himself that he would take her. +The elder son's name was Belehwan and that of the younger Melik +Shah, and the girl was called Shah Khatoun. + +One day, King Suleiman Shah went in to his brother's daughter and +kissing her head, said to her, 'Thou art my daughter and dearer +to me than a child, for the love of thy father deceased; +wherefore I am minded to marry thee to one of my sons and appoint +him my heir apparent, so he may be king after me. Look, then, +which thou wilt have of my sons, for that thou hast been reared +with them and knowest them.' The damsel arose and kissing his +hand, said to him, 'O my lord, I am thine handmaid and thou art +the ruler over me; so whatsoever pleaseth thee, do, for that thy +wish is higher and more honourable and nobler [than mine] and if +thou wouldst have me serve thee, [as a handmaid], the rest of my +life, it were liefer to me than any [husband].' + +The king approved her speech and bestowed on her a dress of +honour and gave her magnificent gifts; after which, for that his +choice had fallen upon his younger son, Melik Shah, he married +her with him and made him his heir apparent and caused the folk +swear fealty to him. When this came to the knowledge of his +brother Belehwan and he was ware that his younger brother had +been preferred over him, his breast was straitened and the affair +was grievous to him and envy entered into him and rancour; but he +concealed this in his heart, whilst fire raged therein because of +the damsel and the kingship. + +Meanwhile Shah Khatoun went in to the king's son and conceived by +him and bore a son, as he were the resplendent moon. When +Belehwan saw this that had betided his brother, jealousy and envy +overcame him; so he went in one night to his father's house and +coming to his brother's lodging, saw the nurse sleeping at the +chamber-door, with the cradle before her and therein his +brother's child asleep. Belehwan stood by him and fell to looking +upon his face, the radiance whereof was as that of the moon, and +Satan insinuated himself into his heart, so that he bethought +himself and said, 'Why is not this child mine? Indeed, I am +worthier of him than my brother, [yea], and of the damsel and the +kingship.' Then envy got the better of him and anger spurred him, +so that he took out a knife and setting it to the child's gullet, +cut his throat and would have severed his windpipe. + +So he left him for dead and entering his brother's chamber, saw +him asleep, with the damsel by his side, and thought to slay her, +but said in himself, 'I will leave the damsel for myself.' Then +he went up to his brother and cutting his throat, severed his +head from his body, after which he left him and went away. +Therewithal the world was straitened upon him and his life was a +light matter to him and he sought his father Suleiman Shah's +lodging, that he might slay him, but could not win to him. So he +went forth from the palace and hid himself in the city till the +morrow, when he repaired to one of his father's strengths and +fortified himself therein. + +Meanwhile, the nurse awoke, that she might give the child suck, +and seeing the bed running with blood, cried out; whereupon the +sleepers and the king awoke and making for the place, found the +child with his throat cut and the cradle running over with blood +and his father slain and dead in his sleeping chamber. So they +examined the child and found life in him and his windpipe whole +and sewed up the place of the wound. Then the king sought his son +Belehwan, but found him not and saw that he had fled; whereby he +knew that it was he who had done this deed, and this was grievous +to the king and to the people of his realm and to the lady Shah +Katoun. So the king laid out his son Melik Shah and buried him +and made him a mighty funeral and they mourned passing sore; +after which he addressed himself to the rearing of the infant + +As for Belehwan, when he fled and fortified himself, his power +waxed amain and there remained for him but to make war upon his +father, who had cast his affection upon the child and used to +rear him on his knees and supplicate God the Most High that he +might live, so he might commit the commandment to him. When he +came to five years of age, the king mounted him on horseback and +the people of the city rejoiced in him and invoked on him length +of life, so he might take his father's leavings[FN#130] and +[heal] the heart of his grandfather. + +Meanwhile, Belehwan the froward addressed himself to pay court to +Caesar, King of the Greeks,[FN#131] and seek help of him in +making war upon his father, and he inclined unto him and gave him +a numerous army. His father the king heard of this and sent to +Caesar, saying, 'O king of illustrious might, succour not an +evil-doer. This is my son and he hath done thus and thus and cut +his brother's throat and that of his brother's son in the +cradle.' But he told not the King of the Greeks that the child +[had recovered and] was alive. When Caesar heard [the truth] of +the matter, it was grievous to him and he sent back to Suleiman +Shah, saying, 'If it be thy will, O king, I will cut off his head +and send it to thee.' But he made answer, saying, 'I reck not of +him: the reward of his deed and his crimes shall surely overtake +him, if not to-day, then to-morrow.' And from that day he +continued to correspond with Caesar and to exchange letters and +presents with him. + +Now the king of the Greeks heard tell of the damsel[FN#132] and +of the beauty and grace wherewith she was gifted, wherefore his +heart clave to her and he sent to seek her in marriage of +Suleiman Shah, who could not refuse him. So he arose and going in +to Shah Khatoun, said to her, 'O my daughter, the king of the +Greeks hath sent to me to seek thee in marriage. What sayst +thou?' She wept and answered, saying, 'O king, how canst thou +find it in thy heart to bespeak me thus? Abideth there husband +for me, after the son of my uncle?' 'O my daughter,' rejoined the +king, 'it is indeed as thou sayest; but let us look to the issues +of affairs. Needs must I take account of death, for that I am an +old man and fear not but for thee and for thy little son; and +indeed I have written to the king of the Greeks and others of the +kings and said, "His uncle slew him," and said not that he [hath +recovered and] is living, but concealed his affair. Now hath the +king of the Greeks sent to demand thee in marriage, and this is +no thing to be refused and fain would we have our back +strengthened with him."[FN#133] And she was silent and spoke not. + +So King Suleiman Shah made answer unto Caesar with 'Hearkening +and obedience.' Then he arose and despatched her to him, and +Cassar went in to her and found her overpassing the description +wherewithal they had described her to him; wherefore he loved her +with an exceeding love and preferred her over all his women and +his love for Suleiman Shah was magnified; but Shah Khatoun's +heart still clave to her son and she could say nought. As for +Suleiman Shah's rebellious son, Belehwan, when he saw that Shah +Khatoun had married the king of the Greeks, this was grievous to +him and he despaired of her. Meanwhile, his father Suleiman Shah +kept strait watch over the child and cherished him and named him +Melik Shah, after the name of his father. When he reached the age +of ten, he made the folk swear fealty to him and appointed him +his heir apparent, and after some days, [the hour of] the old +king's admission [to the mercy of God] drew near and he died. + +Now a party of the troops had banded themselves together for +Belehwan; so they sent to him and bringing him privily, went in +to the little Melik Shah and seized him and seated his uncle +Belehwan on the throne of the kingship. Then they proclaimed him +king and did homage to him all, saying, 'Verily, we desire thee +and deliver to thee the throne of the kingship; but we wish of +thee that thou slay not thy brother's son, for that on our +consciences are the oaths we swore to his father and grandfather +and the covenants we made with them.' So Belehwan granted them +this and imprisoned the boy in an underground dungeon and +straitened him. Presently, the heavy news reached his mother and +this was grievous to her; but she could not speak and committed +her affair to God the Most High, daring not name this to King +Caesar her husband, lest she should make her uncle King Suleiman +Shah a liar. + +So Belehwan the froward abode king in his father's room and his +affairs prospered, what while the young Melik Shah lay in the +underground dungeon four full-told years, till his charms faded +and his favour changed. When God (extolled be His perfection and +exalted be He!) willed to relieve him and bring him forth of the +prison, Belehwan sat one day with his chief officers and the +grandees of his state and discoursed with them of the story of +King Suleiman Shah and what was in his heart. Now there were +present certain viziers, men of worth, and they said to him, 'O +king, verily God hath been bountiful unto thee and hath brought +thee to thy wish, so that thou art become king in thy father's +stead and hast gotten thee that which thou soughtest. But, as for +this boy, there is no guilt in him, for that, from the day of his +coming into the world, he hath seen neither ease nor joyance, and +indeed his favour is faded and his charms changed [with long +prison]. What is his offence that he should merit this +punishment? Indeed, it is others than he who were to blame, and +God hath given thee the victory over them, and there is no fault +in this poor wight.' Quoth Belehwan, 'Indeed, it is as ye say; +but I am fearful of his craft and am not assured from his +mischief; belike the most part of the folk will incline unto +him.' 'O king,' answered they, 'what is this boy and what power +hath he? If thou fear him, send him to one of the frontiers.' And +Belehwan said, 'Ye say sooth: we will send him to be captain over +such an one of the marches.' + +Now over against the place in question was a host of enemies, +hard of heart, and in this he purposed the youth's slaughter. So +he bade bring him forth of the underground dungeon and caused him +draw near to him and saw his case. Then he bestowed on him a +dress of honour and the folk rejoiced in this. Moreover, he tied +him an ensign[FN#134] and giving him a numerous army, despatched +him to the region aforesaid, whither all who went were still +slain or made prisoners. So Melik Shah betook himself thither +with his army and when it was one of the days, behold, the enemy +fell in upon them in the night; whereupon some of his men fled +and the rest the enemy took; and they took Melik Shah also and +cast him into an underground dungeon, with a company of his men. +There he abode a whole year in evil plight, whilst his fellows +mourned over his beauty and grace. + +Now it was the enemy's wont, at every year's end, to bring forth +their prisoners and cast them down from the top of the citadel to +the bottom. So they brought them forth, at the end of the year, +and cast them down, and Melik Shah with them. However, he fell +upon the [other] men and the earth touched him not, for his term +was [God-]guarded. Now those that were cast down there were slain +and their bodies ceased not to lie there till the wild beasts ate +them and the winds dispersed them. Melik Shah abode cast down in +his place, aswoon, all that day and night, and when he recovered +and found himself whole, he thanked God the Most High for his +safety [and rising, fared on at a venture]. He gave not over +walking, unknowing whither he went and feeding upon the leaves of +the trees; and by day he hid himself whereas he might and fared +on all his night at hazard; and thus he did some days, till he +came to an inhabited land and seeing folk there, accosted them +and acquainted them with his case, giving them to know that he +had been imprisoned in the fortress and that they had cast him +down, but God the Most High had delivered him and brought him off +alive. + +The folk took compassion on him and gave him to eat and drink and +he abode with them awhile. Then he questioned them of the way +that led to the kingdom of his uncle Belehwan, but told them not +that he was his uncle. So they taught him the way and he ceased +not to go barefoot, till he drew near his uncle's capital, and he +naked and hungry, and indeed his body was wasted and his colour +changed. He sat down at the gate of the city, and presently up +came a company of King Belehwan's chief officers, who were out +a-hunting and wished to water their horses. So they lighted down +to rest and the youth accosted them, saying, 'I will ask you of +somewhat, wherewith do ye acquaint me.' Quoth they, 'Ask what +thou wilt.' And he said, 'Is King Belehwan well?' They laughed at +him and answered, 'What a fool art thou, O youth! Thou art a +stranger and a beggar, and what concern hast thou with the king's +health?' Quoth he, 'Indeed, he is my uncle;' whereat they +marvelled and said, 'It was one question[FN#135] and now it is +become two.' Then said they to him, 'O youth, it is as thou wert +mad. Whence pretendest thou to kinship with the king? Indeed, we +know not that he hath aught of kinsfolk, except a brother's son, +who was prisoned with him, and he despatched him to wage war upon +the infidels, so that they slew him.' 'I am he,' answered Melik +Shah, 'and they slew me not, but there betided me this and that.' + +They knew him forthright and rising to him, kissed his hands and +rejoiced in him and said to him, 'O our lord, in good sooth, thou +art a king and the son of a king, and we desire thee nought but +good and beseech [God to grant] thee continuance. Consider how +God hath rescued thee from this thy wicked uncle, who sent thee +to a place whence none came ever off alive, purposing not in this +but thy destruction; and indeed thou fellest into [peril of] +death and God delivered thee therefrom. So how wilt thou return +and cast thyself again into thine enemy's hand? By Allah, save +thyself and return not to him again. Belike thou shall abide upon +the face of the earth till it please God the Most High [to +vouchsafe thee relief]; but, if thou fall again into his hand, he +will not suffer thee live a single hour.' + +The prince thanked them and said to them, 'God requite you with +all good, for indeed ye give me loyal counsel; but whither would +ye have me go?' Quoth they, 'Get thee to the land of the Greeks, +the abiding-place of thy mother.' And he said, 'My grandfather +Suleiman Shah, when the King of the Greeks wrote to him, +demanding my mother in marriage, concealed my affair and hid my +secret; [and she hath done the like,] and I cannot make her a +liar.' 'Thou sayst sooth,' rejoined they; 'but we desire thine +advantage, and even if thou tookest service with the folk, it +were a means of thy continuance [on life].' Then each of them +brought out to him money and gave to him and clad him and fed him +and fared on with him a parasang's distance till they brought him +far from the city, and giving him to know that he was safe, +departed from him, whilst he fared on till he came forth of the +dominions of his uncle and entered those [of the king] of the +Greeks. Then he entered a village and taking up his abode +therein, betook himself to serving one there in ploughing and +sowing and the like. + +As for his mother, Shah Khatoun, great was her longing for her +son and she [still] thought of him and news of him was cut off +from her, wherefore her life was troubled and she forswore sleep +and could not make mention of him before King Caesar her husband. +Now she had an eunuch who had come with her from the court of her +uncle King Suleiman Shah, and he was intelligent, quickwitted, a +man of good counsel. So she took him apart one day and said to +him, 'Thou hast been my servant from my childhood to this day; +canst thou not therefore avail to get me news of my son, for that +I cannot speak of his matter?' 'O my lady,' answered he, 'this is +an affair that thou hast concealed from the first, and were thy +son here, it would not be possible for thee to harbour him, lest +thine honour fall into suspicion with the king; for they would +never credit thee, since the news hath been spread abroad that +thy son was slain by his uncle.' Quoth she, 'The case is even as +thou sayst and thou speakest truly; but, provided I know that my +son is alive, let him be in these parts pasturing sheep and let +me not see him nor he me.' And he said to her, 'How shall we +contrive in this affair?' 'Here are my treasures and my wealth,' +answered she. 'Take all thou wilt and bring me my son or else +news of him.' + +Then they agreed upon a device between them, to wit, that they +should feign an occasion in their own country, under pretext that +she had there wealth buried from the time of her husband Melik +Shah and that none knew of it but this eunuch who was with her, +wherefore it behoved that he should go and fetch it. So she +acquainted the king her husband with this and sought of him leave +for the eunuch to go: and the king granted him permission for the +journey and charged him cast about for a device, lest any get +wind of him. Accordingly, the eunuch disguised himself as a +merchant and repairing to Belehwan's city, began to enquire +concerning the youth's case; whereupon they told him that he had +been prisoned in an underground dungeon and that his uncle had +released him and dispatched him to such a place, where they had +slain him. When the eunuch heard this, it was grievous to him and +his breast was straitened and he knew not what he should do. + +It chanced one day that one of the horsemen, who had fallen in +with the young Melik Shah by the water and clad him and given him +spending-money, saw the eunuch in the city, disguised as a +merchant, and recognizing him, questioned him of his case and of +[the reason of] his coming. Quoth he, 'I come to sell +merchandise.' And the horseman said, 'I will tell thee somewhat, +if thou canst keep it secret.' 'It is well,' answered the eunuch; +'what is it?' And the other said, 'We met the king's son Melik +Shah, I and certain of the Arabs who were with me, and saw him by +such a water and gave him spending-money and sent him towards the +land of the Greeks, near his mother, for that we feared for him, +lest his uncle Belehwan should kill him.' Then he told him all +that had passed between them, whereupon the eunuch's countenance +changed and he said to the cavalier, 'Assurance!' 'Thou shalt +have assurance,' answered the other, 'though thou come in quest +of him.' And the eunuch rejoined, saying, 'Truly, that is my +errand, for there abideth no repose for his mother, lying down or +rising up, and she hath sent me to seek news of him.' Quoth the +cavalier, 'Go in safety, for he is in a [certain] part of the +land of the Greeks, even as I said to thee.' + +The eunuch thanked him and blessed him and mounting, returned +upon his way, following the trace, whilst the cavalier rode with +him to a certain road, when he said to him, 'This is where we +left him.' Then he took leave of him and returned to his own +city, whilst the eunuch fared on along the road, enquiring of the +youth in every village he entered by the description which the +cavalier had given him, and he ceased not to do thus till he came +to the village where the young Melik Shah was. So he entered and +lighting down therein, made enquiry after the prince, but none +gave him news of him; whereat he abode perplexed concerning his +affair and addressed himself to depart. Accordingly he mounted +his horse [and set out homeward]; but, as he passed through the +village, he saw a cow bound with a rope and a youth asleep by her +side, with the end of the halter in his hand; so he looked at him +and passed on and took no heed of him in his heart; but presently +he stopped and said in himself; 'If he of whom I am in quest be +come to the like [of the condition] of yonder sleeping youth, by +whom I passed but now, how shall I know him? Alas, the length of +my travail and weariness! How shall I go about in quest of a +wight whom I know not and whom, if I saw him face to face, I +should not know?' + +Then he turned back, pondering upon that sleeping youth, and +coming to him, as he slept, lighted down from his horse and sat +down by him. He fixed his eyes upon his face and considered him +awhile and said in himself, 'For aught I know, this youth may be +Melik Shah.' And he fell a-hemming and saying, 'Harkye, O youth!' +Whereupon the sleeper awoke and sat up; and the eunuch said to +him, 'Who is thy father in this village and where is thy +dwelling?' The youth sighed and answered, 'I am a stranger;' and +the eunuch said, 'From what land art thou and who is thy father?' +Quoth the other, 'I am from such a land,' and the eunuch ceased +not to question him and he to answer him, till he was certified +of him and knew him. So he rose and embraced him and kissed him +and wept over his case. Moreover, he told him that he was going +about in quest of him and informed him that he was come privily +from the king his mother's husband and that his mother would be +content [to know] that he was alive and well, though she saw him +not. + +Then he re-entered the village and buying the prince a horse, +mounted him thereon and they ceased not going, till they came to +the frontier of their own country, where there fell robbers upon +them by the way and took all that was with them and pinioned +them; after which they cast them into a pit hard by the road and +went away and left them to die there, and indeed they had cast +many folk into that pit and they had died. + +The eunuch fell a-weeping in the pit and the youth said to him, +'What is this weeping and what shall it profit here?' Quoth the +eunuch, 'I weep not for fear of death, but of pity for thee and +the sorriness of thy case and because of thy mother's heart and +for that which thou hast suffered of horrors and that thy death +should be this abject death, after the endurance of all manner +stresses.' But the youth said, 'That which hath betided me was +forewrit to me and that which is written none hath power to +efface; and if my term be advanced, none may avail to defer +it.'[FN#136] Then they passed that night and the following day +and the next night and the next day [in the pit], till they were +weak with hunger and came near upon death and could but groan +feebly. + +Now it befell, by the ordinance of God the Most High and His +providence, that Caesar, king of the Greeks, the husband of Melik +Shah's mother Shah Khatoun, [went forth to the chase that day]. +He started a head of game, he and his company, and chased it, +till they came up with it by that pit, whereupon one of them +lighted down from his horse, to slaughter it, hard by the mouth +of the pit. He heard a sound of low moaning from the bottom of +the pit} so he arose and mounting his horse, waited till the +troops were assembled. Then he acquainted the king with this and +he bade one of his servants [descend into the pit]. So the man +descended and brought out the youth [and the eunuch], aswoon. + +They cut their bonds and poured wine into their gullets, till +they came to themselves, when the king looked at the eunuch and +recognizing him, said, 'Harkye, such an one!' 'Yes, O my lord the +king,' replied the man and prostrated himself to him; whereat the +king marvelled with an exceeding wonder and said to him, 'How +earnest thou to this place and what hath befallen thee?" Quoth +the eunuch, 'I went and took out the treasure and brought it +hither; but the [evil] eye was behind me and I unknowing. So the +thieves took us alone here and seized the money and cast us into +this pit, so we might die of hunger, even as they had done with +other than we; but God the Most High sent thee, in pity to us.' + +The king marvelled, he and his company, and praised God the Most +High for that he had come thither; after which he turned to the +eunuch and said to him, 'What is this youth thou hast with thee?' +'O king,' answered he, 'this is the son of a nurse who belonged +to us and we left him little. I saw him to-day and his mother +said to me, 'Take him with thee.' So I brought him with me, that +he might be a servant to the king, for that he is an adroit and +quickwitted youth.' Then the king fared on, he and his company, +and the eunuch and the youth with them, what while he questioned +the former of Belehwan and his dealing with his subjects, and he +answered, saying, 'As thy head liveth, O king, the folk with him +are in sore straits and not one of them desireth to look on him, +gentle or simple.' + +[When the king returned to his palace,] he went in to his wife +Shah Khatoun and said to her, 'I give thee the glad news of thine +eunuch's return.' And he told her what had betided and of the +youth whom he had brought with him. When she heard this, her wits +fled and she would have cried out, but her reason restrained her, +and the king said to her, 'What is this? Art thou overcome with +grief for [the loss of] the treasure or [for that which hath +befallen] the eunuch?' 'Nay, as thy head liveth, O king!' +answered she. 'But women are fainthearted.' Then came the servant +and going in to her, told her all that had befallen him and +acquainted her with her son's case also and with that which he +had suffered of stresses and how his uncle had exposed him to +slaughter and he had been taken prisoner and they had cast him +into the pit and hurled him from the top of the citadel and how +God had delivered him from these perils, all of them; and he went +on to tell her [all that had betided him], whilst she wept. + +Then said she to him, 'When the king saw him and questioned thee +of him, what saidst thou to him?' And he answered, 'I said to +him, "This is the son of a nurse who belonged to us. We left him +little and he grew up; so I brought him, that he might be servant +to the king,"' Quoth she, 'Thou didst well.' And she charged him +to be instant in the service of the prince. As for the king, he +redoubled in kindness to the eunuch and appointed the youth a +liberal allowance and he abode going in to the king's house and +coming out therefrom and standing in his service, and every day +he grew in favour with him; whilst, as for Shah Khatoun, she used +to stand a-watch for him at the windows and balconies and gaze +upon him, and she on coals of fire on his account, yet could she +not speak. + +On this wise she abode a great while and indeed yearning for him +came nigh to slay her; so she stood and watched for him one day +at the door of her chamber and straining him to her bosom, kissed +him on the cheek and breast. At this moment, out came the master +of the king's household and seeing her embracing the youth, abode +amazed. Then he asked to whom that chamber belonged and was +answered, 'To Shah Khatoun, wife of the king,' whereupon he +turned back, trembling as [one smitten by] a thunderbolt. The +king saw him quaking and said to him, 'Out on thee! what is the +matter?' 'O king,' answered he, 'what matter is graver than that +which I see?' 'What seest thou?' asked the king and the officer +said, 'I see that yonder youth, who came with the eunuch, he +brought not with him but on account of Shah Khatoun; for that I +passed but now by her chamber door, and she was standing, +watching; [and when the youth came up,] she rose to him and +clipped him and kissed him on his cheek.' + +When the king heard this, he bowed [his head] in amazement and +perplexity and sinking into a seat, clutched at his beard and +shook it, till he came nigh to pluck it out. Then he arose +forthright and laid hands on the youth and clapped him in prison. +Moreover, he took the eunuch also and cast them both into an +underground dungeon in his house, after which he went in to Shah +Khatoun and said to her, 'Thou hast done well, by Allah, O +daughter of nobles, O thou whom kings sought in marriage, for the +excellence of thy repute and the goodliness of the reports of +thee! How fair is thy semblance! May God curse her whose inward +is the contrary of her outward, after the likeness of thy base +favour, whose outward is comely and its inward foul, fair face +and foul deeds! Verily, I mean to make of thee and of yonder +good-for-nought an example among the folk, for that thou sentest +not thine eunuch but of intent on his account, so that he took +him and brought him into my house and thou hast trampled my head +with him; and this is none other than exceeding hardihood; but +thou shall see what I will do with you.' + +So saying, he spat in her face and went out from her; whilst Shah +Khatoun made him no answer, knowing that, if she spoke at that +time, he would not credit her speech. Then she humbled herself in +supplication to God the Most High and said, 'O God the Great, +Thou knowest the hidden things and the outward parts and the +inward' If an advanced term[FN#137] be [appointed] to me, let it +not be deferred, and if a deferred one, let it not be advanced!' +On this wise she passed some days, whilst the king fell into +perplexity and forswore meat and drink and sleep and abode +knowing not what he should do and saying [in himself], 'If I kill +the eunuch and the youth, my soul will not be solaced, for they +are not to blame, seeing that she sent to fetch him, and my heart +will not suffer me to slay them all three. But I will not be +hasty in putting them to death, for that I fear repentance.' Then +he left them, so he might look into the affair. + +Now he had a nurse, a foster-mother, on whose knees he had been +reared, and she was a woman of understanding and misdoubted of +him, but dared not accost him [with questions]. So she went in to +Shah Khatoun and finding her in yet sorrier plight than he, asked +her what was to do; but she refused to answer. However, the nurse +gave not over coaxing and questioning her, till she exacted of +her an oath of secrecy. So the old woman swore to her that she +would keep secret all that she should say to her, whereupon the +queen related to her her history from first to last and told her +that the youth was her son. With this the old woman prostrated +herself before her and said to her, 'This is an easy matter.' But +the queen answered, saying, 'By Allah, O my mother, I choose my +destruction and that of my son rather than defend myself by +avouching a thing whereof they will not credit me; for they will +say, "She avoucheth this, but that she may fend off reproach from +herself" And nought will avail me but patience.' The old woman +was moved by her speech and her intelligence and said to her, +'Indeed, O my daughter, it is as thou sayst, and I hope in God +that He will show forth the truth. Have patience and I will +presently go in to the king and hear what he saith and contrive +somewhat in this matter, if it be the will of God the Most High.' + +Then she arose and going in to the king, found him with his head +between his knees, and he lamenting. So she sat down by him +awhile and bespoke him with soft words and said to him, 'Indeed, +O my son, thou consumest mine entrails, for that these [many] +days thou hast not mounted to horse, and thou lamentest and I +know not what aileth thee.' 'O my mother,' answered he, '[this my +chagrin] is due to yonder accursed woman, of whom I still deemed +well and who hath done thus and thus.' Then he related to her the +whole story from first to last, and she said to him, 'This thy +concern is on account of a worthless woman.' Quoth he, 'I was but +considering by what death I should slay them, so the folk may [be +admonished by their fate and] repent.' And she said, 'O my son, +beware of haste, for it engendereth repentance and the slaying of +them will not escape [thee]. When thou art assured of this +affair, do what thou wilt.' 'O my mother,' rejoined he; 'there +needeth no assurance concerning him for whom she despatched her +eunuch and he fetched him.' + +But she said, 'There is a thing wherewith we will make her +confess, and all that is in her heart shall be discovered to +thee.' 'What is that?' asked the king, and she answered, 'I will +bring thee a hoopoe's heart,[FN#138] which, when she sleepeth, do +thou lay upon her heart and question her of all thou wilt, and +she will discover this unto thee and show forth the truth to +thee." The king rejoiced in this and said to his nurse, 'Hasten +and let none know of thee.' So she arose and going in to the +queen, said to her, 'I have done thine occasion and it is on this +wise. This night the king will come in to thee and do thou feign +thyself asleep; and if he ask thee of aught, do thou answer him, +as if in thy sleep.' The queen thanked her and the old woman went +away and fetching the hoopoe's heart, gave it to the king. + +Hardly was the night come, when he went in to his wife and found +her lying back, [apparently] asleep; so he sat down by her side +and laying the hoopoe's heart on her breast, waited awhile, so he +might be certified that she slept. Then said he to her, 'Shah +Khatoun, Shah Khatoun, is this my recompense from thee?' Quoth +she, 'What offence have I committed?' And he, 'What offence can +be greater than this? Thou sentest after yonder youth and +broughtest him hither, on account of the desire of thy heart, so +thou mightest do with him that for which thou lustedst.' 'I know +not desire,' answered she. 'Verily, among thy servants are those +who are comelier and handsomer than he; yet have I never desired +one of them.' 'Why, then,' asked he, 'didst thou lay hold of him +and kiss him!' And she said, 'This is my son and a piece of my +heart; and of my longing and love for him, I could not contain +myself, but sprang upon him and kissed him.' When the king heard +this, he was perplexed and amazed and said to her, 'Hast thou a +proof that this youth is thy son? Indeed, I have a letter from +thine uncle King Suleiman Shah, [wherein he giveth me to know] +that his unck Belehwan cut his throat.' 'Yes,' answered she, 'he +did indeed cut his throat, but severed not the windpipe; so my +uncle sewed up the wound and reared him, [and he lived,] for that +his hour was not come.' + +When the king heard this, he said, 'This proof sufficeth me,' and +rising forthright in the night, let bring the youth and the +eunuch. Then he examined the former's throat with a candle and +saw [the scar where] it [had been] cut from ear to ear, and +indeed the place had healed up and it was like unto a +stretched-out thread. Therewithal the king fell down prostrate to +God, [in thanksgiving to Him] for that He had delivered the +prince from all these perils and from the stresses that he had +undergone, and rejoiced with an exceeding joy for that he had +wrought deliberately and had not made haste to slay him, in which +case sore repentance had betided him. As for the youth," +continued the young treasurer, "he was not saved but because his +term was deferred, and on like wise, O king, is it with me; I too +have a deferred term, which I shall attain, and a period which I +shall accomplish, and I trust in God the Most High that He will +give me the victory over these wicked viziers." + +When the youth had made an end of his speech, the king said, +"Carry him back to the prison;" and when they had done this, he +turned to the viziers and said to them, "Yonder youth looseth his +tongue upon you, but I know your affectionate solicitude for the +welfare of my empire and your loyal counsel to me; so be of good +heart, for all that ye counsel me I will do." When they heard +tnese words, they rejoiced and each of them said his say Then +said the king, "I have not deferred his slaughter but to the +intent that the talk might be prolonged and that words might +abound, and I desire [now] that ye sit up for him a gibbet +without the town and make proclamation among the folk that they +assemble and take him and carry him in procession to the gibbet, +with the crier crying before him and saying, 'This is the +recompense of him whom the king delighted to favour and who hath +betrayed him!'" The viziers rejoiced, when they heard this, and +slept not that night, of their joy; and they made proclamation in +the city and set up the gibbet. + + The Eleventh Day. + + + + OF THE SPEEDY RELIEF OF GOD. + + + +When it was the eleventh day, the viziers betook them early in +the morning to the king's gate and said to him, "O king, the folk +are assembled from the king's gate to the gibbet, so they may see +[the execution of] the king's commandment on the youth." So the +king bade fetch the prisoner and they brought him; whereupon the +viziers turned to him and said to him, "O vile of origin, doth +any hope of life remain with thee and lookest thou still for +deliverance after this day?" "O wicked viziers," answered he, +"shall a man of understanding renounce hope in God the Most High? +Indeed, howsoever a man be oppressed, there cometh to him +deliverance from the midst of stress and life from the midst of +death, [as is shown by the case of] the prisoner and how God +delivered him." "What is his story?" asked the king; and the +youth answered, saying, "O king, they tell that + + + + + + STORY OF THE PRISONER AND HOW GOD GAVE + HIM RELIEF. + + + +There was once a king of the kings, who had a high palace, +overlooking a prison of his, and he used to hear in the night one +saying, 'O Ever-present Deliverer, O Thou whose relief is nigh, +relieve Thou me!' One day the king waxed wroth and said, "Yonder +fool looketh for relief from [the consequences of] his crime. +'Then said he to his officers, 'Who is in yonder prison?' And +they answered, 'Folk upon whom blood hath been found.'[FN#139] So +the king bade bring the man in question before him and said to +him, 'O fool, little of wit, how shall thou be delivered from +this prison, seeing that thine offence is great?' Then he +committed him to a company of his guards and said to them, 'Take +this fellow and crucify him without the city.' + +Now it was the night-season. So the soldiers carried him without +the city, thinking to crucify him, when, behold, there came out +upon them thieves and fell in on them with swords and [other] +weapons. Thereupon the guards left him whom they purposed to put +to death [and took to flight], whilst the man who was going to +slaughter fled forth at a venture and plunging into the desert, +knew not whither he went before he found himself in a thicket and +there came out upon him a lion of frightful aspect, which +snatched him up and set him under him. Then he went up to a tree +and tearing it up by the roots, covered the man therewith and +made off into the thicket, in quest of the lioness. + +As for the man, he committed his affair to God the Most High, +relying upon Him for deliverance, and said in himself, 'What is +this affair?' Then he did away the leaves from himself and +rising, saw great plenty of men's bones there, of those whom the +lion had devoured. He looked again and saw a heap of gold lying +alongside a girdle;[FN#140] whereat he marvelled and gathering up +the gold in his skirts, went forth of the thicket and fled in +affright at hazard, turning neither to the right nor to the left, +in his fear of the lion; till he came to a village and cast +himself down, as he were dead. He lay there till the day appeared +and he was rested from his fatigue, when he arose and burying the +gold, entered the village. Thus God gave him relief and he came +by the gold." + +Then said the king, "How long wilt thou beguile us with thy +prate, O youth? But now the hour of thy slaughter is come." And +he bade crucify him upon the gibbet. [So they carried him to the +place of execution] and were about to hoist him up [upon the +cross,] when, behold, the captain of the thieves, who had found +him and reared him,[FN#141] came up at that moment and asked what +was that assembly and [the cause of] the crowds gathered there. +They told him that a servant of the king had committed a great +crime and that he was about to put him to death. So the captain +of the thieves pressed forward and looking upon the prisoner, +knew him, whereupon he went up to him and embraced him and +clipped him and fell to kissing him upon his mouth. Then said he, +"This is a boy whom I found under such a mountain, wrapped in a +gown of brocade, and I reared him and he fell to stopping the way +with us. One day, we set upon a caravan, but they put us to +flight and wounded some of us and took the boy and went their +way. From that day to this I have gone round about the lands in +quest of him, but have not lighted on news of him [till now;] and +this is he." + +When the king heard this, he was certified that the youth was his +very son; so he cried out at the top of his voice and casting +himself upon him, embraced him and wept and said, "Had I put thee +to death, as was my intent, I should have died of regret for +thee." Then he cut his bonds and taking his crown from his head, +set it on that of his son, whereupon the people raised cries of +joy, whilst the trumpets sounded and the drums beat and there +befell a great rejoicing. They decorated the city and it was a +glorious day; the very birds stayed their flight in the air, for +the greatness of the clamour and the noise of the crying. The +army and the folk carried the prince [to the palace] in +magnificent procession, and the news came to his mother Behrjaur, +who came forth and threw herself upon him. Moreover, the king +bade open the prison and bring forth all who were therein, and +they held high festival seven days and seven nights and rejoiced +with a mighty rejoicing; whilst terror and silence and confusion +and affright fell upon the viziers and they gave themselves up +for lost. + +After this the king sat, with his son by his side and the viziers +sitting before him, and summoned his chief officers and the folk +of the city. Then the prince turned to the viziers and said to +them, "See, O wicked viziers, that which God hath done and the +speedy [coming of] relief." But they answered not a word and the +king said, "It sufficeth me that there is nothing alive but +rejoiceth with me this day, even to the birds in the sky, but ye, +your breasts are straitened. Indeed, this is the greatest of +ill-will in you to me, and had I hearkened to you, my regret had +been prolonged and I had died miserably of grief." "O my father," +quoth the prince, "but for the fairness of thy thought and thy +judgment and thy longanimity and deliberation in affairs, there +had not bedded thee this great joyance. Hadst thou slain me in +haste, repentance would have been sore on thee and long grief, +and on this wise doth he who ensueth haste repent." + +Then the king sent for the captain of the thieves and bestowed on +him a dress of honour,[FN#142] commanding that all who loved the +king should put off [their raiment and cast it] upon him.[FN#143] +So there fell dresses of honour [and other presents] on him, till +he was wearied with their much plenty, and Azadbekht invested him +with the mastership of the police of his city. Then he bade set +up other nine gibbets beside the first and said to his son, "Thou +art guiltless, and yet these wicked viziers endeavoured for thy +slaughter." "O my father," answered the prince, "I had no fault +[in their eyes] but that I was a loyal counsellor to thee and +still kept watch over thy good and withheld their hands from thy +treasuries; wherefore they were jealous and envied me and plotted +against me and sought to slay me," Quoth the king, "The time [of +retribution] is at hand, O my son; but what deemest thou we +should do with them in requital of that which they did with thee? +For that they have endeavoured for thy slaughter and exposed thee +to public ignominy and soiled my honour among the kings." + +Then he turned to the viziers and said to them, "Out on ye! What +liars ye are! What excuse is left you?" "O king," answered they, +"there abideth no excuse for us and our sin hath fallen upon us +and broken us in pieces. Indeed we purposed evil to this youth +and it hath reverted upon us, and we plotted mischief against him +and it hath overtaken us; yea, we digged a pit for him and have +fallen ourselves therein." So the king bade hoist up the viziers +upon the gibbets and crucify them there, for that God is just and +ordaineth that which is right. Then Azadbekht and his wife and +son abode in joyance and contentment, till there came to them the +Destroyer of Delights and they died all; and extolled be the +perfection of the [Ever-]Living One, who dieth not, to whom be +glory and whose mercy be upon us for ever and ever! Amen. + + + + + + JAAFER BEN YEHYA AND ABDULMEILIK BEN + SALIH THE ABBASIDE.[FN#144] + + + +It is told of Jaafer ben Yehya the Barmecide that he sat down one +day to drink and being minded to be private (with his friends), +sent for his boon-companions, in whom he delighted, and charged +the chamberlain[FN#145] that he should suffer none of the +creatures of God the Most High to enter, save a man of his +boon-companions, by name Abdulmelik ben Salih,[FN#146] who was +behindhand with them. Then they donned coloured clothes,[FN#147] +for that it was their wont, whenas they sat in the wine-chamber, +to don raiment of red and yellow and green silk, and sat down to +drink, and the cups went round and the lutes pulsed. + +Now there was a man of the kinsfolk of the Khalif [Haroun er +Reshid], by name Abdulmelik ben Salih ben Ali ben Abdallah ben el +Abbas,[FN#148] who was great of gravity and piety and +decorousness, and Er Reshid was used instantly to require of him +that he should keep him company in his carousals and drink with +him and had proffered him, to this end, riches galore, but he +still refused. It chanced that this Abdulmelik es Salih came to +the door of Jaafer ben Yehya, that he might bespeak him of +certain occasions of his, and the chamberlain, doubting not but +he was the Abdulmelik ben Salih aforesaid, whom Jaafer had +charged him admit and that he should suffer none but him to +enter, allowed him to go in to his master. + +When Jaafer saw him, his reason was like to depart for shame and +he knew that the chamberlain had been deceived by the likeness of +the name; and Abdulmelik also perceived how the case stood and +confusion was manifest to him in Jaafer's face. So he put on a +cheerful favour and said, "No harm be upon you![FN#149] Bring us +of these dyed clothes." So they brought him a dyed gown[FN#150] +and he put it on and sat discoursing cheerily with Jaafer and +jesting with him. Then said he, "Give us to drink of your wine." +So they poured him out a pint and he said, "Be ye indulgent with +us, for we have no wont of this." Then he chatted and jested with +them till Jaafer's breast dilated and his constraint ceased from +him and his shamefastness, and he rejoiced in this with an +exceeding joy and said to Abdulmelik, "What is thine errand?" +Quoth the other, "I come (may God amend thee!) on three +occasions, whereof I would have thee bespeak the Khalif; to wit, +firstly, I have on me a debt to the amount of a thousand thousand +dirhems,[FN#151] which I would have discharged; secondly, I +desire for my son the office of governor of a province, whereby +his rank may be raised; and thirdly, I would fain have thee marry +him to a daughter of the Khalif, for that she is his cousin and +he is a match for her." And Jaafer said, "God accomplished! unto +thee these three occasions. As for the money, it shall presently +be carried to thy house; as for the government, I make thy son +viceroy of Egypt; and as for the marriage, I give him to wife +such an one, the daughter of our Lord the Commander of the +Faithful, at a dowry of such and such a sum. So depart in the +assurance of God the Most High." + +So Abdulmelik went away to his house, whither he found that the +money had foregone him, and on the morrow Jaafer presented +himself before the Khalif and acquainted him with what had passed +and that he had appointed Abdulmelik's son governor of Egypt and +had promised him his daughter in marriage. Er Reshid approved of +this and confirmed the appointment and the marriage. [Then he +sent for the young man] and he went not forth of the palace of +the Khalif till he wrote him the patent [of investiture with the +government] of Egypt; and he let bring the Cadis and the +witnesses and drew up the contract of marriage. + + + + + + ER RESHID AND THE BARMECIDES.[FN#152] + + + +It is said that the most extraordinary of that which happened to +Er Reshid was as follows: His brother El Hadi,[FN#153] when he +succeeded to the Khalifate, enquired of a seal-ring of great +price, that had belonged to his father El Mehdi,[FN#154] and it +came to his knowledge that Er Reshid had taken it. So he required +it of the latter, who refused to give it up, and El Hadi insisted +upon him, but he still denied the seal-ring of the Khalifate. Now +this was on the bridge [over the Tigris], and he threw the ring +into the river. When El Hadi died and Er Reshid succeeded to the +Khalifate, he came in person to that bridge, with a seal-ring of +lead, which he threw into the river at the same place, and bade +the divers seek it. So they did [his bidding] and brought up the +first ring, and this was reckoned [an omen] of Er Reshid's good +fortune and [a presage of] the continuance of his reign.[FN#155] + +When Er Reshid came to the throne, he invested Jaafer ben Yehya +ben Khalid el Bermeki[FN#156] with the vizierate. Now Jaafer was +eminently distinguished for generosity and munificence, and the +stories of him to this effect are renowned and are written in the +books. None of the viziers attained to the rank and favour which +he enjoyed with Er Reshid, who was wont to call him +brother[FN#157] and used to carry him with him into his house. +The period of his vizierate was nineteen years,[FN#158] and Yehya +one day said to his son Jaafer, "O my son, what time thy reed +trembleth, water it with kindness."[FN#159] Opinions differ +concerning the reason of Jaafer's slaughter, but the better is as +follows. Er Reshid could not brook to be parted from Jaafer nor +from his [own] sister Abbaseh, daughter of El Mehdi, a single +hour, and she was the loveliest woman of her time; so he said to +Jaafer, "I will marry thee to her, that it may be lawful to thee +to look upon her, but thou shalt not touch her." [Accordingly, +they were married] and they used both to be present in Er +Reshid's sitting chamber. Now the Khalif would rise bytimes [and +go forth] from the chamber, and they being both young and filled +with wine, Jaafer would rise to her and swive her. She conceived +by him and bore a handsome boy and fearing Er Reshid, despatched +the newborn child by one of her confidants to Mecca the Holy, may +God the Most High advance it in honour and increase it in +venerance and nobility and magnification! The affair abode +concealed till there befell despite between Abbaseh and one of +her slave-girls, whereupon the latter discovered the affair of +the child to Er Reshid and acquainted him with its abiding-place. +So, when the Khalif made the pilgrimage, he despatched one who +brought him the boy and found the affair true, wherefore he +caused befall the Barmecides that which befell.[FN#160] + + + + + + IBN ES SEMMAK AND ER RESHID.[FN#161] + + + +It is related that Ibn es Semmak[FN#162] went in one day to Er +Reshid and the Khalif, being athirst, called for drink. So his +cup was brought him, and when he took it, Ibn es Semmak said to +him, "Softly, O Commander of the Faithful! If thou wert denied +this draught, with what wouldst thou buy it?" "With the half of +my kingdom," answered the Khalif; and Ibn es Semmak said, "Drink +and God prosper it to thee!" Then, when he had drunken, he said +to him, "If thou wert denied the going forth of the draught from +thy body, with what wouldst thou buy its issue?" "With the whole +of my kingdom," answered Er Reshid: and Ibn es Semmak said, "O +Commander of the Faithful, verily, a kingdom that weigheth not in +the balance against a draught [of water] or a voiding of urine is +not worth the striving for." And Haroun wept. + + + + + + EL MAMOUN AND ZUBEIDEH[FN#163] + + + +It is said that El Mamoun[FN#164] came one day upon Zubeideh, +mother of El Amin,[FN#165] and saw her moving her lips and +muttering somewhat he understood not; so he said to her, "O +mother mine, dost thou imprecate [curses] upon me, for that I +slew thy son and despoiled him of his kingdom?" "Not so, by +Allah, O Commander of the Faithful!" answered she, and he said, +"What then saidst thou?" Quoth she, "Let the Commander of the +Faithful excuse me." But he was instant with her, saying, "Needs +must thou tell it." And she replied, "I said, 'God confound +importunity!'" "How so?" asked the Khalif, and she said, "I +played one day at chess with the Commander of the Faithful +[Haroun er Reshid] and he imposed on me the condition of +commandment and acceptance.[FN#166] He beat me and bade me put +off my clothes and go round about the palace, naked; so I did +this, and I incensed against him. Then we fell again to playing +and I beat him; so I bade him go to the kitchen and swive the +foulest and sorriest wench of the wenches thereof. [I went to the +kitchen] and found not a slave-girl fouler and filthier than thy +mother;[FN#167] so I bade him swive her. He did as I bade him and +she became with child by him of thee, and thus was I [by my +unlucky insistance] the cause of the slaying of my son and the +despoiling him of his kingdom." When El Mamoun heard this, he +turned away, saying, "God curse the importunate!" to wit, +himself, who had importuned her till she acquainted him with that +matter. + + + + + + EN NUMAN AND THE ARAB OF THE BENOU + TAI.[FN#168] + + + +It is said that En Numan[FN#169] had two boon-companions, one of +whom was called Ibn Saad and the other Amrou ben el Melik, and he +became one night drunken and bade bury them alive; so they buried +them. When he arose on the morrow, he enquired for them and was +acquainted with their case, whereupon he built over them a +monument and appointed to himself a day of ill-luck and a day of +good-luck. If any met him on his day of ill-omen, he slew him and +with his blood he washed the monument aforesaid, the which is a +place well known in Cufa; and if any met him on his day of grace, +he enriched him. + +Now there accosted him once, on his day of ill-omen, an Arab of +the Benou Tai,[FN#170] and En Numan would have put him to death; +but the Arab said, "God quicken the king! I have two little girls +and have made none guardian over them; so, if the king see fit to +grant me leave to go to them, I will give him the covenant of +God[FN#171] that I will return to him, whenas I have appointed +them a guardian." En Numan had compassion on him and said to him, +"If a man will be surety for thee of those who are with us, [I +will let thee go], and if thou return not, I will put him to +death." Now there was with En Numan his vizier Sherik ben Amrou; +so the Tai[FN#172] looked at him and said, + +Sherik ben Amrou, what device avails the hand of death to stay? O + brother of the brotherless, brother of all th' afflicted, + say. +Brother of En Numan, with thee lies an old man's anguish to + allay, A graybeard slain, may God make fair his deeds upon + the Reckoning-Day! +Quoth Sherik, "On me be his warranty, may God assain the king!" + So the Tai departed, after a term had been assigned him for + his coming. + +When the appointed day arrived, En Numan sent for Sherik and said +to him, "Verily the first part of this day is past." And Sherik +answered, "The king hath no recourse against me till it be +eventide." When it evened, there appeared one afar off and En +Numan fell to looking upon him and on Sherik, and the latter said +to him, "Thou hast no right over me till yonder fellow come, for +belike he is my man." As he spoke, up came the Tai in haste and +En Numan said "By Allah, never saw I [any] more generous than you +two! I know not whether of you is the more generous, this one who +became warrant for thee in [danger of] death or thou who +returnest unto slaughter." Then said he to Sherik, "What prompted +thee to become warrant for him, knowing that it was death?" And +he said, "[I did this] lest it be said, 'Generosity hath departed +from viziers.'" Then said En Numan to the Tai, "And thou, what +prompted thee to return, knowing that therein was death and thine +own destruction?" Quoth the Arab, "[I did this] lest it be said, +'Fidelity hath departed from the folk.'" And En Numan said, "By +Allah, I will be the third of you,[FN#173] lest it be said, +'Clemency hath departed from kings.'" So he pardoned him and bade +abolish the day of ill-omen; whereupon the Arab recited the +following verses: + +Full many a man incited me to infidelity, But I refused, for all + the talk wherewith they set on me. +I am a man in whom good faith's a natural attribute; The deeds of + every upright man should with his speech agree. + +Quoth En Numan, "What prompted thee to keep faith, the case being +as thou sayest?" "O king," answered the Arab, "it was my +religion." And En Numan said, "What is thy religion?" "The +Christian," replied the other. Quoth the king, "Expound it unto +me." [So the Tai expounded it to him] and En Numan became a +Christian.[FN#174] + + + + + + FIROUZ AND HIS WIFE[FN#175] + + + +A certain king sat one day on the roof of his palace, diverting +himself with looking about him, and presently, chancing to look +aside, he espied, on [the roof of] a house over against his +palace, a woman, never saw his eyes her like. So he turned to +those who were present and said to them, "To whom belongeth +yonder house?" "To thy servant Firouz," answered they, "and that +is his wife." So he went down, (and indeed love had made him +drunken and he was passionately enamoured of her), and calling +Firouz, said to him, "Take this letter and go with it to such a +city and bring me the answer." Firouz took the letter and going +to his house, laid it under his head and passed that night. When +the morning morrowed, he took leave of his wife and set out for +the city in question, unknowing what the king purposed against +him. + +As for the king, he arose in haste and disguising himself, +repaired to the house of Firouz and knocked at the door. Quoth +Firouz's wife, "Who is at the door?" And he answered, saying, "I +am the king, thy husband's master." So she opened the door and he +entered and sat down, saying, "We are come to visit thee." Quoth +she, "I seek refuge [with God] from this visitation, for indeed I +deem not well thereof." And the king said, "O desire of hearts, I +am thy husband's master and methinks thou knowest me not." "Nay," +answered she, "I know thee, O my lord and master, and I know thy +purpose and that which thou seekest and that thou art my +husband's lord. I understand what thou wishest, and indeed the +poet hath forestalled thee in his saying of the following verses, +in reference to thy case: + +Your water I'll leave without drinking, for there Too many + already have drunken whilere. +When the flies light on food, from the platter my hand I raise, + though my spirit should long for the fare; +And whenas the dogs at a fountain have lapped, The lions to drink + of the water forbear." + +Then said she, "O king, comest thou to a [watering-]place whereat +thy dog hath drunken and wilt thou drink thereof?" The king was +abashed at her and at her words and went out from her, but forgot +his sandal in the house. + +As for Firouz, when he went forth from his house, he sought the +letter, but found it not; so he returned home. Now his return +fell in with the king's going forth and he found the latter's +sandal in his house, whereat his wit was dazed and he knew that +the king had not sent him away but for a purpose of his own. +However, he held his peace and spoke not a word, but, taking the +letter, went on his errand and accomplished it and returned to +the king, who gave him a hundred dinars. So Firouz betook himself +to the market and bought what beseemeth women of goodly gifts and +returning to his wife, saluted her and gave her all that he had +brought and said to her, "Arise [go] to thy father's house." +"Wherefore?" asked she, and he said, "Verily, the king hath been +bountiful to me and I would have thee show forth this, so thy +father may rejoice in that which he seeth upon thee." "With all +my heart," answered she and arising forthright, betook herself to +the house of her father, who rejoiced in her coming and in that +which he saw upon her; and she abode with him a month's space, +and her husband made no mention of her. + +Then came her brother to him and said, "O Firouz, an thou wilt +not acquaint me with the reason of thine anger against thy wife, +come and plead with us before the king." Quoth he, "If ye will +have me plead with you, I will do so." So they went to the king +and found the cadi sitting with him; whereupon quoth the damsel's +brother, "God assist our lord the cadi! I let this man on hire a +high-walled garden, with a well in good case and trees laden with +fruit; but he beat down its walls and ruined its well and ate its +fruits, and now he desireth to return it to me." The cadi turned +to Firouz and said to him, "What sayst thou, O youth?" And he +answered, "Indeed, I delivered him the garden in the goodliest of +case." So the cadi said to the brother, "Hath he delivered thee +the garden, as he saith?" And the other replied, "No; but I +desire to question him of the reason of his returning it." Quoth +the cadi, "What sayst thou, O youth?" And Firouz answered, "I +returned it in my own despite, for that I entered it one day and +saw the track of the lion; wherefore I feared lest, if I entered +it again, the lion should devour me. So that which I did, I did +of reverence to him and for fear of him." + +Now the king was leaning back upon the cushion, when he heard the +man's words, he knew the purport thereof; so he sat up and said, +"Return to thy garden in all assurance and ease of heart; for, by +Allah, never saw I the like of thy garden nor stouter of ward +than its walls over its trees!" So Firouz returned to his wife, +and the cadi knew not the truth of the affair, no, nor any of +those who were in that assembly, save the king and the husband +and the damsel's brother.[FN#176] + + + + + + KING SHAH BEKHT AND HIS VIZIER ER + REHWAN.[FN#177] + + + +There was once, of old days and in bygone ages and times, a king +of the kings of the time, by name Shah Bekht, who had troops and +servants and guards galore and a vizier called Er Rehwan, who was +wise, understanding, a man of good counsel and a cheerful +acceptor of the commandments of God the Most High, to whom belong +might and majesty. The king committed to him the affairs of his +kingdom and his subjects and said according to his word, and on +this wise he abode a long space of time. + +Now this vizier had many enemies, who envied him his high place +and still sought to do him hurt, but found no way thereunto, and +God, in His fore-knowledge and His fore-ordinance from time +immemorial, decreed that the king dreamt that the Vizier Er +Rehwan gave him a fruit from off a tree and he ate it and died. +So he awoke, affrighted and troubled, and when the vizier had +presented himself before him [and withdrawn] and the king was +alone with those in whom he trusted, he related to them his dream +and they counselled him to send for the astrologers and +interpreters [of dreams] and commended to him a sage, for whose +skill and wisdom they vouched. So the king sent for him and +entreated him with honour and made him draw near to himself. Now +there had been private with the sage in question a company of the +vizier's enemies, who besought him to slander the vizier to the +king and counsel him to put him to death, in consideration of +that which they promised him of wealth galore; and he agreed with +them of this and told the king that the vizier would slay him in +the course of the [ensuing] month and bade him hasten to put him +to death, else would he surely slay him. + +Presently, the vizier entered and the king signed to him to cause +avoid the place. So he signed to those who were present to +withdraw, and they departed; whereupon quoth the king to him, +"How deemest thou, O excellent vizier, O loyal counsellor in all +manner of governance, of a vision I have seen in my sleep?" "What +is it, O king?" asked the vizier, and Shah Bekht related to him +his dream, adding, "And indeed the sage interpreted it to me and +said to me, 'An thou put not the vizier to death within a month, +he will slay thee.' Now I am exceeding both to put the like of +thee to death, yet do I fear to leave thee on life. What then +dost thou counsel me that I should do in this matter?" The vizier +bowed his head awhile, then raised it and said, "God prosper the +king! Verily, it skills not to continue him on life of whom the +king is afraid, and my counsel is that thou make haste to put me +to death." + +When the king heard his speech, he turned to him and said, "It is +grievous to me, O vizier of good counsel." And he told him that +the [other] sages testified [to the correctness of their fellow's +interpretation of the dream]; whereupon Er Rehwan sighed and knew +that the king went in fear of him; but he showed him fortitude +and said to him, "God assain the king! My counsel is that the +king accomplish his commandment and execute his ordinance, for +that needs must death be and it is liefer to me that I die, +oppressed, than that I die, an oppressor. But, if the king see +fit to defer the putting of me to death till the morrow and will +pass this night with me and take leave of me, when the morrow +cometh, the king shall do what he will." + +Then he wept till he wet his gray hairs and the king was moved to +compassion for him and granted him that which he sought and +vouchsafed him that night's respite. + + The First Night of the Month + +When it was eventide, the king caused avoid his sitting chamber +and summoned the vizier, who presented himself and making his +obeisance to the king, kissed the earth before him and bespoke +him as follows: + + + + + + STORY OF THE MAN OF KHORASSAN, HIS SON AND + HIS GOVERNOR. + + + +"There was once a man of Khorassan and he had a son, whose +improvement he ardently desired; but the young man sought to be +alone and to remove himself from his father's eye, so he might +give himself up to pleasance and delight. So he sought of his +father [leave to make] the pilgrimage to the Holy House of God +and to visit the tomb of the Prophet (whom God bless and keep!). +Now between them and Mecca was a journey of five hundred +parasangs; but his father could not gainsay him, for that the law +of God made this[FN#178] incumbent on him and because of that +which he hoped for him of improvement [therefrom]. So he joined +unto him a governor, in whom he trusted, and gave him much money +and took leave of him. The son set out on the holy +pilgrimage[FN#179] with the governor and abode on that wise, +spending freely and using not thrift. + +Now there was in his neighbourhood a poor man, who had a +slave-girl of surpassing beauty and loveliness, and the youth +became enamoured of her and suffered grief and concern for the +love of her and her loveliness, so that he was like to perish for +passion; and she also loved him with a love yet greater than his +love for her. So she called an old woman who used to visit her +and acquainted her with her case, saying, 'An I foregather not +with him, I shall die.' The old woman promised her that she would +do her endeavour to bring her to her desire; so she veiled +herself and repairing to the young man, saluted him and +acquainted him with the girl's case, saying, 'Her master is a +covetous man; so do thou invite him [to thy lodging] and tempt +him with money, and he will sell thee the damsel.' + +Accordingly, he made a banquet, and stationing himself in the +man's way, invited him and carried him to his house, where they +sat down and ate and drank and abode in discourse. Presently, the +young man said to the other, 'I hear that thou hast with thee a +slave-girl, whom thou desirest to sell.' And he answered, saying, +'By Allah, O my lord, I have no mind to sell her!' Quoth the +youth, 'I hear that she cost thee a thousand dinars, and I will +give thee six hundred, to boot.' And the other said, 'I sell her +to thee [at that price].' So they fetched notaries, who drew up +the contract of sale, and the young man counted out to the girl's +master half the purchase money, saying, 'Let her be with thee +till I complete to thee the rest of the price and take my +slave-girl.' The other consented to this and took of him a bond +for the rest of the money, and the girl abode with her master, on +deposit. + +As for the youth, he gave his governor a thousand dirhems and +despatched him to his father, to fetch money from him, so he +might pay the rest of the girl's price, saying to him, 'Be not +[long] absent.' But the governor said in himself, 'How shall I go +to his father and say to him, "Thy son hath wasted thy money and +wantoned it away"?[FN#180] With what eye shall I look on him, and +indeed, I am he in whom he confided and to whom he hath entrusted +his son? Indeed, this were ill seen. Nay, I will fare on to the +pilgrimage[FN#181] [with the caravan of pilgrims], in despite of +this fool of a youth; and when he is weary [of waiting], he will +demand back the money [he hath already paid] and return to his +father, and I shall be quit of travail and reproach.' So he went +on with the caravan to the pilgrimage[FN#182] and took up his +abode there. + +Meanwhile, the youth abode expecting his governor's return, but +he returned not; wherefore concern and chagrin waxed upon him, +because of his mistress, and his longing for her redoubled and he +was like to slay himself. She became aware of this and sent him a +messenger, bidding him to her. So he went to her and she +questioned him of the case; whereupon he told her what was to do +of the matter of his governor, and she said to him, 'With me is +longing the like of that which is with thee, and I misdoubt me +thy messenger hath perished or thy father hath slain him; but I +will give thee all my trinkets and my clothes, and do thou sell +them and pay the rest of my price, and we will go, I and thou, to +thy father.' + +So she gave him all that she possessed and he sold it and paid +the rest of her price; after which there remained to him a +hundred dirhems. These he spent and lay that night with the +damsel in all delight of life, and his soul was like to fly for +joy; but when he arose in the morning, he sat weeping and the +damsel said to him, 'What aileth thee to weep?' And he said, 'I +know not if my father be dead, and he hath none other heir but +myself; and how shall I win to him, seeing I have not a dirhem?' +Quoth she, 'I have a bracelet; do thou sell it and buy small +pearls with the price. Then bray them and fashion them into great +pearls, and thereon thou shalt gain much money, wherewith we may +make our way to thy country.' So he took the bracelet and +repairing to a goldsmith, said to him, 'Break up this bracelet +and sell it.' But he said, 'The king seeketh a good[FN#183] +bracelet; I will go to him and bring thee the price thereof.' So +he carried the bracelet to the Sultan and it pleased him greatly, +by reason of the goodliness of its workmanship. Then he called an +old woman, who was in his palace, and said to her, 'Needs must I +have the mistress of this bracelet, though but for a single +night, or I shall die.' And the old woman answered, 'I will bring +her to thee.' + +So she donned a devotee's habit and betaking herself to the +goldsmith, said to him, 'To whom belongeth the bracelet that is +in the king's hand?' Quoth he, 'It belongeth to a man, a +stranger, who hath bought him a slave-girl from this city and +lodgeth with her in such a place.' So the old woman repaired to +the young man's house and knocked at the door. The damsel opened +to her and seeing her clad in devotee's apparel,[FN#184] saluted +her and said to her, ' Belike thou hast an occasion with us?' +'Yes,' answered the old woman; 'I desire privacy and +ablution.'[FN#185] Quoth the girl, 'Enter.' So she entered and +did her occasion and made the ablution and prayed. Then she +brought out a rosary and began to tell her beads thereon, and the +damsel said to her, 'Whence comest thou, O pilgrim?'[FN#186] +Quoth she '[I come] from [visiting] the Idol[FN#187] of the +Absent in such a church.[FN#188] There standeth up no woman [to +prayer] before him, who hath an absent friend and discovereth to +him her need, but he acquainteth her with her case and giveth her +tidings of her absent one.' 'O pilgrim,' said the damsel, 'we +have an absent one, and my lord's heart cleaveth to him and I +desire to go to the idol and question him of him.' Quoth the old +woman, '[Wait] till to-morrow and ask leave of thy husband, and I +will come to thee and go with thee in weal.' + +Then she went away, and when the girl's master came, she sought +his leave to go with the old woman and he granted her leave. So +the beldam took her and carried her to the king's door. The +damsel entered with her, unknowing whither she went, and beheld a +goodly house and chambers adorned [with gold and colours] that +were no idol's chambers. Then came the king and seeing her beauty +and grace, went up to her, to kiss her; whereupon she fell down +in a fit and strove with her hands and feet. When he saw this, he +was solicitous for her and held aloof from her and left her; but +the thing was grievous to her and she refused meat and drink, and +as often as the king drew near her, she fled from him in +affright, wherefore he swore by Allah that he would not approach +her, save with her consent, and fell to guerdoning her with +trinkets and raiment, but she only redoubled in aversion to him. + +Meanwhile, the youth her master abode expecting her; but she +returned not and his heart forbode him of the draught [of +separation]; so he went forth at hazard, distraught and knowing +not what he should do, and fell to strewing dust upon his head +and crying out, 'The old woman hath taken her and gone away!' The +boys followed him with stones and pelted him, saying, 'A madman! +A madman!' Presently, the king's chamberlain, who was a man of +age and worth, met him, and when he saw his youth, he forbade the +boys and drove there away from him, after which he accosted him +and questioned him of his case. So he told him how it was with +him and the chamberlain said to him, 'Fear not: all shall yet be +well with thee. I will deliver thy slave-girl for thee: so calm +thy trouble.' And he went on to speak him fair and comfort him, +till he put faith in his speech. + +Then he carried him to his house and stripping him of his +clothes, clad him in rags; after which he called an old woman, +who was his stewardess, and said to her. 'Take this youth and +clap on his neck this iron chain and go round about with him in +all the thoroughfares of the city; and when thou hast made an end +of this, go up with him to the palace of the king.' And he said +to the youth, 'In whatsoever place thou seest the damsel, speak +not a syllable, but acquaint me with her place and thou shall owe +her deliverance to none but me.' The youth thanked him and went +with the old woman on such wise as the chamberlain bade him. She +fared on with him till they entered the city [and made the round +thereof]; after which she went up to the palace of the king and +fell to saying, 'O people of affluence, look on a youth whom the +devils take twice in the day and pray for preservation from [a +like] affliction!' And she ceased not to go round about with him +till she came to the eastern wing[FN#189] of the palace, +whereupon the slave-girls came out to look upon him and when they +saw him they were amazed at his beauty and grace and wept for +him. + +Then they told the damsel, who came forth and looked upon him and +knew him not. But he knew her; so he bowed his head and wept. She +was moved to compassion for him and gave him somewhat and +returned to her place, whilst the youth returned with the +stewardess to the chamberlain and told him that she was in the +king's house, whereat he was chagrined and said, 'By Allah, I +will assuredly contrive a device for her and deliver her!' +Whereupon the youth kissed his hands and feet. Then he turned to +the old woman and bade her change her apparel and her favour. Now +this old woman was goodly of speech and nimble of wit; so he gave +her costly and delicious perfumes and said to her, 'Get thee to +the king's slave girls and sell them these [perfumes] and make +thy way to the damsel and question her if she desire her master +or not.' So the old woman went out and making her way to the +palace, went in to the damsel and drew near her and recited the +following verses: + +God keep the days of love-delight! How dearly sweet they were! + How joyous and how solaceful was life in them whilere! +Would he were not who sundered us upon the parting day! How many + a body hath he slain, how many a bone laid bare? +Sans fault of mine, my blood and tears he shed and beggared me Of + him I love, yet for himself gained nought thereby whate'er. + + +When the damsel heard these verses, she wept till her clothes +were drenched and drew near the old woman, who said to her, +'Knowest thou such an one?' And wept and said, 'He is my lord. +Whence knowest thou him?' 'O my lady,' answered the old woman, +'sawst thou not the madman who came hither yesterday with the old +woman? He was thy lord. But this is no time for talk. When it is +night, get thee to the top of the palace [and wait] on the roof +till thy lord come to thee and contrive for thy deliverance.' +Then she gave her what she would of perfumes and returning to the +chamberlain, acquainted him with that which had passed, and he +told the youth. + +When it was eventide, the chamberlain let bring two horses and +great store of water and victual and a saddle-camel and a man to +show them the way. These he hid without the town, whilst he and +the young man took with them a long rope, made fast to a staple, +and repaired to the palace. When they came thither, they looked +and beheld the damsel standing on the roof. So they threw her the +rope and the staple; whereupon she [made the latter fast to the +parapet and] wrapping her sleeves about her hands, slid down [the +rope] and landed with them. They carried her without the town, +where they mounted, she and her lord, and fared on, whilst the +guide forewent them, directing them in the way, and they gave not +over going night and day till they entered his father's house. +The young man saluted his father, who rejoiced in him, and he +related to him all that had befallen him, whereupon he rejoiced +in his safety. + +As for the governor, he wasted all that was with him and returned +to the city, where he saw the youth and excused himself to him. +Then he questioned him of what had befallen him and he told him, +whereat he marvelled and returned to companionship with him; but +the youth ceased to have regard for him and gave him not +stipends, as of his [former] wont, neither discovered to him +aught of his secrets. When the governor saw that there was no +profit for him with the young Khorassani, he returned to the +king, the ravisher of the damsel, and told him what the +chamberlain had done and counselled him to slay the latter and +incited him to recover the damsel, [promising] to give his friend +to drink of poison and return. So the king sent for the +chamberlain and upbraided him; whereupon he fell upon him and +slew him and the king's servants fell upon the chamberlain and +slew him. + +Meanwhile, the governor returned to the youth, who questioned him +of his absence, and he told him that he had been in the city of +the king who had taken the damsel. When the youth heard this, he +misdoubted of the governor and never again trusted him in aught, +but was still on his guard against him. Then the governor made +great store of sweetmeats and put in them deadly poison and +presented them to the youth. When the latter saw the sweetmeats, +he said in himself, 'This is an extraordinary thing of the +governor! Needs must there be mischief in this sweetmeat, and I +will make proof of it upon himself.' So he made ready victual and +set on the sweetmeat amongst it and bade the governor to his +house and set food before him. He ate and amongst the rest, they +brought him the poisoned sweetmeat; so he ate thereof and died +forthright; whereby the youth knew that this was a plot against +himself and said, 'He who seeketh his fortune of his own +[unaided] might[FN#190] attaineth it not.' Nor (continued the +vizier) is this, O king of the age, more extraordinary than the +story of the druggist and his wife and the singer." + +When King Shah Bekht heard his vizier's story, he gave him leave +to withdraw to his own house and he abode there the rest of the +night and the next day till the evening. + + The Second Night of the Month + +When the evening evened, the king sat in his privy +sitting-chamber and his mind was occupied with the story of the +singer and the druggist. So he called the vizier and bade him +tell the story. "It is well," answered he, "They tell, O my lord, +that + + + + + + STORY OF THE SINGER AND THE DRUGGIST. + + + +There was once in the city of Hemadan[FN#191] a young man of +comely aspect and excellently skilled in singing to the lute, and +he was well seen of the people of the city. He went forth one day +of his city, with intent to travel, and gave not over journeying +till his travel brought him to a goodly city. Now he had with him +a lute and what pertained thereto,[FN#192] so he entered and went +round about the city till he fell in with a druggist, who, when +he espied him, called to him. So he went up to him and he bade +him sit down. Accordingly, he sat down by him and the druggist +questioned him of his case. The singer told him what was in his +mind and the other took him up into his shop and brought him food +and fed him. Then said he to him, 'Arise and take up thy lute and +beg about the streets, and whenas thou smellest the odour of +wine, break in upon the drinkers and say to them, "I am a +singer." They will laugh and say, "Come, [sing] to us." And when +thou singest, the folk will know thee and bespeak one another of +thee; so shall thou become known in the city and thine affairs +will prosper.' + +So he went round about, as the druggist bade him, till the sun +grew hot, but found none drinking. Then he entered a by-street, +that he might rest himself, and seeing there a handsome and lofty +house, stood in its shade and fell to observing the goodliness of +its ordinance. As he was thus engaged, behold, a window opened +and there appeared thereat a face, as it were the moon. Quoth +she,[FN#193] 'What aileth thee to stand there? Dost thou want +aught?' And he answered, 'I am a stranger,' and acquainted her +with his case; whereupon quoth she, 'What sayst thou to meat and +drink and the enjoyment of a fair-face[d one] and getting thee +what thou mayst spend?' 'O my lady,' answered he, 'this is my +desire and that in quest whereof I am going about.' + +So she opened the door to him and brought him in. Then she seated +him at the upper end of the room and set food before him. So he +ate and drank and lay with her and swived her. Then she sat down +in his lap and they toyed and laughed and kissed till the day was +half spent, when her husband came home and she could find nothing +for it but to hide the singer in a rug, in which she rolled him +up. The husband entered and seeing the place disordered[FN#194] +and smelling the odour of wine, questioned her of this. Quoth +she, 'I had with me a friend of mine and I conjured her [to drink +with me]; so we drank a jar [of wine], she and I, and she went +away but now, before thy coming in.' Her husband, (who was none +other than the singer's friend the druggist, that had invited him +and fed him), deemed her words true and went away to his shop, +whereupon the singer came forth and he and the lady returned to +their sport and abode on this wise till eventide, when she gave +him money and said to him, 'Come hither to-morrow in the +forenoon.' 'It is well,' answered he and departed; and at +nightfall he went to the bath. + +On the morrow, he betook himself to the shop of his friend the +druggist, who welcomed him and questioned him of his case and how +he had fared that day. Quoth the singer, 'May God requite thee +with good, O my brother! For that thou hast directed me unto +easance!' And he related to him his adventure with the woman, +till he came to the mention of her husband, when he said, 'And at +midday came the cuckold her husband and knocked at the door. So +she wrapped me in the mat, and when he had gone about his +business, I came forth and we returned to what we were about.' +This was grievous to the druggist and he repented of having +taught him [how he should do] and misdoubted of his wife. So he +said to the singer, 'And what said she to thee at thy going +away?' And the other answered, 'She bade me come back to her on +the morrow. So, behold, I am going to her and I came not hither +but that I might acquaint thee with this, lest thy heart be +occupied with me.' Then he took leave of him and went his way. As +soon as the druggist was assured that he had reached the house, +he cast the net over his shop[FN#195] and made for his house, +misdoubting of his wife, and knocked at the door. + +Now the singer had entered and the druggist's wife said to him, +'Arise, enter this chest.' So he entered it and she shut the lid +on him and opened to her husband, who came in, in a state of +bewilderment, and searched the house, but found none and +overlooked the chest. So he said in himself, 'The house [of which +the singer spoke] is one which resembleth my house and the woman +is one who resembles my wife,' and returned to his shop; +whereupon the singer came forth of the chest and falling upon the +druggist's wife, did his occasion and paid her her due and +weighed down the scale for her.[FN#196] Then they ate and drank +and kissed and clipped, and on this wise they abode till the +evening, when she gave him money, for that she found his weaving +good,[FN#197] and made him promise to come to her on the morrow. + +So he left her and slept his night and on the morrow he repaired +to the shop of his friend the druggist and saluted him. The other +welcomed him and questioned him of his case; whereupon he told +him how he had fared, till he came to the mention of the woman's +husband, when he said, 'Then came the cuckold her husband and she +clapped me into the chest and shut the lid on me, whilst her +addlepated pimp of a husband went round about the house, top and +bottom; and when he had gone his way, we returned to what we were +about.' With this, the druggist was certified that the house was +his house and the wife his wife, and he said, 'And what wilt thou +do to-day?' Quoth the singer, 'I shall return to her and weave +for her and full her yarn,[FN#198] and I came but to thank thee +for thy dealing with me.' + +Then he went away, whilst the fire was loosed in the heart of the +druggist and he shut his shop and betaking himself to his house, +knocked at the door. Quoth the singer, 'Let me get into the +chest, for he saw me not yesterday.' 'Nay,' answered she, 'wrap +thyself up in the rug.' So he wrapped himself up in the rug and +stood in a corner of the room, whilst the druggist entered and +went straight to the chest, but found it empty. Then he went +round about the house and searched it from top to bottom, but +found nothing and no one and abode between belief and disbelief, +and said in himself, 'Belike, I suspect my wife of that which is +not in her.' So he was certified of her innocence and returned to +his shop, whereupon out came the singer and they abode on their +former case, as of wont, till eventide, when she gave him one of +her husband's shirts and he took it and going away, passed the +night in his lodging. + +On the morrow, he repaired to the druggist, who saluted him and +came to meet him and rejoiced in him and smiled in his face, +deeming his wife innocent. Then he questioned him of his +yesterday's case and he told him how he had fared, saying, 'O my +brother, when the cuckold knocked at the door, I would have +entered the chest; but his wife forbade me and rolled me up in +the rug. The man entered and thought of nothing but the chest; so +he broke it open and abode as he were a madman, going up and +coming down. Then he went his way and I came out and we abode on +our wonted case till eventide, when she gave me this shirt of her +husband's; and behold, I am going to her.' + +When the druggist heard the singer's words, he was certified of +the case and knew that the calamity, all of it, was in his own +house and that the wife was his wife; and he saw the shirt, +whereupon he redoubled in certainty and said to the singer, 'Art +thou now going to her?' 'Yes, O my brother,' answered he and +taking leave of him, went away; whereupon the druggist started +up, as he were a madman, and ungarnished his shop.[FN#199] Whilst +he was thus engaged, the singer won to the house, and presently +up came the druggist and knocked at the door. The singer would +have wrapped himself up in the rug, but she forbade him and said +to him, 'Get thee down to the bottom of the house and enter the +oven[FN#200] and shut the lid upon thyself.' So he did as she +bade him and she went down to her husband and opened the door to +him, whereupon he entered and went round about the house, but +found no one and overlooked the oven. So he stood meditating and +swore that he would not go forth of the house till the morrow. + +As for the singer, when his [stay in the oven] grew long upon +him, he came forth therefrom, thinking that her husband had gone +away. Then he went up to the roof and looking down, beheld his +friend the druggist; whereat he was sore concerned and said in +himself, 'Alas, the disgrace of it! This is my friend the +druggist, who dealt kindly with me and wrought me fair and I have +requited him with foul' And he feared to return to the druggist; +so he went down and opened the first door and would have gone +out; but, when he came to the outer door, he found it locked and +saw not the key. So he stole up again to the roof and cast +himself down into the [next] house. The people of the house heard +him and hastened to him, deeming him a thief. Now the house in +question belonged to a Persian; so they laid hands on him and the +master of the house began to beat him, saying to him, 'Thou art a +thief.' 'Nay,' answered he, 'I am no thief, but a singing-man, a +stranger. I heard your voices and came to sing to you.' + +When the folk heard his words, they talked of letting him go; but +the Persian said, 'O folk, let not his speech beguile you. This +fellow is none other than a thief who knoweth how to sing, and +when he happeneth on the like of us, he is a singer.' 'O our +lord,' answered they, 'this man is a stranger, and needs must we +release him.' Quoth he, 'By Allah, my heart revolteth from this +fellow! Let me make an end of him with beating.' But they said, +'Thou mayst nowise do that' So they delivered the singer from the +Persian, the master of the house, and seated him amongst them, +whereupon he fell to singing to them and they rejoiced in him. + +Now the Persian had a mameluke,[FN#201] as he were the full moon, +and he arose [and went out], and the singer followed him and wept +before him, professing love to him and kissing his hands and +feet. The mameluke took compassion on him and said to him, 'When +the night cometh and my master entereth [the harem] and the folk +go away, I will grant thee thy desire; and I lie in such a +place.' Then the singer returned and sat with the +boon-companions, and the Persian rose and went out, he and the +mameluke beside him. [Then they returned and sat down.][FN#202] +Now the singer knew the place that the mameluke occupied at the +first of the night; but it befell that he rose from his place and +the candle went out. The Persian, who was drunken, fell over on +his face, and the singer, supposing him to be the mameluke, said, +'By Allah, it is good!' and threw himself upon him and clipped +him, whereupon the Persian started up, crying out, and laying +hands on the singer, pinioned him and beat him grievously, after +which he bound him to a tree that was in the house.[FN#203] + +Now there was in the house a fair singing-girl and when she saw +the singer pinioned and bound to the tree, she waited till the +Persian lay down on his couch, when she arose and going to the +singer, fell to condoling with him over what had betided him and +ogling him and handling his yard and rubbing it, till it rose on +end. Then said she to him, 'Do thou swive me and I will loose thy +bonds, lest he return and beat thee again; for he purposeth thee +evil.' Quoth he, 'Loose me and I will do.' But she said, 'I fear +that, [if I loose thee], thou wilt not do. But I will do, and +thou standing; and when I have done, I will loose thee.' So +saying, she pulled up her clothes and sitting down on the +singer's yard, fell to going and coming. + +Now there was in the house a ram, with which the Persian used to +butt, and when he saw what the woman did, he thought she would +butt with him; so he broke his halter and running at her, butted +her and broke her head. She fell on her back and cried out; +whereupon the Persian started up from sleep in haste and seeing +the singing-girl [cast down on her back] and the singer with his +yard on end, said to the latter, 'O accursed one, doth not what +thou hast already done suffice thee?' Then he beat him soundly +and opening the door, put him out in the middle of the night. + +He lay the rest of the night in one of the ruins, and when he +arose in the morning, he said, 'None is to blame. I sought my own +good, and he is no fool who seeketh good for himself; and the +druggist's wife also sought good for herself; but destiny +overcometh precaution and there remaineth no abiding for me in +this town.' So he went forth from the city. Nor (added the +vizier) is this story, extraordinary though it be, more +extraordinary than that of the king and his son and that which +bedded them of wonders and rarities." + +When the king heard this story, he deemed it pleasant and said, +"This story is near unto that which I know and meseemeth I should +do well to have patience and hasten not to slay my vizier, so I +may get of him the story of the king and his son." Then he gave +the vizier leave to go away to his own house; so he thanked him +and abode in his house all that day. + + The Third Night of the Month + +When it was the time of the evening meal, the king repaired to +the sitting-chamber and summoning the vizier, sought of him the +story he had promised him; and the vizier said, "They avouch, O +king, that + + STORY OF THE KING WHO KNEW THE + QUINTESSENCE[FN#204] OF THINGS. + +There came to a king of the kings, in his old age, a son, who +grew up comely, quick-witted and intelligent, and when he came to +years of discretion and became a young man, his father said to +him, 'Take this kingdom and govern it in my stead, for I desire +to flee [from the world] to God the Most High and don the gown of +wool and give myself up to devotion.' Quoth the prince, 'And I +also desire to take refuge with God the Most High.' And the king +said, 'Arise, let us flee forth and make for the mountains and +worship in them, for shamefastness before God the Most High.' + +So they gat them raiment of wool and clothing themselves +therewith, went forth and wandered in the deserts and wastes; +but, when some days had passed over them, they became weak for +hunger and repented them of that which they had done, whenas +repentance profited them not, and the prince complained to his +father of weariness and hunger. 'Dear my son,' answered the king, +'I did with thee that which behoved me,[FN#205] but thou wouldst +not hearken to me, and now there is no means of returning to thy +former estate, for that another hath taken the kingdom and become +its defender; but I will counsel thee of somewhat, wherein do +thou pleasure me.' Quoth the prince, 'What is it?' And his father +said, 'Take me and go with me to the market and sell me and take +my price and do with it what thou wilt, and I shall become the +property of one who will provide for my support,' 'Who will buy +thee of me,' asked the prince, 'seeing thou art a very old man? +Nay, do thou rather sell me, for the demand for me will be +greater.' But the king said, 'An thou wert king, thou wouldst +require me of service.' + +So the youth obeyed his father's commandment and taking him, +carried him to the slave-dealer and said to the latter, 'Sell me +this old man.' Quoth the dealer, 'Who will buy this fellow, and +he a man of fourscore?' Then said he to the king, 'In what crafts +dost thou excel?' Quoth he, 'I know the quintessence of jewels +and I know the quintessence of horses and that of men; brief, I +know the quintessence of all things.' So the dealer took him and +went about, offering him for sale to the folk; but none would +buy. Presently, up came the overseer of the [Sultan's] kitchen +and said, 'What is this man?' And the dealer answered, 'This is a +slave for sale.' The cook marvelled at this and bought the king +for ten thousand dirhems, after questioning him of what he could +do. Then he paid down the money and carried him to his house, but +dared not employ him in aught of service; so he appointed him an +allowance, such as should suffice for his livelihood, and +repented him of having bought him, saying, 'What shall I do with +the like of this fellow?' + +Presently, the king [of the city] was minded to go forth to his +garden,[FN#206] a-pleasuring, and bade the cook forego him +thither and appoint in his stead one who should dress meat for +the king, so that, when he returned, he might find it ready. So +the cook fell a-considering of whom he should appoint and was +bewildered concerning his affair. As he was on this wise, the old +man came to him and seeing him perplexed how he should do, said +to him, 'Tell me what is in thy mind; belike, I may avail to +relieve thee.' So he acquainted him with the king's wishes and he +said, 'Have no care for this, but leave me one of the serving-men +and go thou in peace and surety, for I will suffice thee of +this.' So the cook departed with the king, after he had brought +the old man what he needed and left him a man of the guards. + +When he was gone, the old man bade the trooper wash the +kitchen-vessels and made ready passing goodly food. When the king +returned, he set the meat before him, and he tasted food whose +like he had never known; whereat he marvelled and asked who had +dressed it. So they acquainted him with the old man's case and he +summoned him to his presence and awarded him a handsome +recompense.[FN#207] Moreover, he commanded that they should cook +together, he and the cook, and the old man obeyed his +commandment. + +Awhile after this, there came two merchants to the king with two +pearls of price and each of them avouched that his pearl was +worth a thousand dinars, but there was none who availed to value +them. Then said the cook, 'God prosper the king! Verily, the old +man whom I bought avouched that he knew the quintessence of +jewels and that he was skilled in cookery. We have made proof of +him in cookery and have found him the skilfullest of men; and +now, if we send after him and prove him on jewels, [the truth or +falsehood of] his pretension will be made manifest to us.' + +So the king bade fetch the old man and he came and stood before +the Sultan, who showed him the two pearls. Quoth he, 'As for this +one, it is worth a thousand dinars.' And the king said, 'So saith +its owner.' 'But for this other,' continued the old man, 'it is +worth but five hundred.' The folk laughed and marvelled at his +saying, and the merchant, [the owner of the second pearl], said +to him, 'How can this, which is greater of bulk and purer of +water and more perfect of rondure, be less of worth than that?' +And the old man answered, 'I have said what is with me.'[FN#208] +Then said the king to him, 'Indeed, the outward appearance +thereof is like unto that of the other pearl; why then is it +worth but the half of its price?' 'Yes,' answered the old man, +'[its outward resembleth the other]; but its inward is corrupt.' +'Hath a pearl then an outward and an inward?' asked the merchant, +and the old man said, 'Yes. In its inward is a boring worm; but +the other pearl is sound and secure against breakage.' Quoth the +merchant, 'Give us a token of this and prove to us the truth of +thy saying.' And the old man answered, 'We will break the pearl. +If I prove a, liar, here is my head, and if I speak truth, thou +wilt have lost thy pearl.' And the merchant said, 'I agree to +that.' So they broke the pearl and it was even as the old man had +said, to wit, in its midst was a boring worm. + +The king marvelled at what he saw and questioned him of [how he +came by] the knowledge of this. 'O king,' answered the old man, +'this [kind of] jewel is engendered in the belly of a creature +called the oyster and its origin is a drop of rain and it is firm +to the touch [and groweth not warm, when held in the hand]; so, +when [I took the second pearl and felt that] it was warm to the +touch, I knew that it harboured some living thing, for that live +things thrive not but in heat.'[FN#209] So the king said to the +cook, 'Increase his allowance.' And he appointed to him [fresh] +allowances. + +Awhile after this, two merchants presented themselves to the king +with two horses, and one said, 'I ask a thousand dinars for my +horse,' and the other, 'I seek five thousand for mine.' Quoth the +cook, 'We have experienced the old man's just judgment; what +deemeth the king of fetching him?' So the king bade fetch him, +and when he saw the two horses, he said, 'This one is worth a +thousand and the other two thousand dinars.' Quoth the folk, +'This [horse that thou judgeth the lesser worth] is an evident +thoroughbred and he is younger and swifter and more compact of +limb than the other, ay, and finer of head and clearer of skin +and colour. What token, then, hast thou of the truth of thy +saying?' And the old man said, 'This ye say is all true, but his +sire is old and this other is the son of a young horse. Now, when +the son of an old horse standeth still [to rest,] his breath +returneth not to him and his rider falleth into the hand of him +who followeth after him; but the son of a young horse, if thou +put him to speed and make him run, [then check him] and alight +from off him, thou wilt find him untired, by reason of his +robustness.' + +Quoth the merchant, 'Indeed, it is as the old man avoucheth and +he is an excellent judge.' And the king said, 'Increase his +allowance.' But the old man stood still and did not go away. So +the king said to him, 'Why dost thou not go about thy business?' +And he answered, 'My business is with the king.' 'Name what thou +wouldst have,' said the king, and the other replied, 'I would +have thee question me of the quintessences of men, even as thou +hast questioned me of the quintessences of horses.' Quoth the +king, 'We have no occasion to question thee of [this].' But the +old man replied, 'I have occasion to acquaint thee.' 'Say what +thou pleasest,' rejoined the king, and the old man said, 'Verily, +the king is the son of a baker.' Quoth the king 'How knowest thou +that?' And the other replied, 'Know, O king, that I have examined +into degrees and dignities[FN#210] and have learnt this.' + +Thereupon the king went in to his mother and questioned her of +his father, and she told him that me king her husband was +weak;[FN#211] 'wherefore,' quoth she, 'I feared for the kingdom, +lest it pass away, after his death; so I took to my bed a young +man, a baker, and conceived by him [and bore a son]; and the +kingship came into the hand of my son, to wit, thyself.' So the +king returned to the old man and said to him, 'I am indeed the +son of a baker; so do thou expound to me the means whereby thou +knewest me for this.' Quoth the other, 'I knew that, hadst thou +been a king's son, thou wouldst have given largesse of things of +price, such as rubies [and the like]; and wert thou the son of a +Cadi, thou hadst given largesse of a dirhem or two dirhems, and +wert thou the son of a merchant, thou hadst given wealth galore. +But I saw that thou guerdonest me not but with cakes of bread +[and other victual], wherefore I knew that thou wast the son of a +baker.' Quoth the king, 'Thou hast hit the mark.' And he gave him +wealth galore and advanced him to high estate." + +This story pleased King Shah Bekht and he marvelled thereat; but +the vizier said to him, "This story is not more extraordinary +than that of the rich man who married his fair daughter to the +poor old man." The king's mind was occupied with the [promised] +story and he bade the vizier withdraw to his lodging. So he +[returned to his house and] abode there the rest of the night and +the whole of the following day. + + The Fourth Night of the Month. + +When the evening evened, the king withdrew to his privy +sitting-chamber and bade fetch the vizier. When he presented +himself before him, he said to him, "Tell me the story of the +wealthy man who married his daughter to the poor old man." "It is +well," answered the vizier. "Know, O puissant king, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE RICH MAN WHO GAVE HIS FAIR + DAUGHTER IN MARRIAGE TO THE POOR OLD + MAN. + + + +A certain wealthy merchant had a fair daughter, who was as the +full moon, and when she attained the age of fifteen, her father +betook himself to an old man and spreading him a carpet in his +sitting-chamber, gave him to eat and caroused with him. Then said +he to him, 'I desire to marry thee to my daughter.' The other +excused himself, because of his poverty, and said to him, 'I am +not worthy of her nor am I a match for thee.' The merchant was +instant with him, but he repeated his answer to him, saying, 'I +will not consent to this till thou acquaint me with the reason of +thy desire for me. If I find it reasonable, I will fall in with +thy wish; and if not, I will not do this ever.' + +'Know, then,' said the merchant, 'that I am a man from the land +of China and was in my youth well-favoured and well-to-do. Now I +made no account of womankind, one and all, but followed after +boys, and one night I saw, in a dream, as it were a balance set +up, and it was said by it, "This is the portion of such an one." +Presently, I heard my own name; so I looked and beheld a woman of +the utmost loathliness; whereupon I awoke in affright and said, +"I will never marry, lest haply this loathly woman fall to my +lot." Then I set out for this city with merchandise and the +voyage was pleasant to me and the sojourn here, so that I took up +my abode here awhile and got me friends and factors, till I had +sold all my merchandise and taken its price and there was left me +nothing to occupy me till the folk[FN#212] should depart and +depart with them. + +One day, I changed my clothes and putting money in my sleeve, +sallied forth to explore the holes and corners of this city, and +as I was going about, I saw a handsome house. Its goodliness +pleased me; so I stood looking on it, and behold, a lovely woman +[at the lattice]. When she saw me, she made haste and descended, +whilst I abode confounded. Then I betook myself to a tailor there +and questioned him of the house and to whom it belonged. Quoth +he, "It belongeth to such an one the notary, may God curse him!" +"Is he her father?" asked I; [and he replied, "Yes."] So I +repaired in haste to a man, with whom I had been used to deposit +my goods for sale, and told him that I desired to gain access to +such an one the notary. Accordingly he assembled his friends and +we betook ourselves to the notary's house. When we came in to +him, we saluted him and sat with him, and I said to him, "I come +to thee as a suitor, desiring the hand of thy daughter in +marriage." Quoth he, "I have no daughter befitting this man." And +I rejoined, "God aid thee! My desire is for thee and not for +her."[FN#213] But he still refused and his friends said to him, +"This is an honourable man and thine equal in estate, and it is +not lawful to thee that thou hinder the girl of her fortune." +Quoth he to them, "Verily, my daughter whom ye seek is passing +foul-favoured and in her are all blameworthy qualities." And I +said, "I accept her, though she be as thou sayest." Then said the +folk, "Extolled be the perfection of God! A truce to talk! [The +thing is settled;] so say the word, how much wilt thou have [to +her dowry]?" Quoth he, "I must have four thousand dinars." And I +said, "Hearkening and obedience." + +So the affair was concluded and we drew up the contract of +marriage and I made the bride-feast; but on the wedding-night I +beheld a thing[FN#214] than which never made God the Most High +aught more loathly. Methought her people had contrived this by +way of sport; so I laughed and looked for my mistress, whom I had +seen [at the lattice], to make her appearance; but saw her not. +When the affair was prolonged and I found none but her, I was +like to go mad for vexation and fell to beseeching my Lord and +humbling myself in supplication to Him that He would deliver me +from her. When I arose in the morning, there came the +chamber-woman and said to me, "Hast thou occasion for the bath?" +"No," answered I; and she said, "Art thou for breakfast?" But I +replied, "No;" and on this wise I abode three days, tasting +neither meat nor drink. + +When the damsel[FN#215] saw me in this plight, she said to me, "O +man, tell me thy story, for, by Allah, an I may avail to thy +deliverance, I will assuredly further thee thereto." I gave ear +to her speech and put faith in her loyalty and told her the story +of the damsel whom I had seen [at the lattice] and how I had +fallen in love with her; whereupon quoth she, "If the girl belong +to me, that which I possess is thine, and if she belong to my +father, I will demand her of him and deliver her to thee." Then +she fell to calling slave-girl after slave-girl and showing them +to me, till I saw the damsel whom I loved and said, "This is +she." Quoth my wife, "Let not thy heart be troubled, for this is +my slave-girl. My father gave her to me and I give her to thee. +So comfort thyself and be of good heart and cheerful eye." + +Then, when it was night, she brought her to me, after she had +adorned her and perfumed her, and said to her, "Gainsay not this +thy lord in aught that he shall seek of thee." When she came to +bed with me, I said in myself, "Verily, this damsel[FN#216] is +more generous than I!" Then I sent away the slave-girl and drew +not nigh unto her, but arose forthright and betaking myself to my +wife, lay with her and did away her maidenhead. She straightway +conceived by me and accomplishing the time of her pregnancy, gave +birth to this dear little daughter; in whom I rejoiced, for that +she was lovely to the utterest, and she hath inherited her +mother's wit and her father's comeliness. + +Indeed, many of the notables of the people have sought her of me +in marriage, but I would not marry her to any, for that, one +night, I saw, in a dream, the balance aforesaid set up and men +and women being weighed, one against the other, therein, and +meseemed I saw thee [and her] and it was said to me, "This is +such a man,[FN#217] the allotted portion of such a +woman."[FN#218] Wherefore I knew that God the Most High had +allotted unto her none other than thyself, and I choose rather to +marry thee to her in my lifetime than that thou shouldst marry +her after my death.' + +When the poor man heard the merchant's story, he became desirous +of marrying his daughter. So he took her to wife and was +vouchsafed of her exceeding love. Nor," added the vizier, "is +this story more extraordinary than that of the rich man and his +wasteful heir." + +When the king heard his vizier's story, he was assured that he +would not slay him and said, "I will have patience with him, so I +may get of him the story of the rich man and his wasteful heir." +And he bade him depart to his own house. + + The Fifth Night of the Month + +When the evening evened, the king sat in his privy closet and +summoning the vizier, required of him the promised story. So Er +Rehwan said, "Know, O king, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE RICH MAN AND HIS WASTEFUL + SON. + + + +There was once a sage of the sages, who had three sons and sons' +sons, and when they waxed many and their posterity multiplied, +there befell dissension between them. So he assembled them and +said to them, 'Be ye one hand[FN#219] against other than you and +despise[FN#220] not [one another,] lest the folk despise you, and +know that the like of you is as the rope which the man cut, when +it was single; then he doubled [it] and availed not to cut it; on +this wise is division and union. And beware lest ye seek help of +others against yourselves[FN#221] or ye will fall into perdition, +for by whosesoever means ye attain your desire,[FN#222] his +word[FN#223] will have precedence of[FN#224] your word. Now I +have wealth which I will bury in a certain place, so it may be a +store for you, against the time of your need.' + +Then they left him and dispersed and one of the sons fell to +spying upon his father, so that he saw him hide the treasure +without the city. When he had made an end of burying it, he +returned to his house; and when the morning morrowed, his son +repaired to the place where he had seen his father bury the +treasure and dug and took it and went his way. When the [hour of +the] old man's admission [to the mercy of God] drew nigh, he +called his sons to him and acquainted them with the place where +he had hidden his riches. As soon as he was dead, they went and +dug up the treasure and found wealth galore, for that the money, +which the first son had taken by stealth, was on the surface and +he knew not that under it was other money. So they took it and +divided it and the first son took his share with the rest and +laid it to that which he had taken aforetime, behind [the backs +of] his father and his brethren. Then he took to wife the +daughter of his father's brother and was vouchsafed by her a male +child, who was the goodliest of the folk of his time. + +When the boy grew up, his father feared for him from poverty and +change of case, so he said to him, 'Dear my son, know that in my +youth I wronged my brothers in the matter of our father's good, +and I see thee in weal; but, if thou [come to] need, ask not of +one of them nor of any other, for I have laid up for thee in +yonder chamber a treasure; but do not thou open it until thou +come to lack thy day's food.' Then he died, and his wealth, which +was a great matter, fell to his son. The young man had not +patience to wait till he had made an end of that which was with +him, but rose and opened the chamber, and behold, it was [empty +and its walls were] whitened, and in its midst was a rope hanging +down and half a score bricks, one upon another, and a scroll, +wherein was written, 'Needs must death betide; so hang thyself +and beg not of any, but kick away the bricks, so there may be no +escape[FN#225] for thee, and thou shall be at rest from the +exultation of enemies and enviers and the bitterness of poverty.' + +When the youth saw this, he marvelled at that which his father +had done and said, 'This is a sorry treasure.' Then he went forth +and fell to eating and drinking with the folk, till nothing was +left him and he abode two days without tasting food, at the end +of which time he took a handkerchief and selling it for two +dirhems, bought bread and milk with the price and left it on the +shelf [and went out. Whilst he was gone,] a dog came and took the +bread and spoiled the milk, and when the man returned and saw +this, he buffeted his face and went forth, distraught, at a +venture. Presently, he met a friend of his, to whom he discovered +his case, and the other said to him, 'Art thou not ashamed to +talk thus? How hast thou wasted all this wealth and now comest +telling lies and saying, "The dog hath mounted on the shelf," and +talking nonsense?' And he reviled him. + +So the youth returned to his house, and indeed the world was +grown black in his eyes and he said, 'My father said sooth.' Then +he opened the chamber door and piling up the bricks under his +feet, put the rope about his neck and kicked away the bricks and +swung himself off; whereupon the rope gave way with him [and he +fell] to the ground and the ceiling clove in sunder and there +poured down on him wealth galore, So he knew that his father +meant to discipline[FN#226] him by means of this and invoked +God's mercy on him. Then he got him again that which he had sold +of lands and houses and what not else and became once more in +good case. Moreover, his friends returned to him and he +entertained them some days. + +Then said he to them one day, 'There was with us bread and the +locusts ate it; so we put in its place a stone, a cubit long and +the like broad, and the locusts came and gnawed away the stone, +because of the smell of the bread.' Quoth one of his friends (and +it was he who had given him the lie concerning the dog and the +bread and milk), 'Marvel not at this, for mice do more than +that.' And he said, 'Go to your houses. In the days of my +poverty, I was a liar [when I told you] of the dog's climbing +upon the shelf and eating the bread and spoiling the milk; and +to-day, for that I am rich again, I say sooth [when I tell you] +that locusts devoured a stone a cubit long and a cubit broad.' +They were confounded at his speech and departed from him; and the +youth's good flourished and his case was amended.[FN#227] Nor," +added the vizier,"is this stranger or more extraordinary than the +story of the king's son who fell in love with the picture." + +Quoth the king, "Belike, if I hear this story, I shall gain +wisdom from it; so I will not hasten in the slaying of this +vizier, nor will I put him to death before the thirty days have +expired." Then he gave him leave to withdraw, and he went away to +his own house. + + + The Sixth Night of the Month + +When the day departed and the evening came, the king sat in his +privy chamber and summoned the vizier, who presented himself to +him and he questioned him of the story. So the vizier said, +"Know, O august king, that + + + + + + THE KING'S SON WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH THE + PICTURE. + + + +There was once, in a province of Persia, a king of the kings, who +was mighty of estate, endowed with majesty and venerance and +having troops and guards at his command; but he was childless. +Towards the end of his life, his Lord vouchsafed him a male +child, and the boy grew up and was comely and learned all manner +of knowledge. He made him a private place, to wit, a lofty +palace, builded with coloured marbles and [adorned with] jewels +and paintings. When the prince entered the palace, he saw in its +ceiling the picture [of a woman], than whom he had never beheld a +fairer of aspect, and she was compassed about with slave-girls; +whereupon he fell down in a swoon and became distraught for love +of her. Then he sat under the picture, till, one day, his father +came in to him and finding him wasted of body and changed of +colour, by reason of his [continual] looking on that picture, +thought that he was ill and sent for the sages and physicians, +that they might medicine him. Moreover, he said to one of his +boon- companions, 'If thou canst learn what aileth my son, thou +shalt have of me largesse.' So the courtier went in to the prince +and spoke him fair and cajoled him, till he confessed to him that +his malady was caused by the picture. Then he returned to the +king and told him what ailed his son, whereupon he transported +the prince to another palace and made his former lodging the +guest-house; and whosoever of the Arabs was entertained therein, +he questioned of the picture, but none could give him tidings +thereof. + +One day, there came a traveller and seeing the picture, said, +'There is no god but God! My brother wrought this picture.' So +the king sent for him and questioned him of the affair of the +picture and where was he who had wrought it. 'O my lord,' +answered the traveller, 'we are two brothers and one of us went +to the land of Hind and fell in love with the king's daughter of +the country, and it is she who is the original of the portrait. +In every city he entereth, he painteth her portrait, and I follow +him, and long is my journey.' When the king's son heard this, he +said,'Needs must I travel to this damsel.' So he took all manner +rarities and store of riches and journeyed days and nights till +he entered the land of Hind, nor did he win thereto save after +sore travail. Then he enquired of the King of Hind and he also +heard of him. + +When the prince came before him, he sought of him his daughter in +marriage, and the king said, 'Indeed, thou art her equal, but +none dare name a man to her, because of her aversion to men.' So +the prince pitched his tents under the windows of the princess's +palace, till one day he got hold of one of her favourite +slave-girls and gave her wealth galore. Quoth she to him, 'Hast +thou a wish?' ‘Yes,' answered he and acquainted her with his +case; and she said, 'Indeed thou puttest thyself in peril.' Then +he abode, flattering himself with false hopes, till all that he +had with him was gone and the servants fled from him; whereupon +quoth he to one in whom he trusted, 'I am minded to go to my +country and fetch what may suffice me and return hither.' And the +other answered, 'It is for thee to decide.' So they set out to +return, but the way was long to them and all that the prince had +with him was spent and his company died and there abode but one +with him, on whom he loaded what remained of the victual and they +left the rest and fared on. Then there came out a lion and ate +the servant, and the prince abode alone. He went on, till his +beast stood still, whereupon he left her and fared on afoot till +his feet swelled. + +Presently he came to the land of the Turks,[FN#228] and he naked +and hungry and having with him nought but somewhat of jewels, +bound about his fore-arm. So he went to the bazaar of the +goldsmiths and calling one of the brokers, gave him the jewels. +The broker looked and seeing two great rubies, said to him, +'Follow me.' So he followed him, till he brought him to a +goldsmith, to whom he gave the jewels, saying, 'Buy these.' Quoth +he, 'Whence hadst thou these?' And the broker replied, 'This +youth is the owner of them.' Then said the goldsmith to the +prince, 'Whence hadst thou these rubies?' And he told him all +that had befallen him and that he was a king's son. The goldsmith +marvelled at his story and bought of him the rubies for a +thousand dinars. + +Then said the prince to him, 'Make ready to go with me to my +country.' So he made ready and went with the prince till he drew +near the frontiers of his father's kingdom, where the people +received him with the utmost honour and sent to acquaint his +father with his son's coming. The king came out to meet him and +they entreated the goldsmith with honour. The prince abode awhile +with his father, then set out, [he and the goldsmith] to return +to the country of the fair one, the daughter of the King of Hind; +but there met him robbers by the way and he fought the sorest of +battles and was slain. The goldsmith buried him and marked his +grave[FN#229] and returned, sorrowing and distraught to his own +country, without telling any of the prince's death. + +To return to the king's daughter of whom the prince went in quest +and on whose account he was slain. She had been used to look out +from the top of her palace and gaze on the youth and on his +beauty and grace; so she said to her slave-girl one day, 'Harkye! +What is come of the troops that were encamped beside my palace?' +Quoth the maid, 'They were the troops of the youth, the king's +son of the Persians, who came to demand thee in marriage, and +wearied himself on thine account, but thou hadst no compassion on +him.' 'Out on thee!' cried the princess. 'Why didst thou not tell +me?' And the damsel answered, 'I feared thy wrath.' Then she +sought an audience of the king her father and said to him, 'By +Allah, I will go in quest of him, even as he came in quest of me; +else should I not do him justice.' + +So she made ready and setting out, traversed the deserts and +spent treasures till she came to Sejestan, where she called a +goldsmith to make her somewhat of trinkets. [Now the goldsmith in +question was none other than the prince's friend]; so, when he +saw her, he knew her (for that the prince had talked with him of +her and had depictured her to him) and questioned her of her +case. She acquainted him with her errand, whereupon he buffeted +his face and rent his clothes and strewed dust on his head and +fell a-weeping. Quoth she, 'Why dost thou thus?' And he +acquainted her with the prince's case and how he was his comrade +and told her that he was dead; whereat she grieved for him and +faring on to his father and mother, [acquainted them with the +case]. + +So the prince's father and his uncle and his mother and the +grandees of the realm repaired to his tomb and the princess made +lamentation over him, crying aloud. She abode by the tomb a whole +month; then she let fetch painters and caused them limn her +portraiture and that of the king's son. Moreover, she set down in +writing their story and that which had befallen them of perils +and afflictions and set it [together with the pictures], at the +head of the tomb; and after a little, they departed from the +place. Nor," added the vizier, "is this more extraordinary, O +king of the age, than the story of the fuller and his wife and +the trooper and what passed between them." + +With this the king bade the vizier go away to his lodging, and +when he arose in the morning, he abode his day in his house. + + The Seventh Night of the Month. + +At eventide the king sat [in his privy sitting-chamber] and +sending for the vizier, said to him, "Tell me the story of the +fuller and his wife." "With all my heart," answered the vizier. +So he came forward and said, "Know, O king of the age, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE FULLER AND HIS WIFE. + + + +There was once in a certain city a woman fair of favour, who had +to lover a trooper. Her husband was a fuller, and when he went +out to his business, the trooper used to come to her and abide +with her till the time of the fuller's return, when he would go +away. On this wise they abode awhile, till one day the trooper +said to his mistress, 'I mean to take me a house near unto thine +and dig an underground passage from my house to thy house, and do +thou say to thy husband, "My sister hath been absent with her +husband and now they have returned from their travels; and I have +made her take up her sojourn in my neighbourhood, so I may +foregather with her at all times. So go thou to her husband the +trooper and offer him thy wares [for sale], and thou wilt see my +sister with him and wilt see that she is I and I am she, without +doubt. So, Allah, Allah, go to my sister's husband and give ear +to that which he shall say to thee."' + +Accordingly, the trooper bought him a house near at hand and made +therein an underground passage communicating with his mistress's +house. When he had accomplished his affair, the wife bespoke her +husband as her lover had lessoned her and he went out to go to +the trooper's house, but turned back by the way, whereupon quoth +she to him, 'By Allah, go forthright, for that my sister asketh +of thee.' So the dolt of a fuller went out and made for the +trooper's house, whilst his wife forewent him thither by the +secret passage, and going up, sat down beside her lover. +Presently, the fuller entered and saluted the trooper and his +[supposed] wife and was confounded at the coincidence of the +case.[FN#230] Then doubt betided him and he returned in haste to +his dwelling; but she forewent him by the underground passage to +her chamber and donning her wonted clothes, sat [waiting] for him +and said to him, 'Did I not bid thee go to my sister and salute +her husband and make friends with them?' Quoth he, 'I did this, +but I misdoubted of my affair, when I saw his wife.' And she +said, 'Did I not tell thee that she resembleth me and I her, and +there is nought to distinguish between us but our clothes? Go +back to her.' + +So, of the heaviness of his wit, he believed her and turning +back, went in to the trooper; but she had foregone him, and when +he saw her beside her lover, he fell to looking on her and +pondering. Then he saluted her and she returned him the +salutation; and when she spoke, he was bewildered. So the trooper +said to him, 'What ails thee to be thus?' And he answered, 'This +woman is my wife and the voice is her voice.' Then he rose in +haste and returning to his own house, saw his wife, who had +foregone him by the secret passage. So he went back to the +trooper's house and saw her sitting as before; whereupon he was +abashed before her and sitting down in the trooper's +sitting-chamber, ate and drank with him and became drunken and +abode without sense all that day till nightfall, when the trooper +arose and shaving off some of the fuller's hair (which was long +and flowing) after the fashion of the Turks, clipped the rest +short and clapped a tarboush on his head. + +Then he thrust his feet into boots and girt him with a sword and +a girdle and bound about his middle a quiver and a bow and +arrows. Moreover, he put money in his pocket and thrust into his +sleeve letters-patent addressed to the governor of Ispahan, +bidding him assign to Rustem Khemartekeni a monthly allowance of +a hundred dirhems and ten pounds of bread and five pounds of meat +and enrol him among the Turks under his commandment. Then he took +him up and carrying him forth, left him in one of the mosques. + +The fuller gave not over sleeping till sunrise, when he awoke and +finding himself in this plight, misdoubted of his affair and +imagined that he was a Turk and abode putting one foot forward +and drawing the other back. Then said he in himself, 'I will go +to my dwelling, and if my wife know me, then am I Ahmed the +fuller; but, if she know me not, I am a Turk.' So he betook +himself to his house; but when the artful baggage his wife saw +him, she cried out in his face, saying, 'Whither away, O trooper? +Wilt thou break into the house of Ahmed the fuller, and he a man +of repute, having a brother-in-law a Turk, a man of high standing +with the Sultan? An thou depart not, I will acquaint my husband +and he will requite thee thy deed.' + +When he heard her words, the dregs of the drunkenness wrought in +him and he imagined that he was indeed a Turk. So he went out +from her and putting his hand to his sleeve, found therein a +scroll and gave it to one who read it to him. When he heard that +which was written in the scroll, his mind was confirmed in the +false supposition; but he said in himself, 'Maybe my wife seeketh +to put a cheat on me; so I will go to my fellows the fullers; and +if they know me not, then am I for sure Khemartekeni the Turk.' +So he betook himself to the fullers and when they espied him afar +off, they thought that he was one of the Turks, who used to wash +their clothes with them without payment and give them nothing. + +Now they had complained of them aforetime to the Sultan, and he +said, 'If any of the Turks come to you, pelt them with stones.' +So, when they saw the fuller, they fell upon him with sticks and +stones and pelted him; whereupon quoth he [in himself], 'Verily, +I am a Turk and knew it not.' Then he took of the money in his +pocket and bought him victual [for the journey] and hired a +hackney and set out for Ispahan, leaving his wife to the trooper. +Nor," added the vizier, "is this more extraordinary than the +story of the merchant and the old woman and the king." + +The vizier's story pleased King Shah Bekht and his heart clave to +the story of the merchant and the old woman; so he bade Er Rehwan +withdraw to his lodging, and he went away to his house and abode +there the next day. + + The Eight Night of the Month + +When the evening evened, the king sat in his privy chamber and +bade fetch the vizier, who presented himself before him, and the +king required of him the promised story. So the vizier answered, +"With all my heart. Know, O king, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE OLD WOMAN, THE MERCHANT AND + THE KING. + + + +There was once in a city of Khorassan a family of affluence and +distinction, and the townsfolk used to envy them for that which +God had vouchsafed them. As time went on, their fortune ceased +from them and they passed away, till there remained of them but +one old woman. When she grew feeble and decrepit, the townsfolk +succoured her not with aught, but put her forth of the city, +saying, 'This old woman shall not harbour with us, for that we do +her kindness and she requiteth us with evil.' So she took shelter +in a ruined place and strangers used to bestow alms upon her, and +on this wise she abode a while of time. + +Now the uncle's son of the king of the city had aforetime +disputed [the kingship] with him, and the people misliked the +king; but God the Most High decreed that he should get the better +of his cousin. However, jealousy of him abode in his heart and he +acquainted the vizier, who hid it not and sent [him] money. +Moreover, he fell to summoning [all strangers who came to the +town], man after man, and questioning them of their faith and +their worldly estate, and whoso answered him not [to his liking], +he took his good.[FN#231] Now a certain wealthy man of the +Muslims was on a journey and it befell that he arrived at that +city by night, unknowing what was to do, and coming to the ruin +aforesaid, gave the old woman money and said to her, 'No harm +upon thee.' Whereupon she lifted up her voice and prayed [for +him], He set down his merchandise by her [and abode with her] the +rest of the night and the next day. + +Now thieves had followed him, so they might rob him of his good, +but availed not unto aught; wherefore he went up to the old woman +and kissed her head and exceeded in munificence to her. Then she +[warned him of that which awaited strangers entering the town +and] said to him, 'I like not this for thee and I fear mischief +for thee from these questions that the vizier hath appointed for +the confrontation of the ignorant.' And she expounded to him the +case according to its fashion. Then said she to him, 'But have no +concern: only carry me with thee to thy lodging, and if he +question thee of aught, whilst I am with thee, I will expound the +answers to thee.' Se he carried her with him to the city and +established her in his lodging and entreated her kindly. + +Presently, the vizier heard of the merchant's coming; so he sent +to him and let bring him to his house and talked with him awhile +of his travels and of that which he had abidden therein, and the +merchant answered him thereof. Then said the vizier, 'I will put +certain questions to thee, which if thou answer me, it will be +well [for thee].' And the merchant rose and made him no answer. +Quoth the vizier, 'What is the weight of the elephant?' The +merchant was perplexed and returned him no answer and gave +himself up for lost. Then said he, 'Grant me three days' time.' +So the vizier granted him the delay he sought and he returned to +his lodging and related what had passed to the old woman, who +said, 'When the morrow cometh, go to the vizier and say to him, +"Make a ship and launch it on the sea and put in it an elephant, +and when it sinketh in the water, [under the beast's weight], +mark the place to which the water riseth. Then take out the +elephant and cast in stones in its place, till the ship sink to +the mark aforesaid; whereupon do thou take out the stones and +weigh them and thou wilt know the weight of the elephant"' + +So, when he arose in the morning, he repaired to the vizier and +repeated to him that which the old woman had taught him; whereat +the vizier marvelled and said to him, 'What sayst thou of a man, +who seeth in his house four holes, and in each a viper offering +to come out and kill him, and in his house are four staves and +each hole may not be stopped but with the ends of two staves? How +shall he stop all the holes and deliver himself from the vipers?' +When the merchant heard this, there betided him [of concern] what +made him forget the first and he said to the vizier, 'Grant me +time, so I may consider the answer.' 'Go out,' replied the +vizier, 'and bring me the answer, or I will seize thy good.' + +The merchant went out and returned to the old woman, who, seeing +him changed of colour, said to him, 'What did he ask thee, [may +God confound] his hoariness?' So he acquainted her with the case +and she said to him, 'Fear not; I will bring thee forth of this +[strait].' Quoth he, 'God requite thee with good!' And she said, +'To-morrow go to him with a stout heart and say, "The answer to +that whereof thou askest me is that thou put the heads of two +staves into one of the holes; then take the other two staves and +lay them across the middle of the first two and stop with their +heads the second hole and with their butts the fourth hole. Then +take the butts of the first two staves and stop with them the +third hole."'[FN#232] + +So he repaired to the vizier and repeated to him the answer; and +he marvelled at its justness and said to him, 'Go; by Allah, I +will ask thee no more questions, for thou with thy skill marrest +my foundation.'[FN#233] Then he entreated him friendly and the +merchant acquainted him with the affair of the old woman; +whereupon quoth the vizier, 'Needs must the man of understanding +company with those of understanding.' Thus did this weak woman +restore to that man his life and good on the easiest wise. Nor," +added the vizier, "is this more extraordinary than the story of +the credulous husband." + +When the king heard this story, he said, "How like is this to our +own case!" Then he bade the vizier retire to his lodging; so he +withdrew to his house and on the morrow he abode at home [till +the king should summon him to his presence.] + + The Ninth Night of the Month. + +When the night came, the king sat in his privy chamber and +sending after the vizier, sought of him the promised story; and +he said, "Know, O august king, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE CREDULOUS HUSBAND + + + +There was once of old time a foolish, ignorant man, who had +wealth galore, and his wife was a fair woman, who loved a +handsome youth. The latter used to watch for her husband's +absence and come to her, and on this wise he abode a long while. +One day, as the woman was private with her lover, he said to her, +'O my lady and my beloved, if thou desire me and love me, give me +possession of thyself and accomplish my need in thy husband's +presence; else will I never again come to thee nor draw near +thee, what while I abide on life.' Now she loved him with an +exceeding love and could not brook his separation an hour nor +could endure to vex him; so, when she heard his words, she said +to him, ['So be it,] in God's name, O my beloved and solace of +mine eyes, may he not live who would vex thee!' Quoth he, +'To-day?' And she said, 'Yes, by thy life,' and appointed him of +this. + +When her husband came home, she said to him, 'I desire to go +a-pleasuring.' And he said, ' With all my heart.' So he went, +till he came to a goodly place, abounding in vines and water, +whither he carried her and pitched her a tent beside a great +tree; and she betook herself to a place beside the tent and made +her there an underground hiding-place, [in which she hid her +lover]. Then said she to her husband, 'I desire to mount this +tree.' And he said, 'Do so.' So she climbed up and when she came +to the top of the tree, she cried out and buffeted her face, +saying, 'Lewd fellow that thou art, are these thy usages? Thou +sworest [fidelity to me] and liedst.' And she repeated her speech +twice and thrice. + +Then she came down from the tree and rent her clothes and said, +'O villain, if these be thy dealings with me before my eyes, how +dost thou when thou art absent from me?' Quoth he, 'What aileth +thee?' and she said, 'I saw thee swive the woman before my very +eyes.' 'Not so, by Allah!' cried he. 'But hold thy peace till I +go up and see.' So he climbed the tree and no sooner did he begin +to do so than up came the lover [from his hiding-place] and +taking the woman by the legs, [fell to swiving her]. When the +husband came to the top of the tree, he looked and beheld a man +swiving his wife. So he said, 'O strumpet, what doings are +these?' And he made haste to come down from the tree to the +ground; [but meanwhile the lover had returned to his hiding- +place] and his wife said to him, 'What sawest thou?' 'I saw a man +swive thee,' answered he; and she said, 'Thou liest; thou sawest +nought and sayst this but of conjecture.' + +On this wise they did three times, and every time [he climbed the +tree] the lover came up out of the underground place and bestrode +her, whilst her husband looked on and she still said, 'O liar, +seest thou aught?' 'Yes,' would he answer and came down in haste, +but saw no one and she said to him, 'By my life, look and say +nought but the truth!' Then said he to her, 'Arise, let us depart +this place,[FN#234] for it is full of Jinn and Marids.' [So they +returned to their house] and passed the night [there] and the man +arose in the morning, assured that this was all but imagination +and illusion. And so the lover accomplished his desire.[FN#235] +Nor, O king of the age," added the vizier, "is this more +extraordinary than the story of the king and the tither." + +When the king heard this from the vizier, he bade him go away +[and he withdrew to his house]. + + The Tenth Night of the Month. + +When it was eventide, the king summoned the vizier and sought of +him the story of the King and the Tither, and he said, "Know, O +king, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE UNJUST KING AND THE TITHER. + + + +There was once a king of the kings of the earth, who dwelt in a +populous[FN#236] city, abounding in good; but he oppressed its +people and used them foully, so that he ruined[FN#237] the city; +and he was named none other than tyrant and misdoer. Now he was +wont, whenas he heard of a masterful man[FN#238] in another land, +to send after him and tempt him with money to take service with +him; and there was a certain tither, who exceeded all his +brethren in oppression of the people and foulness of dealing. So +the king sent after him and when he stood before him, he found +him a mighty man[FN#239] and said to him, 'Thou hast been praised +to me, but meseemeth thou overpassest the description. Set out to +me somewhat of thy sayings and doings, so I may be dispensed +therewith from [enquiring into] all thy circumstance.' 'With all +my heart,' answered the other. 'Know, O king, that I oppress the +folk and people[FN#240] the land, whilst other than I +wasteth[FN#241] it and peopleth it not.' + +Now the king was leaning back; so he sat up and said, 'Tell me of +this.' 'It is well,' answered the tither. 'I go to the man whom I +purpose to tithe and circumvent him and feign to be occupied with +certain business, so that I seclude myself therewith from the +folk; and meanwhile the man is squeezed after the foulest +fashion, till nothing is left him. Then I appear and they come in +to me and questions befall concerning him and I say, "Indeed, I +was ordered worse than this, for some one (may God curse him!) +hath slandered him to the king." Then I take half of his good and +return him the rest publicly before the folk and send him away to +his house, in all honour and worship, and he causeth the money +returned to be carried before him, whilst he and all who are with +him call down blessings on me. So is it published in the city +that I have returned him his money and he himself saith the like, +so he may have a claim on me for the favour due to whoso praiseth +me. Then I feign to forget him till some time[FN#242] hath passed +over him, when I send for him and recall to him somewhat of that +which hath befallen aforetime and demand [of him] somewhat +privily. So he doth this and hasteneth to his dwelling and +sendeth what I bid him, with a glad heart. Then I send to another +man, between whom and the other is enmity, and lay hands upon him +and feign to the first man that it is he who hath traduced him to +the king and taken the half of his good; and the people praise +me.'[FN#243] + +The king marvelled at this and at his dealing and contrivance and +invested him with [the control of] all his affairs and of his +kingdom and the land abode [under his governance] and he said to +him, 'Take and people.'[FN#244] One day, the tither went out and +saw an old man, a woodcutter, and with him wood; so he said to +him, 'Pay a dirhem tithe for thy load.' Quoth the old man, +'Behold, thou killest me and killest my family.' 'What [meanest +thou]?' said the tither. 'Who killeth the folk?' And the other +answered, 'If thou suffer me enter the city, I shall sell the +wood there for three dirhems, whereof I will give thee one and +buy with the other two what will support my family; but, if thou +press me for the tithe without the city, the load will sell but +for one dirhem and thou wilt take it and I shall abide without +food, I and my family. Indeed, thou and I in this circumstance +are like unto David and Solomon, on whom be peace!' ['How so?' +asked the tither, and the woodcutter said], 'Know that + + + + + + + STORY OF DAVID AND SOLOMON. + + + +Certain husbandmen once made complaint to David (on whom be +peace!) against certain owners of sheep, whose flocks had fallen +upon their crops by night and devoured them, and he bade value +the crops [and that the shepherds should make good the amount]. +But Solomon (on whom be peace!) rose and said, "Nay, but let the +sheep be delivered to the husbandmen, so they may take their milk +and wool, till they have repaid themselves the value of their +crops; then let the sheep return to their owners." So David +withdrew his own ordinance and caused execute that of Solomon; +yet was David no oppressor; but Solomon's judgment was more +pertinent and he showed himself therein better versed in +jurisprudence.'[FN#245] + +When the tither heard the old man's speech, he relented towards +him and said to him, 'O old man, I make thee a present of that +which is due from thee, and do thou cleave to me and leave me +not, so haply I may get of thee profit that shall do away from me +my errors and guide me into the way of righteousness.' So the old +man followed him, and there met him another with a load of wood. +Quoth the tither to him, 'Pay what is due from thee.' And he +answered, 'Have patience with me till to-morrow, for I owe the +hire of a house, and I will sell another load of wood and pay +thee two days' tithe.' But he refused him this and the old man +said to him, 'If thou constrain him unto this, thou wilt enforce +him quit thy country, for that he is a stranger here and hath no +domicile; and if he remove on account of one dirhem, thou wilt +lose [of him] three hundred and threescore dirhems a year. Thus +wilt thou lose the much in keeping the little.' Quoth the tither, +'I give him a dirhem every month to the hire of his lodging.' + +Then he went on and presently there met him a third woodcutter +and he said to him, 'Pay what is due from thee.' And he answered, +'I will pay thee a dirhem when I enter the city; or take of me +four danics[FN#246] [now].' Quoth the tither, 'I will not do it,' +but the old man said to him, 'Take of him the four danics +presently, for it is easy to take and hard to restore.' 'By +Allah,' quoth the tither, 'it is good!' and he arose and went on, +crying out, at the top of his voice and saying, 'I have no power +to-day [to do evil].' Then he put off his clothes and went forth +wandering at a venture, repenting unto his Lord. Nor," added the +vizier, "is this story more extraordinary than that of the thief +who believed the woman and sought refuge with God against falling +in with her like, by reason of her cunning contrivance for +herself." + +When the king heard this, he said in himself, "Since the tither +repented, in consequence of the admonitions [of the woodcutter], +it behoves that I spare this vizier, so I may hear the story of +the thief and the woman." And he bade Er Rehwan withdraw to his +lodging. + + The Eleventh Night of the Month. + +When the evening came and the king sat in his privy chamber, he +summoned the vizier and required of him the story of the thief +and the woman. Quoth the vizier, "Know, O king, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE THIEF AND THE WOMAN. + + + +A certain thief was a [cunning] workman and used not to steal +aught, till he had spent all that was with him; moreover, he +stole not from his neighbours, neither companied with any of the +thieves, lest some one should come to know him and his case get +wind. On this wise he abode a great while, in flourishing case, +and his secret was concealed, till God the Most High decreed that +he broke in upon a poor man, deeming that he was rich. When he +entered the house, he found nought, whereat he was wroth, and +necessity prompted him to wake the man, who was asleep with his +wife. So he aroused him and said to him, 'Show me thy treasure.' + +Now he had no treasure; but the thief believed him not and +insisted upon him with threats and blows. When he saw that he got +no profit of him, he said to him, 'Swear by the oath of divorce +from thy wife[FN#247] [that thou hast nothing].' So he swore and +his wife said to him, 'Out on thee! Wilt thou divorce me? Is not +the treasure buried in yonder chamber?' Then she turned to the +thief and conjured him to multiply blows upon her husband, till +he should deliver to him the treasure, concerning which he had +sworn falsely. So he drubbed him grievously, till he carried him +to a certain chamber, wherein she signed to him that the treasure +was and that he should take it up. + +So the thief entered, he and the husband; and when they were both +in the chamber, she locked on them the door, which was a stout +one, and said to the thief, 'Out on thee, O fool! Thou hast +fallen [into the trap] and now I have but to cry out and the +officers of the police will come and take thee and thou wilt lose +thy life, O Satan!' Quoth he, 'Let me go forth;' and she said, +'Thou art a man and I am a woman; and in thy hand is a knife and +I am afraid of thee.' Quoth he, 'Take the knife from me.' So she +took the knife from him and said to her husband, 'Art thou a +woman and he a man? Mar his nape with beating, even as he did +with thee; and if he put out his hand to thee, I will cry out and +the police will come and take him and cut him in sunder.' So the +husband said to him, 'O thousand-horned,[FN#248] O dog, O +traitor, I owe thee a deposit,[FN#249] for which thou dunnest +me.' And he fell to beating him grievously with a stick of +live-oak, whilst he called out to the woman for help and besought +her of deliverance; but she said, 'Abide in thy place till the +morning, and thou shalt see wonders.' And her husband beat him +within the chamber, till he [well- nigh] made an end of him and +he swooned away. + +Then he left beating him and when the thief came to himself, the +woman said to her husband, 'O man, this house is on hire and we +owe its owners much money, and we have nought; so how wilt thou +do?' And she went on to bespeak him thus. Quoth the thief, 'And +what is the amount of the rent?' 'It will be fourscore dirhems,' +answered the husband; and the thief said, 'I will pay this for +thee and do thou let me go my way.' Then said the wife, 'O man, +how much do we owe the baker and the greengrocer?' Quoth the +thief, 'What is the sum of this?' And the husband said, 'Sixscore +dirhems.' 'That makes two hundred dirhems,' rejoined the other; +'let me go my way and I will pay them.' But the wife said, 'O my +dear one, and the girl groweth up and needs must we marry her and +equip her and [do] what else is needful' So the thief said to the +husband, 'How much dost thou want?' And he answered, 'A hundred +dirhems, in the way of moderation.'[FN#250] Quoth the thief, +'That makes three hundred dirhems.' And the woman said, 'O my +dear one, when the girl is married, thou wilt need money for +winter expenses, charcoal and firewood and other necessaries.' +'What wouldst thou have?' asked the thief; and she said, 'A +hundred dirhems.' 'Be it four hundred dirhems,' rejoined he; and +she said, 'O my dear one and solace of mine eyes, needs must my +husband have capital in hand, wherewith he may buy merchandise +and open him a shop.' 'How much will that be?' asked he, and she +said, 'A hundred dirhems.' Quoth the thief, '[That makes five +hundred dirhems; I will pay it;] but may I be divorced from my +wife if all my possessions amount to more than this, and that the +savings of twenty years! Let me go my way, so I may deliver them +to thee.' 'O fool,' answered she, 'how shall I let thee go thy +way? Give me a right token.' [So he gave her a token for his +wife] and she cried out to her young daughter and said to her, +'Keep this door.' + +Then she charged her husband keep watch over the thief, till she +should return, and repairing to his wife, acquainted her with his +case and told her that her husband the thief had been taken and +had compounded for his release, at the price of seven hundred +dirhems, and named to her the token. So she gave her the money +and she took it and returned to her house. By this time, the dawn +had broken; so she let the thief go his way, and when he went +out, she said to him, 'O my dear one, when shall I see thee come +and take the treasure?' 'O indebted one,' answered he, 'when thou +needest other seven hundred dirhems, wherewithal to amend thy +case and that of thy children and to discharge thy debts.' And he +went out, hardly believing in his deliverance from her. Nor," +added the vizier, "is this more extraordinary than the story of +the three men and our Lord Jesus." + +And the king bade him depart to his own house. + + The Twelfth Night of the Month. + +When it was eventide, the king summoned the vizier and bade him +tell the [promised] story, "Hearkening and obedience," answered +he. "Know, O king, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE THREE MEN AND OUR LORD JESUS. + + + +Three men once went out in quest of riches and came upon a block +of gold, weighing a hundred pounds. When they saw it, they took +it up on their shoulders and fared on with it, till they drew +near a certain city, when one of them said, 'Let us sit in the +mosque, whilst one of us goes and buys us what we may eat." So +they sat down in the mosque and one of them arose and entered the +city. When he came therein, his soul prompted him to play his +fellows false and get the gold for himself alone. So he bought +food and poisoned it; but, when he returned to his comrades, they +fell upon him and slew him, so they might enjoy the gold without +him. Then they ate of the [poisoned] food and died, and the gold +abode cast down over against them. + +Presently, Jesus, son of Mary (on whom be peace!) passed by and +seeing this, besought God the Most High for tidings of their +case; so He told him what had betided them, whereat great was his +wonderment and he related to his disciples what he had seen. +Quoth one of them, 'O Spirit of God,[FN#251] nought resembleth +this but my own story.' 'How so?' asked Jesus, and the other +said, + + + + + THE DISCIPLE'S STORY. + + + +'I was aforetime in such a city and hid a thousand dirhems in a +monastery there. After awhile, I went thither and taking the +money, bound it about my middle. [Then I set out to return] and +when I came to the desert, the carrying of the money was +burdensome to me. Presently, I espied a horseman pricking after +me; so I [waited till he came up and] said to him, "O horseman, +carry this money [for me] and earn reward and recompense [from +God]." "Nay," answered he; "I will not do it, for I should weary +myself and weary my horse." Then he went on, but, before he had +gone far, he said in himself, "If I take up the money and spur my +horse and forego him, how shall he overtake me?" And I also said +in myself, "Verily, I erred [in asking him to carry the money]; +for, had he taken it and made off, I could have done nought." +Then he turned back to me and said to me, "Hand over the money, +that I may carry it for thee." But I answered him, saying, "That +which hath occurred to thy mind hath occurred to mine also; so go +in peace."' + +Quoth Jesus (on whom be peace!), 'Had these dealt prudently, they +had taken thought for themselves; but they neglected the issues +of events; for that whoso acteth prudently is safe and +conquereth,[FN#252] and whoso neglecteth precaution perisheth and +repenteth.' Nor," added the vizier," is this more extraordinary +nor goodlier than the story of the king, whose kingdom was +restored to him and his wealth, after he had become poor, +possessing not a single dirhem." + +When the king heard this, he said in himself "How like is this to +my own story in the matter of the vizier and his slaughter! Had I +not used precaution, I had put him to death." And he bade Er +Rehwan depart to his own house. + + The Thirteenth Night of the Month. + +When the evening evened, the king sent for the vizier to his +privy sitting chamber and bade him [tell] the [promised] story. +So he said, "Hearkening and obedience. They avouch, O king, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE DETHRONED KING WHOSE + KINGDOM AND GOOD WERE RESTORED TO HIM. + + + +There was once, in a city of Hind, a just and beneficent king, +and he had a vizier, a man of understanding, just in his +judgment, praiseworthy in his policy, in whose hand was the +governance of all the affairs of the realm; for he was firmly +stablished in the king's favour and high in esteem with the folk +of his time, and the king set great store by him and committed +himself to him in all his affairs, by reason of his contrivance +for his subjects, and he had helpers[FN#253] who were content +with him. + +Now the king had a brother, who envied him and would fain have +been in his place; and when he was weary of looking for his death +and the term of his life seemed distant unto him, he took counsel +with certain of his partisans and they said, 'The vizier is the +king's counsellor and but for him, there would be left the king +no kingdom.' So the king's brother cast about for the ruin of the +vizier, but could find no means of accomplishing his design; and +when the affair grew long upon him, he said to his wife, 'What +deemest thou will advantage us in this?' Quoth she, 'What is it?' +And he replied, 'I mean in the matter of yonder vizier, who +inciteth my brother to devoutness with all his might and biddeth +him thereto, and indeed the king is infatuated with his counsel +and committeth to him the governance of all things and matters.' +Quoth she, 'Thou sayst truly; but how shall we do with him?' And +he answered, 'I have a device, so thou wilt help me in that which +I shall say to thee.' Quoth she, 'Thou shall have my help in +whatsoever thou desirest.' And he said, 'I mean to dig him a pit +in the vestibule and dissemble it artfully.' + +So he did this, and when it was night, he covered the pit with a +light covering, so that, whenas the vizier stepped upon it, it +would give way with him. Then he sent to him and summoned him to +the presence in the king's name, and the messenger bade him enter +by the privy door. So he entered in thereat, alone, and when he +stepped upon the covering of the pit, it gave way with him and he +fell to the bottom; whereupon the king's brother fell to pelting +him with stones. When the vizier saw what had betided him, he +gave himself up for lost; so he stirred not and lay still. The +prince, seeing him make no motion, [deemed him dead]; so he took +him forth and wrapping him up in his clothes, cast him into the +billows of the sea in the middle of the night. When the vizier +felt the water, he awoke from the swoon and swam awhile, till a +ship passed by him, whereupon he cried out to the sailors and +they took him up. + +When the morning morrowed, the people went seeking for him, but +found him not; and when the king knew this, he was perplexed +concerning his affair and abode unknowing what he should do. Then +he sought for a vizier to fill his room, and the king's brother +said, 'I have a vizier, a sufficient man.' 'Bring him to me,' +said the king. So he brought him a man, whom he set at the head +of affairs; but he seized upon the kingdom and clapped the king +in irons and made his brother king in his stead. The new king +gave himself up to all manner of wickedness, whereat the folk +murmured and his vizier said to him, 'I fear lest the Indians +take the old king and restore him to the kingship and we both +perish; wherefore, if we take him and cast him into the sea, we +shall be at rest from him; and we will publish among the folk +that he is dead.' And they agreed upon this. So they took him up +and carrying him out to sea, cast him in. + +When he felt the water, he struck out, and gave not over swimming +till he landed upon an island, where he abode five days, finding +nothing which he might eat or drink; but, on the sixth day, when +he despaired of himself, he caught sight of a passing ship; so he +made signals to the crew and they came and took him up and fared +on with him to an inhabited country, where they set him ashore, +naked as he was. There he saw a man tilling; so he sought +guidance of him and the husbandman said, 'Art thou a stranger?' +'Yes,' answered the king and sat with him and they talked. The +husbandman found him quickwitted and intelligent and said to him, +'If thou sawest a comrade of mine, thou wouldst see him the like +of what I see thee, for his case is even as thy case, and he is +presently my friend.' + +Quoth the king, 'Verily, thou makest me long to see him. Canst +thou not bring us together?' 'With all my heart,' answered the +husbandman, and the king sat with him till he had made an end of +his tillage, when he carried him to his dwelling-place and +brought him in company with the other stranger, aud behold, it +was his vizier. When they saw each other, they wept and embraced, +and the husbandman wept for their weeping; but the king concealed +their affair and said to him, 'This is a man from my country and +he is as my brother.' So they abode with the husbandman and +helped him for a wage, wherewith they supported themselves a long +while. Meanwhile, they sought news of their country and learned +that which its people suffered of straitness and oppression. + +One day, there came a ship and in it a merchant from their own +country, who knew them and rejoiced in them with an exceeding joy +and clad them in goodly apparel. Moreover, he acquainted them +with the manner of the treachery that had been practised upon +them and counselled them to return to their own land, they and he +with whom they had made friends,[FN#254] assuring them that God +the Most High would restore them to their former estate. So the +king returned and the folk joined themselves to him and he fell +upon his brother and his vizier and took them and clapped them in +prison. + +Then he sat down again upon the throne of his kingship, whilst +the vizier stood before him, and they returned to their former +estate, but they had nought of the [goods of the world]. So the +king said to his vizier, 'How shall we avail to abide in this +city, and we in this state of poverty?' And he answered, 'Be at +thine ease and have no concern.' Then he singled out one of the +soldiers[FN#255] and said to him, 'Send us thy service[FN#256] +for the year.' Now there were in the city fifty thousand +subjects[FN#257] and in the hamlets and villages a like number; +and the vizier sent to each of these, saying, 'Let each of you +get an egg and lay it under a hen.' So they did this and it was +neither burden nor grievance to them. + +When twenty days had passed by, each [egg] was hatched, and the +vizier bade them pair the chickens, male and female, and rear +them well. So they did this and it was found a charge unto no +one. Then they waited for them awhile and after this the vizier +enquired of the chickens and was told that they were become +fowls. Moreover, they brought him all their eggs and he bade set +them; and after twenty days there were hatched from each [pair] +of them thirty or five-and-twenty or fifteen [chickens] at the +least. The vizier let note against each man the number of +chickens that pertained to him, and after two months, he took the +old hens and the cockerels, and there came to him from each man +nigh half a score, and he left the [young] hens with them. On +like wise he sent to the country folk and let the cocks abide +with them. So he got him young ones [galore] and appropriated to +himself the sale of the fowls, and on this wise he got him, in +the course of a year, that which the regal estate required of the +king and his affairs were set right for him by the vizier's +contrivance. And he peopled[FN#258] the country and dealt justly +by his subjects and returned to them all that he took from them +and lived a happy and prosperous life. Thus good judgment and +prudence are better than wealth, for that understanding profiteth +at all times and seasons. Nor," added the vizier, "is this more +extraordinary than the story of the man whose caution slew him." + +When the king heard his vizier's words, he marvelled with the +utmost wonderment and bade him retire to his lodging. [So Er +Rehwan withdrew to his house and abode there till eventide of the +next day, when he again presented himself before the king.] + + The Fourteenth Night of the Month. + +When the vizier returned to the king, the latter sought of him +the story of the man whose caution slew him and be said, "Know, O +august king, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE MAN WHOSE CAUTION WAS THE + CAUSE OF HIS DEATH. + + + +There was once a man who was exceeding cautious over himself, and +he set out one day on a journey to a land abounding in wild +beasts. The caravan wherein he was came by night to the gate of a +city; but the warders refused to open to them; so they passed the +night without the city, and there were lions there. The man +aforesaid, of the excess of his caution, could not fix upon a +place wherein he should pass the night, for fear of the wild +beasts and reptiles; so he went about seeking an empty place +wherein he might lie. + +Now there was a ruined building hard by and he climbed up on to a +high wall and gave not over clambering hither and thither, of the +excess of his carefulness, till his feet betrayed him and he +slipped [and fell] to the bottom and died, whilst his companions +arose in the morning in health [and weal]. Now, if he had +overmastered his corrupt[FN#259] judgment and submitted himself +to fate and fortune fore-ordained, it had been safer and better +[for him]; but he made light of the folk and belittled their wit +and was not content to take example by them; for his soul +whispered him that he was a man of understanding and he imagined +that, if he abode with them, he would perish; so his folly cast +him into perdition. Nor," added the vizier, "is this more +extraordinary than the story of the man who was lavish of his +house and his victual to one whom he knew not" + +When the king heard this, he said, "I will not isolate myself +from the folk and slay my vizier." And he bade him depart to his +dwelling. + + The Fifteenth Night of the Month. + +When the evening evened, the king let fetch the vizier and +required of him the [promised] story. So he said, "Know, O king, +that + + + + + + STORY OF THE MAN WHO WAS LAVISH OF HIS + HOUSE AND HIS VICTUAL TO ONE WHOM HE + KNEW NOT. + + + +There was once an Arab of [high] rank and [goodly] presence, a +man of exalted generosity and magnanimity, and he had brethren, +with whom he consorted and caroused, and they were wont to +assemble by turns in each other's houses. When it came to his +turn, he made ready in his house all manner goodly and pleasant +meats and dainty drinks and exceeding lovely flowers and +excellent fruits, and made provision of all kinds of instruments +of music and store of rare apothegms and marvellous stories and +goodly instances and histories and witty anedotes and verses and +what not else, for there was none among those with whom he was +used to company but enjoyed this on every goodly wise, and in the +entertainment he had provided was all whereof each had need. Then +he sallied forth and went round about the city, in quest of his +friends, so he might assemble them; but found none of them in his +house. + +Now in that town was a man of good breeding and large generosity, +a merchant of condition, young of years and bright of face, who +had come to that town from his own country with great store of +merchandise and wealth galore. He took up his abode therein and +the place was pleasant to him and he was lavish in expenditure, +so that he came to the end of all his good and there remained +with him nothing save that which was upon him of raiment. So he +left the lodging wherein he had abidden in the days of his +affluence, after he had wasted[FN#260] that which was therein of +furniture, and fell to harbouring in the houses of the townsfolk +from night to night. + +One day, as he went wandering about the streets, he espied a +woman of the utmost beauty and grace, and what he saw of her +charms amazed him and there betided him what made him forget his +present plight. She accosted him and jested with him and he +besought her of foregathering and companionship. She consented to +this and said to him, 'Let us go to thy lodging.' With this he +repented and was perplexed concerning his affair and grieved for +that which must escape him of her company by reason of the +straitness of his hand,[FN#261] for that he had no jot of +spending money. But he was ashamed to say, 'No,' after he had +made suit to her; so he went on before her, bethinking him how he +should rid himself of her and casting about for an excuse which +he might put off on her, and gave not over going from street to +street, till he entered one that had no issue and saw, at the +farther end, a door, whereon was a padlock. + +So he said to her, 'Do thou excuse me, for my servant hath locked +the door, and who shall open to us?' Quoth she, 'O my lord, the +padlock is worth [but] half a score dirhems.' So saying, she +tucked up [her sleeves] from fore-arms as they were crystal and +taking a stone, smote upon the padlock and broke it. Then she +opened the door and said to him, 'Enter, O my lord.' So he +entered, committing his affair to God, (to whom belong might and +majesty,) and she entered after him and locked the door from +within. They found themselves in a pleasant house, comprising +all[FN#262] weal and gladness; and the young man went on, till he +came to the sitting-chamber, and behold, it was furnished with +the finest of furniture [and arrayed on the goodliest wise for +the reception of guests,] as hath before been set out, [for that +it was the house of the man aforesaid]. + +He [seated himself on the divan and] leant upon a cushion, whilst +she put out her hand to her veil and did it off. Then she put off +her heavy outer clothes and discovered her charms, whereupon he +embraced her and kissed her and swived her; after which they +washed and returned to their place and he said to her, 'Know that +I have little knowledge [of what goes on] in my house, for that I +trust to my servant; so arise thou and see what the boy hath made +ready in the kitchen.' Accordingly, she arose and going down into +the kitchen, saw cooking pots over the fire, wherein were all +manner of dainty meats, and manchet-bread and fresh +almond-and-honey cakes. So she set bread on a dish and ladled out +[what she would] from the pots and brought it to him. + +They ate and drank and sported and made merry awhile of the day; +and as they were thus engaged, up came the master of the house, +with his friends, whom he had brought with him, that they might +carouse together, as of wont. He saw the door opened and knocked +lightly, saying to his friends, 'Have patience with me, for some +of my family are come to visit me; wherefore excuse belongeth +[first] to God the Most High, and then to you.'[FN#263] So they +took leave of him and went their ways, whilst he gave another +light knock at the door. When the young man heard this, he +changed colour and the woman said to him, 'Methinks thy servant +hath returned.' 'Yes,' answered he; and she arose and opening the +door to the master of the house, said to him, 'Where hast thou +been? Indeed, thy master is wroth with thee.' 'O my lady,' +answered he, 'I have but been about his occasions.' + +Then he girt his middle with a handkerchief and entering, saluted +the young merchant, who said to him, 'Where hast thou been?' +Quoth he, 'I have done thine errands;' and the youth said, 'Go +and eat and come hither and drink.' So he went away, as he bade +him, and ate. Then he washed and returning to the saloon, sat +down on the carpet and fell to talking with them; whereupon the +young merchant's heart was comforted and his breast dilated and +he addressed himself to joyance. They abode in the most +delightsome life and the most abounding pleasance till a third +part of the night was past, when the master of the house arose +and spreading them a bed, invited them to lie down. So they lay +down and the youth abode on wake, pondering their affair, till +daybreak, when the woman awoke and said to her companion, 'I wish +to go.' So he bade her farewell and she departed; whereupon the +master of the house followed her with a purse of money and gave +it to her, saying, 'Blame not my master,' and made his excuse to +her for the young merchant. + +Then he returned to the youth and said to him, 'Arise and come to +the bath.' And he fell to shampooing his hands and feet, whilst +the youth called down blessings on him and said, 'O my lord, who +art thou? Methinks there is not in the world the like of thee, +no, nor a pleasanter than thy composition.' Then each of them +acquainted the other with his case and condition and they went to +the bath; after which the master of the house conjured the young +merchant to return with him and summoned his friends. So they ate +and drank and he related to them the story, wherefore they +praised the master of the house and glorified him; and their +friendship was complete, what while the young merchant abode in +the town, till God vouchsafed him a commodity of travel, +whereupon they took leave of him and he departed; and this is the +end of his story. Nor," added the vizier, "O king of the age, is +this more marvellous than the story of the rich man who lost his +wealth and his wit." + +When the king heard the vizier's story, it pleased him and he +bade him go to his house. + + The Sixteenth Night of the Month. + +When the evening evened, the king sat in his sitting- chamber and +sending for his vizier, bade him relate the story of the wealthy +man who lost his wealth and his wit. So he said, "Know, O king, +that + + + + + + STORY OF THE IDIOT AND THE SHARPER. + + + +There was once a man of fortune, who lost his wealth, and chagrin +and melancholy got the mastery of him, so that he became an idiot +and lost his wit. There abode with him of his wealth about a +score of dinars and he used to beg alms of the folk, and that +which they gave him he would gather together and lay to the +dinars that were left him. Now there was in that town a vagabond, +who made his living by sharping, and he knew that the idiot had +somewhat of money; so he fell to spying upon him and gave not +over watching him till he saw him put in an earthen pot that +which he had with him of money and enter a deserted ruin, where +he sat down, [as if] to make water, and dug a hole, in which he +laid the pot and covering it up, strewed earth upon the place. +Then he went away and the sharper came and taking what was in the +pot, covered it up again, as it was. + +Presently, the idiot returned, with somewhat to add to his hoard, +but found it not; so he bethought him who had followed him and +remembered that he had found the sharper aforesaid assiduous in +sitting with him and questioning him. So he went in quest of him, +assured that he had taken the pot, and gave not over looking for +him till he espied him sitting; whereupon he ran to him and the +sharper saw him. [Then the idiot stood within earshot] and +muttered to himself and said, 'In the pot are threescore dinars +and I have with me other score in such a place and to-day I will +unite the whole in the pot.' When the sharper heard him say this +to himself, muttering and mumbling after his fashion, he repented +him of having taken the dinars and said, 'He will presently +return to the pot and find it empty; wherefore that[FN#264] for +which I am on the look-out will escape me; and meseemeth I were +best restore the dinars [to their place], so he may see them and +leave all that is with him in the pot, and I can take the whole.' + +Now he feared [to return to the pot then and there], lest the +idiot should follow him to the place and find nothing and so his +plan be marred. So he said to him, 'O Ajlan,[FN#265] I would have +thee come to my lodging and eat bread with me." So the idiot went +with him to his lodging and he seated him there and going to the +market, sold somewhat of his clothes and pawned somewhat from his +house and bought dainty food. Then he betook himself to the ruin +and replacing the money in the pot, buried it again; after which +he returned to his lodging and gave the idiot to eat and drink, +and they went out together. The sharper went away and hid +himself, lest the idiot should see him, whilst the latter +repaired to his hiding- place and took the pot + +Presently, the sharper came to the ruin, rejoicing in that which +he deemed he should get, and dug in the place, but found nothing +and knew that the idiot had tricked him. So he buffeted his face, +for chagrin, and fell to following the other whithersoever he +went, so he might get what was with him, but availed not unto +this, for that the idiot knew what was in his mind and was +certified that he spied upon him, [with intent to rob him]; so he +kept watch over himself. Now, if the sharper had considered [the +consequences of] haste and that which is begotten of loss +therefrom, he had not done thus. Nor," continued the vizier, "is +this story, O king of the age, rarer or more extraordinary or +more diverting than the story of Khelbes and his wife and the +learned man and that which befell between them." + +When the king heard this story, he renounced his purpose of +putting the vizier to death and his soul prompted him to continue +him on life. So he bade him go away to his house. + + The Seventeenth Night of the Month. + +When the evening evened, the king summoned the vizier, and when +he presented himself, he required of him the [promised] story. So +he said, "Hearkening and obedience. Know, O august king, that + + + + + + STORY OF KHELBES AND HIS WIFE AND THE + LEARNED MAN. + + + +There was once a man hight Khelbes, who was a lewd fellow, a +calamity, notorious for this fashion, and he had a fair wife, +renowned for beauty and loveliness. A man of his townsfolk fell +in love with her and she also loved him. Now Khelbes was a crafty +fellow and full of tricks, and there was in his neighbourhood a +learned man, to whom the folk used to resort every day and he +told them stories and admonished them [with moral instances]; and +Khelbes was wont to be present in his assembly, for the sake of +making a show before the folk. + +Now this learned man had a wife renowned for beauty and +loveliness and quickness of wit and understanding and the lover +cast about for a device whereby he might win to Khelbes's wife; +so he came to him and told him, as a secret, what he had seen of +the learned man's wife and confided to him that he was enamoured +of her and besought him of help in this. Khelbes told him that +she was distinguished to the utterest for chastity and continence +and that she exposed herself not to suspicion; but the other +said, 'I cannot renounce her, [firstly,] because the woman +inclineth to me and coveteth my wealth, and secondly, because of +the greatness of my love for her; and nothing is wanting but thy +help.' Quoth Khelbes, 'I will do thy will;' and the other said, +'Thou shalt have of me two dirhems a day, on condition that thou +sit with the learned man and that, when he riseth from the +assembly, thou speak a word notifying the breaking up of the +session.' So they agreed upon this and Khelbes entered and sat in +the assembly, whilst the lover was assured in his heart that the +secret was safe with him, wherefore he rejoiced and was content +to pay the two dirhems. + +Then Khelbes used to attend the learned man's assembly, whilst +the other would go in to his wife and abide with her, on such +wise as he thought good, till the learned man arose from his +session; and when Khelbes saw that he purposed rising, he would +speak a word for the lover to hear, whereupon he went forth from +Khelbes's wife, and the latter knew not that calamity was in his +own house. At last the learned man, seeing Khelbes do on this +wise every day, began to misdoubt of him, more by token of that +which he knew of his character, and suspicion grew upon him; so, +one day, he advanced the time of his rising before the wonted +hour and hastening up to Khelbes, laid hold of him and said to +him, 'By Allah, an thou speak a single syllable, I will do thee a +mischief!' Then he went in to his wife, with Khelbes in his +grasp, and behold, she was sitting, as of her wont, nor was there +about her aught of suspicious or unseemly. + +The learned man bethought him awhile of this, then made for +Khelbes's house, which adjoined his own, still holding the +latter; and when they entered, they found the young man lying on +the bed with Khelbes's wife; whereupon quoth he to him, 'O +accursed one, the calamity is with thee and in thine own house!' +So Khelbes put away his wife and went forth, fleeing, and +returned not to his own land. This, then," continued the vizier, +"is the consequence of lewdness, for whoso purposeth in himself +craft and perfidy, they get possession of him, and had Khelbes +conceived of himself that[FN#266] which he conceived of the folk +of dishonour and calamity, there had betided him nothing of this. +Nor is this story, rare and extraordinary though it be, more +extraordinary or rarer than that of the pious woman whose +husband's brother accused her of lewdness." + +When the king heard this, wonderment gat hold of him and his +admiration for the vizier redoubled; so he bade him go to his +house and return to him [on the morrow], according to his wont. +Accordingly, the vizier withdrew to his lodging, where he passed +the night and the ensuing day. + + + + + +End of Vol. I. + + + + + Tales from the Arabic, Volume 1 + Endnotes + + + +[FN#1] Breslau Text, vol. iv. pp. 134-189, Nights +cclxxii.-ccxci. This is the story familiar to readers of the old +"Arabian Nights" as "Abon Hassan, or the Sleeper Awakened" and is +the only one of the eleven tales added by Galland to his version +of the (incomplete) MS. of the Book of the Thousand Nights and +One Night procured by him from Syria, the Arabic original of +which has yet been discovered. (See my "Book of the Thousand +Nights and One Night," Vol. IX. pp. 264 et seq.) The above title +is of course intended to mark the contrast between the everyday +(or waking) hours of Aboulhusn and his fantastic life in the +Khalif's palace, supposed by him to have passed in a dream, and +may also be rendered "The Sleeper and the Waker." + +[FN#2] i.e. The Wag. + +[FN#3] Always noted for debauchery. + +[FN#4] i.e. the part he had taken for spending money. + +[FN#5] i.e. "those," a characteristic Arab idiom. + +[FN#6] Lit. draw thee near (to them). + +[FN#7] i.e. that over the Tigris. + +[FN#8] "Platter bread," i.e. bread baked in a platter, instead +of, as usual with the Arabs, in an oven or earthen jar previously +heated, to the sides of which the thin cakes of dough are +applied, "is lighter than oven bread, especially if it be made +thin and leavened."--Shecouri, a medical writer quoted by Dozy. + +[FN#9] Or cooking-pots. + +[FN#10] Or fats for frying. + +[FN#11] Or clarified. + +[FN#12] Taam, lit. food, the name given by the inhabitants of +Northern Africa to the preparation of millet-flour (something +like semolina) called kouskoussou, which forms the staple food of +the people. + +[FN#13] Or "In peace." + +[FN#14] Eastern peoples attach great importance, for good or evil +omen, to the first person met or the first thing that happens in +the day. + +[FN#15] Or "attributed as sin." + +[FN#16] A common Eastern substitute for soap. + +[FN#17] This common formula of assent is an abbreviation of +"Hearkening and obedience are due to God and to the Commander of +the Faithful" or other the person addressed. + +[FN#18] Dar es Selam, one of the seven "Gardens" into which the +Mohammedan Paradise is divided. + +[FN#19] i.e. a mattrass eighteen inches thick. + +[FN#20] Complimentary form of address to eunuchs, generally used +by inferiors only. + +[FN#21] The morning-prayer consists of four inclinations (rekäat) +only. A certain fixed succession of prayers and acts of adoration +is called a rekah (sing, of rekäat) from the inclination of the +body that occurs in it. + +[FN#22] i.e. the terminal formula of prayer, "Peace be on us and +on all the righteous servants of God!" + +[FN#23] i.e. said "I purpose to make an end of prayer." + +[FN#24] Or "linen." + +[FN#25] A well-known poet of the time. + +[FN#26] i.e. Ibrahim of Mosul, the greatest musician of his day. + +[FN#27] i.e., doughty men of war, guards. + +[FN#28] The Abbaside Khalifs traced their descent from Abbas, the +uncle of Mohammed, and considered themselves, therefore, as +belonging to the family of the Prophet. + +[FN#29] i.e. May thy dwelling-place never fall into ruin. + +[FN#30] i.e. the raised recess situate at the upper end of an +Oriental saloon, wherein is the place of honour. + +[FN#31] ie, the necromancers. + +[FN#32] Lit. I have not found that thou hast a heel blessed (or +propitious) to me. + +[FN#33] i.e. O thou who art a calamity to those who have to do +with thee! + +[FN#34] Abou Nuwas ibn Hani, the greatest poet of the time. + +[FN#35] As a charm against evil spirits. + +[FN#36] i.e. the vein said to have been peculiar to the +descendants of Hashim, grandfather of Abbas and great-grandson of +Mohammed, and to have started out between their eyes in moments +of anger. + +[FN#37] Lit. that I may do upon her sinister deeds. + +[FN#38] "The pitcher comes not always back unbroken from the +well."--English proverb. + +[FN#39] i.e. of sorrow for his loss. + +[FN#40] i.e. of grief for her loss. + +[FN#41] Breslau Text, vol. vl. pp. 182-188, Nights +ccccxxxii-ccccxxxiv. + +[FN#42] The eighth Khalif (A.D. 717-720) of the house of Umeyyeh +and the best and most single-hearted of all the Khalifs, with the +exception of the second, Omar ben Khettab, from whom he was +descended. + +[FN#43] A celebrated statesman of the time, afterwards governor +of Cuia* and Bassora under Omar ben Abdulaziz. + +[FN#44] The most renowned poet of the first century of the +Hegira. He is said to have been equally skilled in all styles of +composition grave and gay. + +[FN#45] Or eternal. + +[FN#46] Or "in him." + +[FN#47] Chief of the tribe of the Benou Suleim. Et Teberi tells +this story in a different way. According to him, Abbas ben Mirdas +(who was a well-known poet), being dissatisfied with the portion +of booty allotted to him by the Prophet, refused it and composed +a lampoon against Mohammed, who said to Ali, "Cut off this tongue +which attacketh me," i.e. "Silence him by giving what will +satisfy him," whereupon Ali doubled the covetous chief's share. + +[FN#48] Bilal ibn Rebeh was the Prophet's freedman and crier. The +word bilal signifies "moisture" or (metonymically) "beneficence" +and it may well be in this sense (and not as a man's name) that +it is used in the text. + +[FN#49] Said to have been the best poet ever produced by the +tribe of Cureish. His introduction here is an anachronism, as he +died A.D. 712, five years before Omar's accession. + +[FN#50] i.e. odorem pudendorum amicæ? + +[FN#51] A famous poet of the tribe of the Benou Udhreh, renowned +for their passionate sincerity in love-matters. He is celebrated +as the lover of Butheineh, as Petrarch of Laura, and died A.D. +701, sixteen years before Omar's accession. + +[FN#52] A friend of Jemil and a poet of equal renown. He is +celebrated as the lover of Azzeh, whose name is commonly added to +his, and kept a grocer's shop at Medina. + +[FN#53] i.e. in the attitude of prayer. + +[FN#54] A famous satirical poet of the time, afterwards banished +by Omar for the virulence of his lampoons. His name is wrongly +given by the text; it should be El Ahwes. He was a descendant of +the Ansar or (Medinan) helpers of Mohammed. + +[FN#55] A famous poet of the tribe of the Benou Temim and a rival +of Jerir, to whom he was by some preferred. He was a notorious +debauchee and Jerir, in one of the satires that were perpetually +exchanged between himself and El Ferezdec, accuses his rival of +having "never been a guest in any house, but he departed with +ignominy and left behind him disgrace." + +[FN#56] A Christian and a celebrated poet of the time. + +[FN#57] The poet apparently meant to insinuate that those who +professed to keep the fast of Ramazan ate flesh in secret. The +word rendered "in public," i.e. openly, avowedly, may also +perhaps be translated "in the forenoon," and in this El Akhtel +may have meant to contrast his free-thinking disregard of the +ordinances of the fast with the strictness of the orthodox +Muslim, whose only meals in Ramazan-time are made between sunset +and dawn-peep. As soon as a white thread can be distinguished +from a black, the fast is begun and a true believer must not even +smoke or swallow his saliva till sunset. + +[FN#58] Prominent words of the Muezzin's fore-dawn call to +prayer. + +[FN#59] i.e. fall down drunk. + +[FN#60] i.e. she who ensnares [all] eyes. + +[FN#61] Imam, the spiritual title of the Khalif, as head of the +Faith and leader (lit. "foreman") of the people at prayer. + +[FN#62] Or "worldly." + +[FN#63] Or "worldly." + +[FN#64] A town and province of Arabia, of which (inter alia) Omar +ben Abdulaziz was governor, before he came to the Khalifate. + +[FN#65] Syn. munificence. + +[FN#66] About 2 pounds sterling 10 s. + +[FN#67] i.e. what is thy news? + +[FN#68] Or "I approve of him." + +[FN#69] Breslau Text, vol. vi. pp. 188-9, Night ccccxxxiv. + +[FN#70] El Hejjaj ben Yousuf eth Thekefi, a famous statesman and +soldier of the seventh and eighth centuries. He was governor of +Chaldaea (Irak Arabi), under the fifth and sixth Khalifs of the +Ommiade dynasty, and was renowned for his cruelty, but appears to +have been a prudent and capable administrator, who used no more +rigour than was necessary to restrain the proverbially turbulent +populations of Bassora and Cufa, Most of the anecdotes of his +brutality and tyranny, which abound in Arab authors, are, in all +probability, apocryphal. + +[FN#71] Used, by synecdoche, for "heads." + +[FN#72] i.e. the governed, to wit, he who is led by a halter +attached (metaphorically of course) to a ring passed through his +nose, as with a camel. + +[FN#73] i.e. the governor or he who is high of rank. + +[FN#74] i.e. their hair, which may be considered the wealth of +the head. This whole passage is a description a double-entente of +a barber-surgeon. + +[FN#75] Syn. cooking-pot. + +[FN#76] Syn. be lowered. This passage is a similar description of +an itinerant hot bean-seller. + +[FN#77] The rows of threads on a weaver's loom. + +[FN#78] Syn. levelleth. + +[FN#79] i.e. that of wood used by the Oriental weaver to govern +the warp and weft. + +[FN#80] Syn. behave aright. + +[FN#81] The loop of thread so called in which the weaver's foot +rests. + +[FN#82] Syn. eloquence. + +[FN#83] Adeb, one of the terribly comprehensive words which +abound in Arabic literature for the confusion of translators. It +signifies generally all kinds of education and means of mental +and moral discipline and seems here to mean more particularly +readiness of wit and speech or presence of mind. + +[FN#84] Breslau Text, vol. vi. pp. 189-191, Night ccccxxxiv. + +[FN#85] Syn. (Koranic) "Thou hast swerved from justice" or "been +unjust" (adeita). + +[FN#86] Syn. (Koranic) "Thou hast transgressed" (caset-ta). + +[FN#87] Or falling-away. + +[FN#88] Koran vi. 44. + +[FN#89] Or do injustice, tadilou (syn. do justice). + +[FN#90] Koran iv. 134. + +[FN#91] El casitouna (syn. those who act righteously or +equitably). + +[FN#92] Koran lxxii. 15. + +[FN#93] Name of the Persian ancestor of the Barmecide (properly +Bermeki) family. + +[FN#94] Breslau Text, vol. vi. pp. 191-343, Nights +ccccxxv-cccclxxxvii. This is the Arab version of the well-known +story called, in Persian, the Bekhtyar Nameh, i.e. the Book of +Bekhtyar, by which name the prince, whose attempted ruin by the +envious viziers is the central incident of the tale, is +distinguished in that language. The Arab redaction of the story +is, to my mind, far superior to the Persian, both in general +simplicity and directness of style and in the absence of the +irritating conceits and moral digressions with which Persian (as +well as Indian) fiction is so often overloaded. The Persian +origin of the story is apparent, not only in the turn of the +incidents and style and the names of the personages, but in the +fact that not a single line of verse occurs in it. + +[FN#95] Rawi; this is probably a copyist's mistake for raai, a +beholder, one who seeth. + +[FN#96] Lit. what was his affair? It may be here observed that +the word keif (how?) is constantly used in the Breslau Text in +the sense of ma (what?). + +[FN#97] A district of Persia, here probably Persia itself. + +[FN#98] Probably a corruption of Kisra (Chosroës). + +[FN#99] i.e. waylaying travellers, robbing on the high road. + +[FN#100] Or skill. + +[FN#101] Lit. the descended fate. + +[FN#102] The Arabs attribute to a man's parentage absolute power +in the determination of his good and evil qualities; eg. the son +of a slave, according to them, can possess none of the virtues of +the free-born, whilst good qualities are in like manner +considered congenitally inherent in the latter. + +[FN#103] Or "business." + +[FN#104] i.e. whither he should travel. + +[FN#105] About half-a-crown. + +[FN#106] It is a common practice with Eastern nations to keep a +child (especially a son and one of unusual beauty) concealed +until a certain age, for fear of the evil eye. See my "Book of +the Thousand Nights and One Night," Vol. III. p. 234; Vol. IX. p. +67, etc., etc. + +[FN#107] i.e. killing a man. + +[FN#108] i.e., it will always be in our power to slay him, when +we will. + +[FN#109] i.e. the grave. + +[FN#110] i.e. the wedding-day. + +[FN#111] i.e. thy women + +[FN#112] i.e. hath been unduly prolonged. + +[FN#113] i.e. Let thy secret thoughts and purposes be righteous, +even as thine outward profession. + +[FN#114] See my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night," Vol. +V. p. 264. + +[FN#115] Afterwards called his "chamberlain," i.e. the keeper of +the door of the harem or chief eunuch. See post, p. III. + +[FN#116] i.e. the eunuch who had dissuaded Dadbin from putting +her to death. + +[FN#117] Apparently referring to Aboulkhair (see ante p. 107), +whom Dabdin would seem to have put to death upon the vizier's +false accusation, although no previous mention of this occurs. + +[FN#118] The Arabs believe that each man's destiny is +charactered, could we decipher it, in the sutures of his skull. + +[FN#119] ie. the lex talionis, which is the essence of Muslim +jurisprudence. + +[FN#120] i.e. a soldier of fortune, going about from court to +court, in quest of service. + +[FN#121] This phrase refers to the Arab idiom, "His hand (or arm) +is long or short," i.e. he is a man of great or little puissance. + +[FN#122] The Arabs consider it a want of respect to allow the +hands or feet to remain exposed in the presence of a superior. + +[FN#123] Adeb. See ante, p. 54, note 9. + +[FN#124] i.e. that he become my son-in-law. + +[FN#125] It is a common Eastern practice to have the feet kneaded +and pressed (shampooed) for the purpose of inducing sleep, and +thus the king would habitually fall asleep with his feet on the +knees of his pages. + +[FN#126] Syn. whoso respecteth not his lord's women. + +[FN#127] i.e. a domed tomb. + +[FN#128] Of a man's life. The Muslims believe each man's last +hour to be written in a book called "The Preserved Tablet." + +[FN#129] i.e, the Autumnal Equinox, one of the two great festival +days (the other being the New Year) of the Persians. See my "Book +of the Thousand Nights and One Night," Vol. IV. p. 144. + +[FN#130] i.e. heritage. + +[FN#131] i.e. The Emperor of the Romans of the Lower Empire, so +called by the Arabs. "Caesar" is their generic term for the +Emperors of Constantinople, as is Kisra (Chosroës) for the +ancient Kings of Persia. + +[FN#132] i.e. Shah Khatoun. + +[FN#133] i.e. our power increased by his alliance, a. familiar +Arab idiom. + +[FN#134] In token of deputation of authority, a ceremony usual on +the appointment of a governor of a province. + +[FN#135] Or enigma. + +[FN#136] i.e. if my death be ordained of destiny to befall on an +early day none may avail to postpone it to a later day. + +[FN#137] Of life. See supra, note, p. 147. + +[FN#138] The hoopoe is fabled by the Muslim chroniclers to have +been to Solomon what Odin's ravens were to the Norse god. It is +said to have known all the secrets of the earth and to have +revealed them to him; hence the magical virtues attributed by the +Mohammedans to its heart. + +[FN#139] This phrase may be read either literally or in its +idiomatic sense, i.e., "Folk convicted or suspected of murder or +complicity in murder." + +[FN#140] Or purse-belt. + +[FN#141] See supra, p. 66. + +[FN#142] Khilaah, lit. that which one takes off from one's own +person, to bestow upon a messenger of good tidings or any other +whom it is desired especially to honour. The literal meaning of +the phrase, here rendered "he bestowed on him a dress of honour," +is "he put off on him [that which was upon himself." A Khilaah +commonly includes a horse, a sword, a girdle or waist-cloth and +other articles, according to the rank of the recipient, and might +more precisely be termed "a complete equipment of honour." + +[FN#143] An economical mode of rewarding merit, much in favour +with Eastern monarchs. + +[FN#144] Breslau Text, vol. vii. pp. 251-4, Night dlxv. + +[FN#145] Syn. doorkeper (hajib). + +[FN#146] Ibn Khelbkan, who tells this story in a somewhat +different style, on the authority of Er Reshid's brother Ibrahim +ben El Mehdi, calls the person whom Jaafer expected "Abdulmelik +ben Behran, the intendant of his demesnes." + +[FN#147] The wearing of silk and bright colours is forbidden to +the strict Muslim and it is generally considered proper, in a man +of position, to wear them only on festive occasions or in +private, as in the text. + +[FN#148] The Abbasides or descendants of El Abbas, the Prophet's +uncle, were noted for their excessive pride and pretensions to +strict orthodoxy in all outward observances. Abdulmelik ben +Salih, who was a well-known general and statesman of the time, +was especially renowned for pietism and austerity of manners. + +[FN#149] i.e. Do not let my presence trouble you. + +[FN#150] As a member of the reigning family, he of course wore +black clothes, that being the especial colour of the house of +Abbas, adopted by them in opposition to the rival (and fallen) +dynasty of the Benou Umeyyeh, whose family colour was white, that +of the house of Ali being green. + +[FN#151] About £25,000. Ibn Khellikan makes the debt four +millions of dirhems or about £100,000 + +[FN#152] Breslau text, vol vii, pp.258-60, Night dlxvii. + +[FN#153] Fourth Khalif of the house of Abbas, A.D. 785-786. + +[FN#154] Third Khalif of the house of Abbas, A.D. 775-785. + +[FN#155] The following is Et Teberi's version of this anecdote. +El Mehdi had presented his son Haroun with a ruby ring, worth a +hundred thousand dinars, and the latter being one day with his +brother [the then reigning Khalif], El Hadi saw the ring on his +finger and desired it. So, when Haroun went out from him, he sent +after him, to seek the ring of him. The Khalif's messenger +overtook Er Reshid on the bridge over the Tigris and acquainted +him with his errand; whereupon the prince enraged at the demand, +pulled off the ring and threw it into the river. When El Hadi +died and Er Reshid succeeded to the throne, he went with his +suite to the bridge in question and bade his Vizier Yehya ben +Khalid send for divers and cause them make search for the ring. +It had then been five months in the water and no one believed it +would be found. However, the divers plunged into the river and +found the ring in the very place where he had thrown it in, +whereat Haroun rejoiced with an exceeding joy, regarding it as a +presage of fair fortune. + +[FN#156] This is an error. Jaafer's father Yehya was appointed by +Haroun his vizier and practically continued to exercise that +office till the fall of the Barmecides (A.D. 803), his sons Fezl +and Jaafer acting only as his assistants or lieutenants. See my +Essay on the History and Character of the Book of the Thousand +Nights and One Night. + +[FN#157] Another mistake. It was Fezl, the Khalif's +foster-brother, to whom he used to give this title. + +[FN#158] A third mistake. The whole period during which the +empire was governed by Yehya and his sons was only seventeen +years, i.e. A.D 786-803, but see my Essay. + +[FN#159] The apparent meaning of this somewhat obscure saying is, +"Since fortune is uncertain, conciliate the favour of those with +whom thou hast to do by kind offices, so thou mayst find refuge +with them in time of need." + +[FN#160] For a detailed account of the Barmecides and of their +fall, see my Essay. + +[FN#161] Breslau Text, vol. vii. pp. 260-1, Night dlxviii. + +[FN#162] Aboulabbas Mohammed Ibn Sabih, surnamed Ibn es Semmak +(son of the fishmonger), a well-known Cufan jurisconsult and +ascetic of the time. He passed the latter part of his life at +Baghdad and enjoyed high favour with Er Reshid, as the only +theological authority whom the latter could induce to promise him +admission to Paradise. + +[FN#163] Breslau Text, vol. vii. pp. 261-2, Night dlxviii. + +[FN#164] Seventh Khalif of the house of Abbas, A.D. 813-33. + +[FN#165] Sixth Khalif of the house of Abbas, A.D. 809-13, a +sanguinary and incapable prince, whose contemplated treachery +against his brother El Mamoun, (whom, by the advice of his +vizier, the worthless intriguer Fezl ben Rebya, the same who was +one of the prime movers in the ruin of the illustrious Barmecide +family and who succeeded Yehya and his sons in the vizierate (see +my Essay), he contemplated depriving of his right of succession +and murdering,) was deservedly requited with the loss of his own +kingdom and life. He was, by the way, put to death by El Mamoun's +general, in contravention of the express orders of that generous +and humane prince, who wished his brother to be sent prisoner to +him, on the capture of Baghdad. + +[FN#166] i.e. forfeits. It is a favourite custom among the Arabs +to impose on the loser of a game, in lieu of stakes, the +obligation of doing whatsoever the winner may command him. For an +illustration of this practice, see my "Book of the Thousand +Nights and One Night," Vol. V. pp. 336-41, Story of the +Sandalwood Merchant and the Sharpers. + +[FN#167] El Mamoun was of a very swarthy complexion and is said +to have been the son of a black slave-girl. Zubeideh was Er +Reshid's cousin, and El Amin was, therefore, a member of the +house of Abbas, both on the father's and mother's side. Of this +purity of descent from the Prophet's family (in which he is said +to have stood alone among the Khalifs of the Abbaside dynasty) +both himself and his mother were exceedingly proud, and it was +doubtless this circumstance which led Er Reshid to prefer El Amin +and to assign him the precedence in the succession over the more +capable and worthier El Mamoun. + +[FN#168] Breslau Text, vol. viii. pp. 226-9, Nights dclx-i. + +[FN#169] A pre-Mohammedan King of the Arab kingdom of Hireh (a +town near Cufa on the Euphrates), under the suzerainty of the +Chosroes of Persia, and a cruel and fantastic tyrant. + +[FN#170] The tribe to which belonged the renowned pre-Mohammedan +chieftain and poet, Hatim Tal, so celebrated in the East for his +extravagant generosity and hospitality. + +[FN#171] i.e. I will make a solemn covenant with him before God. + +[FN#172] i.e. he of the tribe of Tai. + +[FN#173] In generosity. + +[FN#174] A similar anecdote is told of Omar ben el Khettab, +second successor of Mohammed, and will be found in my "Book of +the Thousand Nights and One Night," Vol. IV. p. 239. + +[FN#175] Breslau Text, vol. viii. pp. 273-8, Nights dclxxv--vi. + +[FN#176] A similar story will be found in my "Book of the +Thousand Nights and One Night", Vol. V. p. 263. + +[FN#177] Breslau Text, vol xi. pp. 84-318, Nights +dccclxxv-dccccxxx. + +[FN#178] i.e. A pilgrimage. Pilgrimage is one of a Muslim's +urgent duties. + +[FN#179] By a rhetorical figure, Mecca is sometimes called El +Hejj (the Pilgrimage) and this appears to be the case here. It is +one of the dearest towns in the East and the chief occupation of +its inhabitants a the housing and fleecing of pilgrims. An Arab +proverb says, "There is no place in which money goes [so fast] as +it goes in Mecca." + +[FN#180] lit. loved with it. + +[FN#181] It is not clear what is here meant by El Hejj; perhaps +Medina, though this is a "visitation" and not an obligatory part +of the pilgrimage. The passage is probably corrupt. + +[FN#182] It is not clear what is here meant by El Hejj; perhaps +Medina, though this is a "visitation" and not an obligatory part +of the pilgrimage. The passage is probably corrupt. + +[FN#183] Syn. whole or perfect (sehik). + +[FN#184] i.e. in white woollen garments. + +[FN#185] i.e. I desire a privy place, where I may make the +preliminary ablution and pray. + +[FN#186] It is customary in the East to give old men and women +the complimentary title of "pilgrim," assuming, as a matter of +course, that they have performed the obligatory rite of +pilgrimage. + +[FN#187] Or saint. + +[FN#188] Keniseh, a Christian or other non-Muslim place of +worship. + +[FN#189] Apparently the harem. + +[FN#190] i.e. otherwise than according to God's ordinance. + +[FN#191] A city of Persian Irak. + +[FN#192] Lit. its apparatus, i.e. spare strings, etc.? + +[FN#193] i.e. the woman whose face he saw. + +[FN#194] Lit. the place of battle, i.e. that where they had lain. + +[FN#195] A common Eastern fashion of securing a shop, when left +for a short time. The word shebekeh (net) may also be tendered a +grating or network of iron or other metal. + +[FN#196] i.e. gave her good measure. + +[FN#197] i.e. she found him a good workman. Equivoque erotique, +apparently founded on the to-and-fro movement of the shuttle in +weaving. + +[FN!198] Equivoque érotique. + +[FN#199] i.e. removed the goods exposed for sale and laid them up +in the inner shop or storehouse. + +[FN#200] The Eastern oven is generally a great earthenware jar +sunken in the earth. + +[FN#201] i.e. a boughten white slave (memlouk). + +[FN#202] Apparently changing places. The text is here fearfully +corrupt and (as in many other parts of the Breslau Edition) so +incoherent as to be almost unintelligible. + +[FN#203] i.e. in the (inner) courtyard. + +[FN#204] i.e. the essential nature, lit. jewel. + +[FN#205] i.e. in proffering thee the kingship. + +[FN#206] Without the city. + +[FN#207] According to the conclusion of the story, this +recompense consisted in an augmentation of the old man's +allowances of food. See post, p. 245. + +[FN#208] i.e. I have given my opinion. + +[FN#209] This passage is evidently corrupt. I have amended it, on +conjecture, to the best of my power. + +[FN#210] The words ruteb wa menazil, here rendered "degrees and +dignities," may also be rendered, "stations and mansions (of the +moon and planets)." + +[FN#211] Syn. "ailing" or "sickly." + +[FN#212] i.e. the caravan with which he came. + +[FN#213] i.e. I seek to marry thy daughter, not for her own sake, +but because I desire thine alliance. + +[FN#214] i.e. the face of his bride. + +[FN#215] i.e. his wife. + +[FN#216] i.e. his wife. + +[FN#217] Naming the poor man. + +[FN#218] Naming his daughter. + +[FN#219] i.e. united. + +[FN#220] Or "humble." + +[FN#221] i.e. one another. + +[FN#222] Or "conquer." + +[FN#223] Or "commandment." + +[FN#224] Lit. "will be higher than." + +[FN#225] Syn. device or resource (hileh). + +[FN#226] Syn. chasten or instruct. + +[FN#227] Students of our old popular poetry will recognize, in +the principal incident of this story, the subject of the +well-known ballad, "The Heir of Linne." + +[FN#228] i.e. Turcomans; afterwards called Sejestan. + +[FN#229] With a pile of stones or some such landmark. + +[FN#230] i.e. the extraordinary resemblance of the supposed +sister to his wife. + +[FN#231] The foregoing passage is evidently very corrupt and the +meaning is by no means plain, but, in the absence of a parallel +version, it is impossible to clear up the obscurity of the text. + +[FN#232] This appears to be the sense of the text; but the whole +passage is to obscure and corrupt that it is impossible to make +sure of its exact meaning. + +[FN#233] Meaning apparently, "thou puttest my devices to nought" +or (perhaps) "thou art so skilful that I fear lest thou undermine +my favour with the king and oust me from my post of vizier." + +[FN#234] Lit. "land;" but the meaning is evidently as in the +text. + +[FN#235] The reader will recognize the well-known story used by +Chaucer, Boccaccio and La Fontaine. + +[FN#236] Syn. flourishing. + +[FN#237] Syn. depopulated. + +[FN#238] Lit. an oppressor. + +[FN#239] i.e. a man of commanding presence. + +[FN#240] Syn. cause flourish. + +[FN#241] Syn. depopulateth. + +[FN#242] Lit. the year. + +[FN#243] The whole of the tither's account of himself is terribly +obscure and so corrupt that it is hardly possible to make sense +of it. The same remark applies to much of the rest of the story. + +[FN#244] Or "cause flourish." + +[FN#245] Lit. a better theologian. The Muslim law being entirely +based on the Koran and the Traditions of the Prophet, the terms +"lawyer" and "theologian" are necessarily synonymous among +Mohammedan peoples. + +[FN#246] A danic is the sixth of a dirhem, i.e. about one penny. + +[FN#247] i.e. say, "May I be [triply] divorced from my wife, if +etc.!" By the Muslim law, a divorce three times pronounced is +irrevocable, and in case of its appearing that the user of such +an oath as the above had sworn falsely, his wife would become +divorced by operation of law, without further ceremony. Hence the +frequency and binding nature of the oath in question. + +[FN#248] i.e. thousandfold cuckold. + +[FN#249] i.e. the blows which the thief had given him. + +[FN#250] i.e. at least, at the most moderate reckoning. + +[FN#251] Or "Breath of God," a title given to Jesus by the +Mohammedans. + +[FN#252] i.e. attaineth his desire. + +[FN#253] Syn. guards. + +[FN#254] i.e. the husbandman. + +[FN#255] i.e. those bound to render suit and service to the king, +as holders of fiefs. + +[FN#256] Syn. the revenue or rent-charge of thy fief. + +[FN#257] Heads of families? + +[FN#258] Or "caused flourish." + +[FN#259] Or froward. + +[FN#260] i.e. sold and spent the price of. + +[FN#261] i.e. his lack of means to entertain her. + +[FN#262] i.e. all that can conduce to. + +[FN#263] i.e. it is for you (after God) to excuse me. + +[FN#264] i.e. the [supposed] rest of his hoard. + +[FN#265] Apparently the idiot's name. + +[FN#266] i.e. had he been on his own guard against that, etc. + + +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 SECOND. + + + + 1901 + + Delhi Edition + + + Contents of The Second Volume. + + + + Breslau Text. + +1. King Shah Bekht and His Vizier Er Rehwan (Continued) + a. Story of the Pious Woman Accused of Lewdness + b. Story of the Journeyman and the Girl + c. Story of the Weaver Who Became a Physician by His + Wife's Commandment + d. Story of the Two Sharpers Who Cheated Each His Fellow + e. Story of the Sharpers with the Money-Changer and the + Ass + f. Story of the Sharper and the Merchants + i. Story of the Hawk and the Locust + g. Story Op the King and His Chamberlain Wife + h. Story of the Old Woman and the Draper's Wife + i. Story of the Foul-favoured Man and His Fair Wife + j. Story of the King Who Lost Kingdom and Wife and Wealth + and God Restored Them To Him + k. Story of Selim and Selma + l. Story of the King of Hind and His Vizier +2. El Melik Ez Zahir Rukneddin Bibers El Bunducdari and the + Sixteen Officers Of Police + a. The First Officer's Story + b. The Second Officer's Story + c. The Third Officer's Story + d. The Fourth Officer's Story + e. The Fifth Officer's Story + f. The Sixth Officer's Story + g. The Seventh Officer's Story + h. The Eighth Officer's Story + i. The Thief's Story + i. The Ninth Officer's Story + j. The Tenth Officer's Story + k. The Eleventh Officer's Story + l. The Twelfth Officer's Story + m. The Thirteenth Officer's Story + n. The Fourteenth Officer's Story + i. A Merry Jest of a Thief + ii. Story of the Old Sharper + o. The Fifteenth Officer's Story + p. The Sixteenth Officer's Story +3. Abdallah Ben Nafi and the King's Son of Cashghar + a. Story of the Damsel Tuhfet El Culoub and the Khalif + Haroun Er Reshid + + Calcutta (1814-8) Text + +4. Women's Craft + + + + Breslau Text. + + + + King Shah Bekht and His Vizier Er Rehwan + (continued). + + + + The Eighteenth Night of the Month. + +When the evening evened, the king summoned the vizier and +required of him the [promised] story; so he said, "It is well. +Know, O king, that + + + + + + + STORY OF THE PIOUS WOMAN ACCUSED OF + LEWDNESS. + + + +There was once a man of Nishapour,[FN#1] who had a wife of the +utmost loveliness and piety, and he was minded to set out on the +pilgrimage. So he commended his wife to the care of his brother +and besought him to aid her in her affairs and further her to her +desires till he should return, so they both abode alive and well. +Then he took ship and departed and his absence was prolonged. +Meanwhile, the brother went in to his brother's wife, at all +times and seasons, and questioned her of her circumstances and +went about her occasions; and when his visits to her were +prolonged and he heard her speech and looked upon her face, the +love of her gat hold upon his heart and he became distraught with +passion for her and his soul prompted him [to evil]. So he +besought her to lie with him, but she refused and chid him for +his foul deed, and he found him no way unto presumption;[FN#2] +wherefore he importuned her with soft speech and gentleness. + +Now she was righteous in all her dealings and swerved not from +one word;[FN#3] so, when he saw that she consented not unto him, +he misdoubted that she would tell his brother, when he returned +from his journey, and said to her, 'An thou consent not to this +whereof I require thee, I will cause thee fall into suspicion and +thou wilt perish.' Quoth she, 'Be God (extolled be His perfection +and exalted be He!) [judge] betwixt me and thee, and know that, +shouldst thou tear me limb from limb, I would not consent to that +whereto thou biddest me.' His folly[FN#4] persuaded him that she +would tell her husband; so, of his exceeding despite, he betook +himself to a company of people in the mosque and told them that +he had witnessed a man commit adultery with his brother's wife. +They believed his saying and took act of his accusation and +assembled to stone her. Then they dug her a pit without the city +and seating her therein, stoned her, till they deemed her dead, +when they left her. + +Presently a villager passed by [the pit and finding] her [alive,] +carried her to his house and tended her, [till she recovered]. +Now, he had a son, and when the young man saw her, he loved her +and besought her of herself; but she refused and consented not to +him, whereupon he redoubled in love and longing and despite +prompted him to suborn a youth of the people of his village and +agree with him that he should come by night and take somewhat +from his father's house and that, when he was discovered, he +should say that she was of accord with him in this and avouch +that she was his mistress and had been stoned on his account in +the city. So he did this and coming by night to the villager's +house, stole therefrom goods and clothes; whereupon the old man +awoke and seizing the thief, bound him fast and beat him, to make +him confess. So he confessed against the woman that she had +prompted him to this and that he was her lover from the city. The +news was bruited abroad and the people of the city assembled to +put her to death; but the old man, with whom she was, forbade +them and said, 'I brought this woman hither, coveting the +recompense [of God,] and I know not [the truth of] that which is +said of her and will not suffer any to hurt her.' Then he gave +her a thousand dirhems, by way of alms, and put her forth of the +village. As for the thief, he was imprisoned for some days; after +which the folk interceded for him with the old man, saying, 'This +is a youth and indeed he erred;' and he released him. + +Meanwhile, the woman went out at hazard and donning devotee's +apparel, fared on without ceasing, till she came to a city and +found the king's deputies dunning the towns-folk for the tribute, +out of season. Presently, she saw a man, whom they were pressing +for the tribute; so she enquired of his case and being acquainted +therewith, paid down the thousand dirhems for him and delivered +him from beating; whereupon he thanked her and those who were +present. When he was set free, he accosted her and besought her +to go with him to his dwelling. So she accompanied him thither +and supped with him and passed the night. When the night darkened +on him, his soul prompted him to evil, for that which he saw of +her beauty and loveliness, and he lusted after her and required +her [of love]; but she repelled him and bade him fear God the +Most High and reminded him of that which she had done with him of +kindness and how she had delivered him from beating and +humiliation. + +However, he would not be denied, and when he saw her [constant] +refusal of herself to him, he feared lest she should tell the +folk of him. So, when he arose in the morning, he took a scroll +and wrote in it what he would of forgery and falsehood and going +up to the Sultan's palace, said, '[I have] an advisement [for the +king].' So he bade admit him and he delivered him the writ that +he had forged, saying, 'I found this letter with the woman, the +devotee, the ascetic, and indeed she is a spy, a secret informer +against the king to his enemy; and I deem the king's due more +incumbent on me than any other and his advisement the first +[duty], for that he uniteth in himself all the people, and but +for the king's presence, the subjects would perish; wherefore I +have brought [thee] warning.' The king put faith in his words and +sent with him those who should lay hands upon the woman and put +her to death; but they found her not. + +As for the woman, whenas the man went out from her, she resolved +to depart; so she went forth, saying in herself, 'There is no +journeying for me in woman's attire.' Then she donned men's +apparel, such as is worn of the pious, and set out and wandered +over the earth; nor did she leave going till she entered a +certain city. Now the king of that city had an only daughter in +whom he gloried and whom he loved, and she saw the devotee and +deeming her a pilgrim youth, said to her father, 'I would fain +have this youth take up his abode with me, so I may learn of him +wisdom and renunciation and religion.' Her father rejoiced in +this and commanded the [supposed] pilgrim to take up his sojourn +with his daughter in his palace. Now they were in one place and +the king's daughter was strenuous to the utterest in continence +and chastity and nobility of mind and magnanimity and devotion to +the worship of God; but the ignorant slandered her[FN#5] and the +folk of the realm said, 'The king's daughter loveth the pilgrim +youth and he loveth her.' + +Now the king was a very old man and destiny decreed the ending of +his term of life; so he died and when he was buried, the folk +assembled and many were the sayings of the people and of the +king's kinsfolk and officers, and they took counsel together to +slay the princess and the young pilgrim, saying, 'This fellow +dishonoureth us with yonder strumpet and none accepteth dishonour +but the base.' So they fell upon them and slew the princess, +without questioning her of aught; whereupon the pious woman (whom +they deemed a boy) said to them, 'Out on ye, O misbelievers I Ye +have slain the pious lady.' Quoth they, 'Lewd fellow that thou +art, dost thou bespeak us thus? Thou lovedst her and she loved +thee, and we will slay thee without mercy.' 'God forbid!' +answered she, 'Indeed, the affair is the contrary of this.' 'What +proof hast thou of that?' asked they, and she said, 'Bring me +women.' So they brought her women, and when they looked on her, +they found her a woman. + +When the townsfolk saw this, they repented of that which they had +done and the affair was grievous to them; so they sought pardon +[of God] and said to her, ' By the virtue of Him whom thou +servest, do thou seek pardon for us [of God!]' Quoth she, 'As for +me, I may no longer abide with you and I am about to depart from +you.' Then they humbled themselves in supplication to her and +wept and said to her, 'We conjure thee, by the virtue of God the +Most High, that thou take upon thyself the governance of the +kingdom and of the subjects.' But she refused; whereupon they +came up to her and wept and gave not over supplicating her, till +she consented and abode in the kingship. Her first commandment +was that they should bury the princess and build over her a +dome[FN#6] and she abode in that palace, worshipping God the Most +High and ruling the people with justice, and God (extolled be His +perfection and exalted be He!) vouchsafed her, by reason of the +excellence of her piety and her patience and continence, the +acceptance of her prayers, so that she sought not aught of Him to +whom belong might and majesty, but He granted her prayer; and her +report was noised abroad in all countries. + +So the folk resorted to her from all parts and she used to pray +God (to whom belong might and majesty) for the oppressed and God +granted him relief, and against his oppressor, and He broke him +in sunder. Moreover, she prayed for the sick and they were made +whole; and on this wise she abode a great space of time. As for +her husband, when he returned from the pilgrimage, his brother +and the neighbours acquainted him with his wife's affair, whereat +he was sore concerned and misdoubted of their story, for that +which he knew of her chastity and prayerfulness; and he wept for +her loss. + +Meanwhile, she prayed to God the Most High that He would +establish her innocence in the eyes of her husband and the folk. +So He sent down upon her husband's brother a sore disease and +none knew a remedy for him; wherefore he said to his brother, ' +In such a city is a pious woman, a recluse, and her prayers are +answered; so do thou carry me to her, that she may pray for me +and God (to whom belong might and majesty) may make me whole of +this sickness.' Accordingly, he took him up and fared on with +him, till they came to the village where dwelt the old man, who +had rescued the woman from the pit and carried her to his +dwelling and tended her there, [till she recovered]. + +Here they halted and took up their lodging with the old man, who +questioned the husband of his case and that of his brother and +the reason of their journey, and he said, 'I purpose to go with +my brother, this sick man, to the holy woman, her whose prayers +are answered, so she may pray for him and God may make him whole +by the blessing of her prayers.' Quoth the villager, 'By Allah, +my son is in a parlous plight for sickness and we have heard that +the holy woman prayeth for the sick and they are made whole. +Indeed, the folk counsel me to carry him to her, and behold, I +will go in company with you. And they said, 'It is well.' So they +passed the night in that intent and on the morrow they set out +for the dwelling of the holy woman, this one carrying his son and +that his brother. + +Now the man who had stolen the clothes and forged a lie against +the pious woman, pretending that he was her lover, sickened of a +sore sickness, and his people took him up and set out with him to +visit the holy woman, and Destiny brought them all together by +the way. So they fared on, till they came to the city wherein the +man dwelt for whom she had paid a thousand dirhems, to deliver +him from torment, and found him about to travel to her, by reason +of a sickness that had betided him. So they all fared on +together, unknowing that the holy woman was she whom they had so +foully wronged, and ceased not going till they came to her city +and foregathered at the gates of her palace, to wit, that wherein +was the tomb of the king's daughter. + +Now the folk used to go in to her and salute her and crave her +prayers; and it was her wont to pray for none till he had +confessed to her his sins, when she would seek pardon for him and +pray for him that he might be healed, and he was straightway made +whole of sickness, by permission of God the Most High. [So, when +the four sick men were brought in to her,] she knew them +forthright, though they knew her not, and said to them, ' Let +each of you confess his sins, so I may crave pardon for him and +pray for him.' And the brother said, 'As for me, I required my +brother's wife of herself and she refused; whereupon despite and +folly[FN#7] prompted me and I lied against her and accused her to +the townsfolk of adultery; so they stoned her and slew her +unjustly and unrighteously; and this is the issue of unright and +falsehood and of the slaying of the [innocent] soul, whose +slaughter God hath forbidden.' + +Then said the young man, the villager's son, 'And I, O holy +woman, my father brought us a woman who had been stoned, and my +people tended her till she recovered. Now she was surpassing of +beauty; so I required her of herself; but she refused and clave +fast to God (to whom belong might and majesty), wherefore +folly[FN#8] prompted me, so that I agreed with one of the youths +that he should steal clothes and coin from my father's house. +Then I laid hands on him [and carried him] to my father and made +him confess. So he avouched that the woman was his mistress from +the city and had been stoned on his account and that she was of +accord with him concerning the theft and had opened the doors to +him, and this was a lie against her, for that she had not yielded +to me in that which I sought of her. So there befell me what ye +see of punishment." And the young man, the thief, said, 'I am he +with whom thou agreedst concerning the theft and to whom thou +openedst the door, and I am he who avouched against her falsely +and calumniously and God (extolled be His perfection and exalted +be He!) knoweth that I never did evil with her, no, nor knew her +in any wise before then.' + +Then said he whom she had delivered from torture and for whom she +had paid a thousand dirhems and who had required her of herself +in his house, for that her beauty pleased him, and [when she +refused to yield to him] had forged a letter against her and +treacherously denounced her to the Sultan and requited her bounty +with ingratitude, 'I am he who wronged her and lied against her, +and this is the issue of the oppressor's affair.' + +When she heard their words, in the presence of the folk, she +said, 'Praise be to God, the King who availeth unto all things, +and blessing upon His prophets and apostles!' Then quoth she [to +the assembly], ' Bear witness, O ye who are present, to these +men's speech, and know that I am that woman whom they confess +that they wronged.' And she turned to her husband's brother and +said to him, 'I am thy brother's wife and God (extolled be His +perfection and exalted be He I) delivered me from that whereinto +thou castedst me of false accusation and suspect and from the +frowardness whereof thou hast spoken, and [now] hath He shown +forth my innocence, of His bounty and generosity. Go, for thou +art absolved of the wrong thou didst me.' Then she prayed for him +and he was made whole of his sickness. + +Then said she to the villager's son, 'Know that I am the woman +whom thy father delivered from harm and stress and whom there +betided from thee of false accusation and frowardness that which +thou hast named.' And she craved pardon for him and he was made +whole of his sickness. [Then said she to the thief, 'I am she +against whom thou liedst, avouching that I was thy mistress, who +had been stoned on thine account, and that I was of accord with +thee concerning the robbing of the villager's house and had +opened the doors to thee.' And she prayed for him and he was made +whole of his sickness.] Then said she to [the townsman], him of +the tribute, 'I am she who gave thee the [thousand] dirhems and +thou didst with me what thou didst.' And she craved pardon for +him and prayed for him and he was made whole; whereupon the folk +marvelled at her oppressors, who had been afflicted alike, so God +(extolled be His perfection and exalted be He!) might show forth +her innocence before witnesses. + +Then she turned to the old man who had delivered her from the pit +and prayed for him and gave him presents galore and among them a +myriad of money;[FN#9] and they all departed from her, except her +husband. When she was alone with him, she made him draw near unto +her and rejoiced in his coming and gave him the choice of abiding +with her. Moreover, she assembled the people of the city and set +out to them his virtue and worth and counselled them to invest +him with the charge of their governance and besought them to make +him king over them. They fell in with her of this and he became +king and took up his abode amongst them, whilst she gave herself +up to her religious exercises and abode with her husband on such +wise as she was with him aforetime.[FN#10] Nor," added the +vizier, "is this story, O king of the time, more extraordinary or +more delightful than that of the journeyman and the girl whose +belly he slit and fled." + +When King Shah Bekht heard this, he said, "Most like all they say +of the vizier is leasing and his innocence will appear, even as +that of the pious woman appeared." Then he comforted the vizier's +heart and bade him go to his house. + + The Nineteenth Night of the Month. + +When the evening evened, the king bade fetch the vizier and +required of him the story of the journeyman and the girl. So he +said, "Hearkening and obedience. Know, O august king, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE JOURNEYMAN AND THE GIRL. + + + +There was once, of old time, in one of the tribes of the Arabs, a +woman great with child by her husband, and they had a hired +servant, a man of excellent understanding. When the woman came to +[the time of her] delivery, she gave birth to a maid-child in the +night and they sought fire of the neighbours. So the journeyman +went in quest of fire. + +Now there was in the camp a wise woman,[FN#11] and she questioned +him of the new-born child, if it was male or female. Quoth he, +'It is a girl;' and she said, 'She shall do whoredom with a +hundred men and a journeyman shall marry her and a spider shall +slay her.' When the journeyman heard this, he returned upon his +steps and going in to the woman, took the child from her by wile +and slit its paunch. Then he fled forth into the desert at a +venture and abode in strangerhood what [while] God willed. + +He gained him wealth and returning to his native land, after +twenty years' absence, alighted in the neighbourhood of an old +woman, whom he bespoke fair and entreated with liberality, +requiring of her a wench whom he might lie withal. Quoth she, 'I +know none but a certain fair woman, who is renowned for this +fashion.'[FN#12] Then she described her charms to him and made +him lust after her, and he said, 'Hasten to her forthright and +lavish unto her that which she asketh, [in exchange for her +favours].' So the old woman betook herself to the damsel and +discovered to her the man's wishes and bade her to him; but she +answered, saying, 'It is true that I was on this [fashion of] +whoredom [aforetime]; but now I have repented to God the Most +High and hanker no more after this; nay, I desire lawful +marriage; so, if he be content with that which is lawful, I am at +his service.' + +The old woman returned to the man and told him what the damsel +said; and he lusted after her, by reason of her beauty and her +repentance; so he took her to wife, and when he went in to her, +he loved her and she also loved him. On this wise they abode a +great while, till one day he questioned her of the cause of a +mark[FN#13] he espied on her body, and she said, 'I know nought +thereof save that my mother told me a marvellous thing concerning +it.' 'What was that?' asked he, and she answered, 'She avouched +that she gave birth to me one night of the nights of the winter +and despatched a hired man, who was with us, in quest of fire for +her. He was absent a little while and presently returning, took +me and slit my belly and fled. When my mother saw this, +affliction overcame her and compassion possessed her; so she +sewed up my belly and tended me till, by the ordinance of God (to +whom belong might and majesty), the wound healed up." + +When her husband heard this, he said to her, 'What is thy name +and what are the names of thy father and mother?' She told him +their names and her own, whereby he knew that it was she whose +belly he had slit and said to her, 'And where are thy father and +mother?' 'They are both dead,' answered she, and he said, 'I am +that journeyman who slit thy belly.' Quoth she, 'Why didst thou +that?' And he replied, 'Because of a saying I heard from the wise +woman.' 'What was it?' asked his wife, and he said, 'She avouched +that thou wouldst play the harlot with a hundied men and that I +should after take thee to wife.' Quoth she, 'Ay, I have whored it +with a hundred men, no more and no less, and behold, thou hast +married me.' 'Moreover,' continued her husband, 'the wise woman +foresaid, also, that thou shouldst die, at the last of thy life, +of the bite of a spider. Indeed, her saying hath been verified of +the harlotry and the marriage, and I fear lest her word come true +no less in the matter of thy death.' + +Then they betook themselves to a place without the city, where he +builded him a mansion of solid stone and white plaster and +stopped its inner [walls] and stuccoed them; yea, he left not +therein cranny nor crevice and set in it two serving-women to +sweep and wipe, for fear of spiders. Here he abode with his wife +a great while, till one day he espied a spider on the ceiling and +beat it down. When his wife saw it, she said, 'This is that which +the wise woman avouched would kill me; so, by thy life [I conjure +thee], suffer me to slay it with mine own hand.' Her husband +forbade her from this, but she conjured him to let her kill the +spider; then, of her fear and her eagerness, she took a piece of +wood and smote it. The wood broke in sunder, of the force of the +blow, and a splinter from it entered her hand and wrought upon +it, so that it swelled. Then her arm swelled also and the +swelling spread to her side and thence grew till it reached her +heart and she died. Nor," added the vizier, "is this more +extraordinary or more wonderful than the story of the weaver who +became a physician by his wife's commandment." + +When the king heard this, his admiration redoubled and he said, +"Of a truth, destiny is forewritten to all creatures, and I will +not accept[FN#14] aught that is said against my vizier the loyal +counsellor." And he bade him go to his house. + + The Twentieth Night of the Month. + +When the evening evened, the king let call his vizier and he +presented himself before him, whereupon he required of him the +hearing of the [promised] story. So he said, "Hearkening and +obedience. Know, O king. that + + + + + + STORY OF THE WEAVER WHO BECAME A + PHYSICIAN BY HIS WIFE'S COMMANDMENT. + + + +There was once, in the land of Fars,[FN#15] a man who took to +wife a woman higher than himself in rank and nobler of lineage, +but she had no guardian to preserve her from want. It misliked +her to marry one who was beneath her; nevertheless, she married +him, because of need, and took of him a bond in writing to the +effect that he would still be under her commandment and +forbiddance and would nowise gainsay her in word or deed. Now the +man was a weaver and he bound himself in writing to pay his wife +ten thousand dirhems, [in case he should make default in the +condition aforesaid]. + +On this wise they abode a long while till one day the wife went +out in quest of water, whereof she had need, and espied a +physician who had spread a carpet in the Thereon he had set out +great store of drugs and implements of medicine and he was +speaking and muttering [charms], whilst the folk flocked to him +and compassed him about on every side. The weaver's wife +marvelled at the largeness of the physician's fortune[FN#16] and +said in herself, 'Were my husband thus, he would have an easy +life of it and that wherein we are of straitness and misery would +be enlarged unto him.' + +Then she returned home, troubled and careful; and when her +husband saw her on this wise, he questioned her of her case and +she said to him, 'Verily, my breast is straitened by reason of +thee and of the simpleness of thine intent. Straitness liketh me +not and thou in thy [present] craft gaiuest nought; so either do +thou seek out a craft other than this or pay me my due[FN#17] and +let me go my way.' Her husband chid her for this and admonished +her;[FN#18] but she would not be turned from her intent and said +to him, 'Go forth and watch yonder physician how he doth and leam +from him what he saith.' Quoth he, 'Let not thy heart be +troubled: I will go every day to the physician's assembly.' + +So he fell to resorting daily to the physician and committing to +memory his sayings and that which he spoke of jargon, till he had +gotten a great matter by heart, and all this he studied throughly +and digested it. Then he returned to his wife and said to her, 'I +have committed the physician's sayings to memory and have learned +his fashion of muttering and prescribing and applying +remedies[FN#19] and have gotten by heart the names of the +remedies and of all the diseases, and there abideth nought +[unaccomplished] of thy commandment. What wilt thou have me do +now?' Quoth she, 'Leave weaving and open thyself a physician's +shop.' But he answered, 'The people of my city know me and this +affair will not profit me, save in a land of strangerhood; so +come, let us go out from this city and get us to a strange land +and [there] live.' And she said, 'Do as thou wilt.' + +So he arose and taking his weaving gear, sold it and bought with +the price drugs and simples and wrought himself a carpet, with +which they set out and journeyed to a certain village, where they +took up their abode. Then the man donned a physician's habit and +fell to going round about the hamlets and villages and country +parts; and he began to earn his living and make gain. Their +affairs prospered and their case was bettered; wherefore they +praised God for their present ease and the village became to them +a home. + +[On this wise he abode a pretty while] and the days ceased not +and the nights to transport him from country to country, till he +came to the land of the Greeks and lighted down in a city of the +cities thereof, wherein was Galen the Sage; but the weaver knew +him not, nor was he ware who he was. So he went forth, according +to his wont, in quest of a place where the folk might assemble +together, and hired Galen's courtyard.[FN#20] There he spread his +carpet and setting out thereon his drugs and instruments of +medicine, praised himself and his skill and vaunted himself of +understanding such as none but he might claim. + +Galen heard that which he avouched of his understanding and it +was certified unto him and established in his mind that the man +was a skilled physician of the physicians of the Persians and [he +said in himself], 'Except he had confidence in his knowledge and +were minded to confront me and contend with me, he had not sought +the door of my house neither spoken that which he hath spoken.' +And concern gat hold upon Galen and doubt. Then he looked out +upon[FN#21] the weaver and addressed himself to see what he +should do, whilst the folk began to flock to him and set out to +him their ailments, and he would answer them thereof [and +prescribe for them], hitting the mark one while and missing it +another, so that there appeared unto Galen of his fashion nothing +whereby his mind might be assured that he had formed a just +opinion of his skill. + +Presently, up came a woman with a phial of urine, and when the +[mock] physician saw the phial afar off, he said to her, 'This is +the urine of a man, a stranger.' 'Yes,' answered she; and he +continued, 'Is he not a Jew and is not his ailment indigestion?' +'Yes,' replied the woman, and the folk marvelled at this; +wherefore the man was magnified in Galen's eyes, for that he +heard speech such as was not of the usage of physicians, seeing +that they know not urine but by shaking it and looking into it +anear neither know they a man's water from a woman's water, nor a +stranger's [from a countryman's], nor a Jew's from a +Sherifs.[FN#22] Then said the woman, 'What is the remedy?' Quoth +the weaver, 'Pay down the fee.' So she paid him a dirhem and he +gave her medicines contrary to that ailment and such as would +aggravate the patient's malady. + +When Galen saw what appeared to him of the [mock] physician's +incapacity, he turned to his disciples and pupils and bade them +fetch the other, with all his gear and drugs. So they brought him +into his presence on the speediest wise, and when Galen saw him +before him, he said to him, 'Knowest thou me?' ' No,' answered +the other, 'nor did I ever set eyes on thee before this day.' +Quoth the sage, 'Dost thou know Galen?' And the weaver said, +'No.' Then said Galen, 'What prompted thee to that which thou +dost?' So he related to him his story and gave him to know of the +dowry and the obligation by which he was bound with regard to his +wife, whereat Galen marvelled and certified himself of the matter +of the dower. + +Then he bade lodge him near himself and was bountiful to him and +took him apart and said to him, 'Expound to me the story of the +phial and whence then knewest that the water therein was that of +a man, and he a stranger and a Jew, and that his ailment was +indigestion?' ' It is well,' answered the weaver. ' Thou must +know that we people of Persia are skilled in physiognomy[FN#23] +and I saw the woman to be rosy-cheeked, blue-eyed and tall. Now +these attributes belong to women who are enamoured of a man and +are distraught for love of him;[FN#24] moreover, I saw her +consumed [with anxiety]; wherefore I knew that the patient was +her husband. As for his strangerhood, I observed that the woman's +attire differed from that of the people of the city, wherefore I +knew that she was a stranger; and in the mouth of the phial I +espied a yellow rag,[FN#25] whereby I knew that the patient was a +Jew and she a Jewess. Moreover, she came to me on the first day +[of the week];[FN#26] and it is the Jews' custom to take +pottages[FN#27] and meats that have been dressed overnight[FN#28] +and eat them on the Sabbath day,[FN#29] hot and cold, and they +exceed in eating; wherefore indigestion betideth them. On this +wise I was directed and guessed that which thou hast heard.' + +When Galen heard this, he ordered the weaver the amount of his +wife's dowry and bade him pay it to her and divorce her. +Moreover, he forbade him from returning to the practice of physic +and warned him never again to take to wife a woman of better +condition than himself; and he gave him his spending-money and +bade him return to his [former] craft. Nor," added the vizier, +"is this more extraordinary or rarer than the story of the two +sharpers who cozened each his fellow." + +When King Shah Bekht heard this, he said in himself, "How like is +this story to my present case with this vizier, who hath not his +like!" Then he bade him depart to his own house and come again at +eventide. + + The Twenty-First Night of the Month. + +When came the night, the vizier presented himself before the +king, who bade him relate the [promised] story. So he said, +"Hearkening and obedience. Know, Out + + + + + + STORY OF THE TWO SHARPERS WHO CHEATED + EACH HIS FELLOW. + + + +There was once, in the city of Baghdad, a man, [by name El +Merouzi,][FN#30] who was a sharper and plagued[FN#31] the folk +with his knavish tricks, and he was renowned in all quarters [for +roguery]. [He went out one day], carrying a load of sheep's dung, +and took an oath that he would not return to his lodging till he +had sold it at the price of raisins. Now there was in another +city a second sharper, [by name Er Razi,][FN#32] one of its +people, who [went out the same day], bearing a load of goat's +dung, which he had sworn that he would not sell but at the price +of dried figs. + +So each of them fared on with that which was with him and gave +not over going till they met in one of the inns[FN#33] and each +complained to the other of that which he had abidden of travel +[in quest of custom] and of the lack of demand for his wares. Now +each of them had it in mind to cheat his fellow; so El Merouzi +said to Er Razi, 'Wilt thou sell me that?' 'Yes,' answered he, +and the other continued, 'And wilt thou buy that which is with +me?' Er Razi assented; so they agreed upon this and each of them +sold his fellow that which was with him [in exchange for the +other's ware]; after which they bade each other farewell and +parted. As soon as they were out of each other's sight, they +examined their loads, to see what was therein, and one of them +found that he had a load of sheep's dung and the other that he +had a load of goat's dung; whereupon each of them turned back in +quest of his fellow. They met in the inn aforesaid and laughed at +each other and cancelling their bargain, agreed to enter into +partnership and that all that they had of money and other good +should be in common between them, share and share alike. + +Then said Er Razi to El Merouzi, 'Come with me to my city, for +that it is nearer [than thine].' So he went with him, and when he +came to his lodging, he said to his wife and household and +neighbours, 'This is my brother, who hath been absent in the land +of Khorassan and is come back.' And he abode with him in all +honour and worship three days' space. On the fourth day, Er Razi +said to him, 'Know, O my brother, that I purpose to do somewhat' +'What is it?' asked El Merouzi. Quoth the other, 'I mean to feign +myself dead and do thou go to the market and hire two porters and +a bier. [Then come back and take me up and go round about the +streets and markets with me and collect alms on my +account.][FN#34] + +Accordingly El Merouzi repaired to the market and fetching that +which he sought, returned to Er Razi's house, where he found the +latter cast down in the vestibule, with his beard tied and his +eyes shut; and indeed, his colour was paled and his belly blown +out and his limbs relaxed. So he deemed him in truth dead and +shook him; but he spoke not; and he took a knife and pricked him +in the legs, but he stirred not. Then said Er Razi, 'What is +this, O fool?' And El Merouzi answered, 'Methought thou wast dead +in very sooth.' Quoth Er Razi, 'Get thee to seriousness and leave +jesting.' So he took him up and went with him to the market and +collected [alms] for him that day till eventide, when he carried +him back to his lodging and waited till the morrow. + +Next morning, he again took up the bier and went round with it as +before, in quest of alms. Presently, the master of police, who +was of those who had given alms on account of the supposed dead +man on the previous day, met him; so he was angered and fell on +the porters and beat them and took the [supposed] dead body, +saying, 'I will bury him and earn the reward [of God].'[FN#35] So +his men took him up and carrying him to the prefecture, fetched +grave-diggers, who dug him a grave. Then they bought him a shroud +and perfumes[FN#36] and fetched an old man of the quarter, to +wash him. So he recited over him [the appointed prayers and +portions of the Koran] and laying him on the bench, washed him +and shrouded him. After he had shrouded him, he voided;[FN#37] so +he renewed the washing and went away to make his +ablutions,[FN#38] whilst all the folk departed, likewise, to make +the [obligatory] ablution, previously to the funeral. + +When the dead man found himself alone, he sprang up, as he were a +Satan, and donning the washer's clothes,[FN#39] took the bowls +and water-can and wrapped them up in the napkins. Then be took +his shroud under his arm and went out. The doorkeepers thought +that he was the washer and said to him, 'Hast thou made an end of +the washing, so we may tell the Amir?' 'Yes,' answered the +sharper and made off to his lodging, where he found El Merouzi +soliciting his wife and saying to her, 'Nay, by thy life, thou +wilt never again look upon his face; for that by this time he is +buried. I myself escaped not from them but after travail and +trouble, and if he speak, they will put him to death.' Quoth she, +'And what wilt thou have of me?' 'Accomplish my desire of thee,' +answered he, 'and heal my disorder, for I am better than thy +husband.' And he fell a-toying with her. + +When Er Razi heard this, he said, 'Yonder wittol lusteth after my +wife; but I will do him a mischief.' Then he rushed in upon them, +and when El Merouzi saw him, he marvelled at him and said to him, +'How didst thou make thine escape?' So he told him the trick he +had played and they abode talking of that which they had +collected from the folk [by way of alms], and indeed they had +gotten great store of money. Then said El Merouzi, 'Verily, mine +absence hath been prolonged and fain would I return to my own +country.' Quoth Er Rasi,' As thou wilt;' and the other said, 'Let +us divide the money we have gotten and do thou go with me to my +country, so I may show thee my tricks and my fashions.' 'Come +to-morrow,' replied Er Razi, 'and we will divide the money.' + +So El Merouzi went away and the other turned to his wife and said +to her, 'We have gotten us great plenty of money, and yonder dog +would fain take the half of it; but this shall never be, for that +my mind hath been changed against him, since I heard him solicit +thee; wherefore I purpose to play him a trick and enjoy all the +money; and do not thou cross me.' ' It is well,' answered she, +and he said to her, '[To-morrow] at day-peep I will feign myself +dead and do thou cry out and tear thy hair, whereupon the folk +will flock to me. Then lay me out and bury me, and when the folk +are gone away [from the burial-place], do thou dig down to me and +take me; and have no fear for me, for I can abide two days in the +tomb [without hurt].' And she answered, 'Do what thou wilt.' + +So, when it was the foredawn hour, she tied his beard and +spreading a veil over him, cried out, whereupon the people of the +quarter flocked to her, men and women. Presently, up came El +Merouzi, for the division of the money, and hearing the crying +[of the mourners], said, 'What is to do?" Quoth they, 'Thy +brother is dead;' and he said in himself, 'The accursed fellow +putteth a cheat on me, so he may get all the money for himself, +but I will do with him what shall soon bring him to life again.' +Then he rent the bosom of his gown and uncovered his head, +weeping and saying, 'Alas, my brother! Alas, my chief! Alas, my +lord!' And he went in to the men, who rose and condoled with him. +Then he accosted Er Razi's wife and said to her, 'How came his +death about?' 'I know not,' answered she, 'except that, when I +arose in the morning, I found him dead.' Moreover, he questioned +her of the money and good that was with her, but she said, 'I +have no knowledge of this and no tidings.' + +So he sat down at the sharper's head, and said to him, 'Know, O +Razi, that I will not leave thee till after ten days and their +nights, wherein I will wake and sleep by thy grave. So arise and +be not a fool.' But he answered him not and El Merouzi [drew his +knife and] fell to sticking it into the other's hands and feet, +thinking to make him move; but [he stirred not and] he presently +grew weary of this and concluded that the sharper was dead in +good earnest. [However, he still misdoubted of the case] and said +in himself, 'This fellow is dissembling, so he may enjoy all the +money.' Therewith he addressed himself to prepare him [for +burial] and bought him perfumes and what [not else] was needed. +Then they brought him to the washing-place and El Merouzi came to +him and heating water till it boiled and bubbled and a third of +it was wasted,[FN#40] fell to pouring it on his skin, so that it +turned red and blue and blistered; but he abode still on one case +[and stirred not]. + +So they wrapped him in the shroud and set him on the bier. Then +they took up his bier and bearing him to the burial-place, laid +him in the grave[FN#41] and threw the earth over him; after which +the folk dispersed, but El Merouzi and the widow abode by the +tomb, weeping, and gave not over sitting till sundown, when the +woman said to him, 'Come, let us go to the house, for this +weeping will not profit us, nor will it restore the dead.' 'By +Allah,' answered the sharper, 'I will not budge hence till I have +slept and waked by this tomb ten days, with their nights!' When +she heard this his speech, she feared lest he should keep his +word and his oath, and so her husband perish; but she said in +herself, 'This fellow dissembleth: if I go away and return to my +house, he will abide by him a little while and go away.' And El +Merouzi said to her, 'Arise, thou, and go away.' + +So she arose and returned to her house, whilst El Merouzi abode +in his place till the night was half spent, when he said to +himself, 'How long [is this to last]? Yet how can I let this +knavish dog die and lose the money? Methinks I were better open +the tomb on him and bring him forth and take my due of him by +dint of grievous beating and torment.' Accordingly, he dug him up +and pulled him forth of the tomb; after which he betook himself +to an orchard hard by the burial-ground and cut thence staves and +palm sticks. Then he tied the dead man's legs and came down on +him with the staff and beat him grievously; but he stirred not. +When the time grew long on him, his shoulders became weary and he +feared lest some one of the watch should pass on his round and +surprise him. So he took up Er Razi and carrying him forth of the +cemetery, stayed not till he came to the Magians' burying-place +and casting him down in a sepulchre[FN#42] there, rained heavy +blows upon him till his shoulders failed him, but the other +stirred not Then he sat down by his side and rested; after which +he rose and renewed the beating upon him, [but to no better +effect; and thus he did] till the end of the night + +Now, as destiny would have it, a band of thieves, whose use it +was, whenas they had stolen aught, to resort to that place and +divide [their booty], came thither [that night], as of their +wont; and they were ten in number and had with them wealth +galore, which they were carrying. When they drew near the +sepulchre, they heard a noise of blows within it and the captain +said, 'This is a Magian whom the angels[FN#43] are tormenting.' +So they entered [the burial-ground] and when they came over +against El Merouzi, he feared lest they should be the officers of +the watch come upon him, wherefore he [arose and] fled and stood +among the tombs.[FN#44] The thieves came up to the place and +finding Er Razi bound by the feet and by him near seventy sticks, +marvelled at this with an exceeding wonderment and said, 'God +confound thee! This was sure an infidel, a man of many crimes; +for, behold, the earth hath rejected him from her womb, and by my +life, he is yet fresh! This is his first night [in the tomb] and +the angels were tormenting him but now; so whosoever of you hath +a sin upon his conscience, let him beat him, as a propitiatory +offering to God the Most High.' And the thieves said, 'We all +have sins upon our consciences.' + +So each of them went up to the [supposed] dead man and dealt him +nigh upon a hundred blows, exclaiming the while, one, 'This is +for[FN#45] my father!' and another, 'This is for my grandfather!' +whilst a third said, 'This is for my brother!' and a fourth, +'This is for my mother!' And they gave not over taking turns at +him and beating him, till they were weary, what while El Merouzi +stood laughing and saying in himself, 'It is not I alone who have +entered into sin against him. There is no power and no virtue +save in God the Most High, the Supreme!' + +Then the thieves addressed themselves to sharing their booty and +presently fell out concerning a sword that was among the spoil, +who should take it. Quoth the captain, 'Methinks we were better +prove it; so, if it be good, we shall know its worth, and if it +be ill, we shall know that.' And they said, 'Try it on this dead +man, for he is fresh.' So the captain took the sword and drawing +it, poised it and brandished it; but, when Er Razi saw this, he +made sure of death and said in himself, 'I have borne the washing +and the boiling water and the pricking with the knife and the +grave and its straitness and all this [beating], trusting in God +that I might be delivered from death, and [hitherto] I have been +delivered; but, as for the sword, I may not brook that, for but +one stroke of it, and I am a dead man.' + +So saying, he sprang to his feet and catching up the thigh-bone +of one of the dead, cried out at the top of his voice, saying, 'O +ye dead, take them!' And he smote one of them, whilst his comrade +[El Merouzi] smote another and they cried out at them and +buffeted them on the napes of their necks; whereupon the thieves +left that which was with them of plunder and fled; and indeed +their wits forsook them [for terror] and they stayed not in their +flight till they came forth of the Magians' burial-ground and +left it a parasang's length behind them, when they halted, +trembling and affrighted for the soreness of that which had +betided them of fear and amazement at the dead. + +As for Er Razi and El Merouzi, they made peace with each other +and sat down to share the booty. Quoth El Merouzi, 'I will not +give thee a dirhem of this money, till thou pay me my due of the +money that is in thy house.' And Er Razi said 'I will not do it, +nor will I subtract this from aught of my due.' So they fell out +upon this and disputed with one another and each went saying to +his fellow, 'I will not give thee a dirhem!' And words ran high +between them and contention was prolonged. + +Meanwhile, when the thieves halted, one of them said to the +others, 'Let us return and see;' and the captain said, 'This +thing is impossible of the dead: never heard we that they came to +life on this wise. So let us return and take our good, for that +the dead have no occasion for good.' And they were divided in +opinion as to returning: but [presently they came to a decision +and] said, 'Indeed, our arms are gone and we cannot avail against +them and will not draw near the place where they are: only let +one of us [go thither and] look at it, and if he hear no sound of +them, let him advertise us what we shall do.' So they agreed that +they should send a man of them and assigned him [for this +service] two parts [of the booty]. + +Accordingly, he returned to the burial-ground and gave not over +going till he stood at the door of the sepulchre, when he heard +El Merouzi say to his fellow, 'I will not give thee a single +dirhem of the money!' The other said the like and they were +occupied with contention and mutual revilement and talk. So the +thief returned in haste to his fellows, who said, 'What is behind +thee?' Quoth he, 'Get you gone and flee for your lives and save +yourselves, O fools; for that much people of the dead are come to +life and between them are words and contention.' So the thieves +fled, whilst the two sharpers retained to Er Razi's house and +made peace with one another and laid the thieves' purchase to the +money they had gotten aforetime and lived a while of time. Nor, O +king of the age," added the vizier, "is this rarer or more +marvellous than the story of the four sharpers with the +money-changer and the ass." + +When the king heard this story, he smiled and it pleased him and +he bade the vizier go away to his own house. + + The Twenty-Second Night of the Month. + +When the evening evened, the king summoned the vizier and +required of him the hearing of the [promised] story. So he said, +"Hearkening and obedience. Know, O king, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE SHARPERS WITH THE + MONEY-CHANGER AND THE ASS. + + + +Four sharpers once plotted against a money-changer, a man of +abounding wealth, and agreed upon a device for the taking of +somewhat of his money. So one of them took an ass and laying on +it a bag, wherein was money, lighted down at the money-changer's +shop and sought of him change for the money. The money- changer +brought out to him the change and bartered it with him, whilst +the sharper was easy with him in the matter of the exchange, so +he might give him confidence in himself. [As they were thus +engaged,] up came the [other three] sharpers and surrounded the +ass; and one of them said, '[It is] he,' and another said, 'Wait +till I look at him.' Then he fell to looking on the ass and +stroking him from his mane to his crupper; whilst the third went +up to him and handled him and felt him from head to tail, saying, +' Yes, [it is] in him.' Quoth another, ['Nay,] it is not in him.' +And they gave not over doing the like of this. + +Then they accosted the owner of the ass and chaffered with him +and he said, 'I will not sell him but for ten thousand dirhems.' +They offered him a thousand dirhems; but he refused and swore +that he would not sell the ass but for that which he had said. +They ceased not to add to their bidding, till the price reached +five thousand dirhems, whilst their fellow still said, 'I will +not sell him but for ten thousand dirhems.' The money-changer +counselled him to sell, but he would not do this and said to him, +'Harkye, gaffer! Thou hast no knowledge of this ass's case. +Concern thyself with silver and gold and what pertaineth thereto +of change and exchange; for indeed the virtue of this ass passeth +thy comprehension. To every craft its craftsman and to every +means of livelihood its folk.' + +When the affair was prolonged upon the three sharpers, they went +away and sat down a little apart; then they came up to the +money-changer privily and said to him, 'If thou canst buy him for +us, do so, and we will give thee a score of dirhems.' Quoth he, +'Go away and sit down afar from him.' So they did his bidding and +the money-changer went up to the owner of the ass and gave not +over tempting him with money and cajoling him and saying, 'Leave +yonder fellows and sell me the ass, and I will reckon him a gift +from thee,' till he consented to sell him the ass for five +thousand and five hundred dirhems. Accordingly the money-changer +counted down to him five thousand and five hundred dirhems of his +own money, and the owner of the ass took the price and delivered +the ass to him, saying, 'Whatsoever betideth, though he abide a +deposit about thy neck,[FN#46] sell him not to yonder rogues for +less than ten thousand dirhems, for that they would fain buy him +because of a hidden treasure whereof they know, and nought can +guide them thereto but this ass. So close thy hand on him and +gainsay me not, or thou wilt repent.' + +So saying, he left him and went away, whereupon up came the three +other sharpers, the comrades of him of the ass, and said to the +money-changer, 'God requite thee for us with good, for that thou +hast bought him! How can we requite thee!' Quoth he, 'I will not +sell him but for ten thousand dirhems.' When they heard this, +they returned to the ass and fell again to examining him and +handling him. Then said they to the money-changer, 'We were +mistaken in him. This is not the ass we sought and he is not +worth more than half a score paras to us.' Then they left him and +offered to go away, whereat the money-changer was sore chagrined +and cried out at their speech, saying, 'O folk, ye besought me to +buy him for you and now I have bought him, ye say, "We were +deceived [in him], and he is not worth more than ten paras to +us."' Quoth they, 'We supposed that in him was that which we +desired; but, behold, in him is the contrary of that which we +want; and indeed he hath a default, for that he is short of +back.' And they scoffed at him and went away from him and +dispersed. + +The money-changer thought they did but finesse with him, that +they might get the ass at their own price; but, when they went +away from him and he had long in vain awaited their return, he +cried out, saying, 'Woe!' and 'Ruin!' and 'Alack, my sorry +chance!' and shrieked aloud and tore his clothes. So the people +of the market assembled to him and questioned him of his case; +whereupon he acquainted them with his plight and told them what +the sharpers had said and how they had beguiled him and how it +was they who had cajoled him into buying an ass worth half a +hundred dirhems[FN#47] for five thousand and five hundred.[FN#48] +His friends blamed him and a company of the folk laughed at him +and marvelled at his folly and his credulity in accepting the +sharpers' talk, without suspicion, and meddling with that which +he understood not and thrusting himself into that whereof he was +not assured. + +On this wise, O King Shah Bekht," continued the vizier, "is the +issue of eagerness for [the goods of] the world and covetise of +that which our knowledge embraceth not; indeed, [whoso doth thus] +shall perish and repent Nor, O king of the age, (added he) is +this story more extraordinary than that of the sharper and the +merchants." + +When the king heard this story, he said in himself, "Verily, had +I given ear to the sayings of my courtiers and inclined to the +idle prate [of those who counselled me] in the matter of [the +slaying of] my vizier, I had repented to the utterest of +repentance, but praised be God, who hath disposed me to +mansuetude and long-suffering and hath endowed me with patience!" +Then he turned to the vizier and bade him return to his dwelling +and [dismissed] those who were present, as of wont. + + The Twenty-Third Night of the Month. + +When the evening evened, the king sent after the vizier and when +he presented himself before him, he required of him the hearing +of the [promised] story. So he said, "Hearkening and obedience. +Know, O illustrious lord, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE SHARPER AND THE MERCHANTS. + + + +There was once aforetime a certain sharper, who [was so eloquent +that he] would turn the ear inside out, and he was a man of +understanding and quick wit and skill and perfection. It was his +wont to enter a town and [give himself out as a merchant and] +make a show of trafficking and insinuate himself into the +intimacy of people of worth and consort with the merchants, for +he was [apparently] distinguished for virtue and piety. Then he +would put a cheat on them and take [of them] what he might spend +and go away to another city; and he ceased not to do thus a great +while. + +It befell one day that he entered a certain city and sold +somewhat that was with him of merchandise and got him friends of +the merchants of the place and fell to sitting with them and +entertaining them and inviting them to his lodging and his +assembly, whilst they also invited him to their houses. On this +wise he abode a long while, till he was minded to leave the city; +and this was bruited abroad among his friends, who were concerned +for parting from him. Then he betook himself to him of them, who +was the richest of them in substance and the most apparent of +them in generosity, and sat with him and borrowed his goods; and +when he was about to take leave, he desired him to give him the +deposit that he had left with him. 'And what is the deposit?' +asked the merchant. Quoth the sharper, 'It is such a purse, with +the thousand dinars therein.' And the merchant said, 'When didst +thou give it me?' 'Extolled be the perfection of God!' replied +the sharper. 'Was it not on such a day, by such a token, and thus +and thus?' 'I know not of this,' rejoined the merchant, and words +were bandied about between them, whilst the folk [who were +present also] disputed together concerning their affair and their +speech, till their voices rose high and the neighbours had +knowledge of that which passed between them. + +Then said the sharper, 'O folk, this is my friend and I deposited +with him a deposit, but he denieth it; so in whom shall the folk +put trust after this?' And they said, 'This [FN#49] is a man of +worth and we have found in him nought but trustiness and loyality +and good breeding, and he is endowed with understanding and +generosity. Indeed, he avoucheth no falsehood, for that we have +consorted with him and mixed with him and he with us and we know +the sincerity of his religion.' Then quoth one of them to the +merchant, 'Harkye, such an one! Bethink thee and consult thy +memory. It may not be but that thou hast forgotten.' But he said, +'O folk, I know nothing of that which he saith, for indeed he +deposited nought with me.' And the affair was prolonged between +them. Then said the sharper to the merchant, 'I am about to make +a journey and have, praised be God the Most High, wealth galore, +and this money shall not escape me; but do thou swear to me.' And +the folk said, 'Indeed, this man doth justice upon +himself.'[FN#50] Whereupon the merchant fell into that which he +misliked[FN#51] and came near upon [suffering] loss and ill +repute. + +Now he had a friend, who pretended to quickwittedness and +understanding; so he came up to him privily and said to him, 'Let +me do, so I may put the change on this trickster, for I know him +to be a liar and thou art near upon having to pay the money; but +I will turn suspicion from thee and say to him, "The deposit is +with me and thou erredst in imagining that it was with other than +myself," and so divert him from thee.' 'Do so,' replied the +merchant, 'and rid the folk of their [false] debts.' + +So the friend turned to the sharper and said to him, 'O my lord, +O such an one, thou goest under a delusion. The purse is with me, +for it was with me that thou depositedst it, and this elder is +innocent of it.' But the sharper answered him with impatience and +impetuosity, saying, 'Extolled be the perfection of God! As for +the purse that is with thee, O noble and trusty man, I know that +it is in the warrant of God and my heart is at ease concerning +it, for that it is with thee as it were with me; but I began by +demanding that which I deposited with this man, of my knowledge +that he coveteth the folk's good.' At this the friend was +confounded and put to silence and returned not an answer; [and +the] only [result of his interference was that] each of them +[FN#52] paid a thousand dinars. + +So the sharper took the two thousand dinars and made off; and +when he was gone, the merchant said to his friend, the +[self-styled] man of wit and intelligence, 'Harkye, such an one! +Thou and I are like unto the hawk and the locust.' 'What was +their case?' asked the other; and the merchant said, + + + + + + STORY OF THE HAWK AND THE LOCUST. + + + +'There was once, of old time, a hawk who made himself a nest hard +by that of a locust, and the latter gloried in his neighbourhood +and betaking herself to him, saluted him and said, "O my lord and +chief of the birds, indeed the nearness unto thee delighteth me +and thou honourest me with thy neighbourhood and my soul is +fortified with thee." The hawk thanked her for this and there +ensued friendship between them. One day, the locust said to the +hawk, "O chief of the birds, how cometh it that I see thee alone, +solitary, having with thee no friend of thy kind of the birds, to +whom thou mayst incline in time of easance and of whom thou mayst +seek succour in time of stress? Indeed, it is said, 'Man goeth +about seeking the ease of his body and the preservation of his +strength, and in this there is nought more necessary to him than +a friend who shall be the completion of his gladness and the +mainstay of his life and on whom shall be his dependence in his +stress and in his ease.' Now I, albeit I ardently desire thy weal +in that which beseemeth thy condition, yet am I weak [and unable] +unto that which the soul craveth; but, if thou wilt give me +leave, I will seek out for thee one of the birds who shall be +conformable unto thee in thy body and thy strength." And the hawk +said, "I commit this to thee and rely upon thee therein." + +Therewithal, O my brother, the locust fell to going round about +among the company of the birds, but saw nought resembling the +hawk in bulk and body save the kite and deemed well of her. So +she brought the hawk and the kite together and counselled the +former to make friends with the latter. Now it chanced that the +hawk fell sick and the kite abode with him a long while [and +tended him] till he recovered and became whole and strong; +wherefore he thanked her [and she departed from him]. But after +awhile the hawk's sickness returned to him and he needed the +kite's succour. So the locust went out from him and was absent +from him a day, after which she returned to him with a[nother] +locust, [FN#53] saying, "I have brought thee this one." When the +hawk saw her, he said, "God requite thee with good! Indeed, thou +hast done well in the quest and hast been subtle in the choice." + +All this, O my brother,' continued the merchant, 'befell because +the locust had no knowledge of the secret essence that lieth hid +in apparent bodies. As for thee, O my brother, (may God requite +thee with good!) thou wast subtle in device and usedst +precaution; but precaution sufficeth not against fate, and +fortune fore-ordained baffleth contrivance. How excellent is the +saying of the poet! And he recited the following verses: + +It chances whiles that the blind man escapes a pit, Whilst he who + is clear of sight falls into it. +The ignorant man may speak with impunity A word that is death to + the wise and the ripe of wit. +The true believer is pinched for his daily bread, Whilst infidel + rogues enjoy all benefit. +Where is a man's resource and what can he do? It is the + Almighty's will; we most submit. + +Nor," added the vizier, "is this, O king of the age, more +extraordinary or stranger than the story of the king and his +chamberlain's wife; nay, the latter is rarer than this and more +delightsome." + +When the king heard this story, he was fortified in his resolve +to spare the vizier and to leave haste in an affair whereof he +was not assured; so he comforted him and bade him withdraw to his +lodging. + + The Twenty-Fourth Night of the Month. + +When it was night, the king summoned the vizier and sought of him +the hearing of the [promised] story. "Hearkening and obedience," +replied Er Rehwan, "Know, O august king, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE KING AND HIS CHAMBERLAIN'S + WIFE. + + + +There was once, of old days and in bygone ages and times, a king +of the kings of the Persians, who was passionately addicted to +the love of women. His courtiers bespoke him of the wife of a +chamberlain of his chamberlains, for that she was endowed with +beauty and loveliness and perfection, and this prompted him to go +in to her. When she saw him, she knew him and said to him, 'What +prompteth the king unto this that he doth?' And he answered, +saying, 'Verily, I yearn after thee with an exceeding yearning +and needs must I enjoy thy favours.' And he gave her of wealth +that after the like whereof women hanker; but she said, 'I cannot +do that whereof the king speaketh, for fear of my husband.' And +she refused herself to him with the most rigorous of refusals and +would not do his desire. So the king went out, full of wrath, and +forgot his girdle in the place. + +Presently, her husband entered and saw the girdle and knew it. +Now he was ware of the king's love for women; so he said to his +wife, ' What is this that I see with thee?' Quoth she, 'I will +tell thee the truth,' and recounted to him the story; but he +believed her not and doubt entered into his heart. As for the +king, he passed that night in chagrin and concern, and when it +morrowed, he summoned the chamberlain and investing him with the +governance of one of his provinces, bade him betake himself +thither, purposing, after he should have departed and come to his +destination, to foregather with his wife. The chamberlain +perceived [his intent] and knew his design; so he answered, +saying, 'Hearkening and obedience. I will go and set my affairs +in order and give such charges as may be necessary for the +welfare of my estate; then will I go about the king's occasion.' +And the king said, 'Do this and hasten.' + +So the chamberlain went about that which he needed and assembling +his wife's kinsfolk, said to them, 'I am resolved to put away my +wife.' They took this ill of him and complained of him and +summoning him before the king, sat pleading with him. Now the +king had no knowledge of that which had passed; so he said to the +chamberlain, 'Why wilt thou put her away and how can thy soul +consent unto this and why takest thou unto thyself a goodly piece +of land and after forsakest it? 'May God amend the king!' +answered the husband. 'By Allah, O king, I saw therein the track +of the lion and fear to enter the land, lest the lion devour me; +and indeed the like of my affair with her is that which befell +between the old woman and the draper's wife.' 'What is their +story?' asked the king; and the chamberlain said, 'Know, O king, +that + + + + + + STORY OF THE OLD WOMAN AND THE DRAPER'S + WIFE. + + + +There was once a man of the drapers, who had a fair wife, and she +was curtained [FN#54] and chaste. A certain young man saw her +coming forth of the bath and loved her and his heart was occupied +with her. So he cast about [to get access to her] with all manner +of devices, but availed not to win to her; and when he was weary +of endeavour and his patience was exhausted for weariness and his +fortitude failed him and he was at an end of his resources +against her, he complained of this to an old woman of ill-omen, +[FN#55] who promised him to bring about union between him and +her. He thanked her for this and promised her all manner of good; +and she said to him, "Get thee to her husband and buy of him a +turban-cloth of fine linen, and let it be of the goodliest of +stuffs." + +So he repaired to the draper and buying of him a turban-cloth of +lawn, returned with it to the old woman, who took it and burned +it in two places. Then she donned devotees' apparel and taking +the turban-cloth with her, went to the draper's house and knocked +at the door. When the draper's wife saw her, she opened to her +and received her kindly and made much of her and welcomed her. So +the old woman went in to her and conversed with her awhile. Then +said she to her, "[I desire to make] the ablution [preparatory] +to prayer." So the wife brought her water and she made the +ablution and standing up to pray, prayed and did her occasion. +When she had made an end of her prayers, she left the +turban-cloth in the place of prayer and went away. + +Presently, in came the draper, at the hour of evening prayer, and +sitting down in the place where the old woman had prayed, looked +about him and espied the turban. He knew it [for that which he +had that day sold to the young man] and misdoubted of the case, +wherefore anger appeared in his face and he was wroth with his +wife and reviled her and abode his day and his night, without +speaking to her, what while she knew not the cause of his anger. +Then she looked and seeing the turban-cloth before him and noting +the traces of burning thereon, understood that his anger was on +account of this and concluded that he was wroth because it was +burnt. + +When the morning morrowed, the draper went out, still angered +against his wife, and the old woman returned to her and found her +changed of colour, pale of face, dejected and heart-broken. [So +she questioned her of the cause of her dejection and she told her +how her husband was angered against her (as she supposed) on +account of the burns in the turban-cloth.] "O my daughter," +rejoined the old woman, "be not concerned; for I have a son, a +fine-drawer, and he, by thy life, shall fine-draw [the holes] and +restore the turban-cloth as it was. "The wife rejoiced in her +saying and said to her, "And when shall this be?" "To-morrow, if +it please God the Most High," answered the old woman, "I will +bring him to thee, at the time of thy husband's going forth from +thee, and he shall mend it and depart forth-right." Then she +comforted her heart and going forth from her, returned to the +young man and told him what had passed. + +Now, when the draper saw the turban-cloth, he resolved to put +away his wife and waited but till he should get together that +which was obligatory on him of the dowry and what not +else,[FN#56] for fear of her people. When the old woman arose in +the morning, she took the young man and carried him to the +draper's house. The wife opened the door to her and the +ill-omened old woman entered with him and said to the lady, "Go, +fetch that which thou wouldst have fine-drawn and give it to my +son." So saying, she locked the door on her, whereupon the young +man forced her and did his occasion of her and went forth. Then +said the old woman to her, "Know that this is my son and that he +loved thee with an exceeding love and was like to lose his life +for longing after thee. So I practised on thee with this device +and came to thee with this turban-cloth, which is not thy +husband's, but my son's. Now have I accomplished my desire; so do +thou trust in me and I will put a trick on thy husband for the +setting thee right with him, and thou wilt be obedient to me and +to him and to my son."[FN#57] And the wife answered, saying, "It +is well. Do so." + +So the old woman returned to the lover and said to him, "I have +skilfully contrived the affair for thee with her; [and now it +behoveth us to amend that we have marred]. So go now and sit with +the draper and bespeak him of the turban-cloth, [saying, 'The +turban-cloth I bought of thee I chanced to burn in two places; so +I gave it to a certain old woman, to get mended, and she took it +and went away, and I know not her dwelling-place.'] When thou +seest me pass by, rise and lay hold of me [and demand of me the +turban-cloth], to the intent that I may amend her case with her +husband and that thou mayst be even with her." So he repaired to +the draper's shop and sat down by him and said to him, "Thou +knowest the turban-cloth I bought of thee?" "Yes," answered the +draper, and the other said, "Knowest thou what is come of it?" +"No," replied the husband, and the youth said, "After I bought it +of thee, I fumigated myself[FN#58] and it befell that the +turban-cloth was burnt in two places. So I gave it to a woman, +whose son, they said, was a fine-drawer, and she took it and went +away with it; and I know not her abiding-place." When the draper +heard this, he misdoubted him [of having wrongly suspected his +wife] and marvelled at the story of the turban-cloth, and his +mind was set at ease concerning her. + +Presently, up came the old woman, whereupon the young man sprang +to his feet and laying hold of her, demanded of her the +turban-cloth. Quoth she, "Know that I entered one of the houses +and made the ablution and prayed in the place of prayer; and I +forgot the turban-cloth there and went out. Now I know not the +house in which I prayed, nor have I been directed[FN#59] thereto, +and I go round about every day till the night, so haply I may +light on it, for I know not its owner." When the draper heard +this, he said to the old woman, "Verily, Allah restoreth unto +thee vhat which thou hast lost. Rejoice, for the turban-cloth is +with me and in my house." And he arose forthright and gave her +the turban-cloth, as it was. She gave it to the young man, and +the draper made his peace with his wife and gave her raiment and +jewellery, [by way of peace-offering], till she was content and +her heart was appeased. [FN#60] + +When the king heard his chamberlain's story, he was confounded +and abashed and said to him, 'Abide on thy wonted service and +till thy land, for that the lion entered it, but marred it not, +and he will never more return thither.'[FN#61] Then he bestowed +on him a dress of honour and made him a sumptuous present; and +the man returned to his wife and people, rejoicing and glad, for +that his heart was set at rest concerning his wife. Nor," added +the vizier, "O king of the age, is this rarer or more +extraordinary than the story of the fair and lovely woman, +endowed with amorous grace, with the foul-favoured man." + +When the king heard the vizier's speech, he deemed it goodly and +it pleased him; so he bade him go away to his house, and there he +abode his day long. + + The Twenty-fifth Night of the Month. + +When the evening evened, the king summoned his vizier and bade +him tell the [promised] story. So he said, "It is well. Know, O +king, that + + + + + + STORY OF THE FOUL-FAVOURED MAN AND HIS + FAIR WIFE. + + + +There was once a man of the Arabs who had a number of sons, and +amongst them a boy, never was seen a fairer than he of favour nor +a more accomplished in loveliness, no, nor a more perfect of wit. +When he came to man's estate, his father married him to the +daughter of one of his uncles, and she excelled not in beauty, +neither was she praiseworthy of attributes; wherefore she pleased +not the youth, but he bore with her, for kinship's sake. + +One day, he went forth in quest of certain stray camels of his +and fared on all his day and night till eventide, when he [came +to an Arab encampment and] was fain to seek hospitality of one of +the inhabitants. So he alighted at one of the tents of the camp +and there came forth to him a man of short stature and loathly +aspect, who saluted him and lodging him in a corner of the tent, +sat entertaining him with talk, the goodliest that might be. When +his food was dressed, the Arab's wife brought it to the guest, +and he looked at the mistress of the tent and saw a favour than +which no goodlier might be. Indeed, her beauty and grace and +symmetry amazed him and he abode confounded, looking now at her +and now at her husband. When his looking grew long, the man said +to him, 'Harkye, O son of the worthy! Occupy thyself with thine +own concerns, for by me and this woman hangeth a rare story, that +is yet goodlier than that which thou seest of her beauty; and +when we have made an end of our food, I will tell it thee.' + +So, when they had made an end of eating and drinking, the young +man asked his host for the story, and he said, 'Know that in my +youth I was even as thou seest me in the matter of loathliness +and foul favour; and I had brethren of the comeliest of the folk; +wherefore my father preferred them over me and used to show them +kindness, to my exclusion, and employ me, in their room [in +menial service], like as one employeth slaves. One day, a +she-camel of his went astray and he said to me, "Go thou forth in +quest of her and return not but with her." Quoth I, "Send other +than I of thy sons." But he would not consent to this and reviled +me and insisted upon me, till the matter came to such a pass with +him that he took a whip and fell to beating me. So I arose and +taking a riding-camel, mounted her and sallied forth at a +venture, purposing to go out into the deserts and return to him +no more. I fared on all my night [and the next day] and coming at +eventide to [the encampment of] this my wife's people, alighted +down with her father, who was a very old man, and became his +guest. + +When the night was half spent, I arose [and went forth the tent] +to do an occasion of mine, and none knew of my case save this +woman. The dogs misdoubted of me and followed me and gave not +over besetting me, till I fell on my back into a deep pit, +wherein was water, and one of the dogs fell in with me. The +woman, who was then a girl in the first bloom of youth, full of +strength and spirit, was moved to pity on me, for that wherein I +was fallen, and coming to me with a rope, said to me, "Lay hold +of this rope." So I laid hold of the rope and clung to it and she +pulled me up; but, when I was halfway up, I pulled her [down] and +she fell with me into the pit; and there we abode three days, she +and I and the dog. + +When her people arose in the morning and saw her not, they sought +her in the camp, but, finding her not and missing me also, +doubted not but she had fled with me. Now she had four brothers, +as they were falcons, and they mounted and dispersed in quest of +us. When the day dawned [on the fourth morning], the dog began to +bark and the other dogs answered him and coming to the mouth of +the pit, stood howling to him. My wife's father, hearing the +howling of the dogs, came up and standing at the brink of the +pit, [looked in and] beheld a marvel. Now he was a man of valour +and understanding, an elder versed[FN#62] in affairs so he +fetched a rope and bringing us both forth, questioned us of our +case. I told him all that had betided and he abode pondering the +affair. + +Presently, her brothers returned, whereupon the old man +acquainted them with the whole case and said to them, "O my sons, +know that your sister purposed not aught but good, and if ye slay +this man, ye will earn abiding reproach and ye will wrong him, +ay, and wrong yourselves and your sister, to boot; for indeed +there appeareth no cause [of offence] such as calleth for +slaughter, and it may not be denied that this incident is a thing +the like whereof may well betide and that he may well have been +baffled by the like of this chance." Then he turned to me and +questioned me of my lineage; so I set forth to him my genealogy +and he said, "A man of equal rank, honourable [and] +understanding." And he offered me [his daughter in] marriage. I +consented to him of this and marrying her, took up my abode with +him and God the Most High hath opened on me the gates of weal and +fortune, so that I am become the most abounding in substance of +the folk of the tribe; and He hath stablished me in that which He +hath given me of His bounties.' + +The young man marvelled at his story and lay the night with him; +and when he arose in the morning, he found his strays. So he took +them and returning [to his family.], acquainted them with what he +had seen and that which had betided him. Nor," added the vizier, +"is this more marvellous or rarer than the story of the king who +lost kingdom and wealth and wife and children and God restored +them unto him and requited him with a kingdom more magnificent +than that which he had lost and goodlier and rarer and greater of +wealth and elevation." + +The vizier's story pleased the king and he bade depart to his +dwelling. + + The Twenty-Sixth Night of the Month. + +When came the night, the king summoned his vizier and bade him +tell the story of the king who lost kingdom and wife and wealth. +"Hearkening and obedience," replied Er Rehwan. "Know, O king, +that + + + + + + STORY OF THE KING WHO LOST KINGDOM AND + WIFE AND WEALTH AND GOD RESTORED THEM TO + HIM. + + + +There was once a king of the kings of Hind, who was goodly of +polity, praiseworthy in administration, just to his subjects, +beneficent to men of learning and piety and asceticism and +devoutness and worship and shunning traitors and froward folk and +those of lewd life. On this wise of polity he abode in his +kingship what God the Most High willed of days and hours and +years, and he married the daughter of his father's brother, a +beautiful and lovesome woman, endowed with brightness and +perfection, who had been reared in the king's house in splendour +and delight. She bore him two sons, the comeliest that might be +of boys. Then came fore-ordained fate, which there is no warding +off, and God the Most High raised up against the king another +king, who came forth upon his realm, and all the folk of the +city, who had a mind unto evil and lewdness, joined themselves +unto him. So he fortified himself against the king and made +himself master of his kingdom, putting his troops to the rout and +slaying his guards. + +The king took his wife, the mother of his sons, and what he might +[of good] and saved himself and fled in the darkness of the +night, unknowing whither he should go. When travel grew sore upon +them, there met them robbers by the way, who took all that was +with them, [even to their clothes], so that there was left unto +each of them but a shirt and trousers; yea, they left them +without victual or camels or [other] riding-cattle, and they +ceased not to fare on afoot, till they came to a coppice, to wit, +a garden of trees, on the shore of the sea. Now the road which +they would have followed was crossed by an arm of the sea, but it +was scant of water. So, when they came to that place, the king +took up one of his children and fording the water with him, set +him down on the other bank and returned for his other son. Him +also he set by his brother and returning for their mother, took +her up and passing the water with her, came to the place [where +he had left his children], but found them not. Then he looked at +the midst of the island and saw there an old man and an old +woman, engaged in making themselves a hut of reeds. So he put +down his wife over against them and set off in quest of his +children, but none gave him news of them and he went round about +right and left, but found not the place where they were. + +Now the children had entered the coppice, to make water, and +there was there a forest of trees, wherein, if a horseman +entered, he might wander by the week, [before finding his way +out], for none knew the first thereof from the last. So the boys +entered therein and knew not how they should return and went +astray in that wood, to an end that was willed of God the Most +High, whilst their father sought them, but found them not. So he +returned to their mother and they abode weeping for their +children. As for these latter, when they entered the wood, it +swallowed them up and they went wandering in it many days, +knowing not where they had entered, till they came forth, at +another side, upon the open country. + +Meanwhile, the king and queen abode in the island, over against +the old man and woman, and ate of the fruits that were in the +island and drank of its waters, till, one day, as they sat, there +came a ship and moored to the side of the island, to fill up with +water, whereupon they[FN#63] looked at each other and spoke. The +master of the ship was a Magian and all that was therein, both +men and goods, belonged to him, for that he was a merchant and +went round about the world. Now covetise deluded the old man, the +owner of the island, and he went up [into the ship] and gave the +Magian news of the king's wife, setting out to him her charms, +till he made him yearn unto her and his soul prompted him to use +treachery and practise upon her and take her from her hnsband. So +he sent to her, saying, 'With us in the ship is a woman with +child, and we fear lest she be delivered this night. Hast thou +skill in the delivering of women?' And she answered, 'Yes.' Now +it was the last of the day; so he sent to her to come up into the +ship and deliver the woman, for that the pangs of labour were +come upon her; and he promised her clothes and spending-money. +Accordingly, she embarked in all assurance, with a heart at ease +for herself, and transported her gear to the ship; but no sooner +was she come thither than the anchors were weighed and the canvas +spread and the ship set sail. + +When the king saw this, he cried out and his wife wept in the +ship and offered to cast herself into the sea; but the Magian +bade the sailors lay hands on her. So they seized her and it was +but a little while ere the night darkened and the ship +disappeared from the king's eyes; whereupon he swooned away for +excess of weeping and lamentation and passed his night bewailing +his wife and children. + +When the morning morrowed, he recited the following verses: + +How long, O Fate, wilt thou oppress and baffle me? +Tell me, was ever yet a mortal spared of thee? + Behold, my loved ones all are ta'en from me away. +They left me and content forthright forsook my heart, +Upon that day my loves my presence did depart; + My pleasant life for loss of friends is troubled aye. +By Allah, I knew not their worth nor yet how dear +A good it is to have one's loved ones ever near, + Until they left my heart on fire without allay. +Ne'er shall I them forget, nay, nor the day they went +And left me all forlorn, to pine for languishment, + My severance to bewail in torment and dismay. +I make a vow to God, if ever day or night +The herald of good news my hearing shall delight, + Announcing the return o' th' absent ones, +I'll lay Upon their threshold's dust my cheeks and to my soul, +"Take comfort, for the loved are come again," +I'll say. If for my loved ones' loss I rent my heart for dole, + Before I rent my clothes, reproach me not, I pray. + +He abode weeping for the loss of his wife and children till the +morning, when he went forth wandering at a venture, knowing not +what he should do, and gave not over faring along the sea-shore +days and nights, unknowing whither he went and taking no food +therein other than the herbs of the earth and seeing neither man +nor beast nor other living thing, till his travel brought him to +the top of a mountain. He took up his sojourn in the mountain and +abode there [awhile] alone, eating of its fruits and drinking of +its waters. Then he came down thence and fared on along the high +road three days, at the end of which time he came upon tilled +fields and villages and gave not over going till he sighted a +great city on the shore of the sea and came to the gate thereof +at the last of the day. The gatekeepers suffered him not to +enter; so he abode his night anhungred, and when he arose in the +morning, be sat down hard by the gate. + +Now the king of the city was dead and had left no son, and the +townsfolk fell out concerning who should be king over them: and +their sayings differed and their counsels, so that turmoil was +like to betide between them by reason of this. At last, after +long dissension, they came to an accord and agreed to leave the +choice to the late king's elephant and that he unto whom he +consented should be king and that they would not contest the +commandment with him. So they made oath of this and on the +morrow, they brought out the elephant and came forth to the +utterward of the city; nor was there man or woman left in the +place but was present at that time. Then they adorned the +elephant and setting up the throne on his back, gave him the +crown in his trunk; and he went round about examining the faces +of the folk, but stopped not with any of them till he came to the +banished king, the forlorn, the exile, him who had lost his +children and his wife, when he prostrated himself to him and +placing the crown on his head, took him up and set him on his +back. + +Thereupon the folk all prostrated themselves and gave one another +joy of this and the drums of good tidings beat before him, and he +entered the city [and went on] till he came to the House of +Justice and the audience-hall of the palace and sat down on the +throne of the kingdom, with the crown on his head; whereupon the +folk came in to him to give him joy and offer up prayers for him. +Then he addressed himself, after his wont in the kingship, to +ordering the affairs of the folk and ranging the troops according +to their ranks and looking into their affairs and those of all +the people. Moreover, he released those who were in the prisons +and abolished the customs dues and gave dresses of honour and +bestowed gifts and largesse and conferred favours on the amirs +and viziers and dignitaries, and the chamberlains and deputies +presented themselves before him and did him homage. So the people +of the city rejoiced in him and said, 'Indeed this is none other +than a king of the greatest of the kings.' + +Moreover, he assembled the sages and the theologians and the sons +of the kings and devised with them and asked them questions and +problems and examined with them into many things of all fashions +that might direct him to well-doing in the kingly office; and he +questioned them also of subtleties and religious obligations and +of the laws of the kingdom and the fashions of administration and +of that which it behoveth the king to do of looking into the +affairs of the people and repelling the enemy [from the realm] +and fending off his malice with war; wherefore the people's +contentment redoubled and their joy in that which God the Most +High had vouchsafed them of his elevation to the kingship over +them. So he upheld the ordinance of the realm and the affairs +thereof abode established upon the accepted customs. + +Now the late king had left a wife and a daughter, and the people +would fain have married the latter to the new king, to the intent +that the kingship might not pass out of the old royal family. So +they proposed to him that he should take her to wife, and he +promised them this, but put them off from him,[FN#64] of his +respect for the covenant he had made with his former wife, to +wit, that he would take none other to wife than herself. Then he +betook himself to fasting by day and standing up by night [to +pray], giving alms galore and beseeching God (extolled be His +perfection and exalted be He!) to reunite him with his children +and his wife, the daughter of his father's brother. + +When a year had elapsed, there came to the city a ship, wherein +were merchants and goods galore. Now it was of their usance, from +time immemorial, that, when there came a ship to the city, the +king sent unto it such of his servants as he trusted in, who took +charge of the goods, so they might be [first of all] shown to the +king, who bought such of them as befitted him and gave the +merchants leave to sell the rest. So he sent, as of wont, one who +should go up to the ship and seal up the goods and set over them +who should keep watch over them. + +To return to the queen his wife. When the Magian fled with her, +he proffered himself to her and lavished unto her wealth galore, +but she rejected his suit and was like to slay herself for +chagrin at that which had befallen and for grief for her +separation from her husband. Moreover, she refused meat and drink +and offered to cast herself into the sea; but the Magian shackled +her and straitened her and clad her in a gown of wool and said to +her, 'I will continue thee in misery and abjection till thou obey +me and consent to my wishes.' So she took patience and looked for +God to deliver her from the hand of that accursed one; and she +ceased not to travel with him from place to place till he came +with her to the city wherein her husband was king and his goods +were put under seal. + +Now the woman was in a chest and two youths of the pages of the +late king, who were now in the new king's service, were those who +had been charged with the guardianship of the vessel and the +goods. When the evening evened on them, the two youths fell +a-talking and recounted that which had befallen them in their +days of childhood and the manner of the going forth of their +father and mother from their country and royal estate, whenas the +wicked overcame their land, and [called to mind] how they had +gone astray in the forest and how fate had made severance between +them and their parents; brief, they recounted their story, from +beginning to end. When the woman heard their talk, she knew that +they were her very sons and cried out to them from the chest, +saying, 'I am your mother such an one, and the token between you +and me is thus and thus.' The young men knew the token and +falling upon the chest, broke the lock and brought out their +mother, who strained them to her breast, and they fell upon her +and swooned away, all three. + +When they came to themselves, they wept awhile and the folk +assembled about them, marvelling at that which they saw, and +questioned them of their case. So the young men vied with each +other who should be the first to discover the story to the folk; +and when the Magian saw this, he came up, crying out, 'Alas!' and +'Woe worth the day!' and said to them, 'Why have ye broken open +my chest? I had in it jewels and ye have stolen them, and this +damsel is my slave-girl and she hath agreed with you upon a +device to take the good.' Then he rent his clothes and called +aloud for succour, saying, 'I appeal to God and to the just king, +so he may quit me of these wrong-doing youths!' Quoth they, 'This +is our mother and thou stolest her.' Then words waxed many +between them and the folk plunged into talk and prate and +discussion concerning their affair and that of the [pretended] +slave-girl, and the strife waxed amain between them, so that [at +last] they carried them up to the king. + +When the two young men presented themselves before him and set +forth their case to him and to the folk and the king heard their +speech, he knew them and his heart was like to fly for joyance in +them: the tears poured from his eyes at their sight and that of +his wife, and he thanked God the Most High and praised Him for +that He had reunited [him with] them. Then he dismissed the folk +who were present about him and bade commit the Magian and the +woman and the two youths to his armoury[FN#65] [for the night], +commanding that they should keep guard over them till God caused +the morning morrow, so he might assemble the cadis and the judges +and assessors and judge between them, according to the Holy Law, +in the presence of the four cadis. So they did his bidding and +the king passed the night praying and praising God the Most High +for that which He had vouchsafed him of kingship and puissance +and victory over[FN#66] him who had wronged him and thanking Him +who had reunited him with his family. + +When the morning morrowed, he assembled the cadis and judges and +assessors and sending for the Magian and the two youths and their +mother, questioned them of their case, whereupon the two young +men began and said, 'We are the sons of the king Such-an-one and +enemies and wicked men got the mastery of out realm; so our +father fled forth with us and wandered at a venture, for fear of +the enemies.' [And they recounted to him all that had betided +them, from beginning to end.] Quoth he, 'Ye tell a marvellous +story; but what hath [Fate] done with your father?' 'We know not +how fortune dealt with him after our loss,' answered they; and he +was silent. + +Then he turned to the woman and said to her, 'And thou, what +sayst thou?' So she expounded to him her case and recounted to +him all that had betided her and her husband, first and last, up +to the time when they took up their abode with the old man and +woman who dwelt on the sea-shore. Then she set out that which the +Magian had practised on her of knavery and how he had carried her +off in the ship and all that had betided her of humiliation and +torment, what while the cadis and judges and deputies hearkened +to her speech. When the king heard the last of his wife's story, +he said, 'Verily, there hath betided thee a grievous matter; but +hast thou knowledge of what thy husband did and what came of his +affair?' 'Nay, by Allah,' answered she; 'I have no knowledge of +him, save that I leave him no hour unremembered in fervent +prayer, and never, whilst I live, will he cease to be to me the +father of my children and my father's brother's son and my flesh +and my blood.' Then she wept and the king bowed his head, whilst +his eyes brimmed over with tears at her story. + +Then he raised his head to the Magian and said to him, 'Say thy +say, thou also.' So the Magian said, 'This is my slave-girl, whom +I bought with my money from such a land and for so many dinars, +and I made her my favourite[FN#67] and loved her with an +exceeding love and gave her charge over my good; but she betrayed +me in my substance and plotted with one of my servants to slay +me, tempting him by promising him that she would be his wife. +When I knew this of her and was certified that she purposed +treason against me, I awoke [from my heedlessness] and did with +her that which I did, of fear for myself from her craft and +perfidy; for indeed she is a beguiler with her tongue and she +hath taught these two youths this pretence, by way of trickery +and of her perfidy and malice: so be thou not deluded by her and +by her talk.' + +'Thou liest, O accursed one,' cried the king and bade lay hands +on him and clap him in irons. Then he turned to the two youths, +his sons, and strained them to his breast, weeping sore and +saying, 'O all ye who are present of cadis and assessors and +officers of state, know that these twain are my sons and that +this is my wife and the daughter of my father's brother; for that +I was king aforetime in such a region.' And he recounted to them +his history from beginning to end, nor is there aught of profit +in repetition; whereupon the folk cried out with weeping and +lamentation for the stress of that which they heard of marvellous +chances and that rare story. As for the king's wife, he caused +carry her into his palace and lavished upon her and upon her sons +all that behoved and beseemed them of bounties, whilst the folk +flocked to offer up prayers for him and give him joy of [his +reunion with] his wife and children. + +When they had made an end of pious wishes and congratulations, +they besought the king to hasten the punishment of the Magian and +heal their hearts of him with torment and humiliation. So he +appointed them for a day on which they should assemble to witness +his punishment and that which should betide him of torment, and +shut himself up with his wife and sons and abode thus private +with them three days, during which time they were sequestered +from the folk. On the fourth day the king entered the bath, and +coming forth, sat down on the throne of his kingship, with the +crown on his head, whereupon the folk came in to him, according +to their wont and after the measure of their several ranks and +degrees, and the amirs and viziers entered, ay, and the +chamberlains and deputies and captains and men of war and the +falconers and armbearers. Then he seated his two sons, one on his +right and the other on his left hand, whilst all the folk stood +before him and lifted up their voices in thanksgiving to God the +Most High and glorification of Him and were strenuous in prayer +for the king and in setting forth his virtues and excellences. + +He returned them the most gracious of answers and bade carry the +Magian forth of the town and set him on a high scaffold that had +been builded for him there; and he said to the folk, 'Behold, I +will torture him with all kinds of fashions of torment.' Then he +fell to telling them that which he had wrought of knavery with +the daughter of his father's brother and what he had caused +betide her of severance between her and her husband and how he +had required her of herself, but she had sought refuge against +him with God (to whom belong might and majesty) and chose rather +humiliation than yield to his wishes, notwithstanding stress of +torment; neither recked she aught of that which he lavished to +her of wealth and raiment and jewels. + +When the king had made an end of his story, he bade the +bystanders spit in the Magian's face and curse him; and they did +this. Then he bade cut out his tongue and on the morrow he bade +cut off his ears and nose and pluck out his eyes. On the third +day he bade cut off his hands and on the fourth his feet; and +they ceased not to lop him limb from limb, and each member they +cast into the fire, after its cutting-off, before his face, till +his soul departed, after he had endured torments of all kinds and +fashions. The king bade crucify his trunk on the city-wall three +days' space; after which he let burn it and reduce its ashes to +powder and scatter them abroad in the air. + +Then the king summoned the cadi and the witnesses and bade them +many the old king's daughter and sister to his own sons; so they +married them, after the king had made a bride-feast three days +and displayed their brides to them from eventide to peep of day. +Then the two princes went in to their brides and did away their +maidenhead and loved them and were vouchsafed children by them. + +As for the king their father, he abode with his wife, their +mother, what while God (to whom belong might and majesty) willed, +and they rejoiced in reunion with each other. The kingship +endured unto them and glory and victory, and the king continued +to rule with justice and equity, so that the people loved him and +still invoked on him and on his sons length of days and durance; +and they lived the most delightsome of lives till there came to +them the Destroyer of Delights and Sunderer of Companies, He who +layeth waste the palaces and peopleth the tombs; and this is all +that hath come down to us of the story of the king and his wife +and children. Nor," added the vizier, "if this story be a solace +and a diversion, is it pleasanter or more diverting than that of +the young man of Khorassan and his mother and sister." + +When King Shah Bekht heard this story, it pleased him and he bade +the vizier go away to his own house. + + The Twenty-Seventh Night of the Month + +When the evening came, the king bade fetch the vizier; so he +presented himself before him and the king bade him tell the +[promised] story. So he said, "Hearkening and obedience. Know, O +king (but God alone knoweth His secret purpose and is versed in +all that is past and was foredone among bygone peoples), that + + + + + + STORY OF SELIM AND SELMA. + + + +There was once, in the parts of Khorassan, a man of the affluent +of the country, who was a merchant of the chiefest of the +merchants and was blessed with two children, a son and a +daughter. He was assiduous in rearing them and making fair their +education, and they grew up and throve after the goodliest +fashion. He used to teach the boy, who taught his sister all that +he learnt, so that the girl became perfect in the knowledge of +the Traditions of the Prophet and in polite letters, by means of +her brother. Now the boy's name was Selim and that of the girl +Selma. When they grew up and waxed, their father built them a +mansion beside his own and lodged them apart therein and +appointed them slave-girls and servants to tend them and assigned +unto each of them pensions and allowances and all that they +needed of high and low, meat and bread and wine and raiment and +vessels and what not else. So Selim and Selma abode in that +mansion, as they were one soul in two bodies, and they used to +sleep on one couch; and rooted in each one's heart was love and +affection and familiar friendship [for the other of them]. + +One night, when the night was half spent, as Selim and Selma sat +talking and devising with each other, they heard a noise below +the house; so they looked out from a lattice that gave upon the +gate of their father's mansion and saw a man of goodly presence, +whose clothes were hidden by a wide cloak, which covered him. He +came up to the gate and laying hold of the door-ring, gave a +light knock; whereupon the door opened and out came their sister, +with a lighted flambeau, and after her their mother, who saluted +the stranger and embraced him, saying, 'O beloved of my heart and +light of mine eyes and fruit of mine entrails, enter.' So he +entered and shut the door, whilst Selim and Selma abode amazed. + +Then Selim turned to Selma and said to her, 'O sister mine, how +deemest thou of this calamity and what counsellest thou +thereanent?' 'O my brother,' answered she, 'indeed I know not +what I shall say concerning the like of this; but he is not +disappointed who seeketh direction [of God], nor doth he repent +who taketh counsel. One getteth not the better of the traces of +burning by[FN#68] haste, and know that this is an affliction that +hath descended on us; and we have need of management to do it +away, yea, and contrivance to wash withal our shame from our +faces.' And they gave not over watching the gate till break of +day, when the young man opened the door and their mother took +leave of him; after which he went his way and she entered, she +and her handmaid. + +Then said Selim to his sister, 'Know that I am resolved to slay +yonder man, if he return this next night, and I will say to the +folk, "He was a thief," and none shall know that which hath +befallen. Moreover, I will address myself to the slaughter of +whosoever knoweth that which is between yonder fellow and my +mother.' But Selma said, ' I fear lest, if thou slay him in our +dwelling-place and he savour not of robberhood,[FN#69] suspicion +will revert upon ourselves, and we cannot be assured but that he +belongeth unto folk whose mischief is to be feared and their +hostility dreaded,[FN#70] and thus wilt thou have fled from privy +shame to open shame and abiding public dishonour.' 'How then +deemest thou we should do?' asked Selim and she said, 'Is there +nothing for it but to slay him? Let us not hasten unto slaughter, +for that the slaughter of a soul without just cause is a grave +[matter].' + +(When Shehriyar heard this, he said in himself, 'By Allah, I have +indeed been reckless in the slaying of women and girls, and +praised be God who hath occupied me with this damsel from the +slaughter of souls, for that the slaughter of souls is a grave +[matter!] By Allah, if Shah Bekht spare the vizier, I will +assuredly spare Shehrzad!' Then he gave ear to the story and +heard her say to her sister:) + +Quoth Selma to Selim, 'Hasten not to slay him, but ponder the +matter and consider the issue to which it may lead; for whoso +considereth not the issues [of his actions], fortune is no friend +to him.' Then they arose on the morrow and occupied themselves +with devising how they should turn away their mother from that +man, and she forebode mischief from them, by reason of that which +she saw in their eyes of alteration, for that she was keen of wit +and crafty. So she took precaution for herself against her +children and Selma said to Selim, 'Thou seest that whereinto we +have fallen through this woman, and indeed she hath gotten wind +of our purpose and knoweth that we have discovered her secret. +So, doubtless, she will plot against us the like of that which we +plot for her; for indeed up to now she had concealed her affair, +and now she will forge lies against us; wherefore, methinks, +there is a thing [fore-]written to us, whereof God (extolled be +His perfection and exalted be He!) knew in His foreknowledge and +wherein He executeth His ordinances.' 'What is that?' asked he, +and she said, 'It is that we arise, I and thou, and go forth this +night from this land and seek us a land wherein we may live and +witness nought of the doings of yonder traitress; for whoso is +absent from the eye is absent from the heart, and quoth one of +the poets in the following verse: + +Twere better and meeter thy presence to leave, For, if the eye + see not, the heart doth not grieve.' + +Quoth Selim to her, 'It is for thee to decide and excellent is +that which thou counsellest; so let us do this, in the name of +God the Most High, trusting in Him for grace and guidance.' So +they arose and took the richest of their clothes and the lightest +of that which was in their treasuries of jewels and things of +price and gathered together a great matter. Then they equipped +them ten mules and hired them servants of other than the people +of the country; and Selim bade his sister Selma don man's +apparel. Now she was the likest of all creatures to him, so that, +[when she was clad in man's attire,] the folk knew no difference +between them, extolled be the perfection of Him who hath no like, +there is no God but He! Then he bade her mount a horse, whilst he +himself bestrode another, and they set out, under cover of the +night. None of their family nor of the people of their house knew +of them; so they fared on into the wide world of God and gave not +over going night and day two months' space, at the end of which +time they came to a city on the sea-shore of the land of Mekran, +by name Es Sherr, and it is the first city in Sind. + +They lighted down without the place and when they arose in the +morning, they saw a populous and goodly city, fair of seeming and +great, abounding in trees and streams and fruits and wide of +suburbs. So the young man said to his sister Selma, 'Abide thou +here in thy place, till I enter the city and examine it and make +assay of its people and seek out a place which we may buy and +whither we may remove. If it befit us, we will take up our abode +therein, else will we take counsel of departing elsewhither.' +Quoth she, 'Do this, trusting in the bounty of God (to whom +belong might and majesty) and in His blessing.' + +So he took a belt, wherein were a thousand dinars, and binding it +about his middle, entered the city and gave not over going round +about its streets and markets and gazing upon its houses and +sitting with those of its folk whose aspect bespoke them men of +worth, till the day was half spent, when he resolved to return to +his sister and said in himself, 'Needs must I buy what we may eat +of ready-[dressed] food] I and my sister.' Accordingly, he +accosted a man who sold roast meat and who was clean [of person], +though odious in his [means of getting a] living, and said to +him, 'Take the price of this dish [of meat] and add thereto of +fowls and chickens and what not else is in your market of meats +and sweetmeats and bread and arrange it in dishes.' So the cook +set apart for him what he desired and calling a porter, laid it +in his basket, and Selim paid the cook the price of his wares, +after the fullest fashion. + +As he was about to go away, the cook said to him, 'O youth, +doubtless thou art a stranger?' And he answered, 'Yes.' Quoth the +cook, 'It is reported in one of the Traditions [of the Prophet +that he said,] "Loyal admonition is [a part] of religion;" and +the understanding say, "Admonition is of the characteristics of +the true believers." And indeed that which I have seen of thy +fashions pleaseth me and I would fain give thee a warning.' +'Speak out thy warning,' rejoined Selim, 'and may God strengthen +thine affair!' Then said the cook, 'Know, O my son, that in this +our country, whenas a stranger entereth therein and eateth of +flesh-meat and drinketh not old wine thereon, this is harmful +unto him and engendereth in him dangerous disorders. Wherefore, +if thou have provided thee somewhat thereof,[FN#71] [it is well;] +but, if not, look thou procure it, ere thou take the meat and +carry it away.' 'May God requite thee with good!' rejoined Selim. +'Canst thou direct me where it is sold?' And the cook said, 'With +me is all that thou seekest thereof.' 'Is there a way for me to +see it?' asked the young man; and the cook sprang up and said, +'Pass on.' So he entered and the cook showed him somewhat of +wine; but he said, 'I desire better than this.' Whereupon he +opened a door and entering, said to Selim, 'Enter and follow me.' + +Selim followed him till he brought him to an underground chamber +and showed him somewhat of wine that was to his mind. So he +occupied him with looking upon it and taking him at unawares, +sprang upon him from behind and cast him to the earth and sat +upon his breast. Then he drew a knife and set it to his jugular; +whereupon there betided Selim [that wherewithal] God made him +forget all that He had decreed [unto him],[FN#72] and he said to +the cook, 'Why dost thou this thing, O man? Be mindful of God the +Most High and fear Him. Seest thou not that I am a stranger? And +indeed [I have left] behind me a defenceless woman. Why wilt thou +slay me?' Quoth the cook, 'Needs must I slay thee, so I may take +thy good.' And Selim said, 'Take my good, but slay me not, +neither enter into sin against me; and do with me kindness, for +that the taking of my money is lighter[FN#73] than the taking of +my life.' + +'This is idle talk,' answered the cook. 'Thou canst not deliver +thyself with this, O youth, for that in thy deliverance is my +destruction.' Quoth Selim, 'I swear to thee and give thee the +covenant of God (to whom belong might and majesty) and His bond, +that He took of His prophets, that I will not discover thy secret +ever.' But the cook answered, saying, 'Away! Away! This may no +wise be.' However, Selim ceased not to conjure him and make +supplication to him and weep, while the cook persisted in his +intent to slaughter him. Then he wept and recited the following +verses: + +Haste not to that thou dost desire, for haste is still unblest; + Be merciful to men, as thou on mercy reckonest; +For no hand is there but the hand of God is over it And no + oppressor but shall be with worse than he opprest. + +Quoth the cook, 'Nothing will serve but I must slay thee, O +fellow; for, if I spare thee, I shall myself be slain.' But Selim +said, 'O my brother, I will counsel thee somewhat[FN#74] other +than this.' 'What is it?' asked the cook. 'Say and be brief, ere +I cut thy throat' And Selim said, '[Do thou suffer me to live +and] keep me, that I may be a servant unto thee, and I will work +at a craft, of the crafts of the skilled workmen, wherefrom there +shall return to thee every day two dinars.' Quoth the cook, 'What +is the craft?' and Selim said, 'The cutting [and polishing] of +jewels.' + +When the cook heard this, he said in himself, 'It will do me no +hurt if I imprison him and shackle him and bring him what he may +work at. If he tell truth, I will let him live, and if he prove a +liar, I will slay him.' So he took a pair of stout shackles and +clapping them on Selim's legs, imprisoned him within his house +and set over him one who should guard him. Then he questioned him +of what tools he needed to work withal. Selim set forth to him +that which he required, and the cook went out from him and +presently returning, brought him all he needed. So Selim sat and +wrought at his craft; and he used every day to earn two dinars; +and this was his wont and usance with the cook, whilst the latter +fed him not but half his fill. + +To return to his sister Selma. She awaited him till the last of +the day, but he came not; and she awaited him a second day and a +third and a fourth, yet there came no news of him, wherefore she +wept and beat with her hands on her breast and bethought her of +her affair and her strangerhood and her brother's absence; and +she recited the following verses: + +Peace on thee! Would our gaze might light on thee once more! So + should our hearts be eased and eyes no longer sore. +Thou only art the whole of our desire; indeed Thy love is hid + within our hearts' most secret core. + +She abode awaiting him thus till the end of the month, but +discovered no tidings of him neither happened upon aught of his +trace; wherefore she was troubled with an exceeding perturbation +and despatching her servants hither and thither in quest of him, +abode in the sorest that might be of grief and concern. When it +was the beginning of the new month, she arose in the morning and +bidding cry him throughout the city, sat to receive visits of +condolence, nor was there any in the city but betook himself to +her, to condole with her; and they were all concerned for her, +nothing doubting but she was a man. + +When three nights had passed over her with their days of the +second month, she despaired of him and her tears dried not up. +Then she resolved to take up her abode in the city and making +choice of a dwelling, removed thither. The folk resorted to her +from all parts, to sit with her and hearken to her speech and +witness her good breeding; nor was it but a little while ere the +king of the city died and the folk fell out concerning whom they +should invest with the kingship after him, so that strife was +like to betide between them. However, the men of judgment and +understanding and the folk of experience counselled them to make +the youth king who had lost his brother, for that they doubted +not but Selma was a man. They all consented unto this and +betaking themselves to Selma, proffered her the kingship. She +refused, but they were instant with her, till she consented, +saying in herself, 'My sole desire in [accepting] the kingship is +[to find] my brother.' Then they seated her on the throne of the +kingdom and set the crown on her head, whereupon she addressed +herself to the business of administration and to the ordinance of +the affairs of the people; and they rejoiced in her with the +utmost joy. + +Meanwhile, Selim abode with the cook a whole year's space, +earning him two dinars every day; and when his affair was +prolonged, the cook inclined unto him and took compassion on him, +on condition that, if he let him go, he should not discover his +fashion to the Sultan, for that it was his wont every little +while to entrap a man and carry him to his house and slay him and +take his money and cook his flesh and give it to the folk to eat. +So he said to him, 'O youth, wilt thou that I release thee from +this thy plight, on condition that thou be reasonable and +discover not aught of thine affair ever?' And Selim answered, 'I +will swear to thee by whatsoever oath thou choosest that I will +keep thy secret and will not speak one syllable against thy due, +what while I abide on life.' Quoth the cook, 'I purpose to send +thee forth with my brother and cause thee travel with him on the +sea, on condition that thou be unto him a boughten slave; and +when he cometh to the land of Hind, he shall sell thee and thus +wilt thou be delivered from prison and slaughter.' And Selim +said, 'It is well: be it as thou sayst, may God the Most High +requite thee with good!' + +Therewithal the cook equipped his brother and freighting him a +ship, embarked therein merchandise. Then he committed Selim unto +him and they set out and departed with the ship. God decreed them +safety, so that they arrived [in due course] at the first city +[of the land of Hind], the which is known as El Mensoureh, and +cast anchor there. Now the king of that city had died, leaving a +daughter and a widow, who was the quickest-witted of women and +gave out that the girl was a boy, so that the kingship might be +stablished unto them. The troops and the amirs doubted not but +that the case was as she avouched and that the princess was a +male child; so they obeyed her and the queen mother took order +for the matter and used to dress the girl in man's apparel and +seat her on the throne of the kingship, so that the folk might +see her. Accordingly, the grandees of the kingdom and the chief +officers of the realm used to go in to her and salute her and do +her service and go away, nothing doubting but she was a boy. + +On this wise they abode months and years and the queen-mother +ceased not to do thus till the cook's brother came to the town in +his ship, and with him Selim. So he landed with the youth and +showed him to the queen, [that she might buy him]. When she saw +him, she augured well of him; so she bought him from the cook's +brother and was kind to him and entreated him with honour. Then +she fell to proving him in his parts and making assay of him in +his affairs and found in him all that is in kings' sons of +understanding and breeding and goodly manners and qualities. + +So she sent for him in private and said to him, 'I purpose to do +thee a service, so thou canst but keep a secret.' He promised her +all that she desired and she discovered to him her secret in the +matter of her daughter, saying, 'I will marry thee to her and +commit to thee the governance of her affair and make thee king +and ruler over this city.' He thanked her and promised to uphold +all that she should order him, and she said to him, 'Go forth to +such an one of the neighbouring provinces privily.' So he went +forth and on the morrow she made ready bales and gear and +presents and bestowed on him a great matter, all of which they +loaded on the backs of camels. + +Then she gave out among the folk that the king's father's +brother's son was come and bade the grandees and troops go forth +to meet him. Moreover, she decorated the city in his honour and +the drums of good tidings beat for him, whilst all the king's +household [went out to meet him and] dismounting before him, +[escorted him to the city and] lodged him with the queen-mother +in her palace. Then she bade the chiefs of the state attend his +assembly; so they presented themselves before him and saw of his +breeding and accomplishments that which amazed them and made them +forget the breeding of those who had foregone him of the kings. + +When they were grown familiar with him, the queen-mother fell to +sending [privily] for the amirs, one by one, and swearing them to +secrecy; and when she was assured of their trustworthiness, she +discovered to them that the king had left but a daughter and that +she had done this but that she might continue the kingship in his +family and that the governance should not go forth from them; +after which she told them that she was minded to marry her +daughter with the new-comer, her father's brother's son, and that +he should be the holder of the kingship. They approved of her +proposal and when she had discovered the secret to the last of +them [and assured herself of their support], she published the +news abroad and sent for the cadis and assessors, who drew up the +contract of marriage between Selim and the princess, and they +lavished gifts upon the troops and overwhelmed them with +bounties. Then was the bride carried in procession to the young +man and the kingship was stablished unto him and the governance +of the realm. + +On this wise they abode a whole year, at the end of which time +Selim said to the queen-mother, 'Know that my life is not +pleasing to me nor can I abide with you in contentment till I get +me tidings of my sister and learn in what issue her affair hath +resulted and how she hath fared after me. Wherefore I will go and +be absent from you a year's space; then will I return to you, so +it please God the Most High and I accomplish of this that which I +hope.' Quoth she, 'I will not trust to thy word, but will go with +thee and help thee to that which thou desirest of this and +further thee myself therein.' So she took a ship and loaded it +with all manner things of price, goods and treasures and what not +else. Moreover, she appointed one of the viziers, a man in whom +she trusted and in his fashion and ordinance, to rule the realm +in their absence, saying to him, 'Abide [in the kingship] a +full-told year and ordain all that whereof thou hast need. + +Then the old queen and her daughter and son-in-law embarked in +the ship and setting sail, fared on till they came to the land of +Mekran. Their arrival there befell at the last of the day; so +they passed the night in the ship, and when the day was near to +break, the young king went down from the ship, that he might go +to the bath, and made for the market. As he drew near the bath, +the cook met him by the way and knew him; so he laid hands on him +and binding his arms fast behind him, carried him to his house, +where he clapped the old shackles on his feet and straightway +cast him back into his whilom place of duresse. + +When Selim found himself in that sorry plight and considered that +wherewith he was afflicted of tribulation and the contrariness of +his fortune, in that he had been a king and was now returned to +shackles and prison and hunger, he wept and groaned and lamented +and recited the following verses: + +My fortitude fails, my endeavour is vain; My bosom is straitened. + To Thee, I complain, +O my God! Who is stronger than Thou in resource? The Subtle, Thou + knowest my plight and my pain. + +To return to his wife and her mother. When the former arose in +the morning and her husband returned not to her with break of +day, she forebode all manner of calamity and straightway +despatched her servants and all who were with her in quest of +him; but they happened not on any trace of him neither fell in +with aught of his news. So she bethought herself concerning her +affair and complained and wept and groaned and sighed and blamed +perfidious fortune, bewailing that sorry chance and reciting +these verses: + +God keep the days of love-delight! How passing sweet they were! + How joyous and how solaceful was life in them whilere! +Would he were not, who sundered us upon the parting-day! How many + a body hath he slain, how many a bone laid bare! +Sans fault of mine, my blood and tears he shed and beggared me Of + him I love, yet for himself gained nought thereby whate'er. + +When she had made an end of her verses, she considered her affair +and said in herself, 'By Allah, all these things have betided by +the ordinance of God the Most High and His providence and this +was written and charactered upon the forehead.' Then she landed +and fared on till she came to a spacious place, where she +enquired of the folk and hired a house. Thither she straightway +transported all that was in the ship of goods and sending for +brokers, sold all that was with her. Then she took part of the +price and fell to enquiring of the folk, so haply she might scent +out tidings [of her lost husband]. Moreover, she addressed +herself to lavishing alms and tending the sick, clothing the +naked and pouring water upon the dry ground of the forlorn. On +this wise she abode a whole year, and every little while she sold +of her goods and gave alms to the sick and the needy; wherefore +her report was bruited abroad in the city and the folk were +lavish in her praise. + +All this while, Selim lay in shackles and strait prison, and +melancholy possessed him by reason of that whereinto he had +fallen of that tribulation. Then, when troubles waxed on him and +affliction was prolonged, he fell sick of a sore sickness. When +the cook saw his plight (and indeed he was like to perish for +much suffering), he loosed him from the shackles and bringing him +forth of the prison, committed him to an old woman, who had a +nose the bigness of a jug, and bade her tend him and medicine him +and serve him and entreat him kindly, so haply he might be made +whole of that his sickness. So the old woman took him and +carrying him to her lodging, fell to tending him and giving him +to eat and drink; and when he was quit of that torment, he +recovered from his malady. + +Now the old woman had heard from the folk of the lady who gave +alms to the sick, and indeed [the news of] her bounties reached +both poor and rich; so she arose and bringing out Selim to the +door of her house, laid him on a mat and wrapped him in a mantle +and sat over against him. Presently, it befell that the +charitable lady passed by them, which when the old woman saw, she +rose to her and offered up prayers for her, saying, 'O my +daughter, O thou to whom pertain goodness and beneficence and +charity and almsdoing, know that this young man is a stranger, +and indeed want and vermin and hunger and nakedness and cold slay +him.' When the lady heard this, she gave her alms of that which +was with her; and indeed her heart inclined unto Selim, [but she +knew him not for her husband]. + +The old woman received the alms from her and carrying it to +Selim, took part thereof herself and with the rest bought him an +old shirt, in which she clad him, after she had stripped him of +that he had on. Then she threw away the gown she had taken from +off him and arising forthright, washed his body of that which was +thereon of filth and scented him with somewhat of perfume. +Moreover, she bought him chickens and made him broth; so he ate +and his life returned to him and he abode with her on the most +solaceful of life till the morrow. + +Next morning, the old woman said to him, 'When the lady cometh to +thee, do thou arise and kiss her hand and say to her, "I am a +strange man and indeed cold and hunger slay me;" so haply she may +give thee somewhat that thou mayst expend upon thy case.' And he +answered, 'Hearkening and obedience.' Then she took him by the +hand and carrying him without her house, seated him at the door. +As he sat, behold, the lady came up to him, whereupon the old +woman rose to her and Selim kissed her hand and offered up +prayers for her. Then he looked on her and when he saw her, he +knew her for his wife; so he cried out and wept and groaned and +lamented; whereupon she came up to him and cast herself upon him; +for indeed she knew him with all knowledge, even as he knew her. +So she laid hold of him and embraced him and called to her +serving-men and attendants and those who were about her; and they +took him up and carried him forth of that place. + +When the old woman saw this, she cried out to the cook from +within the house, and he said to her, 'Go before me.' So she +forewent him and he ran after her till he [overtook the party +and] catching hold of Selim, said [to the latter's wife,] 'What +aileth thee to take my servant?' Whereupon she cried out at him, +saying, 'Know that this is my husband, whom I had lost.' And +Selim also cried out, saying, 'Mercy! Mercy! I appeal to God and +to the Sultan against this Satan!' Therewith the folk gathered +together to them forthright and loud rose the clamours and the +cries between them; but the most part of them said, 'Refer their +affair to the Sultan.' So they referred the case to the Sultan, +who was none other than Selim's sister Selma. + +[Then they went up to the palace and] the interpreter went in to +Selma and said to her, 'O king of the age, here is an Indian +woman, who cometh from the land of Hind, and she hath laid hands +on a young man, a servant, avouching that he is her husband, who +hath been missing these two years, and she came not hither but on +his account, and indeed these many days she hath done almsdeeds +[in the city]. And here is a man, a cook, who avoucheth that the +young man is his slave.' When the queen heard these words, her +entrails quivered and she groaned from an aching heart and called +to mind her brother and that which had betided him. Then she bade +those who were about her bring them before her, and when she saw +them, she knew her brother and was like to cry aloud; but her +reason restrained her; yet could she not contain herself, but she +must needs rise up and sit down. However, she enforced herself +unto patience and said to them, 'Let each of you acquaint me with +his case.' + +So Selim came forward and kissing the earth before the [supposed] +king, praised him and related to him his story from beginning to +end, till the time of their coming to that city, he and his +sister, telling him how he had entered the place and fallen into +the hands of the cook and that which had betided him [with him] +and what he had suffered from him of beating and bonds and +shackles and pinioning. Moreover, he told him how the cook had +made him his brother's slave and how the latter had sold him in +Hind and he had married the princess and become king and how life +was not pleasant to him till he should foregather with his sister +and how the cook had fallen in with him a second time and +acquainted her with that which had betided him of sickness and +disease for the space of a full-told year. + +When he had made an end of his speech, his wife came forward +forthright and told her story, from first to last, how her mother +bought him from the cook's partner and the people of the kingdom +came under his rule; nor did she leave telling till she came, in +her story, to that city [and acquainted the queen with the manner +of her falling in with her lost husband]. When she had made an +end of her story, the cook exclaimed, 'Alack, what impudent liars +there be! By Allah, O king, this woman lieth against me, for this +youth is my rearling[FN#75] and he was born of one of my +slave-girls. He fled from me and I found him again. + +When the queen heard the last of the talk, she said to the cook, +'The judgment between you shall not be but in accordance with +justice.' Then she dismissed all those who were present and +turning to her brother, said to him, 'Indeed thy soothfastness is +established with me and the truth of thy speech, and praised be +God who hath brought about union between thee and thy wife! So +now begone with her to thy country and leave [seeking] thy sister +Selma and depart in peace.' But Selim answered, saying, 'By +Allah, by the virtue of the All-knowing King, I will not turn +back from seeking my sister till I die or find her, if it please +God the Most High!' Then he called his sister to mind and broke +out with the following verses from a heart endolored, afflicted, +disappointed, saying: + +O thou that blamest me for my heart and railest at my ill, Hadst + them but tasted my spirit's grief, thou wouldst excuse me + still. +By Allah, O thou that chid'st my heart concerning my sister's + love, Leave chiding and rather bemoan my case and help me to + my will. +For indeed I am mated with longing love in public and privily, + Nor ever my heart, alas I will cease from mourning, will I + or nill. +A fire in mine entrails burns, than which the fire of the hells + denounced For sinners' torment less scathing is: it seeketh + me to slay. + +When his sister Selma heard what he said, she could no longer +contain herself, but cast herself upon him and discovered to him +her case. When he knew her, he threw himself upon her [and lay +without life] awhile; after which he came to himself and said, +'Praised be God, the Bountiful, the Beneficent!' Then they +complained to each other of that which they had suffered for the +anguish of separation, whilst Selim's wife abode wondered at this +and Selma's patience and constancy pleased her. So she saluted +her and thanked her for her fashion, saying, 'By Allah, O my +lady, all that we are in of gladness is of thy blessing alone; so +praised be God who hath vouchsafed us thy sight!' Then they abode +all three in joy and happiness and delight three days, +sequestered from the folk; and it was bruited abroad in the city +that the king had found his brother, who was lost years agone. + +On the fourth day, all the troops and the people of the realm +assembled together to the [supposed] king and standing at his +gate, craved leave to enter. Selma bade admit them; so they +entered and paid her the service of the kingship and gave her joy +of her brother's safe return. She bade them do suit and service +to Selim, and they consented and paid him homage; after which +they kept silence awhile, so they might hear what the king should +command. Then said Selma, 'Harkye, all ye soldiers and subjects, +ye know that ye enforced me to [accept] the kingship and besought +me thereof and I consented unto your wishes concerning my +investment [with the royal dignity]; and I did this [against my +will]; for know that I am a woman and that I disguised myself and +donned man's apparel, so haply my case might be hidden, whenas I +lost my brother. But now, behold, God hath reunited me with my +brother, and it is no longer lawful to me that I be king and bear +rule over the people, and I a woman; for that there is no +governance for women, whenas men are present. Wherefore, if it +like you, do ye set my brother on the throne of the kingdom, for +this is he; and I will busy myself with the worship of God the +Most High and thanksgiving [to Him] for my reunion with my +brother. Or, if it like you, take your kingship and invest +therewith whom ye will.' + +Thereupon the folk all cried out, saying, 'We accept him to king +over us!' And they did him suit and service and gave him joy of +the kingship. So the preachers preached in his name[FN#76] and +the poets praised him; and he lavished gifts upon the troops and +the officers of his household and overwhelmed them with favours +and bounties and was prodigal to the people of justice and +equitable dealings and goodly usance and polity. When he had +accomplished this much of his desire, he caused bring forth the +cook and his household to the divan, but spared the old woman who +had tended him, for that she had been the cause of his +deliverance. Then they assembled them all without the town and he +tormented the cook and those who were with him with all manner of +torments, after which he put him to death on the sorriest wise +and burning him with fire, scattered his ashes abroad in the air. + +Selim abode in the governance, invested with the sultanate, and +ruled the people a whole year, after which he returned to El +Mensoureh and sojourned there another year. And he [and his wife] +ceased not to go from city to city and abide in this a year and +that a year, till he was vouchsafed children and they grew up, +whereupon he appointed him of his sons, who was found fitting, to +be his deputy in [one] kingdom [and abode himself in the other]; +and he lived, he and his wife and children, what while God the +Most High willed. Nor," added the vizier, "O king of the age, is +this story rarer or more extraordinary than that of the king of +Hind and his wronged and envied vizier." + +When the king heard this, his mind was occupied [with the story +he had heard and that which the vizier promised him], and he bade +the latter depart to his own house. + + The Twenty-Eighth and Last Night of the Month + +When the evening evened, the king summoned the vizier and bade +him tell the story of the King of Hind and his vizier. So he +said, "Hearkening and obedience. Know, O king of august lineage, +that + + + + + + STORY OF THE KING OF HIND AND HIS VIZIER. + + + +There was once in the land of Hind a king of illustrious station, +endowed with understanding and good sense, and his name was Shah +Bekht. He had a vizier, a man of worth and intelligence, prudent +in counsel, conformable to him in his governance and just in his +judgment; wherefore his enviers were many and many were the +hypocrites, who sought in him faults and set snares for him, so +that they insinuated into King Shah Bekht's eye hatred and +rancour against him and sowed despite against him in his heart; +and plot followed after plot, till [at last] the king was brought +to arrest him and lay him in prison and confiscate his good and +avoid his estate.[FN#77] + +When they knew that there was left him no estate that the king +might covet, they feared lest he be brought to release him, by +the incidence of the vizier's [good] counsel upon the king's +heart, and he return to his former case, so should their plots be +marred and their ranks degraded, for that they knew that the king +would have need of that which he had known from that man nor +would forget that wherewith he was familiar in him. Now it befell +that a certain man of corrupt purpose[FN#78] found a way to the +perversion of the truth and a means of glozing over falsehood and +adorning it with a semblance of fair-seeming and there proceeded +from him that wherewith the hearts of the folk were occupied, and +their minds were corrupted by his lying tales; for that he made +use of Indian subtleties and forged them into a proof for the +denial of the Maker, the Creator, extolled be His might and +exalted be He! Indeed, God is exalted and magnified above the +speech of the deniers. He avouched that it is the planets[FN#79] +that order the affairs of all creatures and he set down twelve +mansions to twelve signs [of the Zodiac] and made each sign +thirty degrees, after the number of the days of the month, so +that in twelve mansions there are three hundred and threescore +[degrees], after the number of the days of the year; and he +wrought a scheme, wherein he lied and was an infidel and denied +[God]. Then he got possession of the king's mind and the enviers +and haters aided him against the vizier and insinuated themselves +into his favour and corrupted his counsel against the vizier, so +that he suffered of him that which he suffered and he banished +him and put him away. + +So the wicked man attained that which he sought of the vizier and +the case was prolonged till the affairs of the kingdom became +disordered, by dint of ill governance, and the most part of the +king's empery fell away from him and he came nigh unto ruin. +Therewithal he was certified of the loyalty of his [late] skilful +vizier and the excellence of his governance and the justness of +his judgment. So he sent after him and brought him and the wicked +man before him and summoning the grandees of his realm and the +chiefs of his state to his presence, gave them leave to talk and +dispute and forbade the wicked man from that his lewd +opinion.[FN#80] Then arose that wise and skilful vizier and +praised God the Most High and lauded Him and glorified Him and +hallowed Him and attested His unity and disputed with the wicked +man and overcame him and put him to silence; nor did he cease +from him till he enforced him to make confession of repentance +[and turning away] from that which he had believed. + +Therewith King Shah Bekht rejoiced with an exceeding great joy +and said, 'Praise be to God who hath delivered me from yonder man +and hath preserved me from the loss of the kingship and the +cessation of prosperity from me!' So the affair of the vizier +returned to order and well-being and the king restored him to his +place and advanced him in rank. Moreover, he assembled the folk +who had missaid of him and destroyed them all, to the last man. +And how like," continued the vizier, "is this story unto that of +myself and King Shah Bekht, with regard to that whereinto I am +fallen of the changing of the king's heart and his giving +credence to others against me; but now is the righteousness of my +dealing established in thine eyes, for that God the Most High +hath inspired me with wisdom and endowed thee with longanimity +and patience [to hearken] from me unto that which He allotted +unto those who had foregone us, till He hath shown forth my +innocence and made manifest unto thee the truth. For now the days +are past, wherein it was avouched to the king that I should +endeavour for the destruction of my soul,[FN#81] [to wit,] the +month; and behold, the probation time is over and gone, and past +is the season of evil and ceased, by the king's good fortune." +Then he bowed his head and was silent.[FN#82] + +When King Shah Bekht heard his vizier's speech, he was confounded +before him and abashed and marvelled at the gravity of his +understanding and his patience. So he sprang up to him and +embraced him and the vizier kissed his feet. Then the king called +for a sumptuous dress of honour and cast it over Er Rehwan and +entreated him with the utmost honour and showed him special +favour and restored him to his rank and vizierate. Moreover he +imprisoned those who had sought his destruction with leasing and +committed unto himself to pass judgment upon the interpreter who +had expounded to him the dream. So the vizier abode in the +governance of the realm till there came to them the Destroyer of +Delights; and this (added Shehrzad) is all, O king of the age, +that hath come down to us of King Shah Bekht and his vizier. + + + + + + SHEHRZAD AND SHEHRIYAR. + + + +As for King Shehriyar, he marvelled at Shehrzad with the utmost +wonder and drew her near to his heart, of his much love for her; +and she was magnified in his eyes and he said in himself, "By +Allah, the like of this woman is not deserving of slaughter, for +indeed the time affordeth not her like. By Allah, I have been +heedless of mine affair, and had not God overcome me with His +mercy and put this woman at my service, so she might adduce to me +manifest instances and truthful cases and goodly admonitions and +edifying traits, such as should restore me to the [right] road, +[I had come to perdition!]. Wherefore to God be the praise for +this and I beseech Him to make my end with her like unto that of +the vizier and Shah Bekht." Then sleep overcame the king and +glory be unto Him who sleepeth not! + +When it was the Nine hundred and thirtieth Night, Shehrzad said, +"O king, there is present in my thought a story which treateth of +women's craft and wherein is a warning to whoso will be warned +and an admonishment to whoso will be admonished and whoso hath +discernment; but I fear lest the hearing of this lessen me with +the king and lower my rank in his esteem; yet I hope that this +will not be, for that it is a rare story. Women are indeed +corruptresses; their craft and their cunning may not be set out +nor their wiles known. Men enjoy their company and are not +careful to uphold them [in the right way], neither do they watch +over them with all vigilance, but enjoy their company and take +that which is agreeable and pay no heed to that which is other +than this. Indeed, they are like unto the crooked rib, which if +thou go about to straighten, thou distortest it, and which if +thou persist in seeking to redress, thou breakest it; wherefore +it behoveth the man of understanding to be silent concerning +them." + +"O sister mine," answered Dinarzad, "bring forth that which is +with thee and that which is present to thy mind of the story +concerning the craft of women and their wiles, and have no fear +lest this endamage thee with the king; for that women are like +unto jewels, which are of all kinds and colours. When a [true] +jewel falleth into the hand of him who is knowing therein, he +keepeth it for himself and leaveth that which is other than it. +Moreover, he preferreth some of them over others, and in this he +is like unto the potter, who filleth his oven with all the +vessels [he hath moulded] and kindleth fire thereunder. When the +baking is at an end and he goeth about to take forth that which +is in the oven, he findeth no help for it but that he must break +some thereof, whilst other some are what the folk need and +whereof they make use, and yet other some there be that return to +their whilom case. Wherefore fear thou not to adduce that which +thou knowest of the craft of women, for that in this is profit +for all folk." + +Then said Shehrzad, "They avouch, O king, (but God [alone] +knowest the secret things,) that + + + + + + EL MELIK EZ ZAHIR RUKNEDDIN BIBERS EL + BUNDUCDARI AND THE SIXTEEN OFFICERS OF + POLICE.[FN#83] + + + +There was once in the land [of Egypt and] the city of Cairo, +[under the dynasty] of the Turks,[FN#84] a king of the valiant +kings and the exceeding mighty Sultans, by name El Melik ez Zahir +Rukneddin Bibers el Bunducdari.[FN#85] He was used to storm the +Islamite strongholds and the fortresses of the Coast[FN#86] and +the Nazarene citadels, and the governor of his [capital] city was +just to the folk, all of them. Now El Melik ez Zahir was +passionately fond of stories of the common folk and of that which +men purposed and loved to see this with his eyes and hear their +sayings with his ears, and it befell that he heard one night from +one of his story-tellers[FN#87] that among women are those who +are doughtier than men of valour and greater of excellence and +that among them are those who will do battle with the sword and +others who cozen the quickest-witted of magistrates and baffle +them and bring down on them all manner of calamity; whereupon +quoth the Sultan, 'I would fain hear this of their craft from one +of those who have had to do theiewith, so I may hearken unto him +and cause him tell.' And one of the story-tellers said, 'O king, +send for the chief of the police of the town.' + +Now Ilmeddin Senjer was at that time Master of Police and he was +a man of experience, well versed in affairs: so the king sent for +him and when he came before him, he discovered to him that which +was in his mind. Quoth Ilmeddin Senjer, 'I will do my endeavour +for that which our lord the Sultan seeketh.' Then he arose and +returning to his house, summoned the captains of the watch and +the lieutenants of police and said to them, 'Know that I purpose +to marry my son and make him a bride-feast, and it is my wish +that ye assemble, all of you, in one place. I also will be +present, I and my company, and do ye relate that which ye have +heard of extraordinary occurrences and that which hath betided +you of experiences.' And the captains and sergeants and agents of +police made answer to him, saying, 'It is well: in the name of +God! We will cause thee see all this with thine eyes and hear it +with thine ears.' Then the master of police arose and going up to +El Melik ez Zahir, informed him that the assembly would take +place on such a day at his house; and the Sultan said, 'It is +well,' and gave him somewhat of money for his expenses. + +When the appointed day arrived, the chief of the police set apart +for his officers a saloon, that had windows ranged in order and +giving upon the garden, and El Melik ez Zahir came to him, and he +seated himself, he and the Sultan, in the alcove. Then the tables +were spread unto them for eating and they ate; and when the cup +went round amongst them and their hearts were gladdened with meat +and drink, they related that which was with them and discovered +their secrets from concealment. The first to relate was a man, a +captain of the watch, by name Muineddin, whose heart was +engrossed with the love of women; and he said, 'Harkye, all ye +people of [various] degree, I will acquaint you with an +extraordinary affair which befell me aforetime. Know that + + + + + + THE FIRST OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +When I entered the service of this Amir,[FN#88] I had a great +repute and every lewd fellow feared me of all mankind, and whenas +I rode through the city, all the folk would point at me with +their fingers and eyes. It befell one day, as I sat in the house +of the prefecture, with my back against a wall, considering in +myself, there fell somewhat in my lap, and behold, it was a purse +sealed and tied. So I took it in my hand and behold, it had in it +a hundred dirhems,[FN#89] but I found not who threw it and I +said, "Extolled be the perfection of God, the King of the +Kingdoms!"[FN#90] Another day, [as I sat on like wise,] somewhat +fell on me and startled me, and behold, it was a purse like the +first. So I took it and concealing its affair, made as if I +slept, albeit sleep was not with me. + +One day, as I was thus feigning sleep, I felt a hand in my lap, +and in it a magnificent purse. So I seized the hand and behold, +it was that of a fair woman. Quoth I to her, "O my lady, who art +thou?" And she said, "Rise [and come away] from here, that I may +make myself known to thee." So I arose and following her, fared +on, without tarrying, till she stopped at the door of a lofty +house, whereupon quoth I to her,"O my lady, who art thou? Indeed, +thou hast done me kindness, and what is the reason of this?" "By +Allah," answered she, "O Captain Mum, I am a woman on whom desire +and longing are sore for the love of the daughter of the Cadi +Amin el Hukm. Now there was between us what was and the love of +her fell upon my heart and I agreed with her upon meeting, +according to possibility and convenience. But her father Amin el +Hukm took her and went away, and my heart cleaveth to her and +love-longing and distraction are sore upon me on her account." + +I marvelled at her words and said to her, "What wouldst thou have +me do?" And she answered, "O Captain Muin, I would have thee give +me a helping hand." Quoth I, "What have I to do with the daughter +of the Cadi Amin el Hukm?" And she said, "Know that I would not +have thee intrude upon the Cadi's daughter, but I would fain +contrive for the attainment of my wishes.' This is my intent and +my desire, and my design will not be accomplished but by thine +aid." Then said she, "I mean this night to go with a stout heart +and hire me trinkets of price; then will I go and sit in the +street wherein is the house of Amin el Hukm; and when it is the +season of the round and the folk are asleep, do thou pass, thou +and those who are with thee of the police, and thou wilt see me +sitting and on me fine raiment and ornaments and wilt smell on me +the odour of perfumes; whereupon do thou question me of my case +and I will say, 'I come from the Citadel and am of the daughters +of the deputies[FN#91] and I came down [into the town,] to do an +occasion; but the night overtook me at unawares and the Zuweyleh +gate was shut against me and all the gates and I knew not whither +I should go this night Presently I saw this street and noting the +goodliness of its ordinance and its cleanness, took shelter +therein against break of day.' When I say this to thee with all +assurance[FN#92] the chief of the watch will have no suspicion of +me, but will say, 'Needs must we leave her with one who will take +care of her till morning.' And do thou rejoin, 'It were most +fitting that she pass the night with Amin el Hukm and lie with +his family and children till the morning.' Then do thou +straightway knock at the Cadi's door, and thus shall I have +gained admission into his house, without inconvenience, and +gotten my desire; and peace be on thee!" And I said to her, "By +Allah, this is an easy matter." + +So, when the night darkened, we sallied forth to make our round, +attended by men with sharp swords, and went round about the +streets and compassed the city, till we came to the by-street +where was the woman, and it was the middle of the night Here we +smelt rich scents and heard the clink of earrings; so I said to +my comrades, "Methinks I spy an apparition," And the captain of +the watch said, "See what it is." So I came forward and entering +the lane, came presently out again and said, "I have found a fair +woman and she tells me that she is from the Citadel and that the +night surprised her and she espied this street and seeing its +cleanness and the goodliness of its ordinance, knew that it +appertained to a man of rank and that needs must there be in it a +guardian to keep watch over it, wherefore she took shelter +therein." Quoth the captain of the watch to me, "Take her and +carry her to thy house." But I answered, "I seek refuge with +Allah![FN#93] My house is no place of deposit[FN#94] and on this +woman are trinkets and apparel [of price]. By Allah, we will not +deposit her save with Amin el Hukrn, in whose street she hath +been since the first of the darkness; wherefore do thou leave her +with him till the break of day." And he said, "As thou wilt." +Accordingly, I knocked at the Cadi's door and out came a black +slave of his slaves, to whom said I, "O my lord, take this woman +and let her be with you till break of day, for that the +lieutenant of the Amir Ilmeddin hath found her standing at the +door of your house, with trinkets and apparel [of price] on her, +and we feared lest her responsibility be upon you;[FN#95] +wherefore it is most fit that she pass the night with you." So +the slave opened and took her in with him. + +When the morning morrowed, the first who presented himself before +the Amir was the Cadi Amin el Hukm, leaning on two of his black +slaves; and he was crying out and calling [on God] for aid and +saying, "O crafty and perfidious Amir, thou depositedst with me a +woman [yesternight] and broughtest her into my house and my +dwelling-place, and she arose [in the night] and took from me the +good of the little orphans,[FN#96] six great bags, [containing +each a thousand dinars,[FN#97] and made off;] but as for me, I +will say no more to thee except in the Sultan's presence."[FN#98] +When the Master of the Police heard these words, he was troubled +and rose and sat down; then he took the Cadi and seating him by +his side, soothed him and exhorted him to patience, till he had +made an end of talk, when he turned to the officers and +questioned them. They fixed the affair on me and said, "We know +nothing of this affair but from Captain Muineddin." So the Cadi +turned to me and said, "Thou wast of accord with this woman, for +she said she came from the Citadel." + +As for me, I stood, with my head bowed to the earth, forgetting +both Institutes and Canons,[FN#99] and abode sunk in thought, +saying, "How came I to be the dupe of yonder worthless baggage?" +Then said the Amir to me, "What aileth thee that thou answerest +not?" And I answered, saying, "O my lord, it is a custom among +the folk that he who hath a payment to make at a certain date is +allowed three days' grace; [so do thou have patience with me so +long,] and if, [by the end of that time,] the culprit be not +found, I will be answerable for that which is lost." When the +folk heard my speech, they all deemed it reasonable and the +Master of Police turned to the Cadi and swore to him that he +would do his utmost endeavour to recover the stolen money and +that it should be restored to him. So he went away, whilst I +mounted forthright and fell to going round about the world +without purpose, and indeed I was become under the dominion of a +woman without worth or honour; and I went round about on this +wise all that my day and night, but happened not upon tidings of +her; and thus I did on the morrow. + +On the third day I said to myself, "Thou art mad or witless!" For +I was going about in quest of a woman who knew me and I knew her +not, seeing that indeed she was veiled, [whenas I saw her]. Then +I went round about the third day till the hour of afternoon +prayer, and sore was my concern and my chagrin, for I knew that +there abode to me of my life but [till] the morrow, when the +chief of the police would seek me. When it was the time of +sundown, I passed through one of the streets, and beheld a woman +at a window. Her door was ajar and she was clapping her hands and +casting furtive glances at me, as who should say, "Come up by the +door." So I went up, without suspicion, and when I entered, she +rose and clasped me to her breast 1 marvelled at her affair and +she said to me, "I am she whom thou depositedst with Amin el +Hukm." Quoth I to her, "O my sister, I have been going round and +round in quest of thee, for indeed thou hast done a deed that +will be chronicled in history and hast cast me into +slaughter[FN#100] on thine account." "Sayst thou this to me," +asked she, "and thou captain of men?" And I answered, "How should +I not be troubled, seeing that I am in concern [for an affair] +that I turn over and over [in my mind], more by token that I +abide my day long going about [searching for thee] and in the +night I watch its stars [for wakefulness]?" Quoth she, "Nought +shall betide but good, and thou shalt get the better of him." + +So saying, she rose [and going] to a chest, took out therefrom +six bags full of gold and said to me, "This is what I took from +Amin el Hukm's house. So, if thou wilt, restore it; else the +whole is lawfully thine; and if thou desire other than this, +[thou shalt have it;] for I have wealth in plenty and I had no +design in this but to marry thee." Then she arose and opening +[other] chests, brought out therefrom wealth galore and I said to +her, "O my sister, I have no desire for all this, nor do I covet +aught but to be quit of that wherein I am." Quoth she, "I came +not forth of the [Cadi's] house without [making provision for] +thine acquittance." + +Then said she to me, "To-morrow morning, when Amin el Hukm +cometh, have patience with him till he have made an end of his +speech, and when he is silent, return him no answer; and if the +prefect say to thee, 'What ailest thee that thou answereth him +not?' do thou reply, 'O lord, know that the two words are not +alike, but there is no [helper] for him who is undermost[FN#101], +save God the Most High.'[FN#102] The Cadi will say, 'What is the +meaning of thy saying," The two words are not alike"?' And do +thou make answer, saying, 'I deposited with thee a damsel from +the palace of the Sultan, and most like some losel of thy +household hath transgressed against her or she hath been privily +murdered. Indeed, there were on her jewels and raiment worth a +thousand dinars, and hadst thou put those who are with thee of +slaves and slave-girls to the question, thou hadst assuredly lit +on some traces [of the crime].' When he heareth this from thee, +his agitation will redouble and he will be confounded and will +swear that needs must thou go with him to his house; but do thou +say, 'That will I not do, for that I am the party aggrieved, more +by token that I am under suspicion with thee.' If he redouble in +calling [on God for aid] and conjure thee by the oath of divorce, +saying, 'Needs must thou come,' do thou say, 'By Allah, I will +not go, except the prefect come also.' + +When thou comest to the house, begin by searching the roofs; then +search the closets and cabinets; and if thou find nought, humble +thyself unto the Cadi and make a show of abjection and feign +thyself defeated, and after stand at the door and look as if thou +soughtest a place wherein to make water, for that there is a dark +corner there. Then come forward, with a heart stouter than +granite, and lay hold upon a jar of the jars and raise it from +its place. Thou wilt find under it the skirt of a veil; bring it +out publicly and call the prefect in a loud voice, before those +who are present. Then open it and thou wilt find it full of +blood, exceeding of redness,[FN#103] and in it [thou wilt find +also] a woman's shoes and a pair of trousers and somewhat of +linen." When I heard this from her, I rose to go out and she said +to me, "Take these hundred dinars, so they may advantage thee; +and this is my guest-gift to thee." So I took them and bidding +her farewell, returned to my lodging. + +Next morning, up came the Cadi, with his face like the +ox-eye,[FN#104] and said, "In the name of God, where is my debtor +and where is my money?" Then he wept and cried out and said to +the prefect, "Where is that ill-omened fellow, who aboundeth in +thievery and villainy?" Therewith the prefect turned to me and +said, "Why dost thou not answer the Cadi?" And I replied, "O +Amir, the two heads[FN#105] are not equal, and I, I have no +helper but God; but, if the right be on my side, it will appear." +At this the Cadi cried out and said, "Out on thee, O ill-omened +fellow! How wilt thou make out that the right is on thy side?" "O +our lord the Cadi," answered I, "I deposited with thee a trust, +to wit, a woman whom we found at thy door, and on her raiment and +trinkets of price. Now she is gone, even as yesterday is gone; +and after this thou turnest upon us and makest claim upon me for +six thousand dinars. By Allah, this is none other than gross +unright, and assuredly some losel of thy household hath +transgressed against her!" + +With this the Cadi's wrath redoubled and he swore by the most +solemn of oaths that I should go with him and search his house. +"By Allah," replied I, "I will not go, except the prefect be with +us; for, if he be present, he and the officers, thou wilt not +dare to presume upon me." And the Cadi rose and swore an oath, +saying, "By Him who created mankind, we will not go but with the +Amir!" So we repaired to the Cadi's house, accompanied by the +prefect, and going up, searched high and low, but found nothing; +whereupon fear gat hold upon me and the prefect turned to me and +said, "Out on thee, O ill-omened fellow! Thou puttest us to shame +before the men." And I wept and went round about right and left, +with the tears running down my face, till we were about to go +forth and drew near the door of the house. I looked at the place +[behind the door] and said, "What is yonder dark place that I +see?" And I said to the sergeants, "Lift up this jar with me." +They did as I bade them and I saw somewhat appearing under the +jar and said, "Rummage and see what is under it." So they +searched and found a woman's veil and trousers full of blood, +which when I beheld, I fell down in a swoon. + +When the prefect saw this, he said, "By Allah, the captain is +excused!" Then my comrades came round about me and sprinkled +water on my face, [till I came to myself,] when I arose and +accosting the Cadi, who was covered with confusion, said to him, +"Thou seest that suspicion is fallen on thee, and indeed this +affair is no light matter, for that this woman's family will +assuredly not sit down under her loss." Therewith the Cadi's +heart quaked and he knew that the suspicion had reverted upon +him, wherefore his colour paled and his limbs smote together; and +he paid of his own money, after the measure of that which he had +lost, so we would hush up the matter for him.[FN#106] Then we +departed from him in peace, whilst I said in myself, "Indeed, the +woman deceived me not." + +After that I tarried till three days had elapsed, when 1 went to +the bath and changing my clothes, betook myself to her house, but +found the door locked and covered with dust. So I questioned the +neighbours of her and they said, "This house hath been empty +these many days; but three days agone there came a woman with an +ass, and yesternight, at eventide, she took her gear and went +away." So I turned back, confounded in my wit, and every day +[after this, for many a day,] I inquired of the inhabitants [of +the street] concerning her, but could light on no tidings of her. +And indeed I marvelled at the eloquence of her tongue and [the +readiness of] her speech; and this is the most extraordinary of +that which hath betided me.' + +When El Melik ez Zahir heard Muineddin's story, he marvelled +thereat Then rose another officer and said, 'O lord, bear what +befell me in bygone days. + + + + + + THE SECOND OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +I was once an officer in the household of the Amir Jemaleddin El +Atwesh El Mujhidi, who was invested with the governance of the +Eastern and Western districts,[FN#107] and I was dear to his +heart and he concealed from me nought of that which he purposed +to do; and withal he was master of his reason.[FN#108] It chanced +one day that it was reported to him that the daughter of such an +one had wealth galore and raiment and jewels and she loved a Jew, +whom every day she invited to be private with her, and they +passed the day eating and drinking in company and he lay the +night with her. The prefect feigned to give no credence to this +story, but one night he summoned the watchmen of the quarter and +questioned them of this. Quoth one of them, "O my lord, I saw a +Jew enter the street in question one night; but know not for +certain to whom he went in." And the prefect said, "Keep thine +eye on him henceforth and note what place he entereth." So the +watchman went out and kept his eye on the Jew. + +One day, as the prefect sat [in his house], the watchman came in +to him and said, "O my lord, the Jew goeth to the house of such +an one." Whereupon El Atwesh arose and went forth alone, taking +with him none but myself. As he went along, he said to me, +"Indeed, this [woman] is a fat piece of meat."[FN#109] And we +gave not over going till we came to the door of the house and +stood there till a slave-girl came out, as if to buy them +somewhat. We waited till she opened the door, whereupon, without +further parley, we forced our way into the house and rushed in +upon the girl, whom we found seated with the Jew in a saloon with +four estrades, and cooking-pots and candles therein. When her +eyes fell on the prefect, she knew him and rising to her feet, +said, "Welcome and fair welcome! Great honour hath betided me by +my lord's visit and indeed thou honourest my dwelling." + +Then she carried him up [to the estrade] and seating him on the +couch, brought him meat and wine and gave him to drink; after +which she put off all that was upon her of raiment and jewels and +tying them up in a handkerchief, said to him, "O my lord, this is +thy portion, all of it." Moreover she turned to the Jew and said +to him, "Arise, thou also, and do even as I." So he arose in +haste and went out, scarce crediting his deliverance. When the +girl was assured of his escape, she put out her hand to her +clothes [and jewels] and taking them, said to the prefect, "Is +the requital of kindness other than kindness? Thou hast deigned +[to visit me and eat of my victual]; so now arise and depart from +us without ill-[doing]; or I will give one cry and all who are in +the street will come forth." So the Amir went out from her, +without having gotten a single dirhem; and on this wise she +delivered the Jew by the excellence of her contrivance.' + +The folk marvelled at this story and as for the prefect and El +Melik ez Zahir, they said, 'Wrought ever any the like of this +device?' And they marvelled with the utterest of wonderment Then +arose a third officer and said, 'Hear what betided me, for it is +yet stranger and more extraordinary. + + + + + + THE THIRD OFFICER'S STORY + + + +I was one day abroad on an occasion with certain of my comrades, +and as we went along, we fell in with a company of women, as they +were moons, and among them one, the tallest and handsomest of +them. When I saw her and she saw me, she tarried behind her +companions and waited for me, till I came up to her and bespoke +her. Quoth she, "O my lord, (God favour thee!) I saw thee prolong +thy looking on me and imagined that thou knewest me. If it be +thus, vouchsafe me more knowledge of thee." "By Allah," answered +I, "I know thee not, save that God the Most High hath cast the +love of thee into my heart and the goodliness of thine attributes +hath confounded me and that wherewith God hath gifted thee of +those eyes that shoot with arrows; for thou hast captivated me." +And she rejoined, "By Allah, I feel the like of that which thou +feelest; so that meseemeth I have known thee from childhood." + +Then said I, "A man cannot well accomplish all whereof he hath +need in the market-places." "Hast thou a house?" asked she. "No, +by Allah," answered I; "nor is this town my dwelling-place." "By +Allah," rejoined she, "nor have I a place; but I will contrive +for thee." Then she went on before me and I followed her till she +came to a lodging-house and said to the housekeeper, "Hast thou +an empty chamber?" "Yes," answered she; and my mistress said, +"Give us the key." So we took the key and going up to see the +room, entered it; after which she went out to the housekeeper and +[giving her a dirhem], said to her, "Take the key-money,[FN#110] +for the room pleaseth us, and here is another dirhem for thy +trouble. Go, fetch us a pitcher of water, so we may [refresh +ourselves] and rest till the time of the noonday siesta pass and +the heat decline, when the man will go and fetch the [household] +stuff." Therewith the housekeeper rejoiced and brought us a mat +and two pitchers of water on a tray and a leather rug. + +We abode thus till the setting-in of the time of mid-afternoon, +when she said, "Needs must I wash before I go." Quoth I, "Get +water wherewithal we may wash," and pulled out from my pocket +about a score of dirhems, thinking to give them to her; but she +said, "I seek refuge with God!" and brought out of her pocket a +handful of silver, saying, "But for destiny and that God hath +caused the love of thee fall into my heart, there had not +happened that which hath happened." Quoth I, "Take this in +requital of that which thou hast spent;" and she said, "O my +lord, by and by, whenas companionship is prolonged between us, +thou wilt see if the like of me looketh unto money and gain or +no." Then she took a pitcher of water and going into the +lavatory, washed[FN#111] and presently coming forth, prayed and +craved pardon of God the Most High for that which she had done. + +Now I had questioned her of her name and she answered, "My name +is Rihaneh," and described to me her dwelling-place. When I saw +her make the ablution, I said in myself, "This woman doth on this +wise, and shall I not do the like of her?" Then said I to her, +"Belike thou wilt seek us another pitcher of water?" So she went +out to the housekeeper and said to her, "Take this para and fetch +us water therewith, so we may wash the flags withal." +Accordingly, the housekeeper brought two pitchers of water and I +took one of them and giving her my clothes, entered the lavatory +and washed. + +When I had made an end of washing, I cried out, saying, "Harkye, +my lady Rihaneh!" But none answered me. So I went out and found +her not; and indeed she had taken my clothes and that which was +therein of money, to wit, four hundred dirhems. Moreover, she had +taken my turban and my handkerchief and I found not wherewithal +to cover my nakedness; wherefore I suffered somewhat than which +death is less grievous and abode looking about the place, so +haply I might espy wherewithal to hide my shame. Then I sat a +little and presently going up to the door, smote upon it; +whereupon up came the housekeeper and I said to her, "O my +sister, what hath God done with the woman who was here?" Quoth +she, "She came down but now and said, 'I am going to cover the +boys with the clothes and I have left him sleeping. If he awake, +tell him not to stir till the clothes come to him.'" Then said I, +"O my sister, secrets are [safe] with the worthy and the +freeborn. By Allah, this woman is not my wife, nor ever in my +life have I seen her before this day!" And I recounted to her the +whole affair and begged her to cover me, informing her that I was +discovered of the privities. + +She laughed and cried out to the women of the house, saying, "Ho, +Fatimeh! Ho, Khedijeh! Ho, Herifeh! Ho, Senineh!" Whereupon all +those who were in the place of women and neighbours flocked to me +and fell a-laughing at me and saying, "O blockhead, what ailed +thee to meddle with gallantry?" Then one of them came and looked +in my face and laughed, and another said, "By Allah, thou +mightest have known that she lied, from the time she said she +loved thee and was enamoured of thee? What is there in thee to +love?" And a third said, "This is an old man without +understanding." And they vied with each other in making mock of +me, what while I suffered sore chagrin. + +However, after awhile, one of the women took pity on me and +brought me a rag of thin stuff and cast it on me. With this I +covered my privities, and no more, and abode awhile thus. Then +said I in myself, "The husbands of these women will presently +gather together on me and I shall be disgraced." So I went out by +another door of the house, and young and old crowded about me, +running after me and saying, "A madman! A madman!" till I came to +my house and knocked at the door; whereupon out came my wife and +seeing me naked, tall, bareheaded, cried out and ran in again, +saying,"This is a madman, a Satan!" But, when she and my family +knew me, they rejoiced and said to me, "What aileth thee?" I told +them that thieves had taken my clothes and stripped me and had +been like to kill me; and when I told them that they would have +killed me, they praised God the Most High and gave me joy of my +safety. So consider the craft of this woman and this device that +she practised upon me, for all my pretensions to sleight and +quickwittedness.' + +The company marvelled at this story and at the doings of women. +Then came forward a fourth officer and said, 'Verily, that which +hath betided me of strange adventures is yet more extraordinary +than this; and it was on this wise. + + + + + + THE FOURTH OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +We were sleeping one night on the roof, when a woman made her way +into the house and gathering into a bundle all that was therein, +took it up, that she might go away with it. Now she was great +with child and near upon her term and the hour of her +deliverance; so, when she made up the bundle and offered to +shoulder it and make off with it, she hastened the coming of the +pangs of labour and gave birth to a child in the dark. Then she +sought for the flint and steel and striking a light, kindled the +lamp and went round about the house with the little one, and it +was weeping. [The noise awoke us,] as we lay on the roof, and we +marvelled. So we arose, to see what was to do, and looking down +through the opening of the saloon,[FN#112] saw a woman, who had +kindled the lamp, and heard the little one weeping. She heard our +voices and raising her eyes to us, said, "Are ye not ashamed to +deal with us thus and discover our nakedness? Know ye not that +the day belongeth to you and the night to us? Begone from us! By +Allah, were it not that ye have been my neighbours these [many] +years, I would bring down the house upon you!" We doubted not but +that she was of the Jinn and drew back our heads; but, when we +arose on the morrow, we found that she had taken all that was +with us and made off with it; wherefore we knew that she was a +thief and had practised [on us] a device, such as was never +before practised; and we repented, whenas repentance advantaged +us not.' + +When the company heard this story, they marvelled thereat with +the utmost wonderment. Then the fifth officer, who was the +lieutenant of the bench,[FN#113] came forward and said, '[This +is] no wonder and there befell me that which is rarer and more +extraordinary than this. + + + + + + THE FIFTH OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +As I sat one day at the door of the prefecture, a woman entered +and said to me privily, "O my lord, I am the wife of such an one +the physician, and with him is a company of the notables[FN#114] +of the city, drinking wine in such a place." When I heard this, I +misliked to make a scandal; so I rebuffed her and sent her away. +Then I arose and went alone to the place in question and sat +without till the door opened, when I rushed in and entering, +found the company engaged as the woman had set out, and she +herself with them. I saluted them and they returned my greeting +and rising, entreated me with honour and seated me and brought me +to eat. Then I informed them how one had denounced them to me, +but I had driven him[FN#115] away and come to them by myself; +wherefore they thanked me and praised me for my goodness. Then +they brought out to me from among them two thousand +dirhems[FN#116] and I took them and went away. + +Two months after this occurrence, there came to me one of the +Cadi's officers, with a scroll, wherein was the magistrate's +writ, summoning me to him. So I accompanied the officer and went +in to the Cadi, whereupon the plaintiff, to wit, he who had taken +out the summons, sued me for two thousand dirhems, avouching that +I had borrowed them of him as the woman's agent.[FN#117] I denied +the debt, but he produced against me a bond for the amount, +attested by four of those who were in company [on the occasion]; +and they were present and bore witness to the loan. So I reminded +them of my kindness and paid the amount, swearing that I would +never again follow a woman's counsel. Is not this marvellous?' + +The company marvelled at the goodliness of his story and it +pleased El Melik ez Zahir; and the prefect said, 'By Allah, this +story is extraordinary!' Then came forward the sixth officer and +said to the company, 'Hear my story and that which befell me, to +wit, that which befell such an one the assessor, for it is rarer +than this and stranger. + + + + + + THE SIXTH OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +A certain assessor was one day taken with a woman and much people +assembled before his house and the lieutenant of police and his +men came to him and knocked at the door. The assessor looked out +of window and seeing the folk, said, "What aileth you?" Quoth +they, "[Come,] speak with the lieutenant of police such an one." +So he came down and they said to him, "Bring forth the woman that +is with thee." Quoth he, "Are ye not ashamed? How shall I bring +forth my wife?" And they said, "Is she thy wife by +contract[FN#118] or without contract?" ["By contract,"] answered +he, "according to the Book of God and the Institutes of His +Apostle." "Where is the contract?" asked they; and he replied, +"Her contract is in her mother's house." Quoth they, "Arise and +come down and show us the contract." And he said to them, "Go +from her way, so she may come forth." Now, as soon as he got wind +of the matter, he had written the contract and fashioned it after +her fashion, to suit with the case, and written therein the names +of certain of his friends as witnesses and forged the signatures +of the drawer and the wife's next friend and made it a contract +of marriage with his wife and appointed it for an excuse.[FN#119] +So, when the woman was about to go out from him, he gave her the +contract that be had forged, and the Amir sent with her a servant +of his, to bring her to her father. So the servant went with her +and when she came to her door, she said to him, "I will not +return to the citation of the Amir; but let the witnesses[FN#120] +present themselves and take my contract." + +Accordingly, the servant carried this message to the lieutenant +of police, who was standing at the assessor's door, and he said, +"This is reasonable." Then said [the assessor] to the servant, +"Harkye, O eunuch! Go and fetch us such an one the notary;" for +that he was his friend [and it was he whose name he had forged as +the drawer-up of the contract]. So the lieutenant of police sent +after him and fetched him to the assessor, who, when he saw him, +said to him, "Get thee to such an one, her with whom thou +marriedst me, and cry out upon her, and when she cometh to thee, +demand of her the contract and take it from her and bring it to +us." And he signed to him, as who should say, "Bear me out in the +lie and screen me, for that she is a strange woman and I am in +fear of the lieutenant of police who standeth at the door; and we +beseech God the Most High to screen us and you from the trouble +of this world. Amen." + +So the notary went up to the lieutenant, who was among the +witnesses, and said "It is well. Is she not such an one whose +marriage contract we drew up in such a place?" Then he betook +himself to the woman's house and cried out upon her; whereupon +she brought him the [forged] contract and he took it and returned +with it to the lieutenant of police. When the latter had taken +cognizance [of the document and professed himself satisfied, the +assessor] said [to the notary,] "Go to our lord and master, the +Cadi of the Cadis, and acquaint him with that which befalleth his +assessors." The notary rose to go, but the lieutenant of police +feared [for himself] and was profuse in beseeching the assessor +and kissing his hands, till he forgave him; whereupon the +lieutenant went away in the utterest of concern and affright. On +this wise the assessor ordered the case and carried out the +forgery and feigned marriage with the woman; [and thus was +calamity warded off from him] by the excellence of his +contrivance."[FN#121] + +The folk marvelled at this story with the utmost wonderment and +the seventh officer said, 'There befell me in Alexandria the +[God-]guarded a marvellous thing, [and it was that one told me +the following story]. + + + + + + THE SEVENTH OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +There came one day an old woman [to the stuff-market], with a +casket of precious workmanship, containing trinkets, and she was +accompanied by a damsel great with child. The old woman sat down +at the shop of a draper and giving him to know that the damsel +was with child by the prefect of police of the city, took of him, +on credit, stuffs to the value of a thousand dinars and deposited +with him the casket as security. [She opened the casket and] +showed him that which was therein; and he found it full of +trinkets [apparently] of price; [so he trusted her with the +goods] and she took leave of him and carrying the stuffs to the +damsel, who was with her, [went her way]. Then the old woman was +absent from him a great while, and when her absence was +prolonged, the draper despaired of her; so he went up to the +prefect's house and enquired of the woman of his household, [who +had taken his stuffs on credit;] but could get no tidings of her +nor lit on aught of her trace. + +Then he brought out the casket of jewellery [and showed it to an +expert,] who told him that the trinkets were gilt and that their +worth was but an hundred dirhems. When he heard this, he was sore +concerned thereat and presenting himself before the Sultan's +deputy, made his complaint to him; whereupon the latter knew that +a trick had been put off upon him and that the folk had cozened +him and gotten the better of him and taken his stuffs. Now the +magistrate in question was a man of good counsel and judgment, +well versed in affairs; so he said to the draper, "Remove +somewhat from thy shop, [and amongst the rest the casket,] and on +the morrow break the lock and cry out and come to me and complain +that they have plundered all thy shop. Moreover, do thou call +[upon God for succour] and cry aloud and acquaint the folk, so +that all the people may resort to thee and see the breach of the +lock and that which is missing from thy shop; and do thou show it +to every one who presenteth himself, so the news may be noised +abroad, and tell them that thy chief concern is for a casket of +great value, deposited with thee by a great man of the town and +that thou standest in fear of him. But be thou not afraid and +still say in thy converse, 'My casket belonged to such an one, +and I fear him and dare not bespeak him; but you, O company and +all ye who are present, I call you to witness of this for me.' +And if there be with thee more than this talk, [say it;] and the +old woman will come to thee." + +The draper answered with "Hearkening and obedience" and going +forth from the deputy's presence, betook himself to his shop and +brought out thence [the casket and] somewhat considerable, which +he removed to his house. At break of day he arose and going to +his shop, broke the lock and cried out and shrieked and called +[on God for help,] till the folk assembled about him and all who +were in the city were present, whereupon he cried out to them, +saying even as the prefect had bidden him; and this was bruited +abroad. Then he made for the prefecture and presenting himself +before the chief of the police, cried out and complained and made +a show of distraction. + +After three days, the old woman came to him and bringing him the +[thousand dinars, the] price of the stuffs, demanded the +casket.[FN#122] When he saw her, he laid hold of her and carried +her to the prefect of the city; and when she came before the +Cadi, he said to her, "O Sataness, did not thy first deed suffice +thee, but thou must come a second time?" Quoth she, "I am of +those who seek their salvation[FN#123] in the cities, and we +foregather every month; and yesterday we foregathered." "Canst +thou [bring me to] lay hold of them?" asked the prefect; and she +answered, "Yes; but, if thou wait till to-morrow, they will have +dispersed. So I will deliver them to thee to-night." Quoth he to +her, "Go;" and she said, "Send with me one who shall go with me +to them and obey me in that which I shall say to him, and all +that I bid him he shall give ear unto and obey me therein." So he +gave her a company of men and she took them and bringing them to +a certain door, said to them, "Stand at this door, and whoso +cometh out to you, lay hands on him; and I will come out to you +last of all." "Hearkening and obedience," answered they and stood +at the door, whilst the old woman went in. They waited a long +while, even as the Sultan's deputy had bidden them, but none came +out to them and their standing was prolonged. When they were +weary of waiting, they went up to the door and smote upon it +heavily and violently, so that they came nigh to break the lock. +Then one of them entered and was absent a long while, but found +nought; so he returned to his comrades and said to them,"This is +the door of a passage, leading to such a street; and indeed she +laughed at you and left you and went away."When they heard his +words, they returned to the Amir and acquainted him with the +case, whereby he knew that the old woman was a crafty trickstress +and that she had laughed at them and cozened them and put a cheat +on them, to save herself. Consider, then, the cunning of this +woman and that which she contrived of wiles, for all her lack of +foresight in presenting herself [a second time] to the draper and +not apprehending that his conduct was but a trick; yet, when she +found herself in danger, she straightway devised a shift for her +deliverance.' + +When the company heard the seventh officer's story, they were +moved to exceeding mirth, and El Melik ez Zahir Bibers rejoiced +in that which he heard and said, 'By Allah, there betide things +in this world, from which kings are shut out, by reason of their +exalted station!" Then came forward another man from amongst the +company and said, 'There hath reached me from one of my friends +another story bearing on the malice of women and their craft, and +it is rarer and more extraordinary and more diverting than all +that hath been told to you." + +Quoth the company, 'Tell us thy story and expound it unto us, so +we may see that which it hath of extraordinary.' And he said +'Know, then, that + + + + + + THE EIGHTH OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +A friend of mine once invited me to an entertainment; so I went +with him, and when we came into his house and sat down on his +couch, he said to me, "This is a blessed day and a day of +gladness, and [blessed is] he who liveth to [see] the like of +this day. I desire that thou practise with us and deny[FN#124] us +not, for that thou hast been used to hearken unto those who +occupy themselves with this."[FN#125] I fell in with this and +their talk happened upon the like of this subject.[FN#126] +Presently, my friend, who had invited me, arose from among them +and said to them, "Hearken to me and I will tell you of an +adventure that happened to me. There was a certain man who used +to visit me in my shop, and I knew him not nor he me, nor ever in +his life had he seen me; but he was wont, whenever he had need of +a dirhem or two, by way of loan, to come to me and ask me, +without acquaintance or intermediary between me and him, [and I +would give him what he sought]. I told none of him, and matters +abode thus between us a long while, till he fell to borrowing ten +at twenty dirhems [at a time], more or less. + +One day, as I stood in my shop, there came up to me a woman and +stopped before me; and she as she were the full moon rising from +among the stars, and the place was illumined by her light. When I +saw her, I fixed my eyes on her and stared in her face; and she +bespoke me with soft speech. When I heard her words and the +sweetness of her speech, I lusted after her; and when she saw +that I lusted after her, she did her occasion and promising me +[to come again], went away, leaving my mind occupied with her and +fire kindled in my heart. Then I abode, perplexed and pondering +my affair, whilst fire flamed in my heart, till the third day, +when she came again and I scarce credited her coming. When I saw +her, I talked with her and cajoled her and courted her and strove +to win her favour with speech and invited her [to my house]; but +she answered, saying, 'I will not go up into any one's house.' +Quoth I, 'I will go with thee;' and she said, 'Arise and come +with me.' + +So I arose and putting in my sleeve a handkerchief, wherein was a +good sum of money, followed the woman, who went on before me and +gave not over walking till she brought me to a by-street and to a +door, which she bade me open. I refused and she opened it and +brought me into the vestibule. As soon as I had entered, she +locked the door of entrance from within and said to me, 'Sit +[here] till I go in to the slave-girls and cause them enter a +place where they shall not see me.' 'It is well,' answered I and +sat down; whereupon she entered and was absent from me a moment, +after which she returned to me, without a veil, and said, 'Arise, +[enter,] in the name of God.'[FN#127] So I arose and went in +after her and we gave not over going till we entered a saloon. +When I examined the place, I found it neither handsome nor +agreeable, but unseemly and desolate, without symmetry or +cleanliness; nay, it was loathly to look upon and there was a +foul smell in it. + +I seated myself amiddleward the saloon, misdoubting, and as I +sat, there came down on me from the estrade seven naked men, +without other clothing than leather girdles about their waists. +One of them came up to me and took my turban, whilst another took +my handkerchief, that was in my sleeve, with my money, and a +third stripped me of my clothes; after which a fourth came and +bound my hands behind me with his girdle. Then they all took me +up, pinioned as I was, and casting me down, fell a-dragging me +towards a sink-hole that was there and were about to cut my +throat, when, behold, there came a violent knocking at the door. +When they heard this, they were afraid and their minds were +diverted from me by fear; so the woman went out and presently +returning, said to them, 'Fear not; no harm shall betide you this +day. It is only your comrade who hath brought you your +noon-meal.' With this the new-comer entered, bringing with him a +roasted lamb; and when he came in to them, he said to them, 'What +is to do with you, that ye have tucked up [your sleeves and +trousers]?' Quoth they, '[This is] a piece of game we have +caught.' + +When he heard this, he came up to me and looking in my face, +cried out and said, 'By Allah, this is my brother, the son of my +mother and father! Allah! Allah!' Then he loosed me from my bonds +and kissed my head, and behold it was my friend who used to +borrow money of me. When I kissed his head, he kissed mine and +said, 'O my brother, be not affrighted.' Then he called for my +clothes [and money and restored to me all that had been taken +from me] nor was aught missing to me. Moreover, he brought me a +bowl full of [sherbet of] sugar, with lemons therein, and gave me +to drink thereof; and the company came and seated me at a table. +So I ate with them and he said to me, 'O my lord and my brother, +now have bread and salt passed between us and thou hast +discovered our secret and [become acquainted with] our case; but +secrets [are safe] with the noble.' Quoth I, 'As I am a +lawfully-begotten child, I will not name aught [of this] neither +denounce [you!*]' And they assured themselves of me by an oath. +Then they brought me out and I went my way, scarce crediting but +that I was of the dead. + +I abode in my house, ill, a whole month; after which I went to +the bath and coming out, opened my shop [and sat selling and +buying as usual], but saw no more of the man or the woman, till, +one day, there stopped before my shop a young man, [a Turcoman], +as he were the full moon; and he was a sheep-merchant and had +with him a bag, wherein was money, the price of sheep that he had +sold. He was followed by the woman, and when he stopped at my +shop, she stood by his side and cajoled him, and indeed he +inclined to her with a great inclination. As for me, I was +consumed with solicitude for him and fell to casting furtive +glances at him and winked at him, till he chanced to look round +and saw me winking at him; whereupon the woman looked at me and +made a sign with her hand and went away. The Turcoman followed +her and I counted him dead, without recourse; wherefore I feared +with an exceeding fear and shut my shop. Then I journeyed for a +year's space and returning, opened my shop; whereupon, behold, +the woman came up to me and said, 'This is none other than a +great absence.' Quoth I, 'I have been on a journey;' and she +said, 'Why didst thou wink at the Turcoman?' 'God forbid!' +answered I. 'I did not wink at him.' Quoth she, 'Beware lest thou +cross me;' and went away. + + +Awhile after this a friend of mine invited me to his house and +when I came to him, we ate and drank and talked. Then said he to +me, 'O my friend, hath there befallen thee in thy life aught of +calamity?' 'Nay,' answered I; 'but tell me [first], hath there +befallen thee aught?' ['Yes,'] answered he. 'Know that one day I +espied a fair woman; so I followed her and invited her [to come +home with me]. Quoth she, "I will not enter any one's house; but +come thou to my house, if thou wilt, and be it on such a day." +Accordingly, on the appointed day, her messenger came to me, +purposing to carry me to her; so I arose and went with him, till +we came to a handsome house and a great door. He opened the door +and I entered, whereupon he locked the door [behind me] and would +have gone in, but I feared with an exceeding fear and foregoing +him to the second door, whereby he would have had me enter, +locked it and cried out at him, saying, "By Allah, an thou open +not to me, I will kill thee; for I am none of those whom thou +canst cozen!" Quoth he, "What deemest thou of cozenage?" And I +said, "Verily, I am affrighted at the loneliness of the house and +the lack of any at the door thereof; for I see none appear." "O +my lord," answered he, "this is a privy door." "Privy or public," +answered I, "open to me." + +So he opened to me and I went out and had not gone far from the +house when I met a woman, who said to me, "Methinks a long life +was fore-ordained to thee; else hadst thou not come forth of +yonder house." "How so?" asked I, and she answered, "Ask thy +friend [such an one," naming thee,] "and he will acquaint thee +with strange things." So, God on thee, O my friend, tell me what +befell thee of wonders and rarities, for I have told thee what +befell me.' 'O my brother,' answered I, 'I am bound by a solemn +oath.' And he said, 'O my friend, break thine oath and tell me.' +Quoth I, 'Indeed, I fear the issue of this.' [But he importuned +me] till I told him all, whereat he marvelled. Then I went away +from him and abode a long while, [without farther news]. + +One day, another of my friends came to me and said 'A neighbour +of mine hath invited me to hear [music]. [And he would have me go +with him;] but I said, 'I will not foregather with any one.' +However, he prevailed upon me [to accompany him]; so we repaired +to the place and found there a man, who came to meet us and said, +'[Enter,] in the name of God!' Then he pulled out a key and +opened the door, whereupon we entered and he locked the door +after us. Quoth I, 'We are the first of the folk; but where are +their voices?'[FN#128] '[They are] within the house,' answered +he. 'This is but a privy door; so be not amazed at the absence of +the folk.' And my friend said to me, 'Behold, we are two, and +what can they avail to do with us?' [Then he brought us into the +house,] and when we entered the saloon, we found it exceeding +desolate and repulsive of aspect Quoth my friend, 'We are fallen +[into a trap]; but there is no power and no virtue save in God +the Most High, the Supreme!' And I said, 'May God not requite +thee for me with good!' + +Then we sat down on the edge of the estrade and presently I +espied a closet beside me; so I looked into it and my friend said +to me, 'What seest thou?' Quoth I, 'I see therein good galore and +bodies of murdered folk. Look.' So he looked and said, 'By Allah, +we are lost men!' And we fell a-weeping, I and he. As we were +thus, behold, there came in upon us, by the door at which we had +entered, four naked men, with girdles of leather about their +middles, and made for my friend. He ran at them and dealing one +of them a buffet, overthrew him, whereupon the other three fell +all upon him. I seized the opportunity to escape, what while they +were occupied with him, and espying a door by my side, slipped +into it and found myself in an underground chamber, without +window or other issue. So I gave myself up for lost and said, +'There is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the +Supreme!' Then I looked to the top of the vault and saw in it a +range of glazed lunettes; so I clambered up for dear life, till I +reached the lunettes, and I distracted [for fear]. I made shift +to break the glass and scrambling out through the frames, found a +wall behind them. So I bestrode the wall and saw folk walking in +the road; whereupon I cast myself down to the ground and God the +Most High preserved me, so that I reached the earth, unhurt. The +folk flocked round me and I acquainted them with my story. + +As fate would have it, the chief of the police was passing +through the market; so the people told him [what was to do] and +he made for the door and burst it open. We entered with a rush +and found the thieves, as they had overthrown my friend and cut +his throat; for they occupied not themselves with me, but said, +'Whither shall yonder fellow go? Indeed, he is in our grasp.' So +the prefect took them with the hand[FN#129] and questioned them, +and they confessed against the woman and against their associates +in Cairo. Then he took them and went forth, after he had locked +up the house and sealed it; and I accompanied him till he came +without the [first] house. He found the door locked from within; +so he bade break it open and we entered and found another door. +This also he caused burst in, enjoining his men to silence till +the doors should be opened, and we entered and found the band +occupied with a new victim, whom the woman had just brought in +and whose throat they were about to cut. + +The prefect released the man and gave him back all that the +thieves had taken from him; and he laid hands on the woman and +the rest and took forth of the house treasures galore. Amongst +the rest, they found the money-bag of the Turcoman +sheep-merchant. The thieves they nailed up incontinent against +the wall of the house, whilst, as for the woman, they wrapped her +in one of her veils and nailing her [to a board, set her] upon a +camel and went round about the town with her. Thus God razed +their dwelling-places and did away from me that which I feared. +All this befell, whilst I looked on, and I saw not my friend who +had saved me from them the first time, whereat I marvelled to the +utterest of marvel. However, some days afterward, he came up to +me, and indeed he had renounced[FN#130] [the world] and donned a +fakir's habit; and he saluted me and went away. + +Then he again began to pay me frequent visits and I entered into +converse with him and questioned him of the band and how he came +to escape, he alone of them all. Quoth he, 'I left them from the +day on which God the Most High delivered thee from them, for that +they would not obey my speech; wherefore I swore that I would no +longer consort with them.' And I said, 'By Allah, I marvel at +thee, for that thou wast the cause of my preservation!' Quoth he, +'The world is full of this sort [of folk]; and we beseech God the +Most High for safety, for that these [wretches] practise upon men +with every kind of device.' Then said I to him, 'Tell me the most +extraordinary adventure of all that befell thee in this villainy +thou wast wont to practise.' And he answered, saying, 'O my +brother, I was not present when they did on this wise, for that +my part with them was to concern myself with selling and buying +and [providing them with] food; but I have heard that the most +extraordinary thing that befell them was on this wise. + + + + + + THE THIEF'S STORY. + + + +The woman who used to act as decoy for them once caught them a +woman from a bride-feast, under pretence that she had a wedding +toward in her own house, and appointed her for a day, whereon she +should come to her. When the appointed day arrived, the woman +presented herself and the other carried her into the house by a +door, avouching that it was a privy door. When she entered [the +saloon], she saw men and champions[FN#131] [and knew that she had +fallen into a trap]; so she looked at them and said, "Harkye, +lads![FN#132] I am a woman and there is no glory in my slaughter, +nor have ye any feud of blood-revenge against me, wherefore ye +should pursue me; and that which is upon me of [trinkets and +apparel] ye are free to take." Quoth they, "We fear thy +denunciation." But she answered, saying, "I will abide with you, +neither coming in nor going out." And they said, "We grant thee +thy life." + +Then the captain looked on her [and she pleased him]; so he took +her for himself and she abode with him a whole year, doing her +endeavour in their service. till they became accustomed to her +[and felt assured of her]. One night she plied them with drink +and they drank [till they became intoxicated]; whereupon she +arose and took her clothes and five hundred dinars from the +captain; after which she fetched a razor and shaved all their +chins. Then she took soot from the cooking-pots and blackening +their faces withal, opened the doors and went out; and when the +thieves awoke, they abode confounded and knew that the woman had +practised upon them.'"' + +The company marvelled at this story and the ninth officer came +forward and said, 'I will tell you a right goodly story I heard +at a wedding. + + + + + + THE NINTH OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +A certain singing-woman was fair of favour and high in repute, +and it befell one day that she went out apleasuring. As she +sat,[FN#133] behold, a man lopped of the hand stopped to beg of +her, and he entered in at the door. Then he touched her with his +stump, saying, "Charity, for the love of God!" but she answered, +"God open [on thee the gate of subsistence]!" and reviled him. +Some days after this, there came to her a messenger and gave her +the hire of her going forth.[FN#134] So she took with her a +handmaid and an accompanyist;[FN#135] and when she came to the +appointed place, the messenger brought her into a long passage, +at the end whereof was a saloon. So (quoth she) we entered and +found none therein, but saw the [place made ready for an] +entertainment with candles and wine and dessert, and in another +place we saw food and in a third beds. + +We sat down and I looked at him who had opened the door to us, +and behold he was lopped of the hand. I misliked this of him, and +when I had sat a little longer, there entered a man, who filled +the lamps in the saloon and lit the candles; and behold, he also +was handlopped. Then came the folk and there entered none except +he were lopped of the hand, and indeed the house was full of +these. When the assembly was complete, the host entered and the +company rose to him and seated him in the place of honour. Now he +was none other than the man who had fetched me, and he was clad +in sumptuous apparel, but his hands were in his sleeves, so that +I knew not how it was with them. They brought him food and he +ate, he and the company; after which they washed their hands and +the host fell to casting furtive glances at me. + +Then they drank till they were drunken, and when they had taken +leave [of their wits], the host turned to me and said, "Thou +dealtest not friendly with him who sought an alms of thee and +thou saidst to him, 'How loathly thou art!'" I considered him and +behold, he was the lophand who had accosted me in my pleasaunce. +So I said, "O my lord, what is this thou sayest?" And he +answered, saying, "Wait; thou shall remember it." So saying, he +shook his head and stroked his beard, whilst I sat down for fear. +Then he put out his hand to my veil and shoes and laying them by +his side, said to me, "Sing, O accursed one!" So I sang till I +was weary, whilst they occupied themselves with their case and +intoxicated themselves and their heat redoubled.[FN#136] +Presently, the doorkeeper came to me and said, "Fear not, O my +lady; but, when thou hast a mind to go, let me know." Quoth I, +"Thinkest thou to delude me?" And he said, "Nay, by Allah! But I +have compassion on thee for that our captain and our chief +purposeth thee no good and methinketh he will slay thee this +night." Quoth I to him, "An thou be minded to do good, now is the +time." And he answered, saying, "When our chief riseth to do his +occasion and goeth to the draught-house, I will enter before him +with the light and leave the door open; and do thou go +whithersoever thou wilt." + +Then I sang and the captain said, "It is good," Quoth I, "Nay, +but thou art loathly." He looked at me and said, "By Allah, thou +shalt never more scent the odour of the world!" But his comrades +said to him, "Do it not," and appeased him, till he said, "If it +must be so, she shall abide here a whole year, not going forth." +And I said, "I am content to submit to whatsoever pleaseth thee. +If I have erred, thou art of those to whom pertaineth clemency." +He shook his head and drank, then arose and went out to do his +occasion, what while his comrades were occupied with what they +were about of merry-making and drunkenness and sport. So I winked +to my fellows and we slipped out into the corridor. We found the +door open and fled forth, unveiled and knowing not whither we +went; nor did we halt till we had left the house far behind and +happened on a cook cooking, to whom said I, "Hast thou a mind to +quicken dead folk?" And he said, "Come up." So we went up into +the shop, and he said, 'Lie down." Accordingly, we lay down and +he covered us with the grass,[FN#137] wherewith he was used to +kindle [the fire] under the food. + +Hardly had we settled ourselves in the place when we heard a +noise of kicking [at the door] and people running right and left +and questioning the cook and saying, "Hath any one passed by +thee?" "Nay," answered he; "none hath passed by me." But they +ceased not to go round about the shop till the day broke, when +they turned back, disappointed. Then the cook removed the grass +and said to us, "Arise, for ye are delivered from death." So we +arose, and we were uncovered, without mantle or veil; but the +cook carried us up into his house and we sent to our lodgings and +fetched us veils; and we repented unto God the Most High and +renounced singing,[FN#138] for indeed this was a great +deliverance after stress.' + +The company marvelled at this story and the tenth officer came +forward and said, 'As for me, there befell me that which was yet +more extraordinary than all this.' Quoth El Melik ez Zahir, 'What +was that?' And he said, + + + + + + THE TENTH OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +'A great theft had been committed in the city and I was +cited,[FN#139] I and my fellows. Now it was a matter of +considerable value and they[FN#140] pressed hard upon us; but we +obtained of them some days' grace and dispersed in quest of the +stolen goods. As for me, I sallied forth with five men and went +round about the city that day; and on the morrow we fared forth +[into the suburbs]. When we came a parasang or two parasangs' +distance from the city, we were athirst; and presently we came to +a garden. So I went in and going up to the water-wheel,[FN#141] +entered it and drank and made the ablution and prayed. Presently +up came the keeper of the garden and said to me, "Out on thee! +Who brought thee into this water-wheel?" And he cuffed me and +squeezed my ribs till I was like to die. Then he bound me with +one of his bulls and made me turn in the water-wheel, flogging me +the while with a cattle whip he had with him, till my heart was +on fire; after which he loosed me and I went out, knowing not the +way. + +When I came forth, I swooned away: so I sat down till my trouble +subsided; then I made for my comrades and said to them, "I have +found the booty and the thief, and I affrighted him not neither +troubled him, lest he should flee; but now, come, let us go to +him, so we may make shift to lay hold upon him." Then I took them +and repaired to the keeper of the garden, who had tortured me +with beating, meaning to make him taste the like of that which he +had done with me and lie against him and cause him eat stick. So +we rushed into the water-wheel and seizing the keeper, pinioned +him. + +Now there was with him a youth and he said, "By Allah, I was not +with him and indeed it is six months since I entered the city, +nor did I set eyes on the stuffs until they were brought hither." +Quoth we, "Show us the stuffs." So he carried us to a place +wherein was a pit, beside the water-wheel, and digging there, +brought out the stolen goods, with not a stitch of them missing. +So we took them and carried the keeper to the prefecture, where +we stripped him and beat him with palm-rods till he confessed to +thefts galore. Now I did this by way of mockery against my +comrades, and it succeeded.'[FN#142] + +The company marvelled at this story with the utmost wonderment, +and the eleventh officer rose and said, 'I know a story yet rarer +than this: but it happened not to myself. + + + + + + THE ELEVENTH OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +There was once aforetime a chief officer [of police] and there +passed by him one day a Jew, with a basket in his hand, wherein +were five thousand dinars; whereupon quoth the officer to one of +his slaves, "Canst thou make shift to take that money from yonder +Jew's basket?" "Yes," answered he, nor did he tarry beyond the +next day before he came to his master, with the basket in his +hand. So (quoth the officer) I said to him, "Go, bury it in such +a place." So he went and buried it and returned and told me. +Hardly had he done this when there arose a clamour and up came +the Jew, with one of the king's officers, avouching that the +money belonged to the Sultan and that he looked to none but us +for it. We demanded of him three days' delay, as of wont, and I +said to him who had taken the money, "Go and lay somewhat in the +Jew's house, that shall occupy him with himself." So he went and +played a fine trick, to wit, he laid in a basket a dead woman's +hand, painted [with henna] and having a gold seal- ring on one of +the fingers, and buried the basket under a flagstone in the Jew's +house. Then came we and searched and found the basket, whereupon +we straightway clapped the Jew in irons for the murder of a +woman. + +When it was the appointed time, there came to us the man of the +Sultan's guards, [who had accompanied the Jew, when he came to +complain of the loss of the money,] and said, "The Sultan biddeth +you nail up[FN#143] the Jew and bring the money, for that there +is no way by which five thousand dinars can be lost." Wherefore +we knew that our device sufficed not. So I went forth and finding +a young man, a Haurani,[FN#144] passing the road, laid hands on +him and stripped him and beat him with palm-rods. Then I clapped +him in irons and carrying him to the prefecture, beat him again, +saying to them, "This is the thief who stole the money." And we +strove to make him confess; but he would not confess. So we beat +him a third and a fourth time, till we were weary and exhausted +and he became unable to return an answer. But, when we had made +an end of beating and tormenting him, he said, "I will fetch the +money forthright." + +So we went with him till he came to the place where my slave had +buried the money and dug there and brought it out; whereat I +marvelled with the utmost wonder and we carried it to the +prefect's house. When the latter saw the money, he rejoiced with +an exceeding joy and bestowed on me a dress of honour. Then he +restored the money straightway to the Sultan and we left the +youth in prison; whilst I said to my slave who had taken the +money, "Did yonder young man see thee, what time thou buriedst +the money?" "No, by the Great God!" answered he. So I went in to +the young man, the prisoner, and plied him with wine till he +recovered, when I said to him, "Tell me how thou stolest the +money." "By Allah," answered he, "I stole it not, nor did I ever +set eyes on it till I brought it forth of the earth!" Quoth I, +"How so?" And he said, "Know that the cause of my falling into +your hands was my mother's imprecation against me; for that I +evil entreated her yesternight and beat her and she said to me, +'By Allah, O my son, God shall assuredly deliver thee into the +hand of the oppressor!' Now she is a pious woman. So I went out +forthright and thou sawest me in the way and didst that which +thou didst; and when beating was prolonged on me, my senses +failed me and I heard one saying to me, 'Fetch it.' So I said to +you what I said and he[FN#145] guided me till I came to the place +and there befell what befell of the bringing out of the money." + +I marvelled at this with the utmost wonderment and knew that he +was of the sons of the pious. So I bestirred myself for his +release and tended him [till he recovered] and besought him of +quittance and absolution of responsibility.' + +All those who were present marvelled at this story with the +utmost marvel, and the twelfth officer came forward and said, 'I +will tell you a pleasant trait that I had from a certain man, +concerning an adventure that befell him with one of the thieves. +(Quoth he) + + + + + + THE TWELFTH OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +As I was passing one day in the market, I found that a thief had +broken into the shop of a money-changer and taken thence a +casket, with which he had made off to the burial-grounds. So I +followed him thither [and came up to him, as] he opened the +casket and fell a-looking into it; whereupon I accosted him, +saying, "Peace be on thee!" And he was startled at me. Then I +left him and went away from him. + +Some months after this, I met him again under arrest, in the +midst of the guards and officers of the police, and he said to +them, "Seize yonder man." So they laid hands on me and carried me +to the chief of the police, who said, "What hast thou to do with +this fellow?" The thief turned to me and looking a long while in +my face, said, "Who took this man?" Quoth the officers, "Thou +badest us take him; so we took him." And he said, "I seek refuge +with God! I know not this man, nor knoweth he me; and I said not +that to you but of a man other than this." So they released me, +and awhile afterward the thief met me in the street and saluted +me, saying, "O my lord, fright for fright! Hadst thou taken aught +from me, thou hadst had a part in the calamity."[FN#146] And I +said to him, "God [judge] between thee and me!" And this is what +I have to tell' + +Then came forward the thirteenth officer and said, 'I will tell +you a story that a man of my friends told me. (Quoth he) + + + + + + THE THIRTEENTH OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +I went out one night to the house of one of my friends and when +it was the middle of the night, I sallied forth alone [to go +home]. When I came into the road, I espied a sort of thieves and +they saw me, whereupon my spittle dried up; but I feigned myself +drunken and staggered from side to side, crying out and saying, +"I am drunken." And I went up to the walls right and left and +made as if I saw not the thieves, who followed me till I reached +my house and knocked at the door, when they went away. + +Some days after this, as I stood at the door of my house, there +came up to me a young man, with a chain about his neck and with +him a trooper, and he said to me, "O my lord, charity for the +love of God!" Quoth I, "God open!"[FN#147] and he looked at me a +long while and said, "That which thou shouldst give me would not +come to the value of thy turban or thy waistcloth or what not +else of thy raiment, to say nothing of the gold and the silver +that was about thee." "How so?" asked I, and he said, "On such a +night, when thou fellest into peril and the thieves would have +stripped thee, I was with them and said to them, 'Yonder man is +my lord and my master who reared me.' So was I the cause of thy +deliverance and thus I saved thee from them." When I heard this, +I said to him, "Stop;" and entering my house, brought him that +which God the Most High made easy [to me].[FN#148] So he went his +way. And this is my story.' + +Then came forward the fourteenth officer and said, 'Know that the +story I have to tell is pleasanter and more extraordinary than +this; and it is as follows. + + + + + + THE FOURTEENTH OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +Before I entered this corporation,[FN#149] I had a draper's shop +and there used to come to me a man whom I knew not, save by his +face, and I would give him what he sought and have patience with +him, till he could pay me. One day, I foregathered with certain +of my friends and we sat down to drink. So we drank and made +merry and played at Tab;[FN#150] and we made one of us Vizier and +another Sultan and a third headsman. + +Presently, there came in upon us a spunger, without leave, and we +went on playing, whilst he played with us. Then quoth the Sultan +to the Vizier, "Bring the spunger who cometh in to the folk, +without leave or bidding, that we may enquire into his case. Then +will I cut off his head." So the headsman arose and dragged the +spunger before the Sultan, who bade cut off his head. Now there +was with them a sword, that would not cut curd;[FN#151] so the +headsman smote him therewith and his head flew from his body. +When we saw this, the wine fled from our heads and we became in +the sorriest of plights. Then my friends took up the body and +went out with it, that they might hide it, whilst I took the head +and made for the river. + +Now I was drunken and my clothes were drenched with the blood; +and as I passed along the road, I met a thief. When he saw me, he +knew me and said to me, "Harkye, such an one!" "Well?" answered +I, and he said, "What is that thou hast with thee?" So I +acquainted him with the case and he took the head from me. Then +we went on till we came to the river, where he washed the head +and considering it straitly, said, "By Allah, this is my brother, +my father's son. and he used to spunge upon the folk." Then he +threw the head into the river. As for me, I was like a dead man +[for fear]; but he said to me, "Fear not neither grieve, for thou +art quit of my brother's blood." + +Then he took my clothes and washed them and dried them, and put +them on me; after which he said to me, "Get thee gone to thy +house." So I returned to my house and he accompanied me, till I +came thither, when he said to me, "May God not forsake thee! I am +thy friend [such an one, who used to take of thee goods on +credit,] and I am beholden to thee for kindness; but henceforward +thou wilt never see me more."' + +The company marvelled at the generosity of this man and his +clemency[FN#152] and courtesy, and the Sultan said, 'Tell us +another of thy stories.'[FN#153] 'It is well,' answered the +officer, 'They avouch that + + + + + + A MERRY JEST OF A THIEF. + + + +A thief of the thieves of the Arabs went [one night] to a certain +man's house, to steal from a heap of wheat there, and the people +of the house surprised him. Now on the heap was a great copper +measure, and the thief buried himself in the corn and covered his +head with the measure, so that the folk found him not and went +away; but, as they were going, behold, there came a great crack +of wind forth of the corn. So they went up to the measure and +[raising it], discovered the thief and laid hands on him. Quoth +he, "I have eased you of the trouble of seeking me: for I +purposed, [in letting wind], to direct you to my [hiding-]place; +wherefore do ye ease me and have compassion on me, so may God +have compassion on you!" So they let him go and harmed him not. + +And for another story of the same kind,' continued the officer, + + + + + + STORY OF THE OLD SHARPER. + + + +'There was once an old man renowned for roguery, and he went, he +and his mates, to one of the markets and stole thence a parcel of +stuffs. Then they separated and returned each to his quarter. +Awhile after this, the old man assembled a company of his fellows +and one of them pulled out a costly piece of stuff and said, +"Will any one of you sell this piece of stuff in its own market +whence it was stolen, that we may confess his [pre-eminence in] +sharping?" Quoth the old man, "I will;" and they said, "Go, and +God the Most High prosper thee!" + +So on the morrow, early, he took the stuff and carrying it to the +market whence it had been stolen, sat down at the shop whence it +had been stolen and gave it to the broker, who took it and cried +it for sale. Its owner knew it and bidding for it, [bought it] +and sent after the chief of the police, who seized the sharper +and seeing him an old man of venerable appearance, handsomely +clad, said to him, "Whence hadst thou this piece of stuff?" "I +had it from this market," answered he, "and from yonder shop +where I was sitting." Quoth the prefect, "Did its owner sell it +to thee?" "Nay," replied the thief; "I stole it and other than +it." Then said the magistrate, "How camest thou to bring it [for +sale] to the place whence thou stolest it?" And he answered, "I +will not tell my story save to the Sultan, for that I have an +advertisement[FN#154] wherewith I would fain bespeak him." Quoth +the prefect, "Name it." And the thief said, "Art thou the +Sultan?" "No," replied the other; and the old man said, "I will +not tell it but to himself." + +So the prefect carried him up to the Sultan and he said, "I have +an advertisement for thee, O my lord." "What is thine +advertisement?" asked the Sultan; and the thief said, "I repent +and will deliver into thy hand all who are evildoers; and +whomsoever I bring not, I will stand in his stead." Quoth the +Sultan, "Give him a dress of honour and accept his profession of +repentance." So he went down from the presence and returning to +his comrades, related to them that which had passed and they +confessed his subtlety and gave him that which they had promised +him. Then he took the rest of the stolen goods and went up with +them to the Sultan. When the latter saw him, he was magnified in +his eyes and he commanded that nought should be taken from him. +Then, when he went down, [the Sultan's] attention was diverted +from him, little by little, till the case was forgotten, and so +he saved the booty [for himself].' The folk marvelled at this and +the fifteenth officer came forward and said, 'Know that among +those who make a trade of knavery are those whom God the Most +High taketh on their own evidence against themselves.' 'How so?' +asked they; and he said. + + + + + + THE FIFTEENTH OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +'It is told of a certain doughty thief, that he used to rob and +stop the way by himself upon caravans, and whenever the prefect +of police and the magistrates sought him, he would flee from them +and fortify himself in the mountains. Now it befell that a +certain man journeyed along the road wherein was the robber in +question, and this man was alone and knew not the perils that +beset his way. So the highwayman came out upon him and said to +him, "Bring out that which is with thee, for I mean to slay thee +without fail." Quoth the traveller, "Slay me not, but take these +saddle-bags and divide [that which is in] them and take the +fourth part [thereof]." And the thief answered, "I will not take +aught but the whole." "Take half," rejoined the traveller, "and +let me go." But the robber replied, "I will take nought but the +whole, and I will slay thee [to boot]." And the traveller said, +"Take it." + +So the highwayman took the saddle-bags and offered to kill the +traveller, who said, "What is this? Thou hast no blood-feud +against me, that should make my slaughter incumbent [on thee]. +Quoth the other, "Needs must I slay thee;" whereupon the +traveller dismounted from his horse and grovelled on the earth, +beseeching the robber and speaking him fair. The latter hearkened +not to his prayers, but cast him to the ground; whereupon the +traveller [raised his eyes and seeing a francolin flying over +him,] said, in his agony," O francolin, bear witness that this +man slayeth me unjustly and wickedly; for indeed I have given him +all that was with me and besought him to let me go, for my +children's sake; yet would he not consent unto this. But be thou +witness against him, for God is not unmindful of that which is +done of the oppressors." The highwayman paid no heed to this +speech, but smote him and cut off his head. + +After this, the authorities compounded with the highwayman for +his submission, and when he came before them, they enriched him +and he became in such favour with the Sultan's deputy that he +used to eat and drink with him and there befell familiar converse +between them. On this wise they abode a great while, till, one +day, the Sultan's deputy made a banquet, and therein, for a +wonder, was a roasted francolin, which when the robber saw, he +laughed aloud. The deputy was angered against him and said to +him, "What is the meaning of thy laughter? Seest thou default [in +the entertainment] or dost thou mock at us, of thy lack of +breeding?" "Not so, by Allah, O my lord," answered the +highwayman. "But I saw yonder francolin and bethought myself +thereanent of an extraordinary thing; and it was on this wise. In +the days of my youth, I used to stop the way, and one day I fell +in with a man, who had with him a pair of saddle-bags and money +therein. So I said to him, 'Leave these bags, for I mean to kill +thee.' Quoth he, 'Take the fourth part of [that which is in] them +and leave [me] the rest.' And I said, 'Needs must I take the +whole and slay thee, to boot.' Then said he, 'Take the +saddle-bags and let me go my way.' But I answered, 'Needs must I +slay thee.' As we were in this contention, he and I, behold, he +saw a francolin and turning to it, said, 'Bear witness against +him, O francolin, that he slayeth me unjustly and letteth me not +go to my children, for all he hath gotten my money.' However, I +took no pity on him neither hearkened to that which he said, but +slew him and concerned not myself with the francolin's +testimony." + +His story troubled the Sultan's deputy and he was sore enraged +against him; so he drew his sword and smiting him, cut off his +head; whereupon one recited the following verses: + +An you'd of evil be quit, look that no evil yon do; Nay, but do + good, for the like God will still render to you. +All things, indeed, that betide to you are fore-ordered of God; + Yet still in your deeds is the source to which their + fulfilment is due. + +Now this[FN#155] was the francolin that bore witness against +him.' + +The company marvelled at this story and said all, 'Woe to the +oppressor!' Then came forward the sixteenth officer and said, +'And I also will tell you a marvellous story, and it is on this +wise. + + + + + + THE SIXTEENTH OFFICER'S STORY. + + + +I went forth one day, purposing to make a journey, and fell in +with a man whose wont it was to stop the way. When he came up +with me, he offered to slay me and I said to him, "I have nothing +with me whereby thou mayst profit." Quoth he, "My profit shall be +the taking of thy life." "What is the cause of this?" asked I. +"Hath there been feud between us aforetime?" And he answered, +"No; but needs must I slay thee." Therewithal I fled from him to +the river-side; but he overtook me and casting me to the ground, +sat down on my breast. So I sought help of the Sheikh El +Hejjaj[FN#156] and said to him, "Protect me from this oppressor!" +And indeed he had drawn a knife, wherewith to cut my throat, +when, behold, there came a great crocodile forth of the river and +snatching him up from off my breast, plunged with him into the +water, with the knife still in his hand; whilst I abode extolling +the perfection of God the Most High and rendering thanks for my +preservation to Him who had delivered me from the hand of that +oppressor.' + + + + + + ABDALLAH BEN NAFI AND THE KING'S SON OF + CASHGHAR.[FN#157] + + + +There abode once, of old days and in bygone ages and times, in +the city of Baghdad, the Abode of Peace, the Khalif Haroun er +Reshid, and he had boon-companions and story-tellers, to +entertain him by night Among his boon-companions was a man called +Abdallah ben Nan, who was high in favour with him and dear unto +him, so that he was not forgetful of him a single hour. Now it +befell, by the ordinance of destiny, that it became manifest to +Abdallah that he was grown of little account with the Khalif and +that he paid no heed unto him; nor, if he absented himself, did +he enquire concerning him, as had been his wont. This was +grievous to Abdallah and he said in himself, "Verily, the heart +of the Commander of the Faithful and his fashions are changed +towards me and nevermore shall I get of him that cordiality +wherewith he was wont to entreat me." And this was distressful to +him and concern waxed upon him, so that he recited the following +verses: + +If, in his own land, midst his folk, abjection and despite + Afflict a man, then exile sure were better for the wight. +So get thee gone, then, from a house wherein thou art abased And + let not severance from friends lie heavy on thy spright. +Crude amber[FN#158] in its native land unheeded goes, but, when + It comes abroad, upon the necks to raise it men delight. +Kohl[FN#159] in its native country, too, is but a kind of stone; + Cast out and thrown upon the ways, it lies unvalued quite; +But, when from home it fares, forthright all glory it attains And + 'twixt the eyelid and the eye incontinent 'tis dight. + +Then he could brook this no longer; so he went forth from the +dominions of the Commander of the Faithful, under pretence of +visiting certain of his kinsmen, and took with him servant nor +companion, neither acquainted any with his intent, but betook +himself to the road and fared on into the desert and the +sandwastes, knowing not whither he went. After awhile, he fell in +with travellers intending for the land of Hind [and journeyed +with them]. When he came thither, he lighted down [in a city of +the cities of the land and took up his abode] in one of the +lodging-places; and there he abode a while of days, tasting not +food neither solacing himself with the delight of sleep; nor was +this for lack of dirhems or dinars, but for that his mind was +occupied with musing upon [the reverses of] destiny and bemoaning +himself for that the revolving sphere had turned against him and +the days had decreed unto him the disfavour of our lord the +Imam.[FN#160] + +On this wise he abode a space of days, after which he made +himself at home in the land and took to himself comrades and got +him friends galore, with whom he addressed himself to diversion +and good cheer. Moreover, he went a-pleasuring with his friends +and their hearts were solaced [by his company] and he entertained +them with stories and civilities[FN#161] and diverted them with +pleasant verses and told them abundance of histories and +anecdotes. Presently, the report of him reached King Jemhour, +lord of Cashghar of Hind, and great was his desire [for his +company]. So he went in quest of him and Abdallah repaired to his +court and going in to him, kissed the earth before him. Jemhour +welcomed him and entreated him with kindness and bade commit him +to the guest-house, where he abode three days, at the end of +which time the king sent [to him] a chamberlain of his +chamberlains and let bring him to his presence. When he came +before him, he greeted him [with the usual compliment], and the +interpreter accosted him, saying, "King Jemhour hath heard of thy +report, that thou art a goodly boon-companion and an eloquent +story-teller, and he would have thee company with him by night +and entertain him with that which thou knowest of anecdotes and +pleasant stories and verses." And he made answer with "Hearkening +and obedience." + +(Quoth Abdallah ben Nan) So I became his boon-companion and +entertained him by night [with stories and the like]; and this +pleased him to the utmost and he took me into especial favour and +bestowed on me dresses of honour and assigned me a separate +lodging; brief, he was everywise bountiful to me and could not +brook to be parted from me a single hour. So I abode with him a +while of time and every night I caroused with him [and +entertained him], till the most part of the night was past; and +when drowsiness overcame him, he would rise [and betake himself] +to his sleeping-place, saying to me, "Forsake not my service for +that of another than I and hold not aloof from my presence." And +I made answer with "Hearkening and obedience." + +Now the king had a son, a pleasant child, called the Amir +Mohammed, who was comely of youth and sweet of speech; he had +read in books and studied histories and above all things in the +world he loved the telling and hearing of verses and stories and +anecdotes. He was dear to his father King Jemhour, for that he +had none other son than he on life, and indeed he had reared him +in the lap of fondness and he was gifted with the utterest of +beauty and grace and brightness and perfection. Moreover, he had +learnt to play upon the lute and upon all manner instruments of +music and he was used to [carouse and] company with friends and +brethren. Now it was of his wont that, when the king rose to go +to his sleeping-chamber, he would sit in his place and seek of me +that I should entertain him with stories and verses and pleasant +anecdotes; and on this wise I abode with them a great while in +all cheer and delight, and the prince still loved me with an +exceeding great love and entreated me with the utmost kindness. + +It befell one day that the king's son came to me, after his +father had withdrawn, and said to me, "Harkye, Ibn Nafil" "At thy +service, O my lord," answered I; and he said, "I would have thee +tell me an extraordinary story and a rare matter, that thou hast +never related either to me or to my father Jemhour." "O my lord," +rejoined I, "what story is this that thou desirest of me and of +what kind shall it be of the kinds?" Quoth he, "It matters little +what it is, so it be a goodly story, whether it befell of old +days or in these times." "O my lord," said I, "I know many +stories of various kinds; so whether of the kinds preferrest +thou, and wilt thou have a story of mankind or of the Jinn?" "It +is well," answered he; "if thou have seen aught with thine eyes +and heard it with thine ears, [tell it me."Then he bethought +himself] and said to me, "I conjure thee by my life, tell me a +story of the stories of the Jinn and that which thou hast heard +and seen of them!" "O my son," replied I, "indeed thou conjurest +[me] by a mighty conjuration; so [hearken and thou shalt] hear +the goodliest of stories, ay, and the most extraordinary of them +and the pleasantest and rarest." Quoth the prince, "Say on, for I +am attentive to thy speech." And I said, "Know, then, O my son, +that + + + + + + STORY OF THE DAMSEL TUHFET EL CULOUB AND + THE KHALIF HAROUN ER RESHID. + + + +The Vicar of the Lord of the Worlds[FN#162] Haroun er Reshid had +a boon-companion of the number of his boon-companions, by name +Ishac ben Ibrahim en Nedim el Mausili,[FN#163] who was the most +accomplished of the folk of his time in the art of smiting upon +the lute; and of the Commander of the Faithful's love for him, he +assigned him a palace of the choicest of his palaces, wherein he +was wont to instruct slave-girls in the arts of lute-playing and +singing. If any slave-girl became, by his instruction, +accomplished in the craft, he carried her before the Khalif, who +bade her play upon the lute; and if she pleased him, he would +order her to the harem; else would he restore her to Ishac's +palace. + +One day, the Commander of the Faithful's breast was straitened; +so he sent after his Vizier Jaafer the Barmecide and Ishac the +boon-companion and Mesrour the eunuch, the swordsman of his +vengeance; and when they came, he changed his raiment and +disguised himself, whilst Jaafer [and Ishac] and Mesrour and El +Fezll[FN#164] and Younus[FN#165] (who were also present) did the +like. Then he went out, he and they, by the privy gate, to the +Tigris and taking boat, fared on till they came to near Et +Taf,[FN#166] when they landed and walked till they came to the +gate of the thoroughfare street.[FN#167] Here there met them an +old man, comely of hoariness and of a venerable and dignified +bearing, pleasing[FN#168] of aspect and apparel. He kissed the +earth before Ishac el Mausili (for that be knew but him of the +company, the Khalif being disguised, and deemed the others +certain of his friends) and said to him, 'O my lord, there is +presently with me a slave-girl, a lutanist, never saw eyes the +like of her nor the like of her grace, and indeed I was on my way +to pay my respects to thee and give thee to know of her; but +Allah, of His favour, hath spared me the trouble. So now I desire +to show her to thee, and if she be to thy liking, well and good: +else I will sell her.' Quoth Ishac, 'Go before me to thy barrack, +till I come to thee and see her.' + +The old man kissed his hand and went away; whereupon quoth Er +Reshid to him, 'O Ishac, who is yonder man and what is his +occasion?' 'O my lord,' answered the other, 'this is a man called +Said the Slave-dealer, and he it is who buyeth us slave-girls and +mamelukes.[FN#169] He avoucheth that with him is a fair +[slave-girl, a] lutanist, whom he hath withheld from sale, for +that he could not fairly sell her till he had shown her to me.' +'Let us go to him,' said the Khalif,'so we may look on her, by +way of diversion, and see what is in the slave-dealer's barrack +of slave-girls.' And Ishac answered, 'Commandment belongeth to +God and to the Commander of the Faithful.' Then he went on before +them and they followed in his track till they came to the +slave-dealer's barrack and found it high of building and spacious +of continence, with sleeping-cells and chambers therein, after +the number of the slave-girls, and folk sitting upon the benches. + +Ishac entered, he and his company, and seating themselves in the +place of honour, amused themselves by looking on the slave-girls +and mamelukes and watching how they were sold, till the sale came +to an end, when some of the folk went away and other some sat. +Then said the slave-dealer, 'Let none sit with us except him who +buyeth by the thousand [dinars] and upwards.' So those who were +present withdrew and there remained none but Er Reshid and his +company; whereupon the slave-dealer called the damsel, after he +had caused set her a chair of fawwak,[FN#170] furnished with +Greek brocade, and it was as she were the sun shining in the +clear sky. When she entered, she saluted and sitting down, took +the lute and smote upon it, after she had touched its strings and +tuned it, so that all present were amazed. Then she sang thereto +the following verses: + +Wind of the East, if thou pass by the land where my loved ones + dwell, I pray, The fullest of greetings bear to them from + me, their lover, and say +That I am the pledge of passion still and that my longing love + And eke my yearning do overpass all longing that was aye. +O ye who have withered my heart and marred my hearing and my + sight, Desire and transport for your sake wax on me night + and day. +My heart with yearning is ever torn and tortured without cease, + Nor can my lids lay hold on sleep, that Sees from them away. + +'Well done, O damsel!' cried Ishac. 'By Allah, this is a fair +hour!' Whereupon she rose and kissed his hand, saying, 'O my +lord, the hands stand still in thy presence and the tongues at +thy sight, and the eloquent before thee are dumb; but thou art +the looser of the veil.'[FN#171] Then she clung to him and said, +'Stand.' So he stood and said to her, 'Who art thou and what is +thy need?' She raised a corner of the veil, and he beheld a +damsel as she were the rising full moon or the glancing +lightning, with two side locks of hair that fell down to her +anklets. She kissed his hand and said to him, 'O my lord, know +that I have been in this barrack these five months, during which +time I have been withheld[FN#172] from sale till thou shouldst be +present [and see me]; and yonder slave-dealer still made thy +coming a pretext to me[FN#173] and forbade me, for all I sought +of him night and day that he should cause thee come hither and +vouchsafe me thy presence and bring me and thee together.' Quoth +Ishac, 'Say what thou wouldst have.' And she answered, 'I beseech +thee, by God the Most High, that thou buy me, so I may be with +thee, by way of service.' 'Is that thy desire?' asked he, and she +replied, ' Yes.' + +So Ishac returned to the slave-dealer and said to him, 'Harkye, +Gaffer Said!*' 'At thy service, O my lord,' answered the old man; +and Ishac said, 'In the corridor is a cell and therein a damsel +pale of colour. What is her price in money and how much dost thou +ask for her?, Quoth the slave-dealer, 'She whom thou mentionest +is called Tuhfet el Hemca.'[FN#174] 'What is the meaning of El +Hemca?' asked Ishac, and the old man replied, 'Her price hath +been paid down an hundred times and she still saith, "Show me him +who desireth to buy me;" and when I show her to him, she saith, +"This fellow is not to my liking; he hath in him such and such a +default." And in every one who would fain buy her she allegeth +some default or other, so that none careth now to buy her and +none seeketh her, for fear lest she discover some default in +him.' Quoth Ishac, 'She seeketh presently to sell herself; so go +thou to her and enquire of her and see her price and send her to +the palace.' 'O my lord,' answered Said, 'her price is an hundred +dinars, though, were she whole of this paleness that is upon her +face, she would be worth a thousand; but folly and pallor have +diminished her value; and behold, I will go to her and consult +her of this.' So he betook himself to her, and said to her, 'Wilt +thou be sold to Ishac ben Ibrahim el Mausili?' 'Yes,' answered +she, and he said, 'Leave frowardness,[FN#175] for to whom doth it +happen to be in the house of Ishac the boon-companion?'[FN#176] + +Then Ishac went forth of the barrack and overtook Er Reshid [who +had foregone him]; and they walked till they came to their +[landing-]place, where they embarked in the boat and fared on to +Theghr el Khanekah.[FN#177] As for the slave-dealer, he sent the +damsel to the house of Ishac en Nedim, whose slave-girls took her +and carried her to the bath. Then each damsel gave her somewhat +of her apparel and they decked her with earrings and bracelets, +so that she redoubled in beauty and became as she were the moon +on the night of its full. When Ishac returned home from the +Khalifs palace, Tuhfeh rose to him and kissed his hand; and he +saw that which the slave-girls had done with her and thanked them +therefor and said to them, 'Let her be in the house of +instruction and bring her instruments of music, and if she be apt +unto singing, teach her; and may God the Most High vouchsafe her +health and weal!' So there passed over her three months, what +while she abode with him in the house of instruction, and they +brought her the instruments of music. Moreover, as time went on, +she was vouchsafed health and soundness and her beauty waxed many +times greater than before and her pallor was changed to white and +red, so that she became a ravishment to all who looked on her. + +One day, Ishac let bring all who were with him of slave-girls +from the house of instruction and carried them up to Er Reshid's +palace, leaving none in his house save Tuhfeh and a cookmaid; for +that he bethought him not of Tuhfeh, nor did she occur to his +mind, and none of the damsels remembered him of her. When she saw +that the house was empty of the slave-girls, she took the lute +(now she was unique in her time in smiting upon the lute, nor had +she her like in the world, no, not Ishac himself, nor any other) +and sang thereto the following verses: + +Whenas the soul desireth one other than its peer, It winneth not + of fortune the wish it holdeth dear. +Him with my life I'd ransom whose rigours waste away My frame and + cause me languish; yet, if he would but hear, +It rests with him to heal me; and I (a soul he hath Must suffer + that which irks it), go saying, in my fear +Of spies, "How long, O scoffer, wilt mock at my despair, As + 'twere God had created nought else whereat to jeer?" + +Now Ishac had returned to his house upon an occasion that +presented itself to him; and when he entered the vestibule, he +heard a sound of singing, the like whereof he had never heard in +the world, for that it was [soft] as the breeze and +richer[FN#178] than almond oil.[FN#179] So the delight of it gat +hold of him and joyance overcame him, and he fell down aswoon in +the vestibule, Tuhfeh heard the noise of steps and laying the +lute from her hand, went out to see what was to do. She found her +lord Ishac lying aswoon in the vestibule; so she took him up and +strained him to her bosom, saying, 'I conjure thee in God's name, +O my lord, tell me, hath aught befallen thee?' When he heard her +voice, he recovered from his swoon and said to her, 'Who art +thou? ' Quoth she, 'I am thy slave-girl Tuhfeh.' And he said to +her, 'Art thou indeed Tuhfeh?' 'Yes,' answered she; and he, 'By +Allah, I had forgotten thee and remembered thee not till now!' +Then he looked at her and said, 'Indeed, thy case is altered and +thy pallor is grown changed to rosiness and thou hast redoubled +in beauty and lovesomeness. But was it thou who was singing but +now?' And she was troubled and affrighted and answered, 'Even I, +O my lord.' + +Then Ishac seized upon her hand and carrying her into the house, +said to her, 'Take the lute and sing; for never saw I nor heard +thy like in smiting upon the lute; no, not even myself!' 'O my +lord,' answered she, 'thou makest mock of me. Who am I that thou +shouldst say all this to me? Indeed, this is but of thy +kindness.' 'Nay, by Allah,' exclaimed he, 'I said but the truth +to thee and I am none of those on whom pretence imposeth. These +three months hath nature not moved thee to take the lute and sing +thereto, and this is nought but an extraordinary thing. But all +this cometh of strength in the craft and self-restraint.' Then he +bade her sing; and she said, 'Hearkening and obedience.' So she +took the lute and tightening its strings, smote thereon a number +of airs, so that she confounded Ishac's wit and he was like to +fly for delight. Then she returned to the first mode and sang +thereto the following verses: + +Still by your ruined camp a dweller I abide; Ne'er will I change + nor e'er shall distance us divide. +Far though you dwell, I'll ne'er your neighbourhood forget, O + friends, whose lovers still for you are stupefied. +Your image midst mine eye sits nor forsakes me aye; Ye are my + moons in gloom of night and shadowtide. +Still, as my transports wax, grows restlessness on me And woes + have ta'en the place of love-delight denied. + +When she had made an end of her song and laid down the lute, +Ishac looked fixedly on her, then took her hand and offered to +kiss it; but she snatched it from him and said to him, 'Allah, O +my lord, do not that!' Quoth he, 'Be silent. By Allah, I had said +that there was not in the world the like of me; but now I have +found my dinar[FN#180] in the craft but a danic,[FN#181] "for +thou art, beyond comparison or approximation or reckoning, more +excellent of skill than I! This very day will I carry thee up to +the Commander of the Faithful Haroun er Reshid, and whenas his +glance lighteth on thee, thou wilt become a princess of +womankind. So, Allah, Allah upon thee, O my lady, whenas thou +becomest of the household of the Commander of the Faithful, do +not thou forget me!' And she replied, saying, 'Allah, O my lord, +thou art the source of my fortunes and in thee is my heart +fortified.' So he took her hand and made a covenant with her of +this and she swore to him that she would not forget him. + +Then said he to her, 'By Allah, thou art the desire of the +Commander of the Faithful![FN#182] So take the lute and sing a +song that thou shalt sing to the Khalif, whenas thou goest in to +him.' So she took the lute and tuning it, sang the following +verses: + +His love on him took pity and wept for his dismay: Of those that + him did visit she was, as sick he lay. +She let him taste her honey and wine[FN#183] before his death: + This was his last of victual until the Judgment Day. + +Ishac stared at her and seizing her hand, said to her, 'Know that +I am bound by an oath that, when the singing of a damsel pleaseth +me, she shall not make an end of her song but before the +Commander of the Faithful. But now tell me, how came it that thou +abodest with the slave-dealer five months and wast not sold to +any, and thou of this skill, more by token that the price set on +thee was no great matter?' + +She laughed and answered, 'O my lord, my story is a strange one +and my case extraordinary. Know that I belonged aforetime to a +Mughrebi merchant, who bought me, when I was three years old, and +there were in his house many slave-girls and eunuchs; but I was +the dearest to him of them all. So he kept me with him and used +not to call me but "daughterling," and indeed I am presently a +clean maid. Now there was with him a damsel, a lutanist, and she +reared me and taught me the craft, even as thou seest. Then was +my master admitted to the mercy of God the Most High[FN#184] and +his sons divided his good. I fell to the lot of one of them; but +it was only a little while ere he had squandered all his +substance and there was left him no tittle of money. So I left +the lute, fearing lest I should fall into the hand of a man who +knew not my worth, for that I was assured that needs must my +master sell me; and indeed it was but a few days ere he carried +me forth to the barrack of the slave-merchant who buyeth +slave-girls and showeth them to the Commander of the Faithful. +Now I desired to learn the craft; so I refused to be sold to +other than thou, till God (extolled be His perfection and exalted +be He!) vouchsafed me my desire of thy presence; whereupon I came +out to thee, whenas I heard of thy coming, and besought thee to +buy me. Thou healedst my heart and boughtedst me; and since I +entered thy house, O my lord, I have not taken up the lute till +now; but to-day, whenas I was quit of the slave-girls, [I took +it]; and my purpose in this was that I might see if my hand were +changed[FN#185] or no. As I was singing, I heard a step in the +vestibule; so I laid the lute from my hand and going forth to see +what was to do, found thee, O my lord, on this wise.' + +Quoth Ishac, 'Indeed, this was of thy fair fortune. By Allah, I +know not that which thou knowest in this craft!' Then he arose +and going to a chest, brought out therefrom striped clothes of +great price, netted with jewels and great pearls, and said to +her, 'In the name of God, don these, O my lady Tuhfeh.' So she +arose and donned those clothes and veiled herself and went up +[with Ishac] to the palace of the Khalifate, where he made her +stand without, whilst he himself went in to the Commander of the +Faithful (with whom was Jaafer the Barmecide) and kissing the +earth before him, said to him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, I +have brought thee a damsel, never saw eyes her like for +excellence in singing and touching the lute; and her name is +Tuhfeh."[FN#186] 'And where,' asked Er Reshed, 'is this Tuhfeh, +who hath not her like in the world?' Quoth Ishac, 'Yonder she +stands, O Commander of the Faithful;' and he acquainted the +Khalif with her case from first to last. Then said Er Reshid, 'It +is a marvel to hear thee praise a slave-girl after this fashion. +Admit her, so we may see her, for that the morning may not be +hidden.' + +Accordingly, Ishac bade admit her; so she entered, and when her +eyes fell upon the Commander of the Faithful, she kissed the +earth before him and said, 'Peace be upon thee, O Commander of +the Faithful and asylum of the people of the faith and reviver of +justice among all creatures! May God make plain the treading of +thy feet and vouchsafe thee enjoyment of that which He hath +bestowed on thee and make Paradise thy harbourage and the fire +that of thine enemies!' Quoth Er Reshid, 'And on thee be peace, O +damsel! Sit.' So she sat down and he bade her sing; whereupon she +took the lute and tightening its strings, played thereon in many +modes, so that the Commander of the Faithful and Jaafer were +confounded and like to fly for delight. Then she returned to the +first mode and sang the following verses: + +By Him whom I worship, indeed, I swear, O thou that mine eye dost + fill, By Him in whose honour the pilgrims throng and fare to + Arafat's hill, +Though over me be the tombstone laid, if ever thou call on me, + Though rotten my bone should be, thy voice I'll answer, come + what will. +I crave none other than thou for friend, beloved of my heart; So + trust in my speech, for the generous are true and trusty + still. + +Er Reshid considered her beauty and the goodliness of her singing +and her eloquence and what not else she comprised of qualities +and rejoiced with an exceeding joyance; and for the stress of +that which overcame him of delight, he descended from the couch +and sitting down with her upon the ground, said to her, 'Thou +hast done well, O Tuhfeh. By Allah, thou art indeed a +gift'[FN#187] Then he turned to Ishac and said to him, 'Thou +dealtest not equitably, O Ishac, in the description of this +damsel,[FN#188] neither settest out all that she compriseth of +goodliness and skill; for that, by Allah, she is incomparably +more skilful than thou; and I know of this craft that which none +knoweth other than I!' 'By Allah,' exclaimed Jaafer, 'thou sayst +sooth, O my lord, O Commander of the Faithful. Indeed, this +damsel hath done away my wit' Quoth Ishac, 'By Allah, O Commander +of the Faithful, I had said that there was not on the face of the +earth one who knew the craft of the lute like myself; but, when I +heard her, my skill became nothing worth in mine eyes.' + +Then said the Khalif to her, 'Repeat thy playing, O Tuhfeh.' So +she repeated it and he said to her, 'Well done!' Moreover, he +said to Ishac, 'Thou hast indeed brought me that which is +extraordinary and worth in mine eyes the empire of the earth.' +Then he turned to Mesrour the eunuch and said to him, 'Carry +Tuhfeh to the lodging of honour.'[FN#189] Accordingly, she went +away with Mesrour and the Khalif looked at her clothes and seeing +her clad in raiment of choice, said to Ishac, 'O Ishac, whence +hath she these clothes?' 'O my lord, answered he, 'these are +somewhat of thy bounties and thy largesse, and they are a gift to +her from me. By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, the world, +all of it, were little in comparison with her!' Then the Khalif +turned to the Vizier Jaafer and said to him, 'Give Ishac fifty +thousand dirhems and a dress of honour of the apparel of choice.' +'Hearkening and obedience,' replied Jaafer and gave him that +which the Khalif ordered him. + +As for Er Reshid, he shut himself up with Tuhfeh that night and +found her a clean maid and rejoiced in her; and she took high +rank in his heart, so that he could not endure from her a single +hour and committed to her the keys of the affairs of the realm, +for that which he saw in her of good breeding and wit and +modesty. Moreover, he gave her fifty slave-girls and two hundred +thousand dinars and clothes and trinkets and jewels and precious +stones, worth the kingdom of Egypt; and of the excess of his love +for her, he would not entrust her to any of the slave-girls or +eunuchs; but, whenas he went out from her, he locked the door +upon her and took the key with him, against he should return to +her, forbidding the damsels to go in to her, of his fear lest +they should slay her or practise on her with knife or poison; and +on this wise he abode awhile. + +One day as she sang before the Commander of the Faithful, he was +moved to exceeding delight, so that he took her and offered to +kiss her hand; but she drew it away from him and smote upon her +lute and broke it and wept Er Reshid wiped away her tears and +said, 'O desire of the heart, what is it maketh thee weep? May +God not cause an eye of thine to weep!' 'O my lord,' answered +she, 'what am I that thou shouldst kiss my hand? Wilt thou have +God punish me for this and that my term should come to an end and +my felicity pass away? For this is what none ever attained unto.' +Quoth he, 'Well said, O Tuhfeh. Know that thy rank in my esteem +is mighty and for that which wondered me of what I saw of thee, I +offered to do this, but I will not return unto the like thereof; +so be of good heart and cheerful eye, for I have no desire for +other than thyself and will not die but in the love of thee, and +thou to me art queen and mistress, to the exclusion of all +humankind.' Therewith she fell to kissing his feet; and this her +fashion pleased him, so that his love for her redoubled and he +became unable to brook an hour's severance from her. + +One day he went forth to the chase and left Tuhfeh in her +pavilion. As she sat looking upon a book, with a candlestick of +gold before her, wherein was a perfumed candle, behold, a +musk-apple fell down before her from the top of the +saloon.[FN#190] So she looked up and beheld the Lady Zubeideh +bint el Casim,[FN#191] who saluted her and acquainted her with +herself, whereupon Tuhfeh rose to her feet and said, 'O my lady, +were I not of the number of the upstarts, I had daily sought thy +service; so do not thou bereave me of thine august +visits.'[FN#192] The Lady Zubeideh called down blessings upon her +and answered, 'By the life of the Commander of the Faithful, I +knew this of thee, and but that it is not of my wont to go forth +of my place, I had come out to do my service to thee.' Then said +she to her, 'Know, O Tuhfeh, that the Commander of the Faithful +hath forsaken all his concubines and favourites on thine account, +even to myself. Yea, me also hath he deserted on this wise, and I +am not content to be as one of the concubines; yet hath he made +me of them and forsaken me, and I am come to thee, so thou mayst +beseech him to come to me, though it be but once a month, that I +may not be the like of the handmaids and concubines nor be evened +with the slave-girls; and this is my occasion with thee.' +'Hearkening and obedience,' answered Tuhfeh. 'By Allah, O my +lady, I would well that he might be with thee a whole month and +with me but one night, so thy heart might be comforted, for that +I am one of thy handmaids and thou art my lady in every event.' +The Lady Zubeideh thanked her for this and taking leave of her, +returned to her palace. + +When the Khalif returned from the chase, he betook himself to +Tuhfeh's pavilion and bringing out the key, opened the door and +went in to her. She rose to receive him and kissed his hand, and +he took her to his breast and seated her on his knee. Then food +was brought to them and they ate and washed their hands; after +which she took the lute and sang, till Er Reshid was moved to +sleep. When she was ware of this, she left singing and told him +her adventure with the Lady Zubeideh, saying, 'O Commander of the +Faithful, I would have thee do me a favour and heal my heart and +accept my intercession and reject not my word, but go forthright +to the Lady Zubeideh's lodging.' Now this talk befell after he +had stripped himself naked and she also had put off her clothes; +and he said, 'Thou shouldst have named this before we stripped +ourselves naked.' But she answered, saying, ' O Commander of the +Faithful, I did this not but in accordance with the saying of the +poet in the following verses: + +All intercessions come and all alike do ill succeed, Save + Tuhfeh's, daughter of Merjan, for that, in very deed, +The intercessor who to thee herself presenteth veiled Is not her + like who naked comes with thee to intercede.' + +When the Khalif heard this, her speech pleased him and he +strained her to his bosom. Then he went forth from her and locked +the door upon her, as before; whereupon she took the book and sat +looking in it awhile. Presently, she laid it down and taking the +lute, tightened its strings. Then she smote thereon, after a +wondrous fashion, such as would have moved inanimate things [to +delight], and fell to singing marvellous melodies and chanting +the following verses: + +Rail not at the vicissitudes of Fate, For Fortune still spites + those who her berate. +Be patient under its calamities, For all things have an issue + soon or late. +How many a mirth-exciting joy amid The raiment of ill chances + lies in wait! +How often, too, hath gladness come to light Whence nought but + dole thou didst anticipate! + +Then she turned and saw within the chamber an old man, comely of +hoariness, venerable of aspect, who was dancing on apt and goodly +wise, a dance the like whereof none might avail unto. So she +sought refuge with God the Most High from Satan the +Stoned[FN#193] and said, 'I will not give over what I am about, +for that which God decreeth, He carrieth into execution.' +Accordingly, she went on singing till the old man came up to her +and kissed the earth before her, saying, 'Well done, O Queen of +the East and the West! May the world be not bereaved of thee! By +Allah, indeed thou art perfect of qualities and ingredients, O +Tuhfet es Sudour![FN#194] Dost thou know me?' 'Nay, by Allah,' +answered she; 'but methinks thou art of the Jinn.' Quoth he, +'Thou sayst sooth; I am the Sheikh Aboultawaif[FN#195] Iblis, and +I come to thee every night, and with me thy sister Kemeriyeh, for +that she loveth thee and sweareth not but by thy life; and her +life is not pleasant to her, except she come to thee and see +thee, what while thou seest her not. As for me, I come to thee +upon an affair, wherein thou shall find thine advantage and +whereby thou shalt rise to high rank with the kings of the Jinn +and rule them, even as thou rulest mankind; [and to that end I +would have thee come with me and be present at the festival of my +son's circumcision;[FN#196]] for that the Jinn are agreed upon +the manifestation of thine affair.' And she answered, 'In the +name of God.' + +So she gave him the lute and he forewent her, till he came to the +house of easance, and behold, therein was a door and a stairway. +When Tuhfeh saw this, her reason fled; but Iblis cheered her with +discourse. Then he descended the stair and she followed him to +the bottom thereof, where she found a passage and they fared on +therein, till they came to a horse standing, Teady saddled and +bridled and accoutred. Quoth Iblis, '[Mount], in the name of God, +O my lady Tuhfeh;' and he held the stirrup for her. So she +mounted and the horse shook under her and putting forth wings, +flew up with her, whilst the old man flew by her side; whereat +she was affrighted and clung to the pummel of the saddle; nor was +it but an hour ere they came to a fair green meadow, +fresh-flowered as if the soil thereof were a goodly robe, +embroidered with all manner colours. + +Midmost that meadow was a palace soaring high into the air, with +battlements of red gold, set with pearls and jewels, and a +two-leaved gate; and in the gateway thereof were much people of +the chiefs of the Jinn, clad in sumptuous apparel. When they saw +the old man, they all cried out, saying, 'The Lady Tuhfeh is +come!' And as soon as she reached the palace-gate, they came all +and dismounting her from the horse's back, carried her into the +palace and fell to kissing her hands. When she entered, she +beheld a palace whereof never saw eyes the like; for therein were +four estrades, one facing other, and its walls were of gold and +its ceilings of silver. It was lofty of building, wide of +continence, and those who beheld it would be puzzled to describe +it. At the upper end of the hall stood a throne of red gold, set +with pearls and jewels, unto which led up five steps of silver, +and on the right thereof and on its left were many chairs of gold +and silver; and over the dais was a curtain let down, gold and +silver wrought and broidered with pearls and jewels. + +The old man carried Tuhfeh up [to the dais and seated her] on a +chair of gold beside the throne, whilst she was amazed at that +which she saw in that place and magnified her Lord (extolled be +His perfection and exalted be He!) and hallowed Him. Then the +kings of the Jinn came up to the throne and seated themselves +thereon; and they were in the semblance of mortals, excepting two +of them, who were in the semblance of the Jinn, with eyes slit +endlong and jutting horns and projecting tusks. After this there +came up a young lady, fair of favour and pleasant of parts; the +light of her face outshone that of the flambeaux, and about her +were other three women, than whom there were no fairer on the +face of the earth. They saluted Tuhfeh and she rose to them and +kissed the earth before them; whereupon they embraced her and sat +down on the chairs aforesaid. + +Now the four women who thus accosted Tuhfeh were the princess +Kemeriyeh, daughter of King Es Shisban, and her sisters; and +Kemeriyeh loved Tuhfeh with an exceeding love. So, when she came +up to her, she fell to kissing and embracing her, and Iblis said, +'Fair befall you! Take me between you.' At this Tuhfeh laughed +and Kemeriyeh said, 'O my sister, I love thee and doubtless +hearts have their evidences,[FN#197] for, since I saw thee, I +have loved thee.' 'By Allah,' replied Tuhfeh, 'hearts have +deeps,[FN#198] and thou, by Allah, art dear to me and I am thy +handmaid.' Kemeriyeh thanked her for this and said to her, 'These +are the wives of the kings of the Jinn: salute them. This is +Queen Jemreh,[FN#199] that is Queen Wekhimeh and this other is +Queen Sherareh, and they come not but for thee.' So Tuhfeh rose +to her feet and kissed their hands, and the three queens kissed +her and welcomed her and entreated her with the utmost honour. + +Then they brought trays and tables and amongst the rest a platter +of red gold, inlaid with pearls and jewels; its margents were of +gold and emerald, and thereon were graven the following verses: + +For the uses of food I was fashioned and made; The hands of the + noble me wrought and inlaid. +My maker reserved me for generous men And the niggard and + sland'rer to use me forebade. +So eat what I offer in surety and be The Lord of all things with + thanks- giving repaid! + +So they ate and Tuhfeh looked at the two kings, who had not +changed their favour and said to Kemeriyeh, 'O my lady, what is +yonder wild beast and that other like unto him? By Allah, mine +eye brooketh not the sight of them.' Kemeriyeh laughed and +answered, 'O my sister, that is my father Es Shisban and the +other is Meimoun the Sworder; and of the pride of their souls and +their arrogance, they consented not to change their [natural] +fashion. Indeed, all whom thou seest here are, by nature, like +unto them in fashion; but, on thine account, they have changed +their favour, for fear lest thou be disquieted and for the +comforting of thy mind, so thou mightest make friends with them +and be at thine ease.' 'O my lady,' quoth Tuhfeh, 'indeed I +cannot look at them. How frightful is yonder Meimoun, with his +[one] eye! Mine eye cannot brook the sight of him, and indeed I +am fearful of him.' Kemeriyeh laughed at her speech, and Tuhfeh +said, 'By Allah, O my lady, I cannot fill my eye with +them!'[FN#200] Then said her father Es Shisban to her, 'What is +this laughing?' So she bespoke him in a tongue none understood +but they [two] and acquainted him with that which Tuhfeh had +said; whereat he laughed a prodigious laugh, as it were the +pealing thunder. + +Then they ate and the tables were removed and they washed their +hands; after which Iblis the Accursed came up to Tuhfeh and said +to her, 'O my lady Tuhfeh, thou gladdenest the place and with thy +presence enlightenest and embellishest it; but now fain would +these kings hear somewhat of thy singing, for the night hath +spread its wings for departure and there abideth thereof but a +little.' Quoth she, 'Hearkening and obedience.' So she took the +lute and touching its strings on rare wise, played thereon after +a wondrous fashion, so that it seemed to those who were present +as if the palace stirred with them for the music. Then she fell +a-singing and chanted the following verses: + +Peace on you, people of my troth! With peace I do you greet. Said + ye not truly, aforetime, that we should live and meet? +Ah, then will I begin on you with chiding than the breeze More + soft, ay pleasanter than clear cold water and more sweet. +Indeed, mine eyelids still with tears are ulcered and to you My + bowels yearn to be made whole of all their pain and heat. +Parting hath sundered us, belov'd; indeed, I stood in dread Of + this, whilst yet our happiness in union was complete. +To God of all the woes I've borne I plain me, for I pine For + longing and lament, and Him for solace I entreat + +The kings of the Jinn were moved to delight by that fair singing +and fluent speech and praised Tuhfeh; and Queen Kemeriyeh rose to +her and embraced her and kissed her between the eyes, saying, 'By +Allah, it is good, O my sister and solace of mine eyes and +darling of my heart!' Then said she, 'I conjure thee by Allah, +give us more of this lovely singing.' And Tuhfeh answered with +'Hearkening and obedience.' So she took the lute and playing +thereon after a different fashion from the former one, sang the +following verses: + +Oft as my yearning waxeth, my heart consoleth me With hopes of + thine enjoyment in all security. +Sure God shall yet, in pity, reknit our severed lives, Even as He + did afflict me with loneness after thee. +Thou whose desire possesseth my soul, the love of whom Hold on my + reins hath gotten and will not let me free, +Compared with thine enjoyment, the hardest things are light To + win and all things distant draw near and easy be. +God to a tristful lover be light! A man of wit, Yet perishing for + yearning and body-worn is he. +Were I cut off, beloved, from hope of thy return, Slumber, + indeed, for ever my wakeful lids would flee. +For nought of worldly fortune I weep! my only joy In seeing thee + consisteth and in thy seeing me. + +At this the accursed Iblis was moved to delight and put his +finger to his arse, whilst Meimoun danced and said, 'O Tuhfet es +Sudour, soften the mode;[FN#201] for, as delight, entereth into +my heart, it bewildereth my vital spirits.' So she took the lute +and changing the mode, played a third air; then she returned to +the first and sang the following verses: + +The billows of thy love o'erwhelm me passing sore; I sink and all + in vain for succour I implore. +Ye've drowned me in the sea of love for you; my heart Denies to + be consoled for those whom I adore. +Think not that I forget our trothplight after you. Nay; God to me + decreed remembrance heretofore.[FN#202] +Love to its victim clings without relent, and he Of torments and + unease complaineth evermore. + +The kings and all those who were present rejoiced in this with an +exceeding delight and the accursed Iblis came up to Tuhfeh and +kissing her hand, said to her, 'There abideth but little of the +night; so do thou tarry with us till the morrow, when we will +apply ourselves to the wedding[FN#203] and the circumcision.' +Then all the Jinn went away, whereupon Tuhfeh rose to her feet +and Iblis said, 'Go ye up with Tuhfeh to the garden for the rest +of the night.' So Kemeriyeh took her and carried her into the +garden. Now this garden contained all manner birds, nightingale +and mocking-bird and ringdove and curlew[FN#204] and other than +these of all the kinds, and therein were all kinds of fruits. Its +channels[FN#205] were of gold and silver and the water thereof, +as it broke forth of its conduits, was like unto fleeing +serpents' bellies, and indeed it was as it were the Garden of +Eden.[FN#206] + +When Tuhfeh beheld this, she called to mind her lord and wept +sore and said, 'I beseech God the Most High to vouchsafe me +speedy deliverance, so I may return to my palace and that my high +estate and queendom and glory and be reunited with my lord and +master Er Reshid.' Then she walked in that garden and saw in its +midst a dome of white marble, raised on columns of black teak and +hung with curtains embroidered with pearls and jewels. +Amiddleward this pavilion was a fountain, inlaid with all manner +jacinths, and thereon a statue of gold, and [beside it] a little +door. She opened the door and found herself in a long passage; so +she followed it and behold, a bath lined with all kinds of +precious marbles and floored with a mosaic of pearls and jewels. +Therein were four cisterns of alabaster, one facing other, and +the ceiling of the bath was of glass coloured with all manner +colours, such as confounded the understanding of the folk of +understanding and amazed the wit. + +Tuhfeh entered the bath, after she had put off her clothes, and +behold, the basin thereof was overlaid with gold set with pearls +and red rubies and green emeralds and other jewels; so she +extolled the perfection of God the Most High and hallowed Him for +the magnificence of that which she saw of the attributes of that +bath. Then she made her ablutions in that basin and pronouncing +the Magnification of Prohibition,[FN#207] prayed the morning +prayer and what else had escaped her of prayers;[FN#208] after +which she went out and walked in that garden among jessamine and +lavender and roses and camomile and gillyflowers and thyme and +violets and sweet basil, till she came to the door of the +pavilion aforesaid and sat down therein, pondering that which +should betide Er Reshid after her, whenas he should come to her +pavilion and find her not. She abode sunken in the sea of her +solicitude, till presently sleep took her and she slept + +Presently she felt a breath upon her face; whereupon she awoke +and found Queen Kemeriyeh kissing her, and with her her three +sisters, Queen Jemreh, Queen Wekhimeh and Queen Sherareh. So she +arose and kissed their hands and rejoiced in them with the utmost +joy and they abode, she and they, in talk and converse, what +while she related to them her history, from the time of her +purchase by the Mughrebi to that of her coming to the +slave-dealers' barrack, where she besought Ishac en Nedim to buy +her, and how she won to Er Reshid, till the moment when Iblis +came to her and brought her to them. They gave not over talking +till the sun declined and turned pale and the season of sundown +drew near and the day departed, whereupon Tuhfeh was instant in +supplication to God the Most High, on the occasion of the prayer +of sundown, that He would reunite her with her lord Er Reshid. + +After this, she abode with the four queens, till they arose and +entered the palace, where she found the candles lit and ranged in +candlesticks of gold and silver and censing-vessels of gold and +silver, filled with aloes-wood and ambergris, and there were the +kings of the Jinn sitting. So she saluted them, kissing the earth +before them and doing them worship; and they rejoiced in her and +in her sight. Then she ascended [the estrade] and sat down upon +her chair, whilst King Es Shisban and King El Muzfir and Queen +Louloueh and [other] the kings of the Jinn sat on chairs, and +they brought tables of choice, spread with all manner meats +befitting kings. They ate their fill; after which the tables were +removed and they washed their hands and wiped them with napkins. +Then they brought the wine-service and set on bowls and cups and +flagons and hanaps of gold and silver and beakers of crystal and +gold; and they poured out the wines and filled the flagons. + +Then Iblis took the cup and signed to Tuhfeh to sing; and she +said, 'Hearkening and obedience.' So she took the lute and tuning +it, sang the following verses: + +Drink ever, O lovers, I rede you, of wine And praise his desert + who for yearning doth pine, +Where lavender, myrtle, narcissus entwine, With all sweet-scented + herbs, round the juice of the vine. + +So Iblis the Accursed drank and said, 'Well done, O desire of +hearts! but thou owest me yet another song.' Then he filled the +cup and signed to her to sing. Quoth she, 'Hearkening and +obedience,' and sang the following verses: + +Ye know I'm passion-maddened, racked with love and languishment, + Yet ye torment me, for to you 'tis pleasing to torment. +Between mine eyes and wake ye have your dwelling-place, and thus + My tears flow on unceasingly, my sighs know no relent. +How long shall I for justice sue to you, whilst, with desire For + aid, ye war on me and still on slaying me are bent! +To me your rigour love-delight, your distance nearness is; Ay, + your injustice equity, and eke your wrath consent. +Accuse me falsely, cruelly entreat me; still ye are My heart's + beloved, at whose hands no rigour I resent. + +All who were present were delighted and the sitting-chamber shook +with mirth, and Iblis said, 'Well done, O Tuhfet es Sudour!' Then +they gave not over wine-bibbing and rejoicing and making merry +and tambourining and piping till the night waned and the dawn +drew near; and indeed exceeding delight entered into them. The +most of them in mirth was the Sheikh Iblis, and for the excess of +that which betided him of delight, he put off all that was upon +him of coloured clothes and cast them over Tuhfeh, and among the +rest a robe broidered with jewels and jacinths, worth ten +thousand dinars. Then he kissed the earth and danced and put his +finger to his arse and taking his beard in his hand, said to her, +'Sing about this beard and endeavour after mirth and pleasance, +and no blame shall betide thee for this.' So she improvised and +sang the following verses: + +Beard of the old he-goat, the one-eyed, what shall be My saying + of a knave, his fashion and degree? +I rede thee vaunt thee not of praise from us, for lo! Even as a + docktailed cur thou art esteemed of me. +By Allah, without fail, to-morrow thou shalt see Me with + ox-leather dress and drub the nape of thee! + +All those who were present laughed at her mockery of Iblis and +marvelled at the goodliness of her observation[FN#209] and her +readiness in improvising verses; whilst the Sheikh himself +rejoiced and said to her, 'O Tuhfet es Sudour, the night is gone; +so arise and rest thyself ere the day; and to-morrow all shall be +well.' Then all the kings of the Jinn departed, together with +those who were present of guards, and Tuhfeh abode alone, +pondering the affair of Er Reshid and bethinking her of how it +was with him, after her, and of that which had betided him for +her loss, till the dawn gleamed, when she arose and walked in the +palace. Presently she saw a handsome door; so she opened it and +found herself in a garden goodlier than the first, never saw eyes +a fairer than it. When she beheld this garden, delight moved her +and she called to mind her lord Er Reshid and wept sore, saying, +'I crave of the bounty of God the Most High that my return to him +and to my palace and my home may be near at hand!' + +Then she walked in the garden till she came to a pavilion, lofty +of building and wide of continence, never saw mortal nor heard of +a goodlier than it [So she entered] and found herself in a long +corridor, which led to a bath goodlier than that whereof it hath +been spoken, and the cisterns thereof were full of rose-water +mingled with musk. Quoth Tuhfeh, 'Extolled be the perfection of +God! Indeed, this[FN#210] is none other than a mighty king.' Then +she put off her clothes and washed her body and made her +ablution, after the fullest fashion,[FN#211] and prayed that +which was due from her of prayer from the evening [of the +previous day].[FN#212] When the sun rose upon the gate of the +garden and she saw the wonders thereof, with that which was +therein of all manner flowers and streams, and heard the voices +of its birds, she marvelled at what she saw of the surpassing +goodliness of its ordinance and the beauty of its disposition and +sat meditating the affair of Er Reshid and pondering what was +come of him after her. Her tears ran down upon her cheek and the +zephyr blew on her; so she slept and knew no more till she felt a +breath on her cheek, whereupon she awoke in affright and found +Queen Kemeriyeh kissing her face, and with her her sisters, who +said to her, 'Arise, for the sun hath set.' + +So she arose and making the ablution, prayed that which behoved +her of prayers[FN#213] and accompanied the four queens to the +palace, where she saw the candles lighted and the kings sitting. +She saluted them and seated herself upon her couch; and behold, +King Es Shisban had changed his favour, for all the pride of his +soul. Then came up Iblis (whom God curse!) and Tuhfeh rose to him +and kissed his hands. He in turn kissed her hand and called down +blessings on her and said, 'How deemest thou? Is [not] this place +pleasant, for all its loneliness and desolation?' Quoth she, +'None may be desolate in this place;' and he said, 'Know that no +mortal dare tread [the soil of] this place.' But she answered, 'I +have dared and trodden it, and this is of the number of thy +favours.' Then they brought tables and meats and viands and +fruits and sweetmeats and what not else, to the description +whereof mortal man availeth not, and they ate till they had +enough; after which the tables were removed and the trays and +platters[FN#214] set on, and they ranged the bottles and flagons +and vessels and phials, together with all manner fruits and +sweet-scented flowers. + +The first to take the cup was Iblis the Accursed, who said, 'O +Tuhfet es Sudour, sing over my cup.' So she took the lute and +touching it, sang the following verses: + +Awaken, O ye sleepers all, and profit, whilst it's here By what's + vouchsafed of fortune fair and life untroubled, clear. +Drink of the first-run wine, that shows as very flame it were, + When from the pitcher 'tis outpoured, or ere the day appear. +O skinker of the vine-juice, let the cup 'twixt us go round, For + in its drinking is my hope and all I hold most dear. +What is the pleasance of the world, except it be to see My lady's + face, to drink of wine and ditties still to hear? + +So Iblis drank off his cup, and when he had made an end of his +draught, he waved his hand to Tuhfeh, and putting off that which +was upon him of clothes, delivered them to her. Amongst them was +a suit worth ten thousand dinars and a tray full of jewels worth +a great sum of money. Then he filled again and gave the cup to +his son Es Shisban, who took it from his hand and kissing it, +stood up and sat down again. Now there was before him a tray of +roses; so he said to her 'O Tuhfeh sing upon these roses.' +Hearkening and obedience,' answered she and sang the following +verses: + +O'er all the fragrant flowers that be I have the prefrence aye, + For that I come but once a year, and but a little stay. +And high is my repute, for that I wounded aforetime My + lord,[FN#215] whom God made best of all the treaders of the + clay. + +So Es Shisban drank off the cup in his turn and said, 'Well done, +O desire of hearts!' And he bestowed on her that which was upon +him, to wit, a dress of cloth-of-pearl, fringed with great pearls +and rubies and broidered with precious stones, and a tray wherein +were fifty thousand dinars. Then Meimoun the Sworder took the cup +and fell to gazing intently upon Tuhfeh. Now there was in his +hand a pomegranate-flower and he said to her, 'Sing upon this +pomegranate-flower, O queen of men and Jinn; for indeed thou hast +dominion over all hearts.' Quoth she, 'Hearkening and obedience;' +and she improvised and sang the following verses: + +The zephyr's sweetness on the coppice blew, And as with falling + fire 'twas clad anew; +And to the birds' descant in the foredawns, From out the boughs + it flowered forth and grew, +Till in a robe of sandal green 'twas clad And veil that blended + rose and flame[FN#216] in hue. + +Meinsoun drank off his cup and said to her, 'Well done, O perfect +of attributes!' Then he signed to her and was absent awhile, +after which he returned and with him a tray of jewels worth an +hundred thousand dinars, [which he gave to Tuhfeh]. So Kemeriyeh +arose and bade her slave-girl open the closet behind her, wherein +she laid all that wealth. Then she delivered the key to Tuhfeh, +saying, 'All that cometh to thee of riches, lay thou in this +closet that is by thy side, and after the festival, it shall be +carried to thy palace on the heads of the Jinn.' Tuhfeh kissed +her hand, and another king, by name Munir, took the cup and +filling it, said to her, 'O fair one, sing to me over my cup upon +the jasmine.' 'Hearkening and obedience,' answered she and +improvised the following verses: + +It is as the jasmine, when it I espy, As it glitters and gleams + midst its boughs, were a sky +Of beryl, all glowing with beauty, wherein Thick stars of pure + silver shine forth to the eye. + +Munir drank off his cup and ordered her eight hundred thousand +dinars, whereat Kemeriyeh rejoiced and rising to her feet, kissed +Tuhfeh on her face and said to her, 'May the world not be +bereaved of thee, O thou who lordest it over the hearts of Jinn +and mortals!' Then she returned to her place and the Sheikh Iblis +arose and danced, till all present were confounded; after which +he said to Tuhfeh, 'Indeed, thou embellishest my festival, O thou +who hast commandment over men and Jinn and rejoicest their hearts +with thy loveliness and the excellence of thy faithfulness to thy +lord. All that thy hands possess shall be borne to thee [in thy +palace and placed] at thy service; but now the dawn is near at +hand; so do thou rise and rest thee, as of thy wont' Tuhfeh +turned and found with her none of the Jinn; so she laid her head +on the ground and slept till she had gotten her rest; after which +she arose and betaking herself to the pool, made the ablution and +prayed. Then she sat beside the pool awhile and pondered the +affair of her lord Er Reshid and that which had betided him after +her and wept sore. + +Presently, she heard a blowing behind her; so she turned and +behold, a head without a body and with eyes slit endlong; it was +of the bigness of an elephant's head and bigger and had a mouth +as it were an oven and projecting tusks, as they were grapnels, +and hair that trailed upon the earth. So Tuhfeh said, 'I take +refuge with God from Satan the Stoned!' and recited the Two +Amulets;[FN#217] what while the head drew near her and said to +her, 'Peace be upon thee, O princess of Jinn and men and unique +pearl of her age and her time! May God still continue thee on +life, for all the lapsing of the days, and reunite thee with thy +lord the Imam!'[FN#218] 'And upon thee be peace,' answered she, +'O thou whose like I have not seen among the Jinn!' Quoth the +head, 'We are a people who avail not to change their favours and +we are called ghouls. The folk summon us to their presence, but +we may not present ourselves before them [without leave]. As for +me, I have gotten leave of the Sheikh Aboultawaif to present +myself before thee and I desire of thy favour that thou sing me a +song, so I may go to thy palace and question its haunters[FN#219] +concerning the plight of thy lord after thee and return to thee; +and know, O Tuhfet es Sudour, that between thee and thy lord is a +distance of fifty years' journey to the diligent traveller.' +'Indeed,' rejoined Tuhfeh, 'thou grievest me [for him] between +whom and me is fifty years' journey. And the head said to her, +'Be of good heart and cheerful eye, for the kings of the Jinn +will restore thee to him in less than the twinkling of an eye.' +Quoth she,' I will sing thee an hundred songs, so thou wilt bring +me news of my lord and that which hath befallen him after me.' +And the head answered, saying, 'Do thou favour me and sing me a +song, so I may go to thy lord and bring thee news of him, for +that I desire, before I go, to hear thy voice, so haply my +thirst[FN#220] may be quenched.' So she took the lute and tuning +it, sang the following verses: + +They have departed; but the steads yet full of them remain: Yea, + they have left me, but my heart of them doth not complain. +My heart bereavement of my friends forebode; may God of them The + dwellings not bereave, but send them timely home again! +Though they their journey's goal, alas I have hidden, in their + track Still will I follow on until the very planets wane. +Ye sleep; by Allah, sleep comes not to ease my weary lids; But + from mine eyes, since ye have passed away, the blood doth + rain. +The railers for your loss pretend that I should patient be: + 'Away!' I answer them: ' 'tis I, not you, that feel the + pain.' +What had it irked them, had they'd ta'en farewell of him they've + left Lone, whilst estrangement's fires within his entrails + rage amain? +Great in delight, beloved mine, your presence is with me; Yet + greater still the miseries of parting and its bane. +Ye are the pleasaunce of my soul; or present though you be Or + absent from me, still my heart and thought with you remain. + +The head wept exceeding sore and said, 'O my lady, indeed thou +hast solaced my heart, and I have nought but my life; so take +it.' Quoth she, 'An I but knew that thou wouldst bring me news of +my lord Er Reshid, it were liefer to me than the empery of the +world.' And the head answered her, saying, 'It shall be done as +thou desirest.' Then it disappeared and returning to her at the +last of the night, said, 'Know, O my lady, that I have been to +thy palace and have questioned one of the haunters thereof of the +case of the Commander of the Faithful and that which befell him +after thee; and he said, "When the Commander of the Faithful came +to Tuhfeh's lodging and found her not and saw no sign of her, he +buffeted his face and head and rent his clothes. Now there was in +thy lodging the eunuch, the chief of thy household, and he cried +out at him, saying, 'Bring me Jaafer the Barmecide and his father +and brother forthright.' The eunuch went out, confounded in his +wit for fear of the Commander of the Faithful, and whenas he came +to Jaafer, he said to him, 'Come to the Commander of the +Faithful, thou and thy father and brother.' So they arose in +haste and betaking themselves to the Khalif's presence, said to +him, 'O Commander of the Faithful, what is to do?' Quoth he, +'There is that to do which overpasseth description. Know that I +locked the door and taking the key with me, betook myself to the +daughter of mine uncle, with whom I lay the night; but, when I +arose in the morning and came and opened the door, I found no +sign of Tuhfeh.' 'O Commander of the Faithful,' rejoined Jaafer, +'have patience, for that the damsel hath been snatched away, and +needs must she return, seeing she took the lute with her, and it +is her [own] lute. The Jinn have assuredly carried her off and we +trust in God the Most High that she will return.' Quoth the +Khalif, ' This[FN#221] is a thing that may nowise be' And he +abode in her lodging, eating not neither drinking, what while the +Barmecides besought him to go forth to the folk; and he weepeth +and abideth on this wise till she shall return." This, then, is +that which hath betided him after thee.' + +When Tuhfeh heard this, it was grievous to her and she wept sore; +whereupon quoth the head to her, 'The relief of God the Most High +is near at hand; but now let me hear somewhat of thy speech.' So +she took the lute and sang three songs, weeping the while. 'By +Allah,' said the head, 'thou hast been bountiful to me, may God +be with thee!' Then it disappeared and the season of sundown +came. So she arose [and betook herself] to her place [in the +hall]; whereupon the candles rose up from under the earth and +kindled themselves. Then the kings of the Jinn appeared and +saluted her and kissed her hands and she saluted them. Presently, +up came Kemeriyeh and her three sisters and saluted Tuhfeh and +sat down; whereupon the tables were brought and they ate. Then +the tables were removed and there came the wine-tray and the +drinking-service. So Tuhfeh took the lute and one of the three +queens filled the cup and signed to Tuhfeh [to sing]. Now she had +in her hand a violet; so Tuhfeh sang the following verses: + +Behold, I am clad in a robe of leaves green And a garment of + honour of ultramarine. +Though little, with beauty myself I've adorned; So the flowers + are my subjects and I am their queen. +If the rose be entitled the pride of the morn, Before me nor + after she wins it, I ween. + +The queen drank off her cup and bestowed on Tuhfeh a dress of +cloth-of-pearl, fringed with red rubies, worth twenty thousand +dinars, and a tray wherein were ten thousand dinars. + +All this while Meimoun's eye was upon her and presently he said +to her, 'Harkye, Tuhfeh! Sing to me.' But Queen Zelzeleh cried +out at him and said, 'Desist, O Meimoun. Thou sufferest not +Tuhfeh to pay heed unto us.' Quoth he, 'I will have her sing to +me.' And words waxed between them and Queen Zelzeleh cried out at +him. Then she shook and became like unto the Jinn and taking in +her hand a mace of stone, said to him, 'Out on thee! What art +thou that thou shouldst bespeak us thus? By Allah, but for the +king's worship and my fear of troubling the session and the +festival and the mind of the Sheikh Iblis, I would assuredly beat +the folly out of thy head!' When Meimoun heard these her words, +he rose, with the fire issuing from his eyes, and said, 'O +daughter of Imlac, what art thou that thou shouldst outrage me +with the like of this talk?' 'Out on thee, O dog of the Jinn,' +replied she, 'knowest thou not thy place?' So saying, she ran at +him and offered to strike him with the mace, but the Sheikh Iblis +arose and casting his turban on the ground, said, 'Out on thee, O +Meimoun! Thou still dost with us on this wise. Wheresoever thou +art present, thou troubleth our life! Canst thou not hold thy +peace till thou goest forth of the festival and this +bride-feast[FN#222] be accomplished? When the circumcision is at +an end and ye all return to your dwelling-places, then do as thou +wilt. Out on thee, O Meimoun! Knowest thou not that Imlac is of +the chiefs of the Jinn? But for my worship, thou shouldst have +seen what would have betided thee of humiliation and punishment; +but by reason of the festival none may speak. Indeed thou +exceedest: knowest thou not that her sister Wekhimeh is doughtier +than any of the Jinn? Learn to know thyself: hast thou no regard +for thy life?' + +Meimoun was silent and Iblis turned to Tuhfeh and said to her, +'Sing to the kings of the Jinn this day and to-night until the +morrow, when the boy will be circumcised and each shall return to +his own place.' So she took the lute and Kemeriyeh said to her, +(now she had in her hand a cedrat), 'O my sister, sing to me on +this cedrat.' 'Hearkening and obedience,' replied Tuhfeh, and +improvising, sang the following verses: + +My fruit is a jewel all wroughten of gold, Whose beauty amazeth + all those that behold. +My juice among kings is still drunken for wine And a present am I + betwixt friends, young and old. + +At this Queen Kemeriyeh was moved to exceeding delight and drank +off her cup, saying, 'Well done, O queen of hearts!' Moreover, +she took off a surcoat of blue brocade, fringed with red rubies, +and a necklace of white jewels, worth an hundred thousand dinars, +and gave them to Tuhfeh. Then she passed the cup to her sister +Zelzeleh, who had in her hand sweet basil, and she said to +Tuhfeh, 'Sing to me on this sweet basil.' 'Hearkening and +obedience,' answered she and improvised and sang the following +verses: + +The crown of the flow'rets am I, in the chamber of wine, And +Allah makes mention of me 'mongst the pleasures divine; Yea, ease +and sweet basil and peace, the righteous are told, In Eternity's +Garden of sweets shall to bless them combine.[FN#223] Where, +then, is the worth that in aught with my worth can compare And +where is the rank in men's eyes can be likened to mine? + +Thereat Queen Zelzeleh was moved to exceeding delight and bidding +her treasuress bring a basket, wherein were fifty pairs of +bracelets and the like number of earrings, all of gold, set with +jewels of price, the like whereof nor men nor Jinn possessed, and +an hundred robes of coloured brocade and an hundred thousand +dinars, gave the whole to Tuhfeh. Then she passed the cup to her +sister Sherareh, who had in her hand a stalk of narcissus; so she +took it from her and turning to Tuhfeh, said to her, 'O Tuhfeh, +sing to me on this.' 'Hearkening and obedience,' answered she and +improvised and sang the following verses: + +Most like a wand of emerald my shape it is, trow I; Amongst the + fragrant flow'rets there's none with me can vie. +The eyes of lovely women are likened unto me; Indeed, amongst the + gardens I open many an eye. + +When she had made an end of her song, Sherareh was moved to +exceeding delight and drinking off her cup, said to her, 'Well +done, O gift of hearts!' Then she ordered her an hundred dresses +of brocade and an hundred thousand dinars and passed the cup to +Queen Wekhimeh. Now she had in her hand somewhat of blood-red +anemone; so she took the cup from her sister and turning to +Tuhfeh, said to her, 'O Tuhfeh, sing to me on this.' Quoth she, +'I hear and obey,' and improvised the following verses: + +The Merciful dyed me with that which I wear Of hues with whose + goodliness none may compare. +The earth is my birth-place, indeed; but my place Of abidance is + still in the cheeks of the fair. + +Therewith Wekhimeh was moved to exceeding delight and drinking +off the cup, ordered her twenty dresses of Greek brocade and a +tray, wherein were thirty thousand dinars. Then she gave the cup +to Queen Shuaaeh, Queen of the Fourth Sea, who took it and said, +'O my lady Tuhfeh, sing to me on the gillyflower.' Quoth she +'Hearkening and obedience,' and improvised the following verses: + +The season of my presence is never at an end 'Mongst all their + time in gladness and solacement who spend, +Whenas the folk assemble for birling at the wine, Whether in + morning's splendour or when night's shades descend. +The pitcher then of goblets filled full and brimming o'er With + limpid wine we plunder, that pass from friend to friend. + +Queen Shuaaeh was moved to exceeding delight and emptying her +cup, gave Tuhfeh an hundred thousand dinars. Then arose Iblis +(may God curse him!) and said, 'Verily, the dawn gleameth.' +Whereupon the folk arose and disappeared, all of them, and there +abode not one of them save Tuhfeh, who went forth to the garden +and entering the bath, made her ablutions and prayed that which +had escaped her of prayers. Then she sat down and when the sun +rose, behold, there came up to her near an hundred thousand green +birds; the branches of the trees were filled with their +multitudes and they warbled in various voices, whilst Tuhfeh +marvelled at their fashion. Presently, up came eunuchs, bearing a +throne of gold, set with pearls and jewels and jacinths white and +red and having four steps of gold, together with many carpets of +silk and brocade and Egyptian cloth of silk welted with gold. +These latter they spread amiddleward the garden and setting up +the throne thereon, perfumed the place with virgin musk and aloes +and ambergris. + +After that, there appeared a queen, never saw eyes a goodlier +than she nor than her attributes; she was clad in rich raiment, +embroidered with pearls and jewels, and on her head was a crown +set with various kinds of pearls and jewels. About her were five +hundred slave-girls, high-bosomed maids, as they were moons, +screening her, right and left, and she among them as she were the +moon on the night of its full, for that she was the most of them +in majesty and dignity. She gave not over walking, till she came +to Tuhfeh, whom she found gazing on her in amazement; and when +the latter saw her turn to her, she rose to her, standing on her +feet, and saluted her and kissed the earth before her. + +The queen rejoiced in her and putting out her hand to her, drew +her to herself and seated her by her side on the couch; whereupon +Tuhfeh kissed her hands and the queen said to her, 'Know, O +Tuhfeh, that all that thou treadest of these belong not to any of +the Jinn,[FN#224] for that I am the queen of them all and the +Sheikh Aboultawaif Iblis sought my permission[FN#225] and prayed +me to be present at the circumcision of his son. So I sent to +him, in my stead, a slave-girl of my slave-girls, to wit, +Shuaaeh, Queen of the Fourth Sea, who is vice-queen of my +kingdom. When she was present at the wedding and saw thee and +heard thy singing, she sent to me, giving me to know of thee and +setting forth to me thine elegance and pleasantness and the +goodliness of thy breeding and thy singing. So I am come to thee, +for that which I have heard of thy charms, and this shall bring +thee great worship in the eyes of all the Jinn.'[FN#226] + +Tuhfeh arose and kissed the earth and the queen thanked her for +this and bade her sit. So she sat down and the queen called for +food; whereupon they brought a table of gold, inlaid with pearls +and jacinths and jewels and spread with various kinds of birds +and meats of divers hues, and the queen said, 'O Tuhfeh, in the +name of God, let us eat bread and salt together, thou and I.' So +Tuhfeh came forward and ate of those meats and tasted somewhat +the like whereof she had never eaten, no, nor aught more +delicious than it, what while the slave-girls stood compassing +about the table and she sat conversing and laughing with the +queen. Then said the latter, 'O my sister, a slave-girl told me +of thee that thou saidst, "How loathly is yonder genie Meimoun! +There is no eating [in his presence]."'[FN#227] 'By Allah, O my +lady,' answered Tuhfeh, 'I cannot brook the sight of him,[FN#228] +and indeed I am fearful of him.' When the queen heard this, she +laughed, till she fell backward, and said, 'O my sister, by the +virtue of the inscription upon the seal-ring of Solomon, prophet +of God, I am queen over all the Jinn, and none dare so much as +look on thee a glance of the eye.' And Tuhfeh kissed her hand. +Then the tables were removed and they sat talking. + +Presently up came the kings of the Jinn from every side and +kissed the earth before the queen and stood in her service; and +she thanked them for this, but stirred not for one of them. Then +came the Sheikh Aboultawaif Iblis (God curse him!) and kissed the +earth before her, saying, 'O my lady, may I not be bereft of +these steps!'[FN#229] O Sheikh Aboultawalf,' answered she, 'it +behoveth thee to thank the bounty of the Lady Tuhfeh, who was the +cause of my coming.' 'True,' answered he and kissed the earth. +Then the queen fared on [towards the palace] and there [arose +and] alighted upon the trees an hundred thousand birds of various +colours. Quoth Tuhfeh, 'How many are these birds!' And Queen +Wekhimeh said to her, 'Know, O my sister, that this queen is +called Queen Es Shuhba and that she is queen over all the Jinn +from East to West. These birds that thou seest are of her troops, +and except they came in this shape, the earth would not contain +them. Indeed, they came forth with her and are present with her +presence at this circumcision. She will give thee after the +measure of that which hath betided thee[FN#230] from the first of +the festival to the last thereof; and indeed she honoureth us all +with her presence.' + +Then the queen entered the palace and sat down on the throne of +the circumcision[FN#231] at the upper end of the hall, whereupon +Tuhfeh took the lute and pressing it to her bosom, touched its +strings on such wise that the wits of all present were bewildered +and the Sheikh Iblis said to her, 'O my lady Tuhfeh, I conjure +thee, by the life of this worshipful queen, sing for me and +praise thyself, and gainsay me not.' Quoth she, 'Hearkening and +obedience; yet, but for the adjuration by which thou conjurest +me, I had not done this. Doth any praise himself? What manner of +thing is this?' Then she improvised and sang the following +verses: + +In every rejoicing a boon[FN#232] midst the singers and minstrels + am I; +The folk witness bear of my worth and none can my virtues deny. +My virtues 'mongst men are extolled and my glory and station rank + high. + +Her verses pleased the kings of the Jinn and they said, 'By +Allah, thou sayst sooth!' Then she rose to her feet, with the +lute in her hand, and played and sang, whilst the Jinn and the +Sheikh Aboultawaif danced. Then the latter came up to her and +gave her a carbuncle he had taken from the hidden treasure of +Japhet, son of Noah (on whom be peace), and which was worth the +kingdom of the world; its light was as the light of the sun and +he said to her, 'Take this and glorify thyself withal +over[FN#233] the people of the world.' She kissed his hand and +rejoiced in the jewel and said, 'By Allah, this beseemeth none +but the Commander of the Faithful.' + +Now the dancing of Iblis pleased Queen Es Shuhba and she said to +him, 'By Allah, this is a goodly dancing!' He thanked her for +this and said to Tuhfeh, 'O Tuhfeh, there is not on the face of +the earth a skilfuller than Ishac en Nedim; but thou art more +skilful than he. Indeed, I have been present with him many a time +and have shown him passages[FN#234] on the lute, and there have +betided me such and such things with him.[FN#235] Indeed, the +story of my dealings with him is a long one and this is no time +to repeat it; but now I would fain show thee a passage on the +lute, whereby thou shall be exalted over all the folk.' Quoth she +to him, 'Do what seemeth good to thee.' So he took the lute and +played thereon on wondrous wise, with rare divisions and +extraordinary modulations, and showed her a passage she knew not; +and this was liefer to her than all that she had gotten. Then she +took the lute from him and playing thereon, [sang and] presently +returned to the passage that he had shown her; and he said, 'By +Allah, thou singest better than I!' As for Tuhfeh, it was made +manifest to her that her former usance[FN#236] was all of it +wrong and that what she had learnt from the Sheikh Aboultawaif +Iblis was the origin and foundation [of all perfection] in the +art. So she rejoiced in that which she had gotten of [new skill +in] touching the lute far more than in all that had fallen to her +lot of wealth and raiment and kissed the Sheikh's hand. + +Then said Queen Es Shuhba, 'By Allah, O Sheikh, my sister Tuhfeh +is indeed unique among the folk of her time, and I hear that she +singeth upon all sweet- scented flowers.' 'Yes, O my lady,' +answered Iblis, 'and I am in the utterest of wonderment thereat. +But there remaineth somewhat of sweet-scented flowers, that she +hath not besung, such as the myrtle and the tuberose and the +jessamine and the moss-rose and the like.' Then he signed to her +to sing upon the rest of the flowers, that Queen Es Shuhba might +hear, and she said, 'Hearkening and obedience.' So she took the +lute and played thereon in many modes, then returned to the first +mode and sang the following verses: + +One of the host am I of lovers sad and sere For waiting long + drawn out and expectation drear. +My patience underneath the loss of friends and folk With pallor's + sorry garb hath clad me, comrades dear. +Abasement, misery and heart-break after those I suffer who + endured before me many a year. +All through the day its light and when the night grows dark, My + grief forsakes me not, no, nor my heavy cheer. +My tears flow still, nor aye of bitterness I'm quit, Bewildered + as I am betwixten hope and fear. + +Therewithal Queen Es Shuhba was moved to exceeding delight and +said, 'Well done, O queen of delight! None can avail to describe +thee. Sing to us on the apple,' Quoth Tuhfeh, 'Hearkening and +obedience.' Then she improvised and sang the following verses: + +Endowed with amorous grace past any else am I; Graceful of shape + and lithe and pleasing to the eye. +The hands of noble folk do tend me publicly; With waters clear + and sweet my thirsting tongue they ply. +My clothes of sendal are, my veil of the sun's light, The very + handiwork of God the Lord Most High. +Whenas my sisters dear forsake me, grieved that they Must leave + their native place and far away must hie, +The nobles' hands, for that my place I must forsake, Do solace me + with beds, whereon at ease I lie. +Lo! in the garden-ways, the place of ease and cheer, Still, like + the moon at full, my light thou mayst espy. + +Queen Es Shubha rejoiced in this with an exceeding delight and +said, 'Well done! By Allah, there is none surpasseth thee.' +Tuhfeh kissed the earth, then returned to her place and +improvised on the tuberose, saying: + +My flower a marvel on your heads doth show, Yet homeless[FN#237] + am I in your land, I trow. +Make drink your usance in my company And flout the time that + languishing doth go. +Camphor itself to me doth testify And in my presence owns me + white as snow. +So make me in your morning a delight And set me in your houses, + high and low; +So shall we quaff the cups in ease and cheer, In endless joyance, + quit of care and woe. + +At this Queen Es Shuhba was stirred to exceeding delight and +said, 'Well done, O queen of delight! By Allah, I know not how I +shall do to render thee thy due! May God the Most High grant us +to enjoy thy long continuance [on life]!' Then she strained her +to her breast and kissed her on the cheek; whereupon quoth Iblis +(on whom be malison!), 'Indeed, this is an exceeding honour!' +Quoth the queen, 'Know that this lady Tuhfeh is my sister and +that her commandment is my commandment and her forbiddance my +forbiddance. So hearken all to her word and obey her +commandment.' Therewithal the kings rose all and kissed the earth +before Tuhfeh, who rejoiced in this. Moreover, Queen Es Shuhba +put off on her a suit adorned with pearls and jewels and +jacinths, worth an hundred thousand dinars, and wrote her on a +sheet of paper a patent in her own hand, appointing her her +deputy. So Tuhfeh rose and kissed the earth before the queen, who +said to her, 'Sing to us, of thy favour, concerning the rest of +the sweet-scented flowers and herbs, so I may hear thy singing +and divert myself with witnessing thy skill.' 'Hearkening and +obedience, O lady mine,' answered Tuhfeh and taking the lute, +improvised the following verses: + +Midst colours, my colour excelleth in light And I would every eye + of my charms might have sight. +My place is the place of the fillet and pearls And the fair are + most featly with jasmine bedight, +How bright and how goodly my lustre appears! Yea, my wreaths are + like girdles of silver so white. + +Then she changed the measure and improvised the following: + +I'm the crown of every sweet and fragrant weed; When the loved + one calls, I keep the tryst agreed. +My favours I deny not all the year; Though cessation be desired, + I nothing heed. +I'm the keeper of the promise and the troth, And my gathering is + eath, without impede. + +Then she changed the measure and the mode [and played] so that +she amazed the wits of those who were present, and Queen Es +Shuhba was moved to mirth and said, 'Well done, O queen of +delight!' Then she returned to the first mode and improvised the +following verses on the water-lily: + +I fear to be seen in the air, Without my consent, unaware; +So I stretch out my root neath the flood And my branches turn + back to it there. + +Therewithal Queen Es Shuhba was moved to delight and said, 'Well +done, O Tuhfeh! Let me have more of thy singing.' So she smote +the lute and changing the mode, improvised the following verses +on the moss-rose: + +Look at the moss-rose, on its branches seen, Midmost its leafage, + covered all with green. +Tis gazed at for its slender swaying shape And cherished for its + symmetry and sheen. +Lovely with longing for its love's embrace, The fear of his + estrangement makes it lean. + +Then she changed the measure and the mode and sang the following +verses: + +O thou that questionest the lily of its scent, Give ear unto my + words and verses thereanent. +Th' Amir (quoth it) am I whose charms are still desired; Absent + or present, all in loving me consent. + +When she had made an end of her song, Queen Es Shuhba arose and +said, 'Never heard I from any the like of this.' And she drew +Tuhfeh to her and fell to kissing her. Then she took leave of her +and flew away; and all the birds took flight with her, so that +they walled the world; whilst the rest of the kings tarried +behind. + +When it was the fourth night, there came the boy whom they were +minded to circumcise, adorned with jewels such as never saw eye +nor heard ear of, and amongst the rest a crown of gold, set with +pearls and jewels, the worth whereof was an hundred thousand +dinars. He sat down upon the throne and Tuhfeh sang to him, till +the surgeon came and they circumcised him, in the presence of all +the kings, who showered on him great store of jewels and jacinths +and gold. Queen Kemeriyeh bade the servants gather up all this +and lay it in Tuhfeh's closet, and it was [as much in value as] +all that had fallen to her, from the first of the festival to the +last thereof. Moreover, the Sheikh Iblis (whom God curse!) +bestowed upon Tuhfeh the crown worn by the boy and gave the +latter another, whereat her reason fled. Then the Jinn departed, +in order of rank, whilst Iblis took leave of them, band by band. + +Whilst the Sheikh was thus occupied with taking leave of the +kings, Meimoun sought his opportunity, whenas he saw the place +empty, and taking up Tuhfeh on his shoulders, soared up with her +to the confines of the sky and flew away with her. Presently, +Iblis came to look for Tuhfeh and see what she purposed, but +found her not and saw the slave-girls buffeting their faces; so +he said to them, 'Out on ye! What is to do?' 'O our lord,' +answered they, 'Meimoun hath snatched up Tuhfeh and flown away +with her.' When Iblis heard this, he gave a cry, to which the +earth trembled, and said, 'What is to be done? Out on ye! Shall +he carry off Tuhfeh from my very palace and outrage mine honour? +Doubtless, this Meimoun hath lost his wits.' Then he cried out a +second time, that the earth quaked therefor, and rose up into the +air. + +The news came to the rest of the kings; so they [flew after him +and] overtaking him, found him full of trouble and fear, with +fire issuing from his nostrils, and said to him, 'O Sheikh +Aboultawaif, what is to do?' Quoth he, 'Know that Meimoun hath +carried off Tuhfeh from my palace and outraged mine honour.' When +they heard this, they said, 'There is no power and no virtue but +in God the Most High, the Supreme! By Allah, he hath ventured +upon a grave matter and indeed he destroyeth himself and his +people!' Then the Sheikh Iblis gave not over flying till he fell +in with the tribes of the Jinn, and there gathered themselves +together unto him much people, none may tell the tale of them +save God the Most High. So they came to the Fortress of Copper +and the Citadel of Lead,[FN#238] and the people of the +strongholds saw the tribes of the Jinn issuing from every steep +mountain-pass and said, 'What is to do?' Then Iblis went in to +King Es Shisban and acquainted him with that which had befallen, +whereupon quoth he, 'May God destroy Meimoun and his folk! He +thinketh to possess Tuhfeh, and she is become queen of the Jinn! +But have patience till we contrive that which befitteth in the +matter of Tuhfeh.' Quoth Iblis, 'And what befitteth it to do?' +And Es Shisban said, *We will fall upon him and slay him and his +people with the sword.' + +Then said the Sheikh Iblis, 'We were best acquaint Queen +Kemeriyeh and Queen Zelzeleh and Queen Sherareh and Queen +Wekhimeh; and when they are assembled, God shall ordain [that +which He deemeth] good in the matter of her release.' 'It is well +seen of thee,' answered Es Shisban and despatched to Queen +Kemeriyeh an Afrit called Selheb, who came to her palace and +found her asleep; so he aroused her and she said, 'What is to do, +O Selheb?' 'O my lady,' answered he, 'come to the succour of thy +sister Tuhfeh, for that Meimoun hath carried her off and outraged +thine honour and that of the Sheikh Iblis.' Quoth she, 'What +sayest thou?' And she sat up and cried out with a great cry. And +indeed she feared for Tuhfeh and said, 'By Allah, indeed she used +to say that he looked upon her and prolonged the looking on her; +but ill is that to which his soul hath prompted him.' Then she +arose in haste and mounting a she-devil of her devils, said to +her, 'Fly.' So she flew off and alighted with her in the palace +of her sister Sherareh, whereupon she sent for her sisters +Zelzeleh and Wekhimeh and acquainted them with the news, saying, +'Know that Meimoun hath snatched up Tuhfeh and flown off with her +swiftlier than the blinding lightning.' + +[Then they all flew off in haste and] lighting down in the place +where were their father Es Shisban and their grandfather the +Sheikh Aboultawaif, found the folk on the sorriest of plights. +When their grandfather Iblis saw them, he rose to them and wept, +and they all wept for Tuhfeh. Then said Iblis to them, 'Yonder +dog hath outraged mine honour and taken Tuhfeh, and I doubt not +but that she is like to perish [of concern] for herself and her +lord Er Reshid and saying "All that they said and did[FN#239] was +false."' Quoth Kemeriyeh, 'O grandfather mine, there is nothing +left for it but [to use] stratagem and contrivance for her +deliverance, for that she is dearer to me than everything; and +know that yonder accursed one, whenas he is ware of your coming +upon him, will know that he hath no power to cope with you, he +who is the least and meanest [of the Jinn]; but we fear that, +when he is assured of defeat, he will kill Tuhfeh; wherefore +nothing will serve but that we contrive for her deliverance; else +will she perish.' 'And what hast thou in mind of device?' asked +he; and she answered, 'Let us take him with fair means, and if he +obey, [all will be well]; else will we practise stratagem against +him; and look thou not to other than myself for her deliverance.' +Quoth Iblis, 'The affair is thine; contrive what thou wilt, for +that Tuhfeh is thy sister and thy solicitude for her is more +effectual than [that of] any.' + +So Kemeriyeh cried out to an Afrit of the Afrits and a calamity +of the calamities,[FN#240] by name El Ased et Teyyar,[FN#241] and +said to him, 'Go with my message to the Crescent Mountain, the +abiding-place of Meimoun the Sworder, and enter in to him and +salute him in my name and say to him, "How canst thou be assured +for thyself, O Meimoun?[FN#242] Couldst thou find none on whom to +vent thy drunken humour and whom to maltreat save Tuhfeh, more by +token that she is a queen? But thou art excused, for that thou +didst this not but of thine intoxication, and the Shekh +Aboultawaif pardoneth thee, for that thou wast drunken. Indeed, +thou hast outraged his honour; but now restore her to her palace, +for that she hath done well and favoured us and done us service, +and thou knowest that she is presently our queen. Belike she may +bespeak Queen Es Shuhba, whereupon the matter will be aggravated +and that wherein there is no good will betide. Indeed, thou wilt +get no tittle of profit [from this thine enterprise]; verily, I +give thee good counsel, and so peace be on thee!"' + +'Hearkening and obedience,' answered El Ased and flew till he +came to the Crescent Mountain, when he sought audience of +Meimoun, who bade admit him. So he entered and kissing the earth +before him, gave him Queen Kemeriyeh's message, which when he +heard he said to the Afrit, 'Return whence thou comest and say to +thy mistress, "Be silent and thou wilt do wisely." Else will I +come and seize upon her and make her serve Tuhfeh; and if the +kings of the Jinn assemble together against me and I be overcome +of them, I will not leave her to scent the wind of this world and +she shall be neither mine nor theirs, for that she is presently +my soul[FN#243] from between my ribs; and how shall any part with +his soul?' When the Afrit heard Meimoun's words, he said to him, +'By Allah, O Meimoun, thou hast lost thy wits, that thou speakest +these words of my mistress, and thou one of her servants!' +Whereupon Meimoun cried out and said to him, 'Out on thee, O dog +of the Jinn! Wilt thou bespeak the like of me with these words?' +Then, he bade those who were about him smite El Ased, but he took +flight and soaring into the air, betook himself to his mistress +and told her that which had passed; and she said, 'Thou hast done +well, O cavalier.' + +Then she turned to her father and said to him, 'Give ear unto +that which I shall say to thee.' Quoth he, 'Say on;' and she +said, 'Take thy troops and go to him, for that, when he heareth +this, he in his turn will levy his troops and come forth to thee; +wherepon do thou give him battle and prolong the fighting with +him and make a show to him of weakness and giving way. Meantime, +I will practise a device for winning to Tuhfeh and delivering +her, what while he is occupied with you in battle; and when my +messenger cometh to thee and giveth thee to know that I have +gotten possession of Tuhfeh and that she is with me, do thou +return upon Meimoun forthright and destroy him, him and his +hosts, and take him prisoner. But, if my device succeed not with +him and we avail not to deliver Tuhfeh, he will assuredly go +about to slay her, without recourse, and regret for her will +abide in our hearts.' Quoth Iblis, 'This is the right counsel,' +and let call among the troops to departure, whereupon an hundred +thousand cavaliers, doughty men of war, joined themselves to him +and set out for Meimoun's country. + +As for Queen Kemeriyeh, she flew off to the palace of her sister +Wekhimeh and told her what Meimoun had done and how [he avouched +that], whenas he saw defeat [near at hand], he would slay Tuhfeh; +'and indeed,' added she, 'he is resolved upon this; else had he +not dared to commit this outrage. So do thou contrive the affair +as thou deemest well, for thou hast no superior in judgment.' +Then they sent for Queen Zelzeleh and Queen Sherareh and sat down +to take counsel, one with another, of that which they should do +in the matter. Then said Wekhimeh, 'We were best fit out a ship +in this island [wherein is my palace] and embark therein, in the +guise of mortals, and fare on till we come to a little island, +that lieth over against Meimoun's palace. There will we [take up +our abode and] sit drinking and smiting the lute and singing. Now +Tuhfeh will of a surety be sitting looking upon the sea, and +needs must she see us and come down to us, whereupon we will take +her by force and she will be under our hands, so that none shall +avail more to molest her on any wise. Or, if Meimoun be gone +forth to do battle with the Jinn, we will storm his stronghold +and take Tuhfeh and raze his palace and put to death all who are +therein. When he hears of this, his heart will be rent in sunder +and we will send to let our father know, whereupon he will return +upon him with his troops and he will be destroyed and we shall be +quit of him.' And they answered her, saying, 'This is a good +counsel.' Then they bade fit out a ship from behind the +mountain,[FN#244] and it was fitted out in less than the +twinkling of an eye. So they launched it on the sea and embarking +therein, together with four thousand Afrits, set out, intending +for Meimoun's palace. Moreover, they bade other five thousand +Afrits betake themselves to the island under the Crescent +Mountain and lie in wait for them there. + +Meanwhile, the Sheikh Aboultawaif Iblis and his son Es Shisban +set out, as we have said, with their troops, who were of the +doughtiest of the Jinn and the most accomplished of them in +valour and horsemanship, [and fared on till they drew near the +Crescent Mountain], When the news of their approach reached +Meimoun, he cried out with a great cry to the troops, who were +twenty thousand horse, [and bade them make ready for departure]. +Then he went in to Tuhfeh and kissing her, said to her, 'Know +that thou art presently my life of the world, and indeed the Jinn +are gathered together to wage war on me on thine account. If I am +vouchsafed the victory over them and am preserved alive, I will +set all the kings of the Jinn under thy feet and thou shall +become queen of the world.' But she shook her head and wept; and +he said, 'Weep not, for, by the virtue of the mighty inscription +engraven on the seal-ring of Solomon, thou shall never again see +the land of men! Can any one part with his life? So give ear unto +that which I say; else will I kill thee.' And she was silent. + +Then he sent for his daughter, whose name was Jemreh, and when +she came, he said to her, 'Harkye, Jemreh! Know that I am going +to [meet] the clans of Es Shisban and Queen Kemeriyeh and the +kings of the Jinn. If I am vouchsafed the victory over them, to +Allah be the praise and thou shall have of me largesse; but, if +thou see or hear that I am worsted and any come to thee with news +of me [to this effect], hasten to slay Tuhfeh, so she may fall +neither to me nor to them.' Then he took leave of her and +mounted, saying, 'When this cometh about, pass over to the +Crescent Mountain and take up thine abode there, and await what +shall befall me and what I shall say to thee.' And Jemreh +answered with 'Hearkening and obedience.' + +When Tuhfeh heard this, she fell to weeping and wailing and said, +'By Allah, nought irketh me save separation from my lord Er +Reshid; but, when I am dead, let the world be ruined after me.' +And she doubted not in herself but that she was lost without +recourse. Then Meimoun set forth with his army and departed in +quest of the hosts [of the Jinn], leaving none in the palace save +his daughter Jemreh and Tuhfeh and an Afrit who was dear unto +him. They fared on till they met with the army of Es Shisban; and +when the two hosts came face to face, they fell upon each other +and fought a passing sore battle. After awhile, Es Shisban's +troops began to give back, and when Meimoun saw them do thus, he +despised them and made sure of victory over them. + +Meanwhile, Queen Kemeriyeh and her company sailed on, without +ceasing, till they came under the palace wherein was Tuhfeh, to +wit, that of Meimoun the Sworder; and by the ordinance of +destiny, Tuhfeh herself was then sitting on the belvedere of the +palace, pondering the affair of Haroun er Reshid and her own and +that which had befallen her and weeping for that she was doomed +to slaughter. She saw the ship and what was therein of those whom +we have named, and they in mortal guise, and said, 'Alas, my +sorrow for yonder ship and the mortals that be therein!' As for +Kemeriyeh and her company, when they drew near the palace, they +strained their eyes and seeing Tuhfeh sitting, said, 'Yonder sits +Tuhfeh. May God not bereave [us] of her!' Then they moored their +ship and making for the island, that lay over against the palace, +spread carpets and sat eating and drinking; whereupon quoth +Tuhfeh, 'Welcome and fair welcome to yonder faces! These are my +kinswomen and I conjure thee by Allah, O Jemreh, that thou let me +down to them, so I may sit with them awhile and make friends with +them and return.' Quoth Jemreh, 'I may on no wise do that.' And +Tuhfeh wept. Then the folk brought out wine and drank, what while +Kemeriyeh took the lute and sang the following verses: + +By Allah, but that I trusted that I should meet you again, Your + camel-leader to parting had summoned you in vain! +Parting afar hath borne you, but longing still is fain To bring + you near; meseemeth mine eye doth you contain. + +When Tuhfeh heard this, she gave a great cry, that the folk heard +her and Kemeriyeh said, 'Relief is at hand.' Then she looked out +to them and called to them, saying, 'O daughters of mine uncle, I +am a lonely maid, an exile from folk and country. So, for the +love of God the Most High, repeat that song!' So Kemeriyeh +repeated it and Tuhfeh swooned away. When she came to herself, +she said to Jemreh, 'By the virtue of the Apostle of God (whom +may He bless and preserve!) except thou suffer me go down to them +and look on them and sit with them awhile, [I swear] I will cast +myself down from this palace, for that I am weary of my life and +know that I am slain without recourse; wherefore I will slay +myself, ere thou pass sentence upon me.' And she was instant with +her in asking. + +When Jemreh heard her words, she knew that, if she let her not +down, she would assuredly destroy herself. So she said to her, 'O +Tuhfeh, between thee and them are a thousand fathoms; but I will +bring them up to thee.' 'Nay,' answered Tuhfeh, 'needs must I go +down to them and take my pleasance in the island and look upon +the sea anear; then will we return, thou and I; for that, if thou +bring them up to us, they will be affrighted and there will +betide them neither easance nor gladness. As for me, I do but +wish to be with them, that they may cheer me with their company +neither give over their merrymaking, so haply I may make merry +with them, and indeed I swear that needs must I go down to them; +else will I cast myself upon them.' And she cajoled Jemreh and +kissed her hands, till she said, 'Arise and I will set thee down +beside them.' + +Then she took Tuhfeh under her armpit and flying up, swiftlier +than the blinding lightning, set her down with Kemeriyeh and her +company; whereupon she went up to them and accosted them, saying, +'Fear not, no harm shall betide you; for I am a mortal, like unto +you, and I would fain look on you and talk with you and hear your +singing.' So they welcomed her and abode in their place, whilst +Jemreh sat down beside them and fell a-snuffing their odours and +saying, 'I smell the scent of the Jinn! I wonder whence [it +cometh!'] Then said Wekhimeh to her sister Kemeriyeh, 'Yonder +filthy one [smelleth us] and presently she will take to flight; +so what is this remissness concerning her?'[FN#245] Thereupon +Kemeriyeh put out a hand,[FN#246] as it were a camel's +neck,[FN#247] and dealt Jemreh a buffet on the head, that made it +fly from her body and cast it into the sea. Then said she, 'God +is most great!' And they uncovered their faces, whereupon Tuhfeh +knew them and said to them, 'Protection!' + +Queen Kemeriyeh embraced her, as also did Queen Zelzeleh and +Queen Wekhimeh and Queen Sherareh, and the former said to her, +'Rejoice in assured deliverance, for there abideth no harm for +thee; but this is no time for talk.' Then they cried out, +whereupon up came the Afrits ambushed in the island, with swords +and maces in their hands, and taking up Tuhfeh, flew with her to +the palace and made themselves masters thereof, whilst the Afrit +aforesaid, who was dear to Meimoun and whose name was Dukhan, +fled like an arrow and stayed not in his flight till he carne to +Meimoun and found him engaged in sore battle with the Jinn. When +his lord saw him, he cried out at him, saying, 'Out on thee! Whom +hast thou left in the palace?' And Dukhan answered, saying, 'And +who abideth in the palace? Thy beloved Tuhfeh they have taken and +Jemreh is slain and they have gotten possession of the palace, +all of it.' With this Meimoun buffeted his face and head and +said, 'Out on it for a calamity!' And he cried aloud. Now +Kemeriyeh had sent to her father and acquainted him with the +news, whereat the raven of parting croaked for them. So, when +Meimoun saw that which had betided him, (and indeed the Jinn +smote upon him and the wings of death overspread his host,) he +planted the butt of his spear in the earth and turning the point +thereof to his heart, urged his charger upon it and pressed upon +it with his breast, till the point came forth, gleaming, from his +back. + +Meanwhile the messenger had reached the opposite camp with the +news of Tuhfeh's deliverance, whereat the Sheikh Aboultawaif +rejoiced and bestowed on the bringer of good tidings a sumptuous +dress of honour and made him commander over a company of the +Jinn. Then they fell upon Meimoun's troops and destroyed them to +the last man; and when they came to Meimoun, they found that he +had slain himself and was even as we have said. Presently +Kemeriyeh and her sister [Wekhimeh] came up to their grandfather +and told him what they had done; whereupon he came to Tuhfeh and +saluted her and gave her joy of her deliverance. Then he +delivered Meimoun's palace to Selheb and took all the former's +riches and gave them to Tuhfeh, whilst the troops encamped upon +the Crescent Mountain. Moreover, the Sheikh Aboultawaif said to +Tuhfeh, 'Blame me not,' and she kissed his hands. As they were +thus engaged, there appeared to them the tribes of the Jinn, as +they were clouds, and Queen Es Shuhba flying in their van, with a +drawn sword in her hand. + +When she came in sight of the folk, they kissed the earth before +her and she said to them, 'Tell me what hath betided Queen Tuhfeh +from yonder dog Meimoun and why did ye not send to me and tell +me?' Quoth they, 'And who was this dog that we should send to +thee, on his account? Indeed, he was the least and meanest [of +the Jinn].' Then they told her what Kemeriyeh and her sisters had +done and how they had practised upon Meimoun and delivered Tuhfeh +from his hand, fearing lest he should slay her, whenas he found +himself discomfited; and she said, 'By Allah, the accursed one +was wont to prolong his looking upon her!' And Tuhfeh fell to +kissing Queen Es Shuhba's hand, whilst the latter strained her to +her bosom and kissed her, saying, 'Trouble is past; so rejoice in +assurance of relief.' + +Then they arose and went up to the palace, whereupon the trays of +food were brought and they ate and drank; after which quoth Queen +Es Shuhba, 'O Tuhfeh, sing to us, by way of thankoffering for thy +deliverance, and favour us with that which shall solace our +minds, for that indeed my mind hath been occupied with thee.' +Quoth Tuhfeh 'Hearkening and obedience, O my lady.' So she +improvised and sang the following verses: + +Wind of the East, if thou pass by the land where my loved ones + dwell, I pray, The fullest of greetings bear to them from + me, their lover, and say +That I am the pledge of passion still and that my longing love + And eke my yearning do overpass all longing that was aye. + +Therewithal Queen Es Shuhba rejoiced and all who were present +rejoiced also and admired her speech and fell to kissing her; and +when she had made an end of her song, Queen Kemeriyeh said to +her, 'O my sister, ere thou go to thy palace, I would fain bring +thee to look upon El Anca, daughter of Behram Gour, whom El Anca, +daughter of the wind, carried off, and her beauty; for that there +is not her match on the face of the earth.' And Queen Es Shuhba +said, 'O Kemeriyeh, I [also] have a mind to see her.' Quoth +Kemeriyeh, 'I saw her three years agone; but my sister Wekhimeh +seeth her at all times, for that she is near unto her, and she +saith that there is not in the world a fairer than she. Indeed, +this Queen El Anca is become a byword for loveliness and proverbs +are made upon her beauty and grace' And Wekhimeh said, 'By the +mighty inscription [on the seal-ring of Solomon], there is not +her like in the world!' Then said Queen Es Shuhba, 'If it needs +must be and the affair is as ye say, I will take Tuhfeh and go +with her [to El Anca], so she may see her.' + +So they all arose and repaired to El Anca, who abode in the +Mountain Caf.[FN#248] When she saw them, she rose to them and +saluted them, saying, 'O my ladies, may I not be bereaved of +you!' Quoth Wekhimeh to her, 'Who is like unto thee, O Anca? +Behold, Queen Es Shuhba is come to thee.' So El Anca kissed the +queen's feet and lodged them in her palace; whereupon Tuhfeh came +up to her and fell to kissing her and saying, 'Never saw I a +goodlier than this favour.' Then she set before them somewhat of +food and they ate and washed their hands; after which Tuhfeh took +the lute and played excellent well; and El Anca also played, and +they fell to improvising verses in turns, whilst Tuhfeh embraced +El Anca every moment. Quoth Es Shuhba, 'O my sister, each kiss is +worth a thousand dinars;' and Tuhfeh answered, 'Indeed, a +thousand dinars were little for it.' Whereat El Anca laughed and +on the morrow they took leave of her and went away to Meimoun's +palace.[FN#249] + +Here Queen Es Shuhba bade them farewell and taking her troops, +returned to her palace, whilst the kings also went away to their +abodes and the Sheikh Aboultawaif addressed himself to divert +Tuhfeh till nightfall, when he mounted her on the back of one of +the Afrits and bade other thirty gather together all that she had +gotten of treasure and raiment and jewels and dresses of honour. +[Then they flew off,] whilst Iblis went with her, and in less +than the twinkling of an eye he set her down in her +sleeping-chamber. Then he and those who were with him took leave +of her and went away. When Tuhfeh found herself in her own +chamber and on her couch, her reason fled for joy and it seemed +to her as if she had never stirred thence. Then she took the lute +and tuned it and touched it on wondrous wise and improvised +verses and sang. + +The eunuch heard the smiting of the lute within the chamber and +said, 'By Allah, that is my lady Tuhfeh's touch!' So he arose and +went, as he were a madman, falling down and rising up, till he +came to the eunuch on guard at the door at the Commander of the +Faithful and found him sitting. When the latter saw him, and he +like a madman, falling down and rising up, he said to him, 'What +aileth thee and what bringeth thee hither at this hour?' Quoth +the other, 'Wilt thou not make haste and awaken the Commander of +the Faithful?' And he fell to crying out at him; whereupon the +Khalif awoke and heard them bandying words together and Tuhfeh's +servant saying to the other, 'Out on thee! Awaken the Commander +of the Faithful in haste.' So he said, 'O Sewab, what aileth +thee?' And the chief eunuch answered, saying, 'O our lord, the +eunuch of Tuhfeh's lodging hath taken leave of his wits and +saith, "Awaken the Commander of the Faithful in haste!"' Then +said Er Reshid to one of the slave-girls, 'See what is to do.' + +So she hastened to admit the eunuch, who entered; and when he saw +the Commander of the Faithful, he saluted not neither kissed the +earth, but said, 'Quick, quick! Arise in haste! My lady Tuhfeh +sitteth in her chamber, singing a goodly ditty. Come to her in +haste and see all that I say to thee! Hasten! She sitteth [in her +chamber].' The Khalif was amazed at his speech and said to him, +'What sayst thou?' 'Didst thou not hear the first of the speech?' +replied the eunuch. 'Tuhfeh sitteth in the sleeping-chamber, +singing and playing the lute. Come thy quickliest! Hasten!' So Er +Reshid arose and donned his clothes; but he credited not the +eunuch's words and said to him, 'Out on thee! What is this thou +sayst? Hast thou not seen this in a dream?' 'By Allah,' answered +the eunuch, 'I know not what thou sayest, and I was not asleep.' +Quoth Er Reshid, 'If thy speech be true, it shall be for thy good +luck, for I will enfranchise thee and give thee a thousand +dinars; but, if it be untrue and thou have seen this in sleep, I +will crucify thee.' And the eunuch said in himself, 'O +Protector,[FN#250] let me not have seen this in Sleep!' Then he +left the Khalif and going to the chamber-door, heard the sound of +singing and lute-playing; whereupon he returned to Er Reshid and +said to him, 'Go and hearken and see who is asleep.' + +When Er Reshid drew near the door of the chamber, he heard the +sound of the lute and Tuhfeh's voice singing; whereat he could +not restrain his reason and was like to swoon away for excess of +joy. Then he pulled out the key, but could not bring his hand to +open the door. However, after awhile, he took heart and applying +himself, opened the door and entered, saying, 'Methinks this is +none other than a dream or an illusion of sleep.' When Tuhfeh saw +him, she rose and coming to meet him, strained him to her bosom; +and he cried out with a cry, wherein his soul was like to depart, +and fell down in a swoon. She strained him to her bosom and +sprinkled on him rose-water, mingled with musk, and washed his +face, till he came to himself, as he were a drunken man, for the +excess of his joy in Tuhfeh's return to him, after he had +despaired of her. + +Then she took the lute and smote thereon, after the fashion she +had learnt from the Sheikh Iblis, so that Er Reshid's wit was +dazed for excess of delight and his understanding was confounded +for joy; after which she improvised and sang the following +verses: + +My heart will never credit that I am far from thee; In it thou + art, nor ever the soul can absent be. +Or if to me "I'm absent" thou sayest, "'Tis a lie," My heart + replies, bewildered 'twixt doubt and certainty. + +When she had made an end of her verses, Er Reshid said to her, 'O +Tuhfeh, thine absence was extraordinary, but thy presence[FN#251] +is yet more extraordinary.' 'By Allah, O my lord,' answered she, +'thou sayst sooth.' And she took his hand and said to him, 'See +what I have brought with me.' So he looked and saw riches such as +neither words could describe nor registers avail to set out, +pearls and jewels and jacinths and precious stones and great +pearls and magnificent dresses of honour, adorned with pearls and +jewels and embroidered with red gold. Moreover, she showed him +that which Queen Es Shuhba had bestowed on her of those carpets, +which she had brought with her, and that her throne, the like +whereof neither Chosroes nor Cassar possessed, and those tables +inlaid with pearls and jewels and those vessels, that amazed all +who looked on them, and the crown, that was on the head of the +circumcised boy, and those dresses of honour, which Queen Es +Shuhba and the Sheikh Aboultawaif had put off upon her, and the +trays wherein were those riches; brief, she showed him treasures +the like whereof he had never in his life set eyes on and which +the tongue availeth not to describe and whereat all who looked +thereon were amazed. + +Er Reshid was like to lose his wits for amazement at this sight +and was confounded at this that he beheld and witnessed. Then +said he to Tuhfeh, 'Come, tell me thy story from first to last, +[and let me know all that hath betided thee,] as if I had been +present' She answered with 'Hearkening and obedience,' and fell +to telling him [all that had betided her] first and last, from +the time when she first saw the Sheikh Aboultawaif, how he took +her and descended with her through the side of the draught-house; +and she told him of the horse she had ridden, till she came to +the meadow aforesaid and described it to him, together with the +palace and that which was therein of furniture, and related to +him how the Jinn rejoiced in her and that which she had seen of +the kings of them, men and women, and of Queen Kemeriyeh and her +sisters and Queen Shuaaeh, Queen of the Fourth Sea, and Queen Es +Shuhba, Queen of Queens, and King Es Shisban, and that which each +one of them had bestowed upon her. Moreover, she told him the +story of Meimoun the Sworder and described to him his loathly +favour, which he had not consented to change, and related to him +that which befell her from the kings of the Jinn, men and women, +and the coming of the Queen of Queens, Es Shuhba, and how she had +loved her and appointed her her vice-queen and how she was thus +become ruler over all the kings of the Jinn; and she showed him +the patent of investiture that Queen Es Shuhba had written her +and told him that which had betided her with the Ghoul-head, +whenas it appeared to her in the garden, and how she had +despatched it to her palace, beseeching it to bring her news of +the Commander of the Faithful and that which had betided him +after her. Then she described to him the gardens, wherein she had +taken her pleasure, and the baths inlaid with pearls and jewels +and told him that which had befallen Meimoun the Sworder, whenas +he carried her off, and how he had slain himself; brief, she told +him all that she had seen of wonders and rarities and that which +she had beheld of all kinds and colours among the Jinn. + +Then she told him the story of Anca, daughter of Behram Gour, +with Anca, daughter of the wind, and described to him her +dwelling-place and her island, whereupon quoth Er Reshid, 'O +Tuhfet es Sedr,[FN#252] tell me of El Anca, daughter of Behram +Gour; is she of the Jinn or of mankind or of the birds? For this +long time have I desired to find one who should tell me of her.' +'It is well, O Commander of the Faithful,' answered Tuhfeh. 'I +asked the queen of this and she acquainted me with her case and +told me who built her the palace.' Quoth Er Reshid, 'I conjure +thee by Allah, tell it me.' And Tuhfeh answered, 'It is well,' +and proceeded to tell him. And indeed he was amazed at that which +he heard from her and what she told him and at that which she had +brought back of jewels and jacinths of various colours and +preciots stones of many kinds, such as amazed the beholder and +confounded thought and mind. As for this, it was the means of the +enrichment of the Barmecides and the Abbasicles, and they abode +in their delight. + +Then the Khalif went forth and bade decorate the city: [so they +decorated it] and the drums of glad tidings were beaten. Moreover +they made banquets to the people and the tables were spread seven +days. And Tuhfeh and the Commander of the Faithful ceased not to +be in the most delightsome of life and the most prosperous +thereof till there came to them the Destroyer of Delights and the +Sunderer of Companies; and thu is all that hath come down to as +of their story." + + + + + + Calcutta (1814-18) Text. + + + + NOTE. + + + +The following story occupies the last five Nights (cxcv-cc) of +the unfinished Calcutta Edition of 1814-18. The only other text +of it known to me is that published by Monsieur Langles (Paris, +1814), as an appendix to his Edition of the Voyages of Sindbad, +and of this I have freely availed myself in making the present +translation, comparing and collating with it the Calcutta +(1814-18) Text and filling up and correcting omissions and errors +that occur in the latter. In the Calcutta (1814-18) Text this +story (Vol. II. pp. 367-378) is immediately succeeded by the +Seven Voyages of Sindbad (Vol. II. pp. 378-458), which conclude +the work. + + + + + + WOMEN'S CRAFT. + + + +It is told that there was once, in the city of Baghdad, a comely +and well-bred youth, fair of face, tall of stature and slender of +shape. His name was Alaeddin and he was of the chiefs of the sons +of the merchants and had a shop wherein he sold and bought One +day, as he sat in his shop, there passed by him a girl of the +women of pleasure,[FN#253] who raised her eyes and casting a +glance at the young merchant, saw written in a flowing hand on +the forepart[FN#254] of the door of his shop, these words, +"VERILY, THERE IS NO CRAFT BUT MEN'S CRAFT, FORASMUCH AS IT OVERCOMETH +WOMEN'S CRAFT." When she beheld this, she was wroth and took +counsel with herself, saying, "As my head liveth, I will +assuredly show him a trick of the tricks of women and prove the +untruth of[FN#255] this his inscription!" + +So, on the morrow, she made her ready and donning the costliest +of apparel, adorned herself with the most magnificent of +ornaments and the highest of price and stained her hands with +henna. Then she let down her tresses upon her shoulders and went +forth, walking along with coquettish swimming gait and amorous +grace, followed by her slave-girls, till she came to the young +merchant's shop and sitting down thereat, under colour of seeking +stuffs, saluted him and demanded of him somewhat of merchandise. +So he brought out to her various kinds of stuffs and she took +them and turned them over, talking with him the while. Then said +she to him, "Look at the goodliness of my shape and my symmetry. +Seest thou in me any default?" And he answered, "No, O my lady." +"Is it lawful," continued she, "in any one that he should slander +me and say that I am humpbacked?" + +Then she discovered to him a part of her bosom, and when he saw +her breasts, his reason took flight from his head and he said to +her, "Cover it up, so may God have thee in His safeguard!" Quoth +she, "Is it fair of any one to missay of my charms?" And he +answered, "How shall any missay of thy charms, and thou the sun +of loveliness?" Then said she, "Hath any the right to say of me +that I am lophanded? "And tucking up her sleeves, showed him +forearms, as they were crystal; after which she unveiled to him a +face, as it were a full moon breaking forth on its fourteenth +night, and said to him, "Is it lawful for any to missay of me +[and avouch] that my face is pitted with smallpox or that I am +one-eyed or crop-eared?" And he answered her, saying, "O my lady, +what is it moveth thee to discover unto me that lovely face and +those fair members, [of wont so jealously] veiled and guarded? +Tell me the truth of the matter, may I be thy ransom!" And he +recited the following verses: + +A white one, from her sheath of tresses now laid bare And now + again concealed in black, luxuriant hair;[FN#256] +As if the maid the day resplendent and her locks The night that + o'er it spreads its shrouding darkness were. + +"Know, O my lord," answered she, "that I am a maiden oppressed of +my father, for that he misspeaketh of me and saith to me, 'Thou +art foul of favour and it befitteth not that thou wear rich +clothes; for thou and the slave-girls, ye are equal in rank, +there is no distinguishing thee from them.' Now he is a rich man, +having wealth galore, [and saith not on this wise but] because he +is a niggard and grudgeth the spending of a farthing; [wherefore +he is loath to marry me,] lest he be put to somewhat of charge in +my marriage, albeit God the Most High hath been bountiful to him +and he is a man puissant in his time and lacking nothing of the +goods of the world." "Who is thy father," asked the young +merchant, "and what is his condition?" And she replied, "He is +the Chief Cadi of the Supreme Court, under whose hand are all the +Cadis who administer justice in this city." + +The merchant believed her and she took leave of him and went +away, leaving in his heart a thousand regrets, for that the love +of her had gotten possession of him and he knew not how he should +win to her; wherefore he abode enamoured, love-distraught, +unknowing if he were alive or dead. As soon as she was gone, he +shut his shop and going up to the Court, went in to the Chief +Cadi and saluted him. The magistrate returned his salutation and +entreated him with honour and seated him by his side. Then said +Alaeddin to him, "I come to thee, a suitor, seeking thine +alliance and desiring the hand of thy noble daughter." "O my lord +merchant," answered the Cadi, "indeed my daughter beseemeth not +the like of thee, neither sorteth she with the goodliness of thy +youth and the pleasantness of thy composition and the sweetness +of thy discourse;" but Alaeddin rejoined, saying, "This talk +behoveth thee not, neither is it seemly in thee; if I be content +with her, how should this irk thee?" So they came to an accord +and concluded the treaty of marriage at a dower precedent of five +purses[FN#257] paid down then and there and a dower contingent of +fifteen purses,[FN#258] so it might be uneath unto him to put her +away, forasmuch as her father had given him fair warning, but he +would not be warned. + +Then they drew up the contract of marriage and the merchant said, +"I desire to go in to her this night." So they carried her to him +in procession that very night, and he prayed the prayer of +eventide and entered the privy chamber prepared for him; but, +when he lifted the veil from the face of the bride and looked, he +saw a foul face and a blameworthy aspect; yea, he beheld somewhat +the like whereof may God not show thee! loathly, dispensing from +description, inasmuch as there were reckoned in her all legal +defects.[FN#259] So he repented, whenas repentance availed him +not, and knew that the girl had cheated him. However, he lay with +the bride, against his will, and abode that night sore troubled +in mind, as he were in the prison of Ed Dilem.[FN#260] Hardly had +the day dawned when he arose from her and betaking himself to one +of the baths, dozed there awhile, after which he made the +ablution of defilement[FN#261] and washed his clothes. Then he +went out to the coffee-house and drank a cup of coffee; after +which he returned to his shop and opening the door, sat down, +with discomfiture and chagrin written on his face. + +Presently, his friends and acquaintances among the merchants and +people of the market began to come up to him, by ones and twos, +to give him joy, and said to him, laughing, "God's blessing on +thee! Where an the sweetmeats? Where is the coffee?[FN#262] It +would seem thou hast forgotten us; surely, the charms of the +bride have disordered thy reason and taken thy wit, God help +thee! Well, well; we give thee joy, we give thee joy." And they +made mock of him, whilst he gave them no answer and was like to +tear his clothes and weep for vexation. Then they went away from +him, and when it was the hour of noon, up came his mistress, +trailing her skirts and swaying in her gait, as she were a +cassia-branch in a garden. She was yet more richly dressed and +adorned and more bewitching[FN#263] in her symmetry and grace +than on the previous day, so that she made the passers stop and +stand in ranks to look on her. + +When she came to Alaeddin's shop, she sat down thereat and said +to him, "May the day be blessed to thee, O my lord Alaeddin! God +prosper thee and be good to thee and accomplish thy gladness and +make it a wedding of weal and content!" He knitted his brows and +frowned in answer to her; then said he to her, "Tell me, how have +I failed of thy due, or what have I done to injure thee, that +thou shouldst play me this trick?" Quoth she, "Thou hast no wise +offended against me; but this inscription that is written on the +door of thy shop irketh me and vexeth my heart. If thou wilt +change it and write up the contrary thereof, I will deliver thee +from thy predicament." And he answered, "This that thou seekest +is easy. On my head and eyes be it." So saying, he brought out a +ducat[FN#264] and calling one of his mamelukes, said to him, "Get +thee to such an one the scribe and bid him write us an +inscription, adorned with gold and ultramarine, in these words, +to wit, 'THERE IS NO CRAFT BUT WOMEN'S CRAFT, FOR THAT INDEED THEIR CRAFT IS +A MIGHTY CRAFT AND OVERCOMETH AND HUMBLETH THE FABLES[FN#265] OF MEN.'" And +she said to the servant, "Go forthright." + +So he repaired to the scribe, who wrote him the scroll, and he +brought it to his master, who set it on the door and said to the +damsel, "Art thou satisfied?" "Yes," answered she. "Arise +forthright and get thee to the place before the citadel, where do +thou foregather with all the mountebanks and ape-dancers and +bear-leaders and drummers and pipers and bid them come to thee +to-morrow early, with their drums and pipes, what time thou +drinkest coffee with thy father-in-law the Cadi, and congratulate +thee and wish thee joy, saying, 'A blessed day, O son of our +uncle! Indeed, thou art the vein[FN#266] of our eye! We rejoice +for thee, and if thou be ashamed of us, verily, we pride +ourselves upon thee; so, though thou banish us from thee, know +that we will not forsake thee, albeit thou forsakest us.' And do +thou fall to strewing dinars and dirhems amongst them; whereupon +the Cadi will question thee, and do thou answer him, saying, 'My +father was an ape-dancer and this is our original condition; but +out Lord opened on us [the gate of fortune] and we have gotten us +a name among the merchants and with their provost.' + +Then will he say to thee, 'Then thou art an ape-leader of the +tribe of the mountebanks?' And do thou reply, 'I may in nowise +deny my origin, for the sake of thy daughter and in her honour.' +The Cadi will say, 'It may not be that thou shalt be given the +daughter of a sheikh who sitteth upon the carpet of the Law and +whose descent is traceable by genealogy to the loins of the +Apostle of God,[FN#267] nor is it seemly that his daughter be in +the power of a man who is an ape-dancer, a minstrel.' And do thou +rejoin, 'Nay, O Effendi, she is my lawful wife and every hair of +her is worth a thousand lives, and I will not let her go, though +I be given the kingship of the world.' Then be thou persuaded to +speak the word of divorce and so shall the marriage be dissolved +and ye be delivered from each other." + +Quoth Alaeddin, "Thou counsellest well," and locking up his shop, +betook himself to the place before the citadel, where he +foregathered with the drummers and pipers and instructed them how +they should do, [even as his mistress had counselled him,] +promising them a handsome reward. So they answered him with +"Hearkening and obedience" and on the morrow, after the +morning-prayer, he betook himself to the presence of the Cadi, +who received him with obsequious courtesy and seated him beside +himself. Then he turned to him and fell to conversing with him +and questioning him of matters of selling and buying and of the +price current of the various commodities that were exported to +Baghdad from all parts, whilst Alaeddin replied to him of all +whereof he asked him. + +As they were thus engaged, behold, up came the dancers and +mountebanks, with their pipes and drums, whilst one of their +number forewent them, with a great banner in his hand, and played +all manner antics with his voice and limbs. When they came to the +Courthouse, the Cadi exclaimed, "I seek refuge with God from +yonder Satans!" And the merchant laughed, but said nothing. Then +they entered and saluting his highness the Cadi, kissed +Alaeddin's hands and said, "God's blessing on thee, O son of our +uncle! Indeed, thou solacest our eyes in that which thou dost, +and we beseech God to cause the glory of our lord the Cadi to +endure, who hath honoured us by admitting thee to his alliance +and allotted us a part in his high rank and dignity." When the +Cadi heard this talk, it bewildered his wit and he was confounded +and his face flushed with anger and he said to his son-in-law, +"What words are these?" Quoth the merchant, "Knowest thou not, O +my lord, that I am of this tribe? Indeed this man is the son of +my mother's brother and that other the son of my father's +brother, and I am only reckoned of the merchants [by courtesy]!" + +When the Cadi heard this, his colour changed and he was troubled +and waxed exceeding wroth and was rike to burst for excess of +rage. Then said he to the merchant, "God forbid that this should +be! How shall it be permitted that the daughter of the Cadi of +the Muslims abide with a man of the dancers and vile of origin? +By Allah, except thou divorce her forthright, I will bid beat +thee and cast thee into prison till thou die! Had I foreknown +that thou wast of them, I had not suffered thee to approach me, +but had spat in thy face, for that thou art filthier[FN#268] than +a dog or a hog." Then he gave him a push and casting him down +from his stead, commanded him to divorce; but he said, "Be +clement to me, O Effendi, for that God is clement, and hasten +not. I will not divorce my wife, though thou give me the kingdom +of Irak." + +The Cadi was perplexed and knew that constraint was not permitted +of the law;[FN#269] so he spoke the young merchant fair and said +to him, "Protect me,[FN#270] so may God protect thee. If thou +divorce her not, this disgrace will cleave to me till the end of +time." Then his rage got the better of him and he said to him, +"An thou divorce her not with a good grace, I will bid strike off +thy head forthright and slay myself; rather flame[FN#271] than +shame." The merchant bethought himself awhile, then divorced her +with a manifest divorcement[FN#272] and on this wise he delivered +himself from that vexation. Then he returned to his shop and +sought in marriage of her father her who had played him the trick +aforesaid and who was the daughter of the chief of the guild of +the blacksmiths. So he took her to wife and they abode with each +other and lived the most solaceful of lives, in all prosperity +and contentment and joyance, till the day of death; and God +[alone] is All-Knowing. + + + + + +End of vol. II. + + + + + Tales from the Arabic, Volume 2 + Endnotes + + + + + +[FN#1] A town of Khoiassan. + +[FN#2] i.e., he dared not attempt to force her? + +[FN#3] i.e. her "yes" meant "yes" and her "no" "no." + +[FN#4] Lit. ignorance. + +[FN#5] Lit. spoke against her due. + +[FN#6] i.e. a domed monument. + +[FN#7] Lit "ignorance," often used in the sense of +"forwardness." + +[FN#8] i.e. my present plight. + +[FN#9] i.e. ten thousand dinars. + +[FN#10] A similar story to this, though differing considerably in +detail, will be found in my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One +Night," Vol. V. p. 9, The Jewish Cadi and his pions wife. + +[FN#11] Or divineress (kahinek). + +[FN#12] i.e. whoredom. + +[FN#13] Or "scar" (ather). + +[FN#14] ie. hearken to. + +[FN#15] i.e. Persia. + +[FN#16] i.e. the case with which he earned his living. + +[FN#17] i.e. the ten thousand dirhems of the bond. + +[FN#18] i.e. exhorted her to patience. + +[FN#19] Or performing surgical operations (ilaj). + +[FN#20] i.e. the open space before his house. + +[FN#21] Or "drew near unto." + +[FN#22] i.e. a descendant of Mohammed. + +[FN#23] Or the art of judging from external appearances +(firaseh). + +[FN#24] Sic in the text; but the passage is apparently corrupt. +It is not plain why a rosy complexion, blue eyes and tallness +should be peculiar to women in love. Arab women being commonly +short, swarthy and black eyed, the attributes mentioned appear +rather to denote the foreign origin of the woman; and it is +probable, therefore, that this passage has by a copyist's error, +been mixed up with that which related to the signs by which the +mock physician recognized her strangehood, the clause specifying +the symptoms of her love lorn condition having been crowded out +in the process, an accident of no infrequent occurrence in the +transcription of Oriental works. + +[FN#25] Yellow was the colour prescribed for the wearing of Jews +by the Muslim lawm in accordance with the decree issued by Khalif +Omar ben el Khettab after the taking of Jerusalem in A.D. 636. + +[FN#26] i.e. Sunday. + +[FN#27] Herais, a species of "risotto," made of pounded wheat or +rice and meat in shreds. + +[FN#28] Lit. "That have passed the night," i.e. are stale and +therefore indigestable. + +[FN#29] i.e. Saturday. + +[FN#30] i.e. native of Merv. + +[FN#31] Or "ruined," lit. "destroyed." + +[FN#32] i.e. native of Rei, a city of Khorassia. + +[FN#33] The text has khenadic, ditches or valleys; but this is, +in all probability, a clerical or typographical error for +fenadic, inns or caravanserais. + +[FN#34] It is a paramount duty of the Muslim to provide his dead +brother in the faith with decent interment; it is, therefore, a +common practice for the family of a poor Arab to solicit +contributions toward the expenses of his burial, nor is the +well-to-do true believer safe from imposition of the kind +described in the text. + +[FN#35] i.e. the recompense in the world to come promised to the +performer of a charitable action. + +[FN#36] i.e. camphor and lote-tree leaves dried and powdered +(sometimes mixed with rose-water) which are strewn over the dead +body, before it is wrapped in the shroud. In the case of a man of +wealth, more costly perfumes (such as musk, aloes and ambergris) +are used. + +[FN#37] All the ablutions prescribed by the Mohammedan ritual are +avoided by the occurrence, during the process, of any cause of +ceremonial impurity (such as the mentioned in the text) and must +be recommenced. + +[FN#38] Having handled a corpse, he had become in a state of +legal impurity and it beloved him therefore to make the +prescribed ablution. + +[FN#39] Which he had taken off for the purpose of making +abulution. This was reversing the ordinary course of affairs, the +dead man's clothes being the washer's prequisite. + +[FN#40] i.e. till it was diminished by evaporation to two-thirds +of its original volume. + +[FN#41] The Mohammedan grave is a cell, hollowed out in the sides +of a trench and so constructed as to keep out the earth, that the +deceased may be able to sit up and answer the examining angels +when they visit him in the tomb. There was, therefore, nothing +improbable in Er Razi's boast that he could abide two days in the +tomb. + +[FN#42] Nawous, a sort of overground well or turricle of masonry, +surmounted by an iron grating, on which the Gueber's body is +placed for devoration by the birds. + +[FN#43] Munkir [Munker] and Nakir [Nekir] are the two angels that +preside at 'the examination of the tomb.' They visit a man in his +grave directly after he has been buried and examine him +concerning his faith; if he acknowledge that there is but one God +and that Mohammed is His prophet [apostle], they suffer him to +rest in peace; otherwise they beat him with [red-hot] iron maces, +till he roars so loud[ly] that he is heard by all from east to +west, except by man and Ginns [Jinn]."--Palmer's Koran, +Introduction. + +[FN#44] Lit. the oven (tennour); but this is obviously a mistake +for "tombs" (cubour). + +[FN#45] i.e. as a propitiatory offering on behalf of. + +[FN#46] i.e. though he remain at thy charge or (as we should say) +on thy hands. + +[FN#47] About twenty-five shillings. + +[FN#48] About £137 10s. + +[FN#49] Meaning the sharper. + +[FN#50] i.e. he asketh nought but that which is reasonable. + +[FN#51] The strict Muslim is averse from taking an oath, even in +support at the truth, and will sometimes submit to a heavy loss +rather than do so. For an instance of this, see my "Book of the +Thousand Nights and One Night," Vol. V. p. 44, The King of the +Island. + +[FN#52] To wit, the merchant and his officious friend. + +[FN#53] There appears to be some mistake here, but I have no +means of rectifying it. The passage is probably hopelessly +corrupt and a portion of the conclusion of the story seems to +have dropped out. + +[FN#54] i.e. well-guarded, confined in the harem. + +[FN#55] i.e. an old woman to crafty that she was a calamity to +those against whom she plotted. + +[FN#56] i.e. the amount of the contingent dowry and of the +allowance which he was bound to make her for her support during +the four months and some days which must elapse before she could +lawfully marry again. + +[FN#57] i.e. thou wilt have satisfied us all. + +[FN#58] With the smoke of burning aloes-wood or other perfume, a +common practice among the Arabs. The aloes-wood is placed upon +burning charcoal in a censer perforated with holes, which is +swung towards the person to be fumigated, whose clothes and hair +are thus impregnated with the grateful fragrance of the burning +wood. An accident such as that mentioned in the text might easily +happen during the process of fumigation. + +[FN#59] i.e. by God. The old woman is keeping up her assumption +of the character of a devotee by canting about Divine direction. + +[FN#60] This is the same story as "The House with the Belvedere." +See my "Book of the Thousand Nights and one Night," Vol. V. p. +323. + +[FN#61] See note, Vol. I. p. 212. Also my "Book of the Thousand +Nights and One Night," Vol. V. p. 263, The King and his Vizier's +wife. + +[FN#62] Or experienced. + +[FN#63] i.e. the inhabitants of the island and the sailors? + +[FN#64] i.e. postponed the fulfilment of his promise. + +[FN#65] Sic; but apparently a state-prison or place of +confinement for notable offenders is meant. + +[FN#66] Or "getting hold of." + +[FN#67] Lit. "betrothed." + +[FN#68] Or "in." + +[FN#69] i.e. if his appearance be such as to belie the +possibility of his being a thief. + +[FN#70] i.e. people of power and worship. + +[FN#71] i.e. of wine. + +[FN#72] i.e. all his former afflictions or (perhaps) all His +commandments. + +[FN#73] i.e. a more venial sin. + +[FN#74] i.e. I have a proposal to make thee. + +[FN#75] i.e. he was brought up in my house. + +[FN#76] i.e. prayed for him by name, as the reigning sovereign, +in the Khutbeh, a sort of homily made up of acts of prayer and +praise and of exhortations to the congregation, which forms part +of the Friday prayers. The mention of a newly-appointed +sovereign's name in the Khutbeh is equivalent with the Muslims to +a solemn proclamation of his accession. + +[FN#77] i.e. deprive him of his rank. + +[FN#78] Or perverted belief, i.e. an infidel. + +[FN#79] i.e. not God. + +[FN#80] Or corrupt belief, i.e. that the destinies of mankind +were governed by the planets and not by God alone. + +[FN#81] i.e. "him who is to me even as mine own soul," to wit, +the king. + +[FN#82] The whole of this story (which is apparently intended as +an example of the flowery style (el bediya) of Arab prose) is +terribly corrupt and obscure, and in the absence of a parallel +version, with which to collate it, it is impossible to be sure +that the exact sense has been rendered. + +[FN#83] Breslau Text, vol xi. pp. 321-99, Nights dccccxxx-xl. + +[FN#84] i.e. the first or Beherite dynasty of the Mameluke +Sultans, the founder of which was originally a Turkish (i.e. +Turcoman) slave. + +[FN#85] Fourth Sultan of the above dynasty. + +[FN#86] i.e. Palestine (Es Sahil) so styled by the Arabs. + +[FN#87] Lit. his nightly entertainers, i.e. those whose place it +was to entertain him by night with the relation of stories and +anecdotes and the recitation of verses, etc. + +[FN#88] i.e. the perfect of police. + +[FN#89] About fifty shillings. + +[FN#90] i.e. those of the visible and invisible worlds. + +[FN#91] i.e. of the Sultan's officers of the household. The +Sultan's palace and the lodgings of his chief officers were +situate, according to Eastern custom, in the citadel or central +fortress of the city. + +[FN#92] Lit. [self-]possession (temkin). + +[FN#93] God forbid! + +[FN#94] Or strong place. + +[FN#95] i.e. lest ill-hap betide her and you be held responsible +for her. + +[FN#96] Which was in his custody in his ex-officio capacity of +guardian, orphans in Muslim countries being, by operation of law, +wards of the Cadi of their district. + +[FN#97] Altogether six thousand dinars or about £3000. + +[FN#98] i.e. except thou give me immediate satisfaction, I will +complain of thee to the Sultan. + +[FN#99] i.e. forgetting all that is enjoined upon the +true-believer by the Institutes of the Prophet (Sunneh) and the +Canons (Fers) of the Divine Law, as deduced from the Koran. + +[FN#100] Lit. red i.e. violent or bloody) death. + +[FN#101] Lit. the conquered one. + +[FN#102] i.e. my view of the matter differs from that of the +Cadi, but I cannot expect a hearing against a personage of his +rank. + +[FN#103] And therefore freshly shed. + +[FN#104] For redness. + +[FN#105] Or parties. + +[FN#106] Lit. quench that fire from him. + +[FN#107] Of Cairo or (quære) the two Egyptian provinces known as +Es Sherkiyeh (The Eastward) and El Gherbiyeh (The Westward). + +[FN#108] i.e, he was a man of ready wit and presence of mind. + +[FN#109] Or (in modern slang) "There are good pickings to be had +out of this job." + +[FN#110] Lit "the douceur of the key," i.e. the gratuity which it +is customary to give to the porter or portress on hiring a house +or lodging. Cf. the French denier à Dieu, Old English "God's +penny." + +[FN#111] i.e. made the complete ablution prescribed by the Muslim +law after copulation. + +[FN#112] i.e. the round opening made in the ceiling for +ventilation. + +[FN#113] i.e. he who sits on the bench outside the police-office, +to attend to emergencies. + +[FN#114] Lit. witnesses, i.e. those who are qualified by their +general respectability and the blamelessness of their lives, to +give evidence in the Mohamedan courts of law. + +[FN#115] Sic. + +[FN#116] About 50 pounds. + +[FN#117] Or guardian. + +[FN#118] Syn. book (kitab). + +[FN#119] Or made it a legal deed. + +[FN#120] Lit. assessors. + +[FN#121] This sentence is almost unintelligible, owing to the +corruptness and obscurity of the text; but the sense appears to +be as above. + +[FN#122] Apparently supposing the draper to have lost it and +purposing to require a heavy indemnity for its loss. + +[FN#123] Apparently, a cant phrase for "thieve." + +[FN#124] or disapprove of. + +[FN#125] This passage is unintelligible; the text is here again, +to all appearance, corrupt. + +[FN#126] i.e. women's tricks? + +[FN#127] Muslim formula of invitation. + +[FN#128] i.e. the singers? + +[FN#129] i.e. easily. + +[FN#130] Or made a show of renouncing. + +[FN#131] i.e. strong men (or athletes) armed. + +[FN#132] Fityan, Arab cant name for thieves. + +[FN#133] Apparently in a pavillion in some garden or orchard, the +usual pleasure of the Arabs. + +[FN#134] i.e. engaged her to attend an entertainment and paid her +her hire in advance. + +[FN#135] Lit. a [she-]partner, i.e. one who should relieve her, +when she was weary of singing, and accompany her voice on the +lute. + +[FN#136] i.e. they grew ever more heated with drink. + +[FN#137] Helfeh or helfaa (vulg. Alfa), a kind of coarse, rushy +grass (Pos. multiflora), used in the East as fuel. + +[FN#138] Lit. "we repented to God, etc, of singing." The practice +of music, vocal and instrumental, is deprecated by the strict +Muslim, in accordance with a tradition by which the Prophet is +said to have expressed his disapproval of these arts. + +[FN#139] i.e. required to find the thief or make good the loss. + +[FN#140] i.e. the parties aggrieved. + +[FN#141] Or irrigation-work, usually a bucket-wheel, worked by +oxen. + +[FN#142] Or "came true." + +[FN#143] i.e. crucify. + +[FN#144] i.e. a native of the Hauran, a district East of +Damascus. + +[FN#145] i.e. the mysterious speaker. + +[FN#146] i.e. in the punishment that overtook me. + +[FN#147] The well-known Arab formula of refusal to a beggar, +equivalent to the Spanish "Perdoneme por amor de Dios, hermano!" + +[FN#148] i.e. what I could afford. + +[FN#149] i.e. that of the officers of police. + +[FN#150] A common Oriental game, something like a rude out-door +form of back-gammon, in which the players who throw certain +numbers are dubbed Sultan and Vizier. + +[FN#151] Lit. milk (leben), possibly a copyist's error for jubn +(cheese). + +[FN#152] i.e. his forbearance in relinquishing his blood-revenge +for his brother. + +[FN#153] In the text, by an evident error, Shehriyar is here made +to ask Shehrzad for another story and she to tell it him. + +[FN#154] Nesiheh. + +[FN#155] i.e. the mysterious speaker? + +[FN#156] Apparently some famous saint. The El Hajjaj whose name +is familiar to readers of the Thomsand and One Night (see supra, +Vol. I. p. 53, note 2) was anything but a saint, if we may +believe the popular report of him. + +[FN#157] Breslan Text, vol. xi. pp. 400-473 and vol. xii. pp. +4-50, Nights dccccvli-dcccclvii. + +[FN#158] The usual meaning of the Arab word anber (pronounced +amber) a ambergris, i.e. the morbid secretion of the sperm-whale; +but the context appears to point to amber, i.e. the fossil resin +used for necklaces, etc.; unless, indeed, the allusion of the +second hemistich is to ambergris, as worn, for the sake of the +perfume, in amulets or pomanders (Fr. pomme d'ambre) slung about +the neck. + +[FN#159] i.e. galena or sulphuret of lead, of which, reduced to +powder, alone or in combination with other ingredients, the +well-known cosmetic or eye-powder called kohl consists. + +[FN#160] See supra, Vol. 1. p. 50, note 2. + +[FN#161] Or "accomplishments" (adab). + +[FN#162] Title of the Khalif. + +[FN#163] i.e. Isaac of Mosul, the greatest of Arab musicians. + +[FN#164] Elder brother of Jaafer; see my "Book of the Thousand +Nights and One Night," Vol. IX. p. 342 et seq. + +[FN#165] Yonnus ibn Hebib, a renowned grammarian and philologer +of the day, who taught at Bassora and whose company was much +sought after by distinguished men of letters and others. He was a +friend of Isaac of Mosul. + +[FN#166] Apparently a suburb of Baghdad. + +[FN#167] i.e. the principal street of Et Taf. + +[FN#168] Or "elegant." + +[FN#169] See supra, Vol. I. p. 236, note 1. + +[FN#170] ? + +[FN#171] A passage has apparently dropped out here. The Khalif +seems to have gone away without buying, leaving Ishac behind, +whereupon the latter was accosted by another slave-girl, who came +out of a cell in the corridor. + +[FN#172] Or "have withheld myself." + +[FN#173] For not selling me? + +[FN#174] i.e. Tuhfeh the fool. Hemca is the feminine form of +ahmec, fool. If by a change in the (unwritten) vowels, we read +Humeca, which is the plural form of ahmec, the title will +signify, "Gift (Tuhfeh) of fools" and would thus represent a +jesting alteration of the girl's real name (Tuhfet el Culoub, +Gift of hearts), in allusion to her (from the slave-merchant's +point of view) foolish and vexatious behaviour in refusing to be +sold to the first comer, as set out below. + +[FN#175] Or "folly" (hemakeh). + +[FN#176] i.e. not every one is lucky enough to be in Ishac's +house. + +[FN#177] Apparently some part of Baghdad adjoining the Tigris. +Khanekah means "a convent of dervishes." + +[FN#178] Lit. stronger (acwa). + +[FN#179] The gist of this curious comparison is not very +apparent. Perhaps "blander" is meant. + +[FN#180] About 10s. + +[FN#181] About a penny; i.e. I have found all my skill in the +craft but a trifle in comparison with thine. + +[FN#182] i.e. thou art what he wants. + +[FN#183] i.e. the dews of her mouth, commonly compared by +Oriental writers to wine and honey. + +[FN#184] i.e. he died. + +[FN#185] i.e. if my hand were out for want of practice. + +[FN#186] i.e. a gift or rarity. + +[FN#187] Or "rarity" (tuhfeh) + +[FN#188] i.e. thou didst her not justice. + +[FN#189] i.e. that set apart for the chief of the concubines. + +[FN#190] i.e. from the opening made in the ceiling for +ventilation. Or the saloon in which she sat may have been open to +the sky, as is not uncommon in the East. + +[FN#191] Zubeideh was the daughter of Jaafer, son of El Mensour, +second Khalif of the house of Abbas, and was therefore Er +Reshid's first cousin. It does not appear why she is called +daughter (bint) of El Casim. + +[FN#192] Lit. "of those noble steps." + +[FN#193] So styled by the Muslums, because Abraham is fabled by +them to have driven him away with stones, when he strove to +prevent him from sacrificing Ishmael, whom they substitute for +Isaac as the intended victim. + +[FN#194] i.e. Gift of Breasts. The word "breasts" here is, of +course, used (metonymically) for "hearts." + +[FN#195] i.e. "He (lit. father) of the hosts of tribes." + +[FN#196] See post, passim. + +[FN#197] Lit. witnesses (shawahid). + +[FN#198] Lit. seas (behar). + +[FN#199] Afterwards called Zelzeleh; see post, p. 245 et seq. + +[FN#200] i.e. I cannot look long on them. + +[FN#201] i.e. change the sir to one less poignant? Or (perhaps) +"lower thy voice." + +[FN#202] i.e. from time immemorial, before the creation of the +world. The most minute details of every man's life in the world +are believed by the Mohammedans to have been fore-ordained by God +from all eternity. This belief is summed up in the Koranic +saying, "Verily, the commandment of God is a prevenient decree." + +[FN#203] No mention is afterward made of any wedding, and the +word is, therefore, probably used here in its implied sense of +"festival," "merry-making." I am not, however acquainted with any +instance of this use of the word urs. + +[FN#204] Or "peewit." + +[FN#205] i.e. those that led the water to the roots of the trees, +after the manner of Eastern gardeners. + +[FN#206] One of the seven "Gardens" or stages for the Mohammedan +heaven. + +[FN#207] "God is Most Great!" So called because its +pronunciation, after that of the niyeh or intent (i.e. "I purpose +to pray such and such prayers"), prohibits the speaking of any +words previous to prayer. + +[FN#208] i.e. those of the five daily prayers (due at daybreak, +noon, mid-afternoon, sundown, and nightfall respectively) which +she had been prevented from praying on the previous evening, +through having passed it in carousing with the Jinn. It is +incumbent on the strict Muslim to make up his arrears of prayer +in this manner. + +[FN#209] Lit. skill in physiognomy (firaseh). + +[FN#210] i.e. the owner of this palace. + +[FN#211] The Mohammedan rite of ablution, previous to prayer, is +a very elaborate and complicated process, somewhat "scamped" by +the ordinary "true-believer." See my "Book of the Thousand Nights +and One Night," Vol. IV. pp. 332-4. + +[FN#212] i.e. the prayers of nightfall, in addition to those of +daybreak. + +[FN#213] i.e. those of noon, mid-afternoon and sundown. + +[FN#214] Containing the dessert. + +[FN#215] i.e. Mohammed, who was passionately fond of flowers and +especially of the rose, which is fabled to have blossomed from +his sweat. + +[FN#216] The Arab name (julnar) of the promegranate is made up of +the Persian word for rose (gul) and the Arabic fire (nar). + +[FN#217] i.e. Chapters cxiii. and cxiv. of the Koran, +respectively known as the Chapter of the [Lord of the] Daybreak +and the Chapter of [The Lord of] Men. These chapters, which it is +the habit of the Muslim to recite as a talisman or preventive +against evil, are the last and shortest in the book and run as +follows. Chapter cxiii.--"In the name of the Compassionate, the +Merciful! Say [quoth Gabriel] 'I take refuge with the Lord of the +Daybreak from the evil of that which He hath created and from the +evil of the beginning of the night, whenas it invadeth [the +world], and from the mischief of the women who blow on knots +(i.e. witches) and from the mischief of the envier, whenas he +envieth.'" Chapter cxiv.--"In the name of God the Compassionate, +the Merciful! Say [quoth Gabriel] 'I take refuge with the Lord of +Men, the King of Men, the God of Men, from the mischief of the +stealthy Tempter (i.e. the devil) who whispereth (i.e. +insinuateth evil) into the breasts (hearts) of mankind, from Jinn +and men!'" These two chapters are often written on parchment etc. +and worn as an amulet about the person--hence their name. + +[FN#218] Hieratic title of the Khalif, as foreman (imam) of the +people at prayer. + +[FN#219] i.e. the Jinn that dwell therein. Each house, according +to Muslim belief, has its haunter or domestic spirit. + +[FN#220] i.e. yearning. + +[FN#221] i.e. her return. + +[FN#222] See ante, p. 229, note 2. + +[FN#223] "As for him who is of those brought near unto God, [for +him shall be] easance and sweet basil (syn. victual, rihan), and +a garden of pleasance."--Koran lvi. 87-8. It will be observed +that this verse is somewhat garbled in the quotation. + +[FN#224] Meaning apparently, "None of the Jinn may tread these +carpets, etc., that thou treadest." + +[FN#225] i.e. to hold festival. + +[FN#226] This passage may also be rendered, "And in this I do +thee a great favour [and honour thee] over all the Jinn." + +[FN#227] Lit. "How loathly is that which yonder genie Meimoun +eateth!" But this is evidently a mistake. See ante, p. 226. + +[FN#228] Lit. "I have not an eye that availeth to look upon him." + +[FN#229] i.e. "May I not lack of thy visits!" + +[FN#230] i.e. "As much again as all thou hast given." + +[FN#231] The attainment by a boy of the proper age for +circumcision, or (so to speak) his religious majority, in a +subject for great rejoicing with the Mohammedans, and the +occasion is celebrated by the giving of as splendid an +entertainment as the means of his family will afford, during +which he is displayed to view upon a throne or raised seat, +arrayed in the richest and ornaments that can be found, hired or +borrowed for the purpose. + +[FN#232] Tuhfeh. + +[FN#233] Lit. "be equitable therewith unto;" but the meaning +appears to be as above. + +[FN#234] Lit. "places" (mawazi). Quaere "shifts" or "positions." + +[FN#235] See my "Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night," Vol. +VI. p. 226, Isaac of Mosul and his Mistress and the Devil. + +[FN#236] i.e. method of playing the lute. + +[FN#237] i.e. not indigenous? + +[FN#238] Apparently the residence of King Es Shisban. + +[FN#239] i.e. all the Jinn's professions of affection to me and +promises of protection, etc. + +[FN#240] i.e. one so crafty that he was a calamity to his +enemies, a common Arab phrase used in a complimentary sense. + +[FN#241] i.e. the Flying Lion. + +[FN#242] i.e. How canst thou feel assured of safety, after that +which thou hast done? + +[FN#243] Or "life" (ruh). + +[FN#244] Quaere the mountain Cat. + +[FN#245] i.e. why tarriest thou to make an end of her? + +[FN#246] i.e. arm. + +[FN#247] i.e. for length. + +[FN#248] A fabulous mountain-range, believed by the Arabs to +encompass the world and by which they are supposed to mean the +Caucasus. + +[FN#249] The Anca, phoenix or griffin, is a fabulous bird that +figures largely in Persian romance. It is fabled to have dwelt in +the Mountain Caf and to have once carried off a king's daughter +on her wedding-day. It is to this legend that the story-teller +appears to refer in the text; but I am not aware that the +princess in question is represented to have been the daughter of +Behram Gour, the well-known King of Persia, who reigned in the +first half of the fifth century and was a contemporary of the +Emperors Theodosius the Younger and Honorius. + +[FN#250] One of the names of God. + +[FN#251] i.e. thy return. + +[FN#252] Gift of the Breast (heart). + +[FN#253] Binat el hawa, lit. daughters of love. This is the +ordinary meaning of the phrase; but the girl in question appears +to have been of good repute and the expression, as applied to +her, is probably, therefore, only intended to signify a +sprightly, frolicsome damsel. + +[FN#254] Lit. the forehead, quare the lintel. + +[FN#255] Or "put to nought" + +[FN#256] Comparing her body, now hidden in her flowing stresses +and now showing through them, to a sword, as it flashes in and +out of its sheath. + +[FN#257] About £25. + +[FN#258] About £75. + +[FN#259] i.e. all defects for which a man is by law entitled to +return a slave-girl to her seller. + +[FN#260] Ed Dilem is the ancient Media. The allusion to its +prison or prisons I do not understand. + +[FN#261] i.e. the complete ablution prescribed by the Mohammedan +law after sexual intercourse. + +[FN#262] It is customary for a newly-married man to entertain his +male acquaintances with a collation on the morning after the +wedding. + +[FN#263] Lit. more striking and cutting. + +[FN#264] Sherifi, a small gold coin, worth about 6s. 8d. + +[FN#265] Or "false pretences." + +[FN#266] Or, as we should say, "the apple." + +[FN#267] Apparently the Cadi was our claimed to be a seyyid i.e. +descendant of Mohammed, through his daughter Fatmeh. + +[FN#268] Lit. more ill-omened. + +[FN#269] i.e. that the law would not allow him to compel the +young merchant to divorce his wife. + +[FN#270] i.e. veil in honour. + +[FN#271] Lit the fire, i.e. hell. + +[FN#272] i.e. by an irrevocable divorcement (telacan bainan), to +wit, such a divorcement as estops the husband from taking back +his divorced wife, except with her consent and after the +execution of a fresh contract of marriage. + +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 VOLUMES 1-3 *** + +This file should be named 5245.txt or 5245.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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